Chapter 4: Wager (part 2)

Erman, the current saint of the church, was reading documents with an indifferent expression.

“First-class priest Lian meets the saint.”

Erman stopped Lian, who was about to bow, and urged him to report.

“Just report it if you have time to show courtesy.”

“… I’m sorry. There is news that Special Priest Brukin has just departed from Kente Village.”

“What else?”

“There is information that Julius’s wife was seen in the village market at the same time.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Now go.”

At Erman’s cold response, Lian shed a drop of cold sweat and carefully backed out of the room.

Saint Erman, the head of the Telmere Church, whose face still looked young compared to his age, took off the glasses he had been wearing for reading, touched his eyelids a couple of times, and let out a weary sigh. He swiveled his chair around, turning his gaze toward the large window.

When he saw the dull sky and the heavy dark clouds that looked like they might rain at any moment, that day came to mind. The day when Erman’s life turned upside down and everything started to fall apart.

From that day on, the saint of the church became corrupted. He secretly released high-ranking devils that should never have been freed and made deals with them. He tricked the eyes of his close friend, Brukin, and slowly and deliberately blocked the flow of information.

The power of a high-ranking devil was truly convenient.

In his deal with that Nightmare, the b0dy of Julius’ wife, Cecil, had been handed over, carried out by ordering that fool Krail to do it.

Like a man possessed, Erman increasingly broke taboos he should not have, but the plan in his mind came together with amazing precision. 

One year from now… if he could deceive everyone for just one more year, his wish would come true.

“Just wait a moment, just wait a little longer, and this father will save you.”

In Erman’s room, a small portrait hung on a bookshelf filled with holy texts. It depicted a girl with light brown hair and clear blue eyes, reminiscent of a golden wheat field, standing next to a solemn-looking man.

“I hope you enjoy sweet dreams in your homeland at the end of your life, Julius Tapnel.”

The name of the fallen saint was Erman Lionelta. He had decided to sacrifice the world to evil for the sake of his adopted daughter, Cecil, whom he adored more than anything else.

Thick raindrops began to fall from the heavy, dark clouds. 

It was one of those days when autumn passed and winter approached, with cloudy moonlight peeking through dark clouds and pitiful rain falling like teardrops.

***

In the late evening, the tiny lights of the moon and stars gathered to brighten the night sky. The sound of trees, their bare branches decorated with fallen leaves, swayed gently in the wind, whispering along the path.

Ahead of Julius, a devil holding a large shopping cart walked as if she were dancing.

After the commotion that took place in the market earlier that day, the devil dragged Julius around, shopping without a care in the world. The way she introduced him as her husband, smiling as she carefully inspected ingredients, was exactly like Cecil’s.

In truth, Julius had never experienced grocery shopping with Cecil before. Looking at the devil pretending to be his precious wife filled him with unbearable disgust.

He wanted to tear that abominable devil apart and burn his wife’s b0dy, proving to God that she hadn’t been def!led by the devil, hoping to secure rest for her soul.

The bodies of the heretics and devils he had k!lled over the years must have had families too. Yet, he had always torn them apart and burned them without hesitation. Now, here he was, troubled by a devil pretending to be his wife.

It was a story too absurd to even laugh at.

The devil, lightly stepping on the stones along the path, suddenly stopped. Spinning in place, her long skirt gently unfolded and returned like a flower petal. Her light pink lips, like a peach, spoke.

“You seem to be in a bad mood. Did something happen that displeased you?”

The devil asked, tilting her head as if she genuinely didn’t know. How could such a lovely face look so hateful? 

Julius narrowed his eyes and glared at her.

“…Are you asking because you truly don’t know?”

“Hmm… I thought I was doing a good job being a wife, but you’ve been so irritable since this morning, Rom’s child.”

“You wretched devil. Do you really think insulting my wife will please me?”

The devil retorted angrily at Julius’ words.

“Wretched! I am the pinnacle of devilkind, one of only twenty-four in this world. How can you speak to me like that? I, who walk under the sun and am called the Emperor’s Nightmare! Isn’t it even written in the Scripture?”

“There is nothing written about you in the Scripture. It’s laughable that you think you’re the Emperor’s Nightmare.”

“Ugh! Let’s see, let’s see, this is real!”

The devil, visibly angry, lost her relaxed demeanor, her ears turning red as she closed her mouth, silenced by Julius’ cutting response.

“Hmph, if you’re truly at the peak of devilkind, and yet there are over twenty others like you, then it seems you’re not as impressive as you think.”

The devil went silent, as if malfunctioning. 

After sighing and looking up at the sky for a moment, Julius passed by the devil, heading toward his mansion. He stopped when he heard her speak again.

“Do you remember when I asked you earlier what displeased you?”

“How could I forget what you just said?”

“I really don’t understand. What is it that truly bothers you?”

“I told you earlier, you d*amn devil woman—”

The playful expression vanished, and a murky blue light, reminiscent of the deep sea, illuminated her face. Before Julius knew it, she was standing in front of him, her face inches from his, her words mocking him.

“You’ve been lying all this time.”

The devil’s soft whisper drifted past his ear. He couldn’t allow himself to be deceived by this thing any longer.

“I said I would tempt you.”

“Shut up, you filthy devil!”

“That’s why I made your wish come true.”

“I never wished for this.”

“No, you did. You could k!ll me right now, but even now, you can’t touch a single hair on my head.”

“That’s because it would burn Cecil’s body. It’s not because I want anything from you.”

“Then tell me how to get rid of me without burning her.”

“…”

The devil stood on tiptoe and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Their bodies were so close that they could hear each other’s heartbeats.

“Summon the holy sword. If you truly wish for it, it will cut only me out, as you desire.”

“… It’s just an ordinary sword.”

“The devil always tells the truth. Now, stretch out your hand. Desperately wish for the strength to defeat this abominable devil.”

The devil’s left hand grabbed Julius’ strong hand, slowly pulling it upward. They looked like lovers dancing, standing in a place where even the wind had stopped, with only the sound of their hearts echoing between them.

Yet no matter how long he waited, the holy sword did not appear.

The devil quietly stepped away from Julius and spoke calmly while gazing at the starlight.

“You have no intention of harming me, because she desires to live, and I am that Cecil.”

Her tone suddenly changed, and with a smile, Cecil—no, the devil—lightly carried her shopping cart, humming a cheerful tune as she walked.

Julius felt a drop of rain fall on his cheek and slowly raised his head.

The moon and stars still intertwined their light, illuminating the world.

The devil always won the wager. The reason was simple.

Because they always wager on their own victory.

Julius suddenly remembered the words of a close friend he had left behind in the capital.

The sky had been clear that night, and the next day had dawned cloudless.

It had been a perfect autumn day.