Lyriamâs Royal Library.
A treasure trove of wisdom, boasting a vast collection of books.
Julius, with his blond hair neatly cut short, seemed a little nervous as he hurried his steps, rubbing his hands anxiously. When he had first come to the capital from Kente, he had been distracted by Cecilâa kind-hearted girlâwho had helped him find his way when he was lost and wandering, unable to locate Krail.
Today, Julius forced himself to visit the library, wearing unflattering clothes, to borrow the book she had requested. He remembered it was definitely a literary book. This massive building was an overwhelming environment for Julius, a man used to working the streets.
The fire in his heart, ignited when he was recently baptized, flickered within him. As he stood surrounded by rows of books, a sudden urge to play with fire rose in him, but he suppressed it.
Finally, the section he was searching for appeared before him.
[Literature]
Unlike Krail, Julius felt lightheaded just from being among so many books. If Priestess Emily hadnât taught him the Scripture, he wouldnât have dreamed of coming to the capital to take the inquisitor exam. The librarian gave him an indifferent glance as he searched the shelves, his hand brushing his mouth in thought.
After an hour-long search, he finally found the book. He wiped the dust off the cover and looked at the title:
[About My Wife Cecil]
It was a novel with a female protagonist sharing Cecilâs name. When he flipped to the back page, he found the two protagonists holding hands and getting married.
âSo clichĂŠ,â he muttered, flipping through the book with an indifferent expression. As he did, a small note slipped from between the pages, falling to his feet.
Curious, Julius picked up the note. For some reason, it felt oddly familiar. With trembling hands, he opened it.
[Letâs date, Julius! â Cecil]
ââŚYou couldâve just said it.â
Though he feigned annoyance at her repeated confessions, warmth filled his heart. And that was how the innocent, brown-haired girl became his girlfriendâa story of spring days and blooming flowers.
***
A soft groan escaped the lips of the brown-haired woman lying on the bed.
Cecil wasnât groaning because of the k!ss they had shared earlier but from the bitter pain spreading inside her. It was the holy water burning through her throat and stomach.
To avoid suspicion, she had forcefully used her flames, and now her body was on the verge of collapse. Her organs felt as if they were melting, and her breathing grew weaker.
Death hovered over her, threatening to take her life away. But before it could claim her, a wave of black energy surged from within, pushing the specter back. Her damaged organs regenerated as if by magic. Blood rushed to her face, restoring its color, and her once-pale lips regained a slight pink hue.
âI just hate the way my mother-in-law glares at me the moment we meet,â Cecil whispered bitterly.
She wouldnât mind dyingâonce, twice, or even over and over againâif it meant being with him. But that was a lie. All she truly wanted was to live a happy life with Julius. Yet, too many obstacles stood in her way.
The sacred flames she summoned at the bar had left behind a residueâan unsettling, sticky energy that made her skin crawl. It spread from her hands, and the air grew dense as an eerie silence filled the room.
Then, without a sound, a small bird materialized. Although it resembled the pure white bird from before, this one had glossy black feathers and eyes as cloudy as its mistressâs soul.
âPriestess Emily, keep an eye on her,â Cecil whispered to the bird.
The black bird flitted about the room a few times before vanishing as if it had never been there. She needed insurance. The creature she had summoned was an impeccable imitation of a high-ranking devil. As expected, Kente Village wasnât an ordinary placeâit was dangerous.
If she wanted a dream so perfect that waking from it was impossible, she would have to move carefully.
Smiling darkly, Cecilâno, Nightmareâthought of Julius, who stood outside, licking her lips.
The more she desired, the more she transformed from a devil into a human. In her heart, she had already accepted the name Cecil Lionelta. It had only been three days since she arrived hereâhow much would she change in a year?
Julius wasnât the only one hoping for a happy dream that would never end. The one who wanted it the most was Cecil herself.
She heard the front door creak open.
Julius lingered in the living room for a moment before heading toward the bedroom.
Closing her eyes, she pretended to sleep. It would be a good night to try for a second child.
But what she expected didnât happen.
Julius only stroked her hair lightly, tucked the blanket around her, blew out the candle, and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.
âI feel like an idiot,â she whispered into the dark.
Julius couldnât see her for who she truly was. He only clung to a memory of the past, oblivious to the present.
She lay awake, staring blankly into the darkness until morning. Sleep wasnât something she neededâshe had slept enough for the past five years.
***
âPriestess Emily, I am facing a major crisis,â Brukin groaned.
The totem with the word âEmilyâ scrawled clumsily across a piece of wood seemed to listen silently as Brukin sighed.
âI ran away because I was afraid, but now that I think about it, Iâve been abandoned like a stray,â he muttered.
Brukin sat atop something soft, grumbling to himself. Anyone watching from a distance wouldâve been left speechless by the scene.
The large forest had been utterly devastated. The cause? A massive corpse lay sprawled across the landscape, its stomach ripped open.
This was the Pulsating Evil, one of the 24 high-ranking devils that mocked the heavens. A devil who, long ago, feasted on giants. Its life had ended with a single blow from the elderly priest, Brukin, during the Holy devil War.
Brukin, the hero of that legendary conflict, now rummaged through his belongings.
âI had money and clothes in here. Now Iâve lost the map and look no better than a beggar,â he grumbled.
The totem, though inanimate, seemed to look at him with pity. It had no eyes, yet he could feel its gazeâit must have been a spirit creature.
Brukin jumped down from the devilâs corpse, leaving it as a grim monument. As he landed, dark clouds gathered overhead. To make things worse, it began to rain.
He took a deep breath and walked down the road.
Juliusâs wifeâthe brown-haired woman he had glimpsed before fleeingâsmelled faintly of death. She was a high-ranking devil, making her a heretic inquisitorâs worst nightmare.
Brukin hadnât told his apprentice about itâit was too troublesome and dangerous. What kind of strange taste had Julius developed during their time apart? Somehow, Julius had ended up with a truly powerful devil.
Goblin: If you like reading my translations you can become a Patron at Patreon to gain access to more chapters, or sponsor as many chapters you want from any of the novels you enjoy on Goblinslate here at BuymeaCoffee. Or if you just want to help, you can donate any amount at the Wishlist at BuymeaCoffee. You can also turn off you adb!ocker to support me. Thank you.