Chapter 30: I will never disappear

It’s cold.

The wind coming through the cracks in the window was very cold, even though winter hadn’t arrived yet.

As a result, my body, which had been sleeping soundly, was trembling, and my groggy mind became sharper, making the cold wind feel even more intense.

If I get the chance, I should ask the servants to prepare thicker blankets.

I thought to myself as I got up from my bed and stretched my body.

It had already been two weeks since the events at Caputa Fortress ended.

Most of the cleanup was finished, and I was now living a comfortable life.

To be honest, I was a little surprised when I regained consciousness.

I couldn’t tell if the faces of Laura and Natalia, who never left my side, were happy or anxious.

But one thing was certain: ever since I swallowed the Magic Stone, the Hero hadn’t left my side.

The Magic Stone, originally meant to strengthen the Hero’s enchantment, was a gemstone that should have been used for that purpose.

So, what would happen to me, the one who swallowed it? I’ve pondered it several times, but there was no immediate noticeable change… Well, I thought, it probably doesn’t matter much.

What was important was that I had survived and prevented the Hero from absorbing the Magic Stone.

That was enough.

That day, thanks to the words “It’s inevitable because he’s a hero,” I realized something.

The Hero is ultimately my enemy. No matter how kind his nature might be, can there ever be any compromise when life is at stake? I would act the same way.

I understand that, but… it’s something that can’t be forgiven, no matter what.

That’s why the first thing I did after getting up was to find some paper and ink.

[Holy Father, let us take note of the enormous sins and ignorance some hold regarding the most holy blood of the Leader we believe in, His sacred name, and His teachings that sanctify our souls.
We know deeply that without His teachings, sinful souls cannot be saved.
In truth, we do not even fully know what is right and wrong under His will.
How could we, in this world, look upon His divine will with our physical eyes?
Yet, those who serve this holy mystery, especially those who have been granted a more sacred understanding, must realize how trivial and worthless the sorcery and worldly things are.
However, many priests have left the Holy Communion in the wrong path, abandoned it, seeking power that is unworthy and consuming it without a care.
Why are those who follow His teachings and are under His guidance acting so recklessly?
It is because they are following the wrong steps of those who came before them.
Holy Father, I saw everything with my own eyes at Caputa Fortress.
His will and the holy teachings are being trampled under the corrupted Hero’s feet.
Even though His compassionate words are open to all fallen ones without discrimination, the beasts among them cannot comprehend His will.
Shouldn’t it be our duty to personally remove the fruit of their corruption and pass on His will?
Though there may not be concrete evidence, I request that all matters regarding the corrupted Hero and others be immediately and firmly corrected.
From Rozahan, Saint Serra.]

I tied the letter I had written after careful consideration securely to the messenger pigeon and sent it out the window.

Since it was a mansion provided by the Nightheart family and I was a saint, it was fortunate that the messenger pigeons to the Holy Kingdom were always ready.

Though there was no concrete evidence beyond my testimony, the letter I had written after hours of contemplation would surely make the Pope read it seriously.

After all, I had spent many hours in the Holy Kingdom, reading the scriptures and memorizing prayers.

Adding a little more to the message, like saying, “The Hero seems to be a bad guy after all!” wasn’t difficult.

“God who gives teachings, may the appointed angels be our faithful companions and guide us back safely to our home.”

I recited a prayer for travelers as the messenger pigeon flew high into the sky.

This would ensure that it wouldn’t be caught by birds of prey or hunters.

I had worried about whether the divine power would return because of swallowing the Magic Stone, but thankfully, the divine protection for me and everyone else had returned to its original state.

I was satisfied with that. My cheat ability was unaffected, and I had also prevented the Hero from strengthening the enchantment of the Magic Stone.

It seemed that even after swallowing the Magic Stone, there weren’t any significant issues.

From now on, I should intercept any scene where the Hero tries to use the Magic Stone and take it for myself.

Anyway, it would be a little difficult to send forces immediately from the Holy Kingdom, and ultimately, I would need to reach the Holy Kingdom to deal with the Hero, whatever fate he may have.

Alright, then, for now, it might be good to pretend not to suspect the Hero, keeping the fact that I struck him in the back a secret.

As I was thinking this, a calm knock was heard.

“Yes, wait a moment.”

I hurriedly tidied up my room and began to change into my usual nun’s habit, taking off my nightgown.

I always thought about it, but I still couldn’t get used to my slender body and slightly raised chest.

Also, the area below my belly button…

Once again, I realized I was the main heroine destined to fall into hypnosis.

With this thought, I opened the door for the person who had knocked.

“…Hello.”

“Laura?”

The person who had come to see me was Laura, the genius mage in charge of the firepower in the Hero’s party.

It seemed that she would only come to see me if it wasn’t the Hero.

What could it be about?

Recently, Laura’s horns had been growing noticeably on her head, and her eyes were becoming more reptilian, making it a little uncomfortable.

Also, when she opened her mouth, I could see her fangs, which made her resemble a dragon.

Well, she was still closer to human, though.

After guiding her to a seat, Laura just stared at my face without saying a word.

What could be the reason she came to see me? A strange feeling lingered.

While waiting, the servants arrived and prepared tea. The tea was a clean, reddish-hued black tea.

I wasn’t an expert in tea, but I quite liked the tea leaves from the Rozahan Kingdom.

“Here, don’t be shy, have some.”

“Ugh, it smells bad, I don’t want it…”

It wasn’t tea I had bought with my own money, but I thought I’d offer it to her.

However, Laura shook her head in refusal, looking like she had many foods she didn’t like.

“Are you alright? Your health?”

“Yes, I’m fine. No problems at all.”

Will the sun rise in the west tomorrow?

The first thing the hero party says after visiting me is asking about my well-being.

It was the first time this happened since joining the party.

“Do you know what the gemstone you swallowed at the fort was?”

“It’s just a gemstone with a little magic, right?”

The gemstone called the Magic Stone enhances the mesmerization magic. Eating it isn’t likely to be beneficial, but I didn’t think it was something to be too worried about.

“… Was my memory properly erased?”

“Huh? I didn’t hear you.”

“Ah, never mind. Do you remember what happened at the fort?”

The Red Tail Tribe decided to become demons, and… huh?

“So, I raised my voice about how to dispose of the gemstone and accidentally ate it. Serah, you did.”

Ah, yes. The hero tried to make Laura and Natalia faint and absorb the Magic Stone.

I ended up swallowing it first.

Something important seems to be missing from my memory, but this is all I can recall.

At best, it’s that the hero started targeting the Magic Stone in earnest.

By the way, don’t Laura or Natalia think it’s strange that the hero fainted them? I know what the Magic Stone is used for, but they don’t.

Maybe the saying “love blurs the eyes” fits perfectly in this situation.

“Serah, do you like the hero?”

“Huh? Wh-what are you saying?!”

“If it’s Natalia or Serah, it’s fine to like them together…”

“You crazy woman, crazy woman, crazy woman! Why are you asking that all of a sudden? Is your head full of nothing but these kinds of thoughts because you’re an obscene little girl who’s had a 3P with the hero and Natalia? Why would I like that damn hero? Why? I wouldn’t even want to eat him.”

“Sigh, what kind of delusion are you having… I’m not interested in the hero.”

The demon kin might be planning the Demon Lord’s descent anytime, anywhere. Love? What is that? Besides, that hero is the one who secretly used tricks to enhance his mesmerization magic on me twice, right?

Yes, then the hero is mine. I won’t yield.

“Hehe, I’ll support you.”

“Thanks, I’ll go now.”

I had decided to collect as many heroines as possible, but Laura was wrong.

She was planning beyond 3P, even to 4P.

Even if she was hypnotized, being this lewd makes me wonder if she’s naturally filled with such filthy thoughts.

She seems more like a succubus than the descendant of a dragon. Thinking that, I bid farewell to Laura as she left the room.

“Accept your true feelings… You will fall…”

But, what is the voice that’s been echoing in my head since I was asked if I liked the hero? A voice that seems to spread from deep within my heart.

My head felt dizzy, and my chest was burning hot, just like when I resisted the hero’s hypnosis.

The fascination of the incubus who absorbed the Magic Stone and the hero’s mesmerization magic don’t work on me.

After all, my mind is still that of a man. It couldn’t possibly work.

But this headache and dizziness I’m feeling now are undoubtedly the same symptoms I had when resisting hypnosis.

Could it be that I unknowingly fell under hypnosis? Honestly, I can’t be sure the hero only did those two things behind my back.

If the hero’s mesmerization magic has already been enhanced…

“Ugh… Damn it… I will never fall!”

“The world you see will betray you.”

I tried my best to ignore the voice ringing in my head and reassured myself.

No matter when the hero enhanced his mesmerization magic, I will never become an infected female.

When I made that promise, Laura was waiting outside with the hero and Natalia, unable to hide their anxious expressions.

“So, have you properly erased the memory of the Demon Lord almost descending at the fort?”

“Yeah, since they don’t know that the Demon Lord’s power is sealed inside their body, they’ll probably think what’s convenient for them, even if it’s a bit contradictory.”

“Since she’s called a saint, does she think it’s a test from the gods… We’re really sorry for what we’ve done.”

If Serah wakes up, she’ll surely notice the strange changes happening to her body.

She’ll realize that part of the Demon Lord’s power is sealed inside her, that her sense of self is gradually being taken over, and that the only way to solve it right now is by taking her own life.

From the hero’s perspective, Serah was the one who chose to sacrifice herself instead of him.

He believed she would definitely choose to take her own life when she regained her memory, so he asked Laura to erase the memory of the Demon Lord’s near descent at the fort.

The result was this. Serah would never think that the Demon Lord’s power was sealed inside the Magic Stone, and she would adjust the contradictions in a way that made sense to her.
“I had no choice. If I hadn’t done this, Serah would have chosen to take her own life for the world’s sake.”

For Serah, nothing is more important than her life.

If she knew the Demon Lord’s power was sealed in the Magic Stone, she would never have done it.

In fact, it would have been better to not erase her memory and clear up the misunderstandings.

But, on the other hand, from the hero’s perspective, Serah is a noble and good person.

That misunderstanding is making their relationship a bit complicated.