I'm still alive! It's been more than a month since my last release, as I said before, it's the end of the year and I was REALLY busy. I still am, but I finally got enough time to post this. I hope I manage to release the next chapter before the new year and I'm really sorry I took so long to post this one. Well, enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter 10 - Lumachina

"It's been a while, Kami-sama."

"Umu. I've come, Lumachina."

Kami-sama: pretty sure everybody knows, but it means "God"

Right now, Diablo was in a room inside the church of the Capital. He managed to contact Lumachina and made an appointment with her. They were now sitting while enjoying some tea, though Diablo knew that this calm atmosphere was not going to last.

"I trust you had no more problems with the church?"

"Yes! All thanks to Kami-sama! Kami-sama's heroism has been the talk of the Capital lately!"

"...I see."

Not only Faltra City but in the Capital as well, the tale about the hero who slayed the Great Demon King was spreading like fire on a grassland. For Diablo, who wished to avoid attracting attention as much as he could, this wasn't something to celebrate, his only fortune was that photos did not exist in this world. Otherwise his face would be known to every person walking through the streets, which could also result in Diablo locking himself in his room and returning to his NEET life due to extreme shame and embarrassment from being stared at wherever he went.

"Still, to think I wasn't even there to help, or even witness such an important battle..."

"I don't mind it."

"But..."

"I said it's fine. You were fighting your own battle here, ensuring that other clergymen won't stray from the right path, like those knights from before.(refer to volume 4)"

"...Thank you very much."

Lumachina was slightly blushing while smiling innocently. "Huh? What is with this mood?" Such thoughts were passing by Diablo's mind. He was only trying to stop her self-loathing comments from emerging but it seems that she got really happy with his comment. Even if he got married to nine women recently, Diablo was originally a NEET, he was not able to completely grasp the heart of a young woman. His recent "growth" has made him able to understand that he said the right thing though.

"Oh my. I almost forgot to ask, but...What brings Kami-sama to the Capital?"

"Something really important."

"Oh!...Err… Should we move to another room?"

"Yes, it would be better if it's somewhere we could talk without interruption."

"Understood. Please follow me."

The serious tone Diablo used in his answer was enough for Lumachina to understand that it was not the kind of talk you should have in the middle of a room where an attendant could just come in and eavesdrop by accident. They moved to another room, one that Lumachina assured would fit their needs.

"This place should be good, Kami-sama. It's a room where all the highest officials discuss important subjects but since there was nothing that serious around here recently, it's unlikely that somebody will come here."

"I see. Then, I will get straight to the point Lumachina. I need your help, but more than that, I need your… tolerance, I guess you could say that."

"Help? Tolerance? From me to Kami-sama?"

Lumachina could barely believe what she just heard. As far as she is concerned, she was the one who was always being saved by Diablo. He even helped her, going along with her whims regardless of whatever he would benefit from it or not, like the time he lent her some of his items to heal some citizens completely unrelated to him. Not to mention that it was "God" asking for her help, or at least the one she thought was God.

"It's not something that requires power or strength, if it did I could have done it by myself. What I did need right now, are people that are willing to… go along with my… selfishness."

"Kami-sama..."

"I'm aware that it's an absurd request but I need you to take this very seriously."

"...I've been thinking for a while but...Kami-sama, you seem more… gentle than before, humble as well. Ah, of course, I'm not saying Kami-sama was a cruel person! It's just, Kami-sama was a bit more… rough before. Now Kami-sama looks more collected and calm, like your gaze carries great understanding and wisdom."

(...As always, she is overestimating me. Even if I agree that I'm more collected than before, since I got a lot of 'life experience' recently, I don't think other people can see wisdom on my eyes…)

"Don't exaggerate it. I just saw the need to slightly change my behaviour."

"Pardon me for overstepping my boundaries. Oh! I also changed the subject by accident. So Kami-sama, what were you going to ask of me? I'm greatly indebted to Kami-sama, so I will do anything I can to help, no matter how impossible it may seem, if someone like me can be of help to Kami-sama, I will be greatly delighted."

"...Well, hear me out before you jump to any conclusions."

Explaining...fills you with DETERMINATI**! (just kidding)

"...So Kami-sama needs my cooperation to perform a very specific ritual?"

"Yeah, but… you don't to need to force yourself to say it like it's a proper thing."

(I'm aware that it's not something you encounter everyday but as expected of the High Priest, huh? No matter how you look at it, this is not a 'very-appropriated-ritual', yet she still went through the trouble of saying it in an educated manner. I'm pretty sure if it was someone else, they wouldn't use 'very specific ritual' to describe this.)

"I see...it sounds a bit impure but if it's Kami-sama's saying, it must be necessary."

"...While it is necessary, there's something that I need as well."

"What is it Kami-sama?"

"I need you to look at me with unclouded eyes, Lumachina."

"Eh? What do Kami-sama mean?"

"That's exactly it. Lumachina, I want you to make your choice but without using your faith as a basis for it."

"W-wait! Kami-sama, are you telling me to abandon my faith?!"

"N-no, I didn't say you have to go that far. I only meant that you have to choose as a woman, not as the High Priest."

"Bu-but! I lived my entire life for my beliefs, suddenly telling me to not use them..."

"Ugh!"

(Damn! I didn't thought about this before but, in this aspect, Lumachina is just like Eldegard and Alicia! She lived for religion while Eldegard lived for her loyalty. I didn't take into account that Lumachina would react like them as well. I was too naive!)

"Lumachina, I met people who are just like you before. They devoted their entire lives to something and were suddenly lost when given the option to live for something else."

"...Could Kami-sama tell me what happened to them?"

"They reflected, reflected on everything and made their choice to move on.(something I failed to do in the past)"

"Reflected….move on…."

"Of course, I know your situation is not the same. Your creed wouldn't normally allow polygamy and I know you will not get along with some of the other wives(like Krem). But I'm still asking this of you because I believe I can trust you with this."

"..."

"Just take your time. Rushing will only create thoughtless decisions."

"But Kami-sama..."

"You just have to think about how you feel about this and if you are confident you can handle it, confident you can accept all this without forcing yourself."

"How I feel…..accept..."

"..."

Diablo said all he could, now it was up to Lumachina herself to sort out her feelings. He actually hoped she could resolve herself, be it to accept or to reject, faster than Edelgard did. Lumachina was, in a way, more daring than Edelgard. While Edelgard was stuck in the 'ressurect-demon-lord-and-kill-all-humans' way of thinking until Krem snapped her out of it, Lumachina had decided to take action and escape from the church when she saw how corrupted it was.

"..."

"..."

Diablo recalled the awkward silence from the time with Edelgard. Waiting for the girl to make her choice, just silently staring, it was aggravating for him. He wasn't sure how much time actually passed, as far as he was concerned, it could have been hours but most likely it was only a few minutes.

"I..."

"I...?"

"I will accept it, Kami-sama's proposal."

"..."

Diablo was relieved that she accepted so easily, but he also felt a little bad at the fact the he already thought she would accept.

(Since when did I become so confident at something that was not RPGs? Somewhere, in the corner of my mind, I was already counting on her cooperation. Thanks to Sylvie and Mei, I already understood that not everybody will see me as a bad guy, but for me to actually think they will have a favorable opinion, to the point of accepting this absurd 'quest'…. Maybe I'm growing a little conceited.)

"Even if our teaching are against polygamy, if Kami-sama is the one saying, it must be okay!"

"...Is that so?"

"I mean, I understand that Kami-sama is not saying it as a mean of satisfying his lust but as a mean of protecting everybody around himself."

"Umu."

"Even if I hold some hostility towards that girl(Krem), if she was chosen by Kami-sama and accepted, then she can't be such a bad person. And, pardon me for using it when Kami-sama told me not to but, it's not according to our teachings to judge someone as hopeless just after meeting them."

"...!"

"If it's Kami-sama, I believe you will not stray from the his path. Even with so many wives, Kami-sama won't lose himself and will always care for all of us."

"...That's a given, right?"

"...Also..."

"?"

"...Also, Kami-sama already saw my bare form, that was only supposed to be seen by my future husband."

"Urgh!"

"I understand that Kami-sama saved me and had his own circumstances but...I would be really happy if Kami-sama took responsibility."

"...Well, when you put it like that, I don't really have much choice."

"Huhu! So even Kami-sama can get embarrassed."

Diablo was scratching his cheek with his index finger while keeping his eyes closed. Lumachina immediately understood that he was just trying to disguise his own embarrassment and let out a small smile. Diablo wanted to tell her to wipe that smile out but figured that it wasn't proper to say that to his now-to-be-wife.

"Oh, that's right. Kami-sama seems to have plenty of experience so...please be gentle. It's my first time doing this."

"...Right."

Diablo really wanted to point out how obscene her way of talking was but decided against it. Considering her personality, it was completely accidental, she herself didn't realize it, so it was for the best that he kept silent about it. It's not like anyone else would hear her talking like this.

"Then, here I come..."

"Yes..."

Lumachina closed her eyes and put her hands together, while Diablo closed the distance between them. He leaned gently towards Lumachina and made the contact.

"Hm..."

"Mmm..."

He made a simple contact between lips, trying to be as gentle as he could. He was taking into account that Lumachina was by far, the "purest" girl among the brides. Different from Mei who was inexperienced or Shera who was naive. With that in mind, he really made just a brief contact, separating just a few seconds later.

"It's done."

"Eh? Ah! I-I see! So it's done, haha…."

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"Eh? No, it's just! Somehow, I had a feeling Kami-sama was holding himself...just a feeling."

"..."

(I was actually. I noticed it when I kissed Alicia but… my lust is really growing, isn't it? It's even harder to hold back when I do it in such an innocent way. It's as if I'm thirsty and drank only a drop of water, not nearly enough.)

"Well, do you feel any different? The others said that they felt better, but that could carry several meanings. Your senses could become sharper, your magic could grow stronger or maybe your strength will just grow, it all depends on your particularities. In your case, I have no idea what could happen."

"Hm… I'm really sorry, Kami-sama. I do feel different, in a good way, but I can't say for sure what is different."

"It's okay. As I said before, There's no need to rush, If you feel okay, it's enough for now."

"Thank you very much, Kami-sama, or maybe I should start calling you Danna-sama?"

Danna-sama: basically means husband

"...I don't mind so long as you don't overdo it."

"I understand, even if I feel a little frustrated that this should be kept a secret, it would certainly bring a lot of trouble if all of Kami- Danna-sama's relationships were exposed."

"If you get it, then it's fine. Ah, also, I have a letter from Rem. She asked me to deliver it to you."

"A letter from Rem-sama?"

"I'm not sure what is written inside though."

"I see. I will definitely read it later. Thank you very much for bringing it to me, Danna-sama."

"I didn't do anything special. Anyway, I already took too much time from you, I should depart soon. I also have more places to visit, after all."

"Yes! I'm really sorry that I can't keep you company Danna-sama. The best I can do is wish you a safe trip. And good luck with my future 'bride-sisters', I'm sure it will all work out!"

"Definitely. Then, I'm off."

With these words, Diablo departed without looking back. Lumachina on the other hand, kept staring at his back until she couldn't see him anymore. After coming out of her daze, she opened the letter and…

"Eh? Ehhh?! Something like this is-?!"

...her surprise surpassed even her happiness from getting married to her beloved Danna-sama. But the one who will receive the greatest shock will be Diablo, but that's a story for the not so distant future.

Author second note: I actually want to put an image as a cover for this fanfic, but I'm not sure how copyrights work when it comes to "using an image from the illustrator's twitter as a cover for the fanfic". It's a really good image with pretty much all the girls from the anime together with Diablo, I think it's some kind celebration for the OVA that will be released next year. Can somebody please tell me how copyrights work?