Taming the Evil Saintess

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“Isn’t it fascinating?”

High Priest Ian was sporting a lively smile ever since he left the reception room. He had just managed to gain cooperation from the hero. I had assumed that a righteous hero would naturally refuse, but he turned out to be much more calculating than Ian expected.

“The hero taking the lead in hunting possessors—this is truly the best possible outcome for us.”

“However, I have some doubts.”

Contrary to Ian’s one-dimensional joy, another priest accompanying him, Ulrich, expressed concern.

“Ian, no matter what, having the hero represent the church could attract excessive attention from the continent.”

“And what’s the problem with that? Isn’t the Purification Church rising as a great power on the continent?”

Ian said this with a friendly glint in his eyes, but Ulrich could not agree.

The Purification Church, though it had barely existed for less than a decade, had become the dominant faith in the north.

The fact that they had gained power by presenting possessor hunting as their doctrine was quite effective. In other words, they had exploited a flaw.

The Purification Church grew by extracting and hunting possessors in a twisted manner. Thus, possessors were essential for the church’s existence, and while they could be hunted, they must not be driven to extinction.

In that sense, the hero was a threat to the Purification Church. Even knowing that, Ian suggested that Hero Elliot join the church, and the hero readily accepted.

“Don’t you think it’s too smooth? The hero must have some hidden agenda. It’s very suspicious that that so-called righteous hero agrees with our ways.”

Ulrich’s doubts might have been perfectly reasonable.

Of course, Ian was a zealot, but he wasn’t blind.

“Ulrich, I’m anticipating that. I know the hero won’t follow orders blindly.”

“Then why did you bring in the hero, defying the bishop’s orders?”

“That’s….”

Ian turned to Ulrich with a grin.

“Are you from the Ice Palace, Ulrich?”

“No, I’m from the Empire.”

“I see. On the other hand, I’ve spent my entire life in the Ice Palace. My daughter was kidnapped by the Demon King’s army and returned as a possessor, so….”

Why is he suddenly bringing up such a story?

Ulrich was puzzled, but he understood better than anyone that commenting on High Priest Ian’s words was not wise for his well-being.

“So, I know. About the victims who suffered terrible things at the hands of the Demon King’s army. I’ve even made a list of them.”

Ulrich knew, too.

What is commonly referred to as the possessor list.

That list was the driving force behind Ian’s ability to identify and hunt numerous possessors.

He treasured that list, calling it Maleficarum, as if it were his prized scripture.

Even the bishop had no right to view it; it was solely for him.

“So I’m sure you’re curious why I’m telling you this, Ulrich.”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll tell you this just between us, but there was one.”

“…What do you mean?”

Ulrich frowned at the question, and Ian brought his fingertip to his mouth and whispered.

“The name is Elliot.”

“…In the list?”

“Yes, under a fragmented identity, a noble. They say he’s from a knight order on the outskirts of the Ice Palace. He was kidnapped by the Demon King’s army while on a reconnaissance mission as an apprentice knight. The description I received from a witness resembles Hero Elliot shockingly well.”

“Could it be that the hero…!”

Thud.

Ian’s decayed hand found its way to Ulrich’s mouth.

“Ugh.”

“Ulrich, silence is a virtue. There are beautiful words that remain unspoken. I believe you are a wise servant of God who understands this virtue well. Am I wrong?”

“….”

Ulrich signaled his agreement with his eyes, and only then did Ian revert to his usual smiling face.

“Now, let’s go. It’s time to report to the bishop.”

“….”

As he cheerfully walked through the Ice Palace corridors in his red holy garment, Ulrich inwardly realized how meticulous a person he was and trembled.

*

“You crazy?”

That was Ophelia’s reaction when I conveyed my discussion with Ian, implying that I agreed with the Purification Church.

I thought she would be furious, but Ophelia was even more explosive than I expected.

“You idiot! Are you throwing yourself on the pyre? Are you out of your mind? I’ll just kill you myself. Hand over your neck!”

As she charged at me with both hands raised, I had to dodge Ophelia’s punches for a while.

“Ophelia, please listen to me.”

“Hear what?! You’ll hear it in the afterlife?! What the hell are you thinking?”

Thud.

As I caught Ophelia’s punch, I placed my hands on her shoulders.

That made her flinch and calm down.

This is why physical touch is important.

“Listen well. I am the hero.”

“Yeah, you’re the hero alright.”

“I intend to use my name as the hero through the Purification Church to hunt down possessors and protect them.”

“…Protect?”

“I think the Purification Church, next to the Demon King’s castle, probably knows the most about possessors in this world. No doubt about it.”

She didn’t refute that statement but merely pouted her lips.

“I’m going to use that to gather information about possessors through the church, find them, and rescue them.”

“Rescue, huh?”

“There are various methods.”

“Sure, because you’re a super amazing hero!”

Ophelia spat out her anger before scrutinizing my expression.

Eventually, she opened her mouth cautiously.

“And then…?”

“Just like before. We will defeat the Demon King and reclaim the souls he possessed.”

“So what happens after that?”

Ophelia asked, gritting her teeth and looking up at me.

“You mean you’re going to return the body to the original owner, just like you said in the Great Forest last time?”

“…That seems so.”

“And you?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You.”

Ophelia’s gaze was fierce.

She stepped closer, as if interrogating me, and spoke.

“If you return the body to the original owner, what will happen to you? Will your soul just get tossed into a trash can?”

“…That’s.”

I hadn’t thought about it.

I didn’t have the luxury to think.

Noticing my silence, Ophelia slammed her forehead against my chest.

“Well, of course you wouldn’t have thought of that, idiot. You’re always like this, diving in headfirst without thinking about the aftermath.”

“…Ophelia, for now….”

“Yeah, I know. All those possessors are people tied to you, living against their will. So, for now, do whatever you want.”

“For now?”

“Yeah. For now.”

As Ophelia muttered that, her hand slipped into my inner pocket.

From it, she pulled out the dagger I had given her not long ago and pointed the blade at me.

“If you don’t keep your promise, I’ll kill you. Just remember that.”

“Promise?”

“When this is all over, we’re going to build a nice house and live together. Don’t you dare forget that!”

“No, I haven’t forgotten.”

It was a promise I had made.

I wouldn’t forget.

Saying that calmly, Ophelia finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Good. That’s settled.”

She twirled the dagger and stuck it back at her waist.

“Ophelia, that’s….”

“It’s mine. You promised me it in the first place.”

“…Well, consider it a gift.”

“How boring.”

Watching Ophelia turn away, I fell into deep thought.

After all, I, too, am a possessor. The original soul from the Demon King’s world must also partially belong to the body I possess now.

If that time comes, what will happen to me? I surely wouldn’t die. Would I return to the original world? If I did, Ophelia would come after me to kill me.

After living in this world for over ten years, would returning to Earth even be a substantial merit?

I don’t know. That’s something I’ll need to ponder over.

“…I should investigate.”

One more task has been added.

I have to pretend to obey the church and investigate this human named Elliot as well.

Having decided that, I let out a deep sigh. My shoulders felt heavy.

“You fool, instead of sulking, think about how to handle this better.”

Ophelia, as if she were my child, lovingly stroked the blade of the dagger.

“Handle it better, huh?”

“Of course.”

“What do you mean by that?”

When I asked back, Ophelia frowned.

“Aren’t you going to discuss this with the other companions before making a decision?”

“…”

“You’re screwed.”

Bang!

“Elliot!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the door burst open like it was smashed.

The first to enter was Cecilia. She approached me with a pale face and urgently spoke.

“Is it true, Sir Elliot?”

“…Hmm.”

“Did you really decide to partner with the Purification Church? The continent’s… hero?”

“…”

I had come to understand Cecilia’s personality very well over the past two weeks.

She is upright and never stands by injustice.

She could even be considered extremely rigid.

So it would be even more difficult to explain to Cecilia why I would partner with the enemy than it would be to rehabilitate Ophelia.

“Why isn’t there an answer? Don’t tell me, you’re really thinking of hunting possessors? Is the hero I know someone this vile?”

“…”

I cast a pleading look toward Ophelia, but she yawned and stared out the window.

“Wow, the weather is nice.”

Outside the window, a blizzard was raging.

“Please answer me!”

“…”

It seems that a significant amount of effort was required after all.