Chapter 84
Surely, if anyone came, it should have been Damian.
But the one standing in front of Katrina was someone else.
“Are you Lady Rina’s younger brother?”
The priest Helaio looked at Lucife as he asked.
Lucife calmly stepped to stand beside Katrina.
“She’s my sister.”
Where the hell are you spouting that nonsense?!
If you lie like that right now…
“Then why didn’t you enter together?”
The priest sounded suspicious, but Lucife replied as if nothing were amiss.
“My sister said she would go in first to check the place for her shy little brother.”
His eyes curved in a perfect smile.
“We were only apart for a moment.”
“…I see.”
The priest still seemed doubtful, but let it pass. He didn’t seem to think it was too unusual.
Katrina felt a headache coming on from this tangled mess.
Why on earth had Lucife come here? Could he also be investigating the Sun Society?
It was possible. Lucife was the Pope’s son.
Their relationship as father and son wasn’t exactly warm, but Lucife usually did whatever the Pope commanded.
So that’s why he came.
But the timing couldn’t be worse.
“Then will you and your brother participate in the ritual?”
Katrina glanced at Lucife.
Of course—he still had no idea what the ritual even was.
“Lady Rina, please answer.”
There was no other way.
“…We’ll participate.”
Lucife had stepped forward and tangled everything further.
“Very good. We shall see you shortly.”
“Just what do you think you’re doing?”
Katrina immediately snapped at Lucife.
Because of him, everything had gone awry.
She had planned to tell Helaio that since she hadn’t brought her brother, she would also not be joining the ritual.
But then…
“Should I have said I was your lover instead of your brother?”
Lucife spoke utter nonsense. Katrina wanted to slap him across the face.
“But Katrina.”
Lucife gently brushed her cheek.
“You’re too naive.”
“…What?”
“The moment you said you hadn’t brought your brother, that priest’s eyes turned cold.”
“…”
“He looked at you like he wouldn’t let you go alive.”
Katrina had noticed it too.
The priest’s face had hardened immediately after she admitted she hadn’t brought Damian.
“I only stepped in because you seemed in danger. Do you think I wanted to pretend to be your brother?”
“….”
“And besides, I’m here under His Holiness’s orders.”
That, at least, was what Katrina had expected.
The Pope must have been extremely wary of the Sun Society. He was desperate to uncover their stronghold.
Which was why his son Lucife had come in person.
“You came alone?”
“Holy Knights are waiting outside.”
“Good.”
Then perhaps they wouldn’t even need to endure the ritual.
If they learned enough, they could slip away.
Before long, the mass began.
Priest Helaio scattered his gentle smile over the congregation as always.
“Helaio!”
“Helaio!”
“Helaio!”
The fanatical believers cheered his name in ecstasy. Katrina once again felt like she had stepped into some bizarre world.
“Today I bring you grievous news.”
The moment Helaio began speaking, silence fell over the hall.
“Our sacrifice, Damian Abice, has been holding out far too long.”
“…”
“That man dares to resist ascending to the Sun God!” Helaio roared in fury.
“Hah… So it was the Sun Society who cursed Damian?”
Lucife leaned toward Katrina, half-laughing at the scene.
“How simple. All Damian needs to do is come here and kill the lot of them.”
To speak that way about servants of a god… was that allowed?
But Katrina couldn’t deny she was thinking the same thing.
Damian would have to come and kill the one who had cursed him.
“And today, I wish to introduce a very special guest. The one who aided in the founding of our Sun Society.”
What? Someone who helped establish them?
“And it was he who personally chose the sacrifice.”
A man soon appeared.
A face Katrina knew all too well. She was horrified.
Belek Abice.
…He was the one who had cursed Damian?
“We will kill Damian Abice and offer him to the Sun God!”
Belek’s eyes gleamed with madness as he shouted. Katrina turned to Lucife.
…This really was a disaster.
“Lucife, let’s get out of here.”
“Why?”
“Because the ritual is about to start. And it’s supposed to be the two of us in it. So we need to leave.”
“And if I refuse?”
By now, his uncooperative attitude wasn’t even surprising anymore.
“Then you can stay. I’m leaving.”
Katrina started to rise, intent on slipping away unnoticed.
“Now, let the ritual commence!”
Of course—that was the exact moment Helaio shouted.
He looked straight at Katrina and Lucife.
Panicking, Katrina tugged her veil low. If Belek recognized her, it would be disastrous.
She quickly pulled the same veil over Lucife’s face.
“You two, please prepare for the ritual.”
“….”
“Step forward.”
Damn it. She should have escaped sooner.
No helping it now.
If they couldn’t avoid it, they’d just have to end it quickly.
The key is not letting Belek notice me.
Katrina dragged Lucife forward. He still looked clueless about what the ritual entailed.
“Lady Rina, please receive the Holy Chalice.”
With no choice, Katrina accepted the chalice.
“Now drink.”
Following the bishop’s words, she forced down a single sip.
Poisonous!
It was viciously strong.
She hadn’t even swallowed yet, and already her head was spinning.
“Now share it.”
Here it comes.
With no choice, Katrina lifted Lucife’s veil slightly.
His crimson eyes looked at her.
At last, he seemed to understand what the ritual was.
Katrina gripped his chin.
This was your choice.
She passed the liquor she held in her mouth into his.
Lucife froze for a moment—
then his eyes curved in delight.
He gladly drank every drop she gave him.
Meanwhile, Damian was already at the Sun Church’s gathering.
He simply hadn’t entered alongside Katrina.
He had captured enough Sun Society believers to easily disguise himself and slip in.
So he was here, quietly watching how things would unfold.
And thus, he witnessed it.
Lucife and Katrina, sharing a kiss.
“Could you kiss me?”
Only then did Damian understand Katrina’s earlier question.
So in the end—
She couldn’t do it with him, so she brought Lucife instead.
