Chapter 61

Story 35. The Maid of the Forbidden Place (3)

Chapter 61

It seemed that Manar thought I was insulting her. I was grateful that at least she didn’t spit at me like she did to the warrior. Maybe she thought I wasn’t worth it.

Manar said to me, “I have nothing to say to the one who has disgraced the Goddess…”

I sighed lightly and replied, “That’s too bad, Manar. I wonder if it would have been better if someone other than me asked you to talk? Still… Don’t you think it would be beneficial for you to talk? Don’t you think that is what the Goddess would want?”

“Hahaha… Cough, cough. You sound so confident… So sure of yourself, My brother… Ha… You don’t know anything about the Goddess.”

She laughed at me bitterly even as she trembled. I thought it was a good thing that she was at least engaged, so I continued, “So tell us what you know about the Goddess, or do you think I don’t deserve to even know about it because I’m a sl*t, like you say?”

I spoke in a quiet calm voice, trying my best to tempt her. I wanted to keep Manar alive as long as possible. I wanted to hear why she did what she did. Of course, I understood the simple and apparent reason, which was that she wanted to return home. It was not what proper Innocent Ones was supposed to do, but we were still only human.

But… Did she have to go this far? Did she have to use such a vicious scheme to accomplish her goal?

Manar said to me, “All that is left is destruction. What I say now doesn’t matter. Not just to you, but to everyone here… My hypocrite brothers, Hakim Karid standing behind them, and the Prince… The harem and everything in Minurd… haa…”

Her voice sounded like the Hwenian intruder. There was a bitterness to it as if she was cursing all of us. I could understand why she thought I would end up in hell, but what about the rest of Minurd? Why did she think they were doomed too?

I said to her, “That is just your opinion, Manar.”

“Haha… No, it’s a fact. You said you went into the harem, right? Then someday, you will find out the truth, but by that time, it would be too late… You will see and experience what hell is. I will see you there… Kkk… Hahahaha…”

I thought she was talking nonsense now to delay her inevitable death. I listened to her whisper, and although what I heard was disturbing, I felt fine. I already knew this, but I was ready to let go of my ruined past.

Manar looked around and asked loudly, “Now! Can anyone here really claim that they have never betrayed the Goddess once in their lives?”

Her voice was becoming louder and more hysteric, and I had no intention of letting her continue like this. She was looking up at the sky and screaming like a crazy woman.

“I was the only one, the only one! The only one who remained pure for the Goddess! Will you people rape me and end up in hell? Will you take that risk? My Goddess’s warrior? Will you? I mean, after all, you are only a man who couldn’t even get the priestess pregnant. An impotent man! Kk… Arrgghh…”

Before she could complete her sentence, I grabbed my dagger and ended her life. Her head fell to the ground, and the warm blood splattered everywhere. It soaked into the ground ominously.

I stood up quickly, turned around towards the warrior, and bowed respectfully.

“Thank you for allowing me to talk to her.”

“Good job, Innocent One.”

Around me, the soldiers began to move busily. It was time for the guilty brothers to face their own similar fates.

“Arrgg….”

“Akkk…”

“Kkk…”

***

Meanwhile, my friend Eriez and his followers arrived at the garden after Manar’s death. They were coming from the direction of our selamlique.

Eriez and his men reported to the warrior, “My warrior! We found many illegal and inappropriate items among the criminals’ rooms!”

“Look at these, My warrior! These are odalisque’s uniforms! It appears that these men have been frequenting the harem. We are not sure if they murdered the odalisques to steal their clothes… We will need to question them and find out…!”

Then, they saw, and what it was made them gape in shock.

Our brothers, who were arrested, were already executed. Their bodies were piled up, and among them was one woman’s body with her head cut off. It was a sight no one could ever forget.

“What…?”

***

Iztal Manar was known to be 24 years old, but I think she was actually 26. I was an unusual case among the brothers. Most brothers were selected, especially for Minurd, about 7 years ago to help in accomplishing the rebirth of the Goddess. The brothers sent here were those with exceptional reputations. Manar was one of them. On the other hand, I was Hakim Karid’s man, to begin with, and had no standing to speak of.

The brothers sent to Minurd all thought their stay here would last a year or two. They were a long way from home, but it was a worthy sacrifice. Those who were present in Minurd at the time of the new Goddess’s birth were often honored and promoted. Their families also benefited by having their sons serve in Minurd. This was why so many families tried their best to have their sons selected.

There was one particular family who was desperate to be part of this. The problem was, the son was disabled, unable to walk. So the family decided to send his older sister, who was healthy. She was disguised as a man.

However… Years passed by without the Goddess being reborn.

“…. Should I be mourning for her death?”

Manar was sent to Minurd when she was in her early teens. As she got older, it became harder for her to hide her womanly beauty, so she hid her face and swallowed hot coal powder to damage her voice.

Meanwhile, the war erupted in the capital, and Manar’s family dispersed to different places.

“Hmm…”

I was lying down on the carpeted floor in selamlique with several large pillows around me. I read the letters Manar’s brother sent to her throughout the years. They were sad and loving, but I couldn’t empathize. I couldn’t understand why Manar kept these letters when, if found, they could be used against her.

Instead of feeling bad for her, all I wanted was to satisfy my growing lust. I was feeling horny right now, and I was fighting not to touch myself.

So the entire group of the Innocent Ones was gone per the warrior’s order. I was ordered to study the evidence the traitor left behind, so that was what I was doing. I looked at the jar that was labeled “Burn Cream.” When I opened it and smelled it, I knew it was the familiar drug that caused my body to burn with lust.

It was now confirmed that Manar was indeed the one who stole this cream from the harem and contaminated the distinctive fragrance in the brothers’ washroom.