Chapter 29
What if he harbors impure intentions—how could we let him in then?
“If you’re done watching, let’s go. The boss will get hungry, and his stomach will start caving in.”
“You clearly don’t know how lovely a narrowing waistline can be, Mr. Belt.”
“My boss looks best with a thick, rugged waist full of primal charm.”
My boss, he says.
That possessiveness is practically dripping off him, Mr. Belt.
Both Sir Danny and I shot him the same look of disgust, but he just looked down at us with a smug expression, as if saying, What are you looking at?—well, at me, to be exact. Sir Danny was taller than him by far.
Skkk—skkk.
I stared at Joshua dragging his feet along the floor. He had nowhere particular to go, wandering around with slumped shoulders and an exaggeratedly weary gait, as if begging someone to notice he had something on his mind.
I, however, decided not to notice. I had a warm apple pie to deliver to the boss before it cooled. The sweet-and-sour scent alone was enough to make my jaw ache; I couldn’t wait to share it.
As I climbed to the third floor, Joshua trailed behind me, still sulking.
When we reached the boss’s room, he slipped inside first, slumped onto the sofa, and sighed heavily.
I cut the pie, handed the boss a slice with a fork, and offered one to Joshua as well.
And the rest was all mine.
“You’re not seriously planning to eat all that yourself.”
“It’d be a waste to leave any.”
“I want more.”
“I don’t like greedy men.”
“Give it.”
As I guarded the pie from the gluttonous boss, Joshua let out a sigh so long it was impossible to ignore.
“Huuuuuuh… ahhhhhh…”
“Is he trying to get attention?” I asked.
The boss turned toward me mid-bite. Suddenly, his shoulder blades were right in front of my eyes.
Because he was kneeling on the sofa, his shirt stretched taut across his back, making the lines of muscle around his shoulder blades stand out vividly.
“This is nice.”
A feast for the eyes—and thanks to the pie, for the mouth, too.
“Ahh! Huuuuh! Huuuuh!”
“……”
Joshua leaned so close while sighing that my knees felt hot. I pushed his face aside, but he didn’t budge.
I finally asked, “What?”
“Well, you see…”
As if waiting for the prompt, Joshua launched into his story. The boss stood up with his plate, and I instinctively grabbed him by the waistband.
Since I was sitting, my hand didn’t reach much higher…
“What are you doing?”
“Don’t go! Let’s hear Joshua’s troubles together!”
“I’ve heard them a thousand times.”
“Maybe this time it’s new?”
“Let go. My pants are coming off.”
“Then you’d better sit quietly before they do!”
…I couldn’t handle this alone. His complaints were bound to be endless. Please help me deal with him!
Catching the desperation in my eyes, the boss sighed and sat back down, tugging at his waistband.
“I’m a really, really scary demon, right? My power isn’t quite on par with Serhael’s, but it’s strong enough to influence this world. I’m super strong.”
Somehow, I doubted truly powerful demons went around bragging about it.
Then again, the Demon King always did love to puff out his chest and say, ‘I’m the greatest Demon King of all!’
“Wherever I went, demons adored me. You’ve never seen my true form, have you?”
“No, but…”
“Right.”
Right what? I didn’t even finish my sentence.
“My true form is that of a huge, magnificent dragon. But no matter how much you want to see it, I can’t show you now. I need magic energy to return to that glorious form…”
“The point, please.”
Finally, the boss cut in sharply. Joshua tried to go on, but every time he opened his mouth, the boss interrupted with curt replies. Eventually, Joshua’s cheeks puffed up in frustration.
“Fine, I’m not saying anything!”
If the boss wasn’t paying attention, it probably wasn’t anything important anyway.
“Boss, I’m going to the temple early tomorrow morning.”
His pupils trembled with unease.
“…And me?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back before breakfast. We can eat together then.”
I was only planning to meet with High Priest Isard and return immediately. At that, the boss quietly slid another slice of pie onto my plate.
Oh my, how adorable.
Before I could praise him, Joshua butted in.
“You’re going to the temple tomorrow?”
“Yeah, a certain High Prie—”
“I’m going too! I’m coming with you!”
He cut me off.
“Let’s go together!”
“I don’t mind, but… can a demon even enter a temple?”
Wouldn’t the saintess burst out in fury the moment he stepped in? “What’s a demon doing in a sacred place?”
“I’ll… go. Anyway, I’m coming!”
“You don’t look thrilled about it.”
Even as he insisted, Joshua’s expression looked like someone forced to eat hundred-day-old cheese.
Early dawn, tinted blue.
It had been about fifteen minutes since Joshua dragged me deep inside the temple grounds. I’d done nothing but stare at the small building ahead while his hand clutched mine tightly.
This area, far from the central hall, showed little trace of visitors. The building, surrounded by small flowerbeds, looked more like a tiny cottage than a temple hall.
As I gazed at its white walls, I caught myself thinking, Must have great soundproofing, then shook my head.
“Joshua, I have to go to the main building.”
Morning prayers were held there, and that’s where the priest I needed to meet would be waiting.
“Joshua?”
He didn’t answer—just held my hand tighter. Unsure what to do, I glanced toward Sir Danny, who was acting as my escort today.
“Sir.”
“I’m sleepy.”
That wasn’t what I asked.
Ugh, getting a normal answer out of him was hopeless.
I gave up and shook Joshua’s hand lightly. Let go, kiddo. We have to eat breakfast with the boss before he starts pouting again.
“You have business here? Then finish quickly, and let’s go home for breakfast.”
“…Home.”
“Well, not my home—our boss’s—but we live there too, so let’s call it ours.”
But Joshua only hesitated. Just as I considered dragging him along to meet the priest myself, the bushes rustled to our left. Out stepped Yubelin, wearing her golden, embroidered saintess robes.
She widened her eyes at the sight of me.
“You…”
I was just as startled. If the saintess saw me now, she might sense my divine power.
I quickly hid my panic and bowed politely.
“Greetings, Lady Saintess.”
Never in my life did I expect to run into her here.
“Joshua, why did you bring this maid with you?”
Ah—so the two of them had planned to meet.
He must’ve been confident she wouldn’t notice what I am, I thought. Or maybe he’d simply brought me along without thinking.
Still, Joshua hated the saintess. Why meet her in secret?
Was it one of those cases—pretending to hate her in public, but secretly infatuated—
“Who cares who I bring!”
…Guess not.
The saintess scolded him sharply.
“Get a hold of yourself, Joshua. Do you think this is the time? Send the maid away.”
Joshua pressed his lips together, squeezing my hand once before letting go.
“Danny, take her away.”
“Let’s go.”
“Joshua, I’ll wait in the carriage. When you’re done—”
“Titi, come back here when I’m finished.”
“Joshua!”
Startled, the saintess shouted, and Joshua glared at her.
“What? She’s too dumb to understand what’s going on anyway! We’re going back to the same house—what’s wrong with asking her to come get me?”
…Did he just call me dumb?
“Joshua, must you behave this way?”
“I must! Titi, make sure you come here!”
Ignoring the saintess’s furious expression, Joshua stomped inside. She sighed deeply, then turned to me with a warning.
“Wait at least an hour before coming.”
Thankfully, she didn’t seem to sense anything unusual about me. Even the High Priest hadn’t noticed before, so I allowed myself a bit of relief.
“Yes, Lady Saintess.”
As she followed Joshua inside, she glanced sideways at Sir Danny and asked quietly,
“How’s Jerren these days?”
Her voice was soft, but clear enough to hear.
Sir Danny, however, pretended he hadn’t heard a thing.
