Chapter 77

Is there no safe place anywhere in the world? (12) – unedited

“I lost myself when I stood in front of Kayle. I have to be kind, I have to embrace him, and I must become like the merciful temple. The words I had heard so many times that it got stuck in his ears, sank into the depths of the sea in front of him. I end up being an ordinary girl who wants to grumble over insignificant things and exchange childish puns. My desire for Kayle to focus solely on me is also blooming.”

The Saint confides in me without hesitation. To me who hasn’t spoken a few words.

The Saint talking about it was fine, but it was me who was bewildered as I was hearing something I shouldn’t have heard.

Even in the novels, did she have such a deep heart for the Demon King? No, it was rather the opposite. The Saint wanted her to fulfill her vocation, and it was the Demon King’s side who tried to win her heart, not the Saint.

When I could say nothing to her words, the Saint’s cheeks blushed red and she covered her mouth.

“… I said embarrassing things. It’s a secret from the priests. I am a body subordinate to God that cannot be connected with anyone. Even more so with the Demon King.”

The Saint refilled my empty teacup. On the other hand, the Saint’s tea, who was talking non-stop with her, has long since cooled down.

“Now it’s Miss Erina’s turn to speak. About why you wanted to meet me.”

“As I said, I was helped. I came from a foreign country, so I couldn’t adapt, but I was able to rely in various ways with Mer … No, the Demon King. Like direction guiding* or… the little things.”

(*a nod to the earlier chapters where Merson took Erina, literally, to Sezaine)

I was quick to correct it when I was going to call Merson like a habit. The Saint, with her eyes gleaming as if she had found something very interesting, crossed her hand and rested her own chin on it.

“Should it be called grace? I want to repay the Demon King, but I have to leave. I would like to ask the Saint for help on this. Very desperately.”

“Repay?”

“I have nothing to repay him back. Just like before, just as he has always been, he can have the Saint be by his side instead of me.”

“I don’t know the meaning. Besides, Kayle doesn’t put humans on his side. The same goes if it’s me.”

“No. The current Demon King is a little different. You must be by his side. And the person who will fill that position has to be the Saint.”

“Pfft. Oh, I’m sorry. Keep talking.”

It looked like the Saint was clenching her teeth and holding the corner of her mouth that was about to go up in a burst of laughter..

“And shamelessly, I have one more request. Please help me get home.”

“Well… If it was teleporting, would Kayle be better than me?”

“No. Only you can bring me back, Saint. When the time comes, please be sure to help me.”

The corners of her lips, which the Saint had tried hard to press down, could no longer be contained and it broke into a big curve. As expected, the sound of her laughter filled the room. The funny thing is that she was alone like that.

“Miss Erina, do you love Kayle?”

I don’t know what context this question came from. I couldn’t agree with her laughter and waited until her voice subsided.

“I don’t know what capriciousness Kayle has done, but you shouldn’t mistake it for a fleeting favor, Miss Erina.”

“Pardon me?”

The smile faded from the Saint’s face. I was horrified by the momentary change in her expression, and unknowingly grabbed the teacup.

The Saint had a very serious face, as if saying something very important and secret. At the same time, there was a look of concern in her eyes, and a sympathy that I did not wish for.

“Miss Erina is now delusional. One, that Kayle thinks that Miss Erina is special. Two, that Miss Erina was a great being, and without her, the Demon King’s life would collapse. Three, in fact, I wondered if you maybe transmigrated to a new realm and came from another space. Also, how do you know I’ve been with Kayle all the time?”

The Saint spread her fingers and explained. Then she puts her own hand over mine, which is grabbing her teacup.

“I will introduce you to a doctor. Come back to reality, Miss Erina Holden.”

She wasn’t sarcastic or teasing, she was speaking with all her heart. But rather, I felt uncomfortable with that look.

Yes, what I’m talking about may be nonsense, but in an instant she was judging someone as sickly. I freaked out

“Are you feeling back?”

“Aren’t you asking because you really don’t know?” I shot back at her.

The Saint got perplexed and rolled her eyes to find words to comfort me.

“I know Kayle very well. He is better than anyone else. He is beyond comparison with what Miss Erina knows.”

“Of course it is. But what I said is not a delusion, it is all real.”

“Miss Erina, one of the things you said is true. Yes, I have seen Kayle for a very long time and have been with him.”

“Apart from that, I am talking about the Demon King’s current state.”

“Who do you think can speak more accurately about Kayle, between Miss Erina, who happened to be with him for a while, or me, who has known him since I was six?”

“Six?”

“Because Kayle raised me.”

“… what?”

What am I listening to now?  Who raises who?

There is no such setting in any part of the novel. It is the Demon King who raised Saint Serdebella?!