Saint, You’re So Vulgar!

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Chapter 36: Saying That Makes Me Want to Punish You

After that, Rubena grumbled about something, but it didn’t reach Asher’s ears.

Punishment, House Arrest. Those words stirred his mind.

Only later would he hear how things had unfolded.

Asher’s first reaction upon hearing the story was sheer shock.

“W-was that even possible…?”

There were many points to critique, but what he immediately wanted to ask about was Bershia’s power.

It was only natural.

The ability to wield divinity to manifest one’s will was something beyond his comprehension.

Why wouldn’t it be?

Prayer Techniques were an art completed through technical capability, not mere belief.

In other words, one had to output set results in a fixed manner for divine power to exert true physical force.

Yet, Bershia’s ability was completely negating that logic.

It wasn’t an art, but belief. A “I hope this works out” sentiment wielded to bring about such results.

Unconventional physical force, indeed.

And what was produced as a result was ‘Divine Punishment’!

It was truly authority, omnipotence!

Suddenly worried, he thought.

“Prayer needs to be more cautious. If the Saintess’s divine power can move in that way….”

He had believed that with diligent training, he could also use prayer.

However, if it was a power that dangerous, he should choose to give it up for the sake of counteraction.

After all, hadn’t the church been shaken internally and externally due to the aftermath of her power this time?

As a group representing the name of the gods, the church had to be infinitely conservative regarding traces of authority or divine punishment.

He sighed heavily.

“Don’t worry. The knight won’t be able to wield that power, not even if he dies.”

“Eh?”

“There’s a reason for that. It’s complicated to explain, so I won’t.”

Bershia answered ambiguously with a mischievous smile.

Asher felt his head tilting in confusion, but he knew that asking wouldn’t guarantee an answer, so he merely mumbled his lips.

Just then…

“So, is that the end?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you have any thoughts on what happens after house arrest?”

At those words, Asher froze.

His expression grew sullen with frustration and guilt, his head drooping.

Yes, he had. But he only had one thing he could say about it.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, you should be sorry. I barely got a drink of water thinking about you, you know?”

With a clatter, Bershia dragged her chair closer and sat beside Asher.

“I was really anxious. I was worried you’d actually die.”

“W-well…”

“I can’t even remember how I spent that time. I couldn’t sleep, my thoughts were just all over the place.”

“……”

“Now, hurry up and reassure me.”

Bershia subtly wrapped her arm around Asher’s waist.

Asher’s body tensed up.

A little heat rose within him.

It wasn’t just because of her actions.

It was the fact that Bershia had worried about him so much that she didn’t eat or drink that made his heart thump for some reason.

He couldn’t manage to look at her.

Meanwhile, a low chuckle rang close to his nape.

“Stay by my side. Always. I felt really lonely without you.”

“W-well, we were together….”

“Saying it like that makes me want to punish you.”

Asher’s eyes spun around.

He felt a bit worried.

Did he hurt her feelings somehow?

No, he surely must have.

That’s why she was saying things like this, which she usually wouldn’t say.

“It’s a promise. From now on, you have to listen to what I say.”

“I’ll keep that in mind….”

He mumbled weakly.

Bershia’s tone seemed to carry a hint of satisfaction.

The hand on his waist didn’t loosen.

To top it off, the sensation of her fingers brushing over his abdomen made his spine tingle.

For some reason, Asher felt all twisted up and, gripping her finger tightly, said.

“Th-that’s enough….”

“I don’t want to.”

He was in trouble.

Really, too much.

* * *

Now, he had returned to a state where he could fully resume his previous life.

The reason it took so long was that both Asher’s body, which had collapsed, and the body of Bershia, who had watched over him, had grown quite weak.

He hadn’t realized it at first, but Bershia’s body was clearly ill.

Having been in a constant state of hunger, even a little food would leave him feeling unpleasantly full.

Thus, Asher put effort into his own rehabilitation.

The task itself wasn’t difficult; however, there were still some troublesome aspects.

“Saintess… I’m heavy.”

“It’s rude to say that to a woman.”

“But you’re a man right now….”

Bershia had become oddly touchy-feely.

When she had only teased him verbally before, now she would wrap her arms around his waist or hug him tightly, engaging in embarrassing acts.

Even now, like before, Bershia embraced Asher from behind.

She rested her chin atop his head and chuckled, making him feel confined due to their height difference.

Above all else…

“Why do you keep poking my lower abdomen? It’s ticklish…”

“Because it’s all soft. It feels nice.”

“…That’s suspicious.”

When he squinted, she finally let go with a playful smile, but he couldn’t quite grasp what she was trying to do.

He let out a hefty sigh.

He shouldn’t get used to this kind of intimacy, but as he tried to push her away, his lingering unease and mental burden obstructed that effort.

Since she was someone who had endured emotional turmoil because of him, wasn’t it okay to permit her this much? He began to think that way.

To some extent, Bershia’s mannerisms had influenced him.

“It’s a punishment. Because you made me worry.”

By saying that, she knew he couldn’t refuse.

It was incredibly frustrating.

In any case, those were the days.

At the point where he could fully return to normal life, a postponed matter had now cast its shadow.

It was time to share the results of the previous mission with the Saintesses.

For Asher, this too was a troubling matter.

“You’re really creepy.”

“……”

“And that escort beside you isn’t here. Can’t you show your real self now?”

“…I have no real self….”

“Wow, look at you trailing off. Where did you learn to do that? Did you go to some kind of training camp for female dogs or something?”

Judith’s eyes were filled with a mixture of shock and fear.

He couldn’t agree with the term ‘female dog,’ but he understood why she reacted that way.

Asher thought to himself that he and Bershia were indeed very different people.

With their bodies shifting back and forth like this, it was only natural that the eyes of those around them would become sharper.

Staying put like that, his sense of unfairness surged.

He couldn’t help but feel sorry for his own unarguable situation.

Pouting his lips and lowering his head, Judith sighed, “Ugh…” and rubbed her arms.

Rubena spoke.

“Why don’t you just let it go? It’s just a passing feeling.”

“…Are you taking someone else’s side?”

“Th-that’s not it?!”

With a sense of inner intimacy towards Asher, Rubena found this situation somewhat refreshing.

So she chimed in, but Judith’s horror and disdain triggered a shame that was hard for her to endure.

One in confusion, two twisting in embarrassment.

As always, they were in a mutual contempt atmosphere, but the nuance was subtly changing.

Just then, as before, the tardy Halia made her appearance.

“Wahaha!!! Sorry I’m late!”

“If you’re sorry, can’t you come a bit earlier now?”

“I’m busy with my work! Please understand!”

“Does anyone think there’s anyone who isn’t busy?”

Judith and Rubena grumbled in succession.

Halia chuckled, brushing off their complaints, and took a seat.

Asher felt tense.

He was now thinking that the meeting was about to start, so he pushed away any frivolous thoughts.

He needed to focus.

After all, the topic at hand was the Artificial Saintess, something he would later hear and be horrified by; it couldn’t be anything other than a dreadful disaster.

Halia said.

“Okay, everyone seems like they don’t want to linger, so let’s get straight to the point. The Artificial Saintess. The failed capture stings a bit.”

She smacked her lips while resting her chin on her hand, then with her other hand, twirled her blonde hair that was tied in two braids.

She glanced at Asher with a mischievous smile.

“You crushed it before you even figured anything out, huh?”

“……”

Asher’s lips pressed together.

His head hung low.

It hurt that the person who caused trouble was separate from the one getting scolded, but what could he do?

“…I’m sorry.”

“What a disaster. You’re even apologizing. Is it that men need to meet women to become adults? Anyway…”

Just as Asher realized his mistake too late and flinched, Halia closed her eyes tightly.

Right after, a faint anger appeared on her smile.

“I got news from elsewhere. There has been another occurrence of an Artificial Witch, and it was reported to us by that very witch.”

She spat out the shocking words, chewing on them.

“A First-Class Knight.”

“…!”

The atmosphere froze.