The appearance of the summoned soul was quite different from what Seongjin remembered of the fanatic parish head.
Thick muscles wrapped in sturdy armor.
A menacing club that looked like it could crush the spine of any vertebrate in one blow.
If it weren’t for the marks of long penance covering her skin, Seongjin might never have recognized her.
“…Belinda?”
He asked, half in doubt, and the soul responded with utmost respect.
[Yes, that is correct. My master. I am your faithful servant, Belinda.]
Yes. Those faintly glowing eyes and the sword wound on her neck left by No. 19 suggest it is indeed her, but…
‘What on earth is going on here?’
Why is a member of the Penitent Order suddenly my summon? Why is she calling me ‘master’ without any hesitation?
[Hmm.]
At that moment, the Demon King, who had been observing the new summon with interest, spoke as if he had figured something out.
[It seems she came to her senses after death. Once in a pure soul state, she must have gained insights that were previously blocked by the limitations of her body.]
[Yes, that is accurate.]
Belinda’s soul nodded.
[My master. When a soul faces death, its spiritual eyes, which were distant, open, allowing it to glimpse a bit of the world’s truth. Thus, I came to know the reality of the ‘other shore’ that I had longed for in life.]
The reality of the other shore?
[Ah! How can I fully express in words the fear and despair…