I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

34 – A Magician Who Doesn’t Believe in Love vs A Saint in Love (1)

Emerging from the forbidden library and back into the Papal Palace, a figure was there to greet Victoria and me.

“Big Brother! Did your business go well!”

The white-masked boy who was subduing all of the nearby holy knights, forcing them to their knees as punishment, was…

“…I told you to stop calling me that. Wilhelm.”

It was Wilhelm, whom I had saved in the past.

“Ha ha, don’t say such a disappointing thing! You’re also the Saintess’s lover, how could I call you lightly!”

Wilhelm smiled brightly, shrugging slightly as if it were nothing. With each of his movements, those around him flinched.

“This, could it be… did you do this?”

“Yes! I thought those who insulted my brother and the Saintess deserved appropriate punishment!”

The members of the Holy Knights, bruised all over and with tear tracks on their faces, were all those who had slandered Victoria and me just moments before.

It seemed Wilhelm had resolved it all with his fists. He was a boy smaller and frailer than others, yet it was a wonder where such strength came from.

“You did well. I’ve been thinking about reforming the entire Holy Knights from the beginning.”

Victoria nodded to Wilhelm, giving him a grateful look. And then, she held out a small, cross-shaped flame on her palm.

*Fwoosh.*

“This is…”

“A Stigmata. I won’t repeat the same mistake this time.”

The Stigmata immediately moved onto the back of Wilhelm’s hand, remaining like a spot, asserting its presence.

Originally, a mark that manifested in people with powerful divine power, or that alone signified being chosen by God.

“To give me something so precious! Thank you! Saintess!”

“It’s the reward for helping my partner. With this much, the old men of the Papal States won’t be able to pull you down easily.”

Victoria created such a mark with her miracle so easily. A small flower bloomed anew on her body, but she didn’t seem to mind it much.

“…Partner?”

“Yes, aren’t we in a relationship with marriage as the premise? Is there an issue with calling such a person my partner?”

– This is how Ashtar, you’re gradually eliminating any way for him to escape. After the Demon Lord subjugation, Wilhelm will be Pope, so his influence will also strengthen.

Victoria was increasingly adding settings I didn’t know about, making sure I wouldn’t end our contract relationship.

By leaving loose ends like that, it was obvious that I’d face criticism from the people around me if we broke up.

“…I don’t like women with intense obsessions, though.”

Then, it was time for a frontal breakthrough.

If Victoria reduced her cold attitude towards me and showed a possessive side, I could use that to my advantage.

“…I believe a man like you needs a faithful Saintess like me by his side, managing his every move.”

– Victoria, try to speak without using too much harshness and slander. Be gentle and kind, but don’t make it obvious that you’re desperate for him!

“What’s the reason for that judgment? What confidence do you have to say that?”

“You have a beauty that could even captivate a Succubus Queen. It’s also why we didn’t lose our lives when we met you the last time.”

Victoria’s expression was always similar. Her eyes, like a sea of stars, were only barely visible as she had a habit of squinting, and it was hard to read her emotions due to the faint movement of her facial muscles.

However,

“I think it’s dangerous for a man to not have a woman by his side who makes him a delicious breakfast every morning, washes with the same scent as him, and kisses him goodnight every single day.”

– I have to feed him food I make, do loving things in small ways, and make it so he can’t live without me…!

Right now, Victoria was letting out a seductive chuckle, leaning slightly forward, accentuating the movement of her chest.

As if she were telling me to be seduced.

“……”

I couldn’t help but look away from that wretched sight. Why was she suddenly doing things she never normally did?

Even if she tried to seduce me like this, I would never fall for it. From the start, she was far from my ideal type.

“Perhaps, should I wear an apron naked for you? I think our relationship hasn’t progressed that far yet…”

“I don’t think this is a topic we should be discussing here.”

“If you truly wish it…, you’re welcome to trade views of things you want to see.”

– Would it be okay if I saw Astal’s abs or chest muscles? Or maybe I should really check out his crotch this time to see if I can make him excited…

I couldn’t help but be terrified after hearing Victoria’s thoughts. Was it the previous incident that was the problem? She was showing increasingly distorted s*xual desires.

“I don’t need it.”

“Really? I think it would be quite lewd. I have quite a large bust, so it’s possible to hold my clothes up with my chest. Like this…”

Victoria slightly lifted the center of her clothes, emphasizing her chest. The movement of her soft skin and the glimpse of a mole was eye-catching.

“…I said I don’t need it.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as I watched Victoria, but the swaying of that enormous sacred power pouch she had just shown was still lingering in my vision.

“How unfortunate. Right now, I’m in quite a good mood, so I have a mind to grant a few requests from a lover.”

– Hehe, even if he doesn’t like it, this will get his imagination going, right? This is how I gradually increase my presence in his mind!

Victoria chuckled brightly again and grabbed my arm, locking it with hers. She didn’t seem to mind that Wilhelm was nearby.

“Oh, and please don’t be too jealous of the Holy Mark… It’s my principle to cherish my lover’s body more than anyone else.”

– Instead, I’d like you to leave a deep kiss mark on my lower belly…

Hoo-ah, deliberately exhaling a sticky breath into my ear, she was trying to shake my heart with a sweet yet thrilling voice.

Moreover, seeing her speak such vulgar words in her thoughts made me wonder who was really the succubus here.

“So that the marriage between Sir and the Saintess will not be hindered, I, Wilhelm, will devote my life to helping!”

The holy knight, Wilhelm, even shed tears of emotion as he witnessed that lewd act, swearing loyalty to Victoria.

He was on one knee, making a face that showed how moved he was by Victoria. Just how devoted was he to the Heavenly Gods that he had no reaction to the Saintess acting this way toward me?

“Don’t do that. We might end up breaking up after dating like this.”

I didn’t bother to reveal that it was a contract relationship and made an escape route.

After all, in a month, we’d return to being normal colleagues, so I couldn’t cross the line or have any physical contact with her.

“We’ve only been dating for a few days, and you’re already saying things that hurt.”

“I told you before. I absolutely hate clingy women, the kind who don’t understand other people’s feelings, who are pushy and just want someone to love them. I hate those kind of idiots.”

I said with a hint of annoyance. If I hadn’t heard Victoria’s thoughts, I wouldn’t have said it like this.

I wouldn’t have even known she liked me in the first place.

I was only annoyed because she saw me fix the side effect, and once again hated the way Wilhelm used miracles.

“Do you even remember how much you cursed at me?”

“…I see. I will try to be more restrained.”

-My true feelings haven’t gotten through to Astal-nim, have they?

Victoria, hearing that, slightly loosened her folded arms, bit her lip a little, and moved slightly away from me. I had never seen such a gloomy expression on her face.

“I am, as you say, contradictory, insidious, and a bad woman.”

-I suppose, living with a terminal illness, the contradictory emotions of knowing I can die any day and wanting to date Astal-nim and have a child coexisted.

Victoria’s face distorted as she said that, and something shimmered in her reddened eyes.

“Are you…crying? You, who’s like a saint who wouldn’t bleed even if you were stabbed with a knife…?”

It was a very small amount, but it was definitely tears.

Until now, I’d only vaguely thought about Victoria liking me.

Because I had never liked or loved anyone before, so I had to fill in the gaps with imagination for experiences I’d never had.

“No. You must have misseen it. Is it likely that I’d be hurt by such words?”

– I am hurt. Please, hug me quickly. Please, pat my head and say you’re sorry for saying such harsh things.

“…….”

Victoria’s words and her inner thoughts were completely contradictory.

What should I do in this situation?

Now, I had seen information about her in the Forbidden Library, and I had a rough idea of what kind of life she’d lived.

It would have been better if I hadn’t known anything at all. If I couldn’t hear her thoughts, I wouldn’t have cared.

Why is she bothering me so much?

I definitely don’t even like Victoria.

“Hyung-nim, why aren’t you going to comfort her?”

“Wilhelm…?”

While I was agonizing, a gentle hand pushed my back.

“When we met last time, I even thought you two had no feelings at all.”

It was Wilhelm, the boy from the village we helped together. He spoke of the past while gesturing for me to move forward with a nod.

It must have been inevitable back then.

In my case, after my parents passed away, I thought that sacrificing myself was the only way to atone for my sins.

And in Victoria’s case, living with a terminal illness, she must have lived thinking that she could die at any moment.

“But now, I think you two are just ordinary people. You laugh and cry, and your feelings of affection are so strong that you’re clumsy at expressing them to your partner.”

“…Seems like you’re mistaken about something.”

Looking at Wilhelm like that, I felt a strange competitive spirit rise in me. I had clearly thought of him as a young boy in my memories, but the way he was trying to teach me was a little absurd.

“I don’t have the nasty habit of making women cry either, Wilhelm.”

I hugged Victoria from behind, holding her hand so she couldn’t run away.

“Ah, Astar-nim?!”

– It’s warm and firm… the cold sensation on my hand is too stimulating… Could it be he’s trying to comfort me because I cried?!

Victoria’s heartbeat was louder than ever, and I could see that her neck and ears were flushed red.

“So, in the future, watch your words a little. I’m human too, so I get hurt.”

I spoke about what had upset me with Victoria, as if it was nothing. Even if we were fake lovers, I didn’t want to hear her insults for a whole month.

“…I don’t know if this will make you feel better, but let’s go get something delicious to eat before we return to the demon realm.”

Maybe it was because I had seen the picture of young Victoria crying in the Forbidden Library. I didn’t want to see her cry ever again.

It’s only natural to comfort someone when they are crying, after all.

But it seems Victoria had been aiming for this from the beginning.

“Very well. Then, I shall introduce you to a hidden gem of a restaurant.”

“What’s on the menu?”

“Hehe, it’s a secret. It’s a place that gives something special to couples, so I’ve always wanted to go there with someone, not alone.”

– It’s known to give a special dish that’s good for virility. It increases the chance of conception even if the races are different.

I couldn’t help but be shocked when I heard Victoria’s inner thoughts, even making a pleased hum. I had fallen for crocodile tears.

– Besides, we have to write down our names, so we can leave proof that we were dating.

“C-Could we go somewhere else…?”

I couldn’t take back what I had already said, so I tried another tactic.

“No way. I’ll really sulk if we do….”

Already, she was using her strong grip to drag me along.