The Dog, the Demon, and the Pope
"W-Wait, stop!"
Seraphina and Camilla began leading me upstairs from both sides, completely ignoring the middle-aged man who lay collapsed on the floor, coughing up blood.
I asked in a worried voice,
"...U-Um, is it really okay to just leave that man there?"
"Ah, don't worry about him. If he dies, he dies. No big loss."
"B-But still..."
"Exactly. Our great Master shouldn't even look at a piece of trash who gets turned on by children. It'll rot your eyes."
Their voices were remarkably cold, a stark contrast to their usual behavior. Still, to think the church actually harbors pedophiles and psychopaths. I felt a shiver of disgust at this "anything-goes" church as I climbed the stairs.
The moment we entered Seraphina's room,
the expression on Seraphina's face—who had been lost in thought the entire way up—shifted. It grew so terrifyingly cold that I felt as if the ambient temperature had plummeted.
Facing that predator-like gaze she had shown me ever so briefly during our first meeting, I flinched in spite of myself and cast my eyes downward.
"......! R-Ruby!!"
"Hey! How dare you threaten Master?!"
Seraphina, who had looked ready to tear someone limb from limb just a second ago, instantly shrank back the moment she saw me. Meanwhile, Camilla stood in front of me with her arms spread wide, trying to shield me.
The chilling atmosphere vanished without a trace. Seeing Camilla—who was even smaller than my already shrunken self—puffing out her chest so proudly...
"Pfft."
A chuckle escaped my lips. Seeing me laugh, Seraphina finally looked relieved and rushed toward me, tears welling in her eyes. To think Seraphina, who usually had such a fierce and sharp impression, could make such a pitiful face.
Ugh.
Suddenly, a strange, inexplicable emotion began to creep up from the depths of my chest. For a split second, a terrifying thought crossed my mind: I want to tease Seraphina even more and make her sob.
Startled by my own bizarre feelings, I quickly shook my head and changed the subject.
"D-Didn't you both have something to say to me...?"
Only then did Seraphina seem to remember her original purpose. She whipped her head around and glared at Camilla.
"Right. Ruby, where on earth did you meet a filthy succubus bitch like her?"
"W-Why does this crazy nun keep calling me filthy?! Especially when you're the one spreading your legs for God!!"
"What?! I absolutely hate God, you know?!"
...As a nun, instead of taking issue with the phrase "spreading your legs for God," her immediate rebuttal was that she hated God. Is she really the mentor of the gentle Saintess Luna from the original game? Or is she just someone with the same name?
While I was pondering Seraphina's true identity,
the two of them suddenly began releasing divine power and demonic energy, looking ready to tear each other to pieces.
Startled, I thrust my hands forward and shouted.
"S-Stop!!"
Surprisingly, at my single shout, both of them instantly suppressed their energy and turned to look at me meekly.
Wait, the "Stop" meme actually works? Maybe I should have tried that on the bullies in my past life...
I shook off the absurd thought and spoke firmly.
"Anyway, starting today, Camilla is my companion."
The moment the words left my mouth, a flush of deep emotion bloomed on Camilla's cheeks, while Seraphina turned as pale as if the sky had just collapsed.
And in the next instant, Seraphina was right in front of my nose.
I-I couldn't even see her move.
I already knew she was strong, but her speed was this insane too? If you added her divine power to that...
She could probably solo a mid-boss...
But in the original game, Astral Saga, why was such an absurdly powerful character injured and absent for almost the entire story?
"Ruby! Are you listening to me?"
"...Y-Yes?"
"I'm your companion too, right? Huh? Hurry up and say yes!!"
Seraphina gripped my shoulders with immense strength and pleaded desperately.
A companion.
I had recruited Camilla countless times while playing Astral Saga. Due to her nature as a dream demon, she would appear in my dreams every night to chat about this and that. Yes, Camilla was my favorite companion after Luna. So, even though Camilla and I had just met today, my internal intimacy level with her was already at MAX.
Of course, it might just be a one-sided affection.
No... it really might just be me...
But Seraphina.
Having someone so tall, with such a gorgeous body, and breathtakingly beautiful as my companion. Is someone like me even worthy of being her companion...?
After a brief moment of deliberation, I gave my answer.
"...Seraphina, you're n-not my companion."
Gape—
As if facing an utterly unimaginable reality, Seraphina's jaw dropped. It felt a bit rude to think this right after rejecting her, but... can a human mouth actually open that wide?
As if I wasn't the only one thinking it, Camilla smirked mischievously and began poking her finger in and out of Seraphina's open mouth.
"Loser~ Scrub~ The idiot nun who lost to the 'filthy' succubus~"
Chomp!!
"Aaargh!!"
Seraphina instinctively bit down on Camilla's teasing finger like a wild beast. Unlike her fierce appearance, she looked like a puppy terrified of being abandoned...
Her jaw trembled as she looked at me. In stark contrast to her fierce, intimidating features, her wide eyes made her look exactly like a stray puppy terrified of being abandoned on the street...
Argh.
That strange emotion I had barely managed to suppress earlier began to well up again. Looking at her face made me want to tease her, pinch her cheeks...
Slap!
Realizing these were thoughts I should never harbor toward the savior who had rescued me from death, I slapped my own cheek hard.
"Y-You're not just a companion. You're my savior, Seraphina..."
"...Savior?"
Seraphina looked at me, her expression still somewhat dissatisfied. Since the topic had come up, I decided to lay bare the feelings I had kept bottled up inside all this time. It was incredibly embarrassing... but it was something I had to say eventually.
"I'm really sorry for only saying this formally now. But for saving me when I was dying in that alley, for taking care of me so I wouldn't get hurt, for feeding me delicious meals regularly, and for keeping me warm and safe by sleeping with me every night... thank you so, so much!"
"What?! You sleep with Master every night?! Y-You beastly woman! You called me filthy, but you're the real slut here!"
Camilla began to throw a fit beside us upon hearing my words, but Seraphina completely ignored her, approaching me with an overwhelmed, emotional face.
"...S-Sister?"
Freeze.
Stopping in her tracks at my words, Seraphina hesitated for a moment before suddenly pulling me into a tight embrace. It was tight enough to squeeze the breath out of me.
"Y-You crazy, slutty nun!! How dare you lay your filthy hands on our Master?! Get off her this instant!"
No matter how much Camilla pounded on Seraphina's back and yanked her hair from behind, Seraphina didn't budge, standing as solid as a boulder. I quietly enjoyed her embrace, which I had already grown quite accustomed to.
"*Pant... pant...*"
While I was being hugged, Camilla, who had been trying to pry Seraphina off me, ran out of stamina and collapsed spread-eagled on the floor.
Seeing that, I realized a terrifying truth. Despite having been in this room for quite some time, we hadn't managed to have a single proper conversation.
The Luminas Holy Empire, blessed by the sun, boasted the most powerful and radiant majesty of all nations on the continent.
Even in Solarium, the imperial capital that had never once allowed an enemy invasion, the Holy See was built on the most prime, expensive real estate.
Yet, unlike the grand and lavish mansions of the surrounding nobility, it stubbornly maintained an excessively humble and plain exterior.
Built on the premise of the scripture 'God allows access to all,' the building completely lacked ornamentation. It possessed nothing but plain white outer walls, making it look not just simple, but downright shabby. It looked even shabbier than the church located near the notorious Belnoa Slums.
Of course, that didn't mean the building itself was small. In fact, it was far larger than all the surrounding buildings combined.
Thinking about it, it was quite laughable. Built right in the middle of the capital city of Solarium, where entry was impossible without immense wealth or power, did they really think making the building design plain would achieve true equality? Let alone commoners, even most nobles had never set foot inside the Holy See, much less caught a glimpse of its inner chambers.
On the very top floor of the Holy See, renowned for its airtight security. A sanctuary where even archbishops and cardinals dared not tread without permission.
In accordance with the Pope's favorite saying, "I shall dwell in the highest place, yet serve in the lowest posture," even the door to this sanctuary was made of cheap, shabby wood.
But if one were to open that shabby door and step inside...
From black diamonds that royalty of minor nations could only dream of seeing, to the legendary sword Grandeur, crafted five hundred years ago by the mythical dwarven blacksmith Valdron. It overflowed with treasures that others would gladly forfeit their entire fortunes just to catch a glimpse of.
Inside this sacred room, where no one was permitted to enter and only the Pope resided, a young woman dressed in revealing, vulgar attire was laughing.
"Your Holiness~ Were you satisfied tonight~?"
"Ah-ah. Didn't I tell you to call me 'Oppa' instead of 'Your Holiness' when we are alone in my room?"
"Ha, haha. You're so mischievous, Your Holiness Oppa. Anyway, now that today's work is all done..."
"Hehehe. Yes, my pretty girl. You've worked hard, so take whatever catches your eye."
"R-Really?! Ahh, I love you, Oppa!!"
The woman kissed the Pope's cheek repeatedly in a coquettish voice. Then, she gathered a handful of expensive jewels and left the room with a delighted face.
As soon as the woman left, a young man who had been waiting outside cautiously entered the room.
Thanks to a powerful barrier, not even a single fly could approach the room, but this man was a guardian knight kept strictly for show. At first, the Pope had adamantly refused any escort, claiming that protection was a luxury for someone who served in the lowest place. But eventually, playing the part of a reluctant master, he had hired this young man of commoner origin. Naturally, the Pope's humble attitude and egalitarian decisions garnered immense support from the common folk.
The guardian knight knelt and asked carefully,
"Your Holiness. Is it truly alright to bestow so many jewels upon a mere harlot?"
"Of course."
Leaning back in his chair, the Pope stared at the ceiling and muttered,
"You there. Go retrieve all of it."
"Understood."
Though there were supposedly only the Pope and the guardian knight in the room, a dark silhouette slipped out the moment the Pope finished speaking.
Goosebumps broke out on the guardian knight's arms, and his face filled with horror, but fortunately, his thick helmet and armor concealed his reaction.
A moment later, a figure draped in black cloth returned to the room as silently as a ghost, holding the very jewels the prostitute had carried out just moments ago. Unlike before, the gems were now stained with dark red blood.
I... I saw nothing.
As the young guardian knight repeated this mantra to himself, the Pope's low, heavy voice echoed.
"I graciously bestowed my blessing upon a filthy harlot, yet she dared to let her beastly greed blind her. How utterly foolish."
"Y-You are entirely correct. To dare covet Your Holiness's gifts... she deserved divine punishment."
The guardian knight answered desperately, struggling to hide the tremor in his voice. Pleased by his response, the Pope placed his wrinkled hand, engraved with the Stigmata, onto the knight's helmet.
"Good, good. Keep acting like that. Replacing guardian knights too often can ruin my reputation, after all. Do well, and I shall secure a decent position for you in the Central Knights."
"......!! Y-Yes! I will dedicate my life to serving you!"
Hehehe. Foolish boy.
How simple-minded and stupid. To think a man who claims to believe in and protect God would turn a blind eye to such injustice right before his eyes, all for a mere promotion. Most commoners were like this. Show them overwhelming power, and they would crawl on the floor of their own accord; throw them a decent scrap, and they would pledge their loyalty.
But.
Even commoners were this easy.
Yet that bitch from the filthy, wretched slums was different.
Unlike the cheap harlot he had just sent to God's side, Seraphina had already established herself as a massive pillar of the church. Even the Pope didn't dare try to force her. He had merely intended to pressure her, gradually coaxing her into offering her body willingly. Yet that crazy bitch had hurled curses right to his face, simply because she didn't like the way he looked at her. And in front of countless clergymen, no less.
How dare she. A filthy slum-dweller, speaking to me, a man of noble blood!!
He wanted to brand her a heretic and execute her immediately. He wanted to tear her habit to shreds and throw her back into the slums. To make her realize with her own body just how filthy slum-dwellers truly were.
But he couldn't touch her.
For someone who constantly preached the grace of God embracing all equally to punish her just because he got insulted? Especially when Seraphina was someone whom Luna—the empire's most promising Saintess candidate—followed and relied on like a mother?
But political maneuvering and reputation were actually secondary issues. Even if he were to risk stepping down from his position as Pope—though that would never happen—he simply lacked the power to execute that insolent bitch.
The Stigmata, inherited alongside the title of Pope.
Unless he used this power, which granted immense divine strength at the cost of his own life, that crazy bitch would never be caught by anyone.
But to use that power?
Sacrifice my noble self just to catch that crazy bitch? Absurd.
Yet, knowing she was a mad dog who would undoubtedly aim for his throat if left alone, the Pope was secretly plotting a way to eliminate her.