Raising Yanderes to save the world

Cardinal Flux did not even give them time to breathe before he started to separate them. Unfortunately for him, Kael decided to foil his plans.

”There is no need to take us to the guest rooms right away. I can accompany Leon while Iris can accompany Seraphina. I assume that would be fine by you?”

Kael asked, and Cardinal Flux immediately protested.

”I am afraid that won’t be fine. We are taking both the Saintess and the Hero to a sacred space that only they can enter. Anyone else won’t be welcomed. So you should wait in the guest area-”

”That’s fine if we cannot follow the kids all the way. Just going partway with them would be fine.”

Kael sensed that something was going on here, so he was unwilling to back down either. And Cardinal Flux looked cornered.

Insisting any further would make others suspicious of him and his motives. So he had no option but to back off.

”Very well. You may accompany them as far as you can.”

Kael nodded, and they all quickly split into two teams and headed deeper.

Cardinal Flux took a deep breath as he watched his plan derail, but not all hope was lost. There was still a lot he could work with here.

But first, he needed to isolate the Saintess to get her under his control.

...

”Saintess, when are you returning to the temple?”

”Hey, don’t pressure her. I am sure she has her reasons for staying away all this time. There is no rule that says that a Saintess has to stay inside the temple her whole life.”

”I know, but still...! She is the Saintess! She’s the symbol of the temple and the Goddess’s power. To have her so far away from here...doesn’t sit right with me.”

Seraphina did not bother dignifying her attendants with an answer, nor did it seem like they needed one.

After all, they seemed much too busy talking to each other to pay attention to her.

’It seems like some things never change, no matter how high you climb. For these people, their curiosity is still the most important thing.’

The Saintess was getting slower and falling behind, but no one had noticed yet...just like they had not noticed the faint sweet smell in the air.

Smelling it was giving Seraphina a small headache that felt hard for her to control, and she was getting unsteady on her feet.

Luckily for her, Iris noticed this and helped her stay up.

”Seraphina, are you alright?”

Iris asked, and Seraphina nodded, finally steadying herself before she started to walk again.

”Don’t call attention to me and keep walking. This is not something we need to worry Kael about.”

Seraphina’s mouth spoke, but it was not her words that came out. She could feel control of her body shifting, and she was being dragged into the background.

’Hey! What is going on-!’

’It seems like the Cardinal is up to something fun. You can leave the situation up to me. I just want to have some fun.’

’Absolutely not! This is my body, and I will have control over it.’

Seraphina grabbed control of her body back, and the voice in her head felt even more amused.

’Ah, you are quickly turning into me. Soon, we won’t need to have this barrier anymore, and you can inherit my memories.’

’Tsk, what are you? Some alternate version of myself? A future self?’

The voice went quiet for a second, but then it gave Seraphina an answer.

’I am not from the future—we are. I am just a shell that your mind created to protect yourself from being burdened with too much pressure. Before you start doubting me, think carefully. Do you really think you are changing at a human pace?’

Seraphina had an answer on the tip of her tongue to deny these accusations when she fell quiet.

She did not want to admit that the voice was right, because if she did, then it would mean accepting everything else it told her as the truth as well.

’Oh, we are here. Well, if you don’t want to sit back and watch, then do you want to have some fun? I, for one, say we should check out what they want from us.’

Those words confused Seraphina. Unfortunately, thinking time was over because the huge door opened and everyone else stopped moving.

Even Iris was stopped as a guide grabbed her arm and shook her head.

”From here on, Saintess Seraphina needs to head in alone. These are the Springs of Purification that only the highest-ranking people are allowed to enter. Please wait out here with us.”

That was not a suggestion, and Iris looked conflicted.

Seraphina was about to tell the guides that they should let Iris in as well when she felt the sensation of phantom arms circling her neck, and her mouth moved on its own again.

”It will be fine. Iris, don’t worry about me. I will head in alone now.”

Her feet took her inside the room, and the door closed behind her, creating an almost ominous feeling in Seraphina’s heart.

The hall looked empty, and that sweet smell kept growing stronger. It was making Seraphina feel dizzy.

”My dear, can you hear my voice? Now, slowly walk toward me so that I can see you. You are doing great.”

The voice felt like it was coming through a filter, but it slowly started to become clearer by the second.

Seraphina finally noticed a beautiful lady covered from head to toe, hiding her identity from her. Magic power radiated from the person’s whole body, which made Seraphina stand on edge.

This person was bad news, and she needed to do something-

’Shhh, it’ll be fine. We have the power to protect ourselves. For now, just wait around and see what this person wants from us.’

Seraphina’s surroundings fell quiet, and the woman in front of her whispered a few words before softly disappearing.

It all felt like a dream, but Seraphina knew this was real.

’Hahahahaha! I knew these bastards wanted something from us. But to think that they want to replace Leon...Hmm, I say we play along for now.’

”But that is-”

’It’ll be fine. Just listen to me and play along. We will either get rid of the temple or Leon. Either way, it will be a win for us since our competition for Kael’s attention would lessen.’

Seraphina sighed, wanting to argue.

But she knew that it would be a wasted effort. After all, she would not hide the truth from herself.