Lilith glanced at the progress bar stubbornly stuck at 99.00.

Then she met Alquett’s gaze—a flicker of anticipation beneath the tension.

Memories of the Great Demon King’s promised year-end bonus and 2,000 gold coin raise surfaced.

She took a deep breath, forcing a steady smile.

“Well… maybe… just a little…?”

“Just a *little*?”

Skeptical eyes bore into her.

“Huge! Absolutely huge!

“I mean… someone as powerful, stunningly beautiful, refreshingly straightforward, and brilliantly clever as you, Alquett—how could anyone *not* adore you? My admiration for you flows like an endless river!”

Before she finished, Alquett’s face flushed crimson.

*She must be speaking her true feelings under hypnosis,* Alquett thought. *So the one who genuinely likes me… is actually from Demonkind?*

After all, the Blood Servant Curse made lying impossible in her presence.

*Ugh… I’m not nearly as wonderful as she says…*

Lilith watched Alquett’s pallid cheeks warm visibly, blooming into a deep red, her lips twitching upward despite herself. *Aha. Even Heroes love flattery.*

“You *are* the legendary Hero after all—”

But at those words, Alquett’s joyful expression vanished instantly. The speed of her mood shift was staggering. Lilith, scrambling for more compliments, flinched at the sudden icy glare.

“Uh…” *Did I say something wrong?*

Alquett stood silently and strode toward the street’s end.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Lilith hurried after her, blocking her path.

“Obviously escaping. Returning to the Kingdom. I have no reason to stay here anymore.”

*After all… Xiao Wei, the one I was meant to save… has completely severed ties. Even said, “Never want to be involved with you again…”*

*And this oddly cute little demon girl… she’s only been kind because I’m the “Hero”…*

Alquett’s face turned impassive. “What? Will you stop me? Don’t think you can subdue me as easily as last night. I’m leaving the Darklord Citadel now. Move aside. Or… I won’t hold back—even against you.”

Though unsteady from overusing her Blood Servant command, she managed a fierce glare.

Lilith’s expression darkened. *She’s escaping?*

*All my persuasion and flattery… completely wasted? What about that 99% capture progress?! System, explain yourself!*

**[Ding!]**

**[TianNet AI at your service. Detecting a pivotal decision. Action recommendations provided. Choose wisely.]**

**[A. Confront directly. Recapture Alquett. Break her spirit through physical and psychological torture. Estimated time: 5-8 weeks. Success rate: 90%.]**

**[B. Release her. Let her return to the capital. Estimated time: Unpredictable. Success rate: 50%.]**

**[C. Strip down, flaunt your body, and throw yourself at her. Use seduction to secure surrender in the heat of the moment. Estimated time: 30 mins. Success rate: 99%. (Recommended)]**

“…”

Lilith stared at the options, stunned.

*Ignoring the first two… Option C is clearly a joke! Just because I reincarnated as a demon doesn’t mean I’d do something that shameless!*

*Yet it’s the fastest, highest success rate… and even tagged “Recommended”? What the—*

After a pause, she mentally queried the system:

“System… explain these options.”

**[Ding! Public records indicate Alquett lost both parents young, enduring harsh conditions in an orphanage. TianNet analysis: Severe emotional deprivation.]**

**[Bound by Church dogma and lacking real-world experience, breaking taboos with you would likely make her addicted. Hence Option C recommendation.]**

“…‘Addicted to me’? Watch your wording…”

**[TianNet psychological analysis: Alquett is mentally fragile, hypersensitive. She believes everything she has stems solely from being the “Hero,” not her own worth. She cannot form normal relationships.]**

“…I see.”

*No wonder Xiao Wei, who never cared for Heroes, became her obsession.*

**[Torture would trigger her heroic martyr complex. Option A would take far too long.]**

*So she responds to softness, not force…*

“And Option B?”

**[Alquett, the Church-certified Kingdom Hero, possesses Bloodline physiology. Church High Command detected this five days ago.]**

**[The Light Church adheres to human supremacy. All non-humans—especially Bloodline—are to be eradicated.]**

“So if she returns now… she’d be in danger?”

**[Too many variables. Outcome indeterminable.]**

Lilith observed Alquett calmly fastening her cloak, utterly dismissive. *If humans knew their beloved Hero wasn’t human…*

*But if this chance frees her from the “Hero” title… maybe she’ll defect.*

*Heh heh~ Recruiting such a powerhouse means promotion, bonuses… maybe even extra paid leave from the Great Demon King…*

Decision made, Lilith cleared her throat and stepped aside.

“Go ahead. Leave.”

*Option A’s impossible—5-8 weeks? The Great Demon King’s mission would fail. Plus, I might lose a fight anyway.*

*Option C… I’m not *that* shameless. And certain… unseen forces… would never allow it outside an IF-route bonus chapter. Ahem.*

“You won’t report me? Or stop me? If you want to leave… just go.”

“…Huh?” Alquett blinked, certain she’d misheard.

*She expected a life-or-death chase…*

“A Hero’s spirit is unbreakable. Even if I dragged you back now, torture wouldn’t make you submit.” Lilith spoke earnestly—newly appointed warden, she couldn’t handle constant escape attempts from this troublemaker. “Prisons are overflowing with war captives. I can’t afford another breakout.”

“So go wherever you wish. Watch the traffic lights on your way.”

Alquett nearly thought exhaustion caused hallucinations.

“S-so I’m… leaving?”

“Mhm.”

“I’m really escaping—”

“Goodbye~”

“…”

*If her earlier kindness was just Blood Servant manipulation… why this now?*

*Traps at the gate? An ambush later?*

“Walk straight down this street. Turn south at the second crossroads. The city gate’s straight ahead,” Lilith called helpfully.

Alquett bit her lip, then hurried away, steps unsteady. Only after staggering far beyond the Darklord Citadel’s gates, blinking under the harsh noon sun amid human merchants, did she exhale.

*I really escaped… so easily.*

*Lilith… actually gave real directions?*

She pressed a hand to her pounding chest. Warm sunlight bathed her, yet no relief came.

*If I just leave… what happens to her?*

*She’d bear the blame for releasing the Hero… face severe punishment… endure the wolves’ false accusations… ignoring glory within reach… just to free me, Demonkind’s greatest enemy…*

*…What is that dragonmaid truly thinking?*

*Could she really… like me this much?*

Her mind went blank. Though only a day had passed, the world felt utterly overturned.

The sun stung her eyes. Standing dazed by the roadside, she whispered:

“I’m sorry… you’re a good person…”

*If we shared a side… I’d accept this. But she’s Demonkind. Humans and demons can never stand together.*

*Time to return to the capital—*

…

…

Lilith watched the Hero’s figure shrink from the city wall.

“You’ve caused quite the mess, little sister~”

A bewitching voice purred behind her. Doros, the succubus, swayed her supple waist forward, perfume trailing. Her slender fingers brushed Lilith’s cheek. “Releasing the Hero—a crucial prisoner—on a whim? The Great Demon King won’t be pleased.”

“If she returns and leads armies against us, the blame for freeing this tiger will fall on you. Even I couldn’t shield you~”

“Don’t worry, Sister Doros.” Lilith remained calm, confident.

“The legendary Champion of the Night… no longer exists.

“To humanity, what returns is merely a dangerous Bloodline creature.”

Doros’s eyes gleamed with surprise.

“Oh~?”

“So she can never go back.”