The sudden demon invasion ended without real harm.

After initial panic, the Holy Knights quickly regained composure.

Then they huddled nearby, whispering about surrendering to the Calamity Witch.

Their voices carried clearly—even Xia Xin inside the carriage heard every word.

But after Tia’s sharp reprimand, they spurred their horses onward toward the Empire of Enpearl.

Tia returned to her seat.

Though puzzled by the demon appearance, she didn’t press further.

She’d already guessed the answer.

*Ah! It had to be the Calamity Witch!*

Luring hordes of demons only to annihilate them instantly… The Calamity Witch was pressuring her, forcing her to acknowledge their power gap.

Tia had to admit—the Calamity Witch’s strength far surpassed her own.

*"You’ve seen my power. Refuse to submit, and I’ll destroy everything you cherish…"* Tia’s body trembled slightly with rage and fear.

This wasn’t just psychological warfare. The Calamity Witch aimed to break her physically too, crushing her spirit piece by piece.

*Hmph! Trying to make a noble, pure-hearted knight bow her head? Impossible! Don’t even dream of it!*

*At least… not now!*

Beside Tia, Xila’s expression shifted dramatically.

Her gaze fixed on Xia Xin, thoughts tangling into knots.

*The Calamity Witch… I underestimated her.*

This seemingly airheaded Sorceress Miss wasn’t simple at all.

She’d been playing a role.

*If she were truly this foolish, why would the world fear her?*

Re-examining the scene, Xila realized she’d missed a crucial detail: Tia’s reaction.

Tia—the Holy Knights’ captain, praised even by the current Demon King—had shown caution bordering on fear toward Xia Xin.

That alone proved Xia Xin wasn’t what she seemed.

Following this thread, Xila’s entire body stiffened.

*She understood.*

From the very start… she’d been utterly deceived.

Fooled by the Calamity Witch’s careless, almost idiotic act!

Every move was mockery.

*Of course she saw through my lie. She’s the Calamity Witch!*

*And that "potion" I invented? She’s used countless real ones. How could she not recognize a fake?*

She’d turned Xila’s own scheme against her—

To steal the precious magic scroll.

*No… it’s deeper than that.*

If she wanted the scroll, she wouldn’t have used it so casually.

To the Calamity Witch, even a Forbidden Spell scroll was mere disposable trash.

She hadn’t even bothered using her own skills against such weak demons.

Yet that indifference shook Xila most.

*"The Calamity Witch… she activated that scroll…"* Xila’s fists clenched.

She’d handed it over precisely because she believed no one could unleash its power—not even herself.

One truth Xila had never shared: her bloodline.

Though now a lowly spy in Nobles Town, she carried noble blood among the Demonfolk—a potential future Demon King.

That scroll came from a former Demon King. Legend said whoever activated it would become the ultimate sovereign of supreme evil.

After countless failed attempts, Xila had nearly deemed it fake. *If I can’t activate it, who can?*

So she’d tossed it to Xia Xin without thought.

Yet it had worked in her hands.

*Does this mean the Calamity Witch will become the next Demon King?!*

*Impossible. Absolutely impossible.*

Xila dismissed the legend as false.

The thought of this piece of trash ruling over her—*Guh!*—she’d **never** submit!

*(Though… the Calamity Witch is rather pretty…)*

Curiosity now burned fiercely in Xila. Xia Xin’s mind was an abyss.

*How deep does she truly go?*

To uncover it, following her to an Enpearl prison was worth the risk.

Thus, both Xila and Tia stared at Xia Xin—making her deeply uncomfortable.

*Why are they looking at me like that…*

*Like they’ll strip me bare and devour me whole.*

Xia Xin felt wronged. She’d done nothing wrong!

She’d even used a precious Forbidden Spell scroll to save these Holy Knights.

*Well… no need for rewards. Just skipping jail would make me happy.*

*(Though let’s be real—that won’t happen.)*

Ah, rewards… A message had flashed before her eyes earlier:

**[Task I: "Test Run" Completed. Reward: Permanent increase to all attributes.]**

**[New Task Unlocked]**

**[Task II: Source of Calamity (A strange energy zone has appeared near Enpearl. Spread it by any means.)]**

**[Reward: Witch’s Earring ×1]**

The task was done… She did feel slightly stronger.

But the boost was like adding a spoonful of salt to an ocean.

*Guess tasks aren’t that useful.*

*Yaaawn…* Sleepiness washed over her. Xia Xin leaned back against the seat and drifted off.

Now it was Xila and Tia’s turn to feel awkward, staring at her sleeping face.

In the cramped carriage, Xia Xin’s otherworldly beauty—coupled with thoughts of the vile Calamity Witch’s intentions toward their bodies—sent nervousness… and unexpected shyness fluttering through them.

*What nonsense!*

They both snapped their gazes away, practically in unison, fixing their eyes outside the window.

*It must be the Calamity Witch’s magic… making us think such strange things!*