Taming the Evil Saintess

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Taking a deep breath, I continued speaking.

“I like you. You’ve been waiting for me to say this, haven’t you?”

It felt like it took an eternity.

This was the first time we had both been sober and I had initiated a confession.

In truth, we were both aware of it.

We were simply acutely aware of the weight of putting those feelings into words, Ophelia and I.

However, even though I spoke those words to soothe a hurt Ophelia, it was also…

“More than anyone else, more than anything in the world, I like you, Ophelia.”

“…”

“Well, um… to borrow Emily’s words, it’s love.”

That would mean I was hopelessly captivated by this woman named Ophelia.

We had been together for five years. To say my heart wasn’t drawn to her would be a lie. Above all, I had heard from her lips countless times that she liked me. I just feigned ignorance, not wanting to remember it.

“Anyway, that’s it.”

Ophelia tightened her lips and froze, so I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

Finally, she gulped down some air.

Then, Ophelia slowly lowered her head, hiding her messy face.

“…You fool. How can you not say it properly?”

“It’s been a while since, you know, confessing love to someone after coming to this world…”

“D-Don’t call it love yet… not yet…”

Ophelia said with a voice laden with emotion.

“I want to hear that kind of talk in a more beautiful place…”

“For example, at a Fireworks Festival?”

“Yeah, at a Fireworks Festival…”

As she was speaking, Ophelia suddenly stopped.

Then she looked up. Despite being stained with demonic blood, her fair skin looked as flushed as molten lava.

“Y-You… you heard that, didn’t you?”

“Very well.”

“H-How?”

“I have excellent hearing. I can even hear your heart beating right now.”

“…Ah, ahhh…”

That wasn’t the first time she had confessed under the influence.

I had heard it once in the Mercenary Guild too.

Of course, I didn’t bring that up. If I did, it might become Ophelia’s lifelong embarrassment.

Ironically, she seemed unaware of it as she nibbled on her lips and wrapped her arms around her face, sinking down.

Muffled words slipped through her fingers.

“I-I want to die.”

“If you die, I’ll die with you. We have Gears.”

“Shut up, you idiot…”

Even I could feel that I was clumsily telling her not to die.

With a deep sigh, I sank down beside the Pope’s corpse.

It wasn’t something to say next to a corpse, but I once again voiced my confession.

“Anyway, Ophelia, I like you.”

“…”

“Do you like me?”

I asked casually.

We were past the point where idle words felt appropriate.

The aftermath of the Mark felt like it was going to seize my consciousness at any moment, and Ophelia’s eyes, having purified too much mana, were tinged with a purplish hue from mana addiction.

However, Ophelia lifted one corner of her mouth and looked up at me with gleaming eyes.

“Are you really asking that…?”

“I wanted to hear it directly.”

“…Hmph, you crazy fool.”

Ophelia shook her head and then lightly bumped her forehead against my chest.

Then, trying to keep it secret from anyone else, she whispered softly.

“Of course, I like you, you idiot.”

“…Hahaha.”

“Y-You’re the only one…”

Smiling dryly, I brushed the tear-streaked cheeks of Ophelia.

Even though it was a gruesome sight full of blood, there was a faint floral scent tickling my nose.

Her soft skin. Those azure eyes. Her pure white hair, reminiscent of lilies.

All the funny expressions she made, her gruff demeanor, and the countless incidents that happened every day.

I liked all of that about her.

“…Um. Ophelia.”

“What?”

After a brief moment of silence, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Um… should we kiss or something?”

“You don’t need to ask that, you idiot…”

“Sorry.”

I was entirely oblivious to the mood.

I was nearly at my limit after battling the Hell Duke.

Embracing the slumped Ophelia, I thought.

“It’s suffocating.”

It truly took a long time, I felt.

For one person to hold someone in their heart.

It was quite ironic that the object of those feelings was Saint Ophelia, whom I once despised, but…

“…”

I awkwardly grabbed Ophelia’s chin and pulled her closer.

Normally, she would have resisted, but this time, Ophelia kept her lips tightly sealed and yielded to my strength.

Looking like this, she was surprisingly petite.

Wrapping one arm around her tiny waist, I brought her face closer to mine.

“Ophelia.”

“Uh, yeah?”

“It really smells like blood.”

“…”

At that comment, Ophelia’s eyebrows twitched as she opened her mouth.

“Elliot.”

“What?”

“You’re the worst bastard in the world.”

With her last line being so Ophelia-like, I couldn’t help but smile as I nodded.

“And you’re the worst bitch in the world.”

That might have been why we were attracted to each other.

Our lips met.

I can’t really recall the taste of our first kiss.

I suspect it was thick with the smell of blood.

Only a peculiar sense of happiness sprouted in my chest.

I thought that should be enough.

*

Meanwhile, the Knight Order of the National Church was facing a tense situation.

“Shall we charge in?”

“We have to.”

The Southern Gate of the Saint, that heavy iron gate, remained shut even after the final deadline had passed.

Instead, the surging mana swirling within the cathedral intensified the Knight’s resolve. It was unclear at first, but the moment they saw that mana up close, it became clear.

Commander Urdin of the Imperial Knight Order drew his sword and shouted.

“The Cathedral has allied with the Demon King!”

From the perspective of someone who once worshipped the same God, it was nothing short of devastating.

Simultaneously, their fighting spirit surged.

Commander Urdin shouted vigorously.

“Today, we will engage in the Holy War!”

“Wooooh!”

Hearing the ensuing cheers, Urdin swung his sword vigorously, and hundreds of holy knights stepped forward in unison. It was the maximum military force that the Imperial National Church could mobilize.

At last, the Knight Order of the Imperial National Church charged into the cathedral.

They were bewildered to see the main street of the cathedral partly destroyed beyond the open gates.

“What the…”

Was this the work of demons?

They thought this at first.

It was only before they spotted a woman standing atop the stairs leading to the Southern Gate that they realized the truth.

“That’s…”

Commander Urdin squinted his eyes.

The woman’s face was familiar.

“Ophelia Meredein.”

The continent’s saint Ophelia Meredein stood tall, looking down upon the knights.

She held a royal scepter in one hand, which was also recognizable.

Urdin shook his head in disbelief.

“The Pope’s, scepter.”

That very object, regarded as the holiest relic, was in the Saint’s hands.

What that signified was clear.

“Saint! Are you truly aligning yourself with the traitorous Pope?”

“What the hell is that idiot saying?”

A mocking voice came from behind as they clarified.

Upon closer inspection, the Saint’s eyes were gleaming with a purple hue.

It was clearly the work of demons.

Grinding his teeth, Urdin drew his sword.

“We must defeat the Pope! No matter what, even the Saint cannot stop our Holy War!”

“Is that so? Then try and defeat me.”

With those words, Saint Ophelia opened her arms wide.

Urdin tilted his head in confusion.

Just as he was trying to grasp the meaning of her actions, Ophelia spoke first.

“I am the Pope.”

“…Uh, huh?”

Pope Yudor Meredein. Where did he go, and now his daughter, Saint Ophelia, claims to be the Pope.

It was abundantly clear that the scepter Ophelia held belonged to the Pope. Moreover, her body bore clear signs of battle.

Then that meant…

“The Pope… no, where is Yudor Meredein?”

“He’s dead. By my hands. I’ve half-killed the Demon King’s underlings he was in league with too.”

“…”

She killed the Pope.

It wasn’t something a Saint was supposed to say, but the weariness in her eyes didn’t appear to be lying.

More than anything, to doubt the intentions of a mere Knight Commander like Urdin was nearly sacrilege.

“Then…”

“So just shut up and get lost.”

“…”

Urdin fell silent, but the knights who had already ignited their fighting spirits stepped forward with a cheer.

Should we stop?

However, it was impossible to retreat our forces now.

Rather, if we could disguise it as an accident…

“…”

What on earth am I saying?

Just as Urdin’s face twisted as he was about to order them to halt,

Creak, creak.

A scraping sound echoed against the stone floor.

From beyond the Southern Gate emerged a pale blonde man.

The man, covered in blood, walked with a golden sword dragging behind him, making the scraping noise as it grazed the ground.

He crossed the path horizontally.

Because he held the sword against the ground, a long line emerged where he walked.

“You guys.”

The man opened his mouth.

Although he looked in rags, his blue eyes shone bright, infused with mana.

“From now on, anyone who crosses this line will be considered a part of the Demon King’s army and will be slain.”

“W-What nonsense!”

“That’s the hero speaking. If it’s nonsense, come and cross.”

Hero.

The moment they heard that word, the holy knights hesitated.

Indeed, his appearance resembled the hero they had seen in the news.

Urdin was also aware of the rumors surrounding the hero.

To summarize in a word: a reckless troublemaker.

Had that troublemaker been involved in this cathedral incident? Naturally, Urdin’s tone turned polite.

“Y-You, Hero! What do you mean, considering us as part of the Demon King’s army! We are the Holy Knights! We have the right to investigate the cathedral’s incident and unveil the truth…”

“Right? Who grants that right?”

It was Ophelia’s voice.

The Saint swung her scepter down dramatically, glaring at Urdin with narrowed eyes.

“Did the gods grant that right? If so, are you saying you are more superior than us who received power from the divine?”

“…”

“I’m the Pope now. Once this matter is over, should I summon your National Church’s archbishops and punish them? Who would be responsible for that? Want to take off your clothes first?”

“W-Well, that’s…”

“If you have complaints, come on over. My knight… ahem, I mean, the hero’s sword will slice you down.”

The hero’s sword didn’t even emit any blade energy, but Urdin sensed it intuitively.

If they charged in now, they would die. There was no way they could win against that person.

As if to prove this, a gigantic shadow loomed from the sky.

Boom! The ground trembled, and soon behind the Saint stood a Black Dragon, one that could only be seen in legends.

“…”

Having witnessed all this, Urdin quickly made a decision faster than anyone else.

“We retreat.”

Not a single knight raised an objection to that statement.