Seri was certain of one thing.
If Sihyeon hadn’t been by her side, it wouldn’t have ended with just a single slap.
She might not have gone as far as she did in her reckless younger days—when she used to hunt down the bullies who picked on the frail Aris, knocking them down one by one and swinging her fists until their faces were swollen purple—but she was confident.
At the very least, she would have screamed at that woman in the lewd outfit, Elina, until she got down on her knees and begged for forgiveness.
“Elina.
Both of us lost sleep because of you, and we even came all this way to get you.
Just hurry up and follow us.”
“Sure, sure~ I’ll do that~ I was starting to feel like lying down in a bed anyway, so I’ll do as you say, Oppa.”
Seri ground her teeth as she watched Elina glance back at her with a smirk.
She felt a sudden urge to leave a giant lump on that woman’s forehead.
However, the conversation that followed between the two didn’t include a single mention of Seri, and naturally, her anger toward Elina began to subside, replaced by a different kind of unease.
“But how did you end up being chased?”
“Ah, that.
Well, there was this chair sitting inside the wagon I hitched a ride on, so I sat in it for a bit.
Turns out, it was absolutely soaked in demonic energy.
As soon as I got near your place, I slipped out with it, and suddenly everyone started chasing me.”
“So you got caught stealing a chair?”
“Yeah.
But I couldn’t help it.
I can’t use a single bit of magic when I’m hungry, so I didn’t have the strength to burn the chair.
And if I’d left it in the wagon, someone with sharp instincts might have noticed right away.”
“I suppose.
Since you hitched a ride by giving them our home address, it might have turned out exactly as you said.”
“Right, right?
But those people were seriously too much.
I mean, sure, I was leaking demonic energy because I was running around in such a hurry, but they just saw that and started screaming ‘Witch!’ and charging at me.
Seriously…
as if a witch this cute and pretty could even exist in this world.”
“…I don’t know about that.
Just looking at your outfit, I’d say you’ve earned the ‘witch’ label and then some.”
“Hmm?
I dressed exactly to your taste, Oppa.
You don’t like it?”
“No, I like it.
It’s just that it’s not exactly normal for an ordinary woman to walk around in such revealing clothes.”
Seri, walking right behind them, didn’t appreciate this situation where she couldn’t get a single word in.
She didn’t dare let out a sigh for fear that Sihyeon might hear her.
But as she watched the two of them walking so closely that they were practically glued together, keeping her pouting lips tucked in was an impossible task.
As time passed, her heart grew heavier.
Because Elina showed no intention of moving away from Sihyeon’s side.
Because seeing them talk so comfortably made it clear they were quite close.
Because she couldn’t erase the thought from her mind that, until just a moment ago, that spot beside him had been hers.
And finally, because Sihyeon wasn’t paying her any attention at all.
Listening to their conversation alongside the endless thumping of her own heart, dark thoughts began to cloud her mind.
So what if her clothes are lewd?
Her tits and her height are both smaller than mine…
Surely Sihyeon-nim doesn’t have feelings for that Elina woman, does he?
If he does…
he might try to relieve his arousal with her body instead of mine…
W-what should I do…
What am I supposed to do…?
“…”
Seri quietly brought her hands together and pressed them against her chest.
To be this worried over things that hadn’t even happened yet—she must be incredibly insecure.
Right.
That’s it.
She said with her own mouth that she uses demonic energy.
He must have brought her as a guest because of that.
They seem close, but I doubt she’ll stay long.
Let’s not worry too much, just like Sihyeon-nim said.
Having steadied her heart, Seri followed behind them with a much lighter feeling.
It was then that they reached Sihyeon’s mansion.
Elina turned her head and looked at Seri.
“By the way.
You’re a priestess, yet you don’t seem surprised at all to see me?”
“…Pardon?
Why should I be surprised?”
“Huh?
Didn’t you hear my name?”
“I heard it.
Elina.”
Elina let go of Sihyeon and slowly turned around, her brow furrowing slightly.
“Aren’t you on the same side as those who believe in Elysia?”
“I am, but is there a problem…?”
“Ha?
You remember the name of the Goddess you worship well enough, but you don’t know the great Elina?”
“…Eek?!”
Seri reflexively backed away, clamping her hand over her mouth.
Could it be…
the Goddess Elina…?
The thought had crossed her mind, but she had dismissed it as impossible.