45
Chapter 45
A muddy sigh escaped my lips. The Saint and I shared a brief moment of silence.
I was speechless, and as for the Saint... I couldn't see her expression from across the rosary, so I didn't know.
But I couldn't let this time go to waste. Just as she said, time is precious. This is the only twenty minutes a day she is granted 'freedom of conversation.'
Knowing that, staying silent would be wrong. Not after learning about her situation.
"Saint."
[Yes.]
"There's something I want to ask."
[Please, go ahead.]
The Saint responded in a calm voice. Who could imagine that those words were being spoken while enduring the horrific pain of having her wrists pierced by nails?
She truly is a considerate woman. I'd normally call someone like that a pushover, but that word doesn't quite fit the Saint.
A pushover is a term for a mindless idiot. Therefore, the Saint is no pushover. She is wiser than anyone.
"...What do you call a person who does good without expecting anything in return?"
[Are you referring to the act of practicing kindness when no reward exists?]
"Yeah. Someone who performs good deeds from the bottom of their heart, without craving money, power, or influence. What should such a person be called?"
[Is there anything special about it? They are simply people who hope that a breeze of hope might blow through the world.]
"That's what I mean, but..."
[There are also those who commit evil without expecting anything in return.]
After saying that, the Saint paused. She was clearly referring to me.
She was right. Just as I committed evil without interest in a reward, the Saint had looked only toward the good, turning a blind eye to everything else.
That was all. There was no grand Great Cause.
[In the past, when I visited an orphanage.]
"An orphanage?"
[I once saw the youngest and smallest child there secretly leaving their own meal bread in the room of a sick director.]
"Heh. That kid's got moxie."
[I simply follow that child's example. Though younger and smaller than I, their altruism and purity were things I absolutely had to learn. For it is the gathering of such small kindnesses that creates a warm world.]
"Saint, want me to tell you a story I know? It's similar, yet different."
I brought the rosary closer to my ear and opened my mouth to speak. Her story had reminded me of a particular tale.
"A strange urban legend once circulated across the continent. There was a gorgeous actress, and one day, a stranger broke into her home."
[Oh dear.]
"The intruder completely ruined the actress's face. To the point where she could never appear on TV again. After smashing her face in, he applied glue to both her hands and pressed a certain object into each palm."
[What do you mean by "objects"...?]
"A dagger and a phone. She could use the phone to call the police and survive, even with a hideous face, or use the dagger to slit her own throat and die as the victim of a tragic murder case. After agonizing over it, the actress chose the latter."
I moved my tongue and lips greedily. I wondered how the Saint would react; I only intended to give an opposite example to her story, but now I was curious.
[You are speaking of the Biance murder case in Artlan.]
"Exactly! But there's something important here. A very crucial secret that never leaked to the public. Listen closely."
[A secret?]
"Before choosing death, the actress asked the intruder if she could look at a few photos to reminisce. Family photos, photos of friends, photos of the man who was her lover... She combed through the house, tidying up her lingering attachments."
[....]
"Actually, up until that point, she planned to call the police and live. The more she looked back at her memories, the more life returned to her large eyes. But, while wandering, she saw a newspaper in a corner of the house. An article with her face printed large, and next to it, the words 'Plastic Surgery Controversy.'"
[....]
"After reading that article, she finally committed suicide. Her last words were, 'The world killed me.' The intruder ruined her face, but in the end, the one who killed her was this cruel world that loves to tear others down. So, what do you think of my story?"
The Saint remains silent. While I was giggling, taking that as a sign of agreement.
[How... how do you know such a thing?]
The Saint asked in a voice that was infinitely serious.
"Why? Because I'm the intruder from that story."
I answered slyly.
Wondering what the Saint's response would be.
However, the Saint.
[...To think I would grow fond of a Joker like you; indeed, the ways of the world are unpredictable.]
"Hmm? What? I thought you were going to scold me."
Surprisingly, she didn't get angry.
[It is a matter of the past, and something from a previous life that has already vanished. Just avoid doing such things in this cycle.]
"Heh. Who knows if I'll do it again."
[I will stop you. For that is my duty. By the way, Joker, there were several things I asked earlier that you haven't answered yet.]
"Ah, right. I forgot."
What did she ask? Where I am, what I've done so far in this cycle, if I've met the Demon King, and... what my relationship with Aru is.
She had asked those things.
"First off, I'm currently in the Demon Beast Forest. You know, right? The largest forest in the Demon Realm, where the dimensions between the Continent and the Demon Realm twist."
[Do you mean the Demon Beast Forest where the Five Kings reign? What took you there?]
"To spend 500 years training. Training my heart out in the Demon Beast Forest is a hundred times better than being stuck in my family estate. Besides...."
[What else is there?]
"In 500 years, the Saint will be born and war will break out, right? I need to prepare for that. After all, I have to stop the Demon King if I want to hang out with the Saint."
[Ah... so that's why you're in the Demon Beast Forest. There must be plenty of powerful beings there to train with.]
"Exactly."
[Please take care of yourself. I am worried.]
Don't worry about me and worry about yourself, you overly kind Saint.
"I haven't done much so far. Killed a few people I needed revenge on, a few who stood in my way, and took care of the Wolf King. I'm trying my best not to interfere with the laws of the Human Realm, fearing I might hinder your birth."
[I am grateful that you think of me in such a way. However... I would appreciate it if you could refrain from the slaughter.]
"I'll be blunt. I don't want to. Unless my heart changes later on."
[I understand. The Demon Realm has its own rules. I will not be stubborn.]
"I like that you understand. Maybe I'll visit the Human Realm when you're born? I'd love to see a baby Saint."
[...Please, I beg you, do not do that.]
"Keke, reacting like that makes me want to go even more. Alright! It's decided! I'll be the one to sprinkle the Holy Water during your baptism! Disguising myself as a priest will be a piece of cake!"
[Ugh....]
As I whispered into the rosary with a half-joke, I heard a faint, stunned groan from the Saint. It was a groan filled with distress.
"You asked if I've met the Demon King, right? In short, I did, but nothing happened. When we first met, I tried to find a way to kill him while he was young, but I stopped, fearing it would affect the history of the Human Realm. Looking back, that was the right call. If the Demon King is also a Regressor, he wouldn't have died to my shallow tricks anyway."
[You did well. It is best not to offend the Demon King.]
"It's strange hearing that from the Saint who openly lectured the Demon King in Tartarus."
[I can throw away my wretched body for the will of God, but losing you, Joker, is absolutely out of the question. Absolutely.]
Her words were filled with firm conviction. It was also a statement that showed how much the Saint cherished me.
I could clearly feel her determination that she would never allow anything to happen to me.
"And... you asked about that too, right? About the relationship between the Wolf King and me?"
[I did.]
The Saint's tone dropped sharply at the mention of Aru. She seems to be misunderstanding something; I should set her straight.
"I didn't do anything weird. Nothing you'd need to worry about."
[Is that so? Phew....]
"Of course! You probably imagined me training the Wolf King like a slave and violating beastman rights! But I simply embraced her with love! With the noble love I learned from you! Well? Didn't I do great?"
[...!]
"I'll show you how well the Wolf King follows me! Now! Aru! Come here! Come sit on my lap! Come on!"
I crossed my legs and patted my lap. Aru, who had been chewing the meat I gave her, rushed over at my call and landed right on my lap.
"Aru! Bark!"
"Woof."
[....]
"A little louder!"
"Woof!"
[....]
"Good girl! Very good! Our Aru is so pretty! Now try growling for me!"
"Grrrrr...!"
[....]
"I've still got plenty to show you, so stick with me a bit longer! Saint! Aru! Give me a whimper!"
"Grrrrr...!"
"Tsk, don't show your teeth. This is an order. If you don't listen, the Magic Wand is coming for you."
"Whine, whine...."
[S...top.]
"See! She listens to me so well, doesn't she? This is what kind of wolf our Aru is! Very smart! This is all thanks to the love you taught me!"
Even if she rebels occasionally, Aru follows my orders faithfully. In my excitement, I focused even more on handling her.
A surge of desire for recognition welled up. Like a puppy longing for its owner's praise, I wanted to show the Saint that I'd become this close to the Wolf King using her methods, and I wanted her to tell me I'd done a good job.
[Stop... please, just stop....]
Huh.
[I'm begging you....]
I only wanted to be praised, but the Saint's reaction is strange.
"What is it, Saint? What's wrong?"
[The Wolf King... is she not female?]
"She is. Specifically, a female wolf."
[Mmm....]
The Saint let out a groan that sounded somehow dissatisfied.
From that, I felt a faint but distinct 'desire.'
"Saint...?"
[Yes....]
"No way... are you jealous right now? You are?"
[...!]
A ripple disturbed the Saint's gentle breathing.