I’m Trapped in a Bloody Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 60

The temple was quiet, unlike the Holy Kingdom’s bustling atmosphere, with only a few caretakers cleaning the corridors and window frames. There were no priests or believers in sight. Walking calmly to avoid Dietrich noticing my awkwardness, I checked the system window.

The moment I stepped into the temple, a warning window appeared. Furrowing my brows, I carefully read the text in the long window.

<Dietrich’s Route (Special) is in Progress.>

<This route begins with affection at a negative level. The probability of a bad ending is extremely high.>

<The route may trigger elements that could provoke the player’s trauma. Proceed with caution.>

<To protect the player ‘Haniel,’ sensitivity will be reduced by 50% for a set period.>

• Sensitivity to emotional stimuli will be dulled compared to the settings.
• Emotional stability will be maintained even during significant stimuli.
• Physical sensitivity remains at 100%.

<Capture Target ‘Dietrich’ Route: Phase 1 Initiated.>

• Trigger phrase for Phase 1: Any sentence implying a desire to leave (completed).
• Trigger action for Phase 2: (Insufficient information to view).

None of this could be ignored. It was strange for the route to proceed with affection at a negative level. The mention of the player’s trauma was even stranger.

Player’s trauma? That meant it was referring to my trauma, not Haniel’s. But how could the system possibly know about a player’s trauma?

And what was this about reduced sensitivity? When did I ever say something like that to Dietrich?

Confused, I stared at the final part of the system window. It didn’t make sense for the route to have progressed to Phase 1. Did Dietrich overhear me muttering about wanting to log out? Or was it something else?

No matter how much I wracked my brain, I couldn’t recall ever saying something like that to him.

“This temple feels very different from the ones in the Holy Kingdom, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. There are no priests or believers.”

Distracted by my thoughts, I frowned. Dietrich’s question pulled me back, and I responded calmly. After replying to him vaguely, I glanced down the corridor and spotted someone familiar.

“What?”

Why is Hella here?

“What’s wrong?”

“Hella?”

“Saintess!”

A small girl carrying cleaning tools turned to me and broke into a wide smile before running over.

Hella? Why is she cleaning when she’s supposed to be receiving sponsorship? Could someone have misused her sponsorship funds and forced her into servitude?

Anger surged within me. Hella had suffered abuse in her village—why was she still being mistreated in the imperial palace?

“S-Saintess, your expression is scary.”

“Hella, why are you cleaning here?”

Softening my expression to avoid scaring her further, I knelt to meet her eye level. Hella hesitated, avoiding my gaze. Her reluctance made it clear that someone had been mistreating her.

Although I had brought Hella to the palace, Dion had become her official guardian. Whoever assigned her such menial tasks had disregarded not just me but Dion as well.

I needed to find out who was behind this to lodge a proper complaint.

“Saintess, is this child Hella?”

“Yes, Dietrich, this is your first time meeting her, isn’t it?”

“I’ve only heard about her. She seems bright. Hella, can you tell us why you’re cleaning?” Dietrich asked calmly, smiling politely to encourage her to speak.

“Hella?”

“W-Well… I met Lady Dahlia during a lesson…”

“Dahlia?”

Dietrich gently coaxed the stammering Hella to continue. Hearing Dahlia’s name surprised me—how had Hella met her?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Dietrich offered an explanation.

“Ah, right. Now that I think about it, there’s only one teacher in the palace currently educating children around Hella’s age. It seems they’re taking lessons together, though their levels might not match.”

“Their levels don’t match?”

“Lady Dahlia began her education earlier than Hella. That’s all I meant.”

Noticing my displeased expression, Dietrich quickly clarified his words. Since his comment didn’t seem to imply a difference in status between nobles and commoners, I nodded.

“Hella, go on.”

“When I told Lady Dahlia about the Saintess, she said she wanted to meet you. So… I came to the temple to wait for you. While waiting, I got bored and started cleaning…”

“If you wanted to meet me, you could have come directly. Why wait here in the temple?”

Hella, looking anxious, hesitated before finally answering in a small voice, “I was worried you might think I’m a nuisance…”

Her tearful tone made me realize how much she feared displeasing me. As a character bound to me in the game, Hella seemed especially eager to avoid my disapproval.

“And I thought you’d like it if the temple was clean… I’m sorry…”

At the same time, she wanted my approval. Was she starting to see me as a parental figure?

She responded in such a pitiful manner that I couldn’t bring myself to scold her.

With a sigh, I stroked Hella’s head. “If you want to see me, you can come find me anytime.”

“B-but….”

“Thank you for cleaning the temple, Hella. You’re right; a clean temple does feel nice. But I’d be even happier if you did something you enjoy instead.”

“Something I enjoy?”

“Yes. If you enjoy cleaning, I won’t stop you. But that’s not the case, is it?”

When I asked teasingly, Hella shyly nodded, her expression turning bashful. She seemed to have something she wanted to ask but hesitated, mumbling softly.

“Saintess… Dahlia said she has a request for you. Would you be able to meet her?”

“What kind of request does Dahlia have for me?”

“I don’t know. Dahlia said she wanted to tell you herself….”

Dietrich, who had been quietly observing us, smoothly interjected in a gentle tone.

“In that case, I’ll arrange a small tea party so you and Lady Dahlia can meet. Of course, I’ll make sure Hella can join as well.”

“Dietrich, there’s no reason for you to—”

“A tea party?”

I had been about to refuse his suggestion, but Hella’s excited voice stopped me. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Dietrich, wide and round with anticipation.

“Really? I can join too?”

“Of course, if the Saintess agrees.”

“…If it’s not too much trouble, I’ll leave it to you, Dietrich.”

Unable to ignore Hella’s hopeful expression, I nodded to Dietrich. While I disliked asking for favors before finishing a route, I had no choice this time.

***

Dietrich saw Hella off with a satisfied smile. When I frowned at him in displeasure, he gave me a broad grin.

“Hella seems very attached to you, Saintess. I heard she used to manage the herb chamber in her village, but she’s calmer and more composed than I expected.”

“She’s just an ordinary child. There’s no reason for her to be otherwise.”

“Did I say something to offend you, Saintess?”

I answered bluntly, and Dietrich turned to examine my expression. He had been walking ahead but stopped to open the door to the first prayer room, asking with concern.

“No, I’m not upset. I just wish you wouldn’t make such judgments in front of Hella.”

“Did I make a judgment?”

“You mentioned mismatched levels and being better than expected.”

“Ah.”

Dietrich let out a low sigh, touching his lips as if realizing his oversight. Watching him, I added briefly, “Remarks like that could discourage Hella, who’s just beginning her education. Please be careful.”

“I was thoughtless. I’ll be more cautious.”

He accepted my rebuke easily, bowing his head slightly. His beautiful silver hair swayed gracefully with the motion, glowing in the light streaming through the large stained-glass windows above the prayer room.

His willingness to apologize without excuse was refreshing. Softening my stiff expression, I replied, “It’s all right. I was overly sensitive too. I worry about Hella too much, and I apologize for being touchy.”

Looking at Hella reminded me of my own struggles as a child. That was why I brought her here, even though there hadn’t been a specific event prompting it.

Dietrich smiled brightly, his face unbothered.

“It’s fine.”

He replied playfully, curling his lips into a grin as he guided me into the prayer room.

The interior of the prayer room was far too extravagant for a temple. The ceiling was entirely made of glass, with intricate stained-glass pieces that refracted light into vibrant colors, illuminating the room.

The only furniture was a single chair and a lectern. The simplicity of the setup might have seemed plain, but the ornate design of the chair and lectern inspired admiration. I was certain they were masterpieces crafted by a dedicated artisan over a lifetime.

But why would such an elaborate chair be necessary in a prayer room?

Dietrich spoke as I opened my mouth to comment on the room.

“This prayer room is reserved for the Pope or someone of equivalent standing from the Holy Kingdom. Since the Pope is absent, the only people allowed to use it are His Majesty and you, Saintess.”

“So that means I’ll always have to use this prayer room whenever I come to the temple?”

“…You could see it that way. Yes, as long as the Pope and His Majesty don’t use it, that’s correct.”

With Orias in the Holy Kingdom and the Emperor bedridden from poisoning, I was the only person left to use this room.

It was a perfect setup for scheming. If Gillian had laid a trap, this would be the place. No location could be more convenient for such a purpose.

But what was I supposed to do in a prayer room?

I tried to recall what I had learned in the Holy Kingdom, but I had never been taught how to pray in a prayer room. The only thing I had learned was…

“Saintess?”

“…Perhaps I should sit in the chair and repent?”

The only lessons I had received were overly focused on facilitating smooth sexual encounters. Grinding my teeth at the memory of such skewed education, I sighed deeply.

I wasn’t even religious in real life. How was I supposed to know what to do in a prayer room? Should I just close my eyes and pray? Would that be enough?

What a ridiculous R-19 game. It doesn’t provide any helpful information at all!