Calvin recalled the conversation he had with the Demon Lord.
– The vice-commander is not a stupid person. There must be a reason for acting like that.
– It seems like he have caught a whiff of rebellion from them.
The corners of Lucart’s mouth were tilted up as he said those words. Since he wasn’t one to usually make facial expressions, Calvin could be sure that Lucart was happy about this situation. And the orders given.
– Meet with them.
– It would be nice for them to become the new temple birds.
When he say ‘birds,’ he’s referring to the decorations Shekina planned and delivered to the temple side. Magical items with recording and video-sharing capabilities.
Do you mean to use the Yuriel priest?
Calvin, deducing this much, couldn’t calm his pounding heart. He couldn’t help it. This was truly an exciting event he hadn’t experienced in a long time!
Corrupting a noble priest and bringing him in? If we reveal our identity to that priest in the future, what will his expression be like? Just imagining it made his heart race. His whole body was thrilled.
“What’s with that perverted expression. It’s disgusting.”
Oops.
Calvin, wiping away his conscience, chuckled and spoke.
“The Demon Lord didn’t give me specific orders. I’m just acting based on my assumptions.”
“What’s that… No, no. Hold on. Don’t say anything.”
Shekina grimaced and shook her head.
Arthur suddenly attacked Yuriel. But that’s it. This happened according to calculation. It is a picture of Arthur driving them into a corner and a member of the margrave family saving them.
And what Arthur said at that time.
– Those who believe in God are abandoned by God and saved by demons. What if they find out about this later? Should they blame God? Shall they praise us?
It meant setting up a scenario to exploit Yuriel’s faith.
Therefore…
‘Activate the brainpower!’
Shekina’s eyes flashed.
“Do you hope that priest betrays? Make him play the role of a spy.”
“Correct!”
Arthur, who had approached unnoticed, hugged Shekina’s neck and smiled.
“As expected of Shekina. You’re truly brilliant. I don’t know how someone like you appeared in this world.”
While it was good that she guessed right, the content was a bit uncomfortable.
Yuriel. Yuriel, that…
Shekina lowered her head.
“It shouldn’t be… He should never…”
Calvin’s eyes widened at her muttering.
“Do you have a reason to be so certain?”
What should she say? She couldn’t say Yuriel would never betray because, in the game, he was set as a friend who healed the hero. Shekina scratched her head.
‘…Huh?’
Then, a fleeting thought crossed her mind.
‘It’s just set up so he don’t betray the hero, right?’
What if he abandoned the gods with Dehan? Betrayed the temple?
‘Maybe that’s allowed…?’
This seemed plausible.
Having already cast a stone into his faith, turning those ripples into waves might be worth a try.
“Now that I think about it again, I guess it’s possible…?”
Shekina massaged her chin, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“But… you have to keep the temple servant next to you. If you mess with that little guy, he won’t come.”
“Ah, right. I think so too.”
Arthur added.
“That priest, he cared so much about that kid. He said he could die, but that kid should not die. And says to save him.”
Despite the cruel content, Arthur’s expression, as he spoke, seemed somewhat intoxicated. Shekina subtly spoke up.
“Arthur, are you really planning to give him that?”
Arthur didn’t answer. Instead, he grinned widely while looking at Shekina.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Should we then make it our goal to turn those two into renegades?”
“Why are you ignoring me?”
“It’s probably better for Calvin to go. That priest would be frightened of me.”
“Arthur?”
“Hahaha.”
Watching Arthur evade the answer, Shekina sighed, shaking her head as if reluctantly accepting the situation.
They were originally different races. She couldn’t impose her moral standards on the demons. For them, humans were a different race, or in other words, there was as much distance between humans and demons as there was between humans and insects.
So Shekina gave up trying to say more to Arthur.
“Um… I can’t refuse what I can do. Let’s go meet them first. Since I rescued them, I should also show some attitude.”
“Alright.”
Calvin raised his thumb with a sly grin.
It was already evening. A perfect time for a light meal and a good night’s rest.
Yawning, Shekina got up, looking at Calvin.
“What about you? Aren’t you coming?”
Calvin’s face, which had been petting the cat’s fur throughout the conversation, darkened instantly.
“Can’t you wait a little longer?”
Suppressing a smile at his sulking face, Shekina replied,
“It’s bothersome…”
“I’ll stay quiet. Just be in the corner with the cat.”
“No, that’s disturbing.”
“No way.”
Calvin seemed defeated, like a general who had lost his country. Shekina chuckled and offered him a lifeline.
“How about just living in the adjacent room?”
“Next room?”
“Yeah. If we make a small hole in the wall for the cat to pass through, it could be great. You could see the cat in the morning and evening. It might be there when you open your eyes and maybe even when you close them.”
“…….”
The meow of a cat echoed around Calvin’s ears.
Filth, cleanliness, impurity, purity, cleanliness, cleanliness, cute. A cute cat.
“I’ll move my things over.”
Calvin saluted and quickly left the room.
“Nyaaah.”
The cat, as if indifferent to Calvin’s presence or absence, jumped onto the sofa and began grooming itself.
“Isn’t he the one gathering information?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But why is he acting so stubbornly?”
“That’s Calvin’s charm.”
“………”
Shekina suppressed the words she wanted to utter.
‘It’s surprising that the Demon Lord’s army hasn’t fallen yet…’
***
Creak, creak.
The inn’s rickety window was mercilessly shaken by a stormy snowstorm.
With each shake of the window, Yuriel shuddered, shoulders trembling.
Terrifying. This place is frightening.
However, that didn’t mean he could leave immediately.
The Daimon Margrave’s territory lacked a teleportation device, and the carriage couldn’t traverse the storm.
Therefore, Yuriel had to stay here until the weather improved.
‘Sigh…’
Yuriel exhaled deeply, burying his face in his hands.
I want to escape.
I want to go back to the temple quickly.
I don’t know when the person who tried to kill me will come. I don’t know when I’ll die. I don’t want to die…
‘Oh God, please save me…’
While praying to calm his mind, Yuriel suddenly lifted his closed eyes.
It was because the words of the man who tried to kill him came to mind.
– Priest, remember.
– There is no response from the gods.
– It was me who saved your lives.
That man spared himself, spared Dehan too. And he moved both of us to a safe haven.
Indeed, it was that man who saved me.
‘Did the gods…’
Intend to save me?
It’s a sacrilegious thought, I know. But suspicions once formed are not easily dispelled. My heart beats. At the fingertips where divine power should surge, there’s only a chill.
“Priest, are you still awake?”
Dehan entered the room, his hair damp as if just washed. Spotting Yuriel’s pallor, Dehan hurriedly approached.
“What’s the matter?”
Yuriel almost burst into tears as soon as he saw Dehan’s face. But he held back. No, he had to hold back.
“…No. I-I’m fine.”
Lowering his head, he descended from the bed and rummaged through his belongings on the table.
“I should… see the Pope…”
Infusing divine power into the temple’s visual communication, Yuriel prayed incessantly.
Please, do not let me be put to the test.
୭ Click this ‘louyve’ bellow to see other project by me˚. ᵎᵎ
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