CHAPTER 40 –
“It’s Them—My Sisters!”
It’s them! My sisters!
The moment Roziana saw her beloved four older sisters before her, tears welled up uncontrollably.
She wanted to run to them right away.
She wanted to shout, “I’m right here!”—but her mouth wouldn’t move.
Her body wouldn’t respond either. She felt completely paralyzed, trapped alone in a vast, dark void.
All she could do was let the tears pour down as she gazed at the images of her sisters in front of her.
“I missed you all so much.”
She had longed for them desperately.
And she wanted to ask—why had they left her all alone?
While she swallowed countless questions that wouldn’t escape her sealed lips, her sisters began to speak, sitting in a circle as if in a gentle conversation.
It felt strangely real—like she was right there with them, truly speaking to them.
The eldest, Teresa, looked straight at Roziana and began.
“Listen closely, Erika. We were already witches with nine completed circles!”
“Wait… Erika? Have I heard this before?”
It felt as if a sealed memory had been unlocked. The four sisters spoke to her with such clarity it was as if they were right in front of her, making eye contact.
“And the Demon King is a being who has completed twelve circles.”
That was the second sister, Ares.
“Erika, you possess the Power of the Center. The Demon King only completed twelve circles using the power of the Demon Realm. He lacks the Central Power. That’s why he needs a bride from the surface world—an elf or a witch. Only with the Power of the Center can he become a complete Demon King.”
The sweet voice of the third sister, Diane, echoed in her head.
“So if you complete twelve circles, you’ll be able to stand against the Demon King.”
“You’re the only one who can, Erika!”
The youngest sister, Nike, clenched her fists in encouragement.
“So they really did try to tell me all this…”
Hot tears rolled down Roziana’s cheeks again.
Her body shook as sobs built up inside her.
“They had a reason for what they did!”
Just knowing they hadn’t abandoned her brought an overwhelming wave of emotion.
“Once you reach the Demon Realm, build your mana circles their way.”
It was as if Teresa already knew Erika—Roziana—was there in the Demon Realm, calmly guiding her.
And just like that, the vision of her sisters disappeared.
“Wait! Sisters??”
She nearly burst into tears again out of longing but bit down on her lip.
They had given her the solution. Now wasn’t the time to cry.
“Teresa said to use the Demon Realm’s method, right?”
At that thought, fragments of what Neir had told her started to return.
“Once prey enters the birdcage, they realize their instincts and purpose.”
It must’ve been true.
Since entering the cage, and after the dream of her sisters, Roziana felt like she finally understood her purpose.
“Then, Your Highness too will soon rejoice in becoming one with His Highness…”
Piecing together Neir’s words, it seemed the Demon Realm’s method of absorbing mana was through “contact.”
“Wait—no way! I don’t want to do that with Mephisto!”
What else could “becoming one” and “marital duties” imply?
She understood the need to strengthen herself, to reach twelve circles, to oppose the Demon King—but doing that with him? Absolutely not.
Wasn’t there any other way?
“The Demon King gives power to his prey. It’s not literal consumption, but from the prey’s point of view, it feels very close. Haaang! What that means is—”
“Ahh! I should’ve let Neir finish that sentence!”
Too late for regrets. Now she had to try any method she could guess.
Then—
“Wait, why is it suddenly so hot?”
Her body was heating up unnaturally fast.
A strange itchiness spread through her limbs, her breathing sped up.
“This… this can’t be… is that what’s happening?”
What Neir said about realizing her instincts—this must be it.
Prey instincts.
“No! Is awakening to desire literally going into heat?!”
Her body flushed against her will, temperature rising rapidly.
Her mind spun, sucked into a whirlpool of darkness.
“Ugh!”
Not long after, with a pained groan, Roziana opened her eyes.
“Annoying.”
Asterios snapped, casting a glare at the ever-complaining Daniel.
The whining finally stopped as Daniel gripped his waist tightly from behind.
The only reason Asterios had brought Daniel aboard Blackbreath was because of the sacred relic he carried.
With Roziana in danger, the more allies he had—even a troublesome one like Daniel—the better. Especially if they had a powerful relic.
“Hmph! I helped summon your familiar, so giving me a ride is the least you can do.”
While Blackbreath’s massive flames swept away wave after wave of demonic beasts, Daniel continued grumbling from the dragon’s back—even as he used his relic to swat down winged monsters.
WHACK! CRACK! WHACK! CRACK!
Though he was mostly swinging wildly to save himself, Daniel was surprisingly effective at guarding Asterios’s rear.
“You’ve changed form, haven’t you? That your adult body? Anyway, while I’ve been risking my neck to escort our Saintess here to the Demon Realm, just what have you been doing all this time?”
“Our Saintess?” The audacity. As if he were doing anyone a favor.
“Get off.”
Asterios growled low. Startled, Daniel quickly softened his tone.
“F-Fine! Fine! Just give me a little longer. I’ll help you save her. But… do you even know where she is?”
Like he could talk. He could barely protect himself.
“And what exactly do you plan to do with just a staff?”
Especially dressed like that. What even was that outfit?
How did someone like this become a great sage?
Clearly, the Holy Nation lacks proper candidates for the title.
Still, Asterios had to admit—Daniel was better than nothing.
His relic had the power to open the gate back to the human world. If worst came to worst and Asterios failed, Daniel might be able to return Roziana home.
“Tch. You don’t even know where she is, do you?”
Just then, a familiar mental transmission echoed in Asterios’s mind.
[I have found her.]
“Daniel, hold on tight. We’re about to reach her.”
“Wha—wait! You did know? Hmph! I, Daniel, shall personally commend you to His Holiness for this…”
“Just shut up and deal with the monsters behind us.”
“Ack!! Already?!”
Daniel shrieked as he smacked another winged demon with his relic, causing it to vanish in a puff of smoke.
“Even if you’re useless, the relic at least is pulling its weight.”
Soon after, Blackbreath reached a giant gate where even more demonic beasts hurled themselves at them. The black dragon incinerated them with another blast of fire.
Asterios and Daniel jumped down in front of the gate.
“She’s in there.”
Together with Blackbreath, Asterios unleashed dark magic and fire toward the gate. A brilliant blaze and black whirlwinds tore through the air, slamming into the door.
It cracked—but still held.
“Let me help!”
Daniel swung his sacred relic, releasing white holy light that slammed into the gate with a crackling boom.
Just then—FLASH!
A black magic spell shot from behind. Asterios swiftly summoned a barrier and deflected the attack, but the energy returned to its caster and was absorbed into his hand.
His gaze turned to the source.
Not just beasts now—humanoid demons stood in formation.
“Mephisto’s servants.”
Asterios muttered grimly.
At the front stood a green-haired demon wearing a monocle.
“An honor to welcome our lord’s old friends to the Demon Realm. I hope the welcome party was… satisfactory?”
The demon grinned wickedly.
Calling the relentless waves of monsters a “welcome party” was pure mockery.
Jude’s words were clearly a taunt.
“Unfortunately, our lord is currently spending his wedding night with his bride. I suggest you offer your congratulations after they’re done.”
“WHAT?! Wedding night?!”
Daniel shouted in outrage, aiming his relic.
“She is the sacred Saintess of the Holy Nation of Graham! How dare a creature of the Demon Realm lay a hand on her! You’ll be smitten by divine wrath!”
To Daniel, Roziana was destined to be the bride of Gregoryan, lord of the Holy Nation—not some Demon King.
Still, Jude paid no mind.
“We’ll escort you to the guest chambers. It may take a few days. In the Demon Realm, wedding nights often last more than a single night.”
At those words, Asterios clenched his fist so hard the bones whitened beneath his skin.
“You speak nonsense.”
With no intention of hearing more, he muttered coldly,
“Nox.”
His eyes blazed red as he summoned his darkness.
