Demon Race?
Nina’s gaze drifted to the pair of demon horns on her mother’s head.
Sharp ears, scarlet pupils, razor-sharp horns.
Her mother was no longer an elf.
She was a demon—an existence known as “Dark Filth.”
But Nina didn’t hate this outcome. Her mom was still alive. She had simply survived by becoming another race.
“Mom…”
“If Nina doesn’t want to, there’s no need to be afraid. Mom hasn’t changed at all. You can stay by my side as a living being. That would be fine too~”
Isabella had joined the Eternal Church.
It was a silver-haired woman who called herself a god.
Isabella had never wanted to put her faith in any vague, ethereal being.
‘I can protect Nina. But now, you can’t, can you, great Elf Queen? Even though you’re one of the strongest on the Camiran Continent.’
‘As for who the “Eternal Church” is, you don’t actually need to believe in anything. Rest assured—just help us with a small favor, and I’ll help you and Nina in return. It’s that simple.’
Could she protect Nina?
Her daughter, whom she had left behind for so long—whom she hadn’t seen in years?
And so, Isabella had agreed.
The Eternal Church worshipped the “Demon God King,” much like many of the organizations Isabella held similar views about. But a mysterious figure who refused to reveal their identity had assured her that the “Demon God King” truly existed and could stand against the looming crisis and calamity threatening the Camiran Continent.
In the end, though, all Isabella wanted was to protect her daughter.
If Nina didn’t wish to take any side, Isabella would never force her. The Eternal Church had no such bizarre rules, after all.
But Nina’s response shocked even Isabella.
“I’m willing to become a demon—to become the same race as you. We’re mother and daughter.”
“Nina?”
“It’s okay. No—I want to become a demon. There’s nothing here for me to cling to. Why not embrace a brand-new life?”
Nina gazed at Isabella with excited eyes streaked with tears. At the same moment, one hand brushed against Isabella’s newly sprouted demon tail, while the other clasped her mother’s hands tightly.
Becoming a demon was no good thing in the eyes of tradition.
Even though the elves maintained neutrality amid the Demon Race’s conflicts with the Camiran Continent, demons remained a race steeped in danger and corruption—an instinctive revulsion from all living beings toward Dark Filth.
Part of the reason the world branded Nina a tyrant was her decision to establish diplomatic ties with the Demon Race… Though she had sealed the powers of that poor Vampire Demon King, it had all been for fame and gain. If the chance arose, Nina would offer her an apology.
“Now, can you turn me into Dark Filth? I know it’s not easy…”
“It’s fine, actually, little Nina…”
Isabella thought of the black magic stone Head Maid Laer had given her. With that item, it would be possible.
Easily possible…
Converting a living being into Dark Filth was no simple matter.
Merely a magic stone—simply feeding it to her—wasn’t enough to bypass the “Soul Stream” or let obsession take hold. A specific method was required to make the target accept it, forging an obsession within them. And the clearer their mind remained through the process, the more intense the stimulus needed.
Isabella already understood exactly how it had to be done. But between a mother and daughter, such a thing shouldn’t…
“Mom?”
Nina’s eyes were clear and innocent. She saw the embarrassment on Isabella’s face, her own eyes widening for a fleeting instant. Yet she still chose to trust… Or perhaps, as someone on the verge of becoming Dark Filth, she was meant to “degenerate.”
“I understand…”
“Then…”
…
Lady Xuefei quietly slipped away from the mother-daughter reunion.
Everything that needed saying had been said.
She had no interest in prying into others’ private moments.
“Seems I forgot to bring the dining car, but oh well… Laer probably won’t hold it against me. I can just have Celi handle it later.”
Xuefei hummed a tune—something she’d picked up somewhere, maybe even from an MP3—her little leather shoes tapping a cheerful rhythm on the cobblestone path. Her tail swished back and forth, betraying her bubbling excitement and delight.
All around, trees stood in neat rows along both sides of the road, giving way at the end to a cluster of buildings that formed a town. Lively voices drifted over now and then.
She passed through the symbolic little iron gate and bent down to straighten the crooked sign reading “Arios Town.” At the same time, a girl’s voice called out:
“Lady Xuefei~! Xuefei~~!”
“Who’s there?”
“It’s me!!”
Xuefei’s eyes shifted to the Qingdie clinging to a treetop branch. It struggled for a moment before suddenly shifting into human form and landing on the grass—a blue-haired little loli now stood before her.
Although she appeared to be a harmless young girl on the surface, Xuefei knew full well that the creature before her had long since transformed into a terrifying fiend by absorbing the Demonish qi from the Evil Dragon Palace every day. If any hero dared to challenge the Evil Dragon’s authority, this bunch would serve as the first wave of nightmare guardians.
“What is it, Qingdie?”
“Help! Help!”
The butterfly girl fluttered her translucent wings, their patterns more exquisite than any swath of luxurious fabric. Her chubby cheeks puffed out in an anxious pout, like a little apple, and at just 145 centimeters tall, there was nothing about her but pure cuteness.
Her name was Qingdie.
Ever since the founding of Arios Town, she had served as its leader, though that felt like it had only happened a few days ago.
Going forward, Arios Town would grow rapidly through trade with other Demon Races. It hadn’t yet developed a clear signature industry, but they were confident that a town mainly inhabited by monster residents could take shape as the simplest kind of settlement.
Xuefei, too, wanted to see the palace surrounded by a thriving town, so she was happy to lend a hand.
Now, however, Qingdie’s face had grown anxious.
“A gang of bandits is attacking our town! We can’t beat them—please come help us!”
“Oh? Got it.”
Seeing that Xuefei was willing to help, Qingdie hurriedly led her into the bustling, lively town.
Simple yet orderly buildings formed a modestly sized settlement that had everything one might need. At the crossroads stood a stone fountain spraying dazzling rainbow patterns, while throngs of people filled the air with laughter and chatter. It was impossible not to feel drawn in, wanting to mingle with those pretty and handsome folk in their everyday lives.
The town seemed utterly peaceful at first glance—no sign at all of the “attack” Qingdie had mentioned.
That illusion shattered with a jarring voice.
“We need more meat, you cute little butterflies~”
“Crows?”
A black-haired girl flapped her wings and swooped in swiftly, trailed by other girls wearing the same wicked grins as they hovered in the air. They were all dressed in identical white shirts, black miniskirts, and black thigh-high stockings—like a uniform. Of course, these Crow girls’ outfits, just like the butterfly monsters’ dresses, were conjured by magic, so matching attire came as no surprise.
They moved as one, clearly harboring some special grudge or “fetish” against the butterflies, as they flew right up to Qingdie.
In that instant, Xuefei realized they were surrounded by these black-haired girls.
The lead Crow sauntered forward without so much as glancing at Xuefei, covering her mouth in a sly chuckle.
“Little Qingdie, if you don’t want big sis to bully you♡, then hurry up and fetch us more tasty treats~♡ If you can’t… well, we could always just eat you instead♡”
