Amalda was a simple girl, too simple, in fact, to be called the Saintess of the Supreme God.
Her face may be well-shaped and lovely, but compared to Adoracion’s saintess Lidianne, its visual appeal was lacking, for better or worse.
If one were to describe her, she’s meek, kind of a crybaby, and a pure girl who doesn’t know how to doubt others.
She has an affable smile, and she’s kind, bearing no discrimination to anyone what soever, and extraordinarily soft-hearted.
That’s how she is, so it’s understandable that she’s easily taken advantage of by people with ulterior motives.
“It seems the priests want to visit you again.”
It was after the discussion with Eleanor ended.
Since they wanted to talk at a more leisurely pace, they decided to move to Supreme God Granverite’s mansion.
Eric had already said those words countless times while they were in the living room.
“Come to think of it, I also saw some priests when I visited you this morning. They’ve been sticking around you, for what purpose?”
“Err… Since Filth has been sighted within the Shrine, there are matters that they have to relay to me, the number 1 Saintess — is what they said, so we’ve been talking about a lot of things, but…”
She spoke ambiguously, and by the way her brows were slightly furrowed, there must be more to it than this.
The priests who visited her were dashing young men.
They wanted to meet Amalda, no, even a glimpse would suffice or so they say, and yet when she told them that she had other plans, they would still cling to her, pushing handmade gifts, flowers and letters to her even if she didn’t want them.
Eric couldn’t help but feel exasperated at their desperate appearance.
“They are aiming for you, obviously. They don’t even consider your position, coming in droves like this, what a bunch of annoying guys.”
They even had the gall to use Filth, something that could throw the entire kingdom into turmoil, as an excuse. What a despicable group of priests they were.
“You have it hard. You could’ve been more firm when turning them down.”
Eric glanced bitterly at Amalda, who then put her hand on her cheek and heaved a tiny sigh.
“I can never do that. Everyone is worried about me, after all…Yes, but — thank you, Eric.”
Her flaxen hair swayed as she shook her head.
She then looked up to Eric, and the smile painted on her face was —
“Actually, I’ve been a bit troubled over this. I couldn’t tell anyone, but… Thanks for understanding, I’m happy.”
Warm and gentle, as if the burdens of her heart had been lifted up.
‘I have to protect Amalda.’
Eric reaffirmed his resolve to protect this kind but powerless girl from the men with ulterior motives, the women who bully her, and the cowardly people who want to use her for their own gain.
And so, he decided to go to Eleanor despite not having any plans to meet her again.
He didn’t believe she, the perpetrator of several wicked deeds against Amalda, would easily leave her alone.
He would put her in place before she could do anything else to bring Amalda down.
He didn’t have any qualms setting foot inside the residence of a deity.
It was the Incompetent God after all, a being who couldn’t even understand human words.
He was so useless couldn’t even mete out any punishment to those who scorned him and threw stones at him.
Besides, luckily for him, he could hear Eleanor disparaging the Incompetent God.
That girl, she didn’t have an ounce of faith, and even bullied the hideous deity.
That’s why, he didn’t imagine.
“Please leave right this instant.”
He didn’t imagine that the Incompetent God would stick up for Eleanor.
Eric couldn’t help but gulp because of the low and intimidating voice.
His whole body froze, and he couldn’t even move his feet.
A chill ran down his spine, and his breathing turned rugged.
‘What…?’
The one standing in front of him was a repulsive monster just as the rumors said.
Black body with a creepy luster quivering nonstop.
He caught Eleanor when she fell, but — his half-buried form reminded him of a predator feasting on its prey.
Eric couldn’t see him as anything other than a mindless monster that would greedily gobble anything in its path.
And yet —
“Eric-san.”
Just one word and Eric couldn’t help but shriek in fright.
His body won’t stop shaking because of the anger-filled voice of the deity.
“W-What the heck…”
Eric subconsciously muttered as he dragged his feet backwards in an attempt to flee.
He couldn’t hide his fear unless he did this feeble gesture.
“W-What did I do wrong!? Why is the Incompetent God angry at me!?”
Eric’s voice cracked as he shrilly yelled while shaking his head.
This creepy deity didn’t have any eyes, but he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling of being stared at by the Incompetent God.
“You should get mad at that woman, not me!! She insulted you!!”
Yes, that’s right! – He agreed with himself.
Eleanor was to blame here.
She bullied Amalda, bullied the Incompetent God, so it’s a given that the one at fault here was the shameless Eleanor.
“She’s a fake Saintess who tried to use the deities! You should punish her, not me, isn’t that what deities do!?” “Meting out punishment —”
The Incompetent God was now stressing every single word.
He was still quietly speaking, but it was so oppressive, the atmosphere was about to crush Eric to the point that the man could no longer utter a single word.
‘I’m scared. ’
Eric could no longer feign bravery.
He was terrified of the cold yet calm voice.
This supposedly ugly monster, this useless, Incompetent God, had already asserted that he was higher in rank than a mere human and he made Eric feel it to his bones.
“ — is something I decide. Eric-san.”
Eric shrieked loudly the moment the deity quivered as if it was smiling.
He scrambled out of the room without looking back, his legs trembling like jelly.
At least — at least he managed to run away from that monster.
But —
He still couldn’t shake the fear, even though he was already out of breath from running for his life. The Incompetent God’s room was no longer in sight.
He didn’t have the courage to look back.
His instinct had already grasped the situation.
Squelch.
He felt the presence of something sticky.
— He was being chased.
Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Hungry for more? Great news! You can read 5 chapters in advance for as low as $3 at . Early access reading (per chapter) is also available now at Foxaholic 18 ! Schedule for this novel is two free chapters per week. 🙂