If possible, she wouldnât hesitate to attack him in his sleep. However, she didnât think such an opportunity would arise with the unpredictable Demon King.
Thinking back to the last report, Clayman seemed unusually pleased, which made her feel uncomfortable.
He must have come up with something malicious again. Thatâs what she thought.
Unfortunately, she had no way to refuse. The only thing she could do was not rebel outwardly.
Even if someone else suffered, it wouldnât save her. The feeling of discomfort was a familiar trend.
Suddenly, a telepathic message reached her.
(You look healthy. Thanks to the information you brought, things are going extremely smoothly here.
Youâve done a great job.
However, Iâve been thinking that it might be time to return the heart youâre holding.)
It was a sudden statement.
Mu-Lan felt excited but didnât rush.
The other side was a Demon King, a manipulative puppeteer who could deceive even his subordinates.
(Yes! Thank you!)
She gave a safe response.
(You donât need to be on guard. Actually, I have one more task for you at the end.
Enjoy your life until then. Until then.)
The one-sided message ended.
Is this a trap? But thereâs no way to confirm.
As always, the only thing she could do was follow the orders.
However, if he really freed her...
(Can I accept him?)
With a mix of anxiety and slight anticipation, Mu-Lan resumed her actions as if nothing had happened.
??????????????????????????
Hinata Sakaguchi opened her eyes from a nap-like sleep.
Nicolaus, who had been diligently taking care of her, brought her coffee.
"Oh, youâre awake?"
Nicolaus Schupfert, the Cardinal of the Holy Theocracy of Ruberios, the only sacred and inviolable Pope, and the man who practically reigns at the top of the Western Holy Church.
When dealing with Hinata, he follows her like a loyal dog.
Last night, in the same bed, he was asked to be her partner.
Seeing him lick her entire body without tiring,
(He really is like a dog...)
Thatâs what Hinata thought.
He worships her.
As if she were a goddess or a saint. Hinata thinks heâs a foolish man.
(I eat and excrete. I age as I get older.
Iâm not beautiful forever. Heâs just seeing an illusion.)
If he wants her body, she can give it to him. Itâs easy.
She doesnât think her body is worth that much, but if he wants it, he can have it.
To her, her body is just a means of persuasion. It has no equal value.
Of course, she has physical desires. Sheâs not asexual. So what?
She doesnât feel anything when she allows a man she doesnât like to touch her. But she wouldnât allow a man she dislikes to touch her.
In the end,
(In the end, do I not hate Nicolaus? Is that it?)
She canât understand it herself. Thatâs the reality.
"Here, breakfast is ready. Would you like to eat?"
Suddenly, she felt a burst of laughter.
Nicolaus preparing breakfast for someone else is unimaginable.
Anyone who knows him would describe Nicolaus as a proud, harsh, and heartless man wearing a saintâs mask.
"Sure, Iâll eat. Thanks."
Hinata said this casually, and Nicolaus nodded happily.
They had breakfast.
It was the first time in a long while that she thought the meal was delicious.
"Right, right. I have a report for you. Itâs information just brought by a spy."
After finishing the meal and resting, Nicolaus spoke to Hinata, as if he couldnât help but catch her attention.
Hinata, proud of her black hair, brushed it to the sides and looked at Nicolaus.
Picking up the round glasses on the table and putting them on,
"Should I listen?"
She asked succinctly.
She is the "Popeâs Direct Guard Knight" and the Holy Knight Commander, a beautiful woman.
Her usual calm and composed demeanor was on her face.
The break was over.
The information Nicolaus brought.
The chaos caused by the monsters in the Jura Great Forest and the village they built.
And the report that some countries have started trading with the monsters.
"What? This turns the churchâs belief that monsters are a common enemy of humanity upside down..."
Nicolaus agreed with Hinataâs muttering.
"Yes. What will you do?"
"Hmm... Thatâs true..."
Hinata thought.
Itâs easy to crush them. But if thereâs no just cause, the peopleâs hearts will turn away.
At least, if it were before humans started interacting with them, she would have crushed them and ended it.
"Now, we can only observe the situation.
However, investigate the villageâs strength and secure the power to destroy it!
As the church, we canât move until we receive a request from somewhere.
Well, if thereâs no request, weâll just have to create a situation where a request is necessary..."
She concluded.
Hearing this, Nicolaus agreed.
"Iâll have the ones Iâve raised investigate!
Iâll even move the churchâs 'Blood Shadow' if necessary!"
The Blood Shadow is a fallen knight. They have high combat power but are mad killers who murder civilians.
They are a few fanatics who swear loyalty only to God, the Pope, and the church.
However, their skills are top-notch, and the church canât dispose of them.
To Hinata, they are nauseating, insane beings.
To the rationalist Hinata, blindly believing in God is a symbol of foolishness.
For such a Hinata to be the guardian of Godâs justice was a grand irony.
"Got it? Then, Iâll leave it to you. Please donât overdo it and donât forget to educate them."
Itâs not time to move yet.
Sheâll entrust the information gathering. And perhaps, she can create a trigger.
Thinking this, she made her decision.
As a result, the bloodthirsty mad dogs were unleashed.