Chapter 167

EP.167 On a Stormy Night (2)

Like a camera lens finding the right focus, the blue pupil that had been ceaselessly dilating and contracting suddenly froze.

Zzzip. Hah.

A heavy sigh escaped from my dry lips.

The bizarre atmosphere created by that drawn-out breath slowly but surely thickened the eerie silence in this cramped space.

“You’re the Priest.”

Hik!

The voice of the Hero, soaked in firm faith and passionate joy, was suddenly interrupted by an unattractive hiccup.

Even though I hadn’t even explained the whole situation, the Hero seemed convinced that I was Regis Lowville, despite my current form that resembled nothing like it.

I felt a flicker of gratitude for being recognized, but vague dread outweighed it significantly.

It seemed proven that no matter how I awkwardly altered my appearance, I couldn’t escape the Hero’s grasp.

“Priest…”

Why bother.

That clearly echoed in the hearts of everyone present, not just mine.

As I watched the Hero approach me, swaying like a ghost with the outer garment I wore casually hung on the coat rack, an inexplicable chill crept up my spine, making my body tremble uncontrollably.

To be honest, the Hero now felt several dozen times scarier than the Saintess from a moment ago.

At least I wasn’t sensing an uncanny sense of danger that felt like the Saintess was about to devour me at any moment.

“Wait a sec! Hero! What the hell is this…”

Thud.

Dawna, who had risen in protest at the Hero’s disjointed antics, immediately collapsed onto the floor like a useless detective hit by a tranquilizer.

“He, he fainted…”

With barely any precursor, the capital city fainted after just one blow.

The Sister, who witnessed this astonishing divine power up close, gasped, her mouth agape.

But I, Bigtim, and Apis were just as stunned despite not saying or doing anything too outstanding; we were all grappling with the same feelings as the Sister.

“Bigtim. I’ll give you some pocket money. How about playing outside for a bit? Of course, take Apis and the Sister with you.”

Right after hearing that chilling announcement, my hand instinctively grabbed the hem of Bigtim’s pants urgently.

It was a gut feeling.

If I were to be left alone with the Hero in this state, something irreversible would soon occur.

Bigtim seemed to be having similar thoughts, as the tremors I felt through the grip on his clothing reminded me of someone thrown out into the dead of winter.

Bigtim, I completely understand your feelings, but please hang in there just this once.

And for the love of all things, please don’t abandon me.

I shot him a pleading look filled with earnest wishes, but Bigtim, fixated on the living disaster before him, couldn’t receive my desperate signal.

“Hey, Hero. You’re losing it. Calm down…”

“I’m calm! I’m calm, I say. Hah… I always thought the idea that Santa would give presents to good little boys was just a childish rumor to protect the innocent hearts of children. But it’s all real! All of it! My wish, the one I dreamt about in my sleep, is coming true so fast! I can hardly contain my emotions! This is the miracle of the Saintess that I’ve only heard about!”

Apis tried to engage in conversation, but after seeing the Hero fervently recite fervent prayers like a fanatic with his eyes shut tight and arms outstretched, she seemed to give up.

Whisper.

“Hey, what are we going to do about this…?”

A troubled expression clearly showed on Apis’s face as she signaled to me.

“No, why do you keep directing questions at me…?”

I replied with a similar gesture.

Even if I might be the only one capable of controlling the unpredictable Hero, wasn’t it a bit unfair to delegate all such bizarre situations to me? I felt like complaining a little.

“Uh, Hero. I hope this doesn’t come off as rude, but as you can see, the Regis Priest here has inexplicably turned into a child, so handling him requires more delicate touch than managing flowers…”

Zap.

“Hiiik!”

The Sister, unable to bear it any longer, tried to shield me, but even her minimum attempt fell short after just locking eyes with the Hero.

Honestly, I’d say he let her hang in there for about a second too long.

The might he exuded was enough to make a Cocoon tremble.

Compared to my companions, who were beings far beyond human realms, the Sister standing here, fragile as a reed, deserved applause just for being here.

“Just once! Can you please tone it down just once, Hero!”

In that moment, no one expected the Sister’s sudden outburst to leave my mouth agape.

“Hah…”

It seemed Apis felt the same as I did, blinking rapidly as if she had seen a ghost.

“Hero… I do understand the intense emotions you feel toward the Regis Priest, but right now, the Priest’s body isn’t sturdy enough to withstand your affection!”

“……!”

For the first time, the Hero halted in response to the Sister’s enthusiastic plea.

A glimmer of reason began to creep back into the Hero’s utterly consumed irises at that very moment.

“Think about it! If your immense strength accidentally touched the now fragile Regis Priest’s body, which is weaker than a newborn deer…!”

“……!?*”

Despite trembling like a leaf under the Hero’s pressure, the Sister’s persistent arguments only made me admire her resolve.

Come to think of it, charming people had always been her forte.

Having been surrounded by beings far beyond human, I had temporarily forgotten that.

“That’s an excessive worry! No matter how I think about it, I’ve got enough discernment to avoid such a mistake! It’s simply a matter of wondering how it would taste to have those tender cheeks in my mouth! Or how thrilling it would be to bury my nose in that cherry-like butt while it’s perched on my thighs! Those reckless thoughts didn’t cross my mind even once!”

Hearing those depraved words pour out of the Hero like a flowing stream left me instinctively straightening my clothes.

To me, those thoughts seemed plenty dangerous and disrespectful.

I was terrified that even those thoughts were somehow a result of his immense self-restraint.

“In conclusion, the Sister’s words from earlier were merely unfounded fears!”

“Wait a moment!”

The Hero, showing rare signs of irritation, emitted a pressure even more overwhelming while pushing the Sister away with a flick of his finger.

Crack! Crack!

The sound of nearby furniture splintering under the pressure echoed in the air.

It was astonishing that he managed to control his strength to not harm the Sister amidst all that emotional turmoil, but now was not the time for such calm thoughts.

The ominous glint in the Hero’s eyes was inching closer to me, his hands hovering near his face, sometimes curling into fists, slowly approaching me.

“Hik!”

Was this shrinking me?

My body trembled anew as if in fear of the vast form before me, and with every twitch, the dread in the Hero’s eyes intensified.

“……”

Out of the blue, the Saintess, who had been remarkably silent till now, opened her eyes wide and attempted to stand.

That news felt like a thunderbolt, plunging my already bewildered consciousness down an endless abyss.

Panicking.

With my body in this condition, any physical solutions were off the table.

And should I carelessly open my mouth, the mumbled sounds would only lead to counterproductivity for me.

While grappling with such a heavy despair, that was when it happened.

“Hey, Hero. Do you really think you can keep your head straight while closely observing that thing over there?”

Apis’s sharp remark pierced through the tense atmosphere frozen at its limits.

“Of course, I…”

Immediately after, the Hero’s expression shifted from determination to one of resignation as he shifted his gaze between my terrified face and Apis’s for several long moments.

“I… can’t… handle this…”

Just how much disillusionment was he drowning in that he had to sink to the floor, kneeling, reflecting his despair?

A mix of relief and sympathy stirred within me, creating a faint ache in my chest.

“You…”

For a brief moment, I’d been too stunned to scold the Saintess for pointing her finger at the Hero and making such rude comments right then.

I knew exactly why, but I just wanted to ignore it.