How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World

Chapter 233: Spoilers (5)

Due to an unexpected spoiler, people around me had fun teasing me, but it didn’t change my daily life. During the weekdays, I performed the duties of a teaching assistant, essentially being Elena’s slave and writing. On weekends, I spend time exercising with Adelia to improve my physical strength.

Especially after the last encounter with Nicole, the time spent with Adelia has increased. She seems happy but also appears burdened by it. She suggested it might be better to spend time with Marie or Cecily instead of herself, saying she’s fine just exercising together on weekends, etc. It seems like she still belittles herself.

Of course, I ignored it all. Since Marie and Cecily said they could make concessions over the weekend, I was able to focus on Adelia during the weekends. Thanks to that, Adelia’s face became brighter over time, and her characteristic confident smile returned. Every time I looked at her, I couldn’t help but think that Adelia’s smile warms the hearts of those who see it.

It was because of the pressure, not only from Nicole, that connected Adelia and me, but to say we have fully connected was a stretch. There’s still a secret I haven’t told her, and those around me advised caution about that matter.

Still, just being by my side, Adelia seemed happy, never losing her smile. I heard women in love are said to become childish, and perhaps reminding me of that, she continued to show cute behaviors one after another.

“Come on! Come on! Just once! Let’s do it just once! Be strong!”

“Ughhh!”

Right now, I was doing squats at Adelia’s dormitory, receiving vigorous encouragement. On my shoulders, a noticeably heavy barbell was lifted, boasting a weight that required mana reinforcement for the body. Since my body can easily lift a sack weighing 100kg, you can guess how heavy it is by the effort I’m putting in.

Although I consistently train my lower body through squats, for some reason, Adelia was pushing me even more relentlessly than before.

Whether it’s because I someday believe I have to contend with my own limits, or perhaps it’s due to the increasing number of women around me, I don’t know, but it feels like I’m tasting death. Still, it’s better than truly dying in the midst of the night job. Moreover, even with the tremendous boost from Luminous, it was still unavoidable.

“Enough now!”

“Huah!”

Kwong!

As soon as the words ‘enough’ came from Adelia, I threw my weight down as if it were a piece of luggage. It felt as the ground trembled slightly from its weight.

While I rested on the ground, Adelia approached me and took out a white handkerchief from her pocket to wipe away the sweat. It was a very meaningful handkerchief for Adelia, one I had given her when she was lost in despair during the exhibition.

With sky-blue eyes mixed with determination and warmth, she encouraged me as she looked at me.

“You did well. Take a 10-minute break and let’s move on to the next.”

“...Can’t I rest more?”

“No. Your body is in full development right now. Endure it like a warrior until then.”

Adelia blushed and acted innocently when teased, but she’s strict when it comes to exercise. Although she was somewhat forced onto the path of a knight due to her family environment, her determination was genuine. So much so that even if I begged, she would just brush it off calmly and firmly.

Thanks to her, I’ve seen a dramatic increase in my stamina every week. While Luminous has bestowed some sacred power upon me, Adelia’s support was the most significant. Originally, exercise tends to be doubly effective with someone’s assistance. Especially Adelia, according to my father’s words, prioritized efficiency and was someone full of vigor.

‘So, her body...’

I glanced at Adelia while she wiped my sweat. She was wearing custom-made attire for exercise, all provided by my family. The pants were like what Nicole wore, a tracksuit, while the top was a tank top that revealed her abdomen and arms, designed to keep her cool.

Although I had seen it once by chance before, it still caught my attention. Her body always exuded a healthy beauty. The well-trained abs beyond the level of merely impressive made me want to touch them.

“Where are you looking?”

“Oh.”

Adelia asked me in a somewhat embarrassed tone, seemingly noticing that I was blatantly staring. Only then did I avert my gaze from her abs and look toward her face.

Blushing slightly, she seemed embarrassed and shyly covered her stomach. She must have noticed where my gaze was directed.

Before, I might have turned away in embarrassment and said nothing, but not anymore. What’s there to be embarrassed about when I’ve already accepted her? Soon enough, we’ll be seeing everything about each other.

Above all, I couldn’t help but think she was truly amazing. Really. Despite women naturally having far fewer muscles than men, to have developed such defined abs symbolized her countless efforts.

So, without any ulterior motive, I spoke my mind.

“Just impressive. Even my older sister wasn’t at that level.”

“...Really?”

Adelia must have sensed the sincerity in my words as she slowly revealed her covered abdomen with both arms. Then, she glanced at me and, with a slightly trembling voice, made a request.

“Uhm, would you like to touch it once?”

“What?”

Did I hear it wrong? With a bewildered expression, I looked at Adelia, whose face was turning as red as a tomato. But soon after, she covered her face with both hands, lowered her head, and collapsed to the ground.

“Ah... this isn’t it... what am I doing...”

“...”

What is she doing alone? She said it herself, but seeing her embarrassed state made me smile involuntarily.

“...Cardinal Kate.”

“Yes, Cardinal Deimos.”

Responding to his call, Kate slowly rose from her seat. Despite being confined to the cell, her beauty remained undiminished, having meticulously taken care of herself, a marked difference from her past.

Deimos could sense it. The aura of sanctity emanating from her had grown severalfold. The scent of lilacs, denser within the cell, even making one’s nose tingle. According to the guards, she spent the whole day reciting prayers, except for meal and sleep times, indicating the intensity of her faith.

“For what reason have you come?”

“It’s the Pope’s directive. You are now allowed to come out.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Kate, with a genuinely grateful expression, nodded graciously, sporting a kind smile. Deimos, sensing an unfamiliar reverence in her smile and actions, couldn’t help but feel taken aback.

Receiving grace from Luminous, she naturally possessed a strong sanctity, but even to him, a fellow cardinal, her demeanor exuded an unprecedented sense of reverence. This was no ordinary occurrence.

Kate, already possessing a sanctity that surpassed that of a cardinal for quite some time, felt inexplicable, surrounded by the scent of lilacs filling the solitary room.

Observing this, Deimos cleared his throat and, after a few hesitant coughs, spoke in a quiet voice.

“What are your plans now? Will you continue on the pilgrimage path to find Xenon as before?”

“Yes. That’s the plan.”

Kate, once again embarking on the pilgrimage path to find Xenon after stopping midway, had an obvious plan in mind.

However, Deimos suspected that she might have already found Xenon. Her words during the Cardinal Bark incident echoed in his mind.

‘Dare to doubt him...’

One couldn’t make such statements without meeting someone in person. While it could refer to Luminous, Deimos, with his extensive experience, could discern subtle gaps.

Yet, he wouldn’t ask directly. There was the immediate need to pacify the confusion of Xavier, and besides, he felt too old. Such complicated matters had to be set aside, focusing on the present reality.

However, curiosity couldn’t be easily suppressed. What exactly did Kate intend to do upon meeting Xenon?

He smoothed his lush beard and asked cautiously.

“May I ask a question?”

“I’m always willing to take questions from Cardinal Deimos.”

“If you meet Xenon, what are you planning to do?”

At that question, Kate blinked her green eyes slowly and then flashed a gentle smile. She neatly folded her hands and paused.

Was it an illusion that the single beam of light emerging from behind grew stronger? Deimos gazed, utterly captivated by her divine figure.

Hwaaang...

The single beam of light that had been the only thing in the dark cell began to brighten, gradually illuminating the entire cell, far brighter than before, as if dispelling all the surrounding darkness, a majestic and beautiful sight.

While Deimos was left speechless by the indescribable scene, Kate, with a soft smile, finally spoke.

“My original goal was to receive his seed and please Luminous. But that was my arrogance and misconception. He was not a ‘light’ that someone like me could contain. He’s blindingly beautiful, radiant, and divine to the point of blinding one’s eyes.”

“...”

“So I want to go to him and deliver my words.”

Finally, she released her clasped hands and slowly moved downward. Past her ample chest, past her spine and navel, finally to the lower abdomen where the child would be growing.

Kate looked down at her lower abdomen with sparkling green eyes, gently running her hand over it before speaking.

“To plant his seed, and it grow abundantly.”

There was an immaculate purity, untouched by even an ounce of filth, yet it held a terrifying ‘madness’ because of it.

“To spread his ‘seeds’ of light far and wide.”

Not knowing what went wrong.

“Including me.”

It was the true image of a fanatic.

Translators note: