Resurrection Isn't Omnipotent
A few people cleared their throats awkwardly at the sound of the restraints clicking into place. Even without seeing it, the sight of her in that skintight latex nun outfit clinging to her body like a second skin must have felt pretty provocative. As a succubus, she already had those ample breasts, a narrow waist flaring out into wide hips—any man who didn't salivate at that wouldn't be a man.
"Lady Ivy, only you can release this succubus now. The authority belongs to you. She can't go more than ten meters away from you anymore."
"That's so mean... I'm a pretty capable succubus, you know..."
The stranger who fastened the restraints on Laila kindly explained it to me—how to release her verbally, or by snapping my fingers twice.
"Got it."
I nodded, and Laila grumbled again, but she quieted down quick when I promised to let her loose later.
"Well, that settles that issue for now. As for interrogating the succubus..."
"I'll handle it. Just tell me what you need to know."
"Eek! Saintess, you said you'd spare me! I-I'll tell you everything, no holding back, please..."
"Hmm, how about we revive the Pope first and deal with Laila separately later?"
Laila was throwing such a fit, rubbing her soft breasts against my arm in a way that felt way too burdensome, so I casually suggested pushing her turn back. Daesik seemed embarrassed by her antics too, clearing his throat and glossing over it.
"Fair enough. With the Pope here, her testimony would just cross-check his or reveal what he's hiding. Any objections?"
"I think we can skip interrogating the succubus since we have the Pope."
"Yeah, unless he won't spill something like the vault password—then we can ask her."
Luckily, Laila's fawning over me had eased everyone's suspicions. Their gazes shifted away from us. Even with my eyes covered, I could feel those piercing stares lifting, and I finally relaxed.
"Lady Ivy, I'll brief you on the rest separately. Kim Deokbae, could you escort her to revive the Pope?"
"Sure. And that guy earlier who wanted to... experience resurrection."
"That's me."
Two middle-aged men spoke up and stood from their chairs. I heard Daesik addressing them.
"Kim Deokbae, Yoon Seoappa. I'm counting on you two. Next order of business: how to deal with the holy knights and priests who persecuted possessors as 'otherworlders' despite being users themselves..."
As the two approached, Hanbyeol quietly supported me and backed away.
"Unnie, let's go. Can I take off the blindfold now?"
"Once we're out. Too many people—I wouldn't hold up."
Hanbyeol was gently fiddling with the cloth Laila had tied over my eyes. I told her the truth, just skipping the key details. Not hiding, really—just being honest without the important words.
"What the hell did they do to you...?"
The moment we stepped outside, Hanbyeol asked in a teary voice. I hemmed and hawed, unable to answer, and Laila said in a tone devoid of her usual playfulness,
"Better if the kid doesn't know."
But for Hanbyeol, age was a sore spot, like most kids. Nobody likes being treated like a child.
"You led the torture, right? What'd you do to make unnie collapse in front of everyone?"
"Eek! Saintess, this mage is trying to kill me!"
"I told you, I'm not a saintess. And Hanbyeol, be satisfied with the beating earlier. I'll handle my own revenge."
"R-Revenge? Saintess, I got beat pretty bad already...?"
As we left the ward, Hanbyeol removed my blindfold, and I finally got a look at Laila all trussed up. She looked much like usual, but with her arms bound behind her back around her chest—it meshed so lewdly with that clinging nun outfit that even I swallowed hard.
"I didn't hit her."
I tore my eyes away from Laila with effort and followed Hanbyeol and the two middle-aged men. Kim Deokbae was a rugged-faced, muscular warrior type, rare around here, and Yoon Seoappa had a lean, muscled build too. No weapons visible—maybe they were originally other classes.
"Hanbyeol. There's a reason Ivy and the succubus aren't talking. Just let it go."
Kim Deokbae glanced at me pityingly, without any ulterior motives, then said to Hanbyeol. She scowled and shot back,
"No way. I need to know what this bitch did to unnie before I decide whether to hit her or not."
"It's fine, Hanbyeol. Beating her would be too straightforward."
"Is this woman really a saintess?!"
"I keep saying I'm not. Call me Ivy. Or Eve..."
"Eve? Unnie, why tell that slut to use a nickname?"
"Hanbyeol, that's not—"
With women on both sides, my head was spinning. Laila begging not to be hit, Hanbyeol picking fights because she clearly hated Laila. I explained that Ivy was the original owner of this body, so using that name felt wrong toward Iris, her sister—better to go by Eve. Hanbyeol pouted.
"I'll call you Eve-unnie first."
"Fine."
Was it about order? Hanbyeol finally seemed satisfied, Laila calmed down and watched me and Hanbyeol warily. While we chattered noisily, Yoon Seoappa stayed silent. Kim Deokbae tried talking to him a few times, but he just nodded or shook his head, never speaking.
Soon we reached the Pope's corpse. Untouched, roped off with a sheet over it. Ignoring the barrier, I approached the mangled body.
"Hanbyeol, it's gonna be gross—mind turning around for a bit?"
"I don't care about gore."
"Still."
"If unnie says so."
"Thanks. Deokbae, sorry, could you lift the sheet? My hands are tied up."
"...Must've been rough. I'll do it."
Deokbae pulled back the cloth, revealing the Pope's twisted corpse from the five-story fall. Stomach-churning, sure, but hey—better than my body drenched in cum.
"Yoon Seoappa, think if you really wanna watch the revived Pope and test it. I haven't died and come back myself, so I don't know how shocking it'll be."
"Doesn't matter."
No hesitation in his eyes—he was resolved. No point stopping him, so I nodded and chanted the resurrection spell over the Pope's body. The cold weather had prevented much decay, and it took hold normally. Mana drained in chunks, so I cast recovery right after. Organs might've started rotting after some time—purification too? Nah, not wasting it on the guy who tormented me. Just enough recovery to keep him alive.
The Pope came to, screaming as he regained a living person's form.
"Arrrgh! K-Kill me instead!"
"The premature Pope's back."
"Premature? That fucker?"
"Yup. But now he's a eunuch. No dick."
"Ahem. Ladies present—save that talk for when they're gone."
Kim Deokbae, about to joke with the succubus, checked me and Hanbyeol and held back, fastening a mana restraint on the Pope instead.
"Lady Ivy, good work. Should I call you Eve too?"
"No, Ivy's fine for you all. Just Eve in front of my character's sister."
"Ha... yeah. This body had family too. Two households now—wife'll grab me by the hair."
Kim Deokbae joked lightly, then dragged the unsteady Pope back to the ward. Probably for interrogation there. Whatever—out of my hands now. Kill him or not, their call.
Suddenly I wondered if I forgave those who'd treated me harshly too easily. But nah. Holding grudges only hurts me, lesson learned long ago. Dust it off. Not real forgiveness anyway—he wasn't getting any favors from me.
"So, Yoon Seoappa. Still set on it?"
I turned to him, staring blankly at the staggering Pope. He nodded without pause, drawing a dagger.
"Yes. Revive me after, and I'll tell what happened post-death. Afterlife, back to reality, nothing at all..."
"Alright, then... Hanbyeol, don't turn around—it's not a pretty sight."
"Saying that makes people peek. Cliché."
"Ahaha."
Yoon Seoappa plunged the knife into his own heart. I rushed to support him, forgetting my bound arms, but my tail stretched long to catch him and ease him to the ground.
"Good job. Check his pulse."
The tail wriggled excitedly, lengthening further to wrap his neck. Looked like strangling from afar, but whatever—black against black, barely visible.
"That holy relic... really convenient."
Laila grumbled reluctantly, and surprisingly, Hanbyeol agreed with a frown.
"Yeah. Feeds unnie, helps her change—everything."
"I got one too."
Laila extended her tail, poking my shoulder. Glancing at it made me suspicious.
"Laila, if you can bring out your tail, what about wings? Mana restraint not working?"
"Body part—hide and reveal. Wings? Gave too much power to you, Eve. Can't for a while."
"Power? That womb tattoo thing?"
Hanbyeol perked up, which worried me. Laila explained bluntly, no filter.
"To turn you succubus. Heightens sensitivity, tougher for tumbling with all races. Stronger squeezing too..."
"Don't explain that to a kid! Shut it!"
"Eve, kids need proper sex ed to avoid warped views."
"Right, unnie. You teach boys are beasts, pure love is hand-holding— that's why folks don't know condoms. Succubus knows her stuff."
"Fine..."
They synced perfectly, teasing my embarrassment. I ignored it, watching the tail signal his pulse. It fluttered, confirming life post-stab, then went rigid straight. Dead for sure.
How long to wait? Pope revived fine after hours—maybe an hour? If reality-return is real, he'd have time for something. But brain damage after five minutes sans oxygen...
I wanted him revived intact.
"Laila, pull the knife."
"Me? Hands tied?"
"Can't make Hanbyeol see."
"Wow, Eve—overprotective. Kids these days are wild... too much coddling's bad."
"Not coddling—it's cruel."
"I'm fine?!"
"You wronged me, Laila."
Wanted to revive him wound-free ASAP, but no heals on corpses—least I could do was prep for immediate recovery. Laila griped but used her tail to yank the blade. Blood gushed; Hanbyeol gestured, freezing the wound to staunch it.
"Hanbyeol! I said don't look..."
"Not a kid. Seen corpses plenty."
She replied flatly, unfazed by the body. Prime age for spoiling or parental bonding—okay to be this hardened already? My pitying look irked her.
"I'm an adult here. Got my ID in reality too. One year, adult there. Not early."
Whoever dumped us here, turning kids adult prematurely hurt my heart. Anyway, before five minutes, I sent Hanbyeol back and began the prayer for Yoon Seoappa. Factoring cast time, start early. Mana from post-Pope rest was plenty.
Passersby eyed the bleeding man worriedly but waved off after Hanbyeol's greetings—acquaintances, figured no issue.
Finally, Yoon Seoappa gasped, clutching his chest as he woke. Good thing I healed his heart pre-consciousness—wild thrashing would've torn it.
"Guhh..."
He grimaced on his handsome face, pained sigh escaping. Kinda jealous. If I'd known, I'd have picked a male char too. That face stays cool no matter what... Well, this female body's great. Just not mine to control fully, thanks to weird crap. Physical pleasure beats pre-game life.
Hanbyeol and I waited till he calmed.
"See anything?"
"Die and return to reality?"
He paused, then sighed.
"No memory after stabbing. Waking was hell. Forgot death, or wiped somehow? Fantasy world—who knows. Never wanna again."
Aftereffects brutal—he shuddered. Hanbyeol nodded empathetically.
"Lady Ivy, rest up. I gotta head back to the meeting."
"Need a hand?"
"I'm good, Hanbyeol. Show her to her room instead."
"Yeah. Drop you off, get fresh clothes."
Yoon Seoappa staggered back to the ward—meeting end, straight to bedridden, by the look.
Hanbyeol led to a nearby house, lit the fireplace with magic.
"Rest. Don't like that succubus much, but she'll guard if anyone comes."
"Mm. Hanbyeol, take the robe. Cold out. Inside'll warm up thanks to you. Good job. Thanks."
"...No biggie."
She blushed faintly, taking the robe. Panties on, but even girl-to-girl, bare-chested awkward? Relieved—girlhood lingered in this too-mature kid.
I sat by the fire, casting purification on myself. Robe's warmth spell helped, but barefoot in stockings? Lucky no debris shredded them—they were surprisingly intact.
"And Laila."
"Yes, Lady Ivy."
"Remember what you did? It really hurt."
Her face hardened at my calm tone. Worried what I'd demand, sadistic urge rose. Thought I was past enjoying torment, but her guilt? No qualms.
"...You enjoyed it too, Eve. I saw you moaning..."
"Hated it. Forced climaxes from groping erogenous zones—exhausting."
"Loved it, now hate?"
"Drug you, chop limbs—good?"
"..."
Knew it was forced logic, but loved her fluster—pushed it.
She eyed me oddly, then looked down.
"What do you want? Don't think I did wrong. Pursuing fleshly pleasure ain't bad. Can't fully get human views. Seemed I wronged you. Sorry for getting rough midway... but I ditched the Pope for you—got feelings."
"'Cause the war turned against him?"
"Partly, yeah. If just that, I'd chop his head and surrender! Would I come save you?"
Hiding regret over shared power, but whatever—my motives too. I shut up, eyeing her thoroughly. Latex nun suit hugging her voluptuous curves, arms bound stylishly—even as a woman, it lit me up. Hanbyeol too young. Iris sisterly, off-limits. Laila? Perfect stranger. She'd groped me first—no lesbian hangups, owed me—hard to refuse demands.
"Wrong apology attitude. Kneel first."
"...Yes."
Reluctant, but she knelt. Chill thrilled me. Dominating felt corrupting, guilty—but she deserved it. Rationalized, I stood, approached, and said,
"Suck."
Like she'd told me.