Xia Xin had one of her few redeeming qualities: an uncanny memory for trivial details.

Right now, fragmented memories surfaced—details she’d once skimmed about this very incident.

*"The first major side-event…"* she thought. *"In the Empire of Enpearl, alchemists corrupted by the Calamity Witch Cult and an Ancient Demon Remnant spent years crafting a potion of Forbidden Spell-tier power. Their goal: to unleash the Ancient Demon Remnant sealed beneath Kebento Factory."*

In the original game, that remnant was a brutal endgame boss—merciless, life-disdaining, and immune to Holy Light. Naturally, the Hero had resolved this crisis, even romancing key characters involved. Post-boss battle, another kind of battle followed.

But here? At this timeline? Sally, the future Hero, was still an ordinary girl. She couldn’t possibly intervene!

If the Ancient Demon Remnant broke free now… Kebento Factory would be obliterated. The devastation would spread across the Empire of Enpearl. Ultimately, it might trigger a world-ending catastrophe.

Xia Xin couldn’t imagine anyone stopping it—not even Holy Maiden Remiel or Captain Tia.

She didn’t care if humanity fell. But caught at ground zero? Her survival odds were near zero.

*Absolutely not happening!*

Had her interference accelerated this event?

…Though, realistically, the situation wasn’t *that* hopeless.

Who said Calamity Witch blood alone could unleash the remnant? That sounded utterly absurd.

[System Notification]

[Temporary Quest Activated]

[Quest III: Release the Ancient Demon Remnant (An Ancient Demon Remnant from primordial times lies sealed beneath this factory. Offer your blood to amplify the alchemists’ potion and shatter its prison.)]

[Reward: Massive Constitution Boost]

*What the hell?!* This quest practically confirmed her blood could unleash the demon!

*"Though… my potion is far from complete…"* Kreuz staggered forward, scalpel glinting, eyes feverish. *"But with Calamity Witch blood? It’ll work! It must!"*

*Whoosh!*

His blade shattered Xila’s ice wall. He lunged, raising the scalpel again. *"As your faithful servant, I shall fulfill your will—plunging this nation into ruin and chaos!"*

*"So, Calamity Witch-sama…"* He raised the scalpel high, roaring, *"grant me your blood!"*

*What kind of deranged follower was this?!*

Xia Xin had never seen a devotee demand tribute at knifepoint—especially one clearly aiming to slit her throat!

Panic seized her. She frantically tried to conjure a Fireball Spell, but poison fumes and terror locked her magic away.

*Done for!*

The blade was already—

The instant cold steel kissed her skin, something within her *shifted*. A blinding light erupted.

***BOOOOOOM!!!***

Dazzling white radiance flooded the area, piercing the smoke-choked skies above Kebento Factory. Holy Light rained down, annihilating everything around the alchemy lab in a heartbeat. Where the building stood, only a crater—dozens of meters deep—remained.

Bathed in the glow, Xia Xin felt her body purify. Poison effects vanished. HP and MP shot to 100%.

*Huh? What just happened?*

She hadn’t cast a thing. With her current power, she could never summon Holy Light of this magnitude.

*Holy Light?*

Her gaze dropped. The "Holy Light Judgment" scroll pasted on her by the Holy Maiden… was gone. Xila’s too.

*Did that scroll trigger this?*

And why were they unharmed by its power?

Realization struck: she’d misjudged the Holy Maiden.

What if the scroll wasn’t a time bomb—but a shield? Activated only when true danger struck?

Otherwise, how could such devastating Holy Light leave her skin unblemished?

No time to dwell. First, confirm if that lunatic Kreuz was vaporized. If not, finish him with a Fireball and flee.

*Something worse is coming. I can feel it.*

Too many shocks had numbed Xia Xin’s face into calm silence. Inside, her mind was screaming in panic—her expression frozen not from composure, but sheer terror.

*"A-ah… wh-what…?"* Xila trembled, certain the Holy Light would purify her demonic essence. Yet as the glow faded, she felt… untouched.

*"Mmm… could it be…?"* She stared at Xia Xin’s stoic face, conviction blooming.

*Sorceress-sama must have shielded me with her magic before the scroll detonated!* An explosion of *that* power… and she’d blocked it all?! Unbelievable!

Xila’s lips quirked up slightly—not just from relief, but warmth. *She protected me without hesitation… sacrificing so much mana…*

No words were spoken, yet in crisis, she’d acted. *Sorceress-sama is amazing. I adore her!*

…Though why wait until the last second to strike?

*Ah~* Xila’s heart fluttered. *She wanted to play the hero, sweeping in dramatically! Hiding it behind that cool facade…*

Doing so much yet saying nothing… *Is Sorceress-sama… tsundere?*