64 – Banggabangga Hamtori

”Are you insane now!?”

Beltane’s roar that suddenly erupted was directed at Apis.

”For you to let Priest Ryges enter an unregistered dungeon alone! Who knows better than anyone that the priest doesn’t have the capacity to do that! Apis! It’s none other than you!’

It seemed obvious that the earnest plea contained an unusual thought.

However, Apis, who calmly tidied up her own equipment with her back turned away from that disapproving voice, did not seem to feel the value of responding to such a reprimand.

”It’s not too late now! We must find a way to rescue the priest! Apis! If you are the one who clears the largest number of dungeons in this system! If you are a member of the warrior party! Don’t you know some kind of trick!”

”····”

”Apis-nim!!!”

It was an attitude that was completely unbelievable that it was aimed at a person who was madly afraid just a moment ago.

Even she herself did not know what kind of emotion such a change in her attitude was caused by.

Because an acquaintance whom I have known for a long time has been caught up in a disaster.

Because he couldn’t afford to let a person under his jurisdiction die.

Because he is irreplaceable when it comes to stabilizing the saintess’s mind.

I could have done that if I tried to come up with a suitable excuse.

Beltane’s self-consciousness subconsciously forbade naming that emotion by a specific name.

”Isn’t Apis worried about Priestess Rageis?”

At first glance, a heartbreaking reprimand that sounds like resentment.

Right after that, Apis, who had been silently gazing at the black pillar, opened his heavy lips for the first time.

”He will come.”

From her calm tone, as if she were looking at the lake without ripples, there was no trace of the passionate impression she had been wearing.

”····Yeah?”

”He’s an idiot, but he’s not an idiot. I don’t have the guts to do such a reckless thing without a corner of faith. Because he’s a weakling who treats himself like his first grandchild.”

”That’s… what the hell…”

”So, if you wait, you’ll come back alive and well sooner or later. That guy.”

”That! How can you be sure of that!?”

”If you don’t come, you will die by my hand.”

”Kuh!”

nonsensical sophistry. public fire. It was bullshit.

The bizarre logic that lacked even the basic coherence was, to Beltane, who looked at everything with a rational opinion, his intentions were unfathomable.

so that.

It was no big deal that Beltane, who had not been able to overcome his own anger, suddenly swallowed his wild irritation.

”I knew! That’s it! I won’t ask for help from Apis anymore! I don’t know what to do with the rudeness!”

Beltane, who rarely expressed his resentment at the top of his voice, nervously turned his back on Apis.

Even if it felt somewhat rude, it wouldn’t be strange, Apis’ gaze was still firmly fixed on the black pillar.

But, just then.

”uh?”

To ask for help from the other Guardian Priests in the Holy See.

Beltane’s steps, which hurriedly twisted in the direction of the monastery, stopped abruptly as if facing a vicious beast.

”Uh, uh?”

A tense breath of one syllable, not even words.

However, there seemed to be no doubt that the feeling of astonishment permeated the uneasy echo.

Beltane rubbed his eyes once.

Because you might be seeing it wrong. Because I had to.

In that fleeting moment when a hand hurriedly directed to the corner of his eye once blurred his vision, Beltane earnestly hoped and hoped that the mirage-like figure that had arrived without warning in front of him would disappear.

However, Beltane’s ephemeral longing was shattered at the same time as her vision became clearer after she removed her hand.

The vaguely cherished expectations did not materialize, and the reality that I had been desperately denying was clearly showing itself even on the whitish retina.

buzz buzz.

The voices of the passers-by, stained with strong admiration and astonishment, stirred the already busy Beltane’s heart again.

It must have been. It was her.

No further escapism was tolerated.

that sublime figure. noble dignity. holy look.

There was no way that Beltane, her only blood relative, would not recognize her.

”Oh, why…!”

With Mogol unable to hide his remorse, Beltane threw an urgent question in front of himself.

There was a hint of reproach in his voice.

She boasts of a closed temper to the extent that even the fact that she stepped out of the audience room was enough to get a headline article written in the newspaper.

Because I wouldn’t have come all the way here on my own.

A truly familiar man standing right behind her, sweating profusely.

In a way, it was a natural step for Beltane to fire a resentful glance at the person who seemed to be the most likely suspect for causing the current disaster.

”Priest Robel! What the hell is this! How dare you send him out of the audience room without proper permission! Not to mention, this place is everywhere in the dungeon! At this level of disrespect! Even if it’s Priest Mabel! Don’t you know that it’s not strange to skip the Inquisition and immediately be decapitated!”

”I’m sorry. Sister! Ha, but!”

Mabel, whose shoulders flinched at Beltane’s fierce urging, was about to reiterate his objection with a voice like an ant crawling.

That sleazy look was like watching a cat limping from an injured leg, which made her look very pitiful.

Even such a pitiful behavior was a firewood that angered the current Beltane. It was nothing more and nothing less.

”Why did you bring the saintess all the way here!”

It was evident that the sharpness of language, if any, rivaled that of a guillotine.

As proof of that, Priest Lovell’s expression, as he listened to Beltane’s accusation from the front, was turning pale every moment, like that of a prisoner sentenced to death.

”I’m sorry! Sister! I, of course, am aware that this act of mine is a disrespectful act that will never be forgiven! Ha, but… Come on, Holy Lady… The saintess…!”

”I hate hearing lame excuses! If you want a commutation of the sentence for the disrespect committed! Let’s take the saintess back to the throne room right now…”

The reason why Beltane, who had been talking like a rain of arrows, suddenly stopped talking was no different.

The expression itself was as calm and nonchalant as always.

Like a hamster cramming food into her mouth to the limit, even looking at her bulging cheeks, it was clear at a glance that the saintess was in a very uncomfortable state.

”Huh!”

”Sir, saintess?”

It was then.

The saintess hurriedly advanced towards the black pillar in front of her eyes.

Beltane, frightened by the frightening behavior, hurriedly jumped to block the bold advance.

”Holy Lady—!”

Unfortunately, Beltane’s outstretched arm touched the saintess.

It was right after the saintess’ white hand touched the black pillar.

◈◈◈

yes. I’ll have to admit it at this point.

I’ve lived a life of shame.

He said, “I haven’t lived an unusual life enough to help myself with my humanity.”

I don’t have a single regret in my life.

He said, he hadn’t lived an honorable life enough to tumble toward the sky.

He thought he would be able to live a normal life where he was no different from others.

That I had to correct my stupidity for making such an easy decision.

”What next! What next!”

”This, sometimes exposed when tidying up your hair… Birds, pure white nape…”

”What next! What next!”

”More, more? uh, uh ah! that, yes! That, the muscles are moderately attached, and the well-built legs look very attractive! Bird, I thought…”

”What next! What next!”

”Yes? Uh, that, that’s… Uh, um, bo, abs? I think the faint abs that are sometimes seen whenever the belly is exposed are really, really sensual…!”

”Oh oh! Indeed!”

If there is a hell, wouldn’t it be right here?

It was a life full of sins, so I never thought I would be able to die gracefully.

I never dreamed that I would be able to pre-explore hell while my body was still alive and breathing.

I really thought it was something to live for a long time to see.

”Yo, hero… Wouldn’t this be enough… yo…?”

”uh? More, no more…? Is the sexual attraction that the priest feels for me only about that much…?’

”Oh no! In fact, there are still many! Ugh, um! Oh, that’s it! Um, can you give me five minutes to think about it? Warrior?”

”hot! Sure! You can wait as long as you want! I am!”

God. please save me

No, I’d rather kill you.

Although I am fully aware that I am a sinner who has committed an irreversible sin.

No matter what, it was towards a girl with a one-sided attitude who became her niece.

To keep talking nonstop about how sexually attractive that person is.

Wouldn’t it be too heavy a punishment to impose on a mere mortal?

like that.

It was around the time that a call for help that was unclear whether it was directed to someone was faintly resounding in thoughts filled with only pain and sorrow.

”uh?”

”Hut!”

shit. damn

The gradual collapse of the dungeon suddenly accelerated.

For example, the artificial feeling of someone pouring water into a sand castle that is slowly collapsing.

It was clear that it was a foreign sensation that I felt for the first time.

But, for some reason, I felt an indescribable familiarity with that foreign sensation.

Is it deja vu?

No, no.

I couldn’t confirm its identity, but I could confirm this one thing.

I have definitely experienced this sensation before.

”Sir, saintess…?”

Not intuition, but sixth sense.

Even after I said it, to the extent that I was surprised, the intangible instinct that permeated my body, not something that could be classified as something conscious, was alerting me to something.

Right after that.

The collapsing dungeon slowly began to lose its shape, like fog dispersing in front of a strong wind.

Around the time when the space that was out of touch with reality was gradually regaining its original shape in line with such movement.

”Wow!”

The saintess with her cheeks inflated like an angry hamster suddenly appeared in front of us like a mirage in the desert.