A Monster That Cannot Pray

It’s been a year since I woke up in this world.

And what I’ve painfully realized during this one year is.

That this world is not anywhere on Earth, let alone Korea – the world I used to live in.

“There it is—! Catch it—!”

And to survive in this strange world with this body, I really have to risk my life every moment.

“Bunch of useless good-for-nothings with only sharp eyes. Really…!”

Fortunately or unfortunately, because this world was literally like a drawn fantasy world itself,

I was able to somehow survive by disguising myself as one of the street urchins, hiding my arms with a straw mat.

However, there was one problem….

“Damn, if only it weren’t for these cursed eyes…”

The eyes reflected in a small mirror shard I saw while running through alleys here and there to avoid the church pursuers chasing me with a commotion.

I lightly brushed my hand over my eyes, with their unknown cross pattern engraved in black between the faintly glowing golden irises.

“Ah, whatever—!”

With that, I ran through a rat hole on the outskirts of the city to the lakeside nearby and quickly threw myself into the lake.

Splash—!

Thankfully, due to my small size, I didn’t make a big splash.

Though the lake was cold enough to make my mind snap to attention because the weather hadn’t warmed up yet… there was a reason I deliberately escaped here.

Gurgle….

Along with slightly exhaling the breath I had taken deeply while throwing myself in, I stuck tightly to a small space in the lake that couldn’t be noticed unless seen from inside—using my four arms.

“Damn it, where did it go! This is when we needed the Executioner!”

“Quickly inform the headquarters! Tell them that damned monster has appeared here!”

“Such a small thing with only fast feet!”

I held my breath as much as I could until the footsteps I felt above my head disappeared.

‘Damn it, what is this from the morning.’

I thought I might have some talent since I managed to avoid being caught for a whole year, but.

While looking for something to eat because I was hungry, I carelessly opened my eyes, and got caught by those church people.

‘Since the church caught on, I’ll have to leave this city now.’

Thinking that it seems to be time to leave now… after slowly coming out of the water.

Shwooosh!

While shaking my head side to side to shake off the water, I also flapped the straw mat I was wearing to dry it.

As I watched the lakeside rippling with water droplets that had splashed from me,

The reflection there—a small stature of about 140cm despite having grown quite a bit over the year, with unnecessarily long white hair… the sight of a dirty little girl looked so pathetic that.

“Sigh.”

Tightly wrapping the still damp straw mat again and firmly holding it with two upper arms on both sides to prevent it from slipping off.

“Gotta go… what else can I do…”

Perhaps because I entered cold water without properly washing, I tried not to scratch my increasingly itchy body as much as possible.

Step- Step- I started moving wherever my feet took me, in search of a new shelter.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to stay a little longer in the next city.

* * *

Meanwhile. Somewhere else.

On a white marble floor so pristine it felt obsessively clean beyond just sacred,

With her back to the sunlight shining through colorful stained glass windows.

“Executioner Alice Arneia, listen.”

A middle-aged man with gray hair wearing an immaculate white priest’s robe addressed the blonde woman in a black priest’s robe kneeling before him.

“A year ago, when you went to exterminate the demon that appeared near the Forest of Calamity, you reported this: You entered the Forest of Calamity without permission to chase the demon, lost two subordinate priests, and succeeded in exterminating the demon. However, you were unable to secure evidence due to the forest beasts—that’s what you said.”

The woman with long blonde hair reaching her waist and blue eyes—Alice Arneia.

Recalling the monster she had met once—a girl who had saved her with sincerity in her honest eyes.

“…Yes.”

She quietly bowed her head.

“However—just today, we received a report that a demon with white hair, four arms, and golden eyes was spotted in a city near the Forest of Calamity. Upon this, I, the bishop, suspected that you might have fallen for the demon’s tricks, but…”

Unable to say a word in response to the following displeased voice.

“I judged that the possibility of you, the deputy Executioner of the ‘Holy Flame’, no less, falling for a demon’s whispers was lower than the possibility that the demon in question had faked its death through some means. Regarding this matter, I decided to let it pass.”

“…I am grateful for your mercy.”

“However, if that’s the case… I must hand down punishment for your unauthorized entry into the Forest of Calamity.”

She sighed lightly, seemingly feeling somewhat relieved that there had been no reports of anyone being harmed by the girl she had let go back then.

“Executioner Alice Arneia, listen again.”

At the solemn voice that followed,

“From this moment on, you are ordered to leave here and fulfill your duty as the ‘Holy Flame’ by finding the white-haired demon you let escape a year ago.”

“I shall obey your command.”

Alice responded, straightening her posture again.

“Furthermore, until you exterminate said demon, collect evidence, and submit it, all positions and support related to you will be suspended. Know that you cannot return here on your own feet until you exterminate the demon with your own strength.”

“—Yes!”

Thus, Alice remained kneeling without moving until the bishop who had given the order descended from the platform.

“Lady Alice. I hope that this time, you won’t bring shame to the church’s name.”

As if he somehow knew that she had let the girl go a year ago.

“And please give my regards to Sir Bernard.”

At the voice of the bishop who patted her shoulder a couple of times before slowly leaving the chapel,

“Bishop Antonio…?”

She hurriedly stood up and turned her head towards the direction of the bishop’s voice, but.

“Well then, see you next time.”

What was there was only the figure of Bishop Antonio, smiling benevolently as usual, encouraging her.

“……”

Finally, as Antonio’s slowly receding figure completely disappeared,

“Haa….”

Alice sighed deeply and quietly looked up at the ceiling.

-Then I will surely cut off your head, and take responsibility with this life of mine.

At the same time, recalling what she had said to the girl she had let go a year ago.

‘For now, it would be better to meet her and think.’

It was the moment she was about to leave after cleaning the chapel that would be empty for a while and making simple preparations.

“Geez— Bishop is too harsh. He knows better than anyone that Alice senior isn’t that kind of person, yet sending her to hunt monsters without any support.”

From the entrance of the chapel, a man in a black priest’s robe appeared with a relaxed voice.

“This is a holy chapel. Mind your words. Executioner Marbas.”

Alice glared once at the brown-curly-haired man with green eyes shining and a sly face who was speaking to her—Marbas.

“Yes, yes. Of course, you would say that.”

She came out of the chapel and locked the door with a key.

“By the way, that speaking down to subordinates. Were you still doing that?”

“Ahem.”

“It doesn’t suit you at all, so just do it like you used to. Everyone says it’s scarier because it’s too stiff.”

“…Is that really true?”

“Of course. I may not look it, but I’m a clergyman. Would I go around lying in front of a chapel?”

She watched Marbas for a moment as he walked around her with a relaxed gait, his hands clasped behind his head.

“Nngh… At times like this, I envy you, Marbas.”

Alice shook her head as if she had a headache, placing a hand on her forehead.

“Oh? Is that a compliment?”

“If lacking dignity is a compliment, then I suppose it is.”

“That’s too much, Senior Alice.”

So, as they were leaving the chapel and heading outside.

“By the way, I wonder why Bishop Antonio keeps calling those monsters demons?”

Marbas asked Alice curiously, saying it had been bothering him for a while.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know. Only the radical faction within the church calls those monsters demons… I don’t think Bishop Antonio is that kind of person.”

“…Indeed. Now that you mention it, it is a bit strange.”

Just like how he had spoken earlier as if he knew about that girl from a year ago.

Agreeing with Marbas that there were some concerning points.

“Marbas. You know it’s also the duty of the ‘Holy Flame’ to punish those who disrupt the church’s order, right?”

“Come on, senior. Even I would get angry if you treat me like such a fool.”

“To you, who’s not that much of a fool, I have one request.”

Alice quietly—after checking if there was anyone eavesdropping around—

“Senior. That request, it’s not something like investigating the bishop behind his back… is it?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Well then, I’m counting on you, Marbas.”

She smiled brightly at the flustered Marbas and lightly patted his shoulder.

“May the warm flame be with you.”

“M-may the warm flame… Wait a moment! Senior! Do you even know where that monster is!?”

With only a long silver sword hanging at her waist of her priest’s robe, she started running outside as if escaping.

“I know someone who might know its whereabouts!”

Towards the city of Yulentina, a little away from where the girl who had saved her a year ago was last seen.