"There's no rush."
Hel pointed at the nun's still-bleeding wound and said gently,
"Why don't you treat your injuries first, Sister Pamela? I'd like to say a few words to Vivian before you go."
"…Alright."
Pamela glanced down at her wound and realized she had indeed been too hasty. With a small nod, she sat back down and began channeling her life magic, slowly knitting her torn flesh back together.
Meanwhile, Hel took Vivian aside.
She focused her mental energy and slipped her consciousness into Vivian's body.
"L-Lord Hel…"
Vivian's cheeks flushed pink. Being scanned by Hel's mental energy made her feel as though every inch of her — inside and out — was laid bare before her eyes.
"Clever little parasite."
Hel waved her hand, and a faint purple wisp was pulled from Vivian's chest and landed in her palm.
[Imshi's Fragment Seed] — You have been infected by the will of a hidden trickster. In ten days, you will completely transform into her clone.
That was the only entry the wisp carried.
Hel frowned. The structure of the wisp was strange — a small portion of it carried soul fragments, which was the only reason she had been able to extract it so easily. The rest, however, was pure mental energy, tainted by a dark, malevolent will — not unlike that of demons, but far more subtle and insidious.
Something about it was… wrong.
The wisp struggled violently in her grasp, writhing as though trying to escape and invade her own body.
Hel merely touched it with a finger.
[Trait Granted: Triple Seal]
The same ability that once belonged to the Necromancer's Coffin flared to life. The moment the seal took effect, the wisp quieted down completely.
It shrank rapidly, condensing into a small purple bead, no larger than a fingertip.
Hel pocketed the bead and turned back to Vivian. After scanning her again several times to ensure there were no lingering traces, she finally nodded.
"All done. I won't keep you any longer."
She stepped forward and hugged Vivian softly, patting her head as she whispered beside her ear,
"The road ahead won't be peaceful. Be careful, and make sure you stay alive. Only when you survive can you protect and help others."
"Yes, Lord Hel."
"Good. And if you miss me…" — Hel pointed at the back of her own head — "you can reach me through the soul network."
Even though the soul network hadn't yet covered the entire Kingdom of Sacrifice, Hel could easily assign a few people to extend the connection along their route. In open terrain, her burrowing worms could dig and lay lines faster than they could crawl underground.
After another lingering hug, Hel led Vivian back to the main hall, where the nun had just finished healing. Pamela looked pale and exhausted, but still steady enough to travel.
However, the question remained — how to leave.
Pamela had intended to carry Vivian and fly, but one look at her drained complexion made Hel doubt she'd make it to the capital.
Just then, Lily appeared, leading a horse covered in polished mithril armor.
"Milady," Lily said cheerfully, "Miss Niv asked me to deliver this as a farewell gift for Lady Vivian."
"...A mount?"
Hel turned her gaze toward the horse — and the moment the system displayed its tags, a very bad premonition struck her.
"...A fifth-tier puppet horse? Where did Niv even get a fifth-tier elemental core?"
The mithril itself was leftover material from Hel's last Knight Automaton project, so it wasn't strange that Niv had managed to build a new construct.
But a fifth-tier elemental core and a soul? That shouldn't have been possible.
Then Hel saw the familiar inscription on the creature — and froze.
"…Wait. Isn't this my Flame Adjudicator? Why the hell are you a horse now?"
That had been her first mount.
"Miss Niv said the original Flame Adjudicator's armor was too heavy for flight," Lily explained innocently. "So she repurposed its core into this puppet horse — lighter armor, same power, and now it can fly."
Hel could only stare in silence for a moment.
But she wasn't the petty type. With a sigh, she took the reins and led the mechanical steed to Vivian.
"Vivian, you can't fly on your own yet. This fifth-tier puppet horse was made by Niv — it's for you."
"Fifth-tier?"
Vivian blinked, but it was Pamela who gasped in disbelief, her eyes going wide.
A fifth-tier mount… just handed out as a farewell gift? Even most sixth-tier masters couldn't afford one!
Still, the nun silently exhaled in relief. With such a steed, the journey would be far safer.
"Thank you, Lord Hel. And please thank Sister Niv for me as well."
Vivian took the reins, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.
Hel smiled. "Go on then. I won't see you off too far — may your journey be smooth."
"Thank you, Lady Hel."
Pamela bowed slightly in gratitude, but before they could leave, Vivian suddenly released the reins and took two quick steps forward.
She leaned in and pressed her lips against Hel's.
It was just a fleeting touch — soft, warm, and gone in an instant.
This time, she didn't kiss Hel's forehead. She kissed her lips.
"Don't forget me."
Her face burning red, Vivian turned away and mounted the puppet horse.
With a soft pat on its flank, the construct steed neighed, flames igniting beneath its hooves. It galloped into the air, leaving a trail of fire behind it.
Pamela watched with a gentle, knowing smile. She gave Hel a small curtsy before following after her charge.
Soon, the courtyard was empty — save for Hel, still standing where Vivian had left her, quietly savoring the lingering warmth of that kiss.
"…Did our mistress just get stolen by a little angel?"
A teasing, sing-song voice echoed nearby.
Hel turned toward it — and saw Niv, perched casually by the castle window, her bare legs swinging as she grinned mischievously at Hel.