“I want to see Avira right now.”
Freyna stared straight at Ophitia, who nodded in agreement.
This was the exact situation she had dreaded the most.
The Saintess had been captured by the Demon King for the sake of humanity. In the worst-case scenario, her powers might even be used by the Demon King. She had heard that the Demon Race could assimilate humans and turn them into their servants. Could Avira’s Saintess Power withstand that kind of harm?
From the Holy Church’s perspective, declaring war might be an option…
But it did not seem appropriate either.
Ophitia returned quickly.
The girl nestled in her arms wore a special blindfold. Pale pink ropes bound her arms behind her back, rendering her utterly immobile. Chains encircled her ankles and wrists, clad in tattered white stockings, and even her neck, as if she had just been locked in a cage and punished by the Demon King.
A black strap bound the girl’s mouth, preventing her from speaking, leaving her entirely at the Demon King’s mercy. A glowing pattern on her abdomen seemed to symbolize something. The Demon King stroked her silver hair as if toying with her plaything.
The girl was Avira.
“You bastards…”
Freyna nearly drew her sword. If this were a personal grudge rather than the Holy Church’s affair, she would have already challenged the Demon King. But as the face of the War Emperor, she had to think carefully before declaring war on any faction.
Of course, if S-rank monsters truly existed, war would be inevitable.
But what if the S-rank monster was the Saintess Avira herself?
Not long ago, the Great Sage had elevated “retrieving the Hero and the Saintess” to the Holy Church’s top priority. Though the Saint Knights did not have to obey her commands, it underscored the Saintess’s importance to the Holy Church to a certain extent.
This was a more despicable tactic than taking hostages.
Freyna still clung to a sliver of hope.
As long as she threatened the Demon King with war to release Avira, it would be the perfect solution: the Holy Church would reclaim the Saintess, and she would save this poor girl.
But the Demon King’s words shattered her hopes.
“Tomorrow is my wedding with Avira. I sincerely invite you humans to attend the ceremony.”
“What a vile creature!”
“Is that so, Avira?”
Ophitia casually tore off the strap over Avira’s mouth and wiped the moisture from her lips.
The girl stuck out her tongue, perhaps from finally breathing fresh air after so long, or maybe as an instinctive reaction from her restraints.
“I am my master’s slave. I am the Demon King’s weapon.”
“Avira, do you remember me? What has she done to you!”
Freyna tried to step forward but was blocked by Berika and Selin. Seeing the Saint Knight obstructed by demons, the Black Eagle Knights advanced in unison, swords drawn and tension thick in the air.
But Avira acted as if she had heard nothing.
Ophitia touched her waist, making Avira flush red. She stuck out her tongue again, as if she had endured countless similar torments.
“Master♡, I… I want more~”
Freyna’s soul felt as if it had been struck a heavy blow.
The girl who had once brimmed with hope had ultimately been corrupted by the Demon King and turned into a weapon. Was this her end? Did a fair god truly exist in this world to save innocent souls? She had awakened the Saintess’s power, yet in the end, she could not escape.
Was this fate?
It had to be that S-rank monster.
In other words, the Holy Church now had reason to wage war against the Demon Race.
But the cost was that they would never retrieve the Saintess, and sealing the Demon King without her would become impossible.
“Damn it…”
Freyna retreated to her seat.
Molly and Catherine had finished their treatments and stood at her sides.
As holders of the Golden Medal, they naturally held higher status and authority than Freyna, and they had joined this “negotiation” and standoff.
But they did not aid Freyna in her argument.
Catherine lowered her head and said, “If it weren’t for Avira, we would be dead. As the Sword Saint, this is the first time I was saved by someone, and the first time I failed another. Freyna, I don’t want to abandon her the way I abandoned you.”
Freyna’s eyes widened as the two events clashed in her mind, twisting her thoughts into chaos.
Reason reminded her that this was not the time to dwell on past grudges. She held in her hands the future of the Holy Church and humanity, as well as Avira’s life. If she wished, she could inform the War Emperor of the S-rank monster’s truth, drastically altering the world’s balance.
“I can let you two talk. If you want, you can ask her personally what happened,” Ophitia said.
“You…”
With that, Avira stepped out of Ophitia’s embrace and slowly approached Freyna.
But Freyna could not ask anything now, for the Demon King seemed to have control over her mind. The current Avira was likely just a brainwashed puppet.
“How about I give you two some private space to chat? That way, it would also serve as an explanation to your Holy Church.”
“…”
Freyna ignored Ophitia’s words and knelt down.
“Avira, are you still lucid? What has she done to you?”
“…” Avira remained expressionless, frozen in place.
Freyna stood and reached out to touch Avira’s head.
But in the next instant, Ophitia exuded a dangerous aura, forcing Freyna to back away, drenched in cold sweat. No wonder she had become the Demon King; this pressure was beyond ordinary demons. Freyna had never seen such a unique demon.
Ophitia grew anxious.
In truth, though she had said those words, it was all pre-arranged with Avira.
They were putting on a show.
Ophitia had no desire to bind her like this, but Avira had insisted and repeatedly urged her not to act rashly.
However, Ophitia had not realized that Freyna and Avira truly had some connection!
Classmates? Friends? Sisters like Maryvian? No, could they be girlfriends?
So, though Ophitia claimed indifference, she had no intention of letting human filth touch Avira’s body.
Unexpectedly, this behavior gave Freyna a reason to resist.
“Demon King, why do you stop me? Are you afraid I’ll take her away?”
“Avira must be mine,” Ophitia said coldly.
“The Saintess is equally precious to the Holy Church. She is not yours. Moreover, the Saintess’s existence is not merely to seal you, Demon King. She is the symbol of our peace and sanctity, bringing God’s gospel to the world.”
Ophitia’s body twitched, her temperature rising as if flames might erupt from her at any moment.
In this moment of drawn swords, Avira spoke up:
“Give up, Freyna. The master and I are truly in love.”
