Saint's Prison - Chapter 32

Words of Protection

―――This world is cold and cruel.

Death is always near, a constant companion to life. Medical knowledge and concepts of hygiene were far inferior compared to the world I once lived in. Life could easily scatter with the slightest trigger.

That’s why everyone seeks salvation.

Even in this cold and cruel world, they believe they can go to a warm place free of want after death—heaven.

Religion always interacts with societal backgrounds. What it is called upon to provide varies and changes depending on the place, era, and society.

I wonder what the background was for the indigenous religion that was once worshipped in this land.

***

“Well, Andy-sama, what’s the matter?”

As I entered the room with a sigh, Amal’s eyes widened in surprise. I sat down next to her in silence. With furrowed brows and a troubled look, Amal tried to read my mood.

I reached out to Amal and embraced her delicate shoulders, drawing her body close and feeling her smallness. Standing next to me, Amal was more than a head shorter, a clear child to my adult.

Yet, she had the hips of a woman who could bear children, a slender waist, and an ample bosom.

At 14, her figure was quite impressive, and honestly, it stirred inappropriate desires in me. I didn’t hide these feelings as I caressed Amal’s thigh.

“Uh, Andy-sama…?”

“Yeah, your thigh is soft. Actually, your whole body is. It’s soothing.”

“Hehe, I’m glad to hear that. Amal is Andy-sama’s to use as you please.”

Amal’s gentle smile suddenly made me feel shy. I scratched my head and turned my face towards the direction of the day after tomorrow, while the girl looked at me with wide, puzzled eyes.

(My girlfriend is so damn cute…)

Amal openly and innocently expresses her fondness towards me. To put it simply, she always radiates an aura of ‘like-like, love-love’. It’s incredibly pleasing and adorable.

Amal is 14 years old.

She would be a second-year middle school student, or maybe even a first-year in Japan’s modern context. By contemporary Japanese standards, she’s undoubtedly still a child. Therefore, any advances would be a crime.

This foundation, along with my own sense of nostalgia, led to my ambiguous attitude towards Amal.

I’ve seen many times how attached and possessively dependent Amal is on me. And the more I learned about her position in the convent, the more I realized that I couldn’t possibly leave Amal alone. I felt she needed me, and more importantly, I needed her at the moment.

Ever since I accepted Amal, something in me snapped into place. Touching her body, even kissing her, no longer felt sinful or taboo to me. There’s nothing left to fear for me now.

“Amal is really cute. A guy like me doesn’t deserve her.”

“…Oh, Andy-sama.”

Amal covered her mouth with her hand in a ladylike laugh, leaning her head against my arm with a blissful expression.

“Andy-sama, I am extremely happy. I wish time could just stop like this.”

“If time stopped, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”

I placed my hand under Amal’s chin, tilting her face upwards.

Just that made her blush and close her eyes. Unable to resist, I pressed my lips against hers ardently.

“Mm… Andy-sama, you’re wonderful.”

Continuing to kiss passionately, we finally broke apart. Amal slumped against me, her legs seemingly giving out. I wrapped my arms around her slender waist, holding her close.

In that position for a little while, I waited for Amal’s breathing to steady. The girl happily traced her lips with her finger several times. With a sultry sigh, she looked up.

“By the way, Andy-sama, what happened earlier?”

Amal blinked her crimson eyes, looking concerned.

“It’s nothing… Don’t worry about it.”

I remembered Sals’s arrogant, condescending face and felt my lips involuntarily purse. But I didn’t want to burden Amal with unnecessary worries, so I kept quiet.

“…Is that so, again. Hehe… That man, as usual, only does unnecessary things. It’s annoying.”

Even without my saying anything, Amal seemed to guess what had happened.

Had there been an instance like this before? As if reading my mind, she pinpointed the matter about Sals. Sharp, or whatever you call it. Am I really that easy to read? It’s a bit deflating.

Amal stroked my cheek and smiled.

“Don’t worry. There’s nothing for Andy-sama to be concerned about. I will protect you… from absolutely anything.”

Pressed by her words, I nodded involuntarily.