"I need to move faster."

Once Lea made up her mind, her actions were no longer the slightest bit hesitant.

She turned around, facing away from the light, and sprinted toward the depths of the darkness.

Fear, cowardice, helplessness—none of these were things she could afford to feel and taste.

What she had to do now was to move quickly, faster, fastest—to reach his side.

Every second of delay could result in the outcome she feared most.

And so, even though she was heading toward a danger she had never had the courage to face before, Lea was running even faster than she had when fleeing from that very place.

...Yet she hadn’t advanced far before her footsteps suddenly stopped.

She looked toward the shadows cast by a massive tree, her delicate face filled with seriousness.

"...Who’s there?"

"Oh? You actually noticed me?"

In the forest, a sudden wind gusted.

It was bone-chilling.

And alongside the sound of the wind came an equally eerie voice:

"What a pity. I was planning to give you utter despair at the very last moment when you were about to reach the edge of the forest.

I do so enjoy seeing the expressions of young beauties as they fall from hope into utter despair. Every time, it’s an experience worth savoring. But I never expected you would turn back. Just as foolish as that Moen Campbell."

The figure slowly approached, their footsteps shuffling over the forest floor covered in leaves, rustling like the whispers of some monstrous creature.

"But come to think of it, this is even better, isn’t it? The more you care about that Moen Campbell, and the more Moen Campbell cares about you, the more... thrilled I am."

Finally, the figure came fully into Lea’s sight. That familiar, chilling face caused her expression to freeze instantly.

Her heart sank sharply.

"It’s you... Barton?"

Why was he here? Wasn’t he supposed to be—

"Hey now, don’t give me that stupid look like you can’t believe I’m here."

"Indeed, the most logical thing for me to do right now would be to corner Moen Campbell in that place and, slice by slice, cut him into pieces myself to vent my rage at being humiliated by him before.

But... then again, wouldn’t that be missing out on so much more fun?"

Barton grinned, his face twisting into a hideous smile as he erupted in laughter:

"I’ve killed more people in more ways than anyone else. I’ve conducted countless experiments. I know better than anyone how to make someone die in the throes of utter despair and agony.

For instance, killing a wife before her husband’s eyes, slaughtering a son in front of a father, throwing a newborn child into a pot of boiling oil as the mother wails in despair.

Or even, after wiping out an entire village, leaving behind two young lovers—deeply attached childhood sweethearts—handing them a blade, and telling them the winner gets to live.

Ha! Hahaha! Watching those two, who once never left each other’s side, turn into beasts, bloodshot eyes as they fought... that feeling is simply... intoxicating.

And of course, finishing the survivor off in their utter disbelief and despair, letting them die staring at the lifeless, unavenged face of their companion... ah, that’s the little extra spice that makes it perfect!"

"You..."

Lea’s delicate body trembled. "You scum!"

"That’s right, I certainly am scum. So, my lovely lady, do you understand now why I’ve shown up here?"

Barton licked his lips, his predatory gaze shamelessly roaming over Lea’s flawless figure:

"Because I want to torment and... defile you in the most brutal and painful way possible, right before the very eyes of that Moen Campbell who would sacrifice himself to save you. Only then can I make the noble son of a duke feel the true depths of despair!

Ha... just imagining his expression at that moment makes me so excited, I can hardly contain myself!"

"…It’s useless for you to do this. You’ve misunderstood. Moen... Moen and I... we’re not in any sort of close relationship," Lea said through gritted teeth.

"Heh, who knows?" Barton sneered.

"Alright, I’ve said what I came to say, my lovely lady. Now you may run."

"Run...?"

"That’s right. Prey that struggles makes for a far more enjoyable hunt, doesn’t it?"

Barton clapped his hands as though shooing away an animal. "Run! Flee! The exit of the forest isn’t far behind you. Head toward it, toward that light, use every desperate means at your disposal to run!

I, Barton the Corpse Slicer, shall enjoy this thoroughly."

The forest grew deathly cold.

Even the numerous strange insects and serpents seemed to scatter, frightened away by the horrific aura emanating from Barton. Aside from the occasional cawing of some unseen crow, the forest fell into an eerie silence.

"..."

Lea stared at Barton standing before her, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Terrifying...

So terrifying.

Everything this man said was true, not a single word was a lie. He had killed many, in the most savage ways imaginable.

The aura of blood about him was so thick it pervaded the air around him entirely.

Run!

Run, Lea!

You’re no fighter; you can’t possibly face him!

That voice resounded once more in her mind, pulling relentlessly at her nerves, urging her to flee—just as Barton had said—as a harmless little prey, turning tail and running away.

This was what the helpless girl who always hid behind Ariel was supposed to do.

But...

But.

"I...I won’t run away anymore."

This time, clear words echoed through the forest, breaking the deadly silence.

"Hm?"

A trace of confusion appeared on Barton’s face.

The girl before him seemed to have suddenly... changed in some way.

At first, she hung her head low, the aura of fear radiating from her tiny frame. She trembled uncontrollably, appearing in every way to be a helpless, pitiable girl who posed no threat.

But gradually, she began to lift her bowed head, little by little steadying the quivering of her slender figure.

Bit by bit, her hands curled into fists.

Tears still shimmered at the corners of her eyes, but now they gathered with a light of resolve and bravery.

"I won’t run away anymore. Even if I have to face it alone, even if Ariel is no longer there to shield me, I won’t run."

That’s right.

She was Lea Angel.

One of the candidate saintesses of the Life Church, Lea Angel.

The person deemed most fitting to be chosen as the saintess.

The future saintess would never turn her back and flee in disgrace from scum like this.

"I have to go back."

A sinister wind ruffled her long hair, revealing her still-delicate but now unyielding expression.

Lea gripped the light of the sacred, but this time it was no longer soft and warm—it had transformed... into a sharp, piercing blade!

"So... I ask you to, get out of my way!"

...

"Interesting..."

After a brief silence, Barton fixed his gaze on Lea. His massive frame... began to tremble.

But it was not fear causing him to shake.

It was... excitement!

Overwhelming excitement!

"Intriguing, you’re absolutely intriguing!" Barton clawed at his own head, trailing bloody marks across his skin, his visage growing even more terrifying.

"What happened? What could have possibly happened in just a few short minutes to make you... so perfect?"

"But... that just makes things even more fun, doesn’t it?"

"Come!" Barton bellowed with laughter.

"Let me... utterly destroy you!!"