Taming the Evil Saintess

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Ophelia Meredein wasn’t a naturally good person.

She was the type to sprinkle water on an anthill to create a flood worthy of the Holy War, steal a few gold coins from Archbishop Belwin’s wallet to indulge in pleasure, and if she saw any happy-looking believers around, she’d toss them a moldy, withered crust of bread out of sheer spite.

Too petty and small-minded to be a villain, though she hated to admit it, Ophelia prided herself on her little villain-like tendencies.

She had long accepted that she wasn’t a good person. She knew well that nobody liked her and that she wasn’t the kind of person who could truly be called a Saintess.

Because of this, she never thought that she would harbor feelings for someone, let alone come to like someone…

“I’ve been thoroughly hooked, me.”

Just like any other night.

Elliot’s tent.

Looking at Elliot’s sleeping face, Ophelia couldn’t help but smirk bitterly.

“How did I end up with this bastard…?”

She hadn’t planned on this from the beginning.

Her intentions were simple—she just wanted to heal him. Pouring her divine power into him to hasten his recovery. A foolish method perhaps, but the most effective means nonetheless.

Yet once she realized that she could have her way with Elliot’s face and body, controlling herself became quite the challenge.

Challenging? More like she simply wanted to do it.

“…I’m no better than trash.”

Of course, she knew she was trash…

“Using sleep magic was crossing a line…”

At first, simply gazing at Elliot’s deeply sleeping face was enough, but now, she had taken to putting him under sleep magic and gaping at his sleeping features. It was no longer just looking; she indulged in all sorts of lewd acts.

What in the world was so appealing about that rough-looking face that kept drawing her gaze, she couldn’t discern for herself.

But…

“Just this once.”

Taking in the defenseless Elliot with her eyes would probably be her last.

She had begun to notice him regaining his strength visibly these days. While lying like this, obeying Ophelia’s every whim, didn’t seem so bad, she was acutely aware that was the mindset of a wicked woman.

After all, Elliot was someone destined to defeat the Demon King. To want to monopolize him was definitely a bad thought.

Finally, Ophelia took a deep breath to calm her racing heart as she leaned closer to Elliot’s sleeping face, wanting to plant a kiss on him.

But the next moment, the very thing she faced was Elliot’s slate-gray eyes.

Eyes so transparent, they seemed to draw her in.

“Huh?”

However, Ophelia let out a dazed noise, completely flustered.

It was only natural that she was stunned; there was no way Elliot, who should have been sleeping, could be looking right at her.

In other words, he was awake and staring directly into her eyes.

“Uh, uh uh…?”

Could it be that he woke up?

She had used sleep magic.

It shouldn’t have been normal for him to wake until noon the next day.

“M-Monster sleepwalking?”

“Do you really think that’s possible?”

His blunt response came back.

Startled, Ophelia fell on her butt, silently watching Elliot rise from his bed.

The thought of “I’m screwed” crossed her mind for just a moment.

Then came the sound of their teeth clashing together. Embarrassment and fear flooded in, leaving Ophelia frozen as she awaited the impending verbal onslaught from Elliot.

“So.”

Elliot finally spoke up.

Perhaps due to the residual effects of the sleep magic, his voice was tinged with fatigue.

“You really did whatever you wanted, huh.”

*

Her head was pounding.

Her vision was blurry.

But at least, it didn’t hinder her from moving or speaking.

“Well, of course, it was sleep magic.”

After the healing treatment, the overwhelming drowsiness came crashing down on her.

At first, she thought it was just because her body had become weak, but after several days, something definitely felt off.

From what she could gather, it was indeed Ophelia’s prank.

“U-uh… How?”

Flustered, Ophelia stumbled over her words.

I subtly pulled out a vial from my pocket. Inside, a half-full pale green potion sloshed around.

“Of course, this is Emily Barried’s masterpiece.”

“What’s that…?”

“What? A drug that keeps you from sleeping for about a day.”

It wasn’t difficult to ask Emily to make it at all.

I simply called her over for a few words that morning.

“Emily, can you make an energy drink?”

“Energy… what? What’s that?”

“As long as it keeps the drowsiness away for a day, it’s good.”

At that, Emily’s gaze transformed instantly into something.

It was a mischievous, lecherous look.

“What are you using it for?”

“Uh…”

I gave her a sly smile, forming a circle with one hand while inserting my index finger from the other hand into it.

And just like that, the conversation ended.

Emily whipped up the potion in just half a day and even requested a review afterward.

Of course, the outcome she desired would never come to fruition.

“Anyway, thanks to that, I’ve built up a resistance to sleep magic.”

“…Ugh.”

The puffed-up eyes looked like they could burst into tears at just a poke.

It was likely because of the overwhelming embarrassment.

But Ophelia wouldn’t back down that easily.

The cunning Ophelia, also known as a “lizard,” decided to cut her losses.

“Uh, I didn’t do anything!”

“Nothing? Really?”

“W-well, I just wanted to make sure you were sleeping well! You… you have a knack for making people misunderstand! I-I’m leaving now…?”

“Your face is really red, you know?”

“I’ve always had a red face!”

Trying to make excuses like that was laughable.

As I chuckled lightly, Ophelia, realizing how ridiculous it sounded, bowed her head.

What should I do now?

I had caught her red-handed, but that didn’t mean I could punish her.

“Ophelia.”

“….”

“Ophelia, lift your face.”

“No way….”

With that kind of response, I had no way to proceed.

I sat on the edge of the bed and tossed out a line while looking at the slumped Ophelia.

“Hey, in that position, I can see under your skirt.”

“Ugh.”

Ophelia flinched in surprise.

Of course, it was too dark to see the color of her underwear, but the fact that she tensed up was what mattered here.

I reached out and grabbed Ophelia’s arm, pulling her unexpectedly into my embrace.

As Ophelia found herself trapped in my arms, flustered, I wrapped my arms around her waist to hold her tightly.

“What are you doing?!”

“Who knows, I don’t even understand.”

Strictly speaking, I really didn’t know.

I had already noticed Ophelia’s feelings for me from the Capital. I also knew that in the current situation, I could not reciprocate her feelings for her.

So…

“No matter how I think about it, this is the only thing I can offer you.”

I hugged Ophelia and rolled her onto the bed, lying down with her.

Ophelia’s current situation was heavily influenced by environmental factors.

The circumstances in the Cathedral, the heavy burden of being a Saintess, and her fate bound by gears due to the person that I am.

“I promise.”

It’s no surprise that Ophelia would lean on me.

That doesn’t mean those feelings were artificial or fabricated.

Ophelia had feelings for me, and as the one who had pulled her outside the bounds of our reality, I had to respond in kind.

I believed it was the right thing to do.

That was the conclusion I reached after deep contemplation.

“Later.”

Thus, I spoke on Ophelia’s behalf, who had lost her words.

“When the Demon King is defeated, and a peaceful era arrives, if a day comes when we can grab a nice house and live together…”

“….”

“At that time, I’ll give you everything you desire.”

“…Everything?”

Ophelia gingerly opened her mouth from my embrace, and I nodded in response.

“Yes.”

I could see Ophelia slightly nodding.

Though there was no light, I couldn’t see her expression.

Soon, in a voice that seemed to be fading away, Ophelia spoke.

“If it’s everything I desire…”

“Everything you want.”

“….”

“Forever.”

She seemed to be dreaming about the future, and I flicked her forehead lightly.

Ophelia let out a dramatic scream as she flopped onto my pillow.

“So for now.”

I intertwined my fingers with Ophelia’s.

With that, I gazed up at the ceiling.

The moonlight trickled through a slight opening.

The North is cold. However, it’s an ideal environment to feel a person’s warmth.

“First, let’s just hold hands and sleep.”

“….”

Ophelia didn’t respond any further, but it seemed she understood what I meant.

The words I uttered were a matchless promise, weightier than any Geas bound by the divine.

Eventually, as if resigned to my words, Ophelia buried her face in my arms and muttered.

“You bastard.”

“And you’re a bitch.”

“Shut up.”

The night deepened.

Of course, I couldn’t sleep.

Emily’s potion was too effective.