𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫
Despite our inability to visit the grave, we decided to stay in the red-light district.
ㅤ
I want to hear more.
Unable to give up, I decided to spend a night with the oldest and most knowledgeable prostitute in the most ancient brothel.
Of course, with a young girl accompanying me, I was promptly denied at the entrance. After settling matters with Kami-sama alone, I climbed in through a window to the room.
The red-haired prostitute was taken aback.
ㅤ
“I’m stunned. Don’t bring a child into a brothel.”
“She’s not a child; she’s my wife.”
“That’s not any better.”
“Hold on, sister. It’s a bit complicated. Sorry, can you let us off the hook tonight?”
ㅤ
I handed several boxes of paper cigarettes and a bottle of liquor in front of her. Kami-sama had obtained these earlier in the day at a store while listening to stories about my father’s grave.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Well, alright. I wasn’t doing anything anyway.”
ㅤ
Perhaps she understood our circumstances. She accepted the hush money and readily took us in.
The prostitute started smoking, joining Kami-sama and me around the table.
ㅤ
“I’m Charte. What’s your name, sister?”
“Call me whatever you like. You two can only tell me fake names anyway, right?”
“True.”
ㅤ
Then, I opened up to her about our situation in a non-threatening way.
We came looking for someone who had helped us in the red-light district in the past―Hiraes.
ㅤ
“Hiraes-san, huh. He was a good man.”
“Do you know him, sister?”
“Yeah. He was a bit rough around the edges, but he was handsome in a way you wouldn’t forget.”
ㅤ
As she puffed on the cigarettes I had given her, she began to reminisce.
ㅤ
“When I was new, he helped me with contraceptives and aromatic oils. I heard that the rumors of his death in a fire were true. His body was charred and mangled with chemicals. It was an awful sight.”
“. . . . . .I see.”
ㅤ
Hearing about my father’s death from someone who knew him.
As my mind went blank, I asked questions while I could still pretend to be calm.
ㅤ
“What about his daughter? There was a rumor that she died with him. . . . . .”
“I’m not sure about that. I think his daughter had already left Hiraes’ shop by the time I knew about it. . . . . .”
ㅤ
A cigarette ash falls.
I felt dizzy and felt as if I was going to melt into the mud. I clenched the hem of my skirt tightly. Kami-sama held me in his lap, continually stroking my head.
Each time I felt faint, Kami-sama supported my body.
ㅤ
The prostitute suddenly looked at my face as if she realized something.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Are you, by any chance, Hiraes’ daughter?”
ㅤ
In that moment, Kami-sama naturally stretched his hand in front of the prostitute’s eyes.
A white snake peeked its face from his sleeve. The moment the snake and the prostitute’s eyes met, a ringing filled the air.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
The prostitute’s eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed onto the bed.
ㅤ
“I put her to sleep. When she wakes up, she’ll forget everything that happened tonight.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama hugged me, kissing my face multiple times.
Only when he licked around my eyes did I realize that I was crying.
ㅤ
“Ah. . . . . .”
“Charlene. It’s okay to cry. Only I am watching.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama adjusted me in his lap, silently licking away my tears.
Thank you. Don’t worry. It’s embarrassing to cry.
I wanted to say something. But, my lips were trembling, and I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t think of anything.
ㅤ
“You should sleep for a bit. . . . . .I’ll be right here.”
ㅤ
Suddenly, everything went dark.
Just like that, I passed the night in Kami-sama’s arms.
ㅤ
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
ㅤ
The following morning.
A beautiful face was before my eyes. Kami-sama was looking right at me with his eyes wide open.
ㅤ
“U, uwaah?!”
“Good morning. I was relieved to see you sleeping well.”
ㅤ
Saying so with a straight face, Kami-sama licked the corner of my eyes like it was a natural greeting. Remembering that I had cried the day before, I feel uncomfortable. I had only ever shown my tears in front of my father or the temple’s Kami-sama―oh right, he is Kami-sama, indeed.
I gently push his face away.
ㅤ
“St, stop it. I’m not crying anymore.”
“I was healing your swollen eyes.”
“Healing. . . . . .?”
ㅤ
Peroro, Kami-sama shows his tongue.
Though he’s called the Serpent God, his tongue has the same shape as a human’s.
ㅤ
“The most effective way to heal is to lick with my tongue. Through my saliva, the divine power can be applied directly.”
“Is, is that how it works. . . . . .?”
ㅤ
With a feeling of half conviction and half disbelief, I let him lick my face. We’ve only known each other for a few days, but being held in his arms and entwined like this, oddly enough, feels comforting. It feels as if we’ve been together forever―indeed, it’s a fact that I’ve been pampered as a believer for a long time.
ㅤ
(Hm? Healing by licking. . . . . .?)
ㅤ
I feel like something is bothering me.
ㅤ
“Charlene, is there anywhere else that hurts?”
“It, it’s too close, Kami-sama. . . . . .That’s enough, thank you.”
ㅤ
In Kami-sama’s dark eyes, my face is reflected. Seeing that, I feel somewhat reassured.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Waking up in the morning and having someone say ‘good morning’ to me. It’s been since I lived with Dad.”
“Charlene. . . . . .”
“Let me say it again. . . . . .Good morning, Kami-sama.”
“Yeah. Good morning.”
ㅤ
Kami-sama lightly smiles and kisses my forehead.
In the bed, a prostitute is sleeping, her back turned to us, while Kami-sama, who is holding me in his arms, is lying down. The prostitute doesn’t seem to be waking up yet.
ㅤ
Now, what should I do next? ― I was thinking at that moment.
Kami-sama jumped out of bed and looked out the window.
His expression was stern.
When I followed his gaze down the window, men in armor, who stood out in the city’s atmosphere, were lined up under the brothel.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .The Saint’s Guard Knights. . .?!”
“Are they the ones who hurt Charlene?”
ㅤ
Kami-sama’s calm black eyes were now shining gold.
From beneath me, white things appeared―snakes.
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