"You…?!"
A cold glint flashed through Baron Noda's eyes. He hadn't expected this foreigner—Kurose Akira—to appear here at all.
He had originally believed that Sister Moran's method of controlling demons was closely tied to the target he had been tracking. If, before dying, he could force Moran to reveal the true identity of the demon within the church, he could transmit that information back to the royal capital using magic. That would allow him to complete the mission entrusted to him by the princess—and repay her for saving his life.
But Akira's sudden appearance shattered that plan completely.
"…Forget it!" Noda barked harshly. "As long as I kill all of you, that'll be the end of it!"
He tightened his grip on the blade of condensed light and took a step back. Until dawn arrived, his vitality could still be sustained. All he needed to do was slaughter everyone here within that remaining window of time!
Yet the brutal battle with the demon had already drained a vast amount of his mana. Coupled with the burning of his soul, his combat power had plummeted—all attributes reduced by 30%.
Facing this baron from the royal capital, Akira narrowed his eyes slightly, a sharp killing intent flashing through them.
They stood on opposing sides. No matter what, Akira could not allow this man to leave alive.
"Loserine. Kill him."
Akira issued the command calmly.
"…Mm."
Loserine responded flatly. She immediately assumed a combat stance, the longsword in her hand glinting with a frigid, lethal sheen.
"A Vowbound Knight of the White Rose?" Baron Noda said coldly. "I don't know why you would dance with demons… but since you've betrayed your knightly oath, then my sword will grant you the death deserved by all traitors!"
The moment his words fell, Noda surged forward, swinging his radiant blade toward Loserine.
Clang—!
The shriek of steel rang out through the night sky.
The two knights clashed violently, blades colliding again and again. Sword light crisscrossed the air, and the pressure waves from their swings tore outward in all directions.
Akira instinctively retreated several steps. For an ordinary human like him, it was best to stay clear of a battle at this level.
Besides, it was hard for him to even follow their swordplay—only streaks of afterimages flashed before his eyes. Chaotic as it was, there was an undeniable, brutal beauty to it.
"I'll go help her!" Ivsha said, stepping forward.
Akira stopped her, shaking his head slightly.
He couldn't allow Ivsha to expose anything related to her succubus nature. Leaving even the slightest clue could result in unforeseen information leakage.
More importantly—
He trusted Loserine.
Even if Baron Noda's level was higher.Even if his base attributes were stronger.
So what?
Akira believed it without hesitation.
Loserine would win.
And beyond that…
Akira's eyes narrowed further as a character status panel surfaced in his field of vision.
There were still enemies lurking in the darkness.
He couldn't afford to reveal all his cards yet.
At the same time, Sister Moran stood nearby, watching Akira with unwavering focus.
Her understanding of him was extremely limited. She only knew that he was Ivsha's guild master—or perhaps merely the one whose life force Ivsha fed upon.
Yet judging from the current situation, that clearly wasn't the whole truth.
The role this man played felt closer to that of a lover… or even a master.
And Ivsha's behavior toward him—obedient, gentle, docile—was like that of a well-behaved kitten.
From Moran's knowledge, even guild masters who transcended the world's rules struggled to inspire such absolute loyalty from adventurers.
What, exactly, had he done to Ivsha?
Had he conquered the succubus through some means?
If there was anything that could make a succubus willingly submit…
Sister Moran quickly dismissed the thought, annoyed at herself.
Is it really impossible for even a child created by the Master to escape the lust engraved into succubus blood?As expected… only the Master is the truly singular succubus in this world.
At that moment, the duel between knights was reaching its climax.
"Water Moon."
Loserine unleashed a high-tier sword art—Water Moon.
In an instant, a crescent moon manifested in the air.
Like cascading moonlight, her blade technique poured down upon Baron Noda!
"Not good—!"
A surge of terror seized Noda's heart. He retreated rapidly, trying to evade the fatal strike.
He barely avoided the blade itself—
—but the sword aura still caught him.
His arm was severed cleanly, tumbling to the ground.
"So… strong…!"
Baron Noda stared in horror at his severed right arm.
He had never imagined Loserine's strength to be this overwhelming. Even at his peak, victory against her would have been uncertain—let alone now, in his current weakened state!
Loserine's voice was calm, indifferent.
"It's over."
As her words fell, another crescent moon rose behind her.
The pressure emanating from the pinnacle of swordsmanship crushed Noda with absolute despair.
This wasn't just a gap in power—
It was a gap in talent.
He knew it with certainty: even if he learned this same sword technique, he could never display it with Loserine's invincible grace.
"Water Moon."
Once again, moonlight fell.
Baron Noda was finally unable to resist Loserine's sword. His body collapsed heavily into a pool of blood.
"…A barely qualified knight," Loserine said coldly. "Nothing more."
She sheathed her sword and turned away.
"Good work."
Akira nodded at Loserine as she walked back.
"Loserine really is as reliable as ever~" Ivsha smiled brightly. As the guild's strongest combatant, Loserine had never once failed to live up to expectations.
"This time… you saved my life."
Sister Moran expressed her gratitude to Akira.
"I don't know why Sister Moran was dragged into this," Ivsha said with a gentle smile, "but I believe you would never do anything to harm the church."
Her unwavering trust made Sister Moran's heart tremble, stirring memories she had long buried.
Compared to the church—
Only Ivsha truly mattered to her.
Meanwhile, Akira had already walked over to Baron Noda.
Defeated and barely clinging to life, his soul steadily dissipating, death was now only a matter of time.
"…Demon… princess…"
Noda murmured weakly.
Akira couldn't hear clearly—only catching the words demon and princess.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Akira noticed a faint glow coming from Noda's chest.
He reached out and retrieved the glowing object.
It was a badge.
[??? Badge]A knight's insignia bestowed by a certain princess. Represents status only.
"A badge of identity…?"
Akira muttered softly. From it, he learned that the one backing Baron Noda was a noble princess.
At least that was one more clue.
"Huh?"
Akira suddenly sensed something strange near Noda's heart.
The Paladin's Final Whisper had caused his heart to emit a last flash of holy light—but when that glow faded, Akira discovered a bizarre mark engraved within.
His gaze sharpened as he inspected it.
[Witch's Mark]A symbol of sworn loyalty.
"Why would there be a witch's mark inside his heart…?"
Akira was genuinely surprised. He couldn't discern the reason—but he knew someone who definitely could.
Idith.
Only that great succubus knew everything.
But for now—
Akira turned toward a shadowed corner in the distance and spoke coldly:
"You've been watching for long enough. Don't you think it's time you showed yourself?"
"Oh?" a voice replied. "So you noticed me already?"
As his words faded, a middle-aged man with short, light-yellow hair strolled out from the darkness, utterly at ease.
...
Elsewhere—inside a resplendent palace.
Idith sat gracefully at a jade table. Her snow-white, slender fingers lifted a teacup delicately as her alluring eyes glanced toward the young girl seated opposite her.
She raised her veil slightly, took a gentle sip of fragrant tea, then set the cup down and asked in a soft voice:
"What business does the princess have with me?"
"Lady Idith," the girl praised warmly, "the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom of Stars. The object of countless men's dreams. Even the greatest king once succumbed to your beauty—willing to gamble the fate of an entire nation just to welcome you as his bride. Your charm is truly unparalleled!"
"You flatter me," Idith replied with a graceful smile. "Your Highness is quite lovely as well~"
"But~" the girl's tone suddenly turned icy, "I've heard that no one has ever seen your true face. You always hide your beauty behind a veil. And even when it's lifted, magic still shrouds you. May I ask why?"
"There's no particular reason~"
"Is that so? Then…"
The girl took out a photograph and placed it before Idith.
"May I ask what relationship you have with this nun?"
Idith's gaze fell upon the photo, a chill flashing through her eyes.
Because the nun in the picture—
Was Ivsha, far away in Silvermoon Town.
She slowly raised her head to look at the girl across from her.
The princess smiled sweetly back.
Yet within her pale golden pupils shimmered a dazzling golden radiance…