He was hit.

By some filthy bastard who seemingly appeared out of nowhere!

Beverick staggered. Perhaps because he was struck unexpectedly, it hit harder than he anticipated. The cheek that was hit flushed a deep red.

‘What is this?

It seems like just a slap, but maybe it's something more?’

"You piece of shit!"

He immediately swung his hand. However, the boy in front of him simply turned his face, effortlessly dodging the blow.

‘Oh? So, that's how it is.

It seems like he has some hidden technique, doesn’t he?’

Beverick rolled up his sleeves. He tasted bitterness in his mouth. Just when he thought he'd savor the moment, he was interrupted at a crucial time.

His mood had soured irreparably, and he felt he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd broken at least one of this damn bastard's limbs.

After dealing with that, he would take what he wanted. Beverick glanced at Irene.

The Flower atop of the Cliff.

He had wasted a year just to completely have her.

‘It was so close!’

Suddenly, a wicked desire surged forth, followed by a fierce eruption of anger.

"I'll kill you!"

An Apprentice Priest who came from the Cult Headquarters. Beverick came from a religious family, with a bishop as a parent. Naturally, he learned about faith from a young age and even inherited his stigmata from his father, who was a bishop.

Although the stigmata was bestowed upon him, the power it held was genuine. He worshiped Ra and, as a reward for his consistent offerings and prayers, he could also wield holy power.

A strength that only priests in the world possessed. The holy power in Beverick's hands swirled and ignited into flames.

"I'll burn you, down to the very bones!"

It stands to reason that one would fear it.

Yet, oddly, the boy before him showed no change in expression. It seemed he wasn't surprised, likely because he hadn't felt the heat firsthand.

What was in his hands was scorching. It was enough to pierce human skin and injure what lay beneath.

Beverick was confident that he held the upper hand.

The outcome of the fight was clear. A newly arrived Apprentice Priest couldn't possibly use Holy Law.

Beverick had no doubt that he could burn away all the skin on that Apprentice Priest's face.

However.

“An Apprentice Priest from the Headquarters is just embers? Is being hot all it can do?”

His outstretched hand was grasped. The flames died down, and in front of him stood a boy, at least a head shorter, who sighed as if bored.

The hand that was caught didn't move. Despite shaking with all his might, it didn't budge an inch.

It felt as if he was grabbed by a predator far superior to him.

"I knew it since you were obsessed with women… ha… damn..."

The embers extinguished from Beverick's hand. The flames were swallowed in an instant.

A much larger fire flared up right in front of him. Beverick's mouth fell open at the obvious heat that ignited from the fingertips.

"This isn't all there is, right? Is it?"

The embers blazed in the boy's hand.

Like Ra’s flame, glowing with a fierce heat.

"Show everything you've got—if you want to live even a second longer."

Having gone this far, I thought I might as well dig a little deeper...

"Damn it!"

Beverick flailed in front of me.

His movements were clumsy. It wasn't like his holy power was exceptional, either.

Even the holy spell he attempted was a basic process I had bypassed. I’d heard he’d been an Apprentice Priest for quite a while...

This guy is a dimwit, isn’t he?

"Son of a b-b..."

He couldn't even curse properly and was panting heavily. His legs gave way, collapsing merely from exhaustion.

His stamina was depleted, and his head was empty...

The future of the cult is plainly visible. Is this really the child of a Bishop?

Did they just dump him on the outskirts because he was talentless?

"Hey."

I nudged him. A weak punch swung at me. So sluggish it made me sigh.

I didn’t even want to grab him; I sidestepped and kicked his chin, forcing him to the ground.

"What made you act so arrogant? Huh?"

"You... you think you’ll get away with this..."

"Can’t you see the situation? Who do you think is in trouble right now?"

I pressed my foot down on his chest. Beverick, coughing loudly, glared with wide eyes. He turned his head, desperately reaching out to Irene, who was frozen in place.

"H-help..."

Irene flinched. She hurriedly approached me and grabbed my shoulder.

"You... you can’t do this!"

"Why?"

"Beverick is connected to a Bishop at the Cult Headquarters! If you do this, you’ll never be able to go to the Cult Headquarters! And if they send inspectors from Headquarters..."

"Heh... heh..."

Beverick’s shoulders shook as he looked up at me from beneath my foot on his chest.

"You... did you hear that? You idiot... Won’t you step away? If you move now, I’ll..."

"And if I do, then what."

"I... I’ll forgive..."

"Forgiveeeeeeeee?"

I put my weight into my foot. Beverick struggled, coughing violently.

"Did you just say forgive? Huh?"

"F-forgive..."

"Say it one more time. Forgive? Forgiveeeeee?" I mocked him.

"Let’s pretend this never happened..."

"Pretend it neverrrr happened?!"

"N-no, nothing happened..."

"Nothing happened?!"

"What, what do you want me to say?!"

"What else is there to say?"

I scoffed. A man who draws his sword must cut something.

And since I've gone this far, at the very least, I should break every single bone of this bastard!

"Beg!"

"I-I was wrong..."

"It's too late!"

I lifted him up and slammed his face into the glass window.

Crash!

"Aaaaargh!"

Irene flinched at the panting moans.

"How are you going to deal with the aftermath?!"

"Senior. Now that it’s come to this, let’s be honest."

Beverick’s eyes had already rolled back. Irene winced at the sight of his face.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Honestly, don’t you want to beat him up? I only had to put up with him for about two weeks, but Irene, you endured for over a year, even excluding the pilgrimage."

"......."

"Come on, don’t hold back. Things have reached this point anyway..."

I casually handed over Beverick’s hair to her and flashed a fresh smile.

"It's a gift, Senior."

"......."

Irene carefully grabbed hold of Beverick’s hair.

Is this the right thing to do? I alternated my gaze between her and him.

It seems a lesson is still necessary.

I wrapped her hand with mine. And then—

I shoved Beverick into the intact glass window beside us.

Crash!

"Aaaaargh!"

"So, Senior. How do you feel?"

"Th-this isn't right..."

"But it's already done, isn’t it? Plus, look at this bastard’s face..."

I caressed Beverick’s face as if in pity.

"Looks quite messed up, doesn't it?"

"......"

"Are you going to leave it at this? No, right? You know, both of us suffered a lot, haven't we? You suffered many times, countless times more than I did. Do you want to leave this messed-up face as it is?"

"But, but he might die…"

"Senior. Where’s the usually meticulous Senior gone to? We are priests after all. Even if just Apprentice Priests."

I conspicuously drew upon my divine power.

"Would I just let him die so easily?"

Irene's expression changed as the healing power welled up.

"...Come to think of it, you're right."

Something was awakening inside Irene.

"Since he won't 'die' anyway... maybe it's okay to take it a bit further."

"I'll fully support you. I will take responsibility for Priest Beverick's life."

"Thank you, Junior."

Now, as if she had decided to let things happen as they may, Irene smiled brightly for the first time. She pressed Beverick's face against the stone wall and ground it mercilessly.

"A wonderful gift!"

We spent the night moving locations, relentlessly dealing with Beverick's face. Beverick occasionally woke from unconsciousness and let out pitiful screams, but it didn’t matter.

He shouldn't have caused such a fuss if he didn’t want this.

It is all retribution.

"Ahahaha!"

Irene laughed. She was having fun. Had there ever been a time as enjoyable as this? It felt like an aching tooth was pulled out and a new one was growing in its place.

She threw Beverick away dismissively.

The guy with his face buried in the mud rolled over and tumbled across the ground.

He squirmed and wriggled like a bug, prompting Irene to kick his behind without hesitation.

"So that's what Beverick's voice sounds like when he's squealing like a stuck pig—"

Irene, lost in her thoughts, finally returned to reality. She placed her hand on her swelling chest and let out a deep sigh.

She had enjoyed it.

For the first time in her life, she felt genuine joy.

"...Thank you, Junior."

Days passed with her bowing her head frequently. She often found herself tiptoeing around for others' sake.

The more she did, the more it felt like she was losing herself. Sacrificing for others.

Pretending everything was fine to repay a favor.

Those feelings had festered and intertwined like pus over time. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have felt so refreshed after hitting an Apprentice Priest from the Cult Headquarters and thrashing a power player whose father was a Bishop.

Once this night's dream ended, everything would surely be a mess. But it was a night filled with such happiness.

He had given her such a gift that she wanted to consider him a lifelong benefactor.

"Thanks to you, I enjoyed it Junior."

Irene looked down at him at an angle. A slightly smaller boy than herself. An apprentice priest who would probably grow a lot taller with time.

Jahad.

She tried calling his name in her heart. He was a mysterious child. Without him, everything would have stayed the same.

No.

It certainly would have gotten worse.

"...I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for all of a sudden?"

"For telling you to leave the Cult at first... I'm sorry. I misjudged you."

"Oh, I've forgotten all about that. Besides, you were secretly looking out for me, weren't you?"

"...You noticed?"

"Every day, my bed was tidied up, and snacks were left for me at night, right? It couldn't have been the Priest. He's kind of a penny-pincher and wouldn't dream of giving out snacks. He'd rather save money than buy them."

Irene chuckled softly.

"You were studying hard, that's why. You're smart, intelligent, and kind. Isn't it stranger not to take care of a junior so eager to go to the Cult Headquarters?"

"Do you really think I'm kind?"

"Well, I know you've been looking out for the kids in your own way. Are you going to deny it? You could have kept the money for yourself, but you chose to share it with the entire church."

"...That's just because this is my home."

"You could have taken that money and gone to the Cult Headquarters. But you stayed here instead..."

Irene gathered her knees. She looked at his profile as he sat next to her, slightly avoiding her gaze.

"It was to repay Priest Mierkant, right?"

"...That's a misunderstanding."

‘Why were his ears turning slightly red? Was it because his true feelings were revealed?

Cute.’

Irene chuckled softly. Ah, if she'd known things would turn out this way, she should have opened her heart and talked honestly sooner.

They should have spent more time together.

"Don't worry about what happened today."

"Pardon?"

"I was the one who scolded Apprentice Priest Beverick. You just need to keep quiet about it. I'll take responsibility for the rest."

"...What do you mean?"

"You're capable. And more than anything, you're sure to be a greater help to Priest Mierkant than I am. If you're safe, it would be more valuable than any favor I've done so far."

Someone has to take responsibility.

Irene looked up at the moon.

"...You know, Junior. I wanted to become the Priestess of the Day. I wanted power. Maybe, more than believing in Ra, the power that followed was more important to me. If you have power... you can do anything."

"......."

"So please, follow in my footsteps, Junior. Gain unstoppable power and help Priest Mierkant. As you know, he is immensely compassionate and kind. He deserves to be happier."

Irene let out a sigh. It was the most relieving sigh she had ever breathed.

"Will you promise me?"

"......"

Jahad scratched his head. Then, he patted his backside and stood up.

"Senior."

"Yes?"

"It seems you're so used to taking responsibility for others, to the point of bearing their burdens as if they're your own… You don't have to do that for me."

Irene looked up at him. Somehow, the person who once seemed much smaller than her now appeared larger.

"I'll take the responsibility. There's no need for you to bear it. So please, don't make that face with me. Why are you holding back so much? If you don't want to hold back, then don't."

"...Huh?"

"There's no need to try and protect me."

Jahad smiled. Irene stared at him blankly.

"I'll protect you, Senior. So don't worry about anything. I'll handle everything."

‘...Protect?‘

Irene turned her head unintentionally. For some reason, her face felt hot, and she couldn't lift her head.

‘What is this?

Why...

Why does he seem so amazing?’

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