I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 182
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Holding Yeshion, Eldis spoke.
“I’ll repay them for the pain they’ve caused you… sevenfold.”
“……”
“If you’d prefer to do it yourself, you’re welcome to.”
At Eldis’s words, Rosaline began laying objects across the desk.
Torture devices, ones Yeshion had only seen in the underground prison. He exhaled shakily and buried his face in Eldis’s shoulder.
“…Just enough.”
“Hm?”
“Just… hurt her enough that it won’t count as Divine Punishment.”
Eldis’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words. The person who always said he was fine… was finally expressing clear hatred.
He gently ran his large hand along Yeshion’s back.
That loathing for Veronica, it had to be the emotion of the real Yeshion sleeping deep inside.
But even so…
“Yes. Since she laid hands on you, I’ll make sure she regrets it for the rest of her life.”
The fact that she’d touched someone Eldis cherished, that wouldn’t change.
“Then, Saintess. May I entrust Priest Yeshion to you?”
“You plan to do it alone?”
“Yes. I suppose that if someone’s watching, I might go easy on her.”
At Eldis’s words, Rosaline nodded.
“Going to go easy on her?”
The wording felt strange, so Yeshion turned to Eldis, who simply patted Yeshion’s head gently and said,
“Yeshion. Please step out with the Saintess. I’ll finish things here.”
“But…”
Yeshion looked at him with a face full of worry. No matter how strong Eldis was, he couldn’t help but wonder whether even he could truly handle Veronica’s viciousness.
According to the real Yeshion’s memories, Veronica was a maid who’d once been a knight.
No one knew how she ended up serving behind the Empress, but when provoked, there was no telling what she might do.
Perhaps sensing his concern, Eldis stroked Yeshion’s swollen cheek, as if to say don’t worry. Even then, the worry didn’t leave Yeshion’s face, so Eldis turned his head and softly pressed his lips to it.
Rosaline’s fidgeting voice could be heard nearby, but Eldis remained composed as he continued speaking.
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine. Even if she somehow slips free of her restraints, I know at least enough self-defense to manage.”
“But…”
“I just don’t want to show you… that ugly side of me.”
At that, Yeshion’s lips parted faintly.
Eldis was going to make Veronica talk, no matter what. Torture would likely follow. There would be screams, and cruelty, and things one couldn’t unsee.
And Eldis, ignoring all of it, would move with only one goal: extracting information.
He didn’t want Yeshion to witness himself becoming someone so cruel.
“I wouldn’t stop liking you just because I saw an ugly side, Archpriest.”
Yeshion’s voice was firmer than before.
He had the feeling Eldis was trying to send him out of the room because of some lingering doubt in his heart.
“Thank you.”
Eldis pressed a gentle kiss to Yeshion’s forehead. His voice was kind, full of sincerity, but the look in his eyes made it clear that Yeshion could not stay.
“I just… don’t want to see fear in your eyes. Even if I’m not the one you’re afraid of.”
Eldis looked at Yeshion with concern. He was already worried that seeing the real Yeshion’s memories might’ve left him disappointed.
And he didn’t want to make it worse by showing him the image of a man torturing someone without hesitation.
Perhaps understanding that, Rosaline suddenly grabbed Yeshion’s wrist.
“Come on, let’s get that cheek looked at first. Eldis will handle the rest. Won’t you?”
Eldis nodded.
Then, the same arms that had held Yeshion so warmly gently ushered him out through the door.
“You must be careful.”
“Hm?”
“That person… she’s… dangerous.”
Yeshion’s voice trembled with emotion as he spoke. Eldis nodded.
“If I do get hurt… You’ll be the one to heal me, won’t you? It’ll be a ood chance to practice using your divine power.”
“…Is there no option where you don’t get hurt?”
“I’ll do my best.”
With those words, Eldis quietly closed the door.
After that, the room fell into a silence as still as death.
