Chapter 22

"Damn, I didn’t expect that old hag and Christia to arrive so soon. We need to hurry."

"Mm, but Alex, don’t rush to undo your Class Change yet. Remember, after shrinking, this cramped cell will feel enormous to you. Running at normal speed won’t cut it—you must undo it at the very last second."

"I see. Got it."

Honestly, if Clothilde weren’t here, Lisbeth might’ve undone her Class Change and dashed straight to the cell. After a brief mental exchange, she shrank her body instantly and bolted toward her cell at Grand Thief speed.

Meanwhile, Christia and Hilda had already passed the guarded entrance, striding briskly toward Lisbeth’s solitary cell. The prison wasn’t large, so within minutes, they stood before its door.

"Hm? Wait. Why’s this door half-open?"

"Huh?"

Christia didn’t enter immediately. She halted, frowned, and demanded of the guard, "Why’s this unlocked?" Per the cell layout, this door was the second security layer—Lisbeth’s barred cell lay beyond as the first. Though her quarters were comfortable, they should’ve been under tighter watch.

"Th-this… It’s strange. It should’ve been locked."

"Bastards! As guards, you didn’t even notice it was open! If the prisoner escaped, I won’t spare any of you!"

Fuming, Christia shoved the door open and marched to Lisbeth’s cell. Peering inside, she saw a maid with fox ears, clad in a Maid Outfit, sound asleep on the bed.

"Phew… She’s still here…"

Naturally, it was Lisbeth. Seeing she hadn’t vanished, Hilda and the guards sighed in relief. But Christia showed no ease. She waved to a guard. "You—open the cell. I have words for her inside."

"Yes, ma’am."

The guard, puzzled why they couldn’t just wake Lisbeth, obediently unlocked the door and let them in.

"Hey, wake up, you Buxom Fox."

"Mmm… Hnngh…"

"Wake up. Or I’ll cut off those useless lumps of fat!"

"Huh!? Huh!?"

Lisbeth jolted awake, clutched her chest, and stumbled back. "Wah! No! Why in my dream must I lose my breasts too!?"

"Lisbeth, this isn’t a dream. Lord Demon King truly came to see you."

"Huh?"

Spotting Christia for real, Lisbeth’s face twisted in terror. "L-Lord Demon King! Why come suddenly? Sob… I know I was wrong! But you didn’t need to rush here overnight just to cut my breasts!"

"Who’d bother with such nonsense!?"

"Ow ow ow! Then stop pinching them so hard!!"

Hilda realized then: Lisbeth could enrage anyone anytime. Christia, usually stern but controlled to uphold dignity, now fumed wildly, pinching breasts in fury.

Sighing helplessly, Hilda yanked Christia back. "Calm down, Lord Demon King. Lisbeth, we actually came to ask if you’ve—"

"Don’t ask extra questions, Hilda."

Christia cut her off, glaring at Lisbeth. "We only came to see if you’d reflected. Had you truly repented, we might’ve freed you. But clearly, that’s unnecessary now."

"Huh!? How!?"

"Hmph. Your own fault. Let’s go, Hilda."

Christia swept out with Hilda. Once alone, Lisbeth exhaled shakily.

"Phew… Finally gone… That really scared me."

"Exactly. If she hadn’t hesitated at the door, we’d be doomed. But she’s the Demon King—meticulous. She came to check for an escape, yet spun it as a visit."

Lisbeth smiled faintly. "That’s Christia. Even at ten, she’s shrewder than all. Which is why I must find someone to curse her without her noticing."

With Christia’s departure, Lisbeth’s tense night ended, welcoming the next day’s sun.