Chapter 61: Rapid development

──Where are you?

When I hear a groaning voice, I flee as quickly as I can. That voice belonged to the Goddess Kas’uan. Today, I thought I had placed the “matchmaker under the moon” at my bedside. So why? I think so, but I won’t stop running.

──I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you.

The voices quickly followed my steps. The voices were very close. I can’t. I can’t get away.

I remain in the darkness, holding my breath, waiting for the voice to go.

The voices go away gradually. Thank goodness I escaped. I was so relieved that I lost nearly all of my strength when──.

──found you.

I heard a voice in my ear.

“Huh?! “Haa, haa, haa.”

I pushed myself out of bed, my body drenched in sweat. I was feeling sick, so I tried to change my clothing, but I couldn’t get the buttons undone correctly. My hands are trembling. Not just my hands, my whole body was trembling.

“How…”

I’m quite sure I haven’t experienced such nightmares since I began sleeping with the “matchmaker” flower at my side. And the Goddess Kas’uan hadn’t found me the previous time because my face was altered, but this time a voice told me loud and clear that she had.

I should talk to God Galeios.

Finally, because I couldn’t sleep that night, I waited until daylight and asked The Demon King for help. When I informed him I had a dream and that Goddess Kas’uan could have found me, he rushed me to the shrine.

God Galeios.

I Pray in the center of the magic circle.

──My Shrine Maiden.

The God Galeios quickly responded. He had apparently returned to his shrine before we knew it.

──I’m afraid I was overwhelmed. Kas’uan discovered you after getting tangled up with something. I smell Kas’uan.

What should I do?

──You should leave right now. But it may already be too late.

Too late?

──If Kas’uan has marked your soul, it will never go, even if we are in contract. I can only hope that is not the case. However, be careful, Shrine Maiden.

The voice of the God Galeios was silenced with these words.

“What did God Galeios say?”

The Demon King is concerned as he stares at my face. I tell the Demon King what the God Galeios told me.

“All right, let’s go.”

“Y-Yeah, but…”

It is now impossible to marry since the Demon King’s customary engagement length is one year.

“No. It makes no difference. Your life is more vital.

“However, I am not yet educated enough to marry O’Dowell-sama.”

“It doesn’t matter; we’ll make up for it afterwards. I’d prefer not to see anything bad happen to Mica.”

The Demon King seemed truly distressed.

“The larger issue is when it is too late—I’m worried that the Goddess Kas’uan is involved in something after we’ve defeated her.”

Right. I wonder what that something is. Is it the Saint then, a fanatic of the Goddess Kas’uan?

“Even if it’s the Saint, that’s still good; anyway, Mica, let’s marry.”

I was then led from the shrine to the Demon King’s office, where Yurin and other leading Crystallia figures were gathered. He explained the situation and informed them that our marriage needed to be finalized as soon as possible.

They hesitated at first, but when he told them my life was on the line, they nodded. I was relieved to be the Shrine Maiden for the first time.

and then three days later.

Our wedding was scheduled to take place.