Kate being here alone was already extremely dangerous. The reason she embarked on the pilgrimage was to find me, but suddenly settling in one place was suspicious. Even if she might not say it herself, the higher-ups of the church will surely have suspicions.
Why would someone who left on a pilgrimage stay in one area? Could it be that she found something?
In that case, there’s a very high chance that they will send someone from above to keep an eye on Kate. So, her presence is more of a threat to me than anything helpful. Of course, if I agree to give Kate what she wants, she’ll gladly leave, but I don’t like that idea. Sleeping with someone I’ve just met was burdensome for me, and who willingly accepts being treated as a tool by someone else?
No matter how beautiful her face is or how desirable her body might be, it seems like she sees me as an instrument, and that repulses me. Above all, neither Marie nor Cecily have had my child, so it’s against the law to create an extramarital child so soon.
For these reasons, I plan to visit the temple this weekend and politely request Luminous to prohibit Kate from approaching me. Even Luminous, who favors Kate, would reluctantly agree if I ask earnestly.
“Did you guys hear about that?”
“What?”
“Three days ago, Cardinal Kate visited the academy.”
“… …”
One day before the approaching weekend, while on the way to the restaurant, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy after hearing Rina’s words. Kate visited the dormitory where I’m staying exactly two days ago. The next day, she came looking for the seed and the likelihood of her coming today is very high.
That’s why I plan to stay out as long as possible while spending time with other acquaintances. She may be a person with a strange common sense, but I don’t think she’ll come late at night anyway. While I was silently holding such thoughts, including Rina, other girls began to engage in the conversation.
“Oh, I heard that story too. I heard she’s going to stay here for a while. They say there might be devil worshippers in the capital.”
“I heard she’s extremely pretty. I kind of want to meet her, but Rina, won’t you meet her?”
“Rather than me, my brother or Duke Requilis will meet her. According to the hierarchy, a dignitary higher than a duke should greet the cardinal.”
The cardinal is the second highest rank after the pope, and Kate is the grand inquisitor of the heresy inquisition. If it’s not a personal matter but a public matter, at least a duke or higher-ranking dignitary should greet them. That’s how high their prestige is, and if you say a wrong word to the cardinal, you’ll be embarrassed internationally. So only the prince or the duke can meet them.
‘Anyway, she only looks like a pervert to me.’
A perverted priestess who tries to steal seed from me whenever there’s an opportunity. I wonder how she’ll ask me for seed today. I hope tomorrow comes quickly. Just the existence of Kate was enough to expose my true identity.
Did she notice my mood? Marie, who was talking properly with others, checked my face and asked in a puzzled voice.
“Isaac, what’s with your expression?”
“Huh? What’s wrong with my face?”
“It looks like a face that’s chewed on poop.”
“… …”
I wondered if there might be another way to express it aside from that. After hearing Marie’s response, I chuckled. Actually, I did think about telling them about Kate’s situation, especially its something that Marie and Cecily needed to know.
I sighed heavily out of frustration and then glanced to the side. They seemed to have noticed that my expression wasn’t good, as they both wore concerned looks.
“… I’ll tell you at the restaurant.”
“Is it a big problem?”
“Whether it’s big or small… you’ll find out after hearing it.”
The once cheerful atmosphere seemed to have dampened, and I felt strangely apologetic. However, it was a matter that they needed to know. After arriving at the restaurant, we reserved a private room as usual and placed our orders. Then, I explained what was on my mind.
“Two days ago, Cardinal Kate came to my dormitory.”
“What?”
“She knew I was Xenon.”
The fact that Kate had come was already surprising, but when I mentioned that she knew my true identity, they both reacted with similar expressions of shock. Their eyes widened even more, and their faces showed genuine astonishment. Frankly, it was quite shocking indeed.
I clarified one by one the points that made them curious while they were organizing their thoughts.
“It seems like Luminous has given a revelation about my identity. Fortunately, it seems to have been only given to Cardinal Kate, but… it doesn’t matter now that it’s been exposed.”
“Revelation? What kind of revelation?”
“Seek those who look at the world with a pure passion, like a clean sun.”
The verse itself was complicated, but it left an impression, so I remembered it clearly. When I spoke about the contents of the revelation, the women seemed even more puzzled. I probably made the same expression at first. So, I explained slowly.
“Looking at the world with a clean sun means golden eyes, and pure passion seems to refer to my red hair.”
“Isn’t it the same for your father and brother?”
“That’s true, but it seems like the modifiers ‘clean’ and ‘pure’ imply that there’s no blood on their hands. Father is a knight, and Dave used to go hunting often in the past.”
Father, Dave, and Nicole were strong from a young age, unlike me. So, they sometimes hunted monsters and beasts in the territory. On the other hand, I had a frail body and even resented knight training, so my family cherished me.
Due to the significant age difference between me and my siblings, I received more attention and affection.
“And because of the lilac scent emanating from my body, even if I deny it, she won’t believe it, right? I heard it has a stronger fragrance than the Pope’s.”
“I see. So, what did Cardinal Kate say? Is that the end of it?”
“I wish it were the end here too. What did Cardinal Kate want? Well…”
Should I really say this or not? I felt embarrassed and sorry, so I couldn’t bring myself to say it. After hesitating for a moment, I let out a deep sigh and spilled the whole truth.
“…To receive my seed.”
“Seed? What kind of seed…”
“… …”
As expected, there were different reactions from each of them. Marie started to say something but seemed to realize halfway and closed her mouth. Cecily had a momentary pause in her thinking process, and lastly, Rina blinked her blue eyes and then her face rapidly turned red.
They were all old enough to know what my statement implied.
“…You guys must have heard about this kind of story, too. The tale of a man and a woman chosen by the gods who form a relationship and give birth to a hero. Kate asking me for my seed is somewhat similar to that. She’s been blessed, and I helped the world break free from the devil’s grasp through Xenon’s Biography. Do you get the idea?”
“Is that woman mentally unstable or something?”
Marie blurted out the doubt that was poking through her mind. After all, from her perspective as the one engaged to me, this situation was not only anger-inducing but also utterly baffling.
It wasn’t just her, Cecily was in the same boat. She couldn’t decide whether to get angry or just be dumbfounded.
On the other hand, Rina… Her face turned bright red, but she kept her mouth firmly shut. It seemed like she didn’t want to say anything, probably because she didn’t see a significant connection.
“Seems like she’s a bit… out of it, but the focus seems to be entirely on Luminous. She says even the reason she wants my child is for Luminous.”
“What is that…”
“Like a fanatic, isn’t it? I think so too. She doesn’t listen even when I say I don’t like it. Anyway, I plan to go to the temple tomorrow and request a ban on approaching from Luminous.”
“…It probably won’t work.”
Rina, who had been quiet, surprisingly expressed a negative opinion. The gaze of others, including me, turned towards Rina. She explained her reasons while fanning her flushed face to cool down.
“The Cardinal is the second-highest position after the Pope. To ascend to the position of Cardinal, you need to be chosen directly by Luminous. Moreover, Cardinal Kate has received direct favor from Luminous. No matter how much you try, Isaac, it’s going to be tough to get a ban on approaching.”
“Even if I use divine authority?”
“If that happens, Cardinal Kate will likely use her divine authority to nullify it. Of course, Luminous will reprimand her severely.”
“Ah. If that’s the case, it’s okay.”
If it’s Luminous, warning her should be enough since she’s a devoted clergywoman willing to sacrifice even her body. At least, when it comes to her faith, she’s a genuine person. However, I’ll still look for opportunities. She’s more persistent than I thought, so if there’s a gap in my defenses after I visit the temple, she might request it again.
“But it’s still unpleasant. Did you tell her about your engagement?”
Marie asked with a voice full of dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, Cecily seemed to be deeply contemplating something.
First, I decided to speak the truth, primarily because it was essential to separate Kate from the situation.
“Of course, I told her. But she also told me that she was ready anytime if I was okay with it. I said I’m not interested, so she asked if she should seduce me?”
“…I can’t believe it.”
Since it was unbelievable, Marie shook her head with a wry smile.
However, an unexpected positive opinion came from Cecily.
“I actually feel okay about it.”
“What?”
“Are you in your right head?”
I, of course, questioned Cecily in surprise, to the point where Marie could ask if she was right in her head.
Cecily, looking at our faces demanding an explanation, began to speak very realistically.
“Of course, I’m not thrilled about the idea of having a child forced upon you like that. But there’s nothing to lose. In fact, it could be very beneficial in many ways, as it would connect us with the Xavier Kingdom.”
“I haven’t ruled out that idea either. But, Noona.”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t connect with you while thinking about such a thing, did I?”
If Kate had approached slowly, like Cecily, I might have hesitated for a moment. Perhaps I would have sought permission from Marie and accepted her. I’m already in a situation where I’ve accepted Cecily and I’m contemplating Adelia, so adding one more won’t hurt. As long as I don’t secretly cheat on my partners with other women, it’s okay.
However, when a fastball comes straight at your neck, you can’t just stand there and take it. Cecily blinked her red eyes after hearing my response and then raised the corner of her mouth, giving me a gentle smile.
She then subtly grabbed my hand under the table and spoke in a warm voice.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to help Isaac. Can you forgive me?”
“You don’t need forgiveness. Anyway, my experiences have led me to this point. Is there any other solution?”
“I think it would be better if Marie and I went to talk to her directly. Right, Marie?”
“Of course! Honestly, it would be nice if she accepted, I don’t like her stubborn attitude.”
Marie, who had said this, glanced under the table, but instead of lightly grabbing my hand, she softly stroked my thigh. As everyone knows, this is a kind of signal. It seems like Kate’s situation has been stressful for her.
I paused for a moment, stopping Marie’s strange touch on my thigh, and then returned to the main point.
“So, I’ll go to the temple tomorrow and come back. Can you wait until then?”
“Of course.”
“Have a good talk.”
Now, I released Cecily’s hand and it now clung to my thigh. On the surface, it might look like two beautiful ladies on either side were being cute to me, but I was actually fearful of the future that lay ahead. Perhaps because we had talked about my seed, it seemed like they also wanted to take seeds from me. I guess that can’t be helped.
“Well… it seems like this matter is settled for now. By the way…”
Knock knock knock
Just as Rina was about to speak, someone knocked, either because food had arrived or someone else was at the door. Marie and Cecily immediately stopped their actions.
Knock knock knock
“What’s this?”
“Is it someone else?”
If it were a waiter, they would knock and then enter after a brief pause. But knocking more than once meant that someone else had come. I got up from my seat and immediately opened the door, putting my questions aside for a moment. And at the door…
“Hello. Sa… No, Isaac.”
Kate was standing at the door, wondering how I had ended up here. It seemed like the tiger really followed my words.
When I was too flustered to say anything, Kate opened her mouth with her characteristic compassionate smile.
“It’s not what you think this time…”
It was a moment when I was about to close the door before I could even listen.
Thunk!
When she noticed that I was trying to close the door, Kate quickly wedged her foot between the door. I tried to push it somehow, but it didn’t budge an inch. Strangely, no matter how much strength I used, I couldn’t feel it moving at all. Instead, it felt like I was the one being pushed back from the other side. Whether I liked it or not, Kate spoke to me with her previous compassionate smile.
“Please listen to what I have to say until the end. I didn’t come here to talk about seed this time.”
“Well, in the end, it’s going to be about seed, isn’t it?”
“… …”
“See!”
Since there was no response, it was certain. And when I tried to push somehow…
“It’s good timing. Come in.”
Marie’s voice came from behind.
Translators note:
