"What if I fail?"

"Utter annihilation. Not even the Overdeity could bring you back."

I snapped awake from unconsciousness. A fluffy white thing filled my vision.

I touched it—so soft, so smooth. Probably animal fur. Maybe fox. It felt amazing, cradling half my body in its fluff.

I’d been captured. Where was I? I rolled over. Above me hung a round metal disc. Golden bars radiated from it, curving down to embed into the metal plate beneath the fox fur.

Wait—what the heck? I was inside a giant cage!

A flattened golden birdcage trapped me. Its only exit was sealed tight by a magic lock.

What was going on…?

I shook off the drowsiness and scanned my surroundings.

The cage sat in a bedroom-like room. Lavishly decorated, glittering with gold.

It had a Western European royal classical style. Furniture was simple: just a rug, a desk, a bookshelf, a large wardrobe, two bedside tables, a huge princess-sized bed, a sofa, a coffee table, and a few elegant chairs.

Whose room was this? Why was I here? The clothes on the rack looked like a man’s.

Ugh—had they done something inappropriate to me? I quickly checked my body. No strange feelings. My clothes were intact—a dress that somehow survived the Hero’s "Comet Strike."

At least they weren’t hostile for now. But why capture the Dark Lord instead of killing me?

Were they waiting for me to wake up… to do *that* thing while I struggled helplessly? Perverts like that were terrifying!

I needed a plan.

This cage was trouble. Big trouble! Bars as thick as a baby’s arm should snap under the Dark Lord’s strength—even without magic. Yet they didn’t budge. Not because they were hard. My strength was drained to human levels.

This cage was definitely cursed!

About a meter wide, 1.2 meters tall—just too short to stand. Clearly designed to trap a Dark Lord.

The bars had wide gaps—maybe 15 centimeters—but were laced with vine-like patterns, locking together. No squeezing through.

A small service window existed. Also impossible to escape through.

The cage floor—aha! Magic circuits! I’d have to improvise. From my inherited knowledge, this was a sealing array. Specifically for a juvenile Dark Lord.

Tailor-made for me! Ugh…

Forget the cage for now. With this mortal body, escape was hopeless. If I did get out, the front door meant suicide.

Windows? Two wide ones faced south, showing the morning sun. But voices below suggested heavy foot traffic.

Not that way…

Ah! An en-suite bathroom!

They couldn’t deny me bathroom breaks. And no one would watch me pee. So…

What kind of pervert designed this humiliating cage-play?

*Sigh.* I slumped against the bars, ignoring the discomfort. Mom, what messed-up isekai did you dump me in? Prophecy magic was overpowered—how could a Dark Lord like me survive?

Mom really gave me a little girl’s body. Could I bribe my way out with it? Never. I’d rather die.

What did this body look like anyway? I knew I had long, near-transparent white hair, horns, and a childlike frame…

I scanned the room. A mirror in the corner faced the cage—too far, but I caught a glimpse.

White hair—I knew that. Big eyes, probably red—scary? Pale, almost sickly skin. Was the Dark Lord just albino? At least my features were balanced. My figure… budding, I guess. Only lolicon freaks would care.

Ugh, black horns. No wonder they stood out on such a small head.

My dress was overly fancy, covered in ribbons like cosplay wear. So tedious I couldn’t be bothered to undress—not that I was thinking weird thoughts. Just practical needs like bathing.

But as a prisoner, bathing was probably a luxury.

Voices sounded at the door. Someone was coming. Should I act pitiful and beg? No! Low success rate. And as the Dark Lord, I needed dignity. Failure was temporary. Balance demanded it, hmpf!

I stood to point dramatically—*thud!* My head hit the top. Just five centimeters short… I was so short!

Sitting then. How? Seiza like Saber? Regal but not intimidating. Duck sit like a catgirl? I wasn’t some pet! Normal sit? Too casual.

Decision made. One pose radiated authority, queenly power, and pure Dark Lord energy:

Crossed legs.

The voices outside faded. With a heavy *creak* of wooden hinges, the door opened. A boy entered—not very tall, average looks, wearing hiking gear.

Hiking gear? Did this world have that?

A sheen of sweat glistened on his face in the morning light. He’d just jogged back. But his pale skin suggested he was usually a shut-in.

Still, I knew instantly: this was the Hero.

The one who brought me here.

"Hero," I called sharply, "I want water." He turned, froze for two seconds, then jerked his head away. He shuffled forward and closed the door.

"What? Didn’t hear me?" I huffed.

He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth. Finally, he took a deep breath: "Cover your panties!"

"Huh?" I blinked. Then it hit me. My face burned hot. "Perverted shut-in lolicon freak!"