Flashback: Before Shekina arrived.
Arthur and Calvin were waiting patiently in Yuriel’s room as he prepared.
Since the room was small and had only one armchair, Arthur sat in it while Calvin perched on the armrest. Yuriel scurried around in front of them, fussing about.
“I feel gross.”
Calvin, who had been silently watching Yuriel, finally spoke.
“Breathing in the air of this filthy place feels like it’s contaminating my lungs. See this? I’m not actually sitting—I’m just pretending to. My precious bottom can’t touch this surface.”
Still obsessing over his unresolved germophobia, Calvin grumbled on. Arthur squinted at him.
“You do realize that’s a disorder, right?”
“Is there any demon out there who isn’t sick?”
“Me.”
“Yeah, right. You’ve got an obsession disorder. One look at how you treat Shekina, and it’s obvious.”
“…One week without Sera.”
“Hey! I told you not to use my Sera to threaten me!”
Calvin instinctively reached out to grab Arthur by the collar but stopped when he realized Arthur’s shirt wasn’t as clean as he thought. Tsk. Calvin ruffled his hair in frustration.
“Hey, I don’t know much about this, so let me ask. Is there usually a lot of prep involved when using those visual-sharing devices?”
“It’s different for us… because we’re demons.”
“Ah, I see.”
The artifact contained a small amount of demonic energy, allowing demons to instantly link and view visuals. However, that was impossible for a human like Yuriel.
Yuriel was currently imbuing the crystal orb with holy power so it could transmit visuals.
How much time had passed?
By the time Calvin’s hovering rear began to tremble, Yuriel’s face lit up with excitement. He clenched his fists, stood upright, and lifted his chin.
“F-finally, I-I’m ready…!”
He called out to Calvin and Arthur, his voice filled with childlike glee. Calvin shot to his feet eagerly, while Arthur followed more slowly, approaching Yuriel.
“Now, y-you can l-look here. Would you like me to show you the p-previously recorded scene?”
“Oh. Is that possible?”
“Y-yes! I, I kept it in storage.”
“Traitor priests really are the best.”
“Th-that…”
Yuriel’s face turned ashen at Calvin’s comment, but Calvin didn’t care at all. As the head of the intelligence unit, his eyes sparkled as he stared at the crystal orb.
Just as they were engrossed in the orb, Arthur’s hand suddenly shot out. Placing his hand lightly on the orb, he made them pause.
“Before we proceed, I have a question.”
Arthur looked at Yuriel with wide eyes and asked.
“How did you know there was a device in that bird ornament?”
“…Pardon?”
“There’s no way it could detect magic. We were certain no one would notice. So, how did you, a priest, figure it out?”
The question came out of nowhere, but it struck a nerve. Yuriel’s eyes widened in surprise. Meanwhile, Arthur’s gaze turned icy as he stared at him, as if warning him not to lie.
“T-that’s….”
“What’s wrong? Why can’t you answer? Seems suspicious,”
Calvin interjected.
Yuriel flinched and shook his head frantically.
“N-no, that’s not it… Dehan told me. He said something felt… off.”
“…Dehan?”
“Yes… sometimes… he’s surprisingly good at noticing unusual things….”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
Dehan’s divine power wasn’t particularly strong. And his talents didn’t stand out in other areas either. He was just a child with slight potential—nothing more.
‘Does he really have such an ability?’
Was it a blessing from the gods?
Or perhaps….
‘I’ll need to investigate when the opportunity arises.’
While Arthur was lost in thought, Calvin clenched his fist with a grim expression.
“So… what do we do? Torture him? Get more information?”
“You’re insane.”
Arthur grabbed Calvin’s shoulder and pushed him back, realizing that if left unchecked, Yuriel might actually end up in a torture chamber.
“I was merely curious and asked out of personal interest. There’s no need to dwell on it. Now, let’s see what the northern priests have been up to.”
Arthur’s tone shifted, redirecting the conversation.
But that didn’t mean Yuriel felt any less uneasy.
To them, he was still an outsider.
‘I have to make sure not to do anything suspicious….’
Yuriel muttered this to himself as he placed his hand on the crystal orb.
The next moment:
Fwoosh!
[How long will you leave the Pope’s seat vacant?]
Voices filled with greed spilled out.
***
Shekina crossed her arms and lightly tapped her left arm with her right hand.
She was deep in thought.
She had found it odd how quiet the northern temple priests had been. They had even tried to kill Yuriel and Dehan but had been unusually silent ever since.
But for them to be so blinded by selfish ambition that they ignored everything—the demonic attacks in the capital, the deaths of people, and the collapse of the central temple—and focused solely on claiming the Pope’s seat?
“They’re terrible people.”
They were truly people who had lost their minds completely.
Shekina clicked her tongue in disapproval and turned her gaze toward those staring at her.
“So, what’s the plan?”
At Shekina’s question, Arthur, Calvin, and Yuriel all flinched in unison.
It was obvious none of them had been thinking at all.
They were probably assuming Shekina would handle everything as usual.
Seriously?
Shekina let out a dry laugh.
“What, were you expecting a solution from a three-year-old?”
“…Of course not,”
Arthur quickly denied and continued nonchalantly.
“As I mentioned, targeting this side would be the best course of action. Since pressure is still coming from the capital, turning the northern temple entirely to our side wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Arthur’s suggestion was entirely reasonable.
But Shekina couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease.
And why?
Because of Yuriel and Dehan!
“They’re the ones who tried to hand these two over,”
Shekina said, pointing at Yuriel, who looked dejected, and Dehan, who appeared oblivious. At that moment, Yuriel flinched and waved his hands frantically.
“W-we’re fine! You don’t need to consider such personal feelings….”
“But I will. I’m very persistent, you see.”
“Uh…”
“You see, you’re now people who’ve entered the Count’s residence. We’re responsible for you. But working with the ones who tried to hand you over for our benefit? No way.”
“………..”
Up until now, Yuriel had believed he was an outsider in this place. Everything felt unfamiliar and alien. He thought he’d have to leave one day and that he would always be a stranger here.
But Shekina was telling him otherwise: that he was now part of ‘us.’
What warm and kind words these were.
Yuriel barely managed to suppress his overwhelming emotions, sniffling as he held back tears.
“But.”
Amid Yuriel’s emotional turmoil, Dehan, who seemed entirely unaffected, spoke up.
“The divine power of the northern temple’s high priest is formidable.”
“How formidable?”
“Comparable to that of the capital.”
“Hm.”
Shekina squinted and recalled her memories.
The northern temple from the game… Before arriving at the Demon King’s castle, it was briefly mentioned as helping Dehan. Back then, the high priest… yes, he had been quite strong.
So, what should she do?
Her deliberation didn’t last long.
“I’ve got a good idea.”
Shekina’s eyes sparkled with determination.
