I Became a Fake Priest the Saintess Is Obsessed With

30 – Only after the flower withers can one smell its fragrance (3)

After enduring blood for a dozen years, Lenne eventually regained the ability to live a human life.

During that time, he and Elisa confirmed each other’s feelings and got married.

They were happier than any other couple, and when they had a child, they shed tears of joy.

Their home was peaceful, and as no more tourists went missing, the territory prospered.

They were truly happy.

To the point of feeling sorry for enjoying the inheritance of the monster’s blood, they were so, so happy.

The happiness was so fleeting that it bordered on arrogant to hope for its eternity.

“Elisa…!”

The end of their joyful time arrived suddenly.

Elisa, who had been caring for the children, suddenly collapsed.

Renet tried every method to treat her.

And failed.

When the renowned healer was brought, he shook his head and, despite numerous pleas, the high-ranking clergyman who had been brought to see Elisa’s condition clicked his tongue.

“The enchantment has progressed too far. I fear there’s little I can do about this.”

Renet asked him what the enchantment was, but he swallowed a groan and left without a word.

Renet believed that the ‘enchantment’ the clergyman mentioned might be the root cause of his wife’s condition and searched for information about it.

Information about it was sparsely mentioned in books on magic and historical texts.

It was hard to grasp the essence from the vague references in numerous books, but as Renet compiled and organized the gathered information, it started to make sense.

Finally, when he had gathered all the information about the enchantment, Renet realized that there was no way to save his wife.

If magic was the manifestation of the will of many through mana, enchantment was the opposite—a force of unknown origin applied to an individual.

“How… How could this… happen to you…”

Holding Elisa’s slowly crumbling hand, Renet shed tears like pearls.

Since the manifestation of enchantment was akin to an uncontrollable natural disaster, it was an issue beyond resolution.

However, he couldn’t give up.

He hadn’t properly thanked her for turning him back into a human yet.

“I haven’t even properly said… thank you to you…”

René, prepared to become a monster once again if it meant saving Elisa.

He was willing to sacrifice countless things, even if it meant never being human again.

Reviving Elisa and conveying a simple word of gratitude was all that mattered, no matter the cost.

Thus, he began researching the forbidden knowledge of soul and fusion black magic.

Knowing it was wrong and irrevocable.

***

Red.

The surroundings were saturated in red, blinding the eyes.

Sound and vision blocked, unable to distinguish anything.

“Ugh…”

Gradually, sounds seep in.

But what is heard is only my own moaning.

The mansion turned into chaos due to a sudden explosion.

I stepped on the fallen floor and rose.

Vision returns one after another.

Slowly able to discern things in front of me.

Something hung on my ankle, confirming it.

There lay Lecia and the Crown Prince.

Not only them, but everyone who had fused was back to their original forms before fusion.

“What… What happened, my lady…?”

Clutching my head due to the intensifying headache, I desperately called out to the goddess who had been observing this situation.

[Goddess explains that using the blood magic prepared by Lenne, she triggered the explosion.]

“Is that so… Then why did both of you collapse, and I’m perfectly fine…”

[Goddess says that before the explosion, they shielded you.]

“Doings of no use… But, does it make sense that not a scratch is on my body despite that…”

[Goddess says she treated your leg, healed you with the remaining PP, and temporarily immunized you against the pain to mitigate the aftereffects of treatment.]

“Wow… What should I do with this gratitude…”

A sense of popularity is felt from the second floor.

Abandoning the futile conversation with the goddess, I supported my staggering body and headed to the second floor.

A hurdle awaited on the second floor – a viscount.

He was gazing at the moon through the gap in the broken ceiling.

Yearning and sadness were reflected in the viscount’s eyes illuminated by the moonlight.

“What are you staring at like that, Viscount?”

“I was reminiscing for a moment while looking at the moon. On that day, this time, always when I became a monster, there was a full moon… I have the same thought while saying it.”

The viscount seemed unfazed by my words, as if his concentration had not been broken.

“By the way, it’s impressive, Priest. I never imagined you could treat a fusion being.”

“I don’t feel particularly grateful for your praise, considering you played with your plans…”

“You noticed that already. Truly impressive.”

The viscount had turned people gathered at the party into fusion beings to deal with those immune to fusion.

Even after researching blood magic for years, did the viscount truly not know that it wouldn’t work on someone with a high level of holiness?

He enchanted a trap that would trigger a massive explosion when the amalgam was killed or suffered any harm, aimed at dealing with the powerful beings.

“But you gathered those present here as sacrifices to revive your wife, did you not? Why such…”

“It wasn’t necessary, actually. The original purpose of the party was as I initially stated.”

The Count walked towards me, carrying an air of deception.

“The Crown Prince was initially planning to kill using the Ignition Stone and distort all the magic for his own purposes.”

Finally, he stopped in front of me.

“But upon realizing the existence of ‘distorted magic’ itself within you, he changed his plans, thinking that he could save his wife if he had you and the experiments.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t. I just reversed the words asking you to die here.”

The Count drew a hidden dagger and attempted to stab my throat.

Sensing the suspicious aura beforehand, I turned my body, evading the blade.

“Do you realize how arrogant your thoughts are? It’s pathetic to trample on others’ lives just for your own happiness.”

“I am well aware of how despicable my actions are.”

“In that case, stop. Cease these actions that would only bring more grief to your departed wife.”

“No, I don’t care what you say as long as I can save Elisa…”

“… There’s nothing more to say. If words won’t convince you, then I’ll persuade you even if it requires force.”

Seeing the determination in the Count’s eyes, I abandoned trying to persuade him with words.

I swung my fist towards the Count in front of me.

In my heart, I wanted to wield a knife as well, but I had lost track of where I dropped it.

“As expected, you’re weak.”

“Well, I’m not a battle priest, you know.”

I precisely planted my fist on the visage of the Count.

However, the Count remained motionless.

Externally maintaining a nonchalant demeanor, he was honestly taken aback.

I hit him sincerely, can’t he at least pretend it hurts?

The Count, who endured my attack, drew his sword.

Despair and agony emanated from the crimson blade as blood blossomed.

“Why bother doing all this to save your wife? Planning a romantic escape, perhaps? Too bad. The Empire, aware of your misdeeds, won’t let you off.”

“No need for that…! I’d gladly die if I could just say a single grateful word…!”

As he swung his sword, a sinister reddish onslaught surged.

The imminent, seemingly deadly strike eliminated any possible escape route, coming from all directions.

However, even if the sky were to collapse, there would be a hole to soar through.

Utilizing magic, I raised a gust of wind, soaring into the air to evade the strike.

“So, you know how to use magic…”

“It’s because my magical stat looks good on me.”

I landed gracefully on the ground, locking eyes with the Count.

“What about your daughters? Have you thought about the suffering your irresponsible actions will bring to them?”

“…My family can carry on without me.”

“You mean you won’t take care of them? Quite irresponsible.”

“I’d rather my wife take care of the children than a monster like me…”

“Is this the way to talk after having a sincere conversation with the children? Right now, you simply appear to be an irresponsible person who turns a blind eye to reality.”

“Shut up!!!”

Renet, agitated, lost control and charged forward.

“You’re the one who should shut up! Stop these ridiculous excuses and face the reality!”

I didn’t back down and prepared to confront him with all the magic I could muster.

The boiling wind coursing through my body pushes away the scent of blood blowing in from all directions.

I infuse the wind into my fist.

I packed my determination to break his stubbornness into my punch.

The descending blade tore through the fabric.

I swung my fist at him.

Once again, my fist connected with his face.

“Even now… take care of your remaining family!!!”

I pushed with my fist, driving Renet into the ground.

The motionless viscount lay pinned to the ground.

But perhaps I was too careless.

As I approached, Renet suddenly sprang up.

“Maybe children don’t want this… but I will still save Elisa…”

Spitting out the blood in his mouth, Renet grabbed my throat.