I Can Hear the Saint’s True Feelings

Now, Victoria and I could only sit awkwardly, side by side on a single bed. The room was cramped because it was the cheapest inn in a secluded area.

The distance between us was so close that we could feel each other’s breath and body heat. The only difference from yesterday was that we were in a contract relationship, but everything between us had changed.

“I’ll sleep on the floor. You take the bed,” I said, breaking the silence.

I quickly spread a blanket on the floor.

Victoria looked scared, unsure of what would happen next. Her thoughts were full of regret that she hadn’t worn more provocative underwear.

“Huh? But… wouldn’t your back hurt? Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

No, that can’t be right…? Do you really hate me that much?

Victoria tilted her head, looking at me as though something was off. Her plan to make me see her as more than just a fake lover must have failed, so her reaction was only natural.

“It’s fine. You wouldn’t want to sleep in the same bed with a guy you don’t like, right? I’m not going to cross any lines, even if we’re pretending to be a couple.”

I acted coldly toward her on purpose. I had never once thought of her as a romantic partner.

“…Then why did you say you confessed to me when Anima asked? You had the perfect opportunity to reveal our contract relationship, but you didn’t.”

Victoria looked at me with a somewhat displeased expression, clearly trying to piece together why I had said that, assuming I had confessed because we were on the same wavelength.

“If the contract relationship is exposed, we can’t fight the Succubus Queen. If everyone in the party knows about it, how could we face the dream illusions?”

I explained myself so that Victoria wouldn’t misunderstand. After all, the contract relationship was supposed to be something only the two of us knew about. It was a good way to handle the fake illusions in dreams.

“Astral, is that why you accepted my proposal? So, there’s really no personal feeling involved?”

I thought you might look at me differently, but… am I really not attractive?

Victoria’s melancholic thoughts pierced through me. While she acted indifferent, I could tell she was on the verge of tears.

“…I have to kill the Demon King.”

I revealed my true goal to her.

Having been the sole survivor of my village, burned down by the Demon King’s army, I didn’t think I deserved to love anyone, nor did I think I could be loved.

“That’s everyone’s wish, isn’t it? There’s no need to carry this burden alone…”

“I’m sorry for making you think otherwise, but I honestly believe I have no worth if I don’t achieve this.”

I secretly hoped that Victoria would stop having feelings for me. Unrequited love only leads to one person wearing themselves out.

If she had no feelings for me, it was better to push her away like this rather than lead her on.

“And besides, didn’t you say you hated me? Why did you look so happy earlier? You even made up a confession.”

“T-that was… I was drunk, and I couldn’t help it. A man like you is the last person I’d like. After this contract relationship ends, I’ll leave without any regrets.”

I was so happy thinking that I might actually be dating you…

Victoria crossed her arms, showing her discomfort. Even if I could hear her true feelings, I couldn’t return them, so I was actually relieved that her words and thoughts didn’t match.

‘I can’t let her know that I can hear her thoughts.’

I wasn’t even sure if Victoria had feelings for me, and it would be disastrous if she found out that I could hear her innermost thoughts.

Since I hadn’t heard the thoughts of the others around us, there was a good chance something was off with our contract relationship.

“You’re really the worst. Now that we’re in a relationship, I think I’m starting to understand.”

You don’t even realize how hard I tried to seduce you, do you? I said those things to make sure you wouldn’t back out later…

Victoria was clearly stressed, biting her lower lip as she spoke. Her tone made it clear she wasn’t pleased with my behavior of not seeing her as a romantic partner.

“…I’ll wash up first. Please don’t try to peek.”

Victoria said to me, her voice slightly sharp as she headed to the bathroom. I could hear the creaking sound of her footsteps and the door slamming shut, realizing she was angry.

Actually, you can peek… We’re a couple now, after all.

I deliberately avoided looking at her neatly folded clothes, setting myself up for some physical training instead.

I had to clear my mind. If I let myself fall for her tricks, I felt like I might start developing feelings I didn’t want.

The sound of water splashing.

Victoria was washing herself in the shower, her body finally able to be cleaned properly, thanks to the waterproof magic I had cast.

Originally, the flowers that bloomed on her body caused intense pain when touched. Bathing or showering had been out of the question, and all she could do was wipe herself with a damp cloth.

‘The reason I can shower like this is because of you… Why can’t I just be honest?’

Thanks to my magic, she was able to wash herself with the water shielded by the waterproof spell.

“Astral, do you really hate me…?”

Victoria whispered softly to herself, the thought of being disliked by the man she liked almost bringing her to tears.

The reason Victoria couldn’t confess her feelings was likely because I was always keeping my distance, building walls between us.

She tried to express her emotions, but I always pushed her away, either because I didn’t notice or because I had no feelings for her.

“It’s not that you’re completely invisible to me…”

Victoria figured out that when I had placed my gaze on her chest earlier, my reaction had been ambiguous. Even though I had said I would sleep on the floor, it didn’t seem like I was seeing her as nothing but a friend.

‘It’s a shame I didn’t bring more seductive underwear. If I had, maybe I could have tested the waters more…’

Victoria deliberately left her undergarments where I could see them. After coming out wearing just a towel, she could always say it was the alcohol that made her act that way.

‘If Astral really does pounce on me like an animal…’

Her imagination ran wild, and just thinking about it made her face flush, and her body seemed to heat up. According to the Heavenly One’s teachings, intercourse without the intent to procreate was forbidden.

Would her dangerous thoughts be revealed to me?

“Astral!”

“Huh?! Yes!”

Outside, I could hear Astral urgently calling Victoria’s name, and she quickly covered herself with her hands in embarrassment.

Even though there was no one to see, she couldn’t help but think that maybe Astral could be watching.

“There’s some ointment on the shelf, use that! Don’t use the one from the inn!”

But after saying that, Astral knocked and quickly left. He didn’t mention anything about the underwear I had left by the door, which made it seem like he wasn’t concerned at all.

“This…”

When Victoria checked the shelf, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Just now, the man who spoke so harshly, preparing the ointment I like, is really quite cute.”

She had always been surrounded by the scent of flowers from her youth, so the simple ointment was something she had once mentioned using, saying it had no strong scent when they were out shopping together.

“If that’s the case, then the lie about not remembering what you said when we first met is clearly just that— a lie.”

Victoria immediately saw through the lie and hummed a little tune while applying the ointment to her hair as she finished her shower.

‘Well, really, what kind of man would go to these lengths if he wasn’t at least interested in the woman?’

Astral had cast waterproof magic so that she could wash herself properly, and even took the care to prepare ointment that didn’t use flowers as the main ingredient.

‘If Astral is trying to push me away, I could just force myself on him tonight and make it a done deal…’

Victoria, already heavily intoxicated, couldn’t make rational decisions.

She felt frustrated that despite sharing a room, Astral had insisted on sleeping on the floor, like a husband after a fight, and was annoyed by his attitude.

‘It’s wrong for him to not see me as a woman.’

His attitude of not seeing her as a romantic partner bothered her, yet he was so considerate in other ways.

Victoria dried her hair and prepared to go outside to retrieve her underwear, wrapping herself in a towel to cover her body.

Having read Victoria’s thoughts, I now found myself in the worst possible situation. I had realized her plan—if she thought I wasn’t interested, she was going to force herself on me.

“…Why are you only wearing a towel?”

Victoria’s soft curves, not even hidden by the large towel, looked more like a succubus than a saint to me.

“Oh, I left my underwear outside. Looks like I’m no match for the alcohol.”

Victoria, with her sensual body, pointed at the underwear lying next to me with her finger.

It was black.

“Were you aroused by seeing this? If so, you really are just an animal, worse than a monkey.”

I wonder if you’re really not impotent. I should check tonight.

“…That’s not possible.”

I quickly shook my head in denial. Her movements, drunk and approaching me, felt more terrifying than any monster.

“Victoria, would you like me to use a spell to get rid of your drunkenness? You look like you’re struggling…”

“No, I don’t want that. There are days when I want to be drunk too.”

Being drunk is the only way I can do this and then claim I did it because I was tipsy…!

Step by step.

Her golden dragon-like irises glowed in the dark.

‘Even if I use the magic to sober her up, she’ll probably just force herself on me and lie about it. If I ask for help or try to run away, my comrades might think I’m a monster tomorrow.’

“If Saint Victoria were to lie and say that I almost raped her, who would believe me? My reputation, soaked in alcohol and cigarettes, is the lowest even among the party members.”

As Victoria’s footsteps drew closer, I tried to think of a way to escape the situation as best as I could.

Think, think…

“Victoria.”

“Yes, what is it?”

If you’ve taken off your upper clothes and robe… could it be that Lord Astal is also preparing himself?

After taking care of my underwear, I stopped for a moment, and Victoria stared at me intensely. Just a while ago, I had removed my upper clothing due to exercise, and she had misunderstood the situation.

“I’ve thought it over, and since this is a contract relationship…”

The heavy breath and the saliva on my lips seemed ready to overwhelm me at any moment, so I had no choice but to say the words a man would say in this situation.

“Let’s just hold hands and sleep tonight.”

“…What?”

“To prepare for the succubus queen’s dream, we have to act like real lovers, you know? But if you’re uncomfortable, we don’t have to…”

Suddenly, Victoria’s steps stopped, and she looked up at me with a creaking neck, as if she were a broken doll.

Like real lovers, like real lovers… Can Lord Astal actually sleep while holding my hand…?

Victoria’s face was slightly red, though it was unclear whether it was from the alcohol or from embarrassment.

“…So, you really don’t have any ill intentions, do you? I thought Lord Astal was a castrated man who would run away from any situation like this.”

Lord Astal suggested it first…! That clueless Astal…! It seems the contract relationship really works!

Victoria smiled faintly and said something to me. Her inner thoughts were enjoying the lingering meaning of her words, repeating them over and over in her mind.

If this works, I won’t even have to show him that I’m a woman! From now on, I’ll naturally make Lord Astal into a real lover who can’t live without me. I can do this, Victoria!

Her inner thoughts were quite loud at that moment. After creating some distance, Victoria was completely captivated by me, planning to make me her boyfriend.

‘Odin, my god… why are you testing me like this…?’

That day, for the first time, I prayed to a god I didn’t even believe in, silently wishing that time could be turned back before this contract relationship with her had started.