I Got a Job as the Demon King's Plaything - Chapter 23
Rento nodded.
“And the more someone is blessed by the twenty-nine gods, the less effective their emotions are at easing a demon’s pain. That’s where your age and birthday come into play. At twenty years old, you’ve just reached adulthood, the age when you lose the blessing of Hedopha, the god who protects children. And your birthday… every year, people partake in the cleansing ritual on New Year’s Day, right?”
Bonita reluctantly nodded, her hands still covering her mouth.
“That blessing I mentioned is related to Sunacron, the god of the sun. To put it simply, those born early in the year receive the most of his blessing, while those born at the end of the year receive the least. People born on the last day of December, like you, have almost no blessing from the sun god.”
“…”
“There are other factors too, but to summarize: you, Bonita, are one of the least blessed by the gods of the human realm. That means when you feel the emotions I mentioned earlier, demons can feel them much more intensely. Including the Demon King himself.”
Bonita couldn’t help but pull the bed sheet over her head in embarrassment.
“On the other hand, people with more blessings from the gods can’t endure being around demons for long. The reason the other women didn’t last is because they were more blessed by the gods than you are. I hope that clears things up?”
Rento, having regained some of his energy, stood from the chair. He glanced down at Bonita, who had buried her face in the sheets, her neck flushed bright red with embarrassment.
“If you’re uncomfortable staying in this room, I can arrange for you to move. Perhaps somewhere closer to the Demon King’s chambers…”
Gasping, Bonita quickly lowered the sheet and cried out,
“No! I’m fine! I like this room! Please…”
“As you wish. But if you change your mind, let me know anytime,”
Rento said with a soft chuckle as he left the room.
* * *
Bonita’s day off passed quietly, and the next morning, just before she was due to start her duties, she had an unexpected visitor. A young woman with short purple hair, dressed in the robes of a priestess, arrived. She appeared to be around Bonita’s age or perhaps slightly younger.
“Hello! I’m Milia, sent from the Temple of Hasreta, the God of Healing.”
“Oh, hello. I’m Bonita.”
“Are you the one who needs treatment for injuries?”
“In… injuries?” Bonita stammered.
“Yes, this is her,” a maid standing nearby answered for her.
“Alright, once the treatment is finished, come back out, priestess. We’ll wait outside,” the maid said.
“Understood.”
Injuries? The only marks on her body were the ones left by Teshiel, and thinking of them made Bonita’s cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Yesterday, oh my gosh, the Demon King himself came to the temple!”
Milia said excitedly.
“It was the first time I’d seen a demon, and it was terrifying! His horns were so big—his magical power must be immense! How does he even survive in the human world? But honestly, he seemed like a good person. He told us there was an urgent case here in the castle that needed treatment. But you know how it is… the temple and the Demon King don’t exactly get along. I’m sure he must’ve made a significant donation for them to agree to send someone. Not that I know the details—I’m just an apprentice priestess!”
As Milia chattered away, she rolled up her sleeves, preparing for the healing session.
“I’ll be coming to the Demon King’s castle every five days from now on. Bonita, you’re my first patient! So, where are your injuries?”
“Ah… um, well… the thing is…”
“Don’t worry, just show me where you’re hurt. I haven’t been a priestess for long, but my healing power is pretty decent,” Milia reassured her.
“Um… do I have to show you?” Bonita asked hesitantly.
“If you’re uncomfortable, it’s okay. You don’t have to show me. I can close my eyes, and you can guide my hand to the injured area. I just need to touch the spot with my palm to channel the healing power.”
“Skipping the treatment… probably isn’t an option, is it?”
Bonita muttered to herself. Teshiel had personally sent this priestess. Refusing the treatment could lead to consequences she couldn’t predict, and faking it wasn’t an option either—he would see her body soon enough.
“It’s better to get treated sooner rather than later, right? Don’t worry, just let me see,” Milia said with a gentle smile.
With her face burning red, Bonita hesitated before finally making the decision. She slowly removed her nightclothes, revealing her bare body. When Milia saw her, she gasped, unable to close her mouth in shock.
