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Is there no safe place anywhere in the world? (13) – unedited
Come to think of it, the first meeting between the Saint and the Demon King was not addressed in the novel. From the beginning, it started with ‘The Demon King loved the Saint’, and the two were acquaintances.
“The Lord chose me and entrusted my nurturing to Kayle and El. To be precise, the Lord commanded El, and Kayle sometimes helped El take care of me. They didn’t get along like dogs and cats who growled at each other whenever they met, but for me, they got along just like a couple.”
As if reminiscent of that time, the Saint had a wide smile on her face. ‘El’ here must mean the heavenly being Eltrion Mnu Graciel. Even in the novel, I remember the Saint calling him by the nickname El.
“El and Kayle’s care ended when I was 18, but it was only officially and I didn’t stop seeing them. Even after I was sent to the temple, they came to me anytime and anywhere if I wanted to see them. I’ve seen Kayle all through the not-so-long years of my life. The Kayle that Miss Erina is seeing is not real.”
There is something I wanted to deny, but on the other hand it was true. The story I was talking about wasn’t a delusion, but the one standing next to me wasn’t the Demon King, it was Merson.
“The Demon King… raised you?”
“It was like that.”
Ha, what a crazy plot twist. Does this make sense? Sleeping with the person who raised you?
Was I proud to have read the novel? Because I looked at this world through a third person’s eyes, I misunderstood.
And now, when one strong fact that I did not know before was thrown into the mix, I could not believe everything I already knew. That was the only weapon I had to survive in this world.
I was at a loss for words and looked straight at the Saint who was smiling brightly. Then, suddenly, my view shifts.
Stagger–
My upper body trembled.
“… Are you okay?”
I pressed my temples firmly. I didn’t expect this at all…….
“Now that you have come to realize that what you firmly believed to be reality was actually a vain delusion, your head must be complicated. I understand.”
This was not because of something like that.
The Saint was restless in front of me, and she finally got up from her seat. Then she puts her hand on my forehead and was startled.
“You have a fever.”
“… It can’t be true.”
I had less work than usual, and I was in good shape. However, as the Saint had said, I felt the back of my neck getting hot. I was shocked by the Saint’s remarks, but it was strange to see such a scorching heat that seemed to burn my whole body in an instant.
“Miss Erina, I think it would be better to just go home today.”
The Saint hurriedly ran to the floor-to-ceiling window. As she loosens the lock, a feeble air of nature flows into me. I took a deep breath for nothing, but I didn’t feel any better.
“It’s quicker to get across the garden. I’m sorry, but knowing this, the priest will prevent you from meeting any believers in the future. Go straight across the road. I covered the exit hole with a plank underneath it. Of course it’s safe. It is also the secret passage through which I exit the temple every day.”
Okay, just stop talking. The Saint’s voice seems to make my head more dizzy.
I nodded roughly and, without a moment to say goodbye, staggered towards the garden.
Click-
Behind me, I hear the sound of the glass door locking.
* * *
As the Saint said, walking along the garden, I saw a small hole under a thick and huge wall. I was about to bend over but almost shove my nose down to the ground where I was supposed to go through.
“Hu-ugh.”
As I crawled out with my hands on the ground, a winding circular staircase appeared. My vision was blurry and it was difficult to move my feet.
Grasping the railing, trying to keep my eyes focused, I carefully stepped my feet and pressed my hands to keep myself from falling. Suddenly, I saw the last section of the stairs that seemed to never end.
It was then.
“Ugh-ughh.”
My stomach became hot as if it had swallowed lava, and then nausea started. There was nothing to spit out of my mouth except saliva, but my body pressed my chest to get something out of my body.
Bzzz–
I wonder if the world is spinning, and water fills my eyes.
What is wrong with me?
My breathing began to suffocate, and I began to sink into an unpleasant excitement. I was just standing still, but between my legs were wet.
I was thirsty. A dark and dangerous thirst for someone to hold me tightly.
I couldn’t even take a single step forward, and I was trembling on the deserted road. I desperately wanted to spread my legs apart and rub them against the wall.
“You look like you need help, can I help?”
Someone wrapped my shoulder. It was a ravenous voice and an unfamiliar touch I had heard for the first time, but my body was reacting hotly to that little touch.
“… let go.”
When I barely lifted my head and looked at the voice, unexpectedly, there was not just one man. From where I appeared, four men, full of fat, stood firmly around me.
“Speaking with those eyes makes it less convincing.”
They giggle and laugh at each other in amusement. I turned and tried to get out of the man’s arms, but he strengthened his arm and hugged me.
“I said let go.”
The man’s index finger came up and stabbed me over my belly button.
“I’ll push you up to here.”
“Who, who are you?”
“It doesn’t matter who I am, right? Hmm?”