The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 165 Be Straightforward

Leaving the ancient battlefield shrouded in mist, Molly saw the stars in the night sky for the first time in a long time.

The flowing light tore through the ancient darkness, and the vast galaxy collided in the depths to create the brilliance of a new era.

When Molly came to her senses, she found herself still lying on Eric's bed, her body and limbs feeling sore and weak from his assault, yet she had no strength left.

She turned over, leaned against his shoulder, and moved closer to him, draping half of her body over him.

"If I had known it would be this comfortable, I should have explained it to you back in the New Year."

Eric opened his eyes, looked at her, and raised his hand to stroke her back.

“My skin isn’t as good as Elise’s…” she snuggled up.

Eric didn't know, and he never touched Elise when she was naked.

"The living environments are different."

She closed her eyes and carefully smelled the scent on him that belonged to both him and her. "Yes, from the day I was born until I met you, I never had a good life... Although it's a bit unfair to say this to my teacher, he was a poor man too, at most he could keep me from starving."

Eric hugged her tightly, saying, "At least you're growing up healthy."

"Is this the place you're talking about?"

"Is she healthier than your previous woman?" Molly asked.

Eric paused for a moment, then thought, "There's no need to recall."

“She’s healthier. She’s the same age as me, and she hasn’t fully grown up yet.”

Molly opened her eyes, looked up at him, and asked, "Who is she?"

"...the nuns in the convent."

Molly was silent for a moment, then said, "I knew all churches were the same."

“It’s not what you think,” Eric tried to explain.

"Isn't it just a poor, frail girl from a poor family who finally managed to get into the church to earn a living, only to be forcibly taken by you, a noble young master, after taking advantage of her?" Molly retorted.

"No, that's not true. She's a noblewoman from the capital, Sister Jing."

"Oh, so that's the kind of shady dealings among nobles."

That's a really harsh way to put it.

Molly snorted and then sighed.

"It's strange... The young masters and ladies of noble families give up their good lives and crowd into churches, while the poor who really want to get a living have to go through all sorts of tests before they can get in."

Eric looked up at the ceiling. "Because the church is ruled by the rich and powerful."

"Like you?"

"That's it."

Molly closed her eyes and leaned on his shoulder. "Sigh... whatever. Anyway, I can't possibly have any contact with people from other churches except for you."

Eric responded after a while.

It was getting dark.

An intense hunger and exhaustion made Eric both want to get up and eat something, and also want to stay in bed forever.

"Why hasn't Elise come to call us yet?" Molly asked.

"...She's not that tactless."

They both fell silent for a while.

"You really didn't sleep with her?"

"Otherwise, why would she and I have been sleeping in separate rooms for the past six months?"

"I really don't understand your relationship... She's so dependent on you, and you've wanted to sleep with her for a long time."

She was blunt, and Eric opened his mouth but didn't deny it. "These things depend on the atmosphere... and even more on timing. We've been through some things... well, some very complicated things. Later, she chose to come to me, as a follower... If she didn't have that intention herself, it would be difficult for me to take the initiative."

Molly got up and propped herself up to look at him.

"Is that so? No wonder I always felt that there was something hard to describe about Elise... an inferiority complex? She was clearly closer to you, but I ended up sleeping with you first."

The room had become dim. Eric looked at her face and her beautiful, unadorned upper body. "Is she insecure? Probably because of what she did in the past."

Although Elise had severed ties with the past in the most decisive way, her past identity was like an indelible mark, still deeply ingrained in her heart, he thought.

Molly leaned over him. "Now that you've slept with me, do you still want to sleep with her?"

"ok, I get it……"

The two didn't leave the room until it was completely dark, intending to get something to eat.

Eric knocked on Elise's door, but there was no response. He pushed the door open, and she was sitting in the dark.

Are you hungry?

"……fine."

"Let's go out and get something to eat."

After a long silence, Elise got up and came out.

The three of them went to their usual tavern, and amidst various greetings, ordered some food and found a corner to sit down.

Eric began, "I..."

“Eric!” A mage squeezed through the crowd. “Nice to meet you! I’m from Xingyuan Academy, almost at the sixth tier. Besides the offensive spells you know, I also know four different shield spells that can handle all sorts of unexpected situations. Is your team short of members? Take me with you. I’m really short on money right now!”

“No need,” Eric waved his hand. “I have no plans to take any risks anytime soon.”

He deliberately raised his voice for the second half of the sentence.

"Alright." The mage was quite sensible; he glanced at Molly and Elise a few times before leaving.

Eric took a breath. "We..."

Where is Eric?!

"..."

"I heard Eric is here. Which one is Eric?"

A boar-man over two meters tall walked into the tavern, asking loudly. His tusks protruded from the corners of his mouth, making him particularly eye-catching. He looked around and soon noticed the three people in the corner, guided by the gazes of the others. He walked straight over to them.

"I've heard so much about you in South Town, but I didn't expect you to be just a kid in your early twenties. I'm here to challenge you. Whoever wins takes one hundred gold coins. Shall we bet?"

Eric ignored him and looked at the bar. "Oliver—"

The tavern owner immediately came over. "Hey buddy, the rule at our Northtown tavern is that you can't disturb other people when they're eating. You'd better wait outside... Oh, never mind, Eric's busy today. Come back in a few days."

Seeing Eric glaring at him, Oliver quickly changed his tune.

The boar-man ignored him and slammed his hand heavily on the table.

"What do you mean you're not free? You're free now, aren't you?"

The next moment, Oliver threw it out of the tavern, making a loud bang and causing a chorus of screams and murmurs. It couldn't get up for a long time, lying on the ground groaning.

"Oliver, I didn't know you were this strong?" Molly exclaimed in surprise.

“Otherwise, what do you think I relied on to open a tavern in such a good location?” Oliver said, glancing at the others who were trying to bother Eric. “Eric said he’s not going on any adventures lately, and he’s busy today. I don’t know what the consequences will be if anyone bothers him again.”

The tavern was quiet for a while, and then things finally calmed down.

Eric looked at Elise, who spoke first, "I know you two slept together, don't mention it to me again."

"He means he still wants to sleep with you."

Molly spoke for him, skipping all the preamble.

(End of this chapter)