Battle was imminent.

Unlike her usual foes—grotesque, inhuman monsters—Alquett now faced vivid human faces. Some might have once been her fans. Others, comrades-in-arms. Many had laughed with her over drinks, arms slung over shoulders at feasts…

Her mind faltered. A split-second hesitation.

Outnumbered and unarmed against armored guards, she took brutal hits. Specialized weapons pierced her flesh. Blood gushed.

For the first time, Alquett *felt* her own blood flowing.

Her famed regeneration flickered weakly before silver-tipped spears. Even shallow cuts needed bandages to staunch the bleeding.

Damn it… This hurt worse than period cramps!

Trapped in a narrow alley—dead end behind, towering buildings above, cold walls on both sides—her only path was forward through enemies. But these disciplined guards weren’t like the four thugs earlier.

Spears formed an impenetrable half-moon barricade at the alley’s mouth, sealing her in darkness.

When she finally countered a thrust, wounded guards retreated instantly, replaced by fresh ones.

“Alquett, stand down. The streets are swarming with guards,” a young soldier pleaded, pity in his voice at her torn clothes and bleeding wounds. “You can’t escape.”

Alquett lifted her gaze.

Curious, horrified stares from onlookers.

Adventurers biting their lips, faces tight with worry.

Guards braced like soldiers facing annihilation.

…And Julia, shoving through the crowd, screaming hoarsely, dignity forgotten:

“Don’t—don’t hurt her!

“I’m begging you…

“Stop! Stop this now—!”

Suddenly, she understood why the name “Lilith” had always grated on her.

That hated name… dredging up buried memories.

……

*“Thank you, Sister Te…”*

*“No problem! Hehe~ Next time someone steals your gift box, just tell me. I’ll make those bullies cry!”*

*“Sister Te is amazing~”*

*“Of course! I’m gonna be a hero of justice someday~”*

*“Eh…”*

*“What do you want to be when you grow up, Lia-chan?”*

*“Hmm… me? I wanna be the pretty wife of a hero of justice! Cooking delicious meals for them every day!”*

*“Hahaha, silly—we’re both girls. We can’t marry~”*

……

Two days later, believers adopted Lia-chan.

Their first Christmas together. Their last.

…Alquett’s eyes sharpened. Through gaps in the crowd, she studied the nun being dragged away after the guards’ brutal assault.

…Is that you, Julia?

I’m sorry. I can’t be a hero of justice anymore…

At least… you won’t see what I become next.

She charged straight into the spear wall—

“Wait! No—!”

“Don’t! We have everything ready!”

Were those Viola and Lilith’s screams…?

Hallucination?

As spears impaled her body, Alquett thought she heard the mage girl’s voice up close—then dismissed it.

*Viola’s probably safe in Demon City right now…*

*With that Dragonmaid.*

*Lucky. Not like me. Stupid enough to return. To face this hell alone.*

The guards panicked. No one expected their target to impale herself.

But Alquett’s assault had just begun—

She forced her way through spear points, dragging guards into her reach. Her arm lashed out.

They stared like she was a monster. How could someone with a pierced chest, slit throat, and shredded flesh still move with such strength?

Yet it happened.

Alquett seized a guard, ripped off his pauldron, and sank sharp fangs into his shoulder. Gulping fresh blood.

“Monster… She’s a monster!”

“She’s… unkillable?!”

Wounds slowly sealed. From the front, she looked less like a girl, more like a pincushion bristling with spears. Guards trembled, trying to yank out their weapons—the holes healed instantly.

“Next!”

In a flash, the drained guard flew aside. Alquett grabbed another, forcing his eyes to meet her crimson ones.

“Guh—!”

His mind shattered like struck glass. Darkness swallowed him.

“You. Attack them!”

Bewitched, he turned his spear on his comrades.

“Lost your mind?! What the hell are you doing!”

“Beware her eyes!”

“Monster! It’s a monster!”

The unbreakable line cracked. Then collapsed.

Spectators scattered in terror. They saw a blood-drenched creature, spears jutting from her body, darting through guards to strike—bone-deep fear seized them. Many would develop hemophobia after tonight.

With formations broken, the remaining guards fell one by one. Within moments, they fled in utter rout.

Alquett stood amid groaning, wounded soldiers. Ignoring the escapees, she methodically pulled spears from her body.

The sheer blood loss made the downed guards shudder.

“As expected. I foresaw this.”

A cool, elegant voice cut through the square.

The Bishop stood atop a high platform, robed in sacred vestments, radiating holiness even under the moonless sky.

“Bishop Johanna! She’s here!”

“Save us, Your Grace! There’s a monster!”

Hope surged in the wounded guards’ cries. Alquett didn’t look up. Gasping, she wrenched the last spear from her chest and dropped it. Only then did she face the voice.

“Beware! That is no Champion of the Night! It’s an evil Bloodline creature—a filthy vampire!” The Bishop raised her glowing staff, voice solemn. “You are all brave warriors who stood against darkness. Your valor deserves song.

“The Bloodline’s cruelty is vile. Their methods, monstrous. But fear not—

“The true Hero has been awakened from shadow by our Church. She will slay this impostor and avenge you!”

Johanna stepped aside. A familiar figure emerged behind her—expressionless.

The maid-dressed girl from the villa.

Now clad in a loose white hoodie for mobility, her long hair tied in a high ponytail. Sharp. Efficient. A gleaming longsword in hand.

The fleeing crowd paused, confused—then erupted in cheers.

“So that’s it… *She’s* the real Hero!”

“Long live the Hero!”

“Lady Alquett is so cool!”

“Hero, please purge the Bloodline and keep us safe!”

Amid roaring cheers, Alquett stood frozen.

Since that first taste of blood, a dull ache had gnawed at her abdomen. Now, gut-wrenching agony eclipsed even the spear wounds. Her face twisted. She wanted to tear her own stomach open.

“…Hurts… so bad—ahhh!”

This wasn’t food poisoning. It felt like cursed magic. Alchemy.

Sweat beaded on her brow. She curled into a ball, clutching her stomach, desperate for any relief.

She didn’t see Johanna’s smirk from the platform.

“Go, my Hero. Destroy this Bloodline abomination. Avenge our fallen!”

“First Unit” bowed slightly.

“Yes, Master.”

She leapt down, sword flashing toward the doubled-over girl.

Alquett’s wounds still knit together—but the sword came too fast. Thrust after thrust. Familiar moves. Like fighting her own reflection.

*So this is how monsters saw me…*

Dodging weakly through pain and exhaustion, Alquett retreated to a guard, grabbing him to feed—

Holy fire erupted from the Bishop’s staff, forcing her to roll away. The guard screamed as flames consumed him.

“Wicked Bloodline! Using our brave soldiers as shields—how vile!” Johanna’s voice rose. The distant crowd echoed her outrage.

“Hero, finish her! Kill the vampire!”

“Disgusting Bloodline… inhuman—”

“So cruel… I can’t watch…”

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Alquett dodged more strikes. Unnoticed, she was herded back to the familiar alley mouth.

Trapped.

No escape.

She faced her doppelgänger, a bitter smile on her lips.

Was this… how it ended?

Even she knew—no hope remained.

……

“STOP!”

A thunderous, unexpected voice boomed from the alley. Both Alquetts—and everyone present—froze. Weak civilians collapsed, stunned.

“I SAID, STOP!”

Dragon aura crashed down from the rooftops, swallowing the moonlight in shadow.

“Cough… This subject of MINE—the great Silver Dragon Queen, Feliana Claudelein—claims her!

“How dare you humans… cough—I mean—how dare you strike what belongs to THIS QUEEN?!”

Something colossal descended, wings beating the air, wind howling around them.