Straightening up of Evan D. Sherden (4)

“How come you aren’t corrupted yet?”

Serpina looked back as someone asked her a question. There was a cute little girl with slanted, pearl-like eyes that looked like she just jumped out of a romance novel.

“Corrupted? Are you talking about the corrupted priest, Rubecca?”

“Yes, the corrupted priest. You know about it, right?”

The girl who looked incapable of killing a fly was Rubecca. She was the infamous Rubecca of the Poisoned Fangs, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. The phrase, “Don’t judge the book by its cover,” suited her very well.

“Those who doubt the gods, misinterpret their wills, and use the power for themselves are bound to be corrupted. The holy power gets deteriorated, and the mana that’s not from the gods gets mixed, and the effect eats one’s soul…yeah, so that is one of the methods of becoming a Demon.”

“Isn’t that a self-confession?”

“Me? I was born as a Demon in the first place, so I don’t know.”

Rubecca sat on the altar used for offering sacrifices to the Great Mother, and she giggled as she wagged her legs. It was a familiar scene. It had been several days since she started staying in that place. That’s right. She was bold enough to entrust her body to Serpina. Well, nobody would have thought of a demon hiding within the temple. The Four Heavenly Kings surely deserved their names as Rubecca had no problem staying in the temple despite the place being filled with holy power.

“I just want to take revenge for my brother Shabelka, who died like an idiot during his mission.”

“Surely it was a horrible sight.”

Serpina laughed as she boldly said those words. Such an image gave a firm impression of a corrupted priest, and Rubecca nodded with a sour look.

“What an idiot. He led such a huge army and died without a decent achievement, disgracing our family.”

“But isn’t it amazing to have two of the Four Heavenly Kings in one family?”

“It is. It would have been more amazing if one of the four didn’t get killed on his mission, though.”

The movement of her legs in the empty air was quite fast, as if she became emotional. Then, all of a sudden, that movement halted dead.

“Then how is it that you haven’t become a corrupted priest yet?”

“Ah, we still have to finish up on that topic. The story is something unbelievable, my apologies.”

“You—don’t tease me so much. If I lose my temper, you won’t know when I’ll poison your drink.”

In a moment, Rubecca’s eyes sharpened. A malicious expression that looked utterly opposite from her usual innocent one took residence on her face.

“Well, well, that’s a problem. We have to cooperate until we defeat Master Evan.”

But Serpina still had a calm expression. She believed in Raihan’s ability, which was protecting her from behind. Of course, he was acting as her lover.

“Rubecca, do you know how I was able to attain this position?”

“Your position meaning turning bishops into fools and controlling the authority of the Sherden parish? Hmm, come to think of it, you are quite young as a human. How did it happen?”

“It’s because I was able to discover the fact that my superior was into corruption. That man surely was a bishop, but his holy power was as little as a peanut while he lazed, spending most of his time with women as he dumped his work onto me and demanding the best achievements from his subordinates without lifting a finger. He kept on telling his subordinates to look far and think deep, yet he didn’t have any visions. He never tried to be considerate to the will of God. Still, he spoke of my plan while branding it as the will of God in front of the others. He used his rights as a bishop for exquisite alcohol, delicious food, and beautiful women. He even tried to sexually harass me. He was nothing but an animal that thought with his thighs, and it was doubtful whether he was a living thing in the first place…”

“No, stop; stop it. I do know that he was a demon-like human.”

The floundering Rubecca stopped Serpina in the middle of her impassioned speech. The malice that came from her was denser than any demons.

“Ahem, my apologies. Anyways, he was that kind of man. And yet, he didn’t become corrupted. Now, do you see why my reaction was like that at the word ‘corrupted priest’?”

“Well, I kinda get it…”

“Thanks to that, I realized the true intention of the god. The Great Mother gave birth to this world, and she is looking after it. However, she won’t intervene beyond it. Yeah, she just wants us to live freely.”

That already was madness. Rubecca was a bit scared, but Serpina continued while pretending she didn’t realize it.

“She doesn’t want anything in return, not even any achievements. She just gives her endless love over and over again. Even the demons like you don’t get sick from eating food from this world, do they? That’s all because of Her love. She doesn’t discriminate between good and evil, humans and monsters, and She just loves them equally. Such action is difficult to comprehend on our side, but that’s why it’s called a divine’s love.”

Serpina stretched her hand and pulled Rubecca down. Rubecca was so overwhelmed by her that she willingly came down from the altar without saying a word. Serpina faintly smiled after wiping off the altar lightly, then she put the fruits, the first harvest of this year, and prayed with her two hands together.

“She watches the ever-changing world and enjoys it. So, we should show ourselves truthfully while enjoying the world brightly and joyfully and presenting the beauty of this world. I’m doing my best to do so. I always think of how a being like me can shine the brightest to look good in this world for Her. As a result, I ended up cooperating with Maybell, Miriam, and you. Therefore, my faith firmly holds on the ground without the slightest hesitation, and it’s shining brightly. Do you understand?”

“Yup. I realized not to associate with priests…although they are trustworthy.”

Rubecca felt fear after a long time. She wasn’t this scared while coming to this city to take revenge on Evan D. Sherden, who killed one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and whose butler killed her brother…and it was that very moment. The fruits which Serpina placed on the altar seemed to shine and then vanished while endless light descended upon her head.

“Eeeek, it’s the holy power! I’ll hide!”

Rubecca screamed out loud and fled the place as she felt a massive power like the goddess shined it herself. Raihan, who was silently holding his ground, also doubted what he was seeing.

‘What kind of stage effect is that!? No, is it staged in the first place!?’

Serpina seemed to maintain her posture, but sweat was falling from her cheeks before anyone knew it!

As Raihan, filled with worries, was about to approach her, but then the light completely subsided. There was nothing left on the altar, and Serpina was a little dazed. Raihan realized a small decoration appeared on her head. It looked like a small tiara.

“Ser-Serpina…?”

“Raihan.”

Serpina approached Raihan without saying a word and put herself into his arms while murmuring quietly.

“Did she leave?”

“She was terrified and ran away. But are you all right?”

“Ah, yes. I’m okay. I’m fine, but…”

Serpina had a complicated look. It was easy to understand by looking at her expression that what happened just a moment ago was not intended.

“So, what on earth happened?”

“No, uhm, I was shown a revelation. It was my first time to hear the voice of the Great Mother. My job was upgraded, and she gifted me with a godly weapon. The Godly Weapon of the Order of the Great Mother, the last time it was seen was five-hundred years ago…”

“…How did you do that?”

“I don’t even know!”

As she was immersed in her role and played it out while holding the Four Heavenly Kings in check, she received a revelation. Such an outrageous event could happen in this world. Oh my, so the words she uttered as she pleased were really what the goddess wanted!

“She told me to live by my will, then she praised and blessed me…told me I was very interesting and also one more thing.”

“What is it?”

Serpina’s expression became more complicated. It seemed like she was thrilled, but she couldn’t just be all happy…she rubbed her head against Raihan’s chest slightly, playfully, and she asked in a calmer voice.

“Well, the Great Mother blesses birth.”

“Yeah, that’s true…no, wait. Are you?”

“She told me I was pregnant…”

It was just like what he expected! Raihan stood there like a rock. At that moment, where his brain stopped working, Serpina continued the conversation as she hugged Raihan and acted charmingly.

“Of course, the situation isn’t going well, but…? You can’t do anything about pregnancy, right? And fortunately, the scenario is heading towards the end…although I promised to match the timing with Hanna, there’s nothing I can do about getting pregnant first, is there? I’d like to finish the scenario quickly and have our wedding with everyone’s blessing before my belly bulges, so what do you think?”

“Oh, oh my goodness…”

“Aren’t you happy, Raihan?”

“Of course! I’m incredibly happy!”

Raihan acted on his instinct and shouted out loud as he choked off, looking at Serpina, who was looking at him from below anxiously.

“But why is this timing…”

“I’m sorry, I think the contraceptive didn’t work perfectly due to my holy power.”

“That wasn’t your fault. I should have been more careful…”

“Huhu…I really like you caring for me.”

“I love you too, Serpina.”

Wait, it wasn’t the time to be all lovey-dovey right now! Raihan recalled the past as he hugged Serpina in silence. The first time when he had a drink with Evan, he saw himself nodding happily with Evan as he told Shine to be cautious on contraception. What an idiot! Who’s talking about being careful on the contraceptive! Moron! Stupid!

“Huhu, I trust that you can protect this child.”

“Yes, I will protect him. You and the child…but I’m a little worried about prenatal education.”

“He will grow to be a clever person by seeing his mother playing a remarkable part.”

Serpina tapped on her chest while looking dependable, but Raihan’s anxieties rather increased while looking at her…however, he held her tight like a precious treasure while inflaming his will to finish the scenario fast no matter what. And, as Hanna heard of Serpina breaking her promise, Raihan was…

[Parts of the need to be re-done. (4/6)]