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Chapter 4
Spent the most terrible night of my life in the Saint's arms; since I couldn't check the time, I had to rely on my stomach to tell me the next day had arrived.
There was nothing special about the next day. I just felt a bit down knowing the execution was one day closer. It was a trivial thing.
"Saint, you have a visitor."
As he spoke, Kelth opened the iron bars of Tartarus and stepped inside. Beside him stood a massive, muscular man, as steady as a stone statue.
An ogre? A troll? No, the man next to Kelth was definitely human. He just didn't look human because of his sheer size. He was as hulking as the Frankenstein kept by the Southern Grand Duke of the Demon Realm.
Damn it, another visitor. I haven't had a single visitor in the 104 days I've spent in Tartarus. I feel like I've lost to the Saint somehow, and my pride is seriously wounded.
"It's been a long time."
The Saint's voice was brimming with pleasure. The man, on the other hand, looked quite uncomfortable just from the way he stood.
"Holy Emperor Julius."
"Saint, have you been well?"
"Thanks to the Lord's grace, I am always well."
"Hmm... given the circumstances, this place is far too..."
"Does the environment truly matter? It all depends on one's mindset. Just as one would happily chew on a stone if it were food provided by the Lord, Tartarus is no different from Heaven if you believe it to be so."
There she goes again. Spouting nonsense. It's so cringey that I want to step in and shut her up. I would have, if my arms and legs weren't tied.
By the way, what did she say just now?
She definitely called him 'Holy Emperor Julius.'
"Then, I shall take my leave. Please, carry on with your conversation."
"Kelth, is that alright?"
"Visitation hours are unlimited. Actually, it's very rare for a prisoner in Tartarus to receive a visitor... if any issues arise later, I'll cover it with my authority."
"...Thank you as always, Kelth. You haven't changed a bit since your days as the White Knight."
Holy Emperor Julius raised his arm and patted Kelth's shoulder. Not with a hand, but with his arm. The area below his elbow was empty.
"Yes, sir!"
Kelth let out an excited shout, looking honored, and hurried out. Of course he did.
Who else but the Pope and the Saint of the Holy Nation were visiting? What kind of jailer would dare linger around them?
Holy Emperor Julius, the Pope of the Holy Nation and its supreme authority.
Also known as the Fist Emperor, he was undoubtedly one of the greatest warriors on the continent. The saying that the Holy Emperor's left fist splits the air and his right fist tears through dimensions didn't come from nowhere.
For the Holy Emperor's arm to end up like that... Ah, Kelth mentioned it. The Demon King demanded the Holy Emperor's arm as a condition for accepting the Holy Nation's surrender.
Wait, then aren't the Saint and the Holy Emperor in an awkward relationship?
The Holy Emperor, who resisted the Demon Army for so long, eventually surrendered to the Demon King, even cutting off his own arm, while the Saint became a one-woman army and struggled until the very end, only to be defeated by the Four Great Dukes of the Demon Realm and become a death row prisoner.
"Hmm... Saint, I don't know where to begin..."
"Please, speak freely. Why does the leader of the Church hesitate?"
"I'm sorry. No, I am truly sorry."
Ah, so that's why he's been cowering. He's feeling guilty.
Honestly, I don't get it. The war was going to end in the Demon King's victory anyway. I knew it from the start since I've known the Demon King for a long time, and the moment the Unyielding Hero became the Cowardly Hero, the continent's hope was basically extinguished.
In that case, wasn't the Holy Emperor's choice correct from the Holy Nation's perspective? Wasn't the Saint foolish for resisting until the end only to end up as a prisoner?
...As I thought, I can't understand the Saint.
"What are you talking about? Why would the noble Holy Emperor Julius apologize to me?"
"Saint, I will find a way, no matter what. Please... just hold on a little longer."
"I simply accept the trials the Lord has bestowed upon me; there is nothing to 'hold on' to."
"...I will make sure the execution doesn't happen. Even if I have to face the Demon King myself."
The Holy Emperor hid his severed arms behind his back and showed his firm resolve. It was an action that showed how much he cared for the Saint.
But surely, he knows?
'Execution' clearly refers to the Saint's death penalty. Only death row prisoners come to Tartarus.
And for someone as prominent as the Saint to be sentenced to death, the judge would have to be someone like the Demon King.
How could a weak human who cut off his own arm out of fear of the Demon King possibly oppose him?
It's just empty words. Knowing that, the Saint wears such a bitter smile.
"Please, do not do anything reckless."
"But Saint..."
"Is this not the peace achieved at the cost of your precious arms, Holy Emperor?"
The Saint reached out and grasped the Holy Emperor's severed arm. She managed to grab it perfectly, even without eyes.
"The lives of millions of citizens are at stake; how can you allow yourself to be swept away by emotion?"
Woooong—.
A pure white Light Aura rose from the Saint's small, rough hands. The Light Aura, illuminating the darkness, brightly lit the bars a short distance away from me.
The Light Aura seeped into the Holy Emperor's arm, which was wrapped tightly in bandages. New skin began to sprout from the Holy Emperor's arm where the Light Aura touched.
That was the same mysterious Light Aura that healed my neck... the one she packaged as love.
"If the Lord decides to take you, one must simply accept it with a joyful heart. That is all."
The Holy Emperor's aged face was colored with shock. His thick beard trembled.
"Saint! S-stop this at once! How could you give your precious lifespan to someone like me...!"
"The Lord gave me my lifespan so that I might bestow love upon the humble; I am merely fulfilling my duty. Please do not refuse."
Bone, muscle, blood vessels, and flesh grew back rapidly. After a brief blink, the Holy Emperor's two arms were restored.
Though the original forearm and the newly grown arm looked slightly different, regardless.
"Saint...."
"I tried to make them as similar to the originals as possible. I hope you like... ugh!"
"Saint! What is wrong! Kelth, Kelth! Are you outside!"
Suddenly, the Saint vomited blood.
The coughing of blood, which looked ominous at a glance, flowed down the iron bars. The Saint's nun's habit was stained crimson.
The Holy Emperor urgently called for Kelth outside. When no answer came, he moved his massive body with heavy thuds and stepped outside himself.
"Good grief, what a chaotic scene."
"Uuugh... cough, cough—."
The Saint leaned her head against the iron bars and collapsed onto the burning stone floor. Red blood continued to gush from her mouth.
She followed with frequent coughing. Watching her quietly, I spoke softly.
"So the secret to that near-omnipotent healing power was your lifespan."
"Haha...."
"What? Love? Don't make me laugh. After spending your own lifespan."
"My humble body... was fashioned by the Lord's Blessings...."
"What are you saying while you're dying?"
"My short lifespan... is filled with the Lord's love... so it is indeed love...."
After speaking, the Saint pressed her face against the stone floor. She seemed half-unconscious.
She probably won't be able to get up on her own for a while.
Lifespan, lifespan. That means healing my wounded throat and Vincent's gunshot wound also cost her lifespan.
The first two times ended with her just looking a bit gaunt, but collapsing today means she had to spend a massive amount of lifespan to regenerate the Holy Emperor's arms.
Ha.
The blood touching the stone floor bubbles. Right, I forgot, this is Tartarus.
Wait, if she stays like that without being able to use solar power, the Saint's face will cook like a piece of meat.
...Whether she cooks or not, what does it matter to me? It's not like the Saint is my ally. She'll die in five days anyway, so she might as well die now.
"Cough."
"What, you're not dead?"
I want the Saint to die. Because she's disgusting.
I wish she, who is like a clone of the Goddess, would vanish forever. Because just touching her is unpleasant.
I wish the mouth that spouts bizarre things every day would be shut forever. Because listening to her is nothing but torture.
"Cough, cough."
The Saint let out lingering coughs. The sprayed blood gradually oxidized in the air.
Yeah, just die like that. I was getting bored of talking to her anyway.
However.
"Your face is decent enough."
If you're going to die, why not do it properly...?
"...Ha, you fixed my voice to speak so filthily. How foolish are you to spend your lifespan on me......."
"Cough...!"
The Saint let out a raspy cough. I barely exerted telekinesis with my finger and added a remark so she wouldn't misunderstand.
Woooong—.
"Don't get the wrong idea. Human looks are generally shitty, and I just hate seeing one of the few pretty faces get ruined. It's definitely not that I want you to live. I'm an artist, after all."
It's true. I like artistic things. I like pretty things.
That's all. I can swear that I'm absolutely not doing this because I like her.
Woooong—.
"Gwaaaaah...!"
"Cough."
I flicked my finger, exercising my telekinesis. The Saint's upper body was automatically lifted and leaned against the iron bars.
Pain, as if every bone in my body were breaking, washed over me. I felt as though my insides were twisting. It was the result of forcing my telekinesis.
My vision blurred. My mind went blank. The seizures that had been quiet for a while returned, producing a 'clatter' sound.
Was I going to lose consciousness just like this?
"At least that's a relief...."
With my fading consciousness, I mumbled while looking at the Saint leaning neatly against the bars.
"At least your face won't cook...."
The next moment, my consciousness flickered out as I saw the Holy Emperor and Kelth rushing back in.
Damn bastards. Why didn't they come sooner? What would they do if their Saint died.......
*****
When I struggled to open my eyes, I saw the Saint sitting up and the Holy Emperor kneeling before her. Kelth was beside them, looking restless.
The Holy Emperor was earnestly offering some kind of apology. The Saint, as usual, nodded with a faint smile on her lips.
"Then, I shall take my leave. Saint, please take care of yourself."
"Yes, Holy Emperor. But I ask that you do not harbor unnecessary guilt. You did your best."
"...Thank you."
The Holy Emperor answered calmly, then stood up and left Tartarus. His footsteps were as heavy as those of an average ogre.
Kelth handed two pieces of bread to the Saint through the bars, then followed the Holy Emperor.
Just as I thought he had left, the Holy Emperor paused and looked back.
"The cell is dark, and though I know not who the deceased lying there is... please look after the Saint."
After leaving those words for me, he vanished completely. I wonder how he'd react if he knew I was their enemy, second only to the Demon King.
Since he's already gone, he'll never know.
"Such a precious gift...."
The Saint looked at the bread Kelth had left with a warm gaze, then came toward me. For some reason, I felt I knew what she would do next.
"What is it?"
"Please, eat."
"I don't like bread."
"You enjoyed it the other day."
"That was because I was starving."
"I imagine you are quite hungry now as well?"
The Saint placed her hand on my stomach as if teasing me. It was a modest gesture, but to me, it was utterly repulsive.
"Wha-what are you doing!"
Naturally, I reacted strongly, but the Saint didn't stop and continued to feel my stomach. That unpleasant touch tickled my lower abdomen.
"Your stomach is practically sticking to your back."
"Y-you perverted wench...!"
"Please eat first, my savior."
"Savior? No way... you remembered that even while you were half-dead?"
"I am not such a rude girl as to forget the savior who saved my humble life."
"Damn it! I shouldn't have bothered!"
Whether I flared up in anger or not, the Saint shoved the bread into my mouth with a smiling face. Ha, see if I ever save her again.
"Mmph...!"
"Does it suit your taste?"
"Screw you! Even troll meat would taste better than this!"
Damn, it's ridiculously delicious.
However, it's true that I hate bread. I've been a bread-hater for a long time.
In the middle of the battlefield against the Empire, when I went to the northern polar regions, when I got lost in the demon-infested Hell Forest, when I slaughtered the White Knights of the Holy Nation, and when I grew hungry while logging the World Tree.
I hate bread so much that I'd search for it even in those moments.
"Munch... munch...."
"I am relieved to hear you eating so well."
The bread was nutty and soft. It seemed to have a strange fragrance. Regardless of that, I still hated it.
I chewed the bread thoroughly and swallowed. The Saint tried to pull me back onto her lap once more.
I tried to resist by shaking my head, but since my limbs were bound, I ended up back in her embrace. Damn it, once these iron chains are off, the Saint is the first person I'm killing. Although whether such a day will ever come is uncertain.
"You say you're relieved, so why the hell are you hugging me again?"
"When the baby angel in your heart raises its head, I must accelerate your reformation."
"Your rosary keeps poking my head; it hurts. Can't you move it?"
"...Oh dear, I have committed a rudeness."
The Saint hurriedly moved the rosary she had been holding against me to the side. Seeing that, it didn't seem like her goal was to cause me pain, but she is truly an unpredictable woman.
"...Actually, there's something I want to ask."
"Please, ask away."
I tossed out a tentative question. The Saint reacted with visible pleasure. Was she really that happy that I spoke to her?
"The conversation you had with the Holy Emperor... I can guess what it was. And that you told him not to feel guilty."
"Is that so?"
"Either dying or surrendering to the Demon King—throughout the last war, every race on the continent faced only these two ends."
"Indeed."
"The Holy Nation resisted until the end, but eventually, the Holy Emperor surrendered to the Demon King. In exchange for cutting off his own arms, he secured the safety of the Holy Nation's citizens."
The Saint's expression darkened suddenly. She wore a melancholy smile.
"And you resisted until the very end. I heard the news that you fought alone against a hundred thousand magical beasts in the Sun-Swallowing Canyon. And that you were eventually defeated by the Four Great Dukes of the Demon Realm and imprisoned here."
"I was."
"Why? Why on earth?"
The Holy Emperor was wise.
The Saint was foolish.
It was an unwinnable war. Once that is realized, unconditional surrender is the right move. That's the only way to minimize casualties.
"The Holy Emperor made the right choice. One cannot wage war by gambling with the lives of the Holy Nation's citizens."
"No, I'm talking about you. Why did you stubbornly fight until the end, Saint?"
Seeing as she admits he was right, it's not as if she didn't know.
"Don't tell me you thought you could win? No matter how vast your Holy Power was or if you were called a one-woman army, there are things one can do alone and things one simply cannot."
"I have eyes as well. I was not ignorant of the war's outcome."
"What is this blind idiot talking about? If you really knew, then why didn't you back down? Do you think the world changes just because you resist?"
"......."
The Saint bowed her head toward me instead of answering. The rough bandages brushed against my skin.
Gah, is my head her son? Why is she cradling me like her own child? If she wants to embrace something that badly, she should just grab a human man and make a baby.
"Mr. Demon."
"What."
Amidst the suffocating closeness, the Saint's voice pierced my ear.
"Even if evil is so powerful that resistance seems impossible, and everyone submits to it, it does not mean the hearts of the people have surrendered. A spark of resistance remains in everyone's heart. But if everyone gives up and stays silent... that spark soon goes out. That is why someone must not give up and keep it alive. The spark of justice and hope."
For some reason, the Saint's words were filled with firm resolve. In contrast, her small back trembled slightly with soft sobs.
I cannot understand how she can package dying for nothing in such a way.
"In the end, it's just a dog's death."
"Do you think so?"
"Am I wrong? You were captured, and soon you'll be on the guillotine. The spark is already out. Whether you struggled or not, it was going to go out anyway. If that's not a dog's death, then what is?"
Why am I even arguing with her? I have nothing to do with how she lived her life, so I don't know why I'm getting angry.
Whether the Saint dies or not has absolutely nothing to do with me; in fact, since she was my enemy, I should be happy.
I have no idea why my heart feels uneasy or why I'm so infuriated.
Is it because I know she gave up her own lifespan to help me?
Even so, as a demon, it's impossible for me to feel something like gratitude.
"...Even if I die like a dog, is it not something that must be protected?"
"Protected? What on earth did you protect?"
"The act of not compromising with injustice, no matter the reason."
I.
"I preserved my righteousness."
I cannot understand her.