I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

33 – Saint Victoria’s Secret (4)

The mural, so large that it dwarfed both Victoria and me, almost made me think it was a gateway to another world.

On the left, eleven figures stood with grave expressions, ready for battle, while on the opposite side, the right, a vast, shadowy figure, like shattered mirror shards, was depicted.

It was clearly a mural about the gods. I recognized the long-bearded old man I’d seen countless times during my stay at the magic tower.

“The main god…. It’s Odin. Why is he here…?”

Seeing Odin, the leader of the gods, also known as the God of Magic, fighting something alongside other beings, I couldn’t hide my confusion.

First, there was the issue of the location.

This was the Forbidden Archives of the Aurelian Holy Kingdom. A place where books that shouldn’t be publicly available, forbidden documents, were kept.

That meant this mural was one of those things. What could have been dismissed as a simple depiction of worshipping gods now had a different meaning.

“The Celestial God, Lumina, is also here. What could this possibly mean?”

Recognizing the Celestial God, Victoria chimed in as she observed the mural. She, too, kept tilting her head, aware that something was amiss.

“…Besides, why are there eleven?”

Secondly, the issue was the two figures on the mural.

The appearances of Serana and Abysus, the evil gods depicted in Victoria’s documents, were vividly visible.

The beings known as the Demon God and the Evil God, respectively.

I’d clearly seen succubi and incubi in the demon realm mimicking priests and worshipping them, and even demons making idols out of stone and grass to pray to.

“Something is off. The evil gods we’ve seen being worshipped in the demon realm, why are they fighting alongside the gods as if they’re on the same side?”

Why did it look like they were cooperating with the gods from the opposite camp?

They were beings whose beliefs were so different from the other gods, to the point that they advocated for wickedness and cherished the ugliness of life.

“…If there was a being that they needed to fight together, then it’s not entirely impossible.”

I levitated a sphere of light in the palm of my hand, observing it closely.

The fragments that appeared like shattered glass were forming a figure resembling a giant human.

I had never heard of a god or monster with such an appearance anywhere. I even went through ancient documents from this area, just in case, but nothing similar came up, and so, I had no way to even guess its identity.

“Could it be a monster from mythology, or perhaps another god whose name hasn’t yet been revealed? This sort of mural is usually everywhere, isn’t it?”

Victoria tossed her hair, talking about the hypothesis she’d come up with.

Of course, this kind of interpretation wasn’t wrong.

The continent we lived on had a bewildering variety of gods, depending on the region and race.

For example, the beastfolk with animal ears believed in Fenrir, a god in the form of a massive wolf.

Fenrir, the beast god known as the god of war and survival, seemed to embody strength and valor, just as each god had different appearances and different responsibilities.

“Even though gods are portrayed as having wildly changing appearances, and the myths vary from region to region…”

I added, thinking about my assessment of the gods I’d seen in the demon realm. Even if it was the same being, its meaning and value would flip depending on the region or the faith people followed.

“…Something is wrong here. I’ve never seen a mural with so many gods at once, not even in the great cathedral.”

Therefore, there must be some kind of message if so many gods were included in one picture.

If the intention was to depict different religious figures coming together to fight something, then it must certainly be…

“…A prophecy about the future, or something closer to an event that actually happened in the past. An interesting speculation. Just like my lover.”

– As expected, you’re smart. If I marry someone like this, the child we have will be brilliant for sure…? Just imagining it is so cute I could go crazy…

“Was that last bit really necessary?”

I said, shrinking slightly after hearing Victoria’s thoughts. After all, maintaining this relationship was just to defeat the Demon Lord.

It would become very problematic if either of us became genuine about it.

“I don’t think that’s something you should say, considering you announced I was your girlfriend in front of the Holy Kingdom’s knights…”

“That was because I had no choice. You didn’t believe what I said.”

“Oh my, are you perhaps starting to feel the urge to claim such a beautiful woman as your own, to possess me entirely?”

Victoria was talking casually, but the previous insults and hateful stares were gone.

“I don’t have such feelings.”

“You could… be a little greedier.”

– Please make me Astal’s woman. Cover me in your masculine scent, and paint me in colors so I can only think of you…

Victoria’s whispers were so sweet, so close to my ear, that they now nearly matched her thoughts, and it was almost too much.

“Anyway, this is definitely something you’d find in a forbidden archive.”

I put distance between myself and her, taking a step back as I stated my impressions.

It was the first time I had seen a mural depicting good and evil gods working together to banish something.

If I told anyone else, I would either be burned as a heretic or captured by the Inquisitors and rot in a cell for the rest of my life.

“Victoria, can you pray to the Heavens to ask what this is?”

“…I’ve been trying since earlier, but it’s no use.”

– “What the hell is it about this thing anyway? You’re usually the one with a million things to say…”

Heavenly Lumina offered no response, and I scratched my chin, observing her.

I figured if anyone knew any leads, it’d be her. The Hero and Saint were chosen specifically because the gods couldn’t directly interfere in the mortal realm.

“Well, at least it’s not showing us our future, right?”

– “At first, I almost mistook it for our children, me and Astal’s, fighting the demon king Ergosum. Especially since there are exactly 11 of them…”

Was it mere coincidence that the number of children Victoria had previously imagined and the number of gods depicted in the mural matched up so perfectly?

– “Children born from the blood of a dragon and the genius talent of a mage, the fruits of love that we’ll create together, wouldn’t they be?”

I watched Victoria’s subtle shift, her expression as she slightly smacked her lips, and a shiver crawled down my spine.

Her face remained as cold and aloof as ever, but her inner thoughts were burning with passion.

“…It’s unsettling, but let’s get back to the others, okay? They’re probably waiting for us.”

I had to rejoin my companions before Victoria got any strange ideas. Once the succubus queen was dealt with, this fake relationship would be over.

Besides, there weren’t enough clues or evidence to interpret the mural. Discussing it with the others was another option.

Lingering here any longer might mean getting caught for disobeying the imperial command.

“I would prefer to stay a little longer with you though…”

– “I don’t want to be apart. If we join the others, you’ll just try to distance yourself from me again.”

Victoria was now physically expressing her reluctance to be separated from me. A soft and supple sensation wouldn’t leave my arm.

“…My arm’s gonna go numb.”

If things kept going this way, my arm would lose circulation and start to die off. I tried to forcefully pry her arm off mine, but…

“Can’t you just heal it with divine power? Now, enjoy this continent’s greatest chest while you can.”

Victoria widened her eyes as if I was the strange one and used her divine power to get the blood flowing through my arm again.

“This is awkward, don’t you think? Can we stop? You didn’t even ask permission before getting all touchy in the first place.”

“After saving the Saint of this nation all willy-nilly, is this not enough of a reward? Very well. Tonight in our chambers, more passionate acts shall be…”

*THWACK!*

“…Ouch.”

“A Saint shouldn’t be saying things like that! And I have no intention of doing anything like *that* with you, got it?”

I flicked her forehead with my finger. If I didn’t draw the line like this, her emotions and actions were just going to escalate out of control.

“You’re such a coward. Even if it’s only a fake relationship for a month, isn’t it okay to enjoy a brief dalliance like this?”

“You should save that for someone you genuinely like, okay? After a month, we’re just going to be comrades again.”

“…Hmm. Do you, perhaps, have someone else in mind?”

– “I’ve never had a first love besides you, you know? I’ve never loved any other man except you, and I never will…”

A current of unease flowed beneath Victoria’s surface, but she forced a playful smile, trying not to betray her anxiety.

“There’s no such thing. Love, in the end, is just like a drug. Once the high wears off, you’re back to feeling nothing.”

I deliberately fabricated those words, ones my heart didn’t truly believe, in an attempt to push Victoria away.

The reason I don’t love now is because I believe I’m a human being who has no reason to live, aside from my parents’ revenge.

“An interesting theory. Surely, the feeling of love is also connected to lust. The men who claim to be infatuated with me are all interested in my body.”

-Except, of course, for you, Astal-nim. You’re the first man who’s treated me well without being infatuated or harboring ulterior motives.

“Just so you know, I’m not interested.”

“Is that so? Your lower-body staff seems to tell a different story, though.”

Victoria chuckled, slipping into another suggestive remark. Being around her always made my mind wander.

“…Or is it possible you just don’t get hard for me? That’s a little infuriating. I have a lot to offer, you know.”

-Should I check with my hand when Astal-nim is sleeping…?

-I’m all for it. It’s cowardly to make someone fall for you like this, only to try and run away.

-N-no, I’m against it! How could you do something so indecent! That kind of thing should happen after confirming love… slowly, gradually!

-Hmph, so you’re not saying you wouldn’t do it, just that you’d postpone it? Isn’t that the same as planning it later?

-You pervert. You’re a total pervert. You’re completely consumed with thoughts of mating. Sharing love like two beasts, an intense act leaving your whole body drenched in sweat…

Victoria’s mind was a battleground, her different personas erupting in a heated debate.

“Could you please stop with the vulgar talk? It’s making my ideal image of you disappear. Historically, saints are…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say the words, or properly reprimand her, so I used this indirect method to get her attention.

But then,

“Which two-timing b*tch, … I mean, which saint is that? Are you daring to cheat on such a beautiful girlfriend?”

Her eyes turned colder than ever, and she gnashed her teeth with a twisted smile after hearing my remark.

-You belong to me, no matter what. Don’t even think about running away.

The emotion called jealousy.

Now, even just mentioning another woman was enough for Victoria to unleash a deadly, knife-sharp aura.