EP.162 The Lost Lamb (10)
Meanwhile, at that moment, Beltein, who was left behind with the Saintess, found herself facing an unexpected calamity.
Huff huff.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down her cheek.
In her frantic, dilated pupils that repeatedly oscillated between relaxation and contraction, there was no trace of her usual cold demeanor.
“Th-this can’t be…”
Even the unintended words that slipped out were tinged with horror, making it unnecessary to explain how deeply troubled Beltein was.
The source of such emotional turmoil was clear.
Beltein, who usually cooledly and rationally assessed everything that came her way, had only ever lost herself like this concerning her younger sister. The Saintess.
However, despite Beltein’s chaotic demeanor, the severity of the situation she was facing could not be deemed that grave from an objective standpoint.
“Our Welna… Why is she so pretty…?”
To someone, it might sound like a silly joke, but to Beltein herself, it was an untainted truth.
“Unnie. I don’t want to change clothes anymore. I’m done.”
“W-wait, Welna! Just a little more! Just a few more! One or two more! Mmm~! No! Five more! Can’t you try on just ten more outfits!?”
Beltein’s attitude instantly became desperate in response to the Saintess’s disdainful words.
If she were to keep this up, she’d soon be pounding her head against the floor.
But the Saintess, facing her earnest plea, merely pouted, subtly indicating her discomfort, showing no concern for Beltein’s plight.
It was understandable, considering that since Regis went out to greet the Hero, Beltein had been continuously changing her clothes.
Although this activity was supposed to find suitable casual wear for the usually simple-dressed Saintess, Beltein’s sticky gaze held dark intentions as she engraved the Saintess’s unusual appearance in her eyes.
Of course, Beltein didn’t originally intend to change the Saintess’s clothes for impure reasons.
It was a tactic to maintain closeness between the Saintess and Regis, especially after the recently blossomed relationship between the Hero and Regis, which raised fears of growing distant.
Men often become smitten just by a slight change in the appearance of a nearby woman.
Even Beltein, who had zero male experiences from her pious life as a nun, knew this few nuggets of relationship knowledge enough for it to sink in her bones.
Beltein still vividly remembered.
Every time the priest’s cloak was adjusted due to personal reasons, she could see the gazes of surrounding men, who seemed to lick their lips over her curvy body.
Being classified as an attractive woman by societal standards, if she stirred such reactions, her younger sister, hailed the most beautiful being in the world, would undoubtedly have an impact comparable to a meteor.
Every time she saw her sister in any outfit or hairstyle flaunting her cuteness, Beltein’s thoughts became more confident.
Beltein’s enthralling gaze focused back ahead.
The plain white shirt, adorned with a frill that fell from the neck to the navel, exuded a mature allure.
The black skirt accentuating her thighs made that fair hue even more striking, as it seemed to greedily absorb surrounding gazes like a tornado.
And with her gracious neck displayed by a ponytail, it was indeed the finishing touch.
As someone of the same gender and blood relation, if her heart raced this much, then the socially awkward Regis, seeing the current Saintess, would likely have his logic evaporate instantly.
Beltein concluded.
“Saintess, you’re too beautiful. Please marry me and live with me forever.”
“Sure. Oppa.”
With a panorama of a beautiful future spreading in her mind, Beltein’s sky-blue eyes sparkled brightly.
She sadly remained unaware that her extraordinary IQ significantly diminished when it came to matters related to her younger sister.
“Welna! For a week starting today, I promise I won’t make you eat bell peppers if you can just stay like this for today, okay?”
“Ughh…”
The Saintess frowned in displeasure at Beltein’s unexpected request.
It was only natural.
She didn’t understand why she had to wear this stuffy and uncomfortable outfit instead of her usual casual dress.
However, Beltein, anticipating this kind of resistance, immediately brought out her next weapon.
“Mmm~ If you go like this, Oppa might say you look pretty~?”
“!”
As Beltein spoke with exaggerated gestures, the Saintess’s once dull eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Really!? If I go like this, Oppa will say I’m pretty!?”
“Of course~ Who knows, he might even take you for a pony ride and suggest going out together~”
“Pony ride! Outing!”
The Saintess clenched her fists tightly, hopping on the spot.
Her fervent movements vividly showcased just how much anticipation she was holding.
Although the Saintess had recently begun to express her desires to some extent due to Regis allowing a level of physical contact during healing, public displays were still off-limits for her.
It was no surprise.
No matter how much the inhibit necklace was in place, carelessly exposing the Saintess in public would be far too risky.
Thus, her child’s inherent desire to show off her own was building up daily, remaining unfulfilled.
Beltein’s crafty scheme hit the perfect spot in the Saintess’s heart.
“So, Welna. Can you dress up prettily today and wait for Oppa?”
“Sure! I want to hear Oppa say I’m pretty! I want to ride a pony! I want to go out together!”
“Ugh!”
Confronted with the Saintess’s bright smile, Beltein suddenly clutched her chest and let out a moan of pain.
What a blunder.
How could she face that angelic smile without any prior preparation?
Beltein thought her life expectancy might have dropped by ten years at least, but soon reassured herself that paying such a price for witnessing that sacred smile was a mere bargain.
“U-unnie, are you okay? Are you hurt? Should Welna soothe you?”
“Ughhh!!!”
The Saintess gently stroked Beltein’s back as she knelt on the floor, sending Beltein’s heart racing even more intensely.
What is this? What the hell is this?
This being, so extraordinarily beautiful yet unbelievably kind.
Beltein never imagined that accepting Regis’s invitation to join the Hero Party would lead to such supreme happiness.
If her heart were to stop right now, she’d die with a smile.
At that moment, Beltein genuinely believed that.
Suddenly.
It felt like an ice shard had dropped on her back, an inexplicable chill creeping in.
Beltein instinctively sensed the ominous premonition rising from somewhere and casually muttered.
“W-welna…?”
As Beltein slowly lifted her head, she saw the Saintess glaring wide-eyed outside the window.
BANG!
Bigtim burst into the room unexpectedly after kicking the door open.
“B-Bigtim!?”
“…!”
A rarely flustered Bigtim quickly scribbled something on a memo pad he always carried, then showed it to Beltein.
– It seems something happened to Uncle. Please stay here and don’t move while I go check.
His handwriting always looks so pretty.
That fleeting admiration barely surfaced in Beltein’s thoughts.
“Huh? Something happened to Regis!?”
CRACK! CRUNCH!
The atmosphere trembled as if frightened. Surrounding furniture began to crumble like snacks soaked in water.
All these signs sounded alarms of crisis to Beltein.
“Wait! Wel… n…”
THUD.
Beltein fell unconscious before she could even finish her words, followed by Bigtim, who collapsed right after her.
Red eyes lit up ominously in the shadows, already lining up with the targets beyond the horizon.
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