It wasn’t till the subsequent day that I noticed I had left my issues within the library.

I headed to the library early within the morning to take the books. As yesterday, Duen sat within the library.

“I’ve already packed it.”

As if he knew I might come, Duen pushed the e-book he had placed on the desk towards me.

I smiled awkwardly and accepted the e-book that my senior pushed in direction of me. I additionally didn’t neglect to thank him.

“Please return the e-book you rented by subsequent week.”

“Sure.”

Lastly, I glanced at Duen, saying thanks.

It’s because my senior’s eyes, which have been targeted on the e-book I’m making an attempt to borrow since yesterday, have been bothering me.

***

“At the moment, on behalf of the geography lecture, a priest from the temple will come and provides a lecture.”

Pardon?

It was the primary time I heard it.

Once I appeared up on the professor with a shocked face, the professor, who felt my gaze, smiled with a benevolent face.

“I made an advance discover final week, and also you all bear in mind, proper?”

I heard ‘sure’ right here and there. I suppose I used to be the one one who forgot. I nodded eagerly to mix in with the group.

Quickly after, a priest in a white uniform got here in as a substitute of the professor. He smiled extra kindly than the professor and appeared round.

I hurriedly hid the e-book I borrowed from the library beneath my main e-book beneath the gaze of the priest. He’s us one after the other from the far left.

I couldn’t have proudly proven a e-book a couple of demon in entrance of the priest.

“To begin with, I’m not right here right this moment to inform you the phrase of God.”

I nodded on the phrases of the priest.

As he stated, there was no want for him to come back right here from the temple and preach the phrases of god.

As a result of folks on all continents, together with the empire, already believed in the identical god.

God was actual. The divine energy that the monks obtained from God was proof of that.

In fact, there are numerous folks like me who know that God exists, but haven’t any religion.

“Since you aren’t within the arms of your mother and father who’ve been defending you, I’m right here to share with you some precautions. It’s an annual observe.”

Haaahm—

I heard Melissa yawning subsequent to me.

The lecture, which had nothing to do with the check, appeared already boring.

The lecture piqued my curiosity greater than every other. After the lecture, I even thought-about going to the priest to ask if there was a case like Liel’s.

“You realize all about demon beasts, proper?”

As soon as once more, there have been numerous ‘sure’ solutions from round me. One way or the other, I felt just like the story was flowing within the route I needed.

My eyes got here alive hastily.

“The variety of demonic beasts is past measure. In order that a lot of the safety is exterior the empire’s boundary.”

This was a narrative I knew.

In keeping with the legal guidelines of the Empire, households with knights had been obligated to repeatedly ship a sure variety of knights.

And because the priest stated, the transferred knights guard the outskirts to forestall the demon beasts from invading the empire.

Often, it was additionally their function to take care of demon beasts on the within.

In fact, this was a system that was naturally established for the Holy Knights.

Due to them, the empire was peaceable. In contrast to the chaotic scenario exterior.

“However because of so many knights and holy knights, demon beasts are now not a risk to us.”

The priest leaned on the desk and continued to speak.

“The largest risk to people now will not be demon beasts, however demons.”

When my most awaited story got here out, my arm, which was urgent the library e-book, grew to become tense.

“The rationale I’m telling you this story is as a result of there’s a demon who likes to reside amongst people.”

The quiet environment started to buzz.

“Demon beasts are simply recognizable simply by them from the skin. They often have the looks of an animal, and there are additionally some that look like an insect or a plant. However they’re nonetheless completely different from odd animals and crops, so it’s apparent on the skin, however the demon doesn’t.”

The priest’s face, which had been smiling the entire time, hardened for some time.

The priest leaned ahead barely with a critical expression.

“I don’t know precisely what a demon appears like. As a result of they’ll change their look freely.”

“…….”

“The demon makes use of that time to strategy people. It turns into one thing lovely and engaging and seduces people.”

With out realizing it, Liel got here to thoughts.

“The satan who entices people in that approach instills varied wishes in people. Sexual need, materials need, conquest, and so on. The demon reaches out to a human being who falls into one in all these.”

“…….”

“It’s very simple for demons to fulfill human wishes.”

“…….”

“As quickly because the demon holds out their hand, people stroll on the trail of depravity.”

Liel was additionally one of many people unintentionally entangled with the satan. He hasn’t even stepped into the corruption but that the priest spoke of.

“It’s a sin.”

Abruptly, the priest spoke of sins.

No, you don’t should conclude that it’s a sin. Everybody has their very own causes.

Within the case of Liel, he had his tattoo since he was very younger, so probabilities had been excessive that he didn’t take care of the demon himself.

Look, there are numerous causes.

I felt a sudden surge of defiance. On behalf of Liel, who can be upset, I glared on the priest with a fierce look.

In fact, I glared secretly.

“It’s a sin to promote your soul to a demon after a second of delight. It’s a sin critical sufficient for God to show his again on you.”

I made a decision to chorus from asking the priest a separate query afterwards.

I’ll by no means ask. I’m not going to ask as a result of he’s low-cost and soiled.

“What I’m making an attempt to say is that if there’s anybody who’s fallen for the demon’s trick, don’t hesitate to come back to the temple.”

Nobody goes to go to the temple with out hesitation after listening to what you simply stated.

“That approach, we are able to condemn the demon who disrupts our environment.”

It sounded such as you couldn’t be condemned in any other case. Sooner or later, all of the phrases of the priest had been distorted and commenced to be heard.

“I’ll pray for the final time and finish this.”

Abruptly, the priest closed his eyes and put his fingers collectively. Subsequently, the folks within the classroom took the identical posture one after the other because the priest.

Amongst them, solely Melissa and I had been listening to the prayer of the priest with bitter faces.

I don’t know why he’s making us pray, after he stated he didn’t come to evangelise the phrases of god.

***

I used to be on my approach to the canteen after the morning lecture.

“Simply because god exists, doesn’t imply it’s a must to imagine him.”

After getting near Melissa, we at all times had lunch collectively if the time was proper. It was because of the Academy’s assist for Melissa’s dwelling bills.

“And who’s going to report it to him in the event that they speak so harshly? I wouldn’t report it straight away.”

“Proper?”

I don’t know what Melissa is dissatisfied with, however I used to be dissatisfied with the go to of the priest.

And he comes yearly and offers the identical speech as right this moment?

Then final 12 months, Liel should have heard what the priest stated.

He already has a young coronary heart so what if he’s harm?

As I agreed to Melissa’s phrases with a discontented face, I out of the blue had an inexpensive query.

‘However Liel doesn’t know, does he? That the snake on his ankle was attributable to a demon.’

He didn’t learn about it within the authentic work, and he solely realized it after turning evil.….

‘I’m wondering if he was harm as a result of he doesn’t know.’

In that case, it was a aid.

“Get solely a bit of right this moment.”

Melissa stated with a stern face as quickly as we stepped into the canteen. Because of this, I smiled brightly at Melissa, as I awoke from my miscellaneous ideas.

Melissa, who observed my insiduous smile, shook her head as if she couldn’t cease me.

Melissa hated it a lot, however I ignored her recommendation as a result of I knew I might eat all of it if I introduced rather a lot.

Then, as normal, I scooped up twice as a lot meals as I ate.

Wanting proudly on the pile of meals, I appeared round to search out the place Melissa sat.

Fortuitously, Melissa was not far-off.

“Liel?”

What caught my eye was Liel sitting reverse Melissa and a person with azure hair whom I noticed for the primary time.

It was my first time assembly Liel on the canteen, so I used to be glad to see him, as if it had been a very long time since we noticed one another.

My coronary heart crammed with pleasure as I hurriedly approached the three folks.

As quickly as I put down my plate subsequent to Melissa, the eyes of the three folks all turned to me.

Melissa opened her mouth in a dry voice subsequent to me.

“Lucy, he requested me if he might sit with me, so I stated he might.”

He’s your buddy.

Melissa defined the scenario as she added. Liel, who remembered her face, appeared to have provided to share a desk.

Nodding as if I understood, I sat nonetheless subsequent to Melissa. Then I bowed my head to the person who appeared to be Liel’s buddy.

“Hiya, I’m Lucy Seywint.”

After ending the greeting, I glanced sideways at Melissa.

She was concentrating on reducing greens with a fork and knife. In contrast to me, Melissa appeared to haven’t any intention of greeting.

Possibly Liel had already completed greeting Melissa when he provided to affix her.

I popped a giant strawberry into my mouth with out reducing it.

“I’m Rhode Edlock. I’m in the identical grade as Liel and I additionally take a swordsmanship class.”

With a pleasant smile, a person with huge eyes launched himself. Opposite to the passive Liel, he appeared to be a really energetic individual.

Rhode’s eyes had been stuffed with mischief as if he was watching one thing attention-grabbing.

I don’t know why he appears at me like that, however I smile brightly after Rhode, pondering that what’s good is sweet.

For some time, I couldn’t even chew the strawberries in each my cheeks and simply smiled at Rhode.

How lengthy do I’ve to smile?

My cheeks are about to burst.

“Lucy, I……?”

It was none apart from Liel who saved me.

As if to ask for consideration, Liel tapped my toe along with his shoe.

Wow, that’s a aid.

To reply to his greeting, I shortly mumbled and swallowed the strawberry.

“Hello, Liel.”

I imitated Liel and tapped his toe

Then, Liel’s golden eyes, which had been mirrored within the canteen’s mild, disappeared beneath his gently folded eyelids.