Taming the Evil Saintess

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“You are an idiot.”

That was the first thing I heard as I opened my eyes.

A pure white ceiling. Gale and Yudiel’s forward base in the Erosion Zone. I must have been moved to this sickroom by Ophelia after collapsing on the highest floor of the fortress.

Sitting next to my bed with a displeased expression was Cecilia, who had seemingly been waiting for me to wake up.

I looked at Cecilia and grimaced.

“Why are you suddenly cursing at me?”

“I’m only stating the facts.”

Her gaze was directed towards my right arm, which was wrapped in bandages.

“Is this what happens when you use the Mark? You truly are foolish. It’s no wonder the Saintess is angry.”

“Well, I had no other choice.”

“It’s exactly the fact that there were no alternatives that makes me mad. Besides, that right arm will not have a functional problem, but a scar will remain for life.”

“…Um. Well, isn’t that okay?”

“Is it okay to live with a black arm until you die?”

After all, if it’s just a ugly appearance, I don’t mind.

Rather, if I think of it as a mark of honor, isn’t it cool?

“I should probably be called Elliot the Black Hand.”

“Black… what?”

“…Just kidding.”

“Joking…?”

“Yes, that kind of thing exists.”

Clearing my throat to divert her attention, Cecilia bit her lip as if displeased and said,

“For your information, while Sir Elliot was sleeping soundly, the Saintess cried all day because she couldn’t heal your necrotic arm.”

“Was it Ophelia?”

“Who else would shed tears for a hero with such a nasty personality as you?”

What a weeper, Ophelia.

I do want to see her, though.

No, I’ve already seen too much of her.

“So how long has it been?”

“A week.”

“That’s not too long…”

“Actually, it’s five more days.”

“….”

That meant I’d been unconscious for more than ten days.

Is that why? My whole body felt heavy, and my vision was blurry. Just breathing made pain throb deep in my lungs, making it seem tough to move yet.

With the injury to my arm, I figured I’d have to stay bedridden for nearly a month.

Still, considering the price of the Plague Lord’s life, I thought it was a cheap price to pay. Accepting that in my mind, I spoke up.

“…So Cecilia, you’ve been waiting to scold me this whole time?”

“Of course not.”

As I casually diverted the topic, Cecilia sighed and shook her head.

“Thanks to you, Sir Hero, defeating the Plague Lord Vermina, our Ice Palace and citizens can now live a better life.”

“Is that a thank you?”

“I don’t want to admit it, but yes.”

“Well, then I don’t really want to boast about it, but… you’re welcome.”

“….”

Cecilia’s eyes narrowed.

“Did you know?”

“What?”

“You’re really annoying.”

“Now that’s unexpected. I feel the same way.”

“Hmph.”

Cecilia snorted, and the sound was oddly cute.

A moment of silence fell, and Cecilia rubbed her hands together before speaking again.

“Sir Elliot, did you know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oksana.”

This must be the real reason she came.

“The Tsar’s daughter, Miss Oksana, has become a Possessor.”

“…Did you meet her?”

“Actually, I did. Although we couldn’t have a detailed conversation.”

So she apparently did meet her.

As I sat there, feeling awkward about the situation, Cecilia looked up and locked eyes with me.

“Sir Elliot, will defeating the Demon King allow us to return her to her original state?”

“…I think so. At least that’s what I’ve heard.”

“I see.”

Cecilia nodded as if understanding, then relaxed her expression and got up.

“That settles it. From now on, I look forward to your future cooperation.”

That must mean she intends to accompany me on this journey to slay the Demon King.

Cecilia made a wry smile and turned her gaze to the exit of the tent.

“I have other matters I’d like to discuss, but it seems my time is limited.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It means there’s someone waiting for me.”

“…Ah.”

I could guess who it was.

No, it must be only that guy.

With my back straightened as much as possible, I waited for Ophelia to come in.

—

For the past ten days, Ophelia’s life had been draining.

Of course, the quality of life itself was good. Food was served regularly, she could lounge around all day, and there was no one annoying her.

However.

The only person who could really keep her company was Elliot, who lay there like a sleeping princess from a fairytale, making her days unbearably dull.

It was harder to endure than when she was at the Cathedral.

“Dammit, have I gone crazy?”

The sense of loss Ophelia felt due to Elliot’s absence was beyond words.

Of course, she didn’t show it.

She didn’t show it, but….

“Saint Lady! Have you heard the news? Elliot has woken up!”

She couldn’t hide it from that impish kid, Emily Barried.

With a wicked smile, Emily approached Ophelia and threw an arm around her shoulders.

“It’s a reunion after ten days. Doesn’t your heart just tingle?”

“I told you, I’m not thinking about anything.”

“But when you treated him, you soaked your pillowcase with tears….”

Emily couldn’t finish her sentence.

Ophelia had given her a proper hit.

“Ah, ughh.”

“If you say one more nonsense, I’ll sew up that mouth of yours.”

Emily Barried.

The self-proclaimed romantic seemed desperate to pair Ophelia with Elliot at any cost.

In reality—

“What’s this for?”

“It’s Love Potion No. 2.”

“I don’t need it!”

She’s always getting into unnecessary messes.

Ophelia let out a deep sigh and adjusted her clothes. She stood in front of the full-length mirror to fix her hair.

“Hey, do I look too bloated?”

She asked Emily, but she only wore a sly grin.

“Yeah. Asking you was a mistake.”

Anyway, this was the first time she would meet Elliot in ten days.

She definitely didn’t want to look particularly good in front of him but thought she shouldn’t appear too shabby either.

For that reason, she allowed Cecilia to take the lead earlier.

“So, Saint Lady, don’t you think this is a golden opportunity?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? What opportunity?”

“It’s a chance to take advantage.”

After brushing off Ophelia’s response, the moment Emily’s words registered, Ophelia dropped the comb.

“…Wha-what?”

“Literally.”

With her head tilted back on the bed, Emily looked upside down at Ophelia and winked.

Then she continued in a whisper.

“That hero is in no position to resist.”

“….”

“He’s so weak and vulnerable that he can’t even resist the Saint Lady. You can enjoy him as you please.”

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, even though I didn’t intend to think about it, I couldn’t ignore Emily’s words.

“I told you, the most definite method is….”

—

“Ophelia?”

At the sudden sound of Elliot’s voice, Ophelia jumped and looked up.

In front of her was Elliott, looking disheveled and tilting his head.

This was the sickroom at the forward base.

“…Did you eat something bad?”

“Ah, no… It’s nothing like that.”

This was all because of that damn Emily.

Since she heard that, Emily’s words kept swirling in Ophelia’s mind. In such a situation, how could she have a pleasant reunion with Elliot?

Grinding her teeth internally, Ophelia looked at Elliot.

His discolored black arm, his pale complexion.

Indeed, he looked like the worst state she had ever seen.

“…Hey, are you alright?”

With concern, she asked, and Elliot shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile, shortly waving his almost motionless arm.

“As you can see, I’m completely knocked out. Azar said I’d need at least a month of recuperation, and I think that’s true.”

“Ugh, uh-huh.”

“You moved me, right? From the fortress?”

“…Yeah.”

“Thank you.”

Why is he thanking her all of a sudden?

That’s not like Elliot at all.

Ophelia frowned.

That helpless smile. That body that looks like it might collapse any moment. He seemed so weak that it evoked a protective instinct.

“….”

What to say….

Right.

What I feel now is…

“Hey, Elliot.”

“What?”

“Lie down for a second.”

It was an impulse in that moment.

Ophelia went closer to the bed and gave Elliot’s upper body a gentle push.

What used to be a mountain of muscle now crumbles under Ophelia’s small strength. Climbing onto Elliot’s body, Ophelia secured him with her thighs.

She didn’t even know what she was doing herself, but….

“Hey, hey, what the….”

“Hold on right now.”

Taking a deep breath, Ophelia placed her hands on his stomach.