The interrogation room was silent.

Tia involuntarily took a step back, putting distance between herself and Xia Xin.

Her face turned deathly pale. Her body trembled slightly. Cold sweat dripped down. Her emotions and expression were incredibly complex.

She... had been toyed with by the Calamity Witch.

She’d been so close—so close to drawing her spear and thrusting it at the Calamity Witch.

If she’d done that, it would mean her inner defenses were completely shattered. She’d have to rely on brute force to hold herself together.

Facing the Calamity Witch’s terrifying power, if even her mental barriers were utterly broken, there would be no hope left.

Fortunately, just before she could act, a faint memory surfaced in Tia’s mind.

It was a line her late father had told her.

"Tia, all I can tell you is to think carefully before that moment."

Those words brought Tia back to her senses.

She clenched her fists, her heart still churning.

It wasn’t just the earlier fear, but now anger too... Her emotions were like a plush ball in the Calamity Witch’s hands, toyed with at will.

Yes, this was all the Calamity Witch’s scheme!

To erode her mind bit by bit with this method.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so smug and fearless!

Tia conceded defeat.

Though she didn’t say it aloud, she knew in her heart she had already lost. She had lost too much to the Calamity Witch.

Not just in strength, but mentally too, she wasn’t a match for the Calamity Witch.

Even the tiniest flaw would be precisely caught and exploited by her.

The Calamity Witch... this woman was utterly relentless.

She was terrifying.

"But... I can’t surrender yet!" Tia clenched her fists, her expression turning serious. "If the Calamity Witch’s target is the Empire of Enpearl, then I must stop her even if it costs my life. Even... if I can trade my body for the Empire’s safety, it would be worth it!"

The terrifying magic power within the Calamity Witch—I’ll bear it alone!

Still, one should always have a backup plan.

Tia was prepared.

She had already notified the Church’s Holy Maiden. She should arrive in just a few days.

Unlike her, a Holy Knight focused on physical strength, the Holy Maiden possessed immense magical power. Most importantly, as the Holy Maiden, she had divine protection from the gods.

Even the Calamity Witch’s evil magic couldn’t affect the Holy Maiden.

In other words, the Holy Maiden was the Calamity Witch’s natural nemesis!

"Once the Holy Maiden arrives, we must completely seal the Calamity Witch’s magic!" Tia thought to herself. "Without her magic, the Calamity Witch is just an ordinary person. Then... I’ll make her pay double for the humiliation I’ve suffered today!"

Whether it was the magic that made her have wild thoughts, or the constant manipulation of her emotions and mind to undermine her dignity as a Holy Knight...

Tia remembered every single grudge!

"Today’s interrogation ends here." Tia knew her current state of mind wasn’t fit for continuing.

She organized the recorded documents and said, "Calamity Witch Xia Xin, this is where you’ll stay today. After the trial, you’ll be moved to a cell."

"Huh? Here?" Xia Xin was stunned. But before she could say another word, Tia had already hurried out, slamming the door shut behind her.

As if breathing the same air as her would make one’s body and mind go strange.

Xia Xin looked around... The interrogation room had nothing but a table, chairs, and some papers and books placed on the table.

Not even a blanket! How was she supposed to spend the night?

The door was locked tight. Xia Xin tried to force it open... naturally, it was impossible.

Her body was too weak!

Whatever. Someone would notice her soon enough... probably.

Xia Xin sat back down. To kill time, she picked up a book from the table.

What’s this?

"Constitution of the Empire of Enpearl," "Prison Management Rules," "Magic Basics: Learn to Use Magic in Ten Minutes," "The Unspoken Affairs of the Holy Maiden and the Knight♀," "Postpartum Care Guide"...

And so on.

What the heck is this stuff!

Just from the titles, she had no urge to open them... no desire to flip through them.

...Huh?

Wait!

That one book was completely different from the rest of the junk!

So, Xia Xin picked up "The Unspoken Affairs of the Holy Maiden and the Knight♀".

Hehehe~ Who knew she’d find a naughty book in prison~

Not bad.

As for what happens later... whatever. One step at a time.

Anyway, there’s nothing she can do right now.

Whatever happens, let it flow naturally.

...

...

"Yes."

"Right."

"Exactly, that’s it!"

In the adjacent interrogation room, Xila looked at the interrogator with a docile expression, nodding. "That’s right! Everything was ordered by the Calamity Witch! It was all her doing. I’m innocent! You must believe me!"

As she spoke, Xila grabbed the interrogator’s hand, gazing at her pitifully.

A silver-haired loli with such an expression—anyone’s heart would waver.

"Understood, Miss Xila," the interrogator said coldly, nodding. "I’ll report your testimony truthfully. But don’t think this absolves you of all responsibility. You’re still a Demonfolk spy."

"Mhm, I know," Xila smiled sweetly.

Clear her own actions?

Xila’s thoughts weren’t that shallow.

She knew that, let alone being a "Demonfolk spy," with the ongoing conflicts between Demonfolk and humans, her very existence as a Demonfolk was enough to warrant a heavy sentence or even death.

Humans had abolished the death penalty?

True, but only if they considered her, a Demonfolk, as human.

So, she was mentally prepared to break out by force, or even die in extreme cases.

As for why she said that, pushing all blame onto the Calamity Witch.

Ha! Of course, to make the Calamity Witch’s crimes even worse!

With such evil, it wouldn’t be strange to subject the Calamity Witch to torture.

The harsher, the better!

At this thought, Xila felt a surge of joy.

As long as she could make that Witch Miss’s situation worse, Xila was satisfied.

The only flaw was probably not being able to pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

What’s this? This is the spirit of self-sacrifice for harming others without benefiting oneself.

Xila felt she was truly a villain.

With such wickedness, she’d surely become the next Demon King in the future~