Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 21
A man and a woman, drenched in sweat, were rolling around in the garden.
I thought they were pulling out all the stops in their depravity... but I suppose it could happen.
Lubena was pretty open-minded in that regard.
The only problem was that the object of it all was Versia.
They'd known each other for ten years.
The fact that her weakness was the thrill of doing it outdoors was pretty shocking.
As for other peculiarities, well, it was only today that Lubena had seen Versia's bare legs for the first time.
Her skin was snow-white, and the curve from her thighs down to her ankles was so graceful it could make you gasp.
I couldn't help but think that if artists saw this sight, they'd be consumed by artistic passion and frantically commit it to canvas.
Even Lubena, who despised her, felt the urge to touch themno need to explain further.
Anyway.
"So, we were sparring, and I ended up falling over. Got it? Can you drop it now?"
"Are you sure you understand properly? Really?"
"Ah, you're starting to piss me off."
Lubena's face twisted.
Asher's lips pursed.
She no longer had the energy to nag about his pretentiousness or whatever.
She decided to chalk it up to him being head over heels in love or something.
Why, even if that slippery pretty-boy face of his wasn't to her taste, objectively speaking, her bodyguard was a handsome guy, right?
His refined features and slender, elongated build were a far cry from her own bald-headed guard.
Of course, she didn't feel jealous that the pack mule was good-looking.
It might be nice to look at while traveling together, but now wasn't the time for that.
Thud
Lubena tossed a document onto the tea table.
"What's this?"
"What else? Orders."
"Huh?"
Lubena said irritably,
"We have to go undercover. You and me."
Really, there wasn't a single thing she liked about this.
* * *
Lubena left.
Whether unfortunate or fortunate, she didn't bring up the incident again.
It wasn't so much that she believed them as it was that she just didn't care anymore, and the reason was clear as day.
The undercover orders.
"...The northeastern forces."
"Ah, the area with all the mines."
"Yes, definitely a place where heretics could be lurking. Lots of hidden tunnels there."
Even among the heretics Asher had hunted, most lived in burrows underground rather than out in the open.
Of coursehow could you conduct live experiments or blood sacrifices in broad daylight?
And with the witches on the rampage, swelling their numbers, they'd need vast caverns to house them all.
Asher's expression grew serious.
"Lots of civilian disappearances. Strange rumors that can't be explained by natural phenomena... And most notably, a branch Holy Knight was killed. Fourth-class... Fresh out of training, but this warrants attention."
"Could it be a simple accident or personal grudge?"
"Unlikely. Look hereit says 'no external wounds'."
"So?"
"Holy Knights don't die that cleanly."
It was because of their combat style.
The first prayer trainees learned, the 'Warrior's Prayer', temporarily dulled pain to boost endurance.
You could imagine how a Holy Knight's battle unfolded.
They fought until they were ragseven in death, a Holy Knight went down swinging.
'No external wounds' was indeed noteworthy.
"Ambushed by overwhelming foes, or a heretic curse. Given the circumstances there, probably the latter."
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's just... for someone who talks like that, your body didn't have many scars."
Asher tilted his head.
"I don't take hits I can dodge. Enduring damage doesn't mean deliberately letting yourself get struck, does it?"
"......"
"...What's really going on?"
Versia's gaze was odd.
Asher's eyes narrowed.
Finally, the answer came.
"No, you're the first person I've met who boasts like that."
"Pardon? I wasn't boasting..."
It was just that he'd never faced enemies that tough before.
He tried to explain, but Versia changed the subject.
"Anyway, sounds like combat. Hm, can I handle it?"
"...Sorry, Sir Hyzenberg, but we'll have to leave it to him."
It felt guilty making a junior shield for a senior.
But there was no choice.
With combat prayers, Versia could handle a few Corrupted Entities easily, but how could he ignore the mistakes from her inexperience?
Besides, Satern Hyzenberg, Lubena's guard, was top-tier even among first-class knights in breakthrough power.
If he seized the initiative, a few hundred heretics wouldn't stand a chance against him.
The bigger issue was always one thing.
"...We can't get caught."
"It'll be fine. Lubena didn't seem to care about my antics at all."
"You never know..."
Sighs came heavy.
* * *
There were three days until the undercover mission.
Asher spent them training Versia and building his own stamina.
On top of that, he devised a way to use sealed combat prayers via Divine Power output.
"Talismans, huh."
"Yes. Just infuse them with Divine Power in advance, and you can use a few prayers."
Talismans channeled specific prayers through a medium, activated by burning.
Inefficient, but overwhelming output bridged the gap.
Asher tucked the finished talismans into his bosom.
That's when he looked up.
"Eek! You startled me!"
"Huh?"
"H-how can you stand so close!"
Versia was right in his breathing space.
Her puzzled eyes soon sparkled with mischief.
"Did it make your heart race?"
"As if! You're forgettingthis is my body you're wearing! No way it'd race seeing my own face."
Really.
He grumbled and backed away.
She flinched, probably recalling their garden tumble a few days ago.
Heat rose for no reason.
Even as he dismissed it as nothing special, Versia's furrowed brow and the sweat droplets touching him felt vividly real.
Asher shoved the thought aside and stood.
It was time to head to the rendezvous.
Versia giggled and fell in beside him.
Then, belatedly, "Ah."
"What."
"If you're gonna spout nonsense, don't. I really won't listen."
"Your attitude's getting rude. I'm an adult, you know."
"Right now, I'm the Saintess."
He needed to be this brazen.
Otherwise, he might slip and call her 'Saintess' in front of Lubena and Saterna disaster.
Versia smirked.
"Anyway, not nonsense."
"...Then say it."
"Once we're out, you'll have to wash the body alone."
Flinch!
"Finally letting me see it, huh. My body."
Asher glared, eyes twitching.
Versia smiled seductively.
No matter how many times, that lewd expression on his own face never sat right.
Was it the person's temperament?
Anyway, the moment he'd been putting off could no longer be avoided.
Embarrassing just to think about, but he couldn't skip washing.
A grubby Saintess? That tarnished not just Versia, but the whole Church's image.
So Asher steeled himself.
He'd even observed Dalin washing the body these past days, eyes half-closed.
Silhouette or not, he now knew what Versia's nude looked like.
The guilt was unavoidable.
Asher cleared his throat, face red, and said,
"...Don't worry. I won't look closely. I found a way."
"Wasn't worried."
"...Please, just do it?"
"But you're a virgin knight. No guts."
"?"
Asher's eyes hardened.
Versia snickered.
"Means I trust you that much. Want me to? I'll wash it for you."
Don't take the bait.
Swallowing a retort, Asher whipped around and marched out.
To the rendezvous, the Church's north gate.
There stood Lubena, arms crossed in casual outing dress, and Satern, blankly waiting in leather armor.
Disguised to avoid detection as Church affiliates for the undercover op.
Mid-stride, Asher winced.
Satern's head reflected the sunlight.
Versia whispered,
"Amazing every time. Does he skincare his scalp? Shinier than other bald guys."
"...It's not thatit's his secret technique. And don't say that in front of him."
"I know. But what's the scalp-shine technique? Curious."
...This journey gonna be okay?
"Hey! Hurry up already!"
Lubena snapped irritably.
Asher quickened his pace.
At the carriage, Lubena eyed him up and down.
"Gonna wear the robe like that?"
"Uh..."
"You didn't forget your role, right?"
"......"
Right.
For the undercover, Asher had a role too.
Asher and Lubena were daughters of a merchant house come to buy gems in the mining town. Versia was Asher's fiance. Satern, the manservant.
Asher shed the robe awkwardly.
His flushed earlobes betrayed his embarrassment.
Revealed was unmistakably women's clothing.
White blouse and navy skirt to mid-calf.
The thin fabric accentuated Versia's feminine curves.
Asher's heart wouldn't settle.
Lubena's scanning gaze made him shrink.
Eyes down, fingers fidgeting.
Versia said coolly,
"You look beautiful, Saintess."
"...Stop."
Even switching to formal speech for Lubena's sake made it worse.
Lubena glanced disgustedly and said,
"Let's go. You two ride behind. Not in the mood to watch you suck face."
"W-we wouldn't..."
"That lovesick puppy look says otherwise. Makes me wanna puke."
Stab!
A dagger to Asher's chest.
He froze in shock.
Lubena turned and boarded her carriage regardless.
Neigh!
Her carriage departed.
Versia poked Asher's side.
"Shall we?"
"......"
"Oh, what about pet names from now? 'Miss' is for noblesnope. 'Missy' feels hierarchical. Hm..."
Asher's chest ached.
Felt like no allies at all.
The undercover mission was tough from the start.