Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: May My Prayers Reach (Light Edit)
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Time passed idly once again.
After that day, Jenia didn't push for "practice" for a few days, but eventually she came back hesitantly and demanded to do it again.
'A woman's heart is impossible to figure out...'
I let out a sigh like that and decided to focus on my magic training instead.
"Lumie, that color's bleeding a bit over there. Adjust it for me."
[Okay...]
"That part's movement doesn't look natural... Lumie, this time don't compensate—just assist with the output when moving fast."
[Like this?]
"Ooh, much better! As expected of Lumie."
[Hehe.]
In the room, Trias was swinging a bundle of tentacles, attacking us.
So what were we doing right now...
"Ooh! That's it! That black orb! Yes, Lumie! You copied it so creepily perfectly it's giving me chills!"
[Is that praise, Master?]
We were practicing mimicking real people in motion, not just environmental effects.
Getting the movements, unique behaviors, and expressions right wasn't easy at all.
In the end, I dragged over Lumie, who had been lounging around lazily, and we practiced together.
Lumie enjoyed it too, and I got to borrow some high-performance assistance. It was a total win-win.
But why Heretic Trias of all things? There were several reasons.
The higher the level, the more varied their movements and magic become. Plus, practicing Heretic movements meant I could deploy them later to extract info and sow chaos.
While deep into magic practice, a knock sounded, and Veronica entered with tea.
"Apostle-sama~ Take a little break... You fiend! How dare you approach Apostle-sama!"
She flung the tea set aside, and holy power surged from Veronica's body, seething with rage.
"Wait, wait! Calm down, Veronica! It's magic! Magic!"
I immediately stopped the spell, and Trias vanished in an instant.
The holy power gathering in Veronica's hand faded away, and Lumie, who had been flying toward her like a moth to a flame, smacked its lips.
[Smack... I just wanna sleep...]
"It was Apostle-sama's magic! I thought that fiend had revived and infiltrated us!"
"Should've warned you ahead of time. Sorry."
"No, it's fine! Ah! The tea set."
I cleared the wet floor and tea set with magic, then asked,
"By the way, isn't today church day?"
"I came to bring you a snack first, Apostle-sama. You've looked down lately..."
"Me?"
"Yes, like something's weighing on you."
Apparently, I looked tired to Veronica's eyes.
'Well, yeah... I've had a lot on my mind lately.'
Romance wasn't progressing, I'd handed some work to Sebastian but hadn't fully let go, and the clue to 6th Circle was tantalizingly vague.
Veronica's eyes sparkled as she grabbed my hand.
"Apostle-sama! Why not visit the church at a time like this?"
"The church?"
"Yes! It'll lift your spirits and bring peace to your heart! And I'm sure the Lord misses you too!"
Come to think of it, I hadn't been to church in quite a while.
Maybe I should go pray and give some thanks.
"Alright, then just prepare a robe for me."
"Really? Ehehe, right away!"
Watching Veronica giggle like a fool and excitedly fetch the robe, I thought I should tag along sometimes.
'Didn't expect her to be this thrilled.'
I donned the robe and headed to the church with Veronica.
The place we arrived at was Lumen Church. As the one closest to the imperial palace, it was grand, frequented by most nobles in the capital, and handled imperial affairs and various businesses.
As we entered the pristine, majestic white building, a skinny old man greeted us.
"May the light be with you. Sister Veronica, here for the prayer room again today?"
"May the light be with you. Hello, High Priest! Yes, here to pray!"
"Ho ho ho, such devotion. And the brother beside you...?"
At the High Priest's question, I slightly lowered my hood and bowed.
"Hello, High Priest. I'm here to offer a prayer as well."
A glint appeared in the High Priest's eyes, and he lowered his voice.
"Ho ho ho, an esteemed guest. I'll guide you quietly."
Sharp as ever.
We followed the High Priest to the prayer room.
Passing a place where beautiful stained glass sparkled in the sunlight, we reached a corridor adjoining the garden.
Children playing energetically in the garden spotted Veronica and ran over, hugging her.
"Big sis Veronica!"
"Have my little nuns been good?"
"Yeah! Sis is pretty again today!"
"And my little nuns are even prettier?"
"Really?"
Veronica, holding the children and laughing merrily, looked benevolent and mystical.
Watching warmly, the High Priest spoke.
"A beautiful sight, isn't it? Please take good care of Miss Veronica."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The High Priest, whom Veronica had met since coming to the palace, looked at her with grandfatherly warmth.
How many could dislike such a pure, innocent girl?
Yet she'd nearly spent her days in the temple resenting the Lord.
"Bye-bye, sis!"
"Hehe, eat well and brush your teeth, my little nuns!"
Veronica waved goodbye, and the kids dashed back to the fountain.
I approached Veronica, who was smiling and waving contentedly.
"The kids really take to you."
"I come play often. Aren't they adorable? My youngest was that size too..."
"...She's doing fine, Veronica."
"Of course! The Lord guarantees it!"
The saint who once wailed in the prayer room for news of her siblings was gone.
I couldn't heal all her heart's wounds, but the Veronica smiling brightly beside me now looked far better than any saint.
I stroked Veronica's head, and she smiled, took my hand, and led me to the prayer room.
"Then I'll take my leave."
The High Priest bowed and departed.
"Thank you, High Priest. May the light be with you."
We'd arrived at a private prayer room prepared by the church.
Hoping Veronica could pray comfortably, I'd donated generously, and they'd set it up in no time.
The room was just big enough for two people to lie down, with a small white altar where the goddess statue gazed down benevolently.
For the record, I made that statue.
When I asked if she wanted anything, she requested a prayer idol, so I made a big one and plopped it down. She jumped around like she'd gotten a designer bag.
Veronica pulled a blanket from her subspace and spread it on the floor.
"Apostle-sama! Kneel here and pray!"
"Huh? A blanket?"
"Can't have Apostle-sama on the bare floor!"
Wouldn't a cushion have sufficed? But seeing her beaming face, I just went with it.
"Here! Hurry!"
Veronica was already kneeling, patting the spot beside her.
I knelt next to her.
"Hehe, let's begin the prayer!"
Hearing Veronica's clear voice start the prayer, I clasped my hands and closed my eyes.
Not wanting to just listen, I prayed silently.
'Um... Lord? Not sure if you can hear me, but sorry for visiting late—been busy. I did show up to every event, though... so I trust you'll forgive me. I'll drop by when I can. Sigh... is this right? Feels kinda embarrassing.'
Not knowing any scripture, I just mumbled inwardly.
No one's listening anyway—thoughts are free, right?
'What I want is for the people around me to eat well, sleep well, no humans suffering from Heretics, less work since I'm tired lately, and... um... for Veronica praying next to me to be happy. I can handle myself, but she adores you, so shower her with holy power...'
Praying while thinking of Veronica, holy power began emanating from her body.
I dazedly stared at the brilliant light seeping through my closed eyelids, drowsiness overtaking me.
"Is it really...?"
Veronica muttered something at the statue, but my eyelids were too heavy, and I drifted into sleep.
My last memory was Veronica pulling my head onto her lap.
I didn't see her eyes glowing otherworldly...
In the quiet prayer room, Veronica gazed at Liam, pillowed on her lap.
Stroking him tenderly like a treasure, she looked up at the smiling goddess statue.
Her voice echoed in the silent room, unanswered.
"Of course—that's what I want most."
"Really? Every time?"
"Even Apostle-sama implicitly agreed?"
"Just leave it to me!"
Gone was the weeping saint; only the excited Veronica chattering away remained.
Veronica nodded determinedly, gently laid Liam's head down, then straddled him.
She stared at Liam beneath her for a long while.
Muttering in a sinister tone...
"Apostle-sama, I want something so badly now. You'll grant it this time too, right?"
Liam slept soundly, oblivious that the women around him had turned into cute brats.
Weak to tears, he couldn't pass by without a gentle hug and smile, granting every request reluctantly—but solving problems effortlessly made the women spoiled.
As Veronica leaned in, her holy power pressed against Liam, her golden hair draping like threads, blocking the light.
"Jenia gets rewards all the time, but I've never gotten one, so you'll give me this, right? Right?"
Was it a question or self-justification?
The resentment that had never surfaced exploded under someone's nudge, numbing Veronica's reason.
Her hand softly touched the lips of the defenselessly sleeping man in her space.
Touching the soft lips, they moved as she wished.
Carefully parting the white teeth, plump flesh peeked through.
"Ha, I can't hold back."
A long, writhing invader ravaged the face of soundly sleeping Liam.
-Churrrrrrr! Chuuuup! Churrrslurp!
As Veronica's pink met Liam's, a profane sound unfit for a church reverberated.
Eyes wide open coldly, she ravaged her prey.
"Churrslurp! Chu! Puha! This... is just claiming my overdue reward, so it's fine, right? Yeah?"
-Haa... haa... ahmm~ Churrrrrr!
Not waiting for an answer, Veronica overlapped faces like a castaway devouring oasis water.
"Chu! This... Apostle-sama... churrrr... hehe, I have to... serve you well... chuuuup... you've... endured so much... ararar... hng! I've held back...!"
-Swish swish swish
As her lower belly tightened, Veronica unwittingly rubbed her whole body against Liam.
A complaint never voiced in their time together slipped from her lips.
-Swish swish swish
"Apostle-sama's too much, chuueup! Giving something this good only to Jenia... puha! I like this too and I'm good at it—it's your fault, Apostle-sama."
Something brushed her rubbing body.
"Wha... what?!"
Veronica gasped in shock, trembling like she'd touched a demon.
"Th-this... is the source of Apostle-sama's fatigue!"
She naturally turned it, then stared blankly at the demon of fatigue.
"Y-you... unholy thing! Reveal yourself!"
-Shlick! Whip!
"Ah... aaa... oh my god..."
As the demon of fatigue manifested, the frail nun crossed herself in despair, beginning to pray.
Hearing a voice mid-prayer, Veronica's eyes gleamed resolutely.
"Th-this too is a trial from the Lord! Apostle-sama! I'll save you right now!"
In the soundproof prayer room, the goddess statue watched the nun exorcising the demon approvingly, smiling warmly.