When I Maxed Out the Zero-Star Saintess, a Yandere Confinement Life with Overwhelming Love Began - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“…Mmm. This crepe is delicious. The sweetness of the whipped cream soaks all the way into my heart and soul.”

The back entrance of the grand cathedral, moments after we’d returned from the verification test. A quiet corridor where ordinary believers were never allowed—now completely ruled by the out-of-place sound of cheerful munching.

The one speaking was Aira. She kept a tight grip on my hand with her right, while skillfully eating a street-stall crepe with her left.

“…Glad you like it. So, how long are you planning to keep holding on?”

“I’m not letting go. If I do, the power supply might cut off.”

“The effect is permanent… There aren’t any monsters around, and we don’t need to fight right now.”

“Then I just don’t want to let go. That’s all. My body feels light and my head is clear for the first time ever. I want to pay you back, Lyle.”

Aira looked straight up at me, completely serious.

“We helped each other with the test, so we’re even…”

“And also…”

She swallowed the last bite of crepe and rubbed her cheek against my arm.

“…Master’s scent is calming. With this, I think I’ll be fine even if that ‘scary woman’ shows up.”

“Scary woman?”

Right at that moment.

“…Oh? There’s a scary woman in the city with the grand cathedral?”

A voice like rolling crystal bells echoed from deeper in the corridor. Beautiful, clear, and yet cold enough to freeze the spine—an absolute-zero voice.

Aira and I both froze mid-motion.

At the end of the hallway stood Celesfia, clad in pure white vestments. The backlight hid her expression, but the space around her alone warped like heat haze.

“Welcome home, Lyle-sama.”

Celesfia took one step forward. The sharp click of her heel rang out like the countdown to an execution.

Aira hid behind my back as if she were a puppy facing a wolf.

“C-Celesfia… You’re already done?”

“My official duties finished quickly. I heard you had returned, so I came to greet you. Welcome home, Lyle-sama.”

The second “welcome home” carried even heavier pressure. Her gaze was clearly fixed on my neck.

“U-uh, yeah. I’m back, Celes… You angry?”

“Perish the thought! I’m not angry at all, am I?”

Celesfia gave a flawless, radiant saintess smile.

But those eyes weren’t looking at me—they were locked on Aira, who was still clinging to my right arm.

“…I was simply thinking a little ‘cleaning’ might be in order. It seems a thief has snuck in.”

“…Not a thief. Official contract.”

Aira answered calmly. Far from shrinking under Celesfia’s killing intent, she gave an annoyed huff through her nose.

Even though Aira’s level was lower, she was currently supercharged. Celesfia’s intimidation didn’t faze her in the slightest.

“…A contract, you say?”

“Yeah, a contract… I get food and a place to sleep. In return, I lend my strength to Master. Win-win.”

“…Heh heh. I see. A pest, then.”

Celesfia raised her right hand. A sphere of light that blazed like the sun appeared in her palm. Ah, that’s the one that could erase even the demon god in an instant.

“Pests need to be disinfected. Lyle-sama, it’ll be a little hot, but please bear with it? I’ll burn away only the ‘filth’ in a moment.”

“Wait, Celesfia! This is the grand cathedral! National treasure! Centuries of history!”

I shouted, but my voice didn’t reach her.

“…The only one allowed to touch my Lyle-sama is me. Sizzle is an exception because she’s a bodyguard. There are no exceptions to the exception. And that kiss mark on his neck—you really went and did it, didn’t you?”

The sphere of light swelled larger. In response, Aira readied her bow.

“…Noisy woman. Interrupt my meal and I’ll shoot.”

“Go ahead and try, stray mutt. You think that flimsy bow can pierce my absolute barrier?”

“…I’ll shoot clean through. Heart and all.”

The air crackled—one touch away from explosion. The world’s strongest yandere saintess versus the worst-fuel-efficiency, always-hungry elf sniper. Two absurd firepower sources were about to collide when—

Zwooooosh!

The shadows at our feet suddenly erupted all at once. Black tentacle-like tendrils of darkness instantly bound Celesfia’s staff and Aira’s arms at the same time.

“…That’s quite enough out of both of you.”

From within the shadows, Sizzle emerged with the face of a demon. One of her hands clutched an estimated repair-cost sheet.

Somehow… the other two are just swinging their power around like muscleheads, while she’s the only one using it properly…

“Are you trying to destroy the cathedral? How many times do I have to tell you that any further budget requests only increase my overtime before you understand?”

“Sizzle, let go. This is pest extermination.”

“I never thought I’d hear those words from a saintess!?”

“Request denied, Lady Celesfia. First, let us change locations… We’re far too conspicuous here.”

Sizzle calmly looked around at us, her glasses glinting.

“The rest… we’ll continue in ‘Lyle-sama’s room.’ You’ll be able to talk as much as you like there.”

“Understood.”

Celesfia nodded obediently, then added “But first” and walked straight toward me.

With the strongest human grip strength on the planet, she pried Aira off me, then gently hugged me herself.

“Actually… even while we were apart, I could feel Lyle-sama’s presence through the magic in the mark on your neck.”

She whispered into my ear.

“R-really…? You could see?”

“No, I couldn’t see… but I felt your heart race at an innocent smile, and I felt you staring at a swaying chest. It seems you enjoyed yourself quite a bit?”

“Ah… ah ha… ah ha ha…”

“It’s all right. If you have that kind of power, of course lots of people will gather around you. I’m the same way.”

“It’s not as bad as what you go through.”

“Ufufu. Maybe not. But… that’s exactly why I’ll forgive you. As long as I’m first, and you come home to me in the end, I’ll overlook everything that happens along the way.”

Celesfia kissed my cheek and stepped back.

“I-It’ll be fine, okay? Because Celesfia is the cutest woman in the world, after all.”

“Ufufu. Obviously.”

Her mood instantly brightened by the flattery. She shot a quick glance at Aira, then took the lead and started walking toward my room.