Akareal looked at Thoma with trembling eyes. His groans and pain-filled screams reverberated in her ears.
"Magic that grants immortality—able to save those who are close to death,"
Akareal shot up from her chair.
"… There is… a way."
"What? There is?" Oskal looked at Akareal in surprise.
"Yes, there is, but… we… can't… do that. We can never do that!"
Oskal grabbed the mage by her shoulders and shook her out of frustration. "Just what are you saying! What do you mean we can't? Are you saying there's something more important than saving the Hero's life?!"
"No, but… It's forbidden magic!" Akareal emphasized. "Something… we must never…!"
"Why are you saying we can't! Why? Just why…! There is no way we can't!"
"That magic is…!"
"What is more important that Thoma dying!! Are you scared that you'd be expelled as a mage? Hm? Is that it?" Akareal stared back at Oskal in a dazed silence. "Listen, Akreal! Whether you must use some forbidden magic or whatever, it's not important to me! I'm not as conservative as you mages! I'm not as stuffy as you mages! I will do whatever it takes to save that bastard! Whatever it takes…!"
"B-but…" she mumbled weakly.
Seeing her hesitation, Oskal grabbed her shoulders with more force.
"Akreal! Think of Thoma! That bastard gave everything he had for the sake of humanity! Even though the other countries turned their backs on him, this bastard risked his life for those damned nobles and royals and killed the Demon Lord! Even now, he's working for the sake of others as a monk! Are you hoping that such a man to die… A man who has only shown kindness his entire life? Without any reward? Huh? Akareal!"
Oskal's face was an ugly mess. There were tears flowing from his eyes as he begged her desperately.
"I beg you. I will bear all the blame! So, please… save Thoma!"
Akareal buried her face in her hands. Her body was trembling. She was contemplating, struggling, suffering, and continuously thinking. Finally, a quiet whisper escaped her lips.
"I-I understand."
"Really?"
While Oskal's face brightening, Akreal's voice was filled with forlorn resentment.
"Yes, but the blame for this, you don't have to bear it." Despite Oskal's shocked stare, Akareal finally smiled back at him. "I… will bear responsibility."
***
A lantern lit with magic brightly illuminated the room. The entire room was thick with a fragrance that dulled the mind and several nude nuns were rolling around on a luxuriously large bed, on which dozens of people could lie. Salem was in the midst of these nuns, sweating and breathing heavily. Euphoria permeated his body as he groaned in pleasure.
"…Ah-!"
The woman in Salem's embrace looked similar to Akareal, and he was imagining her face on this woman. That woman… the woman he was nostalgic for…!
'Akareal!'
The beautiful mage. The woman with whom he had explored and adventured with 20 years prior. The stubborn and strong woman he loved.
'I'm filthy? Don't kid yourself, Akareal. I-I am a noble ruler!'
"That's right," Salem said gleefully. "I am a noble…!"
"W-wait! Don't do it!" His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden commotion outside the room. "This place is forbidden… It's dangerous! It's a magic attack! Evade!"
There was a loud explosion following the screams of priests outside. Walking over the splinters of what had once been a door was a female mage wearing a black robe and holding a crude staff. Noticing her surprise at the scene she'd walked in on, Salem quickly turned back away from her and began stuttering out an excuse.
"No, Haha… this is. I know how this looks, buy you're misunderstanding something. T-this… is purification ceremony…! It seems unbelievable, right? It sounds crazy even to me."
'… Just what kind of excuses am I making?'
Salem shook his head while rubbing his brow.
'Why is someone of my position concerned with this sort of woman?'
Akareal frowned while watching the buck naked Pope fly into a panic.
"Filthy."
Salem lowered his head at that word, gritting his teeth in frustration.
'F-filthy..? Just how many times do I have to hear that today… This… is really the worst.'
His chest grew tight. All he could hear were the words of the woman before him echoing in his mind. He felt like his heart might burst out of frustration. However, Salem hid his emotions and put on one of his all too perfect smiles for Akareal.
"Yes, I am an audacious priest~!" Salem spoke in a humorous tone. "Without strength nor wisdom nor benevolence. I am a filthy priest that abuses his vast authority to get his hands on these faithful nuns…" He raised a hand to his chest. "However, I am the Pope of this land! For what reason have you sought me out? Ah, could it be because I said I would spill your little secret to the Hero? To seek me out just for that! Haha! Do you know how this situation looks? To carry out an assault on the bedroom of the Pope of the Holy Kingdom… If the king of your motherland, Aylans, knew of this, they'd be appalled. Imagine the diplomatic repercussions of your actions."
"Ey, you filthy priest." Akareal said nonchalantly.
Salem's eyes twitched in response.
"… It hurts when you say it so openly." he complained.
Akareal couldn't help but feel disgusted seeing him act this way. However, she didn't let her feelings get in the way of what she'd come here to do.
"Your Immortality Magic research. I'll help you."
Salem's eyes grew wide, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.
"… Are… are you telling the truth?"
'Why would she change her mind so suddenly? Is this a joke? Is she toying with me? It's a lie, isn't it?'
Salem was beyond shocked. Knowing her personality, he knew that she would never sacrifice others for her research.
After staying silent for so long, Salem finally laughed.
'Why would she say this? Isn't it obvious, she got scared! She was definitely scared after having provoked me! Now she's trying to scrape up the last bit of dignity she has left!'
Salem looked up to find Akareal aiming her staff at him.
"I will complete my research in three months, so support me."
"Yes! Of course, I'll help you! Anything you need! The entirety of the Holy Kingdom will assist you!"
'The magic of True Immortality! It's the magic that could grant me eternal life! Eternal youth and immortality! Also… it's a magic that requires the sacrifice of young children!'
Akareal felt nothing but contempt and disgust at Salem's expression.
"Just ready yourself properly…" she warned him.
"Haha! Don't worry! There's no need to rush.!" he joked.
'I'll help you whether it costs the lives of thousands, no, tens of thousands of children! I may be repulsive for going through all this just for the sake of extending my life, but you…'
The corners of Salem's lips looked as though they would tear from how wide his grin had become.
'Are filthy. However, that filthiness will grant me what I desire, so I don't mind.'
Salem smiled happily.
— Ω —