98

Why do they say, 'a pie in the sky?'

Because you can't actually have it. That makes it even more tempting.

That's just how human desire works.

The harder it is to get, the more it stirs a spirit of challenge.

The more unattainable something is, the more you want it.

But then, a thought crossed my mind.

Unlike a 'pie in the sky' that you can only gaze at but never have…

That sweet fruit right in front of me…

Could I not reach out and touch it?

"Ahhh!"

I smacked my cheeks with both hands.

"Iris?!"

The woman in front of me looked utterly shocked.

After a few hard slaps, a sharp stinging sensation spread across my cheeks, but I didn't care at all.

The shame inside me was far greater.

'W-what's wrong with you, Iris?!'

No matter how tempting it looks, this is absurd.

Tempting…? No, that's not right.

Pretty…? Captivating…? Something I'd want to squeeze…?

A-anyway, trying to touch it without permission is outrageous!

That would be a crime!

How could a saint harbor such indecent thoughts?!

Get a grip, Iris.

I need to quickly explain this to her.

That way, she'll feel less awkward about this.

I shook my head fiercely to dispel the lewd thoughts and spoke with determination.

"Um, I…"

Her soft, worried eyes looked at me with concern.

"Are you okay, Iris…?"

"Uh… it's just that…"

As soon as I saw her cherry-like red lips…

For some reason, my mind started to go hazy again. And little by little, those indecent thoughts crept back in.

…Just a bit…

…Would it be okay to look just a bit longer?

She seems pretty oblivious, so…

Maybe if I don't tell her, she won't notice…?

Then I could keep looking…

"Ahhhh!!!!"

Smack! Smack!

'Pull yourself together, Iris! Get a grip!!'

"Iris!!"

As if she couldn't stand my self-harming any longer, the woman reached out and grabbed both of my hands.

It was meant to stop me, but…

Ironically, her actions only drove me crazier.

Did you know?

The human body is one.

Obviously. Everything is connected.

What am I even saying?

If you move your body to reach out your hands…

Of course, other parts move as well.

Exactly.

Like those sultry peaks in front of me.

Swaying back and forth.

Gently, yet devastatingly to me, the sight of those two bouncing balloons was inescapable.

By far the most stimulating and dizzying sight I've ever witnessed.

My face grew unbearably hot, and my mind felt like it was falling into a hypnotic trance.

As if she had no idea what I was thinking, the woman grabbed my shoulders with both hands and began shaking me back and forth.

"Iris!! Come on, snap out of it!!!"

Almost seductively, the two treasures swayed along with her movements.

Even in the push-and-pull chaos, my eyes were locked firmly onto them.

Little by little.

As time passed.

The intoxicating fragrance coming from her numbed my senses.

The mesmerizing sight before me clouded my judgment.

As my sanity faded bit by bit, a suspicious thought emerged.

'But… how could she not realize her clothes are slipping off?'

No matter how oblivious someone is.

Wouldn't they feel the distinct emptiness in their chest?

Surely, anyone would notice it.

Could someone really be this clueless?

As my judgment blurred…

I arrived at one hypothesis.

What if…

She's not clueless, but doing this on purpose?

"If that's really the case…

Could this woman…

Could it be that she's seducing me right now?

Revealing her innocent, pure white skin as if unaware of anything, shaking those lewd peaks as if asking to be touched.

Is she perhaps throwing a tantrum at me?

What if I'm the one misreading her intentions and suffering through this turmoil?

'…If she's the one seducing me… wouldn't it be okay to touch her…?'

As if under some kind of spell,

My hands began to move slyly toward her, trembling with anticipation.

With each inch closer, my heart pounded as if it would burst.

But just before my hands could reach her treasure,

The last shred of my conscience screamed at me from within.

"Get a grip, Iris! Are you really going to betray Lily like this?!"

'Li…Lily?'

– Yes! Your hero! Your love! You said you wanted to stay by her side! Are you planning to become a wretched saint who betrays her own love?! –

'N-no, I…'

– You know very well how grave a sin infidelity is! As a saint, you already carry the burden of one sin. Are you planning to commit a second one now? –

'Ah…'

– You've managed to restrain yourself so far without getting caught! What do you think the goddess would say if she saw you like this?! –

'N-no, that's…'

– Then get yourself together! Don't commit any more blasphemous acts! –

With my conscience's relentless scolding, I finally came to my senses.

'What… What was I about to do?'

This won't do.

I clearly need some time for self-reflection.

To have fallen this far…

I need to get out of here quickly and return to the cathedral. I'll spend some time in prayer.

That means I'll have to take a break from the academy for a while.

Honestly, with such irreverent thoughts, what could I possibly hope to learn here?

Resolving to maintain my composure,

I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the alluring fruit before me, looked only into the woman's eyes, and opened my mouth.

"Excuse me, but your clothes—"

"Are you running a fever or something…?"

Thump.

"Fever…?"

Before I could finish my sentence,

Her forehead gently touched mine.

"Hm… No fever, though…"

The woman looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Her warmth was transmitted through our touching foreheads.

And it wasn't just our foreheads that touched.

Looking down,

I saw that our two mountain ranges had also come into contact.

Through my clothes,

I could feel the soft and sweet sensation of her fruits pressing against me.

Even the slightly stiff texture at their centers.

Snap–

In that moment,

Something inside me snapped.

"Huh…? This feeling is…"

The woman seemed to realize something strange about the sensation against her chest.

She glanced down at the point of contact between our two 'balloons.'

"Huh…? Wh-what? Why are my clothes…?"

After staring blankly for a moment, the woman spoke in a trembling voice.

Soon, she hurriedly pulled away from me in embarrassment, But it was already too late.

Squish–

In my hand…

A surge of fullness and satisfaction flowed through my body, bringing me happiness.

"Huh?"

The woman's eyes widened in surprise.

Her gaze slowly moved downward, and soon, she was staring blankly at my hands, which were gripping her treasure.

"I…Iris…?"

As if unable to comprehend what had just happened, her trembling eyes resembled quivering aspen leaves.

Seeing her like this stirred a sense of defiance in me.

What's with the sudden act of innocence?

After all, she's been seducing me this whole time.

"C-could you… please move your hands?"

She asked with a flushed face, redder than ever before.

I looked at her with a cold expression.

"It's too late now."

"W-what? W-what do you mean…?"

Squelch—

"Eek!?!?!?"

I fully relished the treasure in my grasp, savoring every bit of it with all my might.

For a moment, her eyes rolled back.

"Ah…"

An overwhelming sense of fullness and bliss began to overwhelm me, electrifying my entire body.

It felt as though I was floating in a fluffy heaven, deeply satisfying me.

'I'm sorry, Goddess.'

I am beyond salvation.

I am a fallen woman, unworthy of being called a saint.

But, you know, Goddess…

If I could just have this sweet, luscious fruit…

I think I'd be okay with being a fallen saint.

***

Kiyaaaa!!!

A massive beast dissolved into nothingness after being struck by the holy sword.

"…That seems to be the last one."

After spending several minutes searching for Iris inside the academy, I finally stood in what seemed to be a moment of peace.

Given how vast the academy grounds were, finding her had proven to be more challenging than I initially thought.

And with every step I took, numerous demonic creatures kept rushing toward me.

They must have been drawn by the divine energy of the holy sword.

Lowering my sword for a moment to catch my breath, I surveyed my surroundings.

Unlike before, the academy now seemed significantly calmer.

The once-swarming monsters and demonic beings had been entirely exterminated by the combined efforts of the principal and the academy students who had regained their composure.

The fierce flames that had threatened to engulf the academy were completely gone, leaving only the gentle warmth of sunlight shining peacefully over the area.

It was clear that peace had returned.

Amid this tranquility, I murmured quietly.

"Iris, you're safe, right?"

There was no way these lesser demons could breach the divine protection granted to a saint by the Goddess.

She must be safe.

Iris was probably outside tending to the wounded.

She was one of the few truly kind people I'd ever met except Hera.

"…Time to head back."

By now, everyone who needed to evacuate should have already done so.

There was no point in going further inside.

With that thought, I sheathed the holy sword and turned to leave.

Of course, I couldn't have known.

If I had just taken a few steps further at that moment…

"Hnnng?! N-no… Don't do that!!!♡"

I might have found the very thing I'd been longing for all this time.