Chapter 126

〈 Chapter 127 〉 Chapter 126 – This Can’t Be Helped

*

Currently, in an old warehouse, a diverse combination of species was present: 6 furries, 1 catgirl, 2 humans, and 1 elf.

And right in the center, there were a brand-new desk and two chairs, completely incongruous with the old warehouse.

I sat with Caressy in our respective seats, while the others stood behind us to show their alliance.

It was a standoff, with everyone glaring at each other menacingly.

In this tense situation, Caressy spoke up.

“I’ll use this for the interrogation!”

As she said this, the Leader Holy Knight stepped forward and handed me a golden bracelet adorned with multiple white crosses.

While I examined the bracelet, Caressy crossed her arms and proudly declared, “That’s a relic from our Beastman Kingdom! They call it the Bracelet of Truth!”

Her explanation was straightforward.

The bracelet forces the wearer to speak only the truth.

If the statement is true, the white crosses etched on the bracelet turn gold, but if the statement is a lie, a sword of light pierces the wearer’s neck.

“With this, I can get the truth out of you!”

“Is this thing even working?”

To check the bracelet’s functionality, I first slipped it onto Hyeji.

Then I asked a question that only Hyeji could answer without any loopholes.

“Hyeji, what’s your bra size?”

“Fuck you!!!!”

[Are you crazy? Don’t you value your life?]

Hyeji’s anger suddenly flared up.

She turned her gaze away and quietly said, “It’s AAA…”

Chaeng!

Suddenly, a sword of light appeared, threateningly aimed at Hyeji’s neck.

Glaring at the sword, Hyeji muttered despairingly, “…..I meant zero size.”

Ding!

With a cheerful sound effect, one of the small white crosses on the bracelet turned gold.

At that moment, one of the holy knights pointed at Hyeji and laughed.

“Ha ha ha ha!!! To think you’re smaller than our Saintess! What a pathetic little—”

Thunk!

Before he could finish his insult, Hyeji conjured a scrap metal rod and launched it using propulsion.

It was like watching a miniature version of the Divine Staff, a mass weapon.

The hit armor crumpled badly, and the holy knight crashed into the wall, knocking himself out.

With a cold stare, Hyeji addressed the remaining holy knights.

“Should I kill you, or will you take care of this?”

“”””We’ll take care of it!””””

The holy knights hurriedly dragged the unconscious knight outside.

Meanwhile, Hyeji turned to me with a fierce look.

“Kim Shinwoo, you piece of shit. We’ll talk later.”

I quickly collected the bracelet from Hyeji without making eye contact and put it on Elcia.

As Elcia, now completely flustered, was about to take off the bracelet, I quickly asked her a question.

“Elcia, how old are you really?”

“…….”

Elcia just smiled without saying a word.

Then, without changing her expression, she boldly said, “89…”

Chaeng!

Another sword of light manifested, targeting Elcia’s neck.

However, Elcia’s reaction was a bit different from Hyeji’s.

“Oh my! I think the bracelet is broken!”

“Stop, stop!!!”

Crack!!!

Elcia conjured white thorn vines that grabbed and began to crush both the sword and the bracelet.

Despite Caressy’s cries, the bracelet shattered into pieces because of Elcia’s powers, and the sword of light vanished the moment the bracelet broke.

Caressy and Hyeji watched in disbelief.

“I was just borrowing it… this is bad…”

“Fuck, I wish I had done that too…”

Then one of the holy knights stammered in a trembling voice.

“I just realized! That elf! I felt like I recognized her scent from somewhere!”

“What do you mean?”

Caressy raised an eyebrow in confusion.

The knight, shaking uncontrollably, continued to speak.

“It reminds me of the distant ancestor who passed away a long time ago—”

“Shh! It’s time to sleep!”

Elcia snapped her fingers and twisted the neck of the stammering knight, knocking him out cold.

The remaining knights, now without response, silently dragged the knight outside.

The Leader Holy Knight cleared his throat and handed another bracelet to Caressy.

Caressy passed the bracelet to me and said, “Put it on!”

“Hey, but I can’t be the only one wearing this.”

Instead of putting it on, I twirled it on my finger.

“You better wear it too. If you’re scared, just die.”

“Where the hell do you think you’re selling drugs from!!!!”

“How can the holy Saintess have such a long tongue? Are you scared?”

Caressy laughed heartily as she put the bracelet on her wrist.

“Scared? Nya ha ha ha ha! I’ll bet all my money and my hands on this!”

“……What’s with the money thing?”

“……I got a bit too into character.”

Caressy awkwardly scratched her head at that.

Before I put the bracelet on, I asked her one last question.

“Hey, but are your holy knights okay with not getting involved? Is everything fine to be said in front of them?”

“Ah… right. You should all leave.”

However, since Caressy’s words were too shocking, the holy knights hesitated and didn’t move.

Seeing this, the Leader Holy Knight solemnly instructed the remaining three knights.

“It’s the Saintess’s order. Everyone, please exit.”

“””Yes!”””

So in the warehouse, only our group and Caressy remained.

“They don’t need to hear this, right?”

“I told you everything.”

“Hmm… understood! But don’t anyone butt in! I’ll ask the first question!”

Caressy cleared her throat a couple of times, and the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

With a calm fury, Caressy looked at me and said, “Did you kill them all by your own will?”

“No.”

I calmly met her violet eyes still filled with rage.

“That was definitely me, but I didn’t do it willingly.”

Ding!

The white cross on the bracelet I wore turned gold.

Now it was my turn to ask.

“Tell me how you got to that result, the whole truth.”

“Honestly, I don’t remember well…”

Caressy scratched her head as she spoke.

“I only remember the last time, and I have no recollection of the middle part at all.”

Ding!

“Fuck, it’s true?”

“If I had remembered, I would’ve taken you down right after I got here.”

Caressy’s bracelet glowed again as one white cross turned gold.

Now it was her turn to preguntas me again.

Caressy glanced at my group standing behind me and whispered, “Can you… regress like me?”

And she continued to monitor my companions behind me cautiously.

Looking directly at Caressy, I replied, “No, I can’t regress.”

“Don’t lie!!!!!!!”

Caressy flared up, her ears and tail bristling in irritation.

But undeterred, I continued speaking.

“I swear on my mom.”

Ding!

“Why is it really true!!!!!!!!!!”

As the white cross on my bracelet turned gold again, Caressy started pulling her hair out in frustration.

I asked once more.

“Are you a fake beastman? It’s obvious you’re just cosplaying cat ears and a tail.”

“No! I’m a half-blood between a human and a beastman!!!”

Ding!

“Shit, it’s 50-50 then.”

“Well, it’s my turn again.”

Caressy took a deep breath and remained tense as she asked.

“Then how do you know about that final moment?”

“I can glimpse at others’ regressions in limited situations.”

Ding!

“……It was true.”

“Don’t you have any more questions?”

“……No, that’s it.”

Caressy looked incredibly deflated, as if she could collapse on the spot.

But I still had one last opportunity to ask.

This was the ultimate question.

“Are you really the TS Saintess?”

“No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

But nothing changed with Caressy’s bracelet.

There was no sign of a sword of light either.

It simply remained inactive.

“Hey, it’s not moving?”

“…….This is strange.”

I cautiously moved my chair back to create some distance.

“Stay away, you cocky bastard.”

“I’ve NEVER worn such a monstrosity in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Despite Caressy’s desperate cries, the bracelet still wouldn’t react.

Caressy began looking at the ceiling with her arms outstretched, almost praying.

“Oh Lord!!!!!!! These bastards don’t believe me!!!! Please, make the bracelet move!!!!!!!”

Even with Caressy’s desperate plea, there was no response from the bracelet.

However, at that moment,

Dilliriririririririririing!!!!

Suddenly, Caressy’s bracelet activated, instantly turning numerous white crosses gold.

It looked as though many clicks had happened simultaneously in a high-Ping area.

[It seems to have lagged for a bit.］

‘Is this a Samsung product? I guess it was because of GOS being activated.’

It seemed Caressy’s desperate cry had touched a divine chord, and finally, her bracelet worked.

I watched and said to Caressy, “Oh, so you really are a girl. I admit it.”

“I’ve always been a girl, you piece of shit!!!!”

That concluded our interrogation.

*

The next day.

Caressy approached us sitting in our assigned seats.

And behind her, there were three holy knights and the Leader Holy Knight glaring at me with fierce eyes.

Naturally, I didn’t appreciate their stares and asked, with a sulky expression.

“What?”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about the unknown.”

“But why are you here? Did you come to pick a fight?”

“Instead…”

Then Caressy put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and declared, “I’ll keep a close watch on what you’re up to!”

“Do as you please. Just make your way quickly.”

Then Caressy suddenly reached out her hand to me.

“What’s this?”

“I was rude yesterday. Let’s make up.”

“Oh really?”

Since I had planned to give her a peace offering, I handed it to Caressy.

However, upon seeing my peace offering, her face stiffened.

“Fuck, is this a cigarette?”

“They say the King of Cats loves that.”

“What kind of bullshit is that!!! I’m a priest!!!”

[For fuck’s sake, just go find the King of Dogs!］

‘The King of Dogs would probably be against it right away. He’s not an investment like Brother Huey.’

As the cigarette dangled in my hand, my party suddenly lit up with fierce eyes, questioning me.

“Hey, Kim Shinwoo. Do you smoke?”

“Husband! Please don’t tell me you smoke that stuff!”

“Master, smoking is bad for your health.”

“No, I don’t smoke. Stop assuming I do.”

[You should keep it moderate.］

‘Fuck you.’

At that moment, one of the holy knights suddenly flinched upon seeing the cigarette.

I retrieved the unwrapped cigarette from Caressy and approached the flinching knight.

The knight, seeing me approach, spoke with a nervous voice.

“What do you want!”

“Do you need it?”

“N-No thanks!”

You, however.

Your hands are trembling.

I casually handed the cigarette to him.

“It’s nothing special, just a small gesture. Take it with you.”

Cough cough! “In that case, ummm… I guess it can’t be helped! From now on, you can call me uncle!”

“Yes, uncle! Next time, I’ll bring a fortified cigarette!”

“Hmm! If that ever happens, I’ll demand you call me big brother, so be careful!”

As I watched this unfold, Caressy’s expression soured steadily.

“That bastard’s divine power weakened sometime, and now we see the reason!”

“Saintess!”

“What are you all doing? Quickly take that bastard away.”

“””Yes!”””

However, just as they were about to drag the knight out of the classroom, the knight broke free from the other two with immense strength and rushed towards Caressy.

On one knee before the glaring Caressy, he spoke resolutely.

“Saintess!”

“What is it?”

“……Just let me take one puff.”

“Die.”

Kaang!!!

A big yellow cat paw manifested in Caressy’s hand and smacked the knight away.

He made a sound like a can being hit and vanished through the open classroom door without leaving a single cry.

Noticing the way Caressy implemented her magical power, Piece chimed in.

[So that’s how you overlay your body.］

‘Is that a Neko-Chan move?’

[……If we had to argue, Bayonetta originated that.］

Seeing this, I said to Caressy, “You know, your holy knights seem all trashy, don’t they?”

“I’ll probably dismiss them all,… and you three, get out too.”

“””Yes!”””

With Caressy mumbling in a gloomy voice, the remaining two holy knights also disappeared from the classroom.

Now only Caressy and the Leader Holy Knight remained in the classroom.

Caressy dissipated the cat paw she had summoned and reached out her hand once more.

“Sorry about yesterday. How about we make amends and become friends?”

“Well, that can be overlooked, but did you just offer friendship casually?”

“What’s the issue?”

When Caressy tilted her head, I rubbed my thumb and index finger together and said, “Money. It’s about money.”

“Why would we need money to be friends!”

“In order to be friends, you pay a friendship fee. That’s common sense.”

No sooner had my words left my mouth, Hyeji and Elcia handed me white envelopes.

“Shinwoo, here’s your friendship fee for this month.”

“Husband! I’ll pay two months’ friendship fee in advance!”

“Jeong Ahyeon, you need to give yours too.”

Jeong Ahyeon looked at me in disbelief.

“Why does the noble lady have to pay the scholar friendship fee!”

“Jeong Ahyeon, thank you for your hard work. Back to the original classroom now, yes?”

“Here.”

As soon as I addressed her courteously, Jeong Ahyeon swiftly handed me cash.

But it was just a bit short.

“This is enough for the 15th. Bring me another bundle like this.”

“You bastard.”

In that instant, Jeong Ahyeon’s facade crumbled.

As she stood shocked, Caressy turned her gaze to the Leader Holy Knight and said, “Bring it over.”

“It’s here.”

The Leader Holy Knight pulled out a large bag hidden under his cloak and handed it to me.

Caressy grinned and said, “Open it.”

As I unzipped the bag, it was filled with bundles of cash.

The fragrant scent of money wafted from it, almost overwhelming my senses.

My eyes and nose were captivated in an instant.

[W-What kind of money is this much?］

‘Is this the kind of money that makes you suspicious?’

When I stared at Caressy in surprise, she extended her hand towards me once more.

“Is this enough for a friendship fee?”

“Hey… with this, it’s…”

The surreal amount snapped my common sense back to me, and I began thinking coolly again.

I gazed at Caressy with lowered eyes.

Buying friends with money…

Though part of it had been a joke earlier, I hadn’t expected her to take it so seriously.

Feeling somewhat disappointed by this shallow side of the Saintess, I almost pulled back.

Maybe that’s why, I grasped Caressy’s outstretched hand firmly.

“From today, we’re best buddies!!!!!!!!”

“Nya ha ha ha! Call me Caressy!”

We shook hands vigorously up and down.

There was just too much money at stake to turn it down.

*