CH 116.2

‘Lorraine… I would become meaningless compared to that woman…’

And that was not right.

She didn’t hate many, but she did Lorraine; she couldn’t lose to that woman.

No… actually she did hate many a lot.

Eri’s face twisted ugly. Drops of tears dripped from the corners of her wrinkled eyes and landed on the table.

What…

What.

Didn’t she just want to be acknowledged?

A bit of respect and a morsel of praise was all she had ever asked.

Why was this happening to her?

Why was she so lost? So lonely?

When did she become so picky?

‘…I don’t know.’

Her hair was messy and her eyes hot.

Her chest throbbed, and she couldn’t stop crying, exuding stifled whimpers.

Ah…

What had become of her.

* * *

Ophelia, as always, was going to go to Eri’s room. Until she heard whines from the first floor. She didn’t know who was crying and why, but that didn’t stop her. It must be someone she knew.

Only Cloud’s Party was staying at this inn.

She cautiously descended to the first floor.

And she was taken aback by the unexpected sight.

“Eri?”

There she saw Eri who rarely left her room except during meal times. Why was she crying at a table on the first floor, and not in her room, at a time like this?

While Ophelia was puzzled, Eri, hearing her voice, propped up her head.

“Ophelia? Why are you… Oh, right. The spell, I have to cast the spell.”

Eri wiped away her tears and snot with the sleeve of her dress.

After cleaning up the messed-up face to some extent, she stood up and trudged toward the stairs.

“Let’s go. I will cast the spell for you.”

“Eri, are you okay?”

“Huh, I’m alright.”

After answering noncommittally, Eri went into Ophelia’s room and enchanted with her soundproofing magic.

Now the noise made in this room would not spread out of the bounds of the room.

She ducked out of the door right after casting the spell.

“Eri..!”

Ophelia called after her.

“If you have any difficulties, you can tell me.”

In a very sweet voice.

At that, Eri slowly turned her head.

“I’m alright.”

She replied with a forced smile that didn’t quite reach her reddened eyes.

“…all right. If you still feel like confiding in me, come visit me anytime.”

“Yeah.”

Creak!

Eri closed the door.

At the same time, Ophelia’s beautiful emerald eyes softened.

“…If it wasn’t me, but the Hero, Eri would have confessed.”

She was not expressing sadness.

She could only blame her own inadequacies for not wringing trust from her companion.

Ophelia locked the door and pulled out a thorn-studded whip from her drawer.

She knelt and untied the laces of her nun’s robe.

The nun’s robe, which barely covered her large breasts, collapsed, revealing her white bare skin and underwear.

She even took off her underwear.

She knelt down and raised the whip, heaving her large breasts and smooth back.

“Holy, holy, noble being. O Almighty One who bestows blessings and glory on heaven and earth. There is a sheep here. There is a sheep fattened like a pig, fattened with lust.”

Ophelia swung her wrist.

Slap!

The whip cut through the air and lashed her back. Her flogged flesh swelled red.

“There is a foolish lamb who has thrown her body away for fleeting pleasure.”

Slap!

“There is a foolish sheep who mistook a pail for water and threw her body into the river.”

Slap!

“The foolish sheep dares ask forgive, I beg you.”

Slap!

“I hope you don’t pity me.”

Slap!

“Let me be put to the test, I beseech. Test and trial this foolish sheep your way. Please bestow your spectacular and noble miracle, bestow grace.”

Slap!

“Finally, I earnestly pray, please allow me to witness that brilliant miracle from your side or even from afar.”

Slap!

When she finished reciting her prayers, her back was a mess of torn wounds and dripping blood.

Although the pain was considerable, she did not let out even the slightest moan.

Rather, she continued whipping while reciting prayers. The torn wounds widened further and the blood-soaked her back completely. Ophelia did not stop despite the growing wounds and pain.

Her dirty body.

The disgusting flesh tainted with desire.

She can’t stand next to Him with a body like this. She shouldn’t be allowed in his vicinity, let alone his side.

Therefore, she must be purified.

Ophelia tightened the whip in her hand.

Slap!

Intense pain accompanied by the sound of flesh tearing.

Every time she felt it, a little bit of vile was relieved from her body, which was a lump of filth.

She would only allow herself to go to bed after she had been cleansed and purified and felt completely clean.

That way she could see him again the next day.

When she was around Him, when she witnessed His divinity, she would become frustrated realizing her own body was still dirty, but that was okay.

Because you can wash dirty things.

Slap!

If you keep washing it, one day you would be able to get it clean again.

So she had to diligently wipe out the filth for that one day.

Slap!

New scars were added to the scarred back.

Not even a ray of light remained in her eyes as she recited prayers.