The woman in the portrait was indeed Saori Kido.
So I had entered Saori Kido's room?
This place was truly luxurious!
Damian jumped down from the bed and looked around, his eyes lighting up.
This lavish suite felt like stepping into a novel's opulent scene. Wallpaper, chandeliers, a towering living area—an aura of old European aristocracy washed over him.
The first thing to meet the eye was a great round bed shrouded in a pale yellow canopy. Exquisite wall art like works of fine craft filled the room. The furniture was intricately carved from rare woods, and even the floor tiles were inlaid with golden floral patterns.
Splendid and resplendent hardly sufficed to describe this presidential suite.
Opposite the canopy bed was a spacious terrace with a sweeping view of Mount Fuji's beauty.
On the terrace, a few jade-like candles burned beside an array of delicacies with knives and forks neatly set. It was clear the goddess Saori Kido was dining here alone by candlelight, enjoying top-tier romance.
Yet the most enticing thing was neither the fine time and scene nor the table full of delicacies, but Saori Kido herself.
She seemed to have just finished bathing, stepping out of the adjoining room with slightly damp hair and a pink towel in hand.
The goddess Saori wore only a thin nightdress. The pale pink sleepwear wasn't revealing, yet it accentuated her figure, leaving only a pair of pure, alabaster, slender arms and delicate, scallion-like fingers bare.
Layer upon layer of lace trim covered the nightdress, with cute puff sleeves, and little pearls and pink crystals set into it.
Her light-purple hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders, making her look both noble and adorable—utterly enchanting.
That's some over-the-top development...
What exactly did the goddess eat growing up?
Is this what they mean by studying at three, training at four, and breaking stones on the chest at five?
A cool evening breeze drifted past. Her long hair and nightdress fluttered gently, and a faint, elegant sweetness wafted through the air.
Looking at the beauty before him, Damian felt she was almost unreal in her loveliness.
Her charm was off the charts!
A goddess is a goddess—one look and you'd want her to bear you a whole troop of kids.
"Ah... who are you?"
Seeing a man suddenly in front of her, Saori Kido was so startled that her delicate body trembled.
She didn't care what he was asking; she was just afraid.
How could someone suddenly appear in her bedroom late at night?
He was powerfully built, his clothes in tatters, looking very young, and there was an inexplicable smile on his face.
Saori clutched the bath towel to cover herself, staring in fright, afraid this young man would do something strange.
An assassin from the Black Dragon Society?
No, it doesn't look like it. He wouldn't...
The next moment, Saori screamed, "Guards, an assassin!"
The sound definitely counted as a soprano—positively deafening.
Damian gave an awkward, toothy grin. "Miss Saori, I'm not an assassin. No need to be so loud..."
Before he could explain, the door banged open.
Tatsumi, wielding a bamboo sword, and Jabu in the Unicorn Cloth burst into the room.
"Who are you to dare enter the young lady's room?"
"Die! Take my blade!"
Jabu asked a question, but Tatsumi didn't bother—he swung the bamboo sword straight away.
Tatsumi's swordsmanship was exceptional, a true kendo master.
Not only was he highly skilled with the blade, his body was tougher than most. He could easily slice through a steel plate with a bamboo sword.
He had long served as Miss Saori's bodyguard as well.
But the bamboo sword he swung was caught in the other man's hand like an ordinary stick; he couldn't wrench it free or move it an inch.
"Unicorn Gallop!"
Jabu followed up with an attack.
He was blocked with the other hand and sent flying by a surge of immense force.
The two of them were too shocked to speak.
They both knew what that meant.
The man before them was no ordinary person.
In terms of strength, he was likely above them.
Even together, they probably couldn't defeat him.
Who was he?
"Sorry, I'm afraid you've misunderstood. I'm not an enemy."
Damian smiled and released them, explaining, "By order of the Pope of the Sanctuary, I've come specifically to retrieve the Sagittarius Gold Cloth."
"You're a Saint?"
Saori couldn't help asking.
"No, I'm a gravekeeper of the Sanctuary—but I'm very strong."
Damian pointed to himself.
"You don't even have a Cloth. How are we supposed to believe you?"
Jabu looked skeptical.
"Right. Someone who shows up in the young lady's room in the middle of the night is absolutely not to be trusted. Get out at once."
Tatsumi still held his sword aloft, itching for another go.
"I'm not lying."
Finding it troublesome, Damian asked, "Where's Seiya? Bring him here and ask—then you'll know."
"Seiya?"
"That kid's staying at a hotel. He left not long ago."
Jabu curled his lip in disdain.
That settled it. He had locked onto Seiya, more or less correctly, but ended up landing in the goddess's room.
Hold on, why did I land on the bed?
Could it be... ahem... best not to overthink it.
"Die, thief—take my sword!"
"Unicorn Gallop!"
The two attacked again.
Seeing he couldn't explain his way out of it, Damian simply swung a palm.
In the blink of an eye, his hand knife struck both their necks; they were knocked out cold.
Thud, thud—both of them collapsed to the floor.
"...Miss Saori Kido, I only came to ask you a few questions. If you can answer now, that would be best."
Damian pulled out a chair and sat across from the dining table, gesturing for her to sit as well.
Glancing at the sumptuous spread on the table, Saori Kido unexpectedly gave a charming smile, as if chatting with a friend. "I can tell you don't mean any harm. We can talk while we eat."
"I was just worrying I ordered too much for dinner. It's perfect to have someone help me finish it."
Faced with the beauty's invitation, Damian certainly wouldn't refuse. He hadn't eaten for a while and his stomach was growling; he'd already been swallowing saliva.
Looking toward the terrace table, he froze.
The table was piled high with all sorts of delicacies in astonishing quantities—foie gras, roasts, steaks, buttered bread, ribs, pasta, and more, heaped everywhere—with lobsters, oysters, and other seafood set to the side.
Goddess, did you prepare a candlelight dinner for the two of us in advance?
(End of Chapter)
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