When I Maxed Out the Zero-Star Saintess, a Yandere Confinement Life with Overwhelming Love Began - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

One lazy afternoon, Celesfia stopped in front of the confessional in the grand cathedral.

The door stood wide open, and no one was inside.

“…Oh? Father Thomas was supposed to be on duty today, but he’s nowhere to be seen.”

A passing nun bowed frantically.

“M-my apologies, Saintess-sama! Father Thomas’s lower back went out again… We’re looking for a substitute right now.”

“I see. Absent… is he?”

Celesfia smiled elegantly.

She had a little free time between official duties. Not quite enough to visit Lyle, but her feet hurt from standing all day and she wanted to sit.

This was perfect.

“Then… I’ll take his place.”

“E-eh!? No, we couldn’t possibly ask the saintess to do such menial work…!”

“It’s fine. Just as there is no high or low among professions, every duty is equal. Hearing the troubles of a lost lamb is also part of a saintess’s job.”

With the flawless smile of a saintess—and a heart that was ten percent goodwill and ninety percent boredom—she opened the “listening” side of the confessional.

◆

Haa… I’m exhausted… I feel like I’m going dark…

I walked down the corridor letting out a deep sigh.

My stomach hurt. The reason was obvious. Lately my workload had exploded.

Managing Lyle-san’s physical condition was already a huge responsibility. On top of that came strengthening cathedral security.

And worst of all, refereeing between that runaway “junkyard dog” and her “owner”—in other words, Aira and Lady Celesfia.

“…If I don’t vent soon I’m going to break. I’m tired right now. I feel like I’m going dark right now. I want to change this situation. I like Lyle-san.”

I muttered my feelings out loud, trying that technique I’d read about somewhere to look at myself objectively. It didn’t help at all.

Then I noticed the confessional right in front of me.

I don’t usually rely on God despite working in the cathedral, but today I just wanted someone to listen to my complaints. If the other person couldn’t see my face, a little harsh language ought to be fine.

I opened the “confessing” door without hesitation, entered the dim little booth, and knelt.

“…Come in, lost lamb.”

A surprisingly young and dignified voice came through the lattice.

…Strange. Today’s scheduled priest was supposed to be old Father Thomas. A substitute sister?

Whatever. As long as they’ll listen to my grievances.

“…Father—no, Sister, I suppose. Today I’d like to confess about workplace relationships.”

I covered my mouth with a handkerchief to disguise my voice and started as calmly as I could.

“Workplace… Yes, go ahead and tell me. God forgives everything.”

A rather arrogant sister. Yet that clear voice somehow felt familiar… Probably my imagination.

“The truth is… my superior is just… well… extremely guilty of mixing public and private matters.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

I felt the presence on the other side twitch. I started letting out the poison I’d been holding in.

“This superior holds a high religious position, yet she has a severe case of ‘romance-brain.’ Even during work hours she only thinks about the man she likes and never concentrates on her duties.”

“How shocking…! Thinking about romance during sacred duties. Truly deplorable.”

The sister on the other side sounded indignantly supportive, as if she completely understood. I gained momentum and kept going.

“That’s not all. The moment official duties end, she holes up in that man’s room… and sniffs the shirts he took off with terrifying suction power while saying things like ‘Sniiiff—haaa, restocking ingredients♡’.”

“…”

For a second the air in the room stopped.

…Huh? Did I gross her out? Well, anyone with normal sensibilities would be grossed out. But this isn’t about me—it’s just an objective description of Lady Celesfia’s behavior.

“…How filthy!!!”

BAM! The wall shook from a punch.

“Wh-what shameless, perverted behavior for a member of the clergy! Sniffing shirts… That is the most sacred and private ritual of all, and showing it to a subordinate is absolutely unforgivable! Her character is utterly depraved!”

“…Exactly as you say. It’s embarrassing just to watch.”

“That superior needs to be strictly told, ‘Face reality!’ You must be suffering so much… Poor thing.”

I actually got pitied. I couldn’t see her face, but I felt a strange sense of kinship. This sister was really getting into it, yet she completely understood my pain.

“There’s more. That superior is insanely jealous and keeps the man practically imprisoned. With surveillance magic, no less. Don’t you think he’s the one to be pitied?”

“The worst!”

The sister answered instantly.

“Love means giving freedom. That man must be suffocating under all that pressure… Why don’t you—a sensible person—rescue him instead?”

“Rescue him…?”

“Steal him from that woman.”

“…Eh. Is that really okay?”

A church official is encouraging infidelity?

“Yes! I permit it in the name of God. Rather than leaving him with that hopeless superior, you should be the one to comfort and heal him!”

“…Thank you, Sister. Somehow… I feel braver now.”

I stood up feeling like a weight had been lifted. What a strange confession.

That sister’s voice sounded like someone the whole time… but there’s no way Lady Celesfia would ever say anything that reasonable. Must have been a coincidence.

Carrying “God’s permission” in my heart, I left the confessional.

◆

“…Haa. Finally quiet…”

Aira had just left after hanging out in my room, and I sank deep into the sofa staring at the ceiling. With neither Sizzle nor Celesfia around, I’d spent hours alone keeping her company while she muttered and shoved food in her mouth.

At last, some time to myself. I closed my eyes for a quick nap—and that’s when it happened.

“…And that is how I received permission from God.”

“Uwah!?”

A cool voice spoke right by my ear. I bolted upright. At some point Sizzle had grown her upper body out of the shadow behind me.

“S-Sizzle!? When did you—wait, permission for what!?”

“‘Instead of the hopeless superior, the subordinate should comfort him,’ said the Lord.”

“Which god is that!?”

Sizzle ignored my retort, slithered fully out of the shadow, grabbed my shoulders as I tried to flee, and pinned me against the back of the sofa.

“Now then, Lyle-san. Let us begin the rehearsal for stage four.”

“Rehearsal…? W-wait, hold on!
Sizzle, you’re too close!”

Sizzle manipulated the shadows to skillfully hide us from the “Saintess’s Eyes.”

She slipped her knee between my legs, leaned over me, and brought her face close. No escape. Her usual cool, expressionless face now held a strange heat.

“Jumping straight to mucous-membrane contact risks runaway. Therefore… we will first conduct a tolerance test via ‘shared breath.’”

“R-runaway…?”

“Crossing the line.”

“You’re getting way too into this all by yourself!?”

“Anyway, Lady Celesfia won’t be back for a while. I will take care of Lyle-san.”

“Ah… r-right… So… shared breath, was it?”

“Yes. Please stay still.”

Sizzle brought her face closer. Long eyelashes. Straight nose. The thin lips that usually spat venom.

She stopped at the exact distance where our lips almost—but not quite—touched. A few millimeters.

Our breaths mingled. Hers carried a cool mint scent mixed with something faintly sweet. My heartbeat was deafening. Through the shadow I felt like she could read every ounce of my agitation.

“…Lyle-san. What are you expecting right now?”

She whispered. Her eyes narrowed like a cat cornering prey, clearly enjoying herself.

“I’m not expecting anything…”

“Liar. Your pulse is racing. Body temperature rising… Fufu. I’m honored that even against your maid, you’re aroused.”

“Stop teasing…!”

“I’m not teasing. I’m completely serious.”

Her hand crawled across my chest. Unlike Celesfia’s “enveloping” love, Sizzle’s felt like silk slowly strangling my neck—quiet, dense domination.

“…Sizzle, how long is this…?”

“Until I gather sufficient data. So… about five more minutes like this.”

“Five minutes!?”

Five minutes in this state? Either I suffocate or my heart explodes.

“Don’t like it? Or… would you feel better if we actually did it?”

She pursed her lips on purpose and made a little “chu” sucking sound. That provocative gesture nearly snapped my reason—when

Click.

“I’m ba… ck…?”

Worst timing ever. The door opened. In walked Celesfia, who had literally just been in the room earlier.

“W-wel… w-welcome back… rather early…”

Sizzle turned toward Celesfia, clearly rattled.

“My next appointment was canceled. I had a long block of time, so I came here. More importantly… Sizzle? Why are you straddling my Lyle-sama?”

Celesfia’s eyes narrowed to slits. The “Saintess’s Eyes” that had been floating behind her all appeared at once and began turning bloodshot red.

I heard the tiniest tongue-click from Sizzle. She instantly withdrew, straightened her apron with her usual cool face.

“…Vital check, Lady Celesfia. I was confirming at extremely close range whether Lyle-san’s respiratory system showed any abnormalities.”

“Respiratory system? Quite a passionate examination. Your lips looked about to touch.”

“Optical illusion.”

Sizzle declared flatly, then casually changed the subject.

“…By the way, Lady Celesfia, did you stop by the confessional?”

The instant she heard those words, Celesfia’s shoulders jerked.

“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about! Did something happen?”

“…No, never mind. It wasn’t important.”

“W-well then… I’ll take over the examination from here. Sizzle, you’re dismissed.”

“Understood.”

As she passed, Sizzle leaned close to my ear.

“Next time… I’ll take you all the way.”

She whispered so only I could hear, bowed, and melted silently into the shadow at her feet.

“…Haa…”

Exhaustion crashed over me and I collapsed onto the sofa.

My face burned. Celesfia stood there burning with jealousy. This captive life gave my heart no chance to rest.