Chapter 243
Oh my god.
He didn’t ask how they were being ‘doted’.
When Payne asked if she could let them go, Ashtel just gave him a vague smile.
‘Sorry. I think my sister’s really enjoying herself. But don’t worry, I told her not to do anything that would really hurt them. They’ll be fine.’
Was he supposed to be satisfied with that answer?
Payne wished he could do more for them, but after he spent days cleaning and fixing up the old shrine, word spread that he was an upright, virtuous priest. Suddenly, he was saddled with a huge new responsibility.
“Our village’s new groom can lead our temple!”
It started with the old doctor, but soon shopkeepers, the village chief, even young wives he’d never met, were clapping and laughing as they welcomed the idea.
“Oh, no. I’m really not qualified…”
“What do you mean, you’re not qualified? Didn’t you come from Singria?”
“Yeah! Didn’t you say you were from Katzel Mediale?”
And so Payne became the high priest of the only temple in the village.
‘Is this really okay…?’
He enjoyed sharing his teachings with such honest, pure-hearted people.
Especially the children, so many of whom had never received any formal education—he felt a special sense of fulfillment passing on his knowledge.
Before he knew it, memories of Singria faded, and he stopped hearing from Duvalkan and Van. He should have been enjoying his happy new marriage with Ashtel, but…
“Sue! I’m here!”
Suddenly, Hela showed up.
“Huh? Sis Hela? What brings you here?”
“Do I need a reason to come?”
“It’s my house, you know. And Payne lives here, so—”
Ever since the wedding, Ashtel had started fiercely protecting Payne.
Moablon and Liz, who’d always been grumpy, had finally lashed out—and all her pent-up anger came boiling over.
‘If my sisters ever treat Payne badly again, I’ll never see them again!’
She couldn’t exactly threaten not to see them for a hundred or two hundred years, now that she was human, so ‘never again’ would have to do.
And it worked surprisingly well; even as her sisters kept their distance, Ashtel’s sweet, doting care for Payne only increased.
“This is so unfair…”
Even Hela, of all people, now looked at her with droopy eyes, feeling left out.
“Ashtel, I’m fine. It’s been a while, Hela.”
Payne said, stepping in to greet her. He even served the very tea she’d liked so much last time, making Hela’s face twist in a strange mix of feelings.
“Well… thanks.”
After a sip, she turned to Ashtel.
“Sue, you can come to the demon realm now.”
“Huh? But I’m human!”
“Carmen developed a magical item that lets humans stay in the demon realm.”
“What?!”
Ashtel’s surprised voice shot straight through the roof, almost all the way to the sky. She gaped, then jumped up and threw her arms around Hela.
“Eek! Really? I can see my sisters? Even Sis Seri?”
“Yeah. You can stay safely for up to ten days, so we can be together.”
“That’s amazing!”
Apparently, Carmen had really pulled through with all those magical gadgets she’d been tinkering with to live with Roman in the demon realm.
The time limit meant there was still progress to be made, but at least now Ashtel could visit her family.
‘I’m glad she’ll get to see them again.’
Payne thought, watching Ashtel bounce around in excitement.
After becoming human, Ashtel had been especially sad to hear that her eldest sister, Sermedes, couldn’t leave the demon realm because of her position. Now, at least, they’d have some time together.
“Ashtel, that’s wonderful. You should go. I’ll stay here and watch the house—”
“What are you talking about? You’re coming too.”
“Huh?”
And it wasn’t Ashtel who insisted, but Hela, her red hair piled high and her golden eyes gleaming.
“You’re going, too. Are you seriously not going with Sue?”
“But I’m…”
“Can Payne stay there too?”
“Of course. I had Carmen rush the item just for you two.”
“Yay! Payne, let’s go to the demon realm together! What do you think?”
What did he think? Honestly, he hated the idea.
“Ashtel, I know you’ve forgotten, but I’m a priest. A priest going to the demon realm—?”
“Oh, right. Guess I’ll just go by myself then.”
Thankfully, Ashtel agreed quickly, still lost in thoughts of sharing her happiness with her beloved family.
She remembered Payne’s situation and smiled at him sweetly, squeezing his hand.
“Okay, I’ll get ready and go with Hela tomorrow.”
“Alright, that’s fine.”
“Wait a sec.”
Hela, who’d been quiet, suddenly spoke up again. She crossed her legs, folded her arms, and fixed them with a blunt look.
“You know that human custom—living with your wife’s family after marriage?”
“What’s that?”
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