So, back to my story about how I have a book...

　So Timothy gave a momentary hesitant pause.

　Huh?
　Is there something hard to say?

Well, if it's not something you want to say, you don't have to say it, okay?

　I'm not trying to get girls to tell me their secrets or to make my goal of being an irresistible harem.

　The best, brightest, funniest, most irresistible harem where a girl's smile always blooms, I'm only aiming for that one ultimate supreme thing!

Oh, no. In fact, I just thought it would be a nuisance for Manashiro-san to listen to me.
'No way. There's no such thing as a nuisance when you're talking to a pretty girl like Timothy, no (antithetical)!

　After 32 years of not having even spoken to a girl, I can't tell you how moving and exciting it is for me to even just talk to a normal girl...!

So we're open to all kinds of stories, okay?

'Mr. Manasilo is a really nice guy, isn't he? But yes, he is. It's not something I've talked to many people about, but since this is the time to do it, I thought I'd ask her about it. I feel like I can talk to Manashilo-san about anything.

I'm here.

'I think I may have explained to you when we did the moving process at the church, but the Mary in this storybook is not perfect.

'Well, I don't remember him saying that. That it's adapted for kids, for fun.

'Yes. And such a less-than-perfect Mary gives me a little more courage to live.

Courage?　Of what?

It's the courage to know that it's okay for me to be a failure.

No, no, no. Of course, no one's perfect, right?　At least it doesn't mean that Timothy isn't good enough, right?　Even my prayers are always fervent, and I'm very kind to others.

　I'd rather not worry about being too nice and getting cheated on by the bad guys.

It's the other way around. It's the opposite, I'm praying so hard. I'm praying to quell the bad heart inside of me. As long as I'm praying, I can forget everything...



Manashiro-san is adored by many people, and I think her heart is more beautiful than Manashiro-san realizes.

No, not really.
　I can already assure you of that.

　I'm the one who hides everything, cheats and reincarnation, just to be pampered by girls.
　Moreover, I'm always drawing naked girls on a peach-colored canvas in my head.

　

　The fact that I have a more beautiful heart than Timothy is just another way of saying that Timothy's self-esteem is too low, right?

'Timothy could use more confidence, couldn't he?　They say you're a future Pope candidate, right?　I'm sure the world would be a better place if Timothy were a leader, too, wouldn't you think?

　I'm going to give you my honest opinion.

'Thank you, Manashiro. But I........I have a demon living in my heart, so--

　But Timothy gave me an answer that I hadn't expected - an answer that I hadn't expected.