The Priest Wants to Retire

〈 Chapter 50 〉 Don’t Run Away. (Illustration Added)

*

”Wait a moment!”

BANG!

It was right after the door swung open.

A voice echoed, perfectly matching the sounds in my heart.

”Sister?”

The owner of the unexpectedly clear voice that invaded my consciousness was none other than the Sister, who had just left this room a moment ago.

Was it because her resonating voice filled with determination made me think of a warrior facing a formidable enemy?

I felt a shiver run down my neck.

However, that mental shock didn’t compare to the embarrassing sight of the Sister wearing a tightly fitted novice priest cloak that revealed every curve of her body and her mismatched twin-tail hairstyle.

She looked like she had secretly worn an old school uniform that no longer fit an adult.

It was just like Apis, except for the color.

What kind of trend is that?

”Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

Apis, perched on my stomach, spoke with a tone of disbelief.

The Sister flinched momentarily at such blatant hostility.

However, as if gathering her resolve, she took a deep breath and approached me with regal steps like a royal I had seen once, sitting down modestly next to me.

Swish.

Then, the Sister grabbed my left arm, which was sprawled on the floor, and pulled it toward her.

”Hah, ahh!”

Like a doll on a thread, my left hand was suddenly drawn to the center of the Sister’s bosom. It landed precisely on that splendid peak.

◈◈◈

I had only vaguely sensed that touch with my dull fingertips before.

Such softness exceeds even the most expensive wool blankets. It felt like bathing in water held inside a water balloon.

The captivating scent, which surely couldn’t be completely replicated by artificial substances like soap or aroma, enveloped me.

The direct and indirect information conveyed from my left arm was all seductive and addictive.

I couldn’t help but think I wanted to stay like this forever.

If I had to score that feeling, I’d fill the answer sheet with a giant circle—it was that perfect.

I had thought it would be amazing to touch, but I never imagined it would be to this extent.

The ecstasy bursting from my thoughts filled my heart like midnight fireworks.

Unbelievable.

My crude sincerity, which I could never voice because of my station, was exactly that.

However, regrettably, I had no emotional strength left to indulge in that ecstasy.

”Hey! What’s wrong with you! Let go of that hand right now!?”

”Ugh, ugh!”

I felt like I was a rope between an elephant and an ant tugging.

Suddenly, the Sister clung to me screaming.

Then, as if to detach her, Apis grabbed my right leg and started swinging me around carelessly like I was a piece of chain.

”Wait a moment! Apis─!”

Thanks to that, I had the rare experience of physically measuring the limit of gravitational acceleration a human could endure.

In my energetic teenage years, I had often imagined a dream scenario where beautiful women fought over me, and I even prepped by watching various media.

But I never expected the reality to be this intense.

Forgetting about mediating between the two, I could barely swallow down the nauseating thoughts that occasionally spilled from my mouth.

”Ugh···.”

”Ugh! I-I’m sorry!”

It was only when I curled up on the floor, covering my mouth, that Apis’s human fidget spinner performance concluded.

Still, the fierce determination of the Sister, who clung to me with all her might, showed no signs of extinguishing.

Her delicate hands trembled nervously.

No matter how much Apis had adjusted her strength, facing someone who had surpassed even superheroes and neared the realm of monsters would have been utterly tough for a Sister who had lived in peaceful days far removed from training.

I had thought about this before, but Sister, you have surprisingly strong strength.

Do you secretly exercise?

”For the sake of the Priest… I cannot hand over Priest Regis…!”

”Hah···!”

The sweating Sister panted heavily, igniting her determined spirit.

Apis answered with a scoff, but it was clear her twisted smile was filled with strong anger.

In that moment, I wondered if I should launch a typical shoujo manga line like, ‘Don’t fight over me!’ but I was certain that neither of these women truly desired my heart.

”Get away! The Hero can’t do without this guy!”

”Priest Regis is indispensable to the Saint!”

I decided to maintain silence.

If I had to find a silver lining in this misfortune, I could vaguely grasp how things were going from the fierce tussle between the two.

Apis had come to entice me on behalf of the Hero.

The Sister was trying to block Apis for the sake of the Saint.

It was a reasonable guess, but I was sure of it.

Suddenly!

At that moment.

The Sister fiercely pulled my left arm toward her again, burying it in that delightful peak. No, peak of flesh.

”Priest! If you promise to take on the Saint’s duties from now on! I swear before God that I will dedicate all that I have—my wealth! My body! Everything I can offer to you!”

”···What?”

”What!”

Anything. Anything at all.

The Sister’s shocking declaration was enough to rattle my consciousness.

It happened in an instant.

Following her voice, my gaze crossed her ample bosom, slender waist, and thick thighs without even a moment’s delay, disregarding the self-control cultivated through priestly training.

The state of my mind was so filled with indecent thoughts that it could easily be called an explosion of imagination.

”Hey! You crazy bastard! What’re you thinking about! You didn’t hesitate when I said you could touch my chest earlier! You even changed into the kind of clothes that humans find most appealing!”

If Apis hadn’t sternly urged my consciousness, I would still be floundering in that embarrassing thought.

”I-I’m not pondering at all…”

”Shut up! Close your eyes! Rest your chin on your hand! If left alone, you’d be stuck thinking until you grow old!”

When I casually glanced in the mirror, just as Apis said, I was unconsciously mimicking a solemn pose similar to a famous statue. ‘Rodin’s Thinker.’

It was dangerous.

If I had made a slight wrong move, I could have fallen headfirst into the temptations of my instincts with this ordained body.

After living together and witnessing all kinds of sights, the romantic attraction towards Apis was all burned away, but the Sister, ignoring her rather introverted nature, was still an undeniably attractive woman.

My self-control, honed to its limits by the Saint, suddenly faltered.

Or perhaps it was because of my focus on her bosom.

”Sister, please calm down. Besides, we have sworn purity before God. How can you speak such lewd expressions in front of the meeting room, which is like God’s court? That’s not like you, Sister.”

”Uh, uh…”

”Yeah! That’s right! If there’s something you want to do, I’ll do it all! Don’t listen to that girl and come over here quickly!”

”N-No! Priest! Ah! Then! As long as it’s within the limits of not losing my purity!”

Apis and the Sister were pulling me from both sides.

Luckily, unlike before, Apis was only pretending to drag me.

If Apis had expressed her true intentions, my paper-like body would have been tossed around this room again.

Considering the intensity of her force, it seemed Apis intended to offer me a choice.

Her methods might be rough, and her tone slightly coercive, but she was actually a kind-hearted person.

Unlike the Sister, who was desperately pulling my arm with all her strength.

Apis simply embraced my arm gently while gazing into my eyes, effectively holding me in place.

”So, what will you do? Will you come? Or will you refuse? Which is it? Her or me?”

That question compelled me to make a choice.

To face the Hero or confront reality with the Saint.

Or to choose neither.

”Apis… As I said yesterday, I can no longer…”

”Are you running away again?”

”···!”

”Running away isn’t the problem. I’m also someone who ran away from my hometown. But as a senior, let me offer this advice: run away, but don’t turn your back. You’ll surely regret it later on.”

The calm tone, contrasting with her usual rough atmosphere, felt even heavier.

”Priest Regis…?”

Did I unknowingly show a striking reaction to that piercing statement, which felt like my heart had been stabbed?

The Sister, who had been pleading desperately while pulling my arm, also began to watch my complexion with a worried look.

”I, I am…”

Just then.

I felt disillusioned with my own fuzzy mind, unable to organize my thoughts or easily stitch together any words.

”Excuse me. Sister. I have something urgent to discuss.”

BANG. The door swung open, and Priest Ranobel, holding a bundle of documents, entered the room without knocking.

”I apologize for barging in since this morning. However, it’s almost time for morning worship, and I can’t find Priest Regis…”

The disarrayed room was filled with his chaotic gaze. The School uniform-clad Apis and the Sister, who was drenched in sweat and panting heavily in her novice priest attire.

Then, he turned toward me, who was being tugged at by the two of them.

How much time had passed?

It felt as if time had stopped.

Glancing my way for a while without blinking, Priest Ranobel suddenly realized something and gave me a gentle smile.

”Looks like I’ve interrupted. Ha ha, my apologies. I’ll take care of the Saint’s morning preparations ahead, so you can take your time. Well then, may God smile upon you.”

Right after that, the door closed, and the cheerful footsteps of Priest Ranobel, along with a fresh wink, faded away, aligning with the ticking clock, growing distant.

*