Chapter 278: Chapter 44: Kalpa Without ■■
After Tesillid’s shocking declaration, the situation quickly resolved.
Indeed, the adage that respect comes from fear seemed to be a true maxim, as the Elfenheim Holy Knights, upon seeing my halo and Tesillid’s aura blade, decided to retreat quietly.
It was a wise decision.
It would look better to make a strategic retreat than to become a defeated army.
Of course, among them, there were some who kicked away the dignity we offered and showed a disgraceful appearance.
A certain blond Holy Knight, trembling violently, hurled insults and curses at Tesillid.
-You disgusting apostate! Falling into depravity by the witch’s wiles! God’s lightning will split your skull!
-Like this?
-Aargh!
He was struck by my Divine Retribution and carried away by other knights.
As soon as the Holy Knights retreated, what happened in Peronsa today would be reported to the Cardinal Council.
Soon, a declaration will be issued through the Pontifical Palace, announcing an inquisition against Tesillid and me as a pair. I can clearly foresee what’s to come.
But our side won’t be easy to deal with either.
Under Bianca’s leadership, the Incantation Cult is secretly working to establish a counterforce against the Order Religion, and they will soon show results.
After the Elfenheim Holy Knights retreated, the lunch banquet held at the Duke’s Castle somehow turned into a grand feast.
After spending a boisterous time with everyone, the sun sank below the horizon.
Thus, after the feast ended, came a time for rest.
Tesillid and I sought a place where we could spend time alone and went to the renovated Saint Agnes Church.
Plink. Plink-plonk. Tap. Tap.
Raindrops falling from the sky tapped against the stained-glass window.
Though the sky had been clear during the day, it seemed that dark clouds, having crept in under the cover of night, had already taken over the heavens.
The sound of rain, like a nocturne, resonated in the air, adding an elegant charm to the sanctuary.
Tesillid and I. The two of us were leaning by the window, conversing.
“You can communicate with a god?”
“Yes.”
His smooth, sea-colored eyes shone with a peculiar brilliance filled with surprise. I rummaged through my inventory and replied.
“I can converse with her constantly. Our Voice-Spirit is affectionate when she wants to be, and stern when she wants to be. Befitting one whose divine name contains the character for ‘speech’ (言), she often imparts profound sayings that stir the heart.”
[The ‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ is pleased with the perfect interpretation.]
[The ‘Scales that Judge Souls’ finds it an eyesore.]
“I see.”
“If you have something you want to say to our Voice-Spirit, go ahead.”
“Hmm…”
His handsome face grew serious. Deep in thought, he didn’t even notice me placing a wine glass in his hand.
Soon, he lifted his head high. The high ceiling adorned with sacred oil paintings. He seemed to believe a god resided beyond it.
“Voice-Spirit.”
He truly is a devout Holy Knight. The name of our Voice-Spirit, spoken in his voice, sounded especially reverent.
His sea-colored eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“Was it you, Voice-Spirit, who returned the child to me on Litniel Plain?”
[The ‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ replies, stating it was obvious.]
“She said it was obvious.”
“Ah… I was truly sorry then. When I knocked on the Gate of the Pantheon, I dared to utter an insolent blasphemy…”
[The ‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ waves her hand, saying not to mind, as it wasn’t a curse directed at her true self.]
“Our Voice-Spirit said it’s fine because you weren’t cursing her. …But did you curse?”
“…I said, ‘Damned Strict Order and Goodness.’”
Rather than a curse, it was closer to an appropriate modifier. Nevertheless, he averted his gaze, as if feeling guilty.
[The ‘Scales that Judge Souls’ finds it cute.]
I couldn’t view it with such a light gaze as the Scales.
Tesillid, usually bound tightly by the tenets of the Seven Virtues and Seven Deadly Sins, never uttered a harsh word.
The thought that he had been pushed so far mentally as to blaspheme a god made my mood sink heavily.
Silently, I refilled his glass with ‘Ceremonial Top-Grade Wine’.
Tesillid, as if parched, immediately brought the glass to his lips, then flinched.
“This is alcohol.”
“There’s no prohibition on alcohol in the Incantation Cult’s doctrine.”
“I see.”
My prediction that he would refuse a few more times was off the mark.
He clinked glasses with me, then immediately tilted his glass. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down several times.
What? He’s surprisingly good at drinking, isn’t he?
[The ‘Heavens’ Secret Overseer’ is intrigued by this sight, something not seen in the original.]
[The ‘Eye that Oversees All Chaos’ is indignant, saying he was feigning innocence to seduce you all this time.]
I also gulped down my share of the wine.
‘Ohh!’
Suddenly, an ecstasy swept through my entire body, as if an organic vineyard from the Garden of Eden had unfurled in my mouth.
Truly, it was wine from the Divine Realm. The description ‘delicious’ was no exaggeration.
[The ‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ stomps her feet, saying that wine is for ceremonial use, not for drinking.]
‘Oh, I was just tasting it.’
And I emptied half of it.
Thus, the two of us enjoyed our toast. As we were sharing the last glass, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
“Ah, right. Terry. I have something I want to ask.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“What happened back then on Litniel Plain? I don’t remember anything from when I became a Demon King.”
“…”
For some reason, the tips of Tesillid’s fingers, holding the wine glass, twitched.
“When I came to, you were injured, and I had a tranquilizer candy in my mouth.”
“…”
“You gave it to me, right? How exactly did you do it?”
“…”
I asked, feigning pure curiosity.
My plan was to make him confess what dangerous method he used, then scold him, questioning if it was truly the best option.
It was then that I waited for the Holy Knight before me to act in his earnest and honestly confess his sin.
Unfortunately, today, Tesillid didn’t seem to be in the mood to play the role of the conservative knight.
His sea-colored eyes, which had seemed to waver briefly in embarrassment, soon became calm.
Suddenly, he moved closer to me.
“Curious?”
“…Terry?”
His long, strong fingers traced the pink hair resting on my shoulder.
My hair, entangling in his slow teasing.
A subtle tingle and tickle seemed to travel from it to my scalp.
I needlessly swallowed dryly.
[The ‘Scales that Judge Souls’ holds its breath.]
Seeing the Scales act like that, I realized it wasn’t just my imagination that the atmosphere felt strange.
Our gazes met from close proximity.
His sea-colored eyes, visible through his silver hair, were somehow provocative, and his lips, slightly moistened from the wine, emitted an inexplicably captivating luster.
“If you want to know…”
His attractive face drew closer and closer.
But just as his breath was about to meet mine, a sudden realization flashed in my mind. It was thanks to his enchanting eyes and lips.
“Ah! Did you perhaps use a provocation skill to draw me in and feed it to me by mouth?”
“…”
His hand, which had been about to cup the back of my head, suddenly froze.
It seemed I was right.
[The ‘Scales that Judge Souls’ angrily exclaims that this was the moment to quietly wait until he re-enacted the method.]
[The ‘Scathing Critic of Balance’ clicks his tongue at your inability to read the room.]
[The ‘Architect of the Skyscraper of Trials’ is disappointed, saying the mood has been broken.]
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”
Tesillid awkwardly stepped back.
I should have felt apologetic for breaking the mood, but I was busy interrogating him.
“Good heavens. You provoked a Demon King all by yourself? What if you do something that dangerous? You almost died!”
“Well, I survived in the end, so…”
“What? ‘In the end’? You can’t even make an excuse that you were confident you wouldn’t die?”
“That’s, true, but at the time, it was…”
“Just try saying it was the best option.”
“…Saint Agnes, please help me.”
He seemed to realize that the more he spoke, the more disadvantaged he became. He asked for help in a rather piteous voice.
I looped my index finger through my necklace and smiled.
“Agnes isn’t here right now. She’s in the Hall of Saints.”
“Why there?”
“I asked her to excuse herself for a moment because I wanted to be alone with you.”
“…”
Tesillid softly repeated ‘alone’ to himself, then suddenly fell silent.
[The ‘Eye that Oversees All Chaos’ is displeased with Tesillid Argent’s sparkling eyes.]
[The ‘Scales that Judge Souls’ smiles suggestively.]
[The ‘Scathing Critic of Balance’ clicks his tongue in disapproval.]
“Promise me, Terry.”
“What?”
“That you’ll never again decide what’s best on your own and do dangerous things.”
“…”
“Especially, let’s not jump off cliffs. Our Voice-Spirit dislikes extreme dramatics.”
“Extreme dramatics?”
“There are such things. Anyway, answer.”
“Alright. I promise to… try.”
Although I didn’t like him leaving room for maneuver with the word ‘try,’ I decided to let it go. It seemed he had reflected on it to some extent.
Besides, there was one more matter to interrogate him about.
“By the way, Terry.”
“Yes.”
“There were a lot of people on Litniel Plain back then, weren’t there?”
“Yes…”
“Then, and today.”
“Yes…?”
“Do you perhaps like showing off to people?”
“Huh? Ah, no, that’s…! It’s not like that…”
His reaction was thoroughly amusing to tease. I held back my laughter and stared at him, pretending to be serious.
After a long period of not knowing what to do, he finally managed to formulate a proper response.
“I’m sorry. While it couldn’t be helped on Litniel Plain, today I think I acted too impulsively…”
“Hmm, impulsively…”
Privilege for Possessors