The Sleeping Devil

"Grandfather, what about that priest?"

At breakfast, there was no sign of the priest with ash-pink hair, and I became worried about his condition. I caught Hermes and asked him about it.

"Yes, I was just about to talk about that. Shall we go to his room together?"

Walking side by side in the corridor, he affectionately patted my head, noting how much I had grown. Come to think of it, Noah resembles grandfather in some ways. Not in terms of appearance or physique, but in terms of aura.

"So, how was the priest? Did he undergo torture or abuse?"

"That's a possibility. He woke up once last night and ate a proper meal, but there were signs of confusion when he woke up. It seems that Sheriel's words may bring him comfort more than mine. Will you assist me?"

"Of course."

It's precisely because of my appearance that I seem harmless. When we arrived at the priest's room, he was still asleep, and Dior's maid gently called out to him.

In just a few seconds, he snapped his eyes wide open and jumped up, crouching on the bed. Perhaps he couldn't see us or he was repeating the same words out of instinct.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"Priest, it's okay. It's me, Sheriel."

He lifted his head with a start, and this time, his face turned pale as he lowered his gaze. It's understandable that he would be startled if someone he didn't know was right beside him after waking up. I experienced the same thing this morning. However, the priest's behavior was still abnormal.

"I-I apologize..."

"No, I'm the one who should apologize for surprising you. I would like to talk with you for a bit, but how are you feeling? It's okay to stay as you are, just for a little while."

"Yes..."

Somehow, I ended up using Marcel's charismatic lines. I have to be careful not to cause too much trouble.

And then, the priest quickly tidied himself up on the bed, and we finally had a conversation after a whole day.

"I apologize for the sudden intrusion. Did you manage to sleep well?"

"Yes... I ended up sleeping too much."

To be able to sleep so soundly in an unfamiliar place, he must have been exhausted or felt particularly secure compared to his previous location...

"We are preparing breakfast, so please eat and rest again afterwards. By the way, how was the bath yesterday? Wasn't it scary for your first time?"

"A-Ah, the b-bath... Yes. It was... very good."

"If you'd like, you can take another one today. It's refreshing and helps relieve fatigue."

The priest clenched his fist and moved his dry lips slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

"For how long am I going to stay here...?"

"If it's alright with you, I would like you to stay until your condition improves. Actually, I received a blessing. So there's no need to worry about the ceremony. Just relax..."

"I see, it was my fault after all."

The priest murmured with a weary voice. What should I do? I haven't even told grandfather and the others about Noah, but I don't want him to blame himself. How can I explain...

"No, it's not your fault, Priest. It was my doing. Look, it's because of my hair, right? You are not at fault."

Sadness, or rather resignation. His complexion had improved compared to yesterday, but his expression remained dark.

"I will leave immediately."

"That's... Your condition hasn't fully recovered yet. We have already informed the temple, so please rest a little longer."

"I can't bear it any longer..."

After those words slipped out, he continued with a soliloquy-like tone. We listened quietly.

"I didn't want to know. About such warmth. Warm meals, warm bedding, warm words... If I didn't know them, I could still bear it. But now that I know, I can't go back. No, maybe I still can... If I think of it as a dream, a dream of one night, maybe I can go back. I understand that this is a punishment. But I just can't bear this... Please, have mercy. I have to go back soon."

"Do you want to go back?"

The priest blinked once and a single tear escaped.

"I don't... want to go back..."

The priest seemed surprised by his own words and his eyes widened. Then, he curled up his body as if suppressing something and let out a sob.

It felt like he was looking at his last night. "Once I put my feelings into words, once I became aware of my own emotions, there was no turning back."

"Hoping it wouldn't escape and enduring the pain in my chest, I had no choice but to bear it."

"Then, shall we think of a way for you not to go back?"

"That's... impossible..."

"The temple allows freedom of entry and exit, right? We may need to inquire about the details, but I'm sure something can be done. There are even people here who tried to burn down that temple."

When I sent a glance to Hermes, he nodded in agreement. With his close connections to the Mage Guild and the Knights Order, there must be some solution.

"Can someone like me, a sinner...? I have nowhere else to go... I still have sins..."

"Once you know, you can't go back to not knowing, can you? Sending you back like this wouldn't be right as a human, and I've caused unnecessary worries with the failed ceremony. If you're willing, please tell me about yourself."

The priest murmured "yes" once and then started to cry softly.

After that, little by little, the priest began to tell me about himself.