[Priest]
Helena felt bewildered, utterly unable to grasp what he had just said.
“Uh… excuse me?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself. Divorce him. I have the paperwork ready; all that’s left is your signature.”
“……”
“I’m going to marry you to a nobleman, necessitating your divorce from Sandoval.”
“……”
Helena instinctively recoiled, but Hazen pushed the divorce papers toward her without regard for her feelings.
She couldn’t believe it. How could someone be so heartless? No, he couldn’t be human. He was a demon wearing human skin.
However.
She couldn’t defy him. Helena was bound to him as a slave, and Hazen was her master. This master-slave bond was absolute, unbreakable. But this was the one thing she simply couldn’t bring herself to do.
Wait, he didn’t know about her love for her husband. He likely ordered her to divorce him so casually because he assumed their marriage lacked love.
Surely he would understand if she explained her feelings for her husband. No one would dare to separate a loving couple.
There were no such creatures as demons in reality. Helena repeatedly told herself before summoning the courage to speak.
“Uhm… perhaps I should have mentioned it earlier, but I love Sandoval.”
“Your feelings or opinions are inconsequential. This is an order.”
“……”
Grin.
Helena realized—Oh, he is not human. He’s a devil. A devil among devils.
The black-haired girl wore a similarly shocked expression as Helena.
“H-how heartless.”
“Well, can’t help it.”
“Don’t give me that! Is there really no other way? Surely you can use her some other way?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t want to waste even a single second of my life on thinking about her.”
“……”
The girl named Yan looked at him with disbelief, jaws agape. It seemed like this girl followed Hazen against her will. Perhaps she had been kidnapped and forced to do his biddings just like her. A pang of sympathy welled up within Helena.
Meanwhile, Sandoval came over.
“What’s going on, Hele–?! …H-Hazen.”
“It’s been a while, Sandoval.”
“Y-yeah, my son. It sure has been a while.”
“I’m no longer your son. I’ve handed your divorce papers Foster Mother; hurry and sign them.”
“……”
Sandoval couldn’t help but take a few steps back.
“I-I… Can’t you reconsider it? Please, I beg of you. I… I love Helena.”
“This is an order, and it is final. I won’t listen to your opinions, not now, not ever.”
“…I-I… ugh,” He retreated a few more steps.
“Once you’ve signed, start packing. There’s something I want you to do.”
“What?”
“I need intelligence on the underworld in Beskae territory, so I want you to infiltrate one of their slave guilds, resuming your old job.”
“B-but… I swore I’d never return to that life.”
“You’ll simply be conducting an undercover operation. And it will help wiping them out, so you’ll do the world good in the end.”
“……”
A heavy silence hung in the air. Eventually, Sandoval threw himself to the ground, begging with tears streaming down his face.
“…I’m begging you! Please, have mercy!”
Sandoval rubbed his head against the ground.
“I just want to live honestly now! With my beloved Helena! Please… please…”
“…Sandoval.”
Helena felt warmth flood her chest. She shared his sentiments completely. She couldn’t bear to let go of the happiness they had found together.
Before she knew it, she was prostrating beside him.
“I beg you as well! We will never engage in any wrongdoing again! We will lead honest lives and cause no harm to others.”
“…Huh.”
The silenced lasted for several seconds.
Hazen gave both of them an exasperated look and released a sigh.
“Once, a certain priest said: ‘No matter the sin, if you confess and repent, forgiveness shall be granted. God pardons all who seek His mercy.'”
“T-then…”
The moment Sandoval raised his head, Hazen stomped on it.
“Ugh.”
“Do I… look like a priest to you?”
“Eep.”
Saying that, he revealed a refreshing smile that sent shivers down the couple’s spines.
“Sandoval Jeda. Former executive of the slave guild ‘Gungar’. Responsible for the abduction and sale of over 100 children into slavery. Did those innocent children plead for mercy like you do now?”
“U…ugh.”
“Helena Dali. Employed at the guild headquarters, deceiving unsuspecting applicants who weren’t accepted into slavery. Did those innocent souls beg for your mercy like you do now?”
“Eek…”
At that moment, the nightmare rushed back into her mind. In the nightmare, she had been the one Hazen’s position, while the pleading man had been in her current position. The realization brought tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Don’t misunderstand. I had no intention of rehabilitating you.”
“N-no…”
Despair etched across Sandoval’s face as Hazen locked eyes with him before casting into the abyss.
“I will wring out every ounce of your happiness. I will make you suffer as those whose happiness you’ve stolen. That… is the price you have to pay.”
“……”
Ah, it’s too late, Helena thought. Even if she regretted it now, she couldn’t alter the past. She was fated to obey this man for eternity.
“So, just give up. You have no right to lead an honest life or find happiness.”
With a gentle pat on both of their shoulders, Hazen flashed a radiant smile.
“…Egh… egh… egh, ek.”
“Don’t be disappointed. I’m not a devil. I’ll let you live as long as you prove yourselves useful. You’re free to pursue love and happiness, but don’t expect to attain them. Sinners like you aren’t worthy.”
“Why… why us?”
“Why indeed? It’s a valid question.”
Hazen’s tone was being unusually understanding. After some contemplation, he responded, “It’s… just bad luck, I guess.”
“…”
“God extends His love to both the righteous and the sinful alike. You two simply happened to be unfortunate enough to cross paths with me. That’s all there is to it.”
Saying that…
The black-haired young man smiled.
And that smile…
It was so captivating, yet somehow twisted.
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