Saintess Silvia Sunshine (1)
“This is it!”
Two weeks after leaving Lai's Cave, the three of us finally arrived in Hollidral, the capital of the Gaia Empire.
A fence of ambiguous height that seemed to say it wouldn't stop anyone from entering—but low enough that anyone could see it was pointless. Even as dusk began to fall, the pristine white buildings gleamed under the faint lights, flaunting their grandeur. The majestic imperial palace of Gaia stood out even from afar, impossible to miss.
I'd wondered what they meant by calling it the Papal Palace, the Grand Temple, and the imperial palace all at once. But seeing the three structures seamlessly blended into one harmonious whole made perfect sense.
“Now it finally feels like another world.”
Since leaving the cave, we'd avoided cities as much as possible. It was a pity we had to skulk around like this, but with two eye-catching women at my side—and the risk of my identity getting exposed—I'd stuck to small villages and camping outdoors on purpose.
Alicia had slept for 500 years, but as an ancient demon who'd existed for ages, she had no trouble controlling her power. Me? I'd only been a demon for two years, basically a flower grown in a greenhouse. I was confident in suppressing my demonic mana to hide it, but better safe than sorry. No need to stir up trouble.
Thanks to that, this was my first time seeing a proper city on the Rokea Continent.
It was late evening, but the city was still wide awake. Bards sang at the central fountain—a symbol of any fantasy tale—and the nearby inn-cum-tavern buzzed with raucous noise.
True to its name as the capital of the Holy Empire, priests and holy folk wandered everywhere.
Thonk.
“Hwiit?”
Was I too excited gawking at this new city? While scanning around, something shot out from the shadows, and I didn't react in time. I collided with it.
I was fine, but the thing that hit me flipped over. Becoming the Demon King had really toughened me up.
Well, if something only waist-high knocked me over too, that would be a problem.
“Ooh...!”
Fantasy world perks, I guess. The turtle looked almost human. Flipped on its back inside its shell bigger than its body, its stubby limbs flailed uselessly in the air. Quite the sight.
“Nnghcha! Don't just watch! Hwat! Help me up! Pleath! Hwew. Hwew.”
“Ah, sorry.”
I grabbed the flailing turtle-human's hand, and with a grunt, it pushed up and stood. About waist-high on me? Sky-blue hair and eyes matched perfectly with the white robes.
“Thankth you! Did I bump you anywhere hurty?”
She'd taken a nasty tumble, but here she was, plucky as ever. Couldn't help smiling.
“You're the one who fell, little turtle.”
“Wittle tuwtle? Where's the tuwtle?”
She glanced around eagerly, eyes sparkling. Definitely not a turtle. I knew she was human from the start, but she was so bright-eyed and adorable, I teased her anyway.
“Kidding. You okay? That was a big fall.”
“My bag's all fluffy, tho I'm fine! Thankth for helping!”
She bowed deeply again, slung on her backpack as big as she was, and vanished into the dark alley.
Looked no older than seven or eight. What a well-raised kid.
“Gawking like that makes you a target for crime, you know?”
After that little encounter, I was back to sightseeing when a familiar voice came from behind.
“Alicia!”
“City that amazing?”
“Yeah. First time seeing one.”
“Right! You said you only lived in the cave, Master Cluster?”
I'd told her to call me Cluster, but she'd kept saying Demon King. Since we'd be in human territory awhile, I insisted: call me Cluster, or Rust for short. The succubus balked, saying she couldn't possibly, but I dragged her to the table with a weird deal: “Call me Rust, and I'll smack your lower belly one more time later. Deal?” She nodded in a daze.
Anyway, moving on.
“Where's Lai?”
“Sulking at the fountain. Go say sorry and that black suits her~.”
“Does it have to be that much? Such a hassle.”
“Can't leave her like that forever, right?”
No choice. I headed to the fountain where Lai sat. There was a total loner type, lips pursed, crouched on the fountain edge. Benches everywhere, but she picks the floor? Gods could be so lame.
“Hey~ Hey~ What're you doing?”
“Nyaa~!”
I shooed the cat off her head, bent down to meet her eyes.
“My bad.”
She whipped her head away, eyes brimming. Pouting hard.
“Lai. Sor, sor, sor...”
Tried to apologize, but the words stuck. Was this even my fault? If anything, she delayed us. I should be getting the apology.
“You idiot! It's your fault!”
“Puuueeng!”
“M-Master Rust! Just placate her already!”
One's crying, one's yelling like she wants a smack... With two beauties causing a scene, eyes were gathering. This was all Lai's fault, but now I looked bad.
“Hey, you there. Come here a sec.”
It all started that late afternoon when the guard stopped us.
“We got caught?”
“No way. You and I hid our demonic mana perfectly—even a high priest couldn't tell. A mere guard?”
“Then why stop us? Magic detection tool or something?”
“Can't rule it out. If things go south, I'll step in.”
Other adventurers and mercenaries passed the outer gate without issue, but not us. Had to consider every possibility.
“I'll handle it. I'm a priest, remember?”
Lai, in her white priestess robes, hands on hips, bragged confidently.
Right, her. Priestess of Lai Teresa? Nah, Lai Teresa herself. With her, we were invincible in Hollidral.
“Yeah! Lai's a priestess! I'll trust you, Lai.”
“Whoa, first time you look like a goddess, Lai.”
“I am a god...! Wanna die? Calling me a goddess!”
“Huh? Didn't peg you for such a devout priestess.”
She backpedaled fast, but Alicia tilted her head, and Lai froze. How was she gonna fool the guard like this?
“Miss nun. Which branch?”
The guard zeroed in on Lai. Turns out, it wasn't us demons—they nabbed her for the white robes. Glanced at Alicia; she looked relieved. All talk of no worries, but she'd been anxious.
Lai mumbled something about being an independent believer. Should be fine...
“Miss nun. Didn't you know? No white robes allowed. No black ones?”
“Uh, don't have any...”
“Come with me.”
“N-No! Where to? Rust! Help!”
She flailed as they dragged her off, pleading desperately, but I pretended not to know. Too annoying to get involved.
“Master Rust, should we really not follow?”
“If we do and it blows up, it'll be unmanageable. Let it go.”
“That's not it—you're just lazy. Sigh. I'll tail her, just in case.”
After that, I toured Hollidral. Lai got released unharmed, met up with Alicia, and they found me. They just confiscated her white robes and gave her black ones for free. Nothing to console her over.
“Hey.”
Poked her head. No reaction. Normally she'd whine it hurt. She was really sulking.
Seriously? I had to compliment her outfit? Never even said that to Yuri.
“Yo. Black looks prettier than white. Cheer up.”
She glared once, turned away. But her ears perked—mood already lifting. So simple.
“Black suits your pale skin. Get up already.”
“For real? Ah...!”
Eyes sparkled, head whipped back—then fake-pouted again. We needed to find the saintess soon; her antics were getting irritating.
“Why can't she wear white robes?”
I ignored Lai's sulk-fest and turned to Alicia.
“White robes symbolize the saintess, apparently?”
“Saintess symbol?”
“After the second saintess appeared, they made it a rule. Previous one only wore white, so it's iconic or whatever.”
Religious nuts and their nitpicking. The second saintess going along with it? Probably some stuck-up old soul. Scratch that wise comment—bet she's a bratty twenty-something scoffing at prayers.
Arm bends inward, though. Comparing my dumb friend to some rude kid? Had to side with Lai.
“Quit sulking and get up. Time to snag that saintess.”
“You'll avenge me...?”
She hadn't forgotten why we're meeting the saintess, right? Not praying to her? Gotta admit, the girl's wise if not polite.