Chapter 82
Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Saintess's Secret Request
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What did I just hear?
"You want me to take you to the shop?"
...
Eirin nodded.
"Right now?"
"...Yes."
She whispered in a voice that barely rose above a murmur, looking up at me.
"Is that... not possible?"
"It's not that. Just..."
Honestly, I was flustered.
I hadn't even imagined that Eirin would ask me to take her to the shop when she came here.
"What's the reason?"
"S-Some reason?"
"Isn't Eirin a saintess? If the saintess says she wants something, it seems like everyone outside would follow along."
"Ah..."
Eirin hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip hard.
"Th-That is..."
She stammered for a long while, unable to speak, before squeezing her eyes shut.
"Th-They won't let me go."
"...They won't let you go?"
Eirin nodded.
"Th-They said a saintess can't move around freely..."
"Hmm."
So, the saintess's body is too precious to handle carelessly, so they can't send her anywhere recklessly.
She must stay within the church headquarters no matter what.
That made sense.
She wasn't just anyone—she was the Silent Saintess, known as the strongest in divine power among all saintesses so far, the one closest to the goddess.
Her Divine Word was powerful enough to pressure even the Demon King, and she had actually subjugated him.
Her position in the church, not to mention the empire, was on par with that of a hero or the empress.
The church wouldn't want to lose Eirin, who was a stronger symbol of peace than any saintess before.
It was natural for the church to keep a close eye on her movements.
Her escorts were both sword and shield protecting her, and jailers ensuring she couldn't escape anywhere.
"Didn't you come alone last time?"
"Th-That was..."
I waited for Eirin to speak.
I knew well it wasn't just her shy personality making it hard for her to talk.
I knew better than anyone that it took time because she had to rearrange words in her mind to avoid triggering Divine Word.
"Ri-Right after the demon worshipper subjugation, a revelation came that Brother Max was a demon..."
"It was like some kind of accident."
Eirin nodded.
Due to the successive revelations, the priests and holy knights couldn't keep tabs on Eirin, allowing her to come to my shop alone.
"Couldn't you have just brought everyone to the shop?"
...
Eirin didn't answer.
She just blushed and fidgeted with her fingers.
"Ah."
I realized why she hadn't brought the others.
It was a stupid question.
In Eirin's illusion, I had seen an Eirin completely independent of Divine Word.
She had turned me into a demon and enjoyed defiling her divine power with that demon.
Though she denied it and prayed fervently, she had ultimately enjoyed sex with the demon.
Even if it was possible only in an illusion, those thoughts must have lingered in her mind.
It was a scene she wouldn't want to show other priests.
"I'm sorry."
"Ah, no, it's fine."
Taking the saintess out of the church.
"This is a tough request."
"I'm sorry. You don't have to force it. Even now, you can just go back..."
Divine Power faintly gathered around Eirin, as if Divine Word was about to activate.
If she had said one more word just then, her Divine Word commanding me to return to the shop would have dominated me.
It felt like the Divine Power was glaring at me in warning.
This sends chills down my spine.
Though it wasn't directly harmful to me, as an illusion mage of considerable skill, I could sense the flow of air and mana well enough.
I felt the Divine Power in the air surging at her every word.
Even carefully chosen words carried power strong enough to dominate Divine Power.
It felt particularly hostile toward me.
Maybe it's angry because my illusion nullified Divine Word.
'Divine Word is scary stuff.'
I shook my head at Eirin's words urging me to leave.
"I can't do that."
...
"I'm not heartless enough to coldly turn away a guest who came to see me."
I faced Eirin as I spoke.
"This isn't the shop, but it means it's that urgent for you to call me here."
"Th-That's not... I-I just wanted to talk..."
"I know. Desire doesn't have to be sexual."
...
"The desire to have a casual conversation is still something I need to fulfill."
"Ah..."
Eirin nodded up and down as if convinced.
"But the problem is how to convince the priests..."
What would be the best way?
Right now, I had a chance for a private meeting under the pretext of an apology for branding me a demon, but I didn't think it would continue.
As Eirin said, if surveillance on her was tight, the moment our meeting ended, she'd be bound by others again.
"Hmm..."
I pondered for a moment how to get her out.
"Can't you command them with Divine Word?"
"...I could fool them briefly with Divine Word, but it would unravel after some time. Then Brother Max would be suspected."
That would be tricky.
"We'll have to think of another way."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I do have one method."
...
At my words that there was a way, Eirin's eyes widened as she looked at me.
"I'll use illusion magic to show an image of you speaking without using Divine Word. We can fool the other priests with that and create a reason to go outside."
"...I-Is that possible?"
Her eyes widened again at the idea of speaking without using Divine Word.
She seemed genuinely shocked.
"Of course. Though it won't be you speaking directly."
"Yes?"
"I'll speak. You just smile."
...
"I'll distort what I say through illusion magic to make it look like you're the one saying it."
"I-It can be done."
"Yes. Anyone short of the pope will fall for it."
Not sure about cardinals.
It might sound a bit reckless.
Using magic inside the church.
Illusion magic, which some believers call demon magic.
Yeah.
They'd never expect it.
That I'd use illusion magic in the church headquarters.
I planned to exploit that blind spot.
"While I draw the magic, just cover my mana with your Divine Power, Eirin."
"...Th-Then what excuse will you use to get out?"
"We'll say that through our discussion, you learned a way to freely control Divine Word, and you'll visit my shop to learn more."
...
"We'll say it's a solemn and sacred method, so no other priests are allowed."
"But that's a lie..."
"It's a lie. Didn't you expect that from the moment you called me? You know we can't leave unless we fool all the nuns, priests, and holy knights."
Eirin's face grew serious.
Perhaps because it meant defying the rules.
Her face flushed more than at first.
"Th-Will they believe it?"
Eirin seemed anxious.
"They'll have no choice but to believe."
Priests often lacked flexible thinking due to their devotion and blind faith.
Especially when it came to words from someone like the saintess, who already wielded immense authority through Divine Power—they believed blindly.
If I said it, it wouldn't work.
But if the saintess herself said it, it was different.
The people outside would believe if the saintess said I was a demon.
"But we'll have to go through a slightly embarrassing process."
"What..."
I pulled a rolled-up leather pouch from my pocket.
It was a set of magic circle tools I carried for anti-portability, to draw circles anywhere.
Brushes of various thicknesses, dyes, and special dye mixed with mana stones.
I spoke to Eirin, who eyed the sparkling blue dye and brush intently.
"I need to draw a magic circle on your body, Eirin."
"...Pardon?"
"Illusion magic can't properly fulfill its role with casting alone. It basically requires a magic circle activated from a specific position."
Instant casts rarely landed properly.
I could illusion 2-3 people if I left here now.
But what if there were more?
If others appeared during the deception?
The illusion would break, and I'd be caught.
Even drawing a circle here wouldn't cover a wide area.
'And traces would remain, so I'd be pinpointed as the culprit.'
Saintess kidnapper.
I'd be captured by heresy inquisitors, tortured, and punished.
So, I needed a way to maintain the illusion while moving.
That was drawing the circle on the body.
It distorts reality and shows illusions centered on the bearer.
If the bearer was a saintess with the power to turn lies into truth, they'd definitely be fooled.
Just showing her speaking without Divine Word would convince them.
"If I draw the magic circle on your body, it can show illusions while moving, and even if others appear midway, there'll be no issue. And by showing a changed appearance, they'll believe without needing Divine Word."
"...If Brother Max says it, Divine Word won't come out, right?"
"Exactly."
...
"There's one thing to be careful of."
"What is it?"
"Don't speak a word until we leave the church. The illusion from this magic circle isn't strong enough to twist Divine Word. If you say even one word, the magic will break."
"...I can do that."
"Then I'll draw it now."
At my words, Eirin asked.
"Where will you draw it?"
"On your left back, the scapula area."
...
"Before drawing, warn the nuns and priests outside not to enter because there's an important ritual."
...Yes.
She cautiously stepped out, cracked the door open, and began whispering to the priests guarding outside.
In the meantime, I took out the dye and added a bit more mana stone powder.
Since Divine Power was strong, I'd need a slightly more potent circle than usual.
"I told them."
"Did they believe you?"
"...I used Divine Word."
So, they didn't believe easily.
I figured as much.
"Then let's begin. Turn your back and slightly lower your clothes."
...Yes.
Eirin turned her back to me, undid her nun habit, and exposed her shoulders.
The saintess's white, flawless skin came into view.
I'd seen it multiple times in illusions, but this was the first time seeing the saintess's bare shoulder in reality.
"Please spread your Divine Power a little from now on."
She nodded in response.
As Eirin clasped her hands and began praying, I dipped a fine brush in blue dye and started drawing on her small shoulder.
As the thin brush touched her back.
"Hnng...!"
Her small shoulder trembled, and her body twitched.
"Please endure it just a bit."
On her faintly quivering back, I slowly drew the illusion magic circle.
Blue lines began to engrave on her pristine white skin.
"Hnng..."
Each time, Eirin's moans leaked out faintly.
Around us, Divine Power spread softly.