WHFIO06

Chapter 6

Elses’s expression froze in shock when she recognized a familiar face.

It wasn’t the act of killing itself that startled her—she had witnessed and even committed killings herself during her first possession.

What shook her to the core was this:

“……W-What did I just see?”

The one who had committed murder… was Asteor.

The Asteor she knew had always been soft-hearted. He had hesitated even when it came to killing monsters, or punishing those who had harmed him. He could never simply pass by someone weak, and always stood up against injustice.

He hadn’t become a hero for wealth or glory. It was simply because he happened to be born with strength greater than most, and believed firmly that the strong had a duty to protect the weak. For that reason alone, he had chosen the arduous path of a hero.

And yet, despite everything, he had always considered himself a hypocrite. Even the most natural, instinctive desires for self-preservation would torment him with guilt.

“I must have seen it wrong…”

With disbelieving eyes, Elses stared at the closed door. Quickly gathering her wits, she turned on her heel.

Whether or not the man she had just seen was truly Asteor, one thing was certain:

“I need to get out of here.”

She could not stay.

But before she could take more than a few steps, the sound of a door opening came from behind her. A voice, firm and knightly, called out:

“Who’s there? This place is off-limits to civilians.”

Elses froze in panic.

Should I run?

But if she fled, she might be branded suspicious and never again be allowed entry into the temple.

At that moment, a quick excuse came to her mind.

Turning back with a bright, fluster-free expression, she spoke:

“Oh, forgive me. It’s been years since I last came here, and I must’ve gotten lost.”

Hearing that she had visited the temple before, the paladin seemed to take her for nothing more than a lost believer, and his suspicion eased.

“Which building are you looking for?”

“I was trying to find the library, but it looks like it’s been moved.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll guide you there.”

Relieved, Elses followed behind the knight, exhaling quietly.

“As long as I don’t run into Asteor again, I’ll just look at a few books and leave…”

But when they finally reached the library, a new problem arose.

“My apologies, but the library is currently under renovation. It won’t be available for some time.”

Of all the days…

The paladin looked regretful.

“I completely forgot it’s been closed for repairs. I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s fine. I can always come another day.”

She turned to leave with disappointment when a gentle, familiar voice stopped her.

“Let her in.”

Elses froze. That voice shouldn’t be here.

Turning, she saw him—as expected, clad in the robes of a Cardinal—Asteor.

The gatekeeper at the library shifted uneasily.

“But, Your Eminence, the work isn’t yet complete…”

“It’ll be some time before full renovations begin anyway. A library exists to provide knowledge, not merely to display neat shelves.”

“That is true, but…”

“I also have an urgent need for a book. Will you turn me away?”

Unable to refuse, the gatekeeper unlocked the door.

Asteor turned to Elses with a kind smile.

“Shall we go in, my lady?”

From the past, Asteor had always treated everyone—regardless of rank or birth—with respect, using honorifics equally. Calling her “my lady” was simply a reflection of his nature.

To most women, such courtesy would have been heart-fluttering. But for Elses, her heart pounded with dread.

“That really was Asteor I saw earlier…?”

The man who had just taken a life was standing before her now with the same face.

She wanted to flee immediately, but refusing a Cardinal’s kindness would only draw suspicion. Reluctantly, she followed him inside.

“I should at least thank him…”

She turned to speak.

“Thank you, Your Eminence. Thanks to you—”

“Pardon me a moment.”

Without warning, Asteor stepped close, his face brushing near her hair.

His breath was so close she could feel it, making her heart race with unease.

Just as she considered bolting, he stepped back.

“That’s fine now. Nothing dangerous on you.”

“……What?”

“A quick check. Of course I don’t suspect you, but these precious books must be kept safe.”

“Ah…”

“Suspicious people give off a suspicious scent, you know. My line of work sharpens my instincts.”

He tapped his nose playfully, flashing a radiant smile—the kind no one could associate with someone who had just committed murder.

“Take your time.”

With that, he moved deeper into the library.

His broad shoulders might have drawn admiration from other women, but Elses only sighed in relief.

“I think I just lost ten years of my life…”

Heroes were always dangerous in their own right, but Asteor especially so—his power stood in direct opposition to the Demon King, making him acutely sensitive to demonic energy.

Best to stay away.

“I’ll just pretend I came for some books and slip out…”

She hurriedly grabbed a few random volumes without looking.

But through the shelves, she saw him again—sunlight streaming down on his golden hair, his cold blue eyes scanning the spines, his long fingers gliding gracefully across the books.

Clad in his Cardinal robes, bathed in light, he looked almost divine. And yet… beneath the familiar beauty, there lingered a chill that hadn’t been there before.

Before she realized it, she was staring. When their eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze.

“Found what you needed?”

“Y-Yes!”

Clutching the random books, she left with him.

“Thank you, Your Eminence. Thanks to you, I was able to borrow what I needed.”

“Mm. I hope those books are of help to you.”

His tone as he glanced at them carried a strange nuance. Curious, Elses looked down—then nearly dropped them in horror.

『I Stole the Tyrant’s Purity』

The title was suspicious at best, scandalous at worst.

“Why would such a book be in a temple library?!”

Struggling to keep a straight face, she forced a laugh.

“Aha, well… my younger sister is obsessed with romance novels lately, you see…”

Yes—if you don’t have a cat to sell, you sell a nonexistent sibling instead.

Fortunately, Asteor let it pass.

“Then, until fate brings us together again.”

He smiled warmly. Elses returned it with an awkward one of her own.

“No—let’s not meet again for a while.”

She recalled the grief he had shown when she died before, and her chest tightened. But it had been three years. Surely by now, he had forgotten her, her absence, her memory.

“He has to have moved on.”

She bowed politely and turned away—but then, impulsively, looked back.

Seeing him in those Cardinal robes, she couldn’t hold back the words she had wanted to say.

“That robe suits you so well… You really look like an angel, Your Eminence.”

For the first time, his smile disappeared.

“Why that reaction? Did he dislike it?”

The Asteor she remembered would have lit up with joy at such praise.

Awkwardly, she added:

“Oh… was that too obvious a comment? Haha…”

She bowed again and left.

As her figure retreated, Asteor’s thoughts were pulled back by a memory—one precious voice.

‘Asteor, when you wear the sacred robes, you’ll look just like an angel!’

His expression twisted bitterly.

“…That was something I wished to hear from someone else.”

As he lingered in the memory, hurried footsteps approached. A cleric rushed up, bowing.

“Your Eminence, there you are. A statement has arrived from the Holy Kingdom.”

The Holy Kingdom—a sacred city-state at the continent’s center, ruled by the Saintess. Neutral in all politics, their sole purpose was to defend humanity from the Demon King.

Though born a citizen of the Empire, Asteor also held office as a Cardinal appointed by the Holy Kingdom.

Unfolding the message, his eyes darkened.

「The Demon King has resurrected.
All temples must be on alert, and the Heroes are requested to cooperate.」

Asteor’s gaze grew chilling as he read the words.

✨ End of Chapter 6