Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Enthronement Ceremony
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'...This feels awkward.'
I was getting dressed in the outfit the Heavenly Demon had prepared for the enthronement ceremony, but it still didn't feel real.
Ever since coming to the Central Plains, most of my clothes had been handmade by my master, so of course wearing something this flashy and black now felt out of place.
'...It looks so luxurious.'
Even a stranger would take one look and think, "This guy's someone important."
For someone who'd been wandering the Central Plains in a cloak that barely qualified as clothing—just something to hide my face—it was impossible to get used to this.
"Look at you. Don't you look even more beautiful all dressed up?"
'...I'm not sure about that.'
The Heavenly Demon had taken obvious delight in preparing me for the ceremony, applying makeup and fixing my hair.
Honestly, I couldn't tell what had changed.
I'd tried refusing with, "Men don't wear makeup," but who could stop the Heavenly Demon?
"Your natural looks are so good that there wasn't much to do. Anything more might have ruined the original."
"Yeah..."
I was starting to get used to compliments on my appearance.
I still couldn't understand why everyone made such a fuss over my completely unmanly face...
But whether I understood it or not, reality didn't change.
I just had to live with it.
'...At least I don't have to worry about more women getting involved now.'
My life was bound to the Heavenly Demon anyway—what did my looks matter?
As long as I wasn't dreaming of some affair as the vice cult leader, my appearance meant nothing here.
If anything, I was more scared of how the rough-looking Demonic Cult folks would react to their vice cult leader looking this delicate.
"Don't be so tense. No cultist would dare complain about my choice."
"...Yes."
I had a ton I wanted to say, but it would all be pointless, so I swallowed it down.
"Alright, it's about time. Let's head out. Won't you feel better once it's over and you can rest?"
"Rest, huh..."
I wondered which would really be rest...
Enduring in front of those rough Demonic Cult people or writhing in pleasure on the bed—it was exhausting either way.
'...I wanna go home.'
The thought made me chuckle bitterly.
My home was here now—what home was I talking about?
"If any cultist dares act rudely toward you, I'll handle it myself, so don't be scared."
"Haha..."
As if anyone would try something with the Heavenly Demon right beside me.
Unless she and I somehow got separated and I was wandering the cult alone, it wasn't worth worrying about.
...That's what I'd thought.
.
.
.
"Hoo..."
-Thump thump
Before I knew it, we were almost there.
Just one door away from the gathered crowd.
"...How many people do you think are out there?"
"Who knows. I don't keep exact count of the cult's numbers... but at least tens of thousands, I'd say."
"..."
I had to stand in front of that many people for the ceremony.
My vision was already spinning.
I stepped forward, praying there was a chair right by the door.
-Creak!
"""Waaaaah!!!"""
"Ugh..."
The door flew open, and deafening cheers assaulted my senses.
At least the Heavenly Demon was holding my shoulder steady.
I wanted to close my eyes, but that would only make it worse later, so I forced myself to look ahead.
'Whoa...'
As expected, they were all scarred martial artists.
Not everyone looked ugly, but most had sour expressions that made their feelings toward me clear.
The initial cheers were probably just obligatory—no one was truly happy about me becoming vice cult leader.
Look at them.
All staring with mouths agape...
'...?'
This wasn't the reaction I'd expected.
I'd braced for scowls of jealousy or envy, but this was different.
And that admiring gaze didn't last.
-Glare
'Eek...'
The female devotees' eyes shifted, turning blatantly obvious in an instant.
Lust? Greed?
Whatever it was, it matched the heated stares I'd gotten from aroused women before.
'W-Wait, I haven't done anything yet?'
If it were just one or two, I could've brushed it off as oddballs.
But no—nearly all the women. Half of these tens of thousands, an uncountable horde, were eyeing me like that.
There was no room for smugness about my looks.
Even a half-naked prostitute wouldn't draw this much attention.
It was blatantly abnormal, irrational.
-Tremble
'Urp...'
My legs shook, my stomach churned.
No other thoughts came.
Overwhelmed by the surreal intensity of those gazes—feeling them physically—my mind went blank.
I couldn't even think to walk to the chair a few steps away.
How often in life does one face this many stares? So openly predatory?
-Beeeep...
As my overloaded brain started glitching with weird noises, a voice cut through from beside me.
"All of you, lower your gazes."
A heavy, commanding tone.
Like it pierced straight into the soul.
-Boom!
The words rang out, and tens of thousands of heads slammed to the ground simultaneously.
"Since when did lowly cultists gain the right to eye the vice cult leader so insolently?"
"""".....""""
"Speak. Is there some cult law I'm unaware of?"
""""No, there isn't!!!!!""""
-Echo
Tens of thousands shouting in unison.
The air itself vibrated—a grand spectacle.
It cleared the fog from my whitening mind.
-Grip
The Heavenly Demon's hand, on my shoulder earlier, now wrapped around my arm.
"Then what was that attitude just now?"
"""".........""""
"Did the cult's vice cult leader—my husband—look like someone you could appraise at will?"
""""No, he doesn't!!!!!!!""""
"Good. As expected."
With that, her other hand clenched into a fist.
-Crack!
"""Kyaaah!!!"""
"""Aaaah!!!!!!!"""
A ominous sound echoed, red flashes filled my vision.
"...Huh?"
Red liquid sprayed the air, screams shook the atmosphere.
People collapsed, clutching parts of their bodies.
Different spots for each, but for the women, mostly one eye.
"I wanted to gouge out every filthy eye that dared look at my husband that way, but turning you all blind at once would cause issues for the cult. So I'll let it slide at this."
""Thank you for your mercy!!!""
...What the hell was I watching?
That many people's eyes—disabled.
By one person. In less than a second.
I'd been uncomfortable with the stares, sure... but this was overkill...?
For a moment's glance, they'd live half-blind forever...?
-Creak... creak
My head turned.
Slowly. Forcing itself, like it had to see something I didn't want to.
Like a rusty machine, it screeched until it faced the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
[Didn't I tell you? As long as I'm here, no one will touch you.]
Those eyes—free of negativity, proud of a job well done.
I'd never forget them.
.
.
.
After that, I barely remembered anything.
I just mechanically sat in the chair, watching the proceedings with dead eyes.
Throughout, the Heavenly Demon's gaze lingered in my mind.
The ceremony ended before I knew it, and with her support, I returned to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.
It hadn't been long, but the mental toll was immense.
"You did well. First time with something like this, and you held up great."
"...Yeah."
"Eat first? Or wash up? Or... like this?"
"...I want to rest today."
She's scary.
The being beside me terrified me.
Beyond a wife with a quirky personality—
She felt like an entirely different creature.
Incomprehensible. Her breath so close, yet worlds apart.
"Understood. Just lie there then. I'll handle everything."
"...No, that's not what I meant by rest..."
-Rustle
"Could you lift your arm a bit? To take off your clothes..."
"N-No!"
-Slap
Ah.
I'd instinctively swatted her hand away.
"..."
The air turned icy in an instant.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to—my head's just a bit off right now..."
"No, it's fine. After something like that, you'd want some alone time."
She spoke with her usual expression, but instinct told me something was off.
As I hesitated to undress, she stood and headed for the door.
"I'll come tomorrow. Pull yourself together in the meantime. I was lacking in consideration this time."
-Click.
"Ah..."
Before I could say anything, she was gone.
I stared at the door for a long while after.
Realizing she was truly gone and I was alone—
"...Hic."
All strength drained from my body as I buried my face in the pillow.
Exhausting.
The hardest moment of my life.
How did it come to this?
"...Sob."
Tears flowed unbidden.
Had I ever wanted to run this badly?
The thought of a lifetime with that woman made my breath shorten, my body heavy.
No one else to rely on—
Only the cold blanket's warmth enveloped me.
"...Saintess..."
I called one name.
The one I'd hated, chased away with curses—
But the only one who could talk to me now.
Always by my side.
Perhaps knowing me better than I knew myself.
Able to tell me of my forgotten past.
"......Erdel."
It was pathetic, but—
I sobbed her name.
I'd hurled abuse before we parted.
[Yes! Hero! Your exclusive saintess Erdel is here!]
Yet even now, she was by my side.