I Only Summon Villainesses

“Ah… amazing!”

This was the first time, actually the second time, since coming to this world that I had enjoyed the vibrancy and cool air of a space like this.

I inhaled deeply. Something cool settled in my lungs, almost sweet, and I held it there for a moment before exhaling. Clean air. When had I last breathed clean air?

The space I currently stood in was a modern, open-plan luxury room. A bed sat to one side, partially separated by a curved wall with a large paper screen built into it.

On the other side was a small sitting area with a sofa and table. The colors were neutral: black, gray, beige, and white, with clean lines and minimal clutter.

The cathedral’s multicolored windows seemed to have been long lost. Now tall glass doors with sheer curtains let in light from outside. Sleek lighting fixtures hung from the ceiling, and everything looked polished, quiet, and expensive. More like a high-end hotel suite than a home.

And Levi had said this would be my quarters from now on.

I stood there wondering if they had been expecting my arrival before now. This place was simply too good to be true. There was almost a beckoning for me to feel at home again.

Opposite the bed there was even a tall floor-to-ceiling cabinet section spanning the entire length of the wall, available for my clothes.

I opened all the doors. All five of them, with upper sections.

All of them, of course, were empty. It would have been extra suspicious if they already had clothes for me.

I smiled as I closed them and moved to the sofa, letting myself sink into the cushions. The fireplace sat opposite me, and around it was an inbuilt shelving unit for books and decorations. A few books occupied the shelves, but they were so scanty that they stole the supposedly good look of the mini library.

’Someone went to all this trouble and couldn’t spring for more than six books?’

“This is nice…” I muttered, leaning back into the cushions. A cool smile still sat on my face.

The breeze that drifted in from the window carried something fresh, something that didn’t smell like blood or sweat or desperation. I let it wash over me.

To my right, another door led to the bathroom. To my left, the door led outside. Apparently, other members also stayed here like this.

The cathedral was vast, far bigger than it looked from the outside. And the core members of the Company lived here. That included Mr. Derry and Po.

I folded my hands behind my head and stared at the light hanging from the ceiling.

Mr. Derry and Po had still not arrived, which worried me. Especially Po.

I pushed that thought aside and focused on my essence instead. Barely a second later, Maggie materialized in the room with a spray of white sparks.

The moment she appeared, a cold frown settled on her face.

“What am I doing here?”

I looked at her with what I hoped was a peaceful expression and gestured around the room with my head.

“When was the last time in eight, if not nine thousand years, that you’ve been in a space like this one?”

She turned her head, surveying the room, then returned her gaze to me. She scoffed.

“You’re too young to comprehend.”

“Well… yes…”

I paused, thinking about what she said.

’Something feels wrong about her response…’

I could feel it deep within me. The only problem was I couldn’t identify what exactly had felt wrong.

A few moments passed.

Then I realized. Immediately I did, a scowl graced my face.

“I am not young!” I declared.

But she merely chuckled, folded her arms, and collapsed onto the sofa beside me.

“Sure, you aren’t.”

The entire piece of furniture shook when she landed. I was genuinely surprised the whole thing didn’t tumble over and spill us both out.

I wanted to warn her against such careless sitting next time, but I suddenly felt like that would be inviting a lot of danger.

’My danger sense really is getting better.’

Aside from all of this, my mind suddenly found itself wondering what it felt like being the seat beneath her.

’Lucky bastard.’

I leaned forward, staring at the dry fireplace.

“I summoned you so you could feel alive. This is my room. Live a little.” I spread my hands. “It’s been eight thousand years since you saw the world. Have a warm bath, change your clothes, step out, explore the criminal city…”

I halted on that part.

’Isn’t that dangerous…’

Maggie was a Saint. She might have died unfairly and been painted evil thanks to the Eternal Light Church’s ploy, but she was someone who held true to her beliefs until the very end.

I wasn’t sure letting someone like that loose in a lawless city was a very good idea.

But it was too late.

Maggie usually looked like a zombie. But right now, that zombie looked like it was having a vacation and enjoying the warmth of cool sunlight.

She wasn’t smiling, nothing like that. But she looked less like a corpse. She looked normal.

Imagining a smile on her face was difficult. The smile…

’I pity that smile. She’ll make a wreck of it.’

“Why?”

I turned to her. Her face was plain. It was strange how that plainness felt like a far more expressive show of her vulnerability than anything else.

“Because… uhm…” I scratched the back of my neck, trying to think about the reason why I wanted her to live freely.

Was it the same way I felt about Kassie?

“Eight thousand years of being wherever the spirit realm is. Are you not bored staying in my soul all the time?”

She continued to stare. Plain. The darkness surrounding her eyes ran deep, and her crimson gaze was sharp enough to cut.

Her blank look was making me lose my cool. My thoughts felt like they were tangling together and messing up in my head.

’How come I’ve never noticed this…’

When I managed to look into her eyes for longer than a moment, the darkness surrounding them suddenly felt less scary and more… beautiful. Like an icy, porcelain, demon king’s daughter kind of beauty.

’Oh no… oh shit… what is going on with me?’

I certainly did not just call Maggie beautiful!