I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

14: Void Dragon, Chameleon Dragon (2)

The Void Dragon, the chameleon dragon before us, was of a size incomparable to the hatchling we had seen before.

“This guy must be the source of the fog that’s consuming this village. I guess that explains why there aren’t any people.”

A pale mist billowed from the shell it wore on its back like a turtle, and its bones seemed to press against its skin, as if it had been starving for a long time.

“…This monster must have eaten them all.”

Victoria, before engaging in the fight, took a moment to piously press her hands together at her chest in prayer.

“Our Mother in Heaven, as we face this great evil before us, grant us courage and peace in this hour. Please quell the fear that dwells deep within our hearts, and grant a peaceful rest to that lost soul.

I pray in the name of the light that will restore radiance to this world.

Amen.”

No matter if the opponent was a demon or a fiend, Victoria never forgot to pray.

Even after a year of traveling together, I still couldn’t understand her attitude of saying that even enemies are ultimately living beings and should be pitied.

“You’re doing such useless things even in this urgent situation.”

I said, clenching my jaw slightly, as I prepared to overlay magic circles with my palm open.

For me, demons and fiends were just those b*stard sons of b*tches who killed my parents and people of my homeland.

Therefore, no matter how fervently Victoria preached, I couldn’t fathom them being deserving of compassion or comfort.

“It’s not useless. Astal, these are the cornerstones for us all to go to heaven later. We all bear the karma of killing and being killed to live, but eventually, our wrongdoings will return to us by the will of God.”

Victoria said, giving me a faint smile. That way she talks and that expression are always some of the most irritating things to me.

I can’t even understand why a saint who shows such devout faith turns into such a shockingly lascivious woman only in front of me.

“Haigo, so, if the Heavenly God told you to die, you would die? People should resist a little. Rational thinking and doubt are essential to survive this harsh demon realm.”

I sighed deeply, having already overlaid useful magic circles on my palm. The chameleon dragon was an existence that crawled on the ground because its wings didn’t work properly.

Based on this weakness, I combined the Earthquake magic that causes tremors with Gravity magic that strengthens gravity, creating a new spell.

“…Gravityquake.”

Kugugung─!

The ground the chameleon dragon stood on cracked with a huge roar, the surroundings shimmering like heat haze as an invisible force crushed the opponent.

“I also complain to the Heavenly God at times. Even though I am a saint who follows God’s will, I have something more precious to me than that.”

– I got properly angry when the Heavenly God slandered Astal on a whim…! How can he not understand a woman’s heart this much!

Victoria said, drawing out a hammer as tall as herself to fight. It was her favored weapon, perfect for maximizing her dragon-hybrid strength.

Just like the saying that the best defense is offense, if we defeat the enemy before Victoria uses a miracle, there wouldn’t be any need for her to sacrifice herself.

“…Who is it?”

Curious, I asked Victoria back. What could possibly be so precious to a saint, more than God’s word?

“It’s a secret. I can’t just tell you a woman’s secret so easily.”

Then Victoria raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at me, as if uncomfortable. Clearly, she didn’t want to tell me easily.

– It’s you. Astal Kaisaros, the kindest mage in the world.

Her thoughts were pouring out the truth without any filter.

“…Didn’t you guys reconcile a second ago? Are you fighting again?”

Warrior Kyle cocked his head towards us, summoning armor of pure flame. He was a sight, like living fire itself.

Igknight.

He’d plunge his holy sword into the earth, twist the hilt, and the stored flames would erupt, forming a suit of protective armor.

“Leave him be, Kyle. Guess that’s how *they* show affection. They were at it like animals in their inn room after the last one, remember?”

“Seeing them fight and then make up the exact same way every time… I can’t tell if they’re actually enemies or destined for each other.”

Anima and Tarion, battle-ready, chimed in with their own comments, glancing our way. An elf with a bow drawn, made of a branch from the world tree, and a female dwarf who’d summoned all four elemental kings.

“…we didn’t do *that*.”

I scowled, brows furrowing in annoyance as I watched my companions. How in the world did they jump to the conclusion that we’d crossed some line, like every other couple?

“Oh my, then where did the gentleman I slept with last night go? The one who promised me in a warm, sweet voice, ‘Just holding hands tonight…♡’?”

Victoria, with a seductive expression, parted her lips slightly, her tongue darting out in a blatant tease.

“…you’re dead tonight.”

I deliberately baited Victoria in response to her provocation, knowing she wouldn’t actually go through with it.

The only variable being if she drank too much, she had a weak constitution with alcohol, then I’d have no way to stop it.

“I’ll be waiting. Though I wonder, just how well will our sweet little mutt satisfy me?”

– Ah, ah…am I really going to lose my virginity tonight? Or will my body be plastered all over with the mark of Astar’s woman…

A chill ran down my spine.

Hearing Victoria’s inner thoughts, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. How could someone’s inner world be so much like the depths of a brothel?

‘Originally, I was planning on tickling her until she cried, so she’d never bully me again….’

If we ended up sharing a bed again tonight, my plan was to tickle her until she begged for mercy.

Victoria’s sides were sensitive.

She kept it hidden as much as possible, but being able to hear her thoughts I knew her weakness.

“Victoria, you’re not *too* fond of me, are you?”

I tried to sound as nonchalant as possible. Everyone else thought I was the one who confessed to Victoria, but

in reality, it was the opposite. So, I had to use tactics like these to fight her tyranny, little by little.

“Me, fond of *you*? Feel free to delude yourself, but I find that unpleasant.”

Victoria immediately glared, her face darkening with disdain. Her gaze and tone, sharp and scornful, made it obvious she disliked me intensely.

– I love you♡ I love you♡ I love you♡ I love♡ love♡ love♡ I love you♡ I love you♡ I love you♡ I love you♡ I love you♡ I love you♡

Her inner thoughts were a heavy, deep emotion, too much to bear. Victoria was shouting how much she loved me endlessly.

The repetition of the similar words, as if it were brainwashing, made me feel lightheaded.

“…I only accepted you out of pity for your confession, as a trial. Please think of this as camaraderie between companions who must defeat the demon king.”

Victoria, meanwhile, was tossing her hair over her ear with an aloof expression, still riding the high of my initial confession.

“If you truly had no feelings, wouldn’t it have been better to just not accept the confession in the first place?”

“Well, you see, I am a saint. It is my mission to bear the worries of all and fulfill their desires, you know.”

I was dumbfounded and shot back at Victoria, as if she was the only one with any romantic feelings here.

I was only planning on going back to being friends after the succubus queen was defeated or the term of this contractual relationship was over.

“Helping a virgin mage who hasn’t even held a woman’s hand in his adult years with his love life, wouldn’t you say that’s one of those good deeds that others cannot easily do?”

– *I want to have all of Astar-nim’s firsts. Holding hands, hugging, pecks, kisses, and even climbing the adult stairs together to become your one and only woman, everything…*

Victoria was looking at me as if I were pathetic, but the emotions hidden within her were filled with possessiveness more than anyone else.

“…I have so much to say but I’ll hold back.”

I clenched my fists, suppressing the simmering anger that was making me tremble slightly. If I told her right now that I could hear her thoughts, I had no idea what she would do.

“You didn’t seem so patient last night, though, I guess it’s true what they say that men’s heads and their lower bodies think differently.”

-*If I marry him, would I become Victoria Kaisaroth? I want to have about 11 kids, so that we don’t run out of people when we play ball…♡*

Even now, look at the way Victoria’s pouring out those lewd and sticky feelings. If I revealed the truth, who knows what kind of reaction I would get?

“……”

I gulped, barely managing to stay silent.

If I made the wrong move, I would be dragged to bed right away to obediently surrender my precious manhood. I remembered someone saying that even a dried squid would yield water if you squeezed it hard enough.

“…Everyone, prepare. It seems the chameleon dragon has started mimicking. Being an adult, it will probably transform into something more dangerous than its offspring. It will probably target the strongest among us.”

Kyle, who had been continuously swinging his sword at the enemy, gave us a low-voiced command.

“Dispel? How can the enemy use my special skill?”

The instantaneous sense of unease made me realize that something was wrong. I thought innate mana control couldn’t be copied.

Was it because the opponent had grown into an adult dragon rather than a hatchling?

Considering my magic that had been binding the enemy had been undone as well, it seemed this wasn’t an opponent that could be easily defeated.

“…You guys, especially the Saintess and the Mage.”

Finally, out of the billowing dust cloud, the chameleon dragon revealed himself. He had shrunk to about the size of an adult man.

“Why the hell are you causing such a ruckus in my nest? Fighting and mating, fighting and mating, are you humans, or are you beastly creatures like demons and monsters?”

A handsome man with blue hair and eyes narrowed his brows and glared at us.

“Look at this guy? He’s not even trying to hide that he’s a fake anymore?”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. The same face as mine was staring right back at me, as if I was looking in a mirror.

The being known by the title of Phantom Dragon was currently showing his displeasure through the face of Astar Kaisaroth.