Chapter 6
Time seems to pass slowly, yet when you look back, it has flown by. Time is a relative thing.
A whole year has already passed since I came to this world.
Yes, a whole year, to be precise.
At times like this, I often feel the fleeting nature of time.
The days that once crawled by so slowly, tormenting me, now seem to fly past in a flash.
I suppose it's because I've finally adjusted to everything.
I was an atheist by nature, but after spending a year faithfully serving the Goddess of Eros, I'd gradually come to believe in her.
I, who once felt an instinctive aversion to religion.
Such is the unpredictable nature of life.
Over the past year, I had a busy schedule as the ‘Saintess.’
I learned the basics of divine arts and received instruction on how a saintess should conduct herself.
After all my hard work, Cardinal Marblov said I was beyond reproach.
It seemed he thought too highly of me.
I was a deeply inadequate person to be called a saintess, after all.
Shaking my head, I walked down the cathedral hallway that had grown so familiar.
Then I ran into a boy with striking golden hair.
“Saintess Aria!”
He was the child who had once asked me for an autograph.
He had such a bright, innocent smile.
“Believer Makarov, you mustn't run in the hallway.”
To my surprise, the boy's father was Cardinal Marblov.
I hadn't been able to hide my shock when I learned that.
The two of them simply didn't look related at all.
How could such a gentle-looking boy come from someone with such a hideous appearance?
I supposed it was one of the mysteries of DNA.
“Even you sound strict, just like the priests, Saintess.”
Makarov pouted and grumbled.
I gently patted him on the forehead.
“It's not a good idea to look down on people for saying what's right, Believer Makarov.”
Perhaps he took my words as a scolding, because he changed the subject.
“Oh, right. Father was looking for you, Saintess.”
I stiffened.
My lips tightened before I could stop them.
What business could His Eminence Cardinal Marblov have with me?
It probably wasn't for anything pleasant.
“Believer Makarov, may I ask why His Eminence the Cardinal has summoned me?”
“Um, I don't really know either.”
It seemed it wasn't something suitable to explain to a child.
I felt uneasy, but let it go.
Even if I refused, nothing would change.
* * *
Click.
Aria, the saintess dressed in black-and-white vestments, entered the room.
Cardinal Marblov, who had been seated, gave her a slight nod.
“Welcome, Saintess Aria.”
“Your Eminence.”
Aria bowed her head with grace and composure.
She had changed considerably from the days when she'd used vulgar language and burned with defiance.
It seemed she'd been diligently reformed, just as Priest Ronin—no, Bishop Ronin—had said.
Cardinal Marblov felt lust stir as he looked at Aria, whose figure showed through even her loose vestments.
Still, he wasn't the sort of man who would forget all propriety and pounce on her at once.
Remembering why he'd summoned her, he spoke.
“I called you here because Bishop Ronin has put forward a proposal.”
Aria tilted her head, puzzled.
“………A proposal?”
“Have you not spent all this time working only within the cult?”
Aria briefly reflected on the past.
It had been so long since she'd gone outside that she couldn't even remember when it was.
“Yes, now that you mention it.”
“Bishop Ronin suggested that it might be time for you to take part in some public activities.”
“……I see.”
Aria didn't look particularly interested.
In truth, Cardinal Marblov wasn't pleased about sending the saintess outside, either.
One way or another, she knew all about the Erotic Cult's corruption.
He had made her docile for now, but there was always the chance something might happen.
For those reasons, he'd intended to dismiss Bishop Ronin's proposal, but Ronin had moved first and pushed the matter forward on his own.
‘I never expected him to make an agreement with those kingdom bastards without my permission.’
Marblov clicked his tongue.
Bishop Ronin.
Marblov hadn't noticed it when Ronin used to keep his head down, but now he had become a rather bothersome presence.
Marblov's fat-cheeked face maintained a facade of composure as he spoke.
“You must have heard the rumors about the Hero, Saintess.”
The Hero.
He was not among the characters Aria remembered from the original novel, ‘I Became the Surrogate Saintess of the Erotic Cult,’ which she had never finished reading.
Considering she'd read only about three months' worth of the original story, it was only natural that she didn't know him.
Still, from what those around her had said, Aria had a rough idea of what the Hero was like.
A righteous person, overflowing with a sense of justice and guided by strong convictions.
He sounded like a character straight out of a novel.
She gathered her thoughts and answered.
“I've heard that he appeared like a rising star and has been defeating monsters with astonishing force.”
“That's right. But the Hero is only human, and it seems there's only so much he can do alone. The kingdom has therefore made a request. They need personnel to support him.”
“………Personnel to support him?”
“Yes. You'll understand if you read this document.”
Marblov handed Aria a sheet of parchment.
She accepted it and quickly skimmed the contents.
To put it simply, the document said, ‘We need the saintess's support.’
“………Ah.”
Aria had a rough idea of what was going on.
In every novel or game, a saintess tended to follow the Hero around like a tagalong.
Perhaps Marblov saw the unease on her face, because he spoke quickly.
“You may refuse if you don't wish to go.”
“……Wouldn't refusing bring trouble for the cult?”
“It was an unreasonable request from the start. They made it without understanding the position our saintess holds within the cult……”
Marblov's words made Aria's temper flare.
An unreasonable request?
She was the one who took the believers' seed whenever they came to confess their sins.
Her position?
Wasn't she just a tool for satisfying their lust?
For the first time in quite a while, Aria felt a rebellious streak rise up in her.
“I'm fine with it, Cardinal Marblov.”
“……Saintess?”
By the time she came to her senses, she'd already said it.
“I can do it.”
“……Isn't that a rather hasty decision?”
Aria smiled faintly at Marblov's troubled expression.
She felt as though she'd managed to get one over on him.
After that, they exchanged some idle small talk.
Aria rose from her seat.
“Your Eminence, please excuse my rudeness in leaving first.”
Cardinal Marblov raised a hand to stop her as she turned to leave.
“Ah, please wait a moment.”
“………Is something wrong?”
Marblov rose from his massive chair and strode toward her.
Then, without hesitation, he slipped a hand between Aria's thighs.
“………Y-Your Eminence. What are you doing?”
He gave her a leering smile.
“I apologize for failing to notice how much you were yearning for this, Saintess.”
“N-no, ah…….”
His fingers suddenly found a sensitive spot. Aria shuddered and squeezed her thighs together.
It was a reflex, but it only made her more clearly feel the fingers teasing her vulva.
“C-Cardinal! You can't just do this out of nowhere!”
Caught between alarm and pleasure, Aria tried to slap his hand away.
But even after a year, she was still unable to break free of a man's powerful grip.
“It's been quite a while since I last had a taste of you, Saintess.”
He was right.
The sexual abuse Aria had endured had become less frequent lately.
There had been all sorts of ‘urgent matters’ to attend to.
“Hah. Y-Your Eminence!”
Perhaps it was because it had been so long.
Aria's reaction was more intense than usual.
“Doesn't this feel good?”
“N-not here! S-someone might hear us!”
Aria covered her mouth with both hands.
The sight of her desperately suppressing her melting moans made Marblov's heart pound.
Her allure surpassed that of most prostitutes.
How could anyone call her a saintess?
She was a wanton woman.
“Wouldn't you rather have the believers see your lewd side?”
Perhaps his words had struck a nerve, because Aria's body trembled slightly.
Her crotch was already soaked with her juices.
Clear fluid dripped in a long, stringy trail between her thighs.
At the sight, Aria lowered her head and avoided Cardinal Marblov's gaze.
Her reaction only stoked his desire.
“Please sit in the chair and spread your legs for me.”
“………Yes.”
Aria gave up resisting.
She sat in the chair as the cardinal had ordered.
Then she spread her legs in an M-shape and parted her labia, displaying her private parts for him.
The sight was charged with a lewd allure.
Marblov stared, entranced, at Aria's rosy-red pussy, glistening with her juices.
He immediately leaned down and began licking her cunt like a dog.
“Ah, p-please, you shouldn't lick me there……ah.”
Her voice held no resistance, only flustered embarrassment.
Marblov bit down on her clitoris with his upper and lower teeth.
“Hngh.”
Aria bit the back of her hand and let out a sweet moan.
The ‘man’ who had once resisted and fought back was gone.
Only ‘her,’ yearning for pleasure, remained.
After teasing Aria's pussy again and again, Marblov finally lifted his head.
Aria's body trembled faintly. She looked up at him and complained.
“……D-don't leave me wanting more.”
As if this little stimulation wasn't enough.
As if she wanted something more intimate and intense.
Aria was consumed by sexual pleasure.
“What would you like me to do for you?”
His oily voice seemed to tighten around her like a snare.
Aria's gaze flickered toward Cardinal Marblov's crotch.
As if to meet her expectations, he unfastened his belt and took out his monstrous cock.
She had been with countless men, but few could compare with Marblov's cock.
The foreign sensation of it scraping as if it could carve out everything inside her pussy.
Its overwhelming length, touching every single sensitive spot.
Its thickness, making her feel completely full when it entered her.
Just imagining that cock inside her vagina made her lower abdomen grow hot.
Marblov asked again, wearing an unabashed expression.
“What would you like me to do for you, Saintess?”
“Y-your cock……….”
Aria murmured softly.
Marblov seemed not to hear her and asked again.
“I couldn't hear you, Saintess. What did you say?”
“……Please bestow your grace upon my worthless cunt, Your Eminence.”
She had long since cast off her shame.
Her pride had already fallen to rock bottom.
Corruption.
Yes, it would be fair to call it corruption.
“You certainly don't know how to ask properly, Saintess.”
As if dissatisfied, Marblov remained still, his cock standing like a spire.
Aria grew impatient.
Why? Why wouldn't he give her what she was asking for?
She rubbed her thighs together, then, unable to restrain her lust, reached down to touch her pussy.
“I-I was wrong. I was wrong……”
“What were you wrong about?”
Aria thought.
What had she done wrong?
The cardinal had clearly disapproved of her going with the Hero.
Surely Aria's decision had offended Marblov.
Having worked it out, she answered immediately.
“I-I arrogantly ignored Your Eminence's intentions and chose to do the opposite.”
“You understand. Saintess, haven't I always told you that if you make a foolish mistake……”
“I-I must accept the punishment for it. S-so please, give Aria your cock.”
Who would think this woman was the saintess of the Erotic Cult?
She was no more than a single bitch in heat.
Marblov stroked Aria's cheek with a mocking smile.
Even as a bitch in heat, her beauty was exquisite.
She was so seductive and alluring that she could unsettle any man.
“That wouldn't count as a punishment for you now, would it?”
“Th-that's……”
“First, you must serve me with your breasts.”
Serve him.
Aria knew exactly what he meant.
She used her ample breasts to gently wrap around his long cock.
“I-is this right?”
“Move slowly, Saintess.”
Aria skillfully moved her breasts against Marblov's cock.
She didn't stop there, gently teasing the tip with her tongue.
Marblov reacted at once.
“Hnh.”
He grabbed the back of Aria's head and shoved his cock into her mouth.
His manhood was already enormous.
Aria struggled as the huge chunk of flesh prodded at her throat, yet she was intoxicated by the excitement.
“Ugh, mm, slurp.”
She sucked his cock with care.
It took less than a few minutes for Marblov to feel himself nearing release.
He forcefully pushed Aria's head down onto his cock.
“K-kh, ngh…….”
His cock plunged deep into her throat and unloaded its semen.
The slick, fishy liquid tasted greasy, as if she'd swallowed perilla oil straight from the bottle.
It was revolting, but Aria squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed it gulp after gulp.
Marblov pulled his cock from Aria's mouth without hesitation.
Perhaps he'd ejaculated so much, she began to choke.
“Cough, cough.”
As her face reddened with coughing, thick semen ran from around Aria's lips.
Perhaps the sadistic irrumatio had left her dazed; she stared blankly into space.
“I-is that enough now?”
“Well done.”
Marblov pushed Aria's legs apart and thrust his cock into her.
“Hah.”
Her wet pussy took his cock very easily.
Aria's bewitching moan echoed softly through the cardinal's office.