The Hero Became Honest
"What are you doing here?"
"Huh?"
One of the Holy Knights responded to Jena von Darius's question with a dumbfounded look.
"Didn't you hear there was training today?"
"N-no, I didn't."
"What an idiot. I step away from the church for a moment, and all the discipline goes out the window. Assemble in front of the church immediately."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
The knight hurriedly replied to Jena's irritated tone and bolted off somewhere. Naturally, the reason Jena had suddenly called for training was because of me. She was the captain of the Gaiana Church's Holy Knights, after all, and she had the authority to summon them. Plus, while she was a pervert only in front of me, the Holy Knights viewed her no differently than a witch. With her hysterical personality and powerful family backing her, getting on her bad side meant headaches in every direction—it was only natural. And thanks to her naturally bossy demeanor, not a single Holy Knight even dreamed of questioning the sudden drill.
"Kyle will keep the kids busy for about two hours. In the meantime, smoothing things over with Marian is up to you now, Hero."
"Got it. Thanks, Jena."
The Holy Knights' training would be handled by Kyle in Jena's place. Since Kyle harbored feelings for her, he'd follow her orders without question, so using him like this was no issue. I couldn't help but think it was a bit pathetic how casually she exploited him, but that was just how Jena was.
"Instead of thanks, how about that reward you promised later...?"
"Ah, yeah, after everything's done."
I gave her an awkward smile as I said it. She'd created an opportunity for me to sleep with another woman, yet here she was asking for sex as her reward. It was hardly the kind of thing a normal woman would say.
"Alright then, I'm off. Jena."
I told her that and started walking. Even if she'd pulled the Holy Knights out of the church, there were still plenty of eyes around. We needed someone on watch for any potential risks, and Jena had volunteered for the job. I followed her as she quickly crossed the church grounds. Sure, there were still priests left besides the knights, but no one batted an eye at me since I was with Jena.
"This is the room."
Jena stopped in front of a shabby door in the corner of the church and said so. For the saintess's quarters, it was pathetically plain, a clear sign of how Marian was usually treated.
"Mm."
"No time to waste. Get in there."
She urged me on, but I couldn't bring myself to open the saintess's door easily. Even if I went in, I had no idea what to say first. Blurting out something like "I'll fuck you right now" would be weird, and I couldn't just ask if she was upset with me either.
"Hero."
Jena called out to me, her face unable to hide her frustration at my hesitation.
"Yeah?"
"Just be honest with her. That should be enough, don't you think?"
I pressed my lips together as I looked at Jena smiling and giving me that advice. Marian's reaction had been unexpected enough, but Jena's was shattering the preconceptions I'd held about her. Still, right now, Marian was the priority, so I nodded at Jena's words and stepped into the saintess's room.
"Marian."
As I opened the door and entered, I saw Marian's back—kneeling in one corner of the room, facing the wall. I called her name, and her shoulders twitched. Getting this far was good, but I still couldn't think of anything to say. With Marian showing no reaction, I just stared blankly at her back.
Was she always this pretty?
I found myself thinking that as I gazed at her. Her sky-blue hair swayed gently over her shoulders, her slender ones rising and falling with her breaths. The tight priestess robes accentuated her slim waist, and below that, her full hips curved out with a seductive allure that could captivate any man. I'd kept her close all this time without paying her much mind on purpose, but viewing her differently now sent blood rushing straight to my groin.
"...What brings you here?"
Suddenly, Marian's voice echoed through the empty room. She must have been flustered by me showing up out of nowhere and just staring without a word. Her tone was still laced with hurt, but brimming with curiosity too.
"To apologize."
Emboldened by her response, I said it straight to her. Following Jena's advice, I'd decided to be honest, and reflecting on myself, the first emotion that came up was regret. Sure, I was a petty bastard and still couldn't fully forgive how first-run Marian had treated me. But realizing it might have been my fault, and tormenting her over that old stuff felt a bit excessive now.
"Apologize? What did you do wrong, Hero?"
To be fair, "tormenting" her was just my personal take—in reality, unlike the other women around me, I'd simply left her alone. It wasn't something deserving blame, but knowing her inferiority complex and still using it against her left me feeling guilty.
"Hell if I know. But I feel bad about it toward you."
I laid it out honestly to her, and soon Marian's body turned toward me from facing the wall. Even after sharing my true feelings as Jena suggested, her expression hadn't improved. If anything, she looked more hurt, her already pale face draining of even more color.
"...You don't need to apologize. You can think whatever you want about me—it's your freedom."
She said it in a completely deflated voice. From her reaction, I could tell she'd misunderstood something. I wasn't sure what yet, so I grabbed onto her words on purpose.
"And how do I think of you?"
"A decent comrade at best? Something like that?"
She gave a weak smile as she replied, and I finally grasped her misunderstanding. She clearly carried a much deeper trauma than I'd expected. Marian still believed I had zero interest in her, which only made me feel even more sorry.
"Marian, I think there's a misunderstanding."
"...Misunderstanding? There's no way."
"No, you're plenty beautiful and attractive. Me not touching you had nothing to do with your Raksha Street background or you lacking sexual appeal."
"Th-that's...!"
Her face flushed red at my words. It felt a little embarrassing to say, but once I started spilling the truth, the rest came easier.
"It's true. Marian, I've wanted to hold you too."
I said it looking into her confused eyes, and her already shaky pupils started trembling like there was an earthquake.
"D-don't lie. Then why, that day...?"
"Ah, if you're talking about the other day, I didn't want to force myself on you while you were blackout drunk."
I answered the incredulous Marian like that. Whether it was convincing didn't matter—it was the truth that I hadn't wanted her first time to be in a drunken stupor. Of course, there was also the part where I'd wanted to mess with her a bit more, but no need to mention the inconvenient bits.
"L-lies."
But the already wounded Marian wasn't buying it easily. It might've been her defense mechanism to avoid getting hurt again, but I had solid proof to back my words.
"Look, Marian. I want you right now."
I glanced down at my crotch and told her. Her eyes naturally followed, and she flinched back at the sight of my erection straining hard against my pants like it might burst through.
"Ah, no. I get it. I get it, but...!"
Marian mumbled in confusion. I took a step toward her and said,
"Just so you know, I'm done holding back."