“R-relationship, you mean…?”
Under the moonlight, Seraphine’s face turned bright red. It could be seen that her earlobes had turned red under the pure white saint’s attire.
“A man and a woman… I mean…”
Her hands tightly gripped the hem of her saint’s robe. Her amethyst eyes trembled nervously beneath her white eyelashes.
In the plaza bathed in moonlight, the face of the saintess standing in front of the bonfire grew redder and redder. Her earlobes were flushed bright red.
“But maybe it would be okay… if it’s you, Hero…”
Seraphine brought her fingers together, her face still crimson.
For a moment, a different light flashed in her eyes than usual. It was a strange gaze, as if there was both purity and sensuality intertwined.
“Saintess.”
“Yes…?”
I spoke in the most serious tone I could muster
“Breaking a saintess’s purity… that would disrespect the goddess’s authority, wouldn’t it?”
Seraphine’s eyes wavered.
“I also like you, saintess, but… there’s no helping it, right?”
Her pale face became even redder. Was she reacting to the words “like”?
“T-That is… true, but…”
At this point, I thought she would understand.
From being the ‘Saintess of Calamity’ to the ‘Pure White Saintess.’
She had followed the goddess’s teachings and lived by them from a young age. She had never broken a single strict rule or failed in her difficult training.
She began each day with prayers to the goddess at dawn, and in the evening, she would copy the holy scriptures.
After all, she was the renowned ‘Pure White Saintess,’ known for her utmost devotion.
Love and desire could surely be overcome with her faith in the goddess. She had already rejected countless suitors in the name of the goddess, hadn’t she?
Yeah, this was enough. By tomorrow, she would be back to her usual saintess self. I’d help her focus through prayer…
“But… according to the doctrine of our order…”
…?
Seraphine suddenly spoke.
Under the moonlight, her amethyst eyes sparkled.
“The first night of the hero and the saintess… it’s said that if they perform a holy ritual with prayer, the goddess will grant her blessing.”
“Prayer?”
Her voice became smaller. Her white cheeks grew even redder.
“Yes! The Pope and the archbishops gather and ask the goddess for permission.”
For a moment, my mind went blank. What did she just say?
“Wait. So… what do they ask for? To be allowed to do that?”
My throat dried up.
“Are you saying a crowd will gather to pray on our first night?”
No, that’s a bit… This isn’t even like something from the Joseon dynasty… not like a royal first night ceremony…
Seeing my embarrassed expression, Seraphine quickly waved her hands.
“Oh, don’t worry! We’ll be in a separate chamber…”
Perhaps imagining that scene, her face became even redder.
“So… you won’t be seen! Plus, it’s a sacred ritual… no one will dare listen in or peek!”
I didn’t even know this part in the game.
Seraphine’s amethyst eyes looked at me with anticipation.
This wasn’t the time to be flustered.
I had to figure out how to get out of this situation.
I had no choice. I couldn’t accept her feelings.
I was going to leave soon. And, above all, the other women wouldn’t stay quiet.
It was hard to say harsh things to such a devoted saintess, but I had no choice.
“But if I marry you, saintess, I’d have to follow the teachings of the goddess’s order… and attend daily prayer meetings, right?”
The teachings of the goddess’s order… just thinking about it made me feel suffocated.
I’d have to attend the early morning prayers every day, alcohol was strictly prohibited, no smoking… and even the slightest inappropriate joke would require three hours of repentance prayers.
“But listening to the goddess’s words is important… Ah, I understand! I’ll try to make it as short as possible!”
Seraphine thought for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision and lifted her head.
“Our order has become much more flexible now! Prayer meetings… um… maybe three times a week. No, maybe twice…”
Seeing this side of her, I felt conflicted. The saintess, who had always strictly followed the doctrine, was now desperately searching for a compromise in the face of my rejection.
“Alcohol… I can allow it sometimes. After all, you’re the hero who saved the world! The goddess will surely understand. Probably…”
Her last words were barely audible.
“If you stay by my side, hero… I’d do anything…”
I felt sorry for her as she was compromising even her beliefs.
“Did you know? The saintess can only marry the hero.”
Tears glistened in the corners of Seraphine’s eyes.
“If you aren’t the hero… then… then…”
Her voice grew louder.
“… I’ll have to grow old and die as an old maid in the monastery!”
The holy light that had been descending from the heavens quietly faded away.
“I don’t want that. I… I also want to experience love. This is the destiny the goddess has given us!”
“Saintess, I understand for now.”
Her eyes sparkled with hope.
“But right now… we have tomorrow’s battle, right? Let’s sleep for now.”
“Of…”
Seraphine’s expression became filled with regret.
“Yes… you’re right, hero. Tomorrow is an important day.”
Her pure white wings slowly folded. One by one, white feathers fell to the ground.
“After we defeat the Demon King, I want to have the best happy ending. With you, hero.”
She hesitated for a moment, then added in a small voice.
“Then… goodnight, my hero.”
Finally, I lay down on the bed. So much had happened today.
It had truly been a long day. Starting with the Golden Dragon’s confession under the moonlight…
Aris’s golden eyes came to mind. The gaze that looked at me as though I were the ‘treasure of the dragon.’ The obsession of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years…
Sylvia’s cold green eyes also flashed by. The ominous energy that had been watching me from the entire forest. Didn’t elves say they loved only one person in their lifetime?
And just moments ago, the saintess’s pure heart. The tears in Seraphine’s violet eyes still weighed heavily on my chest.
“What is all this…”
I tossed and turned in bed. The creaking sound of the old bed echoed through the room.
We’d finally reached the Demon King’s castle, and how many people had confessed to me?
If I reject them all… wouldn’t the party fall apart due to the pain of broken hearts?
Then who would defeat the Demon King?
The worst-case scenario played out in my mind.
‘Hero’s Party disbands due to love problems.’
Such an ending was absolutely unacceptable.
“I wish there was a save point like in a game… sigh.”
I pulled the blanket over me. I should focus on defeating the Demon King first. I need to sleep for tomorrow.
…Just as I was about to fall asleep.
“Haru-nyang…”
Something warm and soft settled on my chest.
“Mmnya…”
Unconsciously, I reached out and stroked it.
The soft texture felt pleasant.
“Grrowl…”
A light vibration transmitted. It sounded like a cat purring…
Wait, a cat?
My eyes snapped open. A girl with black cat ears had climbed onto my chest.
“Nia?”
“Haru-nyang, did you sleep well?”
Her golden cat eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
Black ears perked up from between her short black hair.
“I’m supposed to sleep now, unlike some nocturnal creatures!”
She frowned but then waved her black tail playfully in front of my face.
“Stop… that tickles.”
“Haru-nyang is ticklish?”
“What are you doing, at this time?”
“Do you want to play with Nia?”
Her voice came out in a spoiled tone.
“You need to sleep right now. Tomorrow’s an important day.”
“Uhh… I’m sad you won’t play with me, Haru-nyang… you’re such a bad master.”
Nia drooped her ears in disappointment. But soon, her golden eyes sparkled again and came back to life.
“I understand, Haru-nyang! If you’re tired… kind Nia will sleep next to you and keep you company! No charge, nya.”
She grinned and then laid down on my chest. Her soft hair tickled my chin.
“No, that’s not it…”
I was slightly annoyed. Nia was always so pushy. It was that shamelessness typical of thieves… or rather, cats.
Speaking of which, Nia’s weakness was…
I gently reached out and grabbed her tail.
“EEK?!”
Nia’s body stiffened in an instant.
The tail is the most sensitive part of a catfolk. If I touch this…
“Ah… H-Haru-nyang… not there…”
Nia collapsed sideways, her energy drained. Her cat ears trembled.
“Alright, go back to sleep now.”
“…That’s so mean, nya!”
Nia puffed up her cheeks and sat up. Her golden eyes sparkled with anger.
“I came to tell you something important, Haru-nyang!”
“No, I don’t want to hear it. Stop!”
But Nia, being the cat she is, completely ignored me. Instead, she came even closer.
Her golden eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
“Do you remember, nya? When we first met…”
That day came to mind. The day when I saved Nia, the notorious criminal, from her execution at the city’s gallows.
“Back then, Haru-nyang said you saved me because you needed the information I had, but…”
“No, that’s the reason.”
“Don’t lie to me, nya!”
Nia puffed up her cheeks.
“You saved me because I’m cute, didn’t you! Just admit it, nya!”
“It’s not like that…”
“And that day, when we were surrounded by orcs…”
Nia’s voice suddenly became serious.
“Everyone tried to run away and abandon me, but Haru-nyang was the only one…”
Back then, Nia had been injured in the leg.
“You carried me and ran… treated my wounds… and even petted my head…”
Nia’s tail swayed back and forth.
“Since then… Haru-nyang has been my master, nya!”
Beneath her playful words, I could feel a deep emotion. The sincerity in her voice pierced my heart.
“I’m sorry, Nia. But…”
“Why, nya?!”
“Well… you’re a cat.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You’re nocturnal… and you shed fur… and on top of that, I’m allergic to cats.”
“Th-th-that’s…”
Nia stammered in surprise.
“Allergies can be treated, and if I clean up the fur every day… I can sleep quietly at night!”
Wait, something’s off.
“Nia, your tone just now…”
“Ah!”
Nia suddenly covered her mouth, her black ears standing up straight.
“No, why did your tone change all of a sudden? Can you speak like that?”
“Th-that’s…”
Nia’s face turned bright red.
“Of course! Nyaa, I was just… doing it as a cute concept…”
“How long have you been maintaining this ‘cute concept’?”
“Uhh… but now it feels more comfortable, nya!”
She quickly returned to her “nyaa” speech.
“Anyway! Haru-nyang, you’re responsible, nya!”
“Why?”
“You touched my ears and tail… how can you do that, nya? You need to return my pure heart, nya!”
“Oh, if we’re talking about that, I also touched Aris’ horns and tail, you know?”
“What?!”
In an instant, Nia’s fur bristled. Her ears shot up, and her tail puffed up like a broomstick.
“How shameless! This is an affair, nya!”
Nia jumped up and yelled.
“Haru-nyang is a player and a scoundrel, nya! Why are you touching other females’ tails?!”
Flames of jealousy burned in her golden eyes.
This… is dangerous.
The room became noisy. If this continued, all the party members would wake up.
What if they ran in and saw Nia clinging to me?
Just imagining it gives me chills.
I slowly reached out and petted Nia’s head.
Soft ears brushed against my hand through her black hair.
“Grrowl…”
In an instant, Nia, who had been flailing around, became calm.
“But… I won’t give up, nya.”
Nia stared at me intently.
“Nia… gets whatever she wants, nya.”
Her voice turned cold. Although she still spoke in her cute “nyaa” way, there was a chilling aura surrounding it.
“Haru-nyang… is mine, nya.”
Her voice grew quieter, and soon, I could hear a soft snoring sound. Nia had curled up on my chest and fallen asleep.
“No, you were threatening me, and now you fall asleep that fast?”
“Grrowl… Haru-nyang is mine, nya…”
Her cute muttering as she slept made me chuckle. Where did that threatening look from earlier go?
Her black tail gently wrapped around my wrist, as if saying, “Don’t run away.”
When I look at her like this, she really does seem like just a big cat…
“Kuul… kuul…”
The sound of her snoring made her seem peaceful. But with those claws, she could scratch me at any moment.
“Sigh…”
If I fall asleep like this, there’s going to be an even bigger uproar tomorrow morning… should I wake her up and send her back?
Suddenly, Nia’s ears twitched. Did she unconsciously read my thoughts? Her tail tightened around my wrist.
“When we defeat the Demon King… Haru-nyang and I will be a couple bandits… no, a couple adventurers… we’ll wash our hands and live honestly… that’s what will make Haru-nyang happy…”
Well, I’ll let it go for today.
Cats shouldn’t be woken up, after all.
And then the next morning came.