I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 176

After failing to capture Adrian, the mental fatigue lasted much longer than I’d expected. An unforeseen wave of depression swept over me.

“Saintess.”

The first to notice me being consumed by this gloom was the ever-perceptive Dietrich.

Adrian knew I was depressed because of him, but he stubbornly pretended not to notice. I, too, had no intention of burdening him with my despair, and so we were slowly drifting apart. It wasn’t just Adrian.

Aside from the time I spent around others, I was steadily…

It felt as though I had returned to the time when I was unable to log out.

“Saintess.”

“…Ah.”

I blinked absentmindedly when I belatedly noticed Dietrich calling me. His violet eyes had drawn near.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stop using the system? You look exhausted.”

He spoke as if he understood everything I was feeling. After finishing his sentence, he placed a hand at the corner of my eye. The gentle pressure he applied to my weary eyes made me feel slightly better.

I forced a smile and answered, “Exhausted? Not at all. Besides, if I stopped using the system, wouldn’t you be a little disappointed, Dietrich?”

Recalling something he had once said, I replied playfully. I heard him chuckle softly.

I remembered—how he had asked if he could do whatever he wanted while I was unconscious from using the system.

And yet now…

I pushed Dietrich’s hand away and opened my eyes. Despite the soft laughter, his expression was dark.

“You didn’t enjoy your time with Adrian.”

“…That’s…”

“Please think of us too, Saintess, when we see you flinch in fear every time we hear the sound of footsteps. What happened?”

Ah… I guess they noticed everything.

Not only Adrian’s footsteps, but even others’ made me startle. It seemed I had finally gotten on their nerves.

As I pressed my lips together in silence, Dietrich sighed as if it couldn’t be helped and said, “I have no intention of forcing it out of you. If you don’t want to say anything, then don’t. I just want you to know—we would never hurt you.”

“I know that well.”

“Then why act like you don’t?”

He asked playfully, winking. The hand that embraced my shoulder was kind.

I rested my forehead on his shoulder. It had been a while since we went for a walk, and we had stopped to sit on a bench. His clothes, warmed by the sun, felt even warmer than usual.

I felt a drowsy sensation wash over me.

As the warmth touched my forehead, my eyes closed on their own.

With my eyes still shut, I replied, “Of course I know.”

There’s no way I wouldn’t know the sincerity of those who had followed me even into the real world.

I felt fingers gently combing through my hair. Dietrich, who had been stroking it for quite some time, said quietly, “Next time, try meeting me.”

“…What?”

I opened my eyes in surprise at his sudden words. I welcomed the suggestion—but unfortunately, he was one of the most difficult characters to capture.

“I’m sorry, Dietrich…”

This time, I had planned to meet Ardal and steady my heart by viewing his ending—yet he made such a suggestion…

“I’ll tell you something interesting, Saintess.”

Before I could even decline, he continued, “It’s about my route. Doesn’t that pique your interest?”

Dietrich said with a clear smile.

And then he slowly began to tell his story—a heartfelt one I hadn’t even heard after completing his route.

A story far darker and more sorrowful than I’d expected.

<You have acquired character [Dietrich] route-related information!>

***

<The Saintess Is a Spy! – 6th Playthrough ->

<You are now entering the game.>

<You may set the starting point.>

<Please select your entry point for the 6th playthrough.>

1. Restart (Includes Tutorial)
2. Saintess’s Coronation (Before the Holy Grail Ceremony)

• 3. Holy Kingdom Characters (Orias, Ardal) Routes Completed

<Setting starting point for the 6th playthrough.>

<Selected point confirmed. Changes are not allowed.>

<The Saintess Is a Spy! – 6th Playthrough ->

<Starting point has been set.>

<Moving to checkpoint 3: After completing the Holy Kingdom Characters (Orias, Ardal) Routes.>

……

<Transferring to selected point……>

<Transfer complete!>

<Welcome to the game.>

***

<The Saintess Is a Spy! – 6th Playthrough ->

<The time ratio between game and reality is 1:1.>

<While the game is in progress, your real body will remain in a sleep state.>

I held onto my slipping consciousness and entered the game again. The stories Dietrich had told me.

“I didn’t actually want to show you these feelings, Saintess.”

His words, spoken with a clear smile, echoed in my mind. He had undoubtedly revealed things that must have been deeply shameful to him—and yet, he had done so without hesitation for my sake.

He had told me everything I needed to do while carefully analyzing each of his own actions and thoughts.

I looked around and thought. This point in time was just after completing Orias’s route—in other words, just before heading to the Empire. Since I had skipped the Holy Grail Ceremony, my ability this time was the same as before: potion crafting.

According to Dietrich, I would not be upgrading this ability in this playthrough.

Was it really okay to progress through the game like this?

Receiving playthrough guidance directly from a capture character and following it…

While absentmindedly thinking about the Dietrich in reality, I realized time was running out and started moving.

First, I had to locate Dietrich. According to the timeline, I would be boarding the carriage to the Empire this afternoon. There was something Dietrich needed to know before that.

One of the facts Dietrich himself had shared with me.

That morning, just before dawn, he had been in the chapel. More precisely, inside the confessional. I didn’t ask why he had been in there. Dietrich had only told me that he had helped a worshiper gain access to the space…

But based on what I knew of his personality, I doubted Dietrich had been the only one in the confessional.

Following his instructions, I made my way to the chapel. Ardal’s black eyes trailed me, but he quickly backed off with just one excuse.

“I’m going to the chapel. There’s something I want to think through alone.”

Luckily, the chapel wasn’t far. After Ardal lowered his head and stepped aside, I kissed his cheek and made my way there.

***

The interior of the chapel was no different from any other sanctuary. A pulpit, long rows of pews, and in the back, the confessional booth.

Since it was early dawn, the chapel wasn’t officially open, and no one else was present. That meant now was the only time I could do what I needed to without raising Dietrich’s suspicions.

I entered the left side of the two booths. Naturally, I took the side meant for the penitent. Inside, the air felt a bit damp. I thought I heard some faint groaning, but I chose to ignore it.

The sound was faint enough to miss if I didn’t pay close attention.

I clasped my hands together and spoke toward the confessional, which I believed to be empty.

“I don’t know who I am.”

***

“Shh.”

“Ah—”

“Someone’s coming, miss.”

Dietrich halted his movements and whispered. Coaxing a worshiper responsible for cleaning the confessional into lending it to him had gone well.

Inside an active booth, he had learned of all kinds of secrets of the people of the Holy Kingdom. They were bizarre stories of every kind.

Though most were meaningless, the time spent there had become purely for his amusement.

As dawn broke, Dietrich, spending time in the booth to keep the woman silent, detected faint footsteps.

He wondered who would come to the chapel at such an hour.

The steps were clearly those of a woman. When Dietrich covered the mouth of the woman beneath him, she froze in fear. It seemed being caught would result in severe punishment.

Even so, she had been entranced by Dietrich enough to give up the booth.

Just as she was hurriedly fixing her clothes—it happened. Unluckily for the woman, and most fortunately for Dietrich.

Someone outside stepped inside.

She checked to make sure the booth was empty and, in a low and delicate voice, began to speak.

“I’m afraid… that our relationship is really what it seems.”

It was the voice of the Saintess.

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Dietrich instinctively covered the ears of the stunned woman beside him. He was certain—this was not something that should be overheard.

And as he listened to the Saintess’s words unfold—watching the woman’s confused expression—his certainty grew.

‘If it’s this, then I can manipulate the Saintess.’

Her sincere confession had ironically become the very shackle that would bind her. Dietrich sneered inwardly at the god he did not believe in. Thanks to your believer’s faith, the unbelieving Empire stands to gain.

His lips curled into a smug smile.

***

<Dietrich has overheard Haniel’s secret!>

• Whatever demands he makes, you will need to comply to keep the secret safe.

That was the moment the lips of Haniel, in the midst of her confession, also curled into a smile.