The Priest Wants to Retire

EP.229 Life is a Flower. Love is the Honey of that Flower (16)

Time paused for a moment.

A cliché expression commonly used by humans when faced with a shocking situation that halts accidents.

Apiece had come across this phrase countless times in various books, and even used it occasionally herself.

But to be confronted with a situation that fit that phrase so perfectly was, without a doubt, a first for her, Apiece could assert.

”·····?”

”Ugh·····!”

Dawna blinked repeatedly at Apiece’s sudden maiden declaration.

As Apiece stared at Dawna’s dazed expression, she felt her face burning red.

Dawna’s blank reaction was so far beyond Apiece’s expectations that it extinguished the resolve she had mustered to say those words.

She had anticipated anger or perhaps cursing, but instead was met with an eerie silence that completely severed the flow of conversation, making Apiece even more uneasy.

”Hoo·····.”

Apiece let out a heavy sigh and fell into a moment of contemplation.

Growing up in a wealthy family with innate talent.

With such a blessed upbringing, Dawna’s inflated ego could only be dealt with by someone whose self-esteem was as low as Regis’s.

That condescending attitude, deeply rooted in her character, was the complete opposite of Apiece’s fiery temperament.

Dawna’s casual remark could easily provoke Apiece’s anger and escalate into a fierce fight, which had become a daily occurrence within the Hero Party.

In that back-and-forth dynamic, the only way for Apiece to make Dawna shut up was to bring up romantic matters.

Having never had a partner nor even a proper friend in her life, Dawna always found herself at a loss in front of Apiece’s countless encounters with men throughout centuries.

No matter how much she tried to criticize Apiece for her promiscuity, when Apiece smirked and muttered “a maiden, by the way,” the tide of argument would always lean in Apiece’s favor.

The absurdity of realizing that the one who constantly mocked her was actually in the same situation as herself.

It was only natural for Apiece to expect that Dawna would fly into a rage upon hearing those words.

”If you didn’t hear me, I’ll repeat it once more. I’m a maiden. Just like you.”

”·····Huh?”

With her reiterated shocking declaration, Dawna let out a bewildered whisper.

Though Apiece maintained an appearance of calm, inside she was simmering with embarrassment.

She bit her lower lip in an attempt to control her emotions, but there was no stopping her long ears from turning crimson with shame.

”Wh-what does that mean…?”

Dawna stuttered as she spoke.

Her black eyes flickered like a lamp with barely any oil left.

Inside those eyes, Apiece could clearly see the faint glow of reason beginning to flicker.

”Why? Don’t you believe me? Should I spread my legs right here?”

”─!?”

Dawna, unable to utter another word, was thrown into a fluster by Apiece’s bold proclamation.

With her usual thinking capacity reduced to a fraction of normal, she couldn’t even guess what Apiece was trying to convey with such behavior.

The person she had chased believing to be Regis was actually Apiece in disguise.

Just that revelation alone was enough to make her head spin uncontrollably.

Not only was she provoking a fight out of nowhere, but now she suddenly revealed she was a maiden too.

The flood of information was enough to put Dawna’s mind in a temporary halt.

”Are you still alone after all this?”

However, Apiece’s anguished voice cut through like moonlight piercing through dense clouds, crystal clear.

”Ah, Apie····· Apiece·····?”

Thud.

”Eek!”

Boom!

At that moment, the atmosphere around them violently roiled.

Dawna, squeezing out whatever little Magic Power she had left, unleashed another spell at Apiece.

The trigger was Apiece’s bold step toward her.

Just one step, an attempt to approach her.

But Dawna’s reaction was clearly overboard.

An ice wall, as tall as an adult, rose up between them.

That unmistakable act of denial was a manifestation of Dawna’s current agitation and fear.

”Cough, cough!”

Dawna once again spat blood from her mouth.

It had long since surpassed any limits.

Yet, she was still able to move due to her twisted obsession toward Regis.

This precious connection she had obtained for the first time in her life, perhaps her last.

She wanted to feel that warm connection again.

To escape from the chilling cold that kept invading that warm void.

If she missed this opportunity, she might return to being all alone.

Though her assessment was impulsive, considering her poor social skills when it came to forming relationships.

But the current Dawna, her mind having been tossed around by another, had no room for rational thought to grasp how foolish that was.

”Ugh, ughh!”

Hiding behind the massive ice wall, Dawna took several backward steps, seemingly frightened by something.

The source of that fear was clear.

The mysterious being that kept stringing together nonsensical words and actions, stirring unknown emotions within her heart.

Apiece.

Right now, Dawna felt a vague fear toward her.

The level of that fear was beyond what she had felt when faced with her challenge before.

Wasn’t it truly ironic?

Having subtly hoped and wished to become closely involved with someone, yet now trying vehemently to push away the one coming closer.

But the opponent Dawna faced was not someone she could escape from with some trivial tricks.

Boom─!

Kicking through the ice wall, Apiece emerged, glaring fiercely at Dawna.

”You idiot! Get your ass out here now!?”

”Yeeek─!”

Dawna screamed in terror at Apiece’s reckless advance.

The face of Apiece that had never appeared before, nor had she even attempted to look for, twisted in rage like a ferocious beast, ringing alarm bells of unprecedented crisis for Dawna.

Her Magic Power had completely run out.

It was no longer possible to substitute life force for Magic Power.

Thus, all means at her disposal had exhausted, and Dawna had nothing left to counter the menace right in front of her.

Could there be anyone as powerless as a mage with drained Magic Power?

No matter how strong the strong mage of humanity might be, they could not escape the laws of that world.

Whoosh!

Just then, Apiece’s hand shot toward the sky as she grasped Dawna’s hand, which was flailing aimlessly in the air.

Snap!

”Uh, uh·····?”

Dawna’s eyes widened in a state of utter confusion.

It wasn’t because a part of her body was caught by Apiece.

What truly shocked Dawna were a few realizations that came to her afterward.

The faint warmth transmitted through their clasped hands.

The genuine, heartfelt emotions shimmering on the surface of that warmth.

It was something Dawna had almost forgotten.

No, it was something she had known but had failed to realize, slowly being illuminated like the morning sun.

”Ah, Apie····· Apiece·····?”

As Apiece pulled Dawna, who had slumped helplessly to the ground, back to her feet.

The original spark began to return to Dawna’s dark eyes at that moment, swirling in a vortex of chaos.

”Even so··· even so, are you still alone…?”

Bearing all the exhaustion, Apiece squeezed out her last bit of energy to speak.

While her expression remained fierce, her voice was surprisingly calm and warm, almost unbelievable for anyone who had just heard her furious outburst moments before.

”Huh, huhhh!”

Yeah, why hadn’t she realized this sooner?

In a literal sense, she must have known already.

Those people that, despite often fighting as if they would kill each other, made her feel empty when they weren’t around.

The ones you want to push aside when they’re ahead, but can trust to let your guard down when your back is exposed.

People like that are usually…

”Finally, your eyes are lighting up… Anyway···”

”Ugh, ugh! Ah, Apieceee·····”

An enmity or perhaps what they called a friendship.