CH 125

I refused to let Cass take me personally and rode the carriage alone. For I wasn’t confident to see her face again in the same carriage.

Daisy came to the door to meet me and made a fuss.

“Saintess. I didn’t know you’d be this late. Nothing happened, right?”

“You must have been sleeping.”

“How could I put my eyes first when the Saintess hadn’t come home? I was very worried.”

Kyuu was sleeping, without even knowing I was coming.

“It was fine, Daisy. I’m going to sleep until noon today. So, you should rest now.”

“Yes, Saintess… Have a good night’s sleep. I’ll cover you with a blanket.”

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Perhaps it was because I came back to life, my whole body stretched out. My lips, which had still been touched by an unfamiliar feeling, were as warm as if they weren’t mine, but fatigue couldn’t be overcome.

It was past noon when I opened my eyes again.

“Yaaaawn.”

After roughly chewing the salad and washing myself, I stretched out.

What happened yesterday felt like a dream. What happened in the palace of the God of Death, Salerium, and… What happened with Cass after I woke up.

“Ugh…!”

As his lips came across my mind, I shook my head hastily.

Yes, yesterday, me and Cass were also impulsive. Night, bedroom, man and woman alone, kiss… Isn’t it a situation that can’t help but to be done?

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, monitors your movements in a wheelchair with bandages on his foot.]

[The God of Death, Kairos, smiles and puts Hessed’s original chair next to him and sits in the middle of the two chairs.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, is choosing a wedding day for a quick first night.]

I put both hands on my burning cheeks to cool off. Then, I put Rita’s necklace, which I had placed on the table, around my neck.

“Let’s think about what we need to do now.”

[The God of Love, Odyssey, emphasizes that the priority of all things is always love.]

After a while, a knock was heard outside. Soon the door opened and a familiar face entered.

“Sir Reihausd.”

[The God of Art, Mond, is happy to see Reihausd.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, mutters that it would be better to go in the order of Cass-Reihausd-Kyle and adds two more spaces to the list of options.]

I looked at his face and smiled lightly.

Reihausd’s complexion looked better than the last time I had seen him, and his golden eyes were shining brightly.

“It looks like you overslept today.”

“Ah… Yes, I’m a little tired. But you look good today.”

He smiled at my words.

Anyway, his face was bright, as if a filter effect was applied only to him.

“When I confessed my worries to someone, my heart felt much lighter.”

“Ah…”

“I hope that if the Saintess has a problem, you will sit down and find a place to confide in.”

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, shakes his head.]

[The God of Death, Kairos, looks at Reihausd with slightly relaxed eyes and ruminates on the contents of a certain book.]

I don’t know what he was worried about, but it was fortunate that his worries were gone.

“I came to discuss the crusade to be held the day after tomorrow.”

He sat across from the table in my room.

I casually sat across from him, and shortly afterwards Daisy brought refreshments.

“Is it about the God Raid’s divinity deprivation? Perhaps an official declaration would cause a big uproar in the country.”

“It’s something we have to deal with, though. Because we can’t serve an extinct god forever. I think we should gradually consult with other temples about the future of temples of Raid and priests all over the place.”

At his words, I nodded.

Most people in the Empire serve nine Gods, and among them, there aren’t a small number of people who serve Raid. At least one in ten serves Raid.

Many people would be confused if it was officially announced that Raid was the Demon King Leto and that his divinity had been revoked.

“I… The day after tomorrow, I would like to announce Raid’s divinity deprivation and give one more guide.”

In fact, it was a matter that I was going to visit Reihausd and discuss it, but since he came just in time, I brought up this topic.

“As for a guide…”

“As the sign of victory in the fight against Demon King Leto… Raid, we’ll display ‘Camilla’s true statue’. And I want it to be officially declared that Camilla is dead.”

Reihausd asked with an incomprehensible look.

“Even if Camilla is dead, the statue belongs to Baron Diego. I thought he said he was going to discard it.”

“We aren’t going to display the real one. I intend to use it as bait.”

I thought of several ways to meet Bellatrix. The surest way to do that was to have Camilla take the bait.

“When she is officially declared dead, Camilla is going to believe that we know she’s dead.”

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, applauds your plan.]

“You mean… There’s a good chance Camilla isn’t dead?”

I nodded.

“Yes. I will explain the reason slowly. Anyway, in Camilla’s eyes, we should look relaxed and relieved. It makes her think she’s outwitting us.”

Drunk with victory, they think their enemies are dead, and display their spoils.

In movies and dramas, usually the side who takes this position is counterattacked and defeated. And I thought that method was the bait to bring Camilla back.

“Camilla doesn’t know what happened to the statue and whereabouts. In this situation, if she hears it’s being displayed as a trophy… She’s definitely going to aim for it somehow. She sees it as a chance to regain her own power.”

Although Leto and Read had disappeared, the statue still contained the strong magic that Leto had instilled during his lifetime.

It was unknown to Camilla that Diego had absorbed it deliciously.

***

Bright sunlight streamed in through the window from outside.

In the secret building of the Deviamon Guild, Diego clattered and fidgeted with his handcuffs.

‘I was going to give it to her if she liked it.’

A smile formed on his lips as he recalled her distorted face.

‘She’s got funny reactions.’

Clink, clack. Putting the handcuffs in a drawer, Diego stretched.

The Demon Realm was managed to be organized, and he left the work to his trustworthy subordinates.

There was no need to worry, as the Demon Realm would flow peacefully today with screams, shouts, bloody fights and conspiracies, as always.

‘Let’s go praise the Gods after a long time.’

The gods will despise and hate it.

There were times when Diego thought of her voice telling him not to meet her again. In particular, especially on good days like this, sometimes cloudy days, or lukewarm days.

Originally, demons like to torment humans. So Diego regarded his sudden thoughts about Ariel as part of that.

When he smiled again, someone knocked smartly.

Moments later the door opened and one of his human minions entered.

“Baron.”

Bowing down in greeting, he opened his mouth.

“It seems that something happened to Draive at Euclipse Academy a while ago.”

Professor Draive Lubern.

Diego was a familiar face. He was as good at necromancy as the demons.

“What do you mean by something happened?”

“He took a leave of absence for about a month. However, fragments of necromancy were found in the incinerator. Although our guildmates at Euclipse found it first and cleaned it up.”

Necromancy belonged to black magic and was taboo among humans. However, without properly handling it, he took a leave of absence as if he were running away? Something was strange.

“I found out that Cass Lloyd and the Saintess had been to Euclipse the night before he took a leave of absence.”

At that, Diego raised his eyebrows with a look of interest.

“The Saintess?”

“That’s right. However, if Draive had been caught using necromancy, the Paladins or soldiers would have taken him away… Because it’s not like that. I’m having trouble figuring out what happened.

“It smells interesting.”

Diego’s red lips swelled.

“I will investigate further and report back.”

“No. Get your hands off of that.”

“Pardon me?”

At Diego’s words, the subordinate made a puzzled expression.

“I want to find out for myself.”

His purple eyes were full of interest. He had a good excuse to dispel his boredom.