The moonlight tonight was exceptionally clear and bright, casting a silver glow over the land.

Alquett lay limp and powerless, clutched in the massive claws of the dragon as it soared away from Flameglow City.

Gazing at the boundless wilderness beneath the moon and the colossal shadow cast by the dragon’s high-altitude flight, her heart turned to ash.

So this was how it would end—death at the hands of a Dragonmaid…

Yet, upon reflection, for a girl who once dreamed of becoming a Hero, perhaps this was the best possible end.

Better to die fighting, devoured by a monster after a valiant struggle, than to be burned alive as a bloodsucking Bloodline traitor amid the scorn and curses of the masses.

Compared to that, dying at the claws of a demon felt almost merciful.

"I’ve done all I could…"

"No one can blame me…"

Dazed, Alquett sensed the dragon’s flight slowing, its altitude gradually decreasing.

Finally, over an open meadow, the dragon loosened its grip.

A rush of weightlessness seized her. Alquett tumbled across the grass, her body instinctively curling to absorb the impact.

"This spot should work… Phew, I’m exhausted~ First time flying this long—"

A familiar voice drifted down from the towering shadow above.

…So it plans to devour me right here.

Alquett rose, brushing dust and grass from her clothes. She clenched her fists, her expression calm yet utterly resigned, as if already prepared for her fate.

She had lost everything. There was nothing left to cling to.

"How did it feel… killing your own kin with your bare hands?"

Startled, Alquett looked up at the dragon—now crouched on the ground, its height reduced to roughly ten meters.

…Strangely, its form seemed shrunken. Its scales had lost their brilliant silver sheen, and its wings looked pitifully small.

After a moment’s hesitation, Alquett abandoned the thought.

What did it matter? She’d soon be dragon food anyway. No need for pretenses now.

Seeing the dragon made no move to attack, the weary girl simply plopped down on the grass and answered honestly:

"It felt… good."

As the words left her lips, a faint, bloodthirsty smile tugged at Alquett’s mouth—a smile she didn’t even notice herself.

"I thought… killing those four guards, my former comrades, would burden me with endless guilt… that I’d live forever haunted by their deaths.

"But there was nothing. Not a trace."

Her gaze grew distant, thoughtful.

"Long ago, I heard criminals say…

*‘It takes only one terrible day to shatter the sanest mind…*

*That’s all it takes to cross from the normal world into madness.’*

…I used to despise them for it. But now… I understand."

Alquett lowered her head, staring at the blood crusted between her fingers.

"Don’t be surprised. Humans are just like that."

Unexpectedly, the dragon’s voice softened with comfort.

"Had you not fought back, you’d be burning on a pyre right now. Who could blame you for defending yourself?

"Since you’ve nowhere left to turn… how about reconsidering my earlier proposal~?"

As it spoke, the dragon’s body shimmered with gentle magical light.

"What proposal… Huh?! Y-you’re—?!"

Before Alquett’s wide-eyed stare, the glowing figure shrank—smaller, smaller, smaller still—until it transformed into a petite girl shorter than Alquett herself. She wore a gothic lolita dress, sheer black lace-trimmed stockings, and knee-high boots. Moonlight caressed the smooth expanse of thigh visible in the forbidden zone between skirt and stockings, gilding her porcelain skin. Her plump, dewy lips parted in a voice as clear as a songbird’s.

"It’s me~ Only half a day apart, and you don’t recognize me?"

She floated down with a playful smile, tiny crimson-black membranous wings fluttering softly behind her. Her boots touched the grass as she landed lightly, winking with mischievous, sparkling eyes—a doll-perfect vision straight out of an illustrated storybook.

—The only flaw being the nearly nonexistent swell beneath her dress, barely enough to fill the fabric meant to cradle such treasures.

Alquett stared mutely at the dragon-girl before her.

"You know, most who dream of becoming Heroes meet one of two ends: glorious sacrifice or utter corruption. You’ve seen the first. Now… what will you choose?

"So? Join us. Just nod~"

Lilith leaned close, her voice dripping with temptation. A faint, soothing fragrance washed over Alquett.

"Forget the five insurances and housing fund, weekends off, room and board, paid holidays, and company trips I mentioned earlier—new hires now get a fully furnished apartment too! Move in anytime, first come first served—"

Lilith tapped her chin.

"Uh… utilities not included, though—"

Alquett listened quietly, but none of it truly registered. Her mind was elsewhere. She countered flatly:

"…Joining Demonkind… how is that different from the Church…

"Just another pawn to be used…"

"Uh…"

Lilith pursed her lips, thinking carefully before replying:

"Honestly? Not much difference.

"At its core, it’s just a job—work is work wherever you go~

"But here in Demonkind, no one blames you for vague ideals. No one steals your credit.

"Do well, get rewarded—promotions, bonuses. Do poorly? Basic pay and chill.

"And as a demon? You can do whatever you want. No whispers behind your back. No laws chaining you down.

"If someone slanders you on the street? Punch them straight into the hospital."

Lilith added thoughtfully:

"Of course… if you offend others, they can retaliate openly too. Personal grudges stay personal. You reap what you sow.

"But there’s one rule we all follow: the Great Demon King’s command."

Alquett’s eyes sharpened.

"The Demonlord…?"

"Yes. She’s our ultimate boss."

Lilith’s cheeks flushed faintly as she recalled the Demonlord’s perpetually tipsy grin.

"She… well, she seems unreliable, but she’s actually the most dependable person alive—

"She can read minds, so lies are useless. No false accusations, no frame-ups—"

"Enough."

Alquett cut her off.

"…That’s enough. I accept."

"So you’ll join?"

Alquett took a deep breath. Then, with a sigh of release, she nodded.

*To act freely… it does sound tempting.*

*And…*

*With you here, I’ll never be alone again. Not like today.*

*Those "friends" in the city who always smiled to my face… not one stood by me when it mattered. Not one.*

*Except you. And…*

"Hello? Are you joining or not?"

Alquett’s gaze locked onto Lilith’s face—so close now, those fiery red eyes filling her vision. Her heart raced; warmth flooded her cheeks.

"Yes. I join."

"OK! Finally—!"

Lilith cheered—then froze as her system panel showed the Capture Progress stubbornly stuck at 99.00%.

"But… I have one condition…"

Alquett continued calmly.

"Oh? What is it?"

Lilith tilted her head curiously.

"…After I join… I want to be with you."

"Easy! I’ll tell the department head to assign us to the same—"

"That’s not what I mean."

Alquett seized Lilith’s wrist.

"Bring it out!"

"W-what…?"

Lilith flinched at the sudden closeness.

"The contract! The soul contract we saw before—bring them all out!"

Overpowered by Alquett’s strength, Lilith fumbled a few parchment scrolls from her storage ring.

"Why do you need this now? If you’re joining us, it’s unnecessary…"

"Give it to me!"

Alquett snatched the scrolls, scanned them swiftly, and selected one.

*Eighth-Tier Lightning Punishment Slave Contract.*

She bit her thumb, signing her name as she chanted the incantation:

"Party B: Alquett, hereby swears this oath."

Lightning crackled across the parchment, spitting electric sparks.

"From this day forth, I surrender my body and soul to Party A: the Dragonmaid Lilith. I shall obey all commands without hesitation or rebellion.

"Should I break this vow… may heaven’s lightning strike me down."

As the final words faded, a miniature portrait of Alquett materialized on the scroll.

Lilith stared, dumbfounded.

"…You didn’t have to do this—"

Alquett handed back the activated contract, smiling faintly.

"Didn’t you call me your plaything? Your slave? Your property?

"I know… you’re the only one who truly cares for me. So I give myself to you. In life, I am yours. In death, I remain yours."

Alquett dropped to one knee, pressing a fervent kiss to the back of Lilith’s hand.

"From this moment, I pledge myself to Lady Lilith… to serve as your beast of burden, your eternal slave—!

"Of course, Master Lilith… you must take responsibility for me too~"

She glanced up, catching Lilith’s stunned expression. A secret thrill curled in her chest; the corner of her mouth lifted.

*This way… I won’t be abandoned again.*

*I can stay by your side… forever.*

*After all… I have nothing left.*

【*Ding! Hero Capture Progress: 100%!

Alquett has been recruited!

Villain Level +3! Max HP and MP increased! +3 Proficiency Skill Points! Received 3 Random-Quality Newbie Packs!*

*Main Quest 1: [Save Demon City from Crisis] – Near Completion.*】

Notifications flooded Lilith’s vision—but she had no time to read them yet.

"Alright, alright, I’ll take responsibility… Ugh… why do *I* feel like the one being forced here… Fine."

Lilith sighed, tucking the contract away with a wry smile.

The soul contract was sealed. What else could she do?

"Ahem… Anyway! I hereby declare that little Al-chan is now officially a member of Demonkind—"

"Hey! F-finally found you—!"

Lilith’s announcement was cut off as Viola burst from the nearby bushes, panting heavily. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her face flushed from running. She stumbled into the clearing, doubled over with hands on her knees, gasping for breath.

"L-Little Vi…?"

Alquett was the first to gasp, but she quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, her face falling with sadness as she looked away.

Vi had already said… she didn’t want anything to do with me anymore…

Lilith chimed in, confused. “Huh? Vi, why are you only just arriving—”

“Miss Lilith… you—you all flew way too far… and left me behind in the city—”

Viola wiped sweat from her brow, protesting unhappily:

“We promised to stick together! If not for my tracking magic… I’d have been lost in the wilderness hours ago—!”

“Ah, sorry, sorry—things were urgent, I totally forgot about you, haha…”

Lilith scratched the back of her head awkwardly, forcing a grin.

“Hmph… whatever. At least the plan worked—so what about her now…”

Viola’s gaze shifted to Alquett, who’d been deliberately avoiding her since earlier.

“Oh, Al-chan’s one of us now~ Signed a contract too—loyalty guaranteed! Right, Al-chan~”

“Mmm… yeah…”

Alquett suddenly turned shy and fidgety, like a flustered schoolgirl. She shuffled behind Lilith, her voice barely a whisper.

“Welcome aboard, Alquett—we’re colleagues and partners again. Please take care of me~”

Viola stepped forward warmly, smiling as she extended her hand.

Alquett froze, staring at that radiant smile—bright enough to pierce the night—and the pale hand before her.

She swallowed hard, then grasped it with a trembling grip.

In that handshake, a heavy weight lifted from her chest, and she breathed out in relief.

“P-please… me too… um… take care of me!”

Lilith watched the two reconcile, her heart swelling with emotion.

After all those hardships… as long as the ending was happy…

“W-wait a sec…”

Lilith slapped her forehead.

“I swear when we left… the feel in my claws… I was holding two people…”

“I was so tense, I thought the other was Viola on the way—but it wasn’t…”

Vi stiffened at that.

“Huh? Then… who was that person—?”