The woolen blanket was slowly lifted from the girl’s arms, marking the end of their brief journey.

The carriage finally creaked to a halt before the gates of Central Girls’ Academy. An old man pulled aside the light-blocking curtain at the rear.

Luo Yu lay sideways inside the cabin, her cheeks flushed crimson. Her right hand was hidden between her thighs in the shadowed crevice, her robe draped over her body as she studied some... physiological knowledge. Her waist twisted violently; her bare toes curled and uncurled like blooming petals. It seemed her own journey—much like the carriage ride—was nearing its peak.

The old man turned away with a sigh. "Little girl," he called loudly, "we’re here. Stop playing around."

"Holy shit!" Luo Yu jolted upright, her carefully built-up mood shattered. Agony twisted her face. "You old coot! Don’t you knock before barging into a maiden’s room?"

"This carriage has no doors for privacy," he retorted dryly. "Hurry up and get ready. We’ve arrived."

"Hmph! Pull the curtain shut and wait," Luo Yu snapped, turning her head away with a scowl. "Don’t you dare peek, or I’ll kill you."

"Fine. Just don’t dirty my carriage."

"I know! Go away already!" Luo Yu jabbed her fingers impatiently, as if sparks might fly from her fingertips.

"*Sigh*." The old man retreated from the carriage exit and leaned against the roadside. Gazing at the towering new buildings of the Central District, he murmured, "Eighty years ago, before the Demon King’s capital moved... this was all wasteland."

He waited ten minutes on the street, head propped in one hand, listening helplessly to the girl’s muffled whimpers from within. Finally, Luo Yu wobbled unsteadily down from the carriage. Sweat drenched her; she looked utterly drained.

"I can’t... my legs... they’re jelly..."

"Can you walk?" The old man frowned.

"Y-yeah." Luo Yu took a deep breath, lifting her head to face the academy gates. "We’re here. Xiaoshuang, I’m back."

"You’re not even of Succubus bloodline," the old man said, stepping beside her with concern. "How does your body handle such frequent... exertion?"

"None of your business! I’d die if I skipped a day," Luo Yu huffed, turning away. "Seriously, old man—don’t you have needs? Pretending to be some pure, desireless saint must be exhausting."

"We High Elves enter a desireless state outside specific seasons," he explained. "To preserve the absolute purity of our magic’s source."

"Unbelievable." Luo Yu’s jaw dropped. "So that thing of yours hasn’t worked in decades? Might as well be useless!"

"...Think what you will." A bead of sweat traced the old man’s temple.

"*Mind blown*," Luo Yu whispered, pupils wide.

"Hand it over," the old man suddenly said, holding out his palm.

"Huh?"

"My payment for escorting you. I didn’t drive you for free—I even fed you expensive demon potions."

"Oh, right." Luo Yu reached into her pants and pulled out a damp sock, shoving it into his hand. "Consider yourself honored. You’re the first man ever to receive such a gift from me."

The old man stared, speechless.

"What’s wrong? Aren’t you grateful?" Luo Yu frowned at his frozen posture.

"I meant your student ID as collateral. You can redeem it in a year or two." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I’ll explain it slowly—"

Luo Yu: "... ..."

"What now?"

"You dare scorn my most treasured gift? Die!"

...

In the end, Luo Yu stood arms crossed, watching the carriage fade into the distance with a blank stare.

When Qiu Xiaoshuang rushed to the gates, she froze at the sight of Luo Yu’s dazed expression.

"Unprecedented," Xiaoshuang muttered, shaken to her core. "Luo Yu showing no hostility toward a man? My worldview is collapsing."

"What nonsense, Xiaoshuang." Luo Yu crossed her arms tighter, scowling. "That old coot just had a tolerable personality. I deigned to spend a moment with him, that’s all."

"So... he brought you back to Central?"

"Something like that," Luo Yu huffed. "He insisted I take his carriage on the way back. Clung to me like a leech."

"Thank goodness." Xiaoshuang sighed in relief. "I feared the worst. Turns out you met a kind soul—a happy ending."

"Nonsense! I was never in danger," Luo Yu insisted stubbornly. "My assassination plan against the Champion was flawless, perfectly executed—"

"Enough. You’re safe—that’s what matters." Xiaoshuang cut her off firmly. "Save the tall tales for our dorm."

"Fine." Luo Yu nodded quietly.

"Have you changed?" Xiaoshuang narrowed her eyes, studying Luo Yu’s posture. Something felt off. "You’re still not wearing panties, still wearing that perpetually dazed look... but you’re different. Did something happen on the road?"

"Nothing!" Luo Yu turned her head away.

She’d never admit how she’d collapsed before the Champion—or what he might have done to her.

As Luo Yu followed Xiaoshuang down the campus path, notices plastered on the walls detailed recent upheavals in the Demon Realm. Luo Yu stopped before one:

> **The Champion has agreed to cease hostilities. Peace negotiations between Human and Demon Realms commence immediately.**

> **Three border cities of the Demon Kind to be ceded...**

> **...**

> **Demon Princess to wed the Human Champion by month’s end. Ceremony at Demon Realm Central Plaza.**

Xiaoshuang joined her, blinking at the notice. "They say the Champion is quite handsome. And the Princess is marrying him willingly."

Luo Yu stood frozen before the wall. Words died in her throat.

"What’s wrong?"

Luo Yu: "... ..."

"Well," Xiaoshuang said gently, patting her shoulder from behind, "the Champion lives. Your assassination failed. Since we can’t change fate... accept it. Be a carefree girl again."

"Xiaoshuang." Luo Yu turned, head bowed. "Is the Champion truly as strong as they say in the Demon Realm?"

Xiaoshuang ruffled her hair. "Strongest in history. Undeniable."

"Could the current Demon King defeat him now?"

"The previous Demon King fell to his blade."

"What about the Four Heavenly Kings?" Luo Yu pressed. "They look formidable. Surely they stand a chance?"

Xiaoshuang tousled her hair again, voice soft. "The Four Heavenly Kings are the Demon King’s direct vassals. If their master fell... they’d only be sent to their deaths."

"Cowards," Luo Yu spat viciously—but her body betrayed her words, limbs going limp as noodles.