Taming the Evil Saintess

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A tranquil afternoon.

“Hmm.”

Taking a bite of the raspberry pie that Elliot somehow managed to bring, Ophelia sighed.

It wasn’t delicious.

The mushy texture felt like chewing on mud, and the tangy flavor of the raspberries was overpowered by bitterness.

She had wanted it just moments ago, but now that it was in her mouth, a chill ran down her spine as if she’d suddenly entered a freezing cold river.

“…This sucks.”

Ophelia felt cranky.

Of course, she was always somewhat uncomfortable. Often, everything around her seemed unsatisfactory, and on days when they camped out for even a few days, her hysteria was enough to pierce the heavens.

Yet right now, Ophelia wasn’t camping outside, nor was she starving. She hadn’t even gone days without a bath.

This place was Eastern Port. A corner of the Empire’s five major cities. Ophelia was living comfortably like a queen in the Lord’s Mansion there. Still, she felt an unexpected discomfort, as if she hadn’t washed in over a week.

Ophelia had a rough idea of where this emotional shift was coming from.

“….”

She placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

There was no distinct feeling, yet intense emotions swirled within her.

“Strange. Damn strange.”

Was it morning sickness she’d heard of?

She knew well enough that such things commonly occurred when a woman conceived new life. The priests and nuns of the Cathedral were forbidden from marrying, yet the believers there typically lived ordinary lives, having families and children, happily ever after.

However, what left Ophelia confused was the chasm she felt when she superimposed her and Elliot’s faces onto those happy couples.

Ophelia could not envision a future where she lived happily with Elliot.

“…I spent too much time watching that bastard.”

Do I love him?

Of course, I love him.

Do I hate him?

Of course, I hate him.

Her tangled emotions were like a tower built on an ambiguous foundation.

“…Ugh.”

While pondering, Ophelia offered the raspberry pie, which felt like a lump of coal, to the cat at her feet.

“Meow.”

Could you at least give me a roar like a dragon or a meow like a cat?

The cat, no, Blackie, immersed its nose in the plate, devouring the pie eagerly.

“Geez, dumb animal. Eat slowly, will you?”

As she said this, Ophelia frowned and looked at Blackie.

Now that she thought about it, that creature is already our child, right?

Though Nuar had parents, Ophelia and Elliot could be considered Blackie’s guardians. With that thought, she felt an inexplicable urge to embrace Blackie.

Instincts overtook her mind. She acted on it. Ophelia picked up Blackie and stroked its fur. Blackie seemed to freeze in surprise at her sudden action.

It makes sense; after all, since the blood oath ritual, Ophelia had been cold towards Blackie for no good reason.

It wasn’t just Blackie who was surprised.

“…Huh?”

Ophelia realized her lips were curving into a soft smile and jumped back in shock.

She looked in the mirror.

A gentle smile. Warm eyes. Wasn’t that an expression of a true mother?

Does simply accepting another’s seed into her body awaken the concept of motherhood in a woman?

“Damn it.”

Ophelia spat out an expletive, unsure if she felt joyful or sorrowful.

At the same time, she vividly felt her current situation.

Ophelia was now a mother.

A wave of fear hit her.

“I’m, I’m crazy.”

Ophelia hastily threw on her coat and stepped outside.

*

“So, kid, you…”

Archery Master Erwin looked at Ophelia, resting his chin on his hand. Her eyes glimmered with surprise and curiosity.

“You’re pregnant…”

“Shut up!”

Ophelia frantically covered Erwin’s mouth. This was the dining hall. The only guests here were the knights stationed in Eastern Port, but rumors could spread, and it wouldn’t be good.

“Anyway, you… um…”

If he said “pregnant,” she might explode with anger.

Erwin hesitated, searching for appropriate words.

“That you’ve… birthed a child?”

“Shut up! Do I look like a beast to you?”

While Ophelia shot daggers at him, Erwin chuckled softly.

When he first received the saintess’s call, he was genuinely surprised. After all, he didn’t think the relationship between Erwin and Ophelia was particularly good, even in jest.

However, upon seeing Ophelia’s eyes dart around, Erwin sensed that something unusual was happening.

The shocking statement that the saintess hesitantly revealed was undeniably startling. Pregnant. Of course, Erwin had anticipated it. What surprised her was how quickly it had happened. He thought the couple must have a good relationship, but it had barely been three months since they reclaimed the cathedral.

“Your husband must be a true beast. Ah, I envy you.”

“Old hag! I’ll kill you.”

Having spent over a year together, Erwin could brush aside Ophelia’s insulting remarks. He winked at her while raising his fork, pointing it in her direction.

“So, what’s bothering you, kid?”

“My head feels weird. I think I’m going crazy.”

“Going to the hospital might be your best bet.”

“It’s not that!”

Erwin understood what she meant.

It was likely that being pregnant was making her feel off.

“Maybe you should talk to that little brat Emily instead?”

“This is a secret. You know well what would happen if that witch found out.”

“She’d probably tell everyone in town. Eventually, the entire continent would know within a month.”

“Exactly.”

Seeing Ophelia nod vigorously, Erwin poked a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.

Meanwhile, Ophelia didn’t even touch the fish. She was only drinking water. Worried, Erwin took a big piece of fish and brought it close to her, but she turned her head away as if she might vomit.

“…Hmm. You’re not liking food you used to love?”

“Yeah…”

“Getting angry for no reason, feeling more sensitive. Your mood swings like crazy…”

“That’s right…”

This was undoubtedly a serious issue.

There was no escaping it.

“Morning sickness.”

“Y-Yeah, indeed….”

Ophelia’s complexion turned pale.

Erwin didn’t understand why she was so terrified.

“So what’s the problem with that? It’s a natural symptom. Elves experience morning sickness too. Well, I don’t have experience, but if I were to get pregnant, I’d probably go through the same.”

“…Ah, no… that’s true….”

It seemed more about her not being ready to be a mother.

“Could it be that you’re not prepared to be a mother yet?”

“…That’s part of it…”

“Not many people are actually prepared for this kind of thing. Especially not a kid like you.”

Erwin, as the elder, offered logical advice, but Ophelia fidgeted.

“That’s true, but there’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

Ophelia hesitated, glancing at Erwin, before finally speaking.

“You know I have a terrible personality.”

“True.”

“…But if I become even more terrible here… Elliot is going to get so mad at me…”

“…Huh?”

“Earlier, I was fussing about wanting that raspberry pie, and when I heard Cecilia was coming, I threw things….”

“….”

“And that bastard Elliot has plenty of pretty women around him… What if he does something terrible… or worse, what if he gets fed up and leaves me?”

Clap.

The fork Erwin was holding fell.

Still blinking several times, he stared at Ophelia, who was writhing in front of him.

“So… you’re scared of becoming a mother, but you’re more worried about Elliot hating you…?”

“U-Uh-huh.”

Forget the morning sickness.

Forget her bad personality.

All that aside…

“Kid, since when did you become so… feminine?”

Instead, Ophelia was showing a more girlish side.

The stubborn kid, always full of complaints, had disappeared, replaced by a young woman.

The power of love was magnificent.

Even the villainess Ophelia Meredein could be made to seem like a protagonist in a romance novel.

That thought shocked Erwin immensely.

“…Hmm.”

However, if he expressed his turmoil now, the reputable challenger of the wise forest might weep.

Erwin pondered.

Hero Elliot might have a bad temper, but he wasn’t the kind of jerk who would treat the woman carrying his child harshly. In fact, given both of their rough personalities, it was more like a case of a perfect match.

Nevertheless, Ophelia seemed to be asking for answers.

Ultimately, Erwin decided to give his solution.

“It’s simple.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re a woman.”

“Why are you stating the obvious?”

Ophelia’s eyes narrowed.

Erwin chuckled and continued.

“Listen closely. Now, kid, do you know what the strongest weapon you have as a woman is?”

“…Branch of the World Tree?”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

“Then what is it?”

“…It’s tears.”

“Tears…?”

“Yeah. Traditionally, men can’t resist a woman’s tears.”

Hearing this, Ophelia’s eyes lit up.

*

After finishing Ophelia’s errand, I met the second possessor.

His name in this world was Damon. While he wasn’t as cooperative as Oksana, he decided to join the faction less than an hour after we began to negotiate. His decision was largely influenced by Oksana’s involvement. It seemed the possessed Oksana was considered a reliable figure among the Demon King’s army possessors.

Another reason was…

“Uh, so you’re really going to save me?”

“No, I’m not planning to kill you.”

“Please save me…”

Due to my notorious reputation from having killed several other possessors.

Actually, I often imprisoned them rather than killed them, but how would they know under the Demon King’s forces?

Whenever a possessed individual went missing, it was a given that the Hero must have killed them.

In any case, I successfully brought the possessors to join the faction. Just a few days ago, I even received intelligence that we’d found one of the possessed siblings, Ruin and Luna, whom we had dispatched to the empire.

“Things are going smoothly.”

It was a satisfying outcome.

Now, we just had to advance to the Demon King’s Castle and eliminate the two Demon King’s officers and the Demon King himself.

It would be best to get it done quickly before Ophelia’s belly starts to show.

As I thought this, I grabbed the doorknob of my chamber.

“Ophelia?”

Inside was Ophelia, looking strangely off.

She staggered over to me and hugged me tightly.

It was extremely rare for Ophelia to initiate a hug.

“Elliot…”

She looked up at me.

Her turquoise eyes were glistening with transparent tears.

“…O-Ophelia?”

She was crying.

Like a tragic heroine.

“….”

My expression stiffened.

The panic was only for a moment.

My mind cleared as if I had splashed cold water on my head.

It was undoubtedly a mirage created by the demons.