The Calamity Witch Was Captured.

That single sentence spread through Nobles Town within minutes.

Townsfolk buzzed with chatter, cursing the Calamity Witch’s deeds and praising the Holy Knights’ valor.

But none of that mattered.

A prisoner of her infamy couldn’t stay in a small-town jail.

She deserved better.

After brief consideration, Captain Tia made her decision:

Escort the Calamity Witch hundreds of kilometers away to stand trial in the Empire of Enpearl.

"Get in! No tricks! Captain Tia’s watching you!"

A Holy Knight shoved Xia Xin into the carriage.

Her wrists and ankles were chained, layered with anti-magic seals… though against her constitution, such measures meant nothing. She didn’t care.

*As if I could use magic even without these seals.*

Still, Xia Xin was furious.

*What kind of Holy Knights are these?! Why yell so loud?! Can’t you be nicer?!*

"You! Get in too!"

Another voice barked outside. A familiar figure tumbled in, limbs bound, silver hair framing a disheveled face.

They stared at each other.

"Ahh! Despicable Calamity Witch!" Xila struggled. Had her limbs been free, she’d have bitten Xia Xin raw.

*Heh heh~*

Xia Xin’s gloom vanished. Dragging Xila down with her felt *wonderful*.

"Giggle~ Go on, bite me—Ahh!"

Before Xia Xin could taunt further, Xila sank her teeth into her neck, leaving a faint crescent of teeth marks.

"You traitorous wretch!" Xila snarled.

"Traitor? We were never allies," Xia Xin sniffed. "Besides, prison’s prison. Having a cute loli roommate? Perfect~"

"Shameless! I’ve never met such a brazen fiend!"

"Giggle~"

Xia Xin’s thick skin shrugged off Xila’s feeble insults.

Her real concern was what came next.

Avoiding execution was good news… but with *that* woman Tia involved? Not so much.

She’d likely be thrown into a dungeon, bound wrist and ankle, whipped by Tia’s leather strap, branded with her marks—living out the lewd nature this eroge was supposed to have…

"Hmph… infuriating." Xila settled down, testing her restraints.

Her fingers worked deftly. Despite bound limbs and sealed magic, she slipped free of the ankle chains, then unraveled the wrist bindings.

*Wow. Skilled.*

"We can still escape before reaching Enpearl," Xila said, turning to Xia Xin. "Witch Miss, let’s call our past debts settled. Survival comes first—"

"I’m staying." Xia Xin flopped onto the seat.

"Eh…?"

"In this state? I wouldn’t get far," Xia Xin shrugged. "And how do I know this isn’t another one of your schemes?"

"Do you think I’m *you*?!" Xila huffed. "If you’d rather rot in prison for decades, fine! I’ll take my leave—Ah!"

"Hm?"

Tia stood at the carriage door, locking eyes with Xila. Their expressions shifted subtly.

*Thump.*

Xila scrambled back, snatching up the discarded chains to rebind herself.

Docile as a lamb.

*Good girl. Very obedient.*

Tia’s lips twitched. But since the demon loli’s magic was sealed, she turned a blind eye, sitting beside her instead.

Not out of choice—the other seat was next to the Calamity Witch. Even Tia wouldn’t risk that proximity.

"Calamity Witch. Demonfolk spy," Tia’s voice turned icy. "I’ll guard you personally. No tricks. I may not have the Hero’s right to execute prisoners, but I *can* make your journey painful."

"Don’t worry~"

"We’ll behave…"

Xia Xin and Xila chimed in unison, pledging compliance.

Captain Tia seemed rational… for now. But anger her? Awaken that sadistic S-side in her character settings?

*Gulp. No thanks.*

Yet Tia wasn’t as calm as she appeared.

Her gaze kept flicking to Xia Xin, studying her, lips pressed tight.

*This is the Calamity Witch.*

As Holy Knights’ Captain, Tia was meticulous. She’d memorized the dossier:

A Blood Clan scion of the Demonfolk—nobility among nobles. Power so profound, she stood second only to the Demon King.

Her unleashed strength made even the Demon King and Hero retreat. Ancient dragons? Playthings to her.

But her true terror lay elsewhere: the calamity that shadowed her steps, the abyss of her mind, the cunning schemes coiled within.

*She’s too deep.*

Tia probed Xia Xin’s aura, piercing her disguise, seeking the source of her power.

*Yes. I must see what lies inside her.*

But as she delved deeper, dread churned in Tia’s chest.

*So strong. So terrifying.*

If Tia’s power was a lake, the Witch’s was an ocean. Anti-magic seals meant nothing.

*Why let herself be captured? With this strength… what is she planning?!*

The Calamity Witch’s depths were utterly unfathomable.