While Idis and Lucia stood locked in a silent standoff—two overwhelming presences facing one another—Kurose Akira was led elsewhere by Ivsha.
"Ivsha… where are you taking me?" Akira asked, confusion edging his voice.
Ever since they entered Idis's manor, Ivsha had moved through it as though she knew the place intimately, guiding him straight toward a mysterious door.
The door was carved from rare crimson wood, its surface meticulously engraved. Roses bloomed vividly across it, lifelike and elegant, exuding a fragrance that was impossible to describe—sweet, intoxicating, and faintly dangerous.
Ivsha gazed at the rose patterns, her violet eyes shimmering with curiosity and anticipation as she whispered,"Honestly… I don't know either. But there's this strange feeling in my heart—like something behind this door is calling to me."
Following her gaze, Akira studied the door as well. A powerful sense of curiosity rose within him.
He could feel it.
There was something behind this door—something extraordinary.
Still, this was the Rose Baroness's territory. Acting recklessly here wouldn't be wise.
"Ivsha, we should—"
Before Akira could finish, Ivsha had already reached out and touched the door.
In that instant, pale violet magical energy flowed like liquid into the delicate rose engravings carved into the door.
The roses flared to life.
Brilliant light erupted as though an ancient seal had been activated, releasing an alluring, mesmerizing aura that flooded the corridor.
"Mr. Akira, th-this… what's happening?" Ivsha's voice trembled—though excitement and anticipation outweighed her fear.
"..."
Akira didn't answer.
He stared at the door, now pulsing with light.
His vision pierced through the crack in the doorway, revealing vague shapes inside—
No.
Not shapes.
Entries.
And not ordinary ones.
They radiated seven-colored brilliance, unmistakably ultra-rare entries.
Thump.
Akira's heart slammed violently in his chest.
What in the world was hidden behind this door?
But the purple glow didn't last long. It gradually dimmed, the light receding until everything returned to stillness.
The entries vanished from his sight.
Then, a notification appeared before his eyes:
[Insufficient Authority!]
"What… is in there?"
Akira's eyes flickered with intense curiosity.
From what he could tell, only Idis herself possessed the authority to enter that room. Even Ivsha—her clone—didn't have permission.
"S-Sir Akira~"
Ivsha's sultry voice suddenly broke his train of thought.
"We should leave for now…"
Akira turned to respond—
And froze.
Ivsha's nun's habit had fallen away like scattered petals.
Her snow-white body was faintly flushed, her violet eyes glowing with heart-shaped pupils as she knelt before him in a posture of pleading devotion.
"?"
Akira blanked for a second.
Was Ivsha planning to do this here…?
Before his thoughts could settle, Ivsha had already torn open the food packaging—
—and began feeding.
Akira's gaze sharpened.
Why was holy light suddenly being prayed for inside the Rose Baroness's manor?!
Was it because whatever lay behind that door had stimulated Ivsha's desire?
After all, Ivsha herself had said she was summoned here.
And her current state was clearly abnormal.
A faint pink glow shimmered across her pale skin, as though she were wrapped in some mysterious power.
Akira's heart stirred. He opened Ivsha's status panel.
[Affected by Primitive Lust Magic…]
"Primitive lust magic again…"
Akira's gaze lingered on the text.
What Idis had given him was tainted and pure lust magic—but primitive lust magic was of an even higher tier.
Considering Idis's [Sin of Lust] trait, and the existence of the Demon Mother…
This so-called primitive lust magic most likely originated from the Demon Mother herself.
As Akira was deep in thought, Ivsha's peach-heart tail swayed sensually as she prepared to draw the holy light into her soul.
"Mr. Akira~"
Ivsha wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering softly into his ear,"Hurry and activate your Half-Dragon transformation… otherwise, I won't get enough~"
"..."
After a brief silence, the corner of Akira's mouth lifted into a faint smile.
They were still inside Idis's manor—but how could he possibly bring himself to refuse Ivsha?
In the next instant, the power of Half-Dragon Transformation surged forth.
Akira's body expanded, growing to a towering height of three meters, while the holy light blazed even more brilliantly.
"Wah~!"
Ivsha watched with hearts pounding wildly in her eyes, emotion nearly spilling out of her.
She could no longer restrain herself as she eagerly accepted the holy light—
"Ah~ Mr. Akira~ you're so delicious~"
...
Elsewhere, the tension in the air was no less intense.
"I hope Your Holiness understands one thing," Idis said coldly."Due to the special status of the Star Kingdom, the Sun Church has no authority to interfere in its internal affairs. Unless…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…you wish to provoke a war between our two nations?"
Lucia's gaze sharpened, confusion surfacing in her heart.
She was curious about where the Rose Baroness's confidence came from—bold enough to confront the Sun Church, which despised demons above all else.
Moreover, as the Pope of the Church of Light, Lucia could erase Idis instantly if she wished.
Yet Idis remained utterly calm.
As though something behind her was capable of standing against the entire Sun Church.
"According to established rules, the Sun Church indeed has no right to interfere in the Star Kingdom's politics," Lucia replied evenly."But you involved Kurose Akira. I am not speaking to you now as the Pope—but as an ordinary adventurer."
"Oh?"
A hint of surprise crept into Idis's voice.
"I thought Your Holiness would argue using my identity as a demon. I didn't expect it to be for that child~"
She hadn't anticipated Lucia's focus.
Nor had she expected just how much Lucia cared about Akira.
That realization stirred a subtle sense of danger in Idis's heart.
"But~"
Idis straightened her chest confidently and continued,"That child won't listen to you. If Your Holiness truly wants to stop me, I suggest you first change the opinion of your dear Guild Master."
Her lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Because he's already—mine~"
"I have faith in him," Lucia replied just as confidently."Kurose Akira isn't someone who loses his head over利益. He has his own judgment."
"Really?"
Idis asked lightly, smiling.
"Then have you ever considered… what he might be doing right now?"
Lucia: "?"
The moment her words fell, Idis elegantly waved her hand.
A mirror materialized in midair.
Within it was a scene of Akira and Ivsha locked in fierce combat—their movements powerful and relentless, the intensity overwhelming to behold.
Lucia's expression instantly hardened.
For the first time, she began to question whether her assessment of Akira had been overly optimistic.
Her voice trembling slightly, Idis asked softly,"Now~ do you still have confidence in him?"
"…You're trembling."
Lucia sharply caught the fleeting abnormality in Idis's gaze.
"I'm not."
"Is that so?"
"In that case, perhaps you can explain why your cheeks are flushed like the morning clouds?"
"And aren't you the same?"
The two women exchanged a look.
Then, their gazes turned simultaneously back toward Akira in the mirror—
Cold intent flickering within their eyes.