Translator: Nox

My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin

Chapter 30

I had considered sitting at the table to hold hands again, but Michael shook his head and led her toward the sofa instead.

“You seemed to find it quite taxing during the purification, so I believe it would be better for you to sit as comfortably as possible.”

“…….”

The realization that he remembered how she had looked made Irene’s face flush a deep scarlet, as if it might burst.

‘Is Michael really alright?’

Yet his demeanor was as calm and natural as if he were merely offering her a cup of tea.

‘Am I the only one embarrassed?’

Was it because he was a Holy Knight that he possessed not even a shred of worldly desire?

Feeling a wave of shame as if she were the only one harboring lewd thoughts, Irene reached out her hand, feigning composure.

‘I just have to endure it for a little while.’

The problem last time was surely that the stimulation had been entirely unexpected. If she had been even slightly prepared, she wouldn’t have made such a pathetic display of herself in front of Michael.

The memory of that moment was still vivid.

A sensation so fierce she had never felt its like in her entire life.

Overwhelmed by a feeling far more intense than any purification she remembered from her past, she had been left helplessly shaken.

‘I won’t be that defenseless this time.’

As a human being, simply knowing what is about to happen allows one to endure much better.

Irene held out one hand to him.

“May I ask for your other hand as well? I have just returned from a High-rank Dungeon, so I am likely brimming with demonic energy. It must be difficult for you if the purification is prolonged, so to finish more quickly, I think it would be best if you gave me both hands.”

Finding no reason to refuse his explanation, Irene turned her body slightly toward him and reached out both hands.

Whether it was one hand or two, the sensation of purification itself shouldn’t change that much.

‘Though there might be a difference in intensity.’

Irene pressed her toes firmly against the floor.

Purification ends faster and more powerfully the larger the surface area of physical contact. Therefore, the stimulation this time would be even more intense than the last.

‘Still, it’s better to get it over with quickly.’

Rather than making a prolonged scene like last time, she preferred to finish it fast and rest alone.

As Irene extended her hands, Michael took a sharp, short breath. Swallowing a trace of bitterness at his behavior—not knowing if it was hesitation or nervousness—she steeled herself.

For her, it was merely a worry about making a fool of herself, but for him, this was contact he truly did not desire.

‘It must be difficult for him, as it means forsaking the teachings of the Temple that he has followed his whole life.’

Moreover, because of this ring, he had to attempt purification more frequently; how agonizing it must be for him.

Thinking that he, like her, would want this purification to end quickly, Irene closed her eyes.

Then, Michael grasped her hands.

Perhaps he had grown accustomed to it after doing it once.

Last time, his touch had felt quite cautious and slow, but this time, he skillfully took her hands and interlaced their fingers.

Irene felt a wave of embarrassment at the way his fingers naturally parted hers and slid in.

He locked their fingers tightly to ensure Irene couldn’t pull away and held his breath.

At that moment, the demonic energy flooded through their joined hands just as before.

A sensation like something seething and boiling spread rapidly through her veins and across her entire body.

“Ugh….”

Irene bit her lip at the tingling sensation.

It felt as if small sparks were detonating all over her body. A thrilling, ticklish sensation that made her toes curl up involuntarily.

While Irene suppressed a groan, Michael gripped her hands even tighter.

As if that were a signal, the demonic energy that had been flowing in slowly suddenly turned violent.

Feeling as though a gentle drizzle had suddenly transformed into a torrential downpour, Irene clenched her teeth and desperately endured the onslaught of intensity.

‘It’s too different!’

She had thought that since it changed from one hand to two, the intensity of the purification would at most double.

But she had miscalculated. The intensity surged far beyond double, sweeping Irene away.

At least it was a relief that, having experienced it once, she knew what kind of reaction it would provoke.

Otherwise, she would have collapsed immediately and floundered pathetically.

However, there was definitely a limit.

“Wait, just a moment…!”

It felt as if embers were sweeping through her entire body. It was both itchy and hot, making it impossible for her to stay still.

Irene decided she needed to rest for a moment to gather her wits.

Since he had endured well until now, the purification couldn’t be that urgent, so surely he would let her rest for a second.

“Please endure it a little longer.”

The polite demeanor he had shown before the purification vanished, and he firmly refused Irene’s request.

Then, he gripped her hands even more powerfully.

She wondered if he might crush them, yet it wasn’t painful at all.

Her face grew even redder at the movement of his hands, repeatedly squeezing and releasing hers with strength.

Even though she knew better than anyone that this was nothing more than a movement to transfer demonic energy for purification….

“Ah!”

A sound finally escaped her.

She lowered her head, mortified by the thought that she had once again made a scene in front of him.

“Please, stop! Stop!”

Irene tried to push him away after failing to shake him off, but it was in vain.

Perhaps because she had taken in more demonic energy, she was panting more violently than last time.

“I cannot. Please, endure it a little more.”

Michael held onto Irene, repeating the same words like a parrot.

A sob escaped Irene’s voice as she realized he wouldn’t let go.

Strangely, since returning to the past, only Michael had changed from her previous life.

In the past, he would have let go the instant she asked. No, he wouldn’t have even been this close to her in the first place.

And so, Irene was suddenly struck by fear.

She couldn’t predict Michael’s next move at all. In the moment she was seized by the terror that the future involving him might deviate entirely from her expectations—

He loosened the strength in his tightly gripped hands. Yet, without letting go of their interlaced hands, he slowly pressed and rubbed his fingers between Irene’s.

It was merely the act of fingers brushing against each other, but strangely, Irene found the action incredibly lewd.

Then, Michael leaned down and whispered into the ear of the bowed Irene.

“I will increase it gradually.”

He was clearly talking about the demonic energy he was pouring in.

Understanding this, Irene’s body flinched violently and she began to shiver.

Like someone who had heard something they shouldn’t have.

As she tried to pull back, a massive surge of demonic energy crossed over to her through their hands once more.

It was a powerful demonic energy that was still difficult for her current purification abilities to handle.

Her trembling body finally succumbed to the encroaching power and collapsed against the back of the sofa.

One might expect a person to feel some sympathy when someone was struggling this much, yet his hold on her hands remained unchanged.

No, rather, the demonic energy continued to push relentlessly into Irene’s body without end.

Irene, who had been trying to escape somehow, realized something. There was no way to avoid this other than to purify it.

The strength left her legs, which had been struggling to flee.

Irene tried to relax her body as much as possible as she accepted the incoming demonic energy.

“Ah, hng….”

But at the sensation of being filled to the brim, as if her body might burst, her muscles tensed up again.

She tried to move to find even a slightly more comfortable position, but doing so only made the demonic energy inside her feel more vivid.

Then, Michael whispered again.

“Relax, slowly. Don’t try to swallow everything that goes in all at once; think of it as accepting it little by little from the edges.”

His words were etched into her dazed mind as she panted, overwhelmed by everything.

Not knowing what else to do, Irene tried as he instructed.

Slowly, she made an effort to accept what he was pushing into her without being overwhelmed.

As she panted a few more times, the pain gradually weakened.

Irene took a deep breath and began to purify the demonic energy that had surged into her.

As she wrapped her power around the demonic energy as if caressing it from the edges and slowly purified it, the pain began to subside.

“Haah, ha….”

Her breath, which had been heaving wildly, began to find its rhythm, and her convulsing body settled into a state of calm.

At that sight, Michael smiled as if to praise her and whispered again.

“You are doing well. I will be asking you for purification more frequently from now on. That way, you will be able to accept even larger amounts more easily later.”

Even though things had become easier, it was still a burden, so Irene simply nodded her head mindlessly.

Yes, as he said, she would surely get used to this someday if she kept doing it.

Irene struggled to lift her head. Through a vision blurred by sweat and heat, Michael was smiling.

It was strange. In the past, he had never smiled like that when they were touching….

“Irene.”

As if telling her not to think of anything else, he gripped her hands firmly again.

“Please endure it one more time.”

Simultaneously, an unbearable amount of demonic energy rushed in once more.

Irene’s memory ended there.

* * *

And the next day.

“I’m an 8th-rank?”

Irene heard words she couldn’t believe.