Chapter 115
The Saint's Room within the Mage Tower Temple.
The four women watched me in silence.
Iomene seemed a little angry, and Almene looked cold.
Erfa was on the verge of tears, and Kanya wore an unreadable expression.
And I, a sinner, hung my head.
“You were going to die? You were planning to destroy your soul?”
Erfa asked again, her voice still thick with unshed tears, and I nodded.
Erfa let out a disbelieving laugh.
...So that's why you pushed us away.”
“I'm sorry.”
At my apology, she silently approached and hugged me tightly.
“I'm even more sorry. I didn't properly understand your situation, Amael, and I feel like I forced my feelings on you... I'm truly sorry.”
I patted the sobbing Erfa.
Certainly.
Considering what they did to me when I was suffering over whether to live or die, this reaction was understandable.
But it's funny, isn't it?
“You know, when I was in pain, the memories I made with you all were surprisingly helpful.”
That, in turn, helped me.
Considering my personality, I probably would never have accepted their feelings through normal means.
And if that had been the case.
If I hadn't had memories of sharing warmth with someone and chatting idly in bed after coming to this World.
I wonder if I would have been able to endure this far.
“Though it started somewhat forcibly, it was still my will to accept you all. So you don't have to cry, okay?”
At my words, Erfa burrowed even deeper into my embrace.
I patted her.
Seeing that, Iomene and Almene also approached me.
“You've endured much, Amael.”
“Please don't hide things anymore. Tell us everything.”
“I will. I'm sorry for all the heartache I've caused.”
I hugged the two of them as well.
As we were all embracing each other.
Kanya, who had been left alone, suddenly stood up with an unusual expression.
“What about me?”
Everyone in the room turned their gaze towards Kanya at her single word.
“Amael. What about me?”
Kanya.
Thanks to Lady Velia's bombshell, all her feelings for me had been laid bare.
And honestly, I still hadn't given her an answer.
I stood up.
“Kanya.”
“You know how I feel, don't you? Lady Velia told you everything. You know it very well. What about me, Amael?”
I had to look at Kanya in silence for a moment.
Many thoughts ran through my mind.
The Great War.
Asmodeus.
Hell.
And even the Evil God.
Lady Velia had said that Lucifer hadn't yet stepped to the forefront in Hell, and the Evil God still had many hidden cards.
There was no way those two would just stand by and watch me try to recover the two Deities that had fallen to the Mortal Realm and help them ascend.
Because of that way of thinking, pushing her away was the right thing to do.
Just as I had pushed away Iomene, Almene, and Erfa
It was right to push Kanya away too.
If something were to happen to me.
I truly didn't want such an end, but if Rufiel's Prophecy were to come true...
I didn't want Kanya to grieve.
“Kanya. I'll be honest with you. I've never seen you as a woman.”
At my words, Kanya's face hardened.
“There's one thing I didn't mention at the Banquet Hall earlier. Lady Rufiel once gave me a prophecy in secret. You all deserve to hear it.”
Since there was no longer any reason to hide it, I slowly recounted the unforgettable prophecy Rufiel had given me.
“I am fated to die by the hands of those who love me. I've asked Lady Velia and the Pantheon to help me avoid this fate. But if, by some chance, this prophecy comes true...”
I don't know how the people I love could possibly end up killing me.
But whatever the reason is.
I might just die and be done with it, but how are my lovers, left alone after my death, supposed to live?
“I don't want you to go through something like that. I...”
Just as I said that much.
Iomene and Almene.
And Erfa sprang to her feet.
“Then what about you, Amael? What about you?”
“If you push everyone away like that, and carry all the burdens alone, will you be walking painfully until you collapse?”
“What about our position, having to watch that happen?”
The three women's intensity was unusual.
“The future isn't set! And Amael, you might have misinterpreted the Prophecy Interpretation, mightn't you?”
“It could even be a prophecy that you'll live happily with us for a long time and then die by death by copulation in your old age!”
“Exactly! It could be death by copulation!”
“Prophecies change depending on how they're interpreted! And even if the worst prophecy comes true, what can't the Gods of the Pantheon do if they all combine their strength? They could save you!”
I had to lower my head at the three women's words.
“What if it's true? What if a moment comes when you have to kill me with your own hands? If only I didn't love you all. But now you're all too precious to me! The thought of you living alone with such a terrible memory!!...”
“We won't let that happen. Never.”
Erfa declared in a voice filled with fierce determination.
“No matter what happens, we will never let you die. We will never let our hands be the ones to kill you. If necessary, I'll even sacrifice my soul to make sure that never happens.”
“The same goes for us, Amael.”
“We will absolutely not stand by and let that happen. Never.”
Kanya joined in with the three women's words.
“Please, lean on us too, Amael. How long are you going to carry everything alone? If we're together, we might even come up with solutions we never thought of, right? You have to believe there's hope to endure. If you live thinking only the worst prophecy will come true, without hope... you'll break. You'll definitely break.”
Kanya approached me and firmly took my hand.
“Let's do it together. I'm not weak at all. No matter what enemy stands before you, I can do more than my share. I'll make sure you don't collapse. Let's show the Prophecy and the God of Future that they're wrong.”
Kanya forced a smile.
A woman younger than me, who had endured far more painful things than I, was desperately trying to comfort me.
Her sincerity, somehow, brought me comfort.
I lowered my head.
“I want you to be happy, Kanya. You've suffered so much hardship and pain. You lived your entire life tortured as a possession of the Demon King of Sloth. Even if it's not me, there will be a man who will love you. If you're with me, there will be crises of some kind. A peaceful and tranquil life might not come.”
“It has to be you. Absolutely. This is my choice. I won't live with any man other than you. You might reject me. If so, I'll just remain chaste and live only with my sword.”
“Are you really okay with me? Won't you regret it?”
“Never.”
At Kanya's firm words, I turned my head back.
Erfa.
Iomene.
Almene was looking at me with a bitter smile.
“...I want to make Kanya happy. Is that okay?”
When I said that with an apologetic expression, the three women sighed.
“Our relationship started somewhat forcibly because we pushed for it, didn't it? If Amael brings another woman, we have no right to stop him.”
Those were Erfa's words.
“It would be too much for me, who was saved by Amael, to tell another woman who was similarly saved not to love you.”
Those were Almene's words.
Iomene even went so far as to approach Kanya and give her a light hug.
“I also had a time in my life when there was nothing but pain due to the Evil God's Curse. Kanya is similar to me. I... I hope she can be happy, Amael.”
The three women's consent was given.
Somehow, things had turned out this way again.
After their permission was granted, Erfa, Iomene, and Almene carefully stepped aside and lightly patted my back, as if telling Kanya to go ahead.
I approached Kanya.
“There might not be time for a wedding or anything like that.”
“We can do it when everything settles down.”
“I might cause you a lot of heartache in the future too.”
“I can handle it.”
“You're such a fool.”
At my words, Kanya carefully opened her arms.
I hugged her tightly.
“Says you.”
She firmly held my cheeks with both hands and then pulled me towards her.
I didn't bother to resist.
The height difference was easily overcome by Kanya standing on her tiptoes.
It was a shy and clumsy first kiss.
“I love you, Amael.”
This time, at her trembling voice, I cupped her cheeks and kissed her.
“I'll definitely make you happy, Kanya. I'll do my best not to make you sad.”
I said that with all my sincerity.
Kanya buried her face in my embrace and nodded.
I stroked her hair, then turned my gaze towards Iomene, Almene, and Erfa.
“Please take good care of Kanya. Kanya doesn't know much yet, so she'll need a lot of help from the three of you. She's never even had a proper meal before.”
At those words, the complex expressions on the three women's faces changed.
“...She's never had a proper meal?”
“I explained it once at the Banquet Hall, but she lived her entire life as a possession of the Demon King of Sloth. That's why she's never eaten proper food. On the way to the Rocky Mountain summit, I explained all the foods I'd eaten.”
At my words, Kanya slightly lowered her head in embarrassment, but even that sight seemed to be heartbreaking for the other three.
“It's about time for a meal anyway. Shall we go out and eat together?”
“Kanya. What kind of food do you like? Tell us what you want. There's no restaurant in the Capital that we can't find.”
“We'll even let you have all the desserts you want.”
The four women instantly coalesced into a single unit.
“I'll go too...”
“Amael, you stay here. Today, we want to go out, just we girls.”
“Yes. That's what we want to do today.”
It was a firm refusal.
I had no choice but to nod and step back.
“Amael.”
Kanya, sandwiched between Iomene, Almene, and Erfa as they left the room, glanced back at me.
She gave a shy smile.
“Thank you.”
I waved back at her.
“Have fun. Playing just among yourselves will be fun too.”
The women left the room.
It was a little disappointing that the women who, just moments ago, couldn't live without me, were suddenly ostracizing me, but oh well.
I figured they needed some time to stick together as girls, so I understood and let it go.
***
*That evening came.*
“Kanya.”
“Hm?”
“Did you have fun?”
“I did.”
“And you ate a lot of snacks and food?”
“Yeah. Next time, let's go together, Amael.”
“Okay. You said you went shopping too?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you buy?”
“Lingerie.”
“...Huh?”
“They bought it for me to use right now. Tonight, Amael is mine.”
“...”
“I'll show you.”
Watching Kanya, her eyes gleaming strangely, begin to undress, I belatedly realized why the women had wanted to go out by themselves.