"...I... never actually felt happy around Alquett..."

"Eh?"

Now it was Lilith’s turn to be stunned.

She’d assumed that since Alquett reacted so intensely to news about Viola—even to the point of betraying the human kingdom for her—they must have been close. Lovers, childhood friends, or at least secret admirers. Something like that made sense, right?

But Viola’s utterly indifferent words left Lilith momentarily dazed, struggling to grasp the situation.

"But I heard... weren’t you two teammates once? Good partners?"

At the question, Viola lowered her gaze. The light in her beautiful eyes dimmed.

"Yes... Alquett was kind. Passionate too. She always took charge, rushing headfirst into danger. Even when covered in battle wounds, she’d still shield her companions. And on quiet days with no quests? She took care of us all."

Her voice softened as she finished casting a sobering healing spell on the last group of drunkards. Amid cheers and thanks, she waved goodbye to the departing crowd with a gentle smile.

Lilith leaned curiously over the tavern table, tail swaying, watching Viola’s slender back. "That sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?"

Viola turned. Her faint smile slowly faded.

"Wonderful, yes... Compared to her, the rest of us were just dead weight. Always late to help. Often causing trouble. People even mocked us as ‘The Hero and Her Three Leg Accessories’—‘Difficulty Adjusters’ for quests."

"Uh... if you were so mismatched... why join her team at all?"

Lilith tilted her head, puzzled. This felt like some ancient shonen manga trope: useless teammates triggering crises, the hero trapped, then exploding with power while shouting *"Don’t underestimate our bonds!"* before saving the day for a happy ending.

"My magic academy advisor promised internship credits," Viola sighed, her eyes shadowed. "I should’ve known better. Alquett was already the Holy Kingdom’s most celebrated Hero along the frontier. She didn’t *need* teammates. I was just support staff—invited by the Church to pass my graduation requirements."

"Uh..."

"Naturally, she took every mission alone. Every reward. Every praise. She lived brilliantly—welcomed everywhere with flowers, applause, honors, riches... As if the whole world revolved around the ‘Hero.’ We were just background extras."

Viola bit her lip, her face deathly pale.

"No wonder you weren’t happy—"

"If it were just that, I could endure. I don’t care about fame. Helping people matters more. But..." Her voice grew urgent. She glanced around, confirming everyone had left, then leaned close to Lilith, lowering her voice. "But after we teamed up... somehow... Alquett started insisting on holding me every night. And she’d... *‘bite’* me..."

Viola’s tone turned bitter, emphasizing the word *"bite."*

"Eh? EH?!"

Lilith blinked, stunned by the sudden shift. Her ears pricked up sharply. Her wings curled tightly behind her.

"It wasn’t just biting... She targeted... different spots each time..."

*Wait—this is getting spicy! Am I even old enough to hear this? Will this pass content review?!*

"Uh... could you elaborate on the ‘biting’...?"

Viola’s cheeks flushed crimson. She cleared her throat and pulled back. "Ahem... Anyway, it felt... pleasant in the moment, but—"

"W-was it really nice?!"

"—but every morning after, I’d get dizzy spells. Sore all over. Some days, I couldn’t even get out of bed. I hated it."

"Hmm... I see..." Lilith stroked her chin thoughtfully, abandoning her cleaning duties. "If you dislike it, why not refuse her outright?"

"...Impossible." Viola sighed, waving her staff to cleanse the dirty dishes with magic. "Reasoning with someone that stubborn is pointless. She only hears what she wants to hear."

"But—"

"Besides... whenever I’m near her—especially when I see those captivating crimson eyes—I feel bewitched. My mind only wants to serve her. Obey her. I can’t defy her will..."

"What if... you asked others for help?"

"You mean tattling? Who’d believe a nameless apprentice over the kingdom’s beloved idol? Even if they listened, they’d just say: *‘Sleeping beside the Hero is an honor.’*"

"So... you truly don’t want to return?"

"Mm." Viola gave a slight nod, then fixed her burning gaze on the young dragon girl. She exhaled deeply. "Ahhh... Thank you for listening. I’ve never felt this relieved before."

"Uh-huh... Because everyone around you worshipped the Hero, so you couldn’t badmouth her?"

Viola nodded faintly.

"Enough about her. Heavy topics end here—we should rest."

Lilith agreed. She *was* itching to ask more about the "biting"—*exactly how* did it work?—but a sixth sense warned her Viola wouldn’t welcome that.

"Okay... Where will you sleep tonight? Still the cell? New members usually wait three days for approved quarters..."

Viola’s sweet smile turned mischievous. She pulled Lilith into an unexpected, warm embrace. "That’s why I said *‘we.’* The director approved it—I’ll stay with you~"

"Eh?!"

"Don’t doubt it, my dear roommate. Let’s bathe together~"

"B-b-b-but—"

Lilith was dragged forward, sputtering like a broken tape.

"You promised earlier—if I *‘wanted a bath,’* you’d *‘take me to the bathroom.’* This time, I want it *private~*"

"B-but I’m—"

"Come on~ As ‘rent’ for staying over, I’ll give you *excellent service*~"

Viola tugged Lilith’s wrist, cheerful and familiar as if dragging a school friend. She didn’t notice the steam practically rising from the dragon girl’s head—her face flushed crimson, as if bleeding.

...

Lilith hadn’t always been this young female dragon. She hadn’t even belonged to this world.

Most of her past-life memories were sealed by some mysterious force. Her old identity, name, family—all blurred behind thick fog.

She only recalled growing up in a southern Chinese city with no spring or autumn, living over twenty years as an otaku with no girlfriend. After graduation, she’d landed a job that barely paid the bills—and still no girlfriend...

*Wait. Why did "no girlfriend" appear twice?*

She’d been coasting through life: work, then home to scroll phones, play games, binge anime. Never imagining a freak lightning strike—and the apartment fire it sparked—would end her bright future.

Rushing back into the flames to save her precious figurines, cola can still in hand, Lilith tripped on the fire escape stairs.

As consciousness faded, a robotic voice echoed:

【*Ding! Host #3 successfully bound.*】

【*Vital signs stable. Initiating emergency protocol—*】

A flash of light. A towel smelling of strange herbs clamped over her mouth. Then—nothing.

Even the name "Lilith" came later, given by her new mother after she woke up as a wild dragon egg—found, hatched, and reborn into this world of swords and sorcery.

【*Ding! System core loaded.*】

【*Welcome to [Ultra-Ultimate Classic Villain System 2.0]—Conquer the world, young... lady! Your future lies among the stars!*】