The Villain's Second Time

Chapter 4

After spending the most horrifying night of my life in the Saint's embrace, the next day arrived, gauged only by my internal clock, as there was no way to check the time.

Not that the next day was anything special. It just meant the execution was one day closer, which dampened my mood a bit. A rather trivial matter.

"Saint, you have a visitor."

With those words, Kelth entered Tartarus, unlocking the iron bars. Beside him stood a towering, muscular man, as unyielding as a statue.

An ogre? A troll? No, the man beside Kelth was undoubtedly human. It was just that his physique was so massive, he hardly seemed like one. He was as huge as the Frankenstein raised by the Southern Grand Duke of the Demon Realm.

Damn it, another visit. In the 104 days I've spent in Tartarus, I haven't had a single visitor. Somehow, it feels like I've lost to the Saint, and it deeply wounds my pride.

"It's been a while."

The Saint's voice was brimming with warmth. In contrast, the man standing there exuded a palpable reluctance, even from his posture.

"Holy Emperor Julius."

"Saint, have you been well?"

"Thanks to the Lord's grace, I am always well."

"Hmm... But this place seems far too..."

"What does the environment matter? It all depends on one's mindset. Just as one would joyfully chew on a stone if it were the Lord's provision, Tartarus too can be paradise if one chooses to see it that way."

That woman started again. Spouting nonsensical drivel. Listening to her makes my face flush with embarrassment; I want to step in and shut her mouth immediately. If only my hands and feet weren't bound.

Come to think of it, what did she just say?

She definitely called him "Holy Emperor Julius."

"Then, I'll take my leave. Please, take your time to talk."

"Kelth, is that all right?"

"The visitation time is unlimited. In truth, it's exceedingly rare for a prisoner in Tartarus to receive visitors... If any issues arise later, I'll cover for it with my authority."

"...Thank you, as always, Kelth. You're the same as ever, whether as the White Knight or now."

Holy Emperor Julius lightly tapped Kelth on the shoulder with his arm. Not his hand, but his arm. Below his elbow, there was nothing but emptiness.

"Yes, sir!"

Kelth shouted with an expression of honor and quickly left. That’s how it should be.

After all, it's the Holy Emperor and the Saint of the Holy Nation having a visitation. What prison guard would dare linger nearby?

Julius, the Holy Emperor of the Holy Nation and its supreme authority.

Also known as the Fist Emperor, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest warriors on the continent today. It’s no exaggeration to say that his left fist splits the air and his right fist tears dimensions.

For such a figure to have lost his arm like that... Ah, Kelth mentioned it. The Demon King demanded the Holy Emperor's arm as a condition for accepting the Holy Nation's surrender.

Wait a moment, then shouldn’t the relationship between the Saint and the Holy Emperor be strained?

The Holy Emperor, who resisted the Demon Army for so long, ultimately surrendered by sacrificing his arm, while the Saint became a one-person army, fighting to the bitter end until she was defeated by the Four Great Dukes of the Demon Realm and sentenced to death.

"Hmm... Saint, I don't know where to begin...."

"Please, speak freely. Why would the leader of the order hesitate?"

"I'm sorry. No, I apologize."

Ah, so that’s why he’s been so withdrawn from earlier. Probably because his conscience is pricking him.

Honestly, I don’t understand it. The war was destined to end in the Demon King’s victory. I’ve known that from the start, having observed the Demon King for so long. Once the Unyielding Hero became the Cowardly Hero, the continent’s hope was as good as extinguished.

In that case, wasn’t the Holy Emperor’s decision the right one from the Holy Nation’s perspective? Wasn’t the Saint foolish for resisting to the point of becoming a death row inmate?

...I really can’t understand the Saint.

"What are you saying? How could the noble Holy Emperor Julius possibly apologize to someone like me?"

"Saint, I will find a way. Please, just a little... just endure a little longer."

"The trials bestowed by the Lord are to be embraced willingly. There’s nothing to endure or not endure."

"...I will do everything to stop the execution. Even if it means opposing the Demon King."

The Holy Emperor hid his severed arms behind his back, displaying a firm resolve. His actions clearly conveyed how much he cared for the Saint.

But surely, he must know?

The "execution" undoubtedly refers to the Saint's death sentence. After all, Tartarus only houses death row inmates.

And for someone as prominent as the Saint to be sentenced to death, the trial must have been presided over by someone with authority on par with the Demon King.

How could a coward who cut off his arm in fear of the Demon King possibly stand against him?

It’s an empty statement. The Saint knows it too, which is why she wears that bitter smile.

"Don’t do anything unnecessary."

"But, Saint...."

"Isn’t it the peace achieved at the cost of your noble arm?"

The Saint extended her hand to touch the Holy Emperor's severed arm. Despite being blind, she somehow managed to grasp it perfectly.

"This concerns the lives of millions of citizens. How could you let emotions sway you?"

Wooong-.

A faint, white light emitted from the Saint's small, rough hands. The glow illuminated the bars, casting brightness even in the distance where I stood.

The light seeped into the Holy Emperor’s bandaged arm. From where the light touched, new flesh began to sprout on his arm.

It was the same mysterious light that had healed my neck before. She had called it love.

"If the Lord decides to take me, I will accept it with joy. It’s as simple as that."

The Holy Emperor’s aged face turned pale with shock. His thick beard trembled as if vibrating.

"Saint! Stop immediately! How could you sacrifice your precious lifespan for someone like me...!"

"The Lord has given me this lifespan to bestow love upon others, so I am simply fulfilling my duty. Please, do not refuse."

Bones, muscles, blood vessels, and flesh grew rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the Holy Emperor’s arms were restored.

Though the original arm and the newly grown one looked slightly different, it didn’t matter.

"Saint...."

"I tried to make them as close as possible to the originals. I hope you find them satisfactory... Ugh!"

"Saint! What’s wrong? Kelth, Kelth! Are you out there?"

Suddenly, the Saint vomited blood.

At a glance, her severe hemoptysis ran down the iron bars. Her nun's habit was quickly stained crimson.

The Holy Emperor urgently called for Kelth outside. When no response came, he stomped his massive frame and rushed out himself.

"Goodness, what a commotion."

"Ugh... Cough, cough—."

The Saint leaned her head against the iron bars and collapsed onto the scorching stone floor. Crimson blood continued to gush uncontrollably from her mouth.

Frequent coughing followed. Watching her silently, I spoke softly.

"So the secret to your near-omnipotent healing ability was your lifespan."

"Haha...."

"What? Love? Don’t make me laugh. Using up your own lifespan, of all things."

"My humble body... was crafted by the grace of the Lord...."

"What nonsense are you spouting as you’re dying?"

"My short lifespan... is filled with the Lord’s love... so it must indeed be love...."

After uttering those words, the Saint collapsed face-first onto the stone floor. She seemed to have half-fainted.

She probably wouldn’t be able to get up on her own for a while.

Her lifespan, huh? So healing my wounded throat and treating Vincent's gunshot wounds were all at the cost of her lifespan.

The first two times only left her slightly emaciated, but collapsing today must mean she consumed a significant portion of her lifespan to regenerate the Holy Emperor’s arm.

Ha.

Her blood, touching the stone floor, began to bubble and boil. That’s right, I had forgotten—this is Tartarus.

At this rate, if she remains unable to use her solar energy, her face will end up cooked like charred meat.

...Whether she gets cooked or not, what does it have to do with me? She’s not my ally anyway. If she’s going to die in five days, she might as well just die now.

"Cough."

"What, you’re not dead yet?"

I want the Saint to die. She disgusts me.

I wish this woman, practically a fragment of the Goddess herself, would disappear forever. Her very presence is repulsive.

I hope her mouth, constantly spewing ridiculous words, will shut forever. Listening to her is unbearably tormenting.

"Cough, cough."

The Saint let out faint coughs. The blood she spat out gradually oxidized into the air.

Yes, just die like that. I’m getting tired of talking to you anyway.

However.

"Your face is at least tolerable."

If you’re going to die, why not do it properly...?

"...Ha, you went and restored my speech so perfectly. How foolish must you be to waste your lifespan on me......."

"Cough...!"

The Saint let out a raspy cough. With difficulty, I used telekinesis through my fingers and added a remark so she wouldn’t misunderstand.

Vmmm—.

"Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like I want you to live. I just find it annoying that one of the few decent-looking faces among humans—whose average appearance is godawful—might get ruined. I’m an artist, you see."

It’s true. I like artistic things. I like beautiful things.

That’s all there is to it. I can swear it has nothing to do with liking her.

Vmmm—.

"Guhhh...!"

"Cough."

With a flick of my finger to activate telekinesis, the Saint’s upper body automatically lifted and leaned against the iron bars.

A pain that felt as if my entire body’s bones were snapping washed over me. My insides churned as if they were being twisted. It was the price of forcing myself to use telekinesis.

My vision blurred. My mind went blank. The dormant seizures flared up again, creating a 'clattering' noise.

Was I about to lose consciousness like this?

"Well, at least that’s a relief...."

In my fading consciousness, I murmured while looking at the Saint gracefully leaning against the iron bars.

"At least her face won’t get burned...."

The next moment, I saw the Holy Emperor and Kelth rushing in frantically, and my consciousness faded.

Damn fools. Why couldn’t you come sooner? What would you have done if your Saint died....?

*****

When I finally managed to open my eyes, I saw the Saint sitting upright, with the Holy Emperor kneeling before her. Kelth stood nearby, fidgeting restlessly.

The Holy Emperor was fervently apologizing for something. The Saint, as usual, wore a gentle smile and nodded her head.

"Then I shall take my leave. Saint, please take care of yourself."

"Yes, Holy Emperor. And I must ask, don’t carry unnecessary guilt. You did your best."

"...Thank you."

The Holy Emperor responded calmly, then stood and left Tartarus. His footsteps were as heavy as those of an ogre.

Kelth handed two loaves of bread to the Saint through the iron bars, then followed the Holy Emperor.

Just as I thought they were gone, the Holy Emperor turned back for a moment.

"The room is dim, so I don’t know who that corpse lying there is... but please, take good care of the Saint."

With those words, he disappeared completely. I wondered how he would react if he knew I was the second greatest enemy after your Demon King.

But since he was already gone, I would never find out.

"Such a precious gift...."

The Saint looked warmly at the bread Kelth had given her, then approached me. For some reason, I could already guess what she was about to do.

"What is it?"

"Please eat."

"I don’t like bread."

"But didn’t you enjoy it last time?"

"That was because I was starving."

"You seem hungry enough now, too."

The Saint placed her hand on my stomach teasingly. Though her gesture was modest, I found it utterly revolting.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

I naturally reacted strongly, but the Saint didn’t stop. Her hand roamed over my stomach. Her unpleasant touch tickled my lower abdomen.

"Hasn’t your stomach practically stuck to your back?"

"Y-you perverted woman...!"

"Please eat first, benefactor."

"Benefactor? Don’t tell me... you remembered that even while you were on the verge of death?"

"I am not such an ill-mannered woman as to forget the benefactor who saved my humble life."

"Damn it! I shouldn’t have bothered!"

Regardless of my outburst, the Saint shoved bread into my mouth with a smiling face. Ugh, never saving her again.

"Mmph...!"

"Does it suit your taste?"

"Screw off! Even troll meat tastes better than this!"

Damn it, it’s disgustingly delicious.

Still, I really do hate bread. I’ve been a bread-hater for as long as I can remember.

Whether in the middle of the battlefield against the Empire, in the extreme regions of the north, lost in the hellish forest of monsters, or even when slaughtering the White Knights of the Holy Nation, or starving while cutting down the World Tree—

I hated bread so much that I would never seek it out. Ever.

"Nom... nom...."

"Hearing you eat well puts my mind at ease."

The bread was savory and soft. It even seemed to have a peculiar fragrance. But regardless of all that, what I hate is what I hate.

I chewed thoroughly and swallowed. The Saint tried to pull me back onto her lap once again.

I tried to resist by jerking my head, but with my limbs bound, I was helplessly pulled back into her arms. Damn it, the moment I get out of these chains, the Saint is the first one I’ll kill. Though whether that day ever comes is uncertain.

"If you’re relieved, why are you hugging me again for no reason?"

"When the angel in your heart raises its head, that’s when I must redouble my efforts to enlighten you."

"Your rosary keeps poking my head and it hurts. Can’t you move it somewhere else?"

"...Oh dear, I seem to have been inconsiderate."

The Saint quickly removed the rosary she had tucked in her chest and placed it to the side. Judging by things like that, she doesn’t seem to be intentionally trying to cause me pain. She truly is an incomprehensible woman.

"...I have something I want to ask."

"Ask freely."

I threw a question at her nonchalantly. The Saint reacted with delight. Is she that happy just because I spoke to her?

"The conversation you had with the Holy Emperor... I can guess. You told him not to feel guilty, didn’t you?"

"That is correct."

"During the last war, every race on the Continent met one of two fates: death or submission to the Demon King."

"That’s true."

"The Holy Nation resisted until the end, but eventually, the Holy Emperor surrendered to the Demon King. In exchange for his people being spared, he sacrificed his own arm."

The Saint’s expression darkened instantly. She offered a somber smile.

"And you resisted until the very end. I heard about how you fought alone against a hundred thousand monsters in the Canyon that Swallows the Sun. In the end, you were defeated by the Four Great Dukes of the Demon Realm and imprisoned here."

"That’s correct."

"Why did you do it? Why?"

The Holy Emperor was wise.

The Saint was foolish.

It was an unwinnable war. Once you realize that, surrender is the only rational choice. If you want to minimize losses, that’s the way to go.

"The Holy Emperor made the right choice. He couldn’t risk his people’s lives for the sake of war."

"No, I’m asking about you. Why did you, the Saint, stubbornly fight to the bitter end?"

Judging by how you agree it was the right choice, it’s not like you didn’t understand.

"Don’t tell me you didn’t know you’d lose. No matter how powerful your holy power is, enough to call you a one-person army, there are limits to what one person can achieve."

"I do have eyes. I wasn’t unaware of the outcome of the war."

"Then what are you saying? If you really knew, as you claim, why didn’t you retreat? Did you think your resistance would change the world?"

"......."

Instead of immediately answering, the Saint lowered her head toward me. The rough bandages brushed against my skin.

Damn it, is my head your child or something? Why are you cradling me like I’m your offspring? If you want to nurture something, just find a human man and have a kid.

"Mr. Demon."

"What."

Amidst the suffocating atmosphere, the Saint’s voice pierced my ears.

"Even if evil is so overwhelmingly strong that resistance is impossible and everyone succumbs to it, that doesn’t mean their hearts have surrendered. Within everyone’s hearts, the spark of resistance remains. But if no one stands up and everyone gives up... that spark will be extinguished in an instant. That’s why someone has to keep it alive, without surrendering. The spark of justice and hope."

For some reason, her words carried a resolute determination. In stark contrast, her small back trembled faintly, as if she were silently sobbing.

Dressing up a meaningless death with such grand ideas—it’s beyond my understanding.

"In the end, it’s just a pointless death."

"Is that so."

"Am I wrong? You were captured and now you’re about to face the guillotine. The spark’s already gone out. Whether you struggled or not, it was going to die out anyway. If that’s not a pointless death, then what is?"

Why am I arguing with the Saint? Her life has nothing to do with me, so why am I getting angry?

Whether she lives or dies, it’s none of my business. In fact, since she’s my enemy, I should be glad.

And yet, why do I feel so unsettled? Why am I so infuriated? I can’t figure it out.

Is it because I know she used up her own lifespan to save me?

Even if that’s the case, as a Demon, there’s no way I’d feel gratitude.

"...Even if it’s a dog’s death, there are things that must be protected."

"What exactly have you protected?"

"No matter the reason, refusing to compromise with injustice."

I—

"I upheld righteousness."

—cannot understand her.