Chapter 9

In the previous chapter, I added another title to Love's status. If you're curious, please check it out.

With that, here's the latest chapter. If you enjoy it, I'd appreciate your ratings, subscriptions, and comments.

"What's gotten into you? Why are you looking so surprised?"

The okama priest in front of him swayed his hips as he approached Zeo. Upon closer inspection, it seemed his ceremonial robes had been modified from a woman's version. The chest area was open, and the deep slits in the skirt revealed fishnet tights covering his muscular, thick legs. At that point, Zeo felt like vomiting, thinking, "What the hell is this guy showing me?"

(What the hell is this guy...!? His status is not normal at all...! Is your name Love or Ribu? And what's with the court name? Your real name is a secret? Are you kidding me!?)

To begin with, the fact that his name in the status had been altered made no sense. Zeo, who never imagined someone could do such a thing, retreated in fear.

(It doesn't matter if he's an enemy or not...! This guy is dangerous in every way! I need to escape from this okama gorilla as soon as possible!! I have a mission to protect the young lady!!)

Zeo fled from the scene at full speed. He also activated his "Invisibility." Based on his status, Love was a monk specialized in physical combat and was quite messed up. Zeo believed that without wings, Love (or she?) wouldn't be able to catch him flying high in the sky, which should have been the best strategy.

"Who the hell is this monster-like okama gorilla girl that even dragons faint from just looking at her!?"

(Aaaaaah! He's chasing me!? No one thinks that! How does he know!?)

[Skill: "Thought Detection." A skill that reads the thoughts of others and allows for communication. Generally considered a lower-level version of "Telepathy," which enables advanced conversation, but it can also transmit images and communicate with monsters that don't understand language.]

(Ah, I see. This is the cause... But now's not the time for that!?)

Despite activating "Invisibility," Love was running straight toward him without hesitation, likely tracking the source of his thoughts. Looking down, Zeo saw Love, with a demonic expression, crushing trees like twigs as he chased after him. A pack of gray wolves he encountered along the way was blown away, like in an anime or manga, and all of them became stars in the sky.

(His power and speed are too much! There are no obstacles for him! I can't shake him off no matter how long this goes on!)

If Zeo had just kept running without looking back, he might have had more time, but that extra thought cost him. Love, stomping the ground and leaping, emerged from the dust cloud with his body spread wide and caught up to the flying Zeo.

"Venus☆Hug!!"

(Aaaaaah!? His chest hair is so rough!!)

Zeo, enveloped in a passionate embrace by Love's strong arms and hairy chest, felt his consciousness slipping away from the intense heat as he crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

"Stop it! You shouldn't move when you're injured. I'll get angry at someone who doesn't take care of themselves! Pfft!"

It seems Love chased after Zeo because he was still bleeding from his arm. With Love's "Healing Magic," Zeo's HP was fully restored, and he humbly knelt to get through the situation.

"Besides, it's rude to think of girls as monsters! You know, maidens are delicate glass dolls that are easily hurt."

"..."

At that moment, Zeo reached a state of perfect calm. If he reacted honestly, he might be killed. The reason was in Love's title.

[Title: "Level Cap Breaker." Normally, the level cap is 100, but this title is obtained by exceeding that limit or having the potential to do so. It grants significant positive status bonuses.]

It seems this okama has surpassed the limits of strength. His level is abnormally high, and Zeo couldn't even imagine defeating him.

However, for some reason, Love didn't show any hostility toward Zeo, a monster. Zeo thought it was because Love understood that he had human-like rationality through "Thought Detection," but Love's words were unexpected.

"Are you Charlotte's friend? I wouldn't do anything terrible to you."

(What!? Do you know the young lady, Love? And how do you know I'm her friend...!?)

Zeo, who started using polite language with Love, was stunned by the unexpected connection. How could there be any connection between the beautiful and kind young lady and the muscular, sweaty okama?

"Hmm? How do I know? Well, we're not exactly close, but as a cardinal, I've seen the faces of high-ranking nobles. I love hardworking people, and I remember Charlotte well. While we were chasing each other, I was thinking about Charlotte, so I used my skill to understand the connection between you two."

At that moment, Zeo almost thought, "I saw my life flash before my eyes because I was being chased by an okama," but he quickly changed his mind.

Cardinal. That means Love is a high-ranking official in the Goddess Church. So, could Love protect Charlotte's status and position, which Zeo couldn't do at the moment?

Zeo, imagining Charlotte's current situation, pleaded with Love, but she shook her head sadly.

"I didn't know things had gotten to this point. But it's difficult for me to protect Charlotte socially right now."

(Why not!?)

"The Goddess Church has a treaty with the Grandia Kingdom, agreeing not to interfere with the royal family or high-ranking nobles except as believers. If I, as a cardinal, break the treaty and interfere with the nobles' actions, it could cause conflict between the Goddess Church and the Grandia Kingdom. If that happens, what sacrifices would the believers face...? Even if Charlotte is executed, I can't act based on my position alone. It goes against our doctrine of following one's conscience, and I hate myself for it."

Hearing those words, Zeo fell silent. As someone in a high position, Love had to protect thousands, even millions, of believers. His heart didn't agree, but his rational mind told him that he couldn't weigh Charlotte's life against so many others.

"But, such things often go unnoticed, and as long as it doesn't violate the treaty, anything is possible. Depending on the situation, I can guide people's thoughts to indirectly support Charlotte's righteousness. If she can't remain a noble, I can arrange for her to be protected by the Goddess Church."

(Really, Love!? Thank you so much!)

"Oh, are you thanking me? Don't worry about it. As I said, I like hardworking girls, so I'll do what I can within my limits. ...Besides, to think you care so much about her, it's truly love~♡"

Seeing Love, who blushed and swayed her hips, Zeo tried to empty his mind. Afterward, he learned that Love would be staying at a church near the duke's mansion and was lost in the mountains, so he decided to guide her to the city.

When you are lost, listen to your conscience. The Goddess speaks to you through your conscience.

A young man, later known as Love, was moved by the first verse of the Goddess Church's holy book and decided to follow the path of faith.

The free-spirited Love, who used the church's confession room and tavern in a unique way, listened to the voices of roughnecks and sex workers and spread the teachings.

Eventually, she became known as "Mom of the Church" and served as a holy knight, a church-affiliated combatant. At the young age of thirty, she was appointed as a cardinal and engaged in a wide range of activities, from battles against the Holy Male God Church and monsters to confessions and proselytizing.

Two years ago, when Love was thirty-seven, she met a girl among the rescue team sent by the Grandia Kingdom.

The rescue team, which was supposed to treat the wounded and fight the enemy, was actually a group of nobles' children sent to showcase their good deeds.

The church accepted them because they were needed, but their reputation was poor. They were used to having servants do everything for them, disliked getting dirty, and often fainted at the sight of severely injured soldiers, causing delays in work.

Even Love had no expectations for them. Their role was to manage people and supplies, not to fight on the front lines. She thought it would be better for them to return before the fighting spread.

"Everyone! It's okay! It's okay because we're here!"

Among the noble children who lacked the resolve for war, there was a beautiful girl who healed and saved the wounded without fear of blood and dirt.

Charlotte Hibel, a duchess's daughter and future queen, volunteered to provide medical care on the battlefield against the Holy Male God Church.

At first, even the other military doctors thought she would be a burden, but her advanced healing magic and unwavering will to save even the most hopeless cases changed their minds, as well as those of the Goddess Church's army and the noble rescue team, who initially thought they were useless.

---An angel in hell.

The soldiers who witnessed her fierce and relentless efforts praised Charlotte. The high-mindedness of the sixteen-year-old girl, who shed blood and sweat for her future subjects, was etched in Love's memory.

That's why it was incomprehensible. Why was such a girl suddenly being oppressed by those around her?

The source of the information was a chimera child, intelligent like a human. Due to the nature of his skill, he couldn't lie, so the harsh environment surrounding Charlotte was likely true.

What was happening around her? Who was the pink-haired girl who appeared to take her place? Love suddenly remembered why she was sent to the Hibel territory of the Grandia Kingdom.

Initially, it was because the Goddess Church learned of the Holy Male God Church's activities in the Grandia Kingdom, but after hearing the chimera's plea, it felt like a divine revelation, mixed with tears, from the Goddess who saw the tragedy befalling an innocent girl.

(Knowing and pretending not to know would be a disgrace to a believer of the Goddess.)

While her position limited what she could do, following her conscience meant starting with what she could. First, she would investigate the girl. Love, following the flying chimera, determined her future course of action.

"That's far enough. Thanks to you, I'm saved. Thank you. Hmm~... *kiss*♡"

Zeo, who guided Love to a place where the city was visible, dodged the obligatory flying kiss from the okama with a "Bam!" sound effect and fled into the sky. He saw a large building in the city.

(Could that be the academy? ...This is my first time looking down at the entire city.)

Now that he was here, he wanted to explore, and he was especially concerned about Charlotte's well-being. Zeo activated his "Invisibility" and flew over the city, heading for the academy where Charlotte was likely attending.

(Bingo.)

For Zeo, who could cross a mountain in less than a minute, reaching the academy in the center of the city from the edge was quick.

Landing in the grounds with a palace-like school building, he saw a white-uniformed girl about to return to her dorm. It was the same uniform Charlotte wore.

(Now, where is the young lady?)

It was already a few hours past noon, so it was likely the end of the class period. Therefore, Charlotte was probably in the student council room.

This was when the "Language Understanding" skill shone. To Zeo, the language looked like a row of worms or ancient Egyptian, but it was all translated into Japanese in his mind.

Fortunately, each room had a nameplate. With this, he could easily find the student council room. Zeo, feeling like a spy, explored the school building while invisible.

After checking the first and second floors, he finally found the student council room on the third floor. If Charlotte was alone, he planned to tap on the window and surprise her. Peering through the window facing the hallway...

(...What?)

There, he saw Charlotte, tied up and lying on the floor, and her servant, Auster, trying to strangle her with a rope.

I made this setting so that if Love really went wild, Zeo wouldn't have a chance to shine. This chapter had a bit of a comedic tone. How was it?