What the hell is he doing right now?!

Derek had lived two lifetimes, yet never faced such a scene—cradling a beautiful girl in his arms while a deadly assassin watched from the window, his own nerves fraying with helplessness.

Teresia was equally tense. She clung to Derek, but what came next?

A kiss?

Heat surged instantly!

Teresia couldn’t tell if the scorching warmth came from Derek or herself. His breath so close, the air thickening around them, her thoughts melting into haze.

*A kiss?*

Impossible!

Shyness flooded her chest. She buried her face against Derek’s shirt, hugging him tighter—as if hiding would spare her the embarrassment of being seen.

Derek froze.

Though Teresia’s figure was still "flatlands," not yet the "majestic peaks" of her future self, her charm remained potent. Her overly affectionate gesture had crossed into outright temptation, jolting his senses.

Even knowing Xinzel watched from outside, his body reacted. Reason drowned under rising lust. The air thickened with tension. A demon’s whisper slithered into his ear: *Tumble this innocent little cabbage right here.*

Just as primal instinct threatened to win—

A chilling wave crashed over him.

Cold. Piercing the haze. Clarity struck like ice.

Derek braced for Xinzel’s killing intent—

But a gentle voice echoed in his mind instead:

*"I love you."*

Not Teresia’s voice.

*Who?!*

Before he could react, inky black mist coalesced around him, swallowing the room. Movement ceased. Teresia in his arms, dust motes in the air—all frozen. Only the mist swirled freely, thickening behind him into a slender silhouette.

Arms encircled him from behind. Warm breath brushed his ear.

*"I love you, Derek."*

Her murmur was tender, yet laced with a chilling undertone.

Mist-formed fingers traced his neck—slow, intimate strokes.

But beneath the caress, Derek felt lethal threat. One wrong move, and those fingers would snap his throat.

*"Love you, Derek~"*

The shadowy face pressed close, lips brushing his cheek in a soft, cold kiss.

Then—poof. The mist vanished. Time surged back.

Teresia still clung to him like a tangled vine. Derek’s shirt clung to his back, soaked through with sweat. The phantom touch on his cheek lingered, undeniable proof.

*What… was that?!*

Terror shattered his lust. He skipped straight to "enlightened sage mode," bypassing any urge to "tumble the cabbage."

He’d just been threatened by a powerful, unhinged yandere!

That twisted devotion—no doubt, if he ever strayed, she’d crush his life without hesitation.

*Who the hell was she?*

Scrambling through his memories, Derek reached a horrifying conclusion:

*Witch Claudius.*

Only the Witch Cult’s legendary figure matched that suffocating darkness and reality-bending power.

*Great. I’m stuck with a psycho witch?!*

His head throbbed. Worse than her identity was his ignorance—he knew almost nothing about her.

…

The game *Destiny* had eight major arcs.

Seven named after the Deadly Sins: *Destiny: Lust*, *Gluttony*, *Greed*, *Sloth*, *Wrath*, *Envy*, *Pride*.

Plus one paid DLC: *Destiny: Devotion*.

Before reincarnating as Derek, he’d cleared all seven Sin routes.

Bosses were always Witch Cult fanatics. Claudius herself? Only rumors in NPC dialogues.

If she hadn’t appeared yet… she *had* to be the final boss of the *Devotion* DLC.

Problem was—he’d never played it.

Craving fresh surprises, he’d avoided all spoilers.

*If I’d known this would happen, I’d have let spoilers drown me!*

Regret was useless now.

That "affectionate" encounter confirmed one thing: Witch Claudius was a yandere. A terrifyingly powerful one.

Such women were lethal—especially when you touched other girls.

*Survival meant distance from Teresia.*

*(Let go of me.)*

Derek spoke. He knew his words might twist unpredictably, but he had to draw the line.

Teresia’s state was alarming. Left unchecked, this "little cabbage" might cling to him until doomsday.

"What? You think flashing skin will bewitch me? Pathetic. Release me. *Now.*"

*Ugh. My big mouth. Still shooting first, thinking later.*

His cold, dismissive tone cut through Teresia’s panic like a blade.

She’d been terrified entering the Duke’s manor.

Overwhelmed inside these walls.

She’d endured without complaint—so why… *why* this scorn after her hardest effort?

She hadn’t tried to seduce him! *He’d* demanded she "please" him!

She’d even shed her coat—wasn’t that enough? Why this humiliation?!

Grief and shame crashed over her. Teresia’s wail shattered the silence—a raw, childlike sob. She buried her tear-streaked face against his chest, sniffling into his shirt.

Derek stared, stunned. *The future Holy Lady… wailing like a child?*

*Saintly? She’s leaking snot!*

He’d only meant to save Kana. Now he was saddled with a yandere stalker *and* a weeping child?

*I…*

*This is impossible.*