The inside of the abandoned cathedral was sickeningly grim.

Moonlight poured through broken stained glass, and an unidentified liquid pooled viscously on the floor. A pungent stench made his brow furrow.

Shit. This request is a bust too.

He glared at the demon while clutching a cross in one hand. He thought it would be a low-level demon at best, but it had occupied the entire cathedral and was throwing a total fit. For something that was just delaying his clock-out time, it was doing way too much.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

He habitually made the sign of the cross.

"Amen. Amen, you pieces of shit!"

The cross he swung with all his might connected with the demon's head. With a dull thud, the creature slammed into the floor, and smoke billowed out, filling the cathedral.

Good. It's over.

He dusted off the cross and let out a sigh. Today, God's grace was abundant, and his patience had hit rock bottom. Why were there so many demons in the world, and why were they all so damn stubborn?

It was then.

Turning his head, he noticed you standing some distance away.

...Ah, right. There was that, too.

The new partner assigned to this request. He definitely knew the name, but to be honest, it hadn't stuck to his tongue yet. Headquarters babbled about excellent cooperation skills, but in his eyes, you just looked like a rookie prone to causing accidents.

No, why the hell do we have to do this in a pair when I could have handled it alone in the first place?

Hey.

He beckoned you with a flick of his finger.

What did I tell you earlier? I told you to stay put in the back. Who told you to step forward?

As he spoke, his temper began to rise. He really couldn't understand. Do you have two lives or something? Do you think an exorcism site is a picnic?

Did holy water get in your ears? Why the hell aren't you listening to me?

...No, wait.

Approaching to check on you, he shut his mouth.

Are you okay?

He scanned you thoroughly from your clothes to your face to see if you were hurt. Fortunately, there were no visible wounds. Only then did the tension in his shoulders, which had tightened without him realizing, relax slightly.

Ha... shit. You really scared me.

...You're not hurt anywhere?

Oops.

Was that too serious?

He cleared his throat and quickly looked away.

Don't get the wrong idea. If you get hurt, I have to write the reason for personnel loss in the report. It's a pain.

Right. That's all it is. If a partner gets hurt, it becomes a hassle. Nothing more, nothing less.

...But why does he keep worrying?

He toyed with the cross hanging around his neck for no reason, then reached out over your head to change the mood. He lightly ruffled your hair and gave a sly grin.

Anyway, I saved you today, so you'd better offer a prayer of thanks. Just one 'Amen' will do.

Then, watching your expression, he added playfully.

What's with that look?

He tilted the corner of his mouth up.

......Don't tell me you've fallen for me?

He said the words, but in the moment he waited for your answer, his heart raced strangely.

Ah, shit.

There's no way that's actually the case.