Chapter 14
“And that’s pretty much what happened,” I said with a weak laugh.
After returning home, I told Lian Qi the whole story of “how I went and claimed Qifeng” from beginning to end. I didn’t add any embellishments. Qifeng can testify. But Lian Qi still found it a bit hard to believe.
“…Eh? What? In the end, you even smashed the doors of the Inquisition Hall?” Lian Qi’s eyebrows rose slightly as she looked at me strangely.
Thinking about it, this is probably the most rebellious thing I’ve ever done. If you don’t count that time I ran away from home to track down that person—that great demon lord thirsty for slaughter—after they fell into the abyss of magic, just to demand an “answer” from them.
“You look so naturally weak-willed, I didn’t think you had such a domineering side to your personality,” Lian Qi said.
“What do you mean…?” I pouted, dissatisfied.
Wait—this shouldn’t have anything to do with me being a boy, right?
“It’s not like I’m weak-willed toward everyone. Of course I’d get angry if they bullied Qifeng.”
“Wu… it’s all my fault…”
Qifeng was curled up on the sofa. Ever since we came back from the Church, she’s been sticking to me, holding onto my arm like a little pendant, refusing to let go.
“Fei’er had such a big falling out with the Church for my sake… I’m so sorry…”
“Ahem. I think this matter,” Lian Qi deliberately faked a cough and said with a serious expression, “was ostensibly aimed at you, but in reality, it was aimed at Fei’er.”
Qifeng and I, in perfect sync, said “Eh?” and looked at Lian Qi, confused.
“You understand the idiom ‘strike the mountain to frighten the tiger,’ right? This time, they were using you to test Fei’er. If Fei’er had backed down this time, there’s no telling what they would have done next.”
I froze for a moment, blinking.
“I didn’t think about it that deeply at all.”
Lian Qi put one hand on her hip and sighed, looking as if I had utterly defeated her. What’s with that?
“I really don’t know what to do with you. But, after today, everyone in the Church, from top to bottom, will know you’re not to be trifled with.”
“Anyway, as long as I’m here, they can forget about bullying Qifeng ever again! To be honest, I’m still not over being angry!” I said with a serious face.
“By the way, Fei’er, do you have your own faction in the Church?”
“My… own faction…?”
Even though Lian Qi asked me so seriously, I’d never really thought about it.
Lian Qi sighed.
“You can’t just assume you don’t need your own faction because you’re the Saintess, you know? Even Jesus had twelve disciples.”
“I’m sorry… who is Jesus?” I asked weakly.
“The Holy Son from my original world.”
“Ah… so a boy.”
“Of course.”
I thought to myself, it seems the god of Lian Qi’s original world wouldn’t get a fundamental thing like gender wrong…
Qifeng nestled against my arm and said softly, “It’s not really Fei’er’s fault. It’s just that Grandpa… he didn’t raise Fei’er to be a ruler of the Church.”
“No wonder you don’t have any of the airs of a Saintess,” Lian Qi said, looking at me faintly.
“What’s that supposed to mean—! Are you dissatisfied with that?” I retorted, my face red.
I couldn’t help but think about those days when I, the Saintess, endured humiliation to act as her maid. Thinking back on it now, I was totally just playing myself. It’s just too shameful!
It must be because Lian Qi saw through me and knew I was just “playing myself” that she’d say I don’t have any of the airs of a Saintess, right?
“But… Grandpa talked with Fei’er for a long time before he passed away. He must have entrusted Fei’er with secrets of the Holy Light Church that the other bishops don’t know.”
If I were drinking water right now, I definitely would have spat it out.
What secrets?
No, no—
It is a secret!
The secret his old self told me before he died was exactly… that I, the Saintess, am actually a boy!
The secret I can never tell, even if it kills me.
To change the subject, I gave a weak laugh and said, “Lian Qi~ I’m hungry. Did you bring back any food?”
It’s lunchtime, you know!
“I did. It’s in the kitchen. I’ll go get it.”
“Fei’er, if you don’t mind… from now on, how about I cook for you guys?” Qifeng asked tentatively, still holding my arm, her gaze toward me as tender as water.
She’d been acting weird ever since her grandpa passed away, and she’s gotten even weirder since we came back from the Church today.
“I don’t mind.”
“R-Really?” she looked at me, ecstatic.
“Your cooking suits my tastes pretty well anyway. But why are you suddenly offering to take over the cooking? You’re the type of person who just passively accepts whatever comes. If I don’t order you, you won’t do it.”
“Because… I want to do things for you that I’m capable of… O-Of course… you can also do it in the form of a command. I’ll gladly accept that too~”
“What if I command you to change your masochistic tendencies?”
“Eh? How could you?” Qifeng shook my arm, pouting. “That’s against the rules!”
Then, she leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “In the whole world, only you get to bully me, right?”
A shiver went down my spine!
So ticklish, so ticklish!
Just then, Lian Qi came over carrying the food containers.
I had just reached out to take them when Qifeng beat me to it. She even thoughtfully opened the lid for me, so I didn’t have to lift a finger.
This is why I feel like Qifeng’s attitude toward me has been a bit abnormal ever since we got back from the Church!
“Here, Fei’er, open your mouth—Ah—”
Qifeng held a small, delicate mulberry tart up to my mouth. Is she going to feed me?
This is what we usually do, so I didn’t even think about it and just caught it with my mouth. Watching her suck her fingers while smiling and gazing at me tenderly, I felt more and A-more that she wasn’t like her usual self.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked after swallowing the mulberry tart.
She shook her head, smiling. “You eat first.” Then she offered me another piece.
Once would have been fine, but she fed me the entire time? It’s so awkward with Lian Qi watching from the side—
Her abnormal behavior wasn’t just limited to feeding me, either.
When night came, I changed into my nightgown, holding a basket of the clothes I had worn during the day.
I was just about to enter the bathroom, planning to wash my clothes first and then myself, when Qifeng rushed to my side and snatched the basket from my hands.
“Fei’er, I’ll wash your clothes for you.”
It took me two full seconds to react!
“What are you doing—my underwear is in that basket! How can I let you wash something so private?” I snatched the basket back from Qifeng, embarrassed.
Thank goodness my bra and panties were hidden under the nun’s uniform. It’s super shameful if Qifeng sees them after I’ve worn them, okay?
“Alright, alright—I’ll take my bath right after I wash the clothes. You go on out!”
I pushed her out as I spoke.
Qifeng pressed her face to the crack in the door and asked, “…Fei’er… if you don’t mind… I can scrub your back for you.”
I really wanted to yell “males and females should not be so familiar” at her, but reason told me I couldn’t do that.
It’s so frustrating. That time at the Magic Academy dormitory when we were forced to bathe together, it was only under the condition that she was the one who was tied up and blindfolded.
I really feel like ever since we came back from the Church, not only has she gotten clingier, but she’s also been constantly trying to fawn over me. What the heck is going on?