Saving You, Villain - Chapter 10

Luke Florence was a well-known and talented knight within the empire. However, contrary to his conviction of wanting to raise his sword for the weak, he soon became disillusioned when his power was used in the fight between the nobles and the imperial family. And so, he lay down all his wealth and honor.

He wanted to start a new life that lived up to his beliefs in a place where no one knew him. So this was where he ended up, at the western end of Hespion—Ezbon.

He volunteered for a position as a professor in an academy. He decided this after he heard that the students had to graduate without ever holding a sword once in their lifetime because they couldn’t find a swordsmanship professor, so this, for him, was a very good move.

In the novel, Luke recognized at once that Camian was a demon, but he generously taught him without any prejudice. Even after Camian turned evil and annihilated all the villagers of Ezbon, he still could point his sword towards Camian, his beloved disciple. Camian, on the other hand, turned thousands of humans into mere corpses in half a day.

I stared intently at Camian, who was sitting next to me. Camian, who felt my gaze, said, “What.” and looked around, but I didn’t see it because I had something to say. I just stroked Camian’s cheek.

“Live a good life.”

Camian frowned and put my hand away.

At this time, the theology professor, with his white hair neatly brushed over his forehead, entered the classroom. The professor distributed transparent glass bottles with a cross on each of the students’ desks, as well as a lump of stone with an uneven cross section.

“Since long history, holy water and relics have been the most useful when dealing with demons. When we touch these holy waters and relics, there is no different feeling like touching the common water and stones on the roadside. But for demons, it’s different.”

I glanced at Camian. Camian was juggling the holy relic, throwing and playing with it with an expressionless face…. Hey, professor. Do you think it’s the same for all demons?

“As soon as the holy relics touch the demon, white smoke is emitted and their skin melts, causing the demon to feel excruciating pain.”

I grabbed Camian’s hand and dragged it towards me. I took the relic he was holding from his hand and looked around his palm. Hey, professor. He’s fine. I even tried to wipe Kamian’s palm with my hand. It felt like a firm, smooth skin that was no different from usual.

Camian was staring intently at me, resting on his chin with his other hand that wasn’t caught by me. I whispered quietly to Kamian.

“I think this is a fake.”

“Really?”

At this time, the professor presented something black that looked like a bat’s wing.

“It is the skin of a low-level demon. Now, if you bring a relic like this. You see, the skin melts like liquid.”

Camian looked at me and raised one eyebrow. I said one more thing to Kamian.

“The professor’s must be the one that’s real.”

The professor came to our desk as if he had heard my whisper.

“Camian, would you like to bring your relic?”

Camian picked up the relic with a bored face and put it on the skin. Then the skin melted, emitting white smoke.

“Anyone else, are there any undergraduate students that would like to try?”

Me, here! Me! I raised my hand. I looked at Kamian with my eyes wide open.

“What are you? What happened?”

“I don’t think it works for me.”

“Why? You’re a demon?”

Camian shrugged his shoulders. No, please tell me. Just as I was about to grab him by the neck, the professor gave me an answer instead of Camian.

“Sometimes, this relic may not work for high-ranking demons. Strong magical power overpowers the power of the relics. In that case, use holy water. During my time as a saint, I have met hundreds of demons, but among them, I have often seen demons that were not affected by relics, but I have never seen demons that were not affected by holy water.”

In other words, since Camian was a strong demon, he wasn’t affected by the relics. I see. So Luke and all humans must have been beaten up by him.

“You do not have to return the holy water and relics I gave you today. As of today, if demons appear in front of you, you can protect yourself.”

I took a deep breath as I looked at the holy water and the holy relics. Then, I patted Camian’s cheek up and down.

“Please live a good life.”

* * * 

As soon as all our lectures were over, I went home and started exercising. Today’s endurance training was sit-ups. Camian held my leg tightly so it wouldn’t move.

“Huu… Ugggghh!”

“Come up a little bit more.”

“Aackk!”

“No. It doesn’t count at this height.”

This vicious punk with no blood or tears! I scrunched up my face like it was going to explode. Finally, my back fell off the floor. Camian’s cold lips opened.

“Four.”

“Hah!”

As soon as I heard the count, I fell straight to the floor. My body feels warm from the heat, and I feel like my energy is draining out of my fingertips. Oh, I’m going to die. My chest pounded greatly.

“Today, you said you’d do over five.”

“I’ll pass on that. Ahhh. Wait… Haa. Think for a second, ha. I have something. Haa… Right…”

Camian rested his chin on my lap.

“What are you thinking?”

…Wait. What should I use as an excuse for what I was thinking? I searched through my spinning head and picked out one topic of discussion.

“Today in theology class…”

“Keep talking.”

“Nothing happened when you touched the holy relics.”

“Was that strange?”

“Yes. I want to see it one more time.”

To be honest, I was a little surprised, but it wasn’t enough that I wanted to see it again. But I lied to get this hellish sit-up exercise done quickly. I’d rather stand holding a potato basket for a long time. Sit-ups are really going to make your face and stomach explode.

I stretched out my hands towards Camian. But Camian was just staring down at me like that.

“…Can’t you see my hand? Hold me.”

“Hold your ears.”

This evil demon Camian managed to make me do five sit-ups without going easy on me. I ended up successfully completing today’s workout with a grand total of six because he insisted that I do it one more time.

When I returned to my bedroom after taking a bath, Camian was lying on my bed and reading a book. I shook my head and sat down on the bed.

“Dry it.”

The low voice resolutely pushed me away. Eventually, I was kicked out to the tattered chair and was able to sit on the bed only after drying my hair. Camian continued to read until then.

I stole the book Camian was concentrating on reading. I lay down on the seat next to him, watching the man’s grim expression contorted.

“Pfft. It’s really childish.”

Camian liked to read romance novels that didn’t really suit him. There was one time that I found it strange that he had been holed up in his bedroom all day and didn’t come out, so I jumped open the door and went in, and I found him in tears as he was reading a romance novel. I made fun of him for it for an entire year. Ah, I want to tease him again.

“Give it to me.”

“Hold on. Let me read, too.”

“Don’t turn the page. The part I spread out is well fixed… Ah.”

As I flipped the book over, Kamian let out a sincere sigh.

“Why are you reading a book in my room knowing you’ll lose it to me?”

Camian closed his mouth as if heartbroken, covering both of his eyes with his forearms. It felt a little bit harsh, but a smile kept popping out of my lips.

“Alright, alright. Next time you read your book, I won’t touch you.”

“You said this before.”

“It’s real this time. I really won’t touch you.”

“…….”

“Do you want me to find out what page it was? I remember which part you were reading. ‘I’m ready to throw it all away. Let’s run away together.’ Right?”

I gently rubbed the palm of his hand, which was placed next to Camian’s face, with my fingertips. The helplessly stretched palm gripped my hand.

“Give me the book. I’ll go to my room and read it.”

“Why, haven’t you been waiting for me?”

“…….”

“You’ve been waiting for me so you can show me how you can touch a holy relic. Show me now.”

Camian took a deep breath. The one who liked the other first loses, Camian. Love is so painful and bitter.

“Give it.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll fetch it for you.”

I climbed up on the bed with the holy water and relics I had kept in the closet, one in each hand.

“Come on, touch it.”