Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 20
Instinct or willwhich one rules over humanity?
In response to that question, Asher could firmly declare, "Will."
But that didn't mean he underestimated the power of instinct.
After all, isn't it human nature to grow weak from hunger or frail of heart when illness strikes?
There are moments when emotions waver unavoidably due to the body's demands.
That had been the case ever since their bodies swapped.
Versia's body was far more delicate than Asher's.
It bruised easily, injured readily, and reacted sensitively to the slightest stimulus.
Her emotions were no different.
Things he could once shrug off were now nearly impossible to ignore, all thanks to what he called "the body's response (critical)."
A prime example was her menstruation. During that time, Asher had definitely felt irritable and emotionally fragile all day long.
Extending from that line of thought, Asher explained.
It was right after finishing a meal with Marvin, when the two of them were alone. Versia had remarked, "You looked so cute on the verge of tears," which set him off.
"I wasn't sulking! It's just that Saintess's body isn't skilled at hiding emotions! I wouldn't have reacted that way normally! Of course not! A temporary body swap doesn't erase the bond Marvin and I have built!"
...Even as he said this, only Asher was oblivious to how he stood there with arms crossed and a pouty expression.
Versia crossed her legs, rested her chin on her hand, and grinned from ear to ear.
Her attitude screamed that his logic was laughable.
"Come on, that's not it. Even in that body, I hid my emotions just fine. And if that's your logic..."
Versia leaned forward.
Asher flinched back.
He felt like a frog before a snake.
Then the snake bared its fangs wide.
"Does that mean you had a body that popped right up at the drop of a hat?"
"Aaaah! That's not true!!!"
"Pfft, if it wasn't, why did I get hard? Even now?"
"I know you're lying...!"
"Want me to pull it out and show you?"
"Ah! Don't you dare! For real!!!"
As her hand slid toward his pants, Asher panicked and lunged forward.
His voice, drenched in shame, only fueled Versia's sadistic glee.
The difference in strength was stark.
Even a slight effort from Versia left Asher clinging desperately, grunting in vain.
In the end, all Asher could do was beg.
"P-Please treat my body with care! I'm embarrassed for others to see me naked!"
"Eh? Right now, it's just one knight watching."
"You're seeing it too!"
"I see it morning and night."
"That's different!!!"
Asher was dead serious.
After all, if showing skin like this became a habit, wouldn't it lead to moral looseness?
One day, in the heat of play, she might yank down the pants right in front of others.
Of course, any sensible person wouldn't, but Asher could no longer trust Versia's sense of sexual propriety or morals.
Why on earth did he have to endure this?
Lately, Asher had grown increasingly resentful of the Parent God. No, more so of Versia.
Today, overwhelmed by rising frustration, he squeezed his eyes shut and glared at her.
"You're awful! You're a total demon!"
"Who curses so delicately? It's like a noble lady saying no with her mouth while her pussy's dripping wet..."
"Eek!!!"
Bang!
What followed was a reflexive spasm, bypassing rational thought.
Blood rushing to his head, Asher slammed Versia to the floor.
"...Ah."
Regaining his senses too late, Asher felt like he'd been doused in ice water.
Versia, head flipped upside down, stared up at him blankly.
Asher stammered, "B-But you started it...!" before approaching and mumbling,
"A-Are you hurt...?"
Still, the violence might have been a bit much.
* * *
Amid the church's uproar over the witch's rampage and such, Asher's daily routine hadn't changed much.
To be precise, the saintess's life remained the same.
It was a form of standby order.
And rightly sowith a 1st Class Knight and saintess combination, deploying such valuable assets required caution.
No sense wasting their movements on fool's errands.
Thus, only now, as the dispatched knights roughly pinpointed the heretics' base, could Asher mobilize.
It was frustrating to just twiddle his thumbs, but what could he do?
He couldn't afford to disrupt things out of impatience.
Anyway, his days were mostly spent in the garden.
Not idly passing time, though.
With combat always a possibility, training was essential.
Basic fitness drills, and...
Thud!
"Alright, let's go again!"
Sparring.
Asher clenched his fists and shouted.
Before him lay Versia, wearing a somewhat vacant expression.
"...Shall we take a break?"
"No! Even if it's a sturdy body, to protect yourself from enemies targeting the saintess, you need at least some basic combat ability!"
"I think we've already passed 'basic.'"
"That's why we don't stop when potential shows! Technique can always be refined further!"
Asher's body was slick with sweat.
His breath came hot and heavy, his head spinning.
Indeed, nothing beat sparring for that refreshing sense of accomplishment.
"...Hah."
"Sighing won't help! Next up, sword sparring!"
Asher picked up a wooden sword.
It was a thin, light rapier-style one, but he didn't mind.
He'd never been picky about weapon type or quality anyway.
"We'll practice light parries, counters, thrusts, and slashes! You've probably done some joint training, but... ultimately, the swordsmanship suited to my body's training direction has to be taught personally!"
With that, he flapped his collar dramatically.
Versia muttered under her breath, grumbling,
"You're soaked..."
"That won't work on me!"
He barked.
Asher quelled his heating cheeks with firm resolve.
Come on, how long would he keep squealing at crude remarks?
He knew she teased because his reactions were so rewarding.
No more reactions.
With that thought, Asher looked down at Versia with sullen eyes.
A proud smile tugged at his lips, self-satisfied.
"Now we begin! First, Form 1!"
"...Ah, this is boring."
"Training isn't for fun! Here I come!"
Pop!
Asher shot forward like a spring, thrusting at Versia's solar plexus.
Versia gritted her teeth and swung her bastard sword-style wooden blade.
Clack!
The attack was blocked.
Of course it was.
No matter how superior Asher's swordsmanship insight or battle IQ, the physical disparity was too vast.
Versia's body was inferior in every waystrength, speed, dynamic vision.
Conversely, the body she woreAsher'swas so perfect that it moved ideally, ahead of thought.
That was why they were evenly matched.
A battle between one with an overwhelming physique and one with overwhelming combat intelligence.
For Asher, the setup itself was training.
Fighting from the weak side... it had been ages since he'd done that.
Pa-ba-bak!
Exchanges quickened.
Versia looked unmotivated, but she wasn't refusing to learn outrighther swordplay sharpened by the moment.
Her growing difficulty meant Asher could only win by predicting sword paths and countering, not mere reaction.
Electricity raced up his spine.
His heart pounded wildly, flooding his body with battle euphoria.
The thrill of peak focus.
Asher's mind mapped every possible sword path Versia could take, every combination, inputting and discarding.
Predicting, he deflected the incoming thrust and charged into her guard.
He expected a pok! stab, but...
"Eek!"
His foot slipped.
The subpar body refused to obey his intent.
In that instant, Versia's eyes widened.
She dropped her wooden sword and hugged him.
Then thud!they tumbled, Asher pinned beneath Versia's body.
Asher looked up at her with round eyes.
Versia was frowning.
Probably because her hand, cushioning his head, hurt.
Their faces were close.
From the intense movement moments ago, body heat rose palpably.
Her breath felt humid.
Where they touched tingled.
Dripa bead of sweat trailed down Versia's nose onto Asher's cheek.
"Uh..."
For some reason, his mind went blank, lips parting vacantly.
In that moment.
"...What are you doing?"
A sharp voice rang out.
Asher startled and turned his head.
There, at the garden entrance, stood Lubena Pradeiri, frowning at them.
"?"
Asher stared blankly, failing to grasp the situation.
Then he realized their position.
Him lying on the ground, Versia straddling atop.
One of her hands cradled his head, the other his lower back.
Both drenched in sweat, and from the struggle in falling, Asher's skirt had flipped, exposing pale skin from ankles to mid-thigh.
Blinking rapidly, Asher glanced back at Lubena, belatedly realizing how this looked to outsidersand flushed crimson.
Lubena stepped back, contempt plain on her face.
"Fucking around outdoors in broad daylight..."
"No no no noooo!!!"
In his panic, a shriek escaped first.