Heretic.

Though the temple preached love and compassion, it became a group more demonic than any devil when facing heretics. Just ten years ago, it was common practice to throw them alive into rivers or have villagers stone them to death.

‘They drove beast-folk to their deaths the same way.’

“Heretic” was one of the words Kailas hated most in this world. How could all humans have the same beliefs when everyone was different?

Moreover, they never even gave beast-folk that chance. Despite their ability to speak properly and feel emotions, they were claimed to be no better than animals.

‘That’s why I wanted to kill everyone affiliated with the temple.’

But eavesdropping on Richard and Cioranne’s conversation today, it seemed there were those within the temple who opposed the merciless oppression of beast-folk. The temple silenced them by branding them heretics and forcing them to keep quiet.

Cioranne smiled lightly, seemingly unconcerned.

“How could a heretic manifest holy power? No matter how displeased His Holiness might be, he couldn’t possibly brand me a heretic.”

“…You don’t really believe that, do you?”

Cioranne smiled silently. Her usual smile became her answer.

She already knew. That even as the Holy Maiden, she couldn’t be safe under the Pope’s authority.

Richard frowned. At times like this, his noble background was an advantage. Cioranne, born a commoner and raised in the temple since childhood, had no family or house to defend her if she were branded a heretic.

‘Besides, this one would probably walk to her death with a cheerful smile.’

She was the type of woman who wouldn’t resist even if countless people came to kill her. Richard felt frustrated and pleaded with her in an anguished voice.

“Please be careful for a while if something like that happens again. Understand?”

“Thank you for worrying about me, Richard. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Cioranne.”

Richard’s lips trembled. What came to his mind was a letter that had recently arrived from home.

Richard’s older brother was Marquis Noel Ferol, the chancellor of the Empire.

<I want to talk with you.>

Though the letter was brief, Richard knew what his brother wanted to say. Since Kailas became Emperor, Noel had been urging him to abandon his religious position and return to the Empire to support the Emperor.

‘I still have the opportunity to return to being Richard Ferol.’

And the same was true for Cioranne. Even for a Holy Maiden serving the deity, there was exactly one way to leave religious service.

“Or with me…”

Marriage.

As Richard was biting his lip, wondering how to propose, Cioranne responded with a calm smile.

“I’m happy to have a friend who worries about me so sincerely.”

“……”

Friend.

That word hit Richard particularly hard.

Richard froze like a stone, unable to respond. Seeing this, Kailas smiled for the first time in four days. He couldn’t understand why it felt so satisfying.

‘Rejected. He got rejected.’

And it seemed the deity, who had been keeping quiet until now, felt the same way.

[‘The Dragon Trampler munches on popcorn.’]

‘What’s that? Why are you eating alone? Is it tasty?’

[‘The Dragon Trampler says you’re an ignorant cat who doesn’t understand metaphors and symbolism.’]

‘Tch.’

Anyway, he disliked everyone from the temple and even the deity itself.

Glaring at the deity who was criticizing him, Kailas shifted his golden marble-like eyes back to Richard. Richard’s strong shoulders had slumped in despair.

Kailas clicked his tongue inwardly and thought:

‘Would that dense woman understand even if he spoke like that? He needs to be more direct.’

She was the type who wouldn’t understand unless told explicitly. And even direct statements like “I like you, marry me” wouldn’t be enough…

[Not enough.]

Kailas shook his head vigorously as he recalled the lingering kiss that had followed the light peck, like a bird’s beak.

‘Ugh, why can’t I forget this wretched dream!’

He felt like he was truly losing his mind. Why did he keep thinking about that dream whenever he saw that oblivious woman?

‘She’ll be disgusted once I return to my original form anyway.’

It wasn’t just because he was beast-folk. Holy Maiden Cioranne and Emperor Kailas had fought to kill each other.

Though this was an obvious fact, thinking about it felt like pressing cold ice against his heart each time. Unable to accept this about himself, Kailas glared at Cioranne for no reason.

The clueless woman, shaking Richard’s hand vigorously with a bright smile, matched none of the aspects of “Holy Maiden Cioranne” he had heard about.

The woman who massacred beast-folk at Olzen.

The woman who stood up to defend beast-folk during dawn mass.

‘Which one is the real you?’

As Kailas wore a gloomy expression while asking this unanswerable question, Richard, already accustomed to Cioranne’s emotional walls after years of knowing her, quickly recovered from his hurt. He returned to their previous conversation.

“Anyway, so this cat has been acting strange since that day?”

“Yes. I got back later than usual because His Holiness was scolding me, and Kyle wasn’t in the room. I was startled and went out looking for him, and found him in the corridor. But he’s been like this ever since.”

So she was late because she was being scolded.

The firmly locked gate of his heart creaked loudly. As Kailas gazed at Cioranne with wavering eyes, Richard shrugged and casually replied:

“Maybe he’s just sulking because you came back late?”

“Meow!”

What do you take me for!

Kailas growled fiercely. Richard ignored him and continued with his speculation.

“Or maybe someone came in while you were gone and harmed him…”

“That’s impossible. Who would dare enter my room? There’s nothing in there anyway.”

That was true too. Even a beggar living in a cave wouldn’t live with so few possessions.

Unable to find a clear answer, Richard put his hands on his hips and said:

“Anyway, it must be because of something that happened while you were gone. There’s no use worrying about it.”

“I suppose…”

Cioranne answered in a dejected voice and looked back at Kailas. The moment their eyes met, Kailas quickly turned his head away.

Somehow, he didn’t dislike her attention.

* * *

Kyle wouldn’t eat food from my hand. I worried he might starve to death, but fortunately, it seemed he secretly ate the dry food I left out while I was sleeping.

But Kyle was still a baby cat. It hadn’t been long since he was weaned, yet he was eating hard, dry food rather than softened food.

“I’m worried he might get sick.”

Glare.

It was genuine concern, but Kyle would glare at me whenever I expressed worry, so I couldn’t say anything more.

Three more days passed, marking a week since Kyle’s protest began.

On my way back from dawn mass, Kyle looked visibly unwell.

“Kyle?”

The cat who should have been sleeping soundly was curled up in a ball, whimpering. His small body heaving with labored breathing didn’t look normal at all. I placed my hand on Kyle’s cotton-like back.

“Kyle, try to stay conscious. Kyle.”

“Meow!”

“Ugh.”

Kyle fiercely scratched my finger. But this time, I didn’t even think about healing the wound.

Because Kyle’s body felt burning hot against my palm.

“Wait, Kyle. I think you have a fever.”

I instinctively placed my palm on Kyle’s body and poured holy power into him. But the fever didn’t subside.

This was the first time I felt such bewilderment.

“Why is this happening? Kyle is still in pain even though I’m using holy power.”

When I unconsciously addressed the deity, it gave a nonchalant reply.

[‘The Dragon Trampler giggles.’]

[He teases that it might be mating season.]

“Meow!”

Kyle howled fiercely, as if he had heard that answer too. I frowned deeply.

“This is no time for jokes! Kyle is sick!”

[‘The Dragon Trampler shrugs.’]

[He answers that holy power isn’t working because it’s not needed.]

That statement sounded strange to me. How could it not be needed when he was clearly suffering?

As I furrowed my brow, unable to comprehend this with my common sense, I recalled a similar situation.

Right. The last time he was starving, he kept losing strength no matter how much holy power I poured into him.

‘Perhaps now too…’

Richard had said it then. Hunger is satisfied with food, not holy power.

That’s what the deity meant about Kyle’s current condition.

The deity seemed unconcerned, so clearly there wasn’t a major problem with Kyle. But the vague notion that this couldn’t be resolved with holy power pushed me into a corner.

“This can’t be happening. This isn’t right.”

I couldn’t just leave Kyle suffering like this. I picked him up with both hands.

“Hold on, I’ll take you to someone who knows about cats. Just hang in there until then, Kyle.”

“Meow! Meow!”

[‘Kyle’ doesn’t like that.]

Both my hands were covered in scratches from Kyle’s claws. I bit my lip tightly.

Even if you don’t like it, there’s no choice.