Chapter 71

The agony and nervousness of becoming a succubus. The comfort and serenity gained by the ring. A brief loss of peace and rationality. And after I said that I had become a handmaid and learned that the Pope had the ring through Damian, I caught my breath and added some last words.

“I was going to wait for the delegation, but I got impatient and came all the way here.”

“So that’s what happened. This old man did something stupid and made you suffer.”

“Oh, no. It’s thanks to the ring that I was able to live as a normal person.”

Although there were many things I couldn’t say, and even though I was upset until recently, it helped me in the end. And when I found the ring, I thought I wanted to continue living as a human from now on, but when I thought of Lilith, I couldn’t make a decision as firmly as I would have before.

As I hesitated, the Pope took a deep breath and tried to get up. Surprised, I tried to help him, but Endymion stepped forward from nowhere and helped him.

“Be careful.”

“Hoho, thank you. It seems that you also know that Miss Lilith is a succubus, but you still want to stay by her side. Just like how I was back then.”

“You?”

“Let me tell you my story. It’s an old story that can be boring to young people.”

“No, it’s okay. I want to hear it too.”

As the pope gathered his hands, which looked like dry tree branches, together, he let out a dry cough and laughed. Somehow, the pit of my stomach started to feel heavy.

Recalling a long memory, the pope quietly blinked before opening his mouth.

“It was already decades ago. That moment I met Adelaide.”

“Lemiel. You have so much power that it is no exaggeration to say that you are a gift from God. But you have too much talent, too much confidence and love for yourself. All of God’s worshipers should not have any arrogance in their hearts. Go and see the world. I will forbid you to come back until you have learned to love and think of others as much as you do God.”

Why was it arrogant to love oneself and be confident in one’s skills? Lemiel recalled the Pope’s words and sighed. After being demoted from a candidate for the next pope to a pilgrim priest, his reality was bleak.

All he had with him was a canteen with water, some food, a map and a blanket, and a sign that he was on a pilgrimage. He had been living safely without any lack of luxury until now, but the sudden trip made him feel the fear of the unknown.

“A heart that loves and thinks of others… Where the hell do you want me to get enlightenment?”

The pope was not to blame. This would be a trial by God who saw his own inadequacies. Lemiel had not the slightest doubt about his faith.

Unaccustomed to walking on a rough and unpaved road, he couldn’t walk much before crouching over. His blue hair stuck to his forehead. Wiping sweat with his sleeve, he took out the canteen, drank, and sat down on a rock. Then he took out a map, but he couldn’t even guess where he was.

“Ha.”

He let out a gloomy sigh and looked blankly at the sky. He left Terra before the morning dew had dried, and the sun was setting before he knew it. The sunset shimmered in his clear eyes. Well, it will work somehow. Lemiel smiled and stood up.

It was when the sky became completely dark that he felt an unusual energy as he headed along the clouds without looking at the map.

“…Devilkin?”

It was such an intense energy that made the hairs on his skin rise. Occasionally, there were cases of devilkin targeting human souls and spirits. Paladin or priest would sometimes report abnormal phenomena while they’re on pilgrimage across the continent, and a subjugation squad would soon be organized at Terra.

He also had the experience of subjugating the devilkin who had let loose a fog that harmed people or kidnapped children and took away their souls, so it was not difficult for him to detect devilkin energy.

But something felt odd.

Under the brightly pouring moonlight, a youthful face, unable to hide her tension, was revealed. Lemiel gulped and tugged at the end of his cape as he slowly trudged forward.

It was clear that the energy that was gradually approaching belonged to the devilkin. However, unlike the energy of the devilkin he had met so far, this didn’t feel unpleasant. And there seems to be a sweet scent coming from somewhere…

“…….”

Lemiel inhaled sharply. There he saw a woman, standing amidst the green meadow. Her radiantly pale body could barely be hidden by her jet-black hair. He could clearly see the non-human wings on her slender back, and a tail sticking out from behind her.

The scent was so strong that it became difficult for him to breathe. It just didn’t seem like he could handle it. It was then that Lemiel covered his nose with his sleeve and took a step back.

“There are humans in this place, huh. How old are you? You’re cute, too.”

“…Don’t, don’t come any closer!”

With eyes that sparkled like starlight and a tongue licking her lower lip, she turned to face him. Lemiel shouted ferociously and his face reddened. The woman was looking at him without hesitation, as if she wasn’t ashamed of revealing a secret.

“Don’t worry. I don’t touch the young ones.”

“I-I am not young!”

“Oho, really? Then, would you like to have fun with this older sister?”

The woman stretched out her hand with a mischievous smile. From under her feet, pitch-black butterflies fluttered like flower petals.

Lemiel bit his lip and let out his divine power, and the butterflies that touched him turned to ashes and disappeared. The woman looked at him gasping for breath with a vague smile.

“Are you a priest?”

“…Why ask when you already know.”

“You priests used to wear clothes that were a bit more outdated. Sorry for pranking you.”

As she smiled faintly, a black dress was conjured upon the woman’s body. Only then was Lemiel able to look straight at her, but when their eyes met, the sight of her smiling made him inwardly scream like a nervous wreck. He did not want to reveal his flushed cheeks.

“W-Why is there a devil in a place like this? If you intend to harm humans…”

“I just came out to play. I was thinking of getting some essence.”

“Essence? Are you a succubus?”

“You’re smart too. You noticed right away.”

The woman clapped her hands and laughed. The devilkin who stole souls were of low rank, but the devilkin who took essence were a bit more rational. At least, they didn’t usually intend to take human lives indiscriminately.

However, it didn’t change the fact that the devilkin before him would cause harm to humans. And, above all, if humans were continuously enchanted by succubi or incubi, they were more prone to losing themselves.

As God’s servant, Lemiel could not let her go.

“Go back to where you came from.”

“It hasn’t been long since I came out, why would I want to go back already?”

“People get scared of the devilkin.”

“No one is afraid of me. Look. Are you afraid of me?”

As Lemiel was reflexively about to say no, he just kept his mouth closed. As she said, he wasn’t afraid. However, she was so frighteningly beautiful that even if it was just him, he felt like he would be seduced by her.

“Don’t change the subject. You shouldn’t be here anyway.”

“Even if you say that, the door has already been closed.”

“What? Then you can open it again.”

“It is impossible here. There is another way back. And why should I follow the laws of you humans? I am a devil.”

“This is the land of the humans, so you have no other choice. Where is the way back?”

“Well. It’s been so long that I can’t even remember.”

Lemiel frowned at the woman’s languid expression. She wasn’t young from what she said, but he was confident that at best he could beat any succubus. When Lemiel prayed to God and gathered his divine power.

“You’re trying to do something cute. But what? I’m not a benevolent enough person to suffer knowingly.”

“Ugh! G-Go away! Let go of my hand!”

“But if I let go of your hand, you’re going to try your cute little tricks again, right? That’s not allowed.”

In the blink of an eye, the woman approached Lemiel and grabbed his wrist. Lemiel hurriedly wrapped a divine power around him, but the woman only winced slightly and smiled again. She didn’t seem to mind at all, even though sparks were flying from where her skin touched him.

“I have no intention of harming people. I told you right? I’m trying to get some essence. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, so I just want to walk around a bit.”

“How can I believe that? Lying is second nature to you devils.”

“Hmm, that’s right. But there’s no way to prove that though?”

“…Where should you go so you can go back?”

“I wouldn’t know until I get close to it. It’s because we’ll be finding the gaps where the other devils have crossed over and passed through. Why do you keep asking? Do you want to come with me?”

“It can’t be helped. I am one who worships God. I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I can’t just let you go.”

Lemiel said curtly and took out his divine power. Glaring at the woman who was looking at him without saying a word, he scoffed and said in a slightly trembling voice.

“What is your name? I am Lemiel.”

“That’s a cute name.”

“You keep saying I’m cute from before, but I’m an adult!”

“Fufu, alright, alright. My name is Adelaide. As you guessed, I’m a succubus.”

“Adelaide… Ah, anyway, you must never harm people while I am by your side! Because you said you came out to play.”

In a rather serious voice, Adelaide, the succubus, nodded while smiling vaguely. Lemiel, who avoided her gaze with a swollen face, cleared his throat and said.

“…By the way, do you know how to read maps?”

A succubus who possesses the essence of priests, and a man who would become the pope in the future.

The journey of the two people who didn’t get along started like that.

——