Rebecca arrived at the spot where the scream had just echoed, and she frowned slightly.

Several people lay scattered haphazardly on the ground or hung from trees, beside a massive monster.

This was... a Night Demon?

The pitch-black creature, five to six meters long and over a meter tall, was a fiercely territorial and powerful demon with average intelligence that couldn’t speak. Such beasts were common in the Dark Forest outside the Dark Lord’s palace—Rebecca had seen plenty. The disarrayed bodies, including one torn cleanly in half, were clearly the Night Demon’s handiwork, its leopard-like form looming over the carnage.

The Night Demon spotted Rebecca. Instinctively sensing the immense power radiating from her, it bared sharp fangs and growled uneasily, abandoning its intended human meal.

Rebecca merely glared at the beast. It flinched as if electrocuted, abandoning its dinner and vanishing instantly. The aura of the Demon Race was far beyond what such a creature could withstand.

Rebecca glanced at where the Night Demon had fled, then approached the fallen adventurers. Six in total, their gear marked them as brave explorers. Why they’d entered this forest, she neither knew nor cared—five were already beyond saving. Their bodies were shredded by claws, necks snapped, or impaled on branches after being flung by the demon’s tail. One was split in two, a gruesome sight. But Rebecca, once a doctor, was long accustomed to such horrors. The sixth survivor gasped shallowly, clinging to life.

“H-help… me…” he rasped, not questioning why a woman stood before him. His organs were torn, bones shattered—he just wanted release from the agony of staying conscious.

Rebecca studied him. She didn’t know if this world’s healing magic could save him, but Earth’s medicine certainly couldn’t. Death was inevitable.

“Sigh…” Rebecca exhaled softly. She conjured a wind-magic needle, piercing his skull. He found peace.

She’d killed, yet her expression remained steady. Doctors witnessed death often. Though this was her first kill, she felt little burden—perhaps because she still didn’t feel part of this world, or saw it as mercy, not murder. Or maybe she simply hadn’t overthought it. Still, a trace of pity flickered deep in her eyes, betraying her calm surface.

Adventurer parties strayed into Night Demon territory and were slaughtered often in the Dark Forest. But this was Rebecca’s first close encounter with humans butchered by demons. Back at the Dark Lord’s palace, she’d complained about noisy heroes disturbing her peace, grumbling to Demon Race servants about “annoying humans” and “arrogant heroes.” Yet she’d never truly seen herself as one of them. Compassion still lived in her heart—not just for humans. As the Dark World’s princess, she’d never punished or harmed her Demon Race attendants. She just hadn’t noticed it herself.

Rebecca used fire magic to cremate the bodies. Then she spotted a coffin lying nearby.

“Hm?” She paused, walking toward the ancient-looking casket.

“A coffin? Did these adventurers bring it?” Why would one appear deep in the forest? Clearly, the dead heroes had carried it—but for what purpose, she couldn’t guess.

The black coffin was damaged, a fresh claw mark splitting its surface—likely from the Night Demon. Inside, it was empty.

“This… is a Blood Clan coffin!” Rebecca recognized the familiar metallic scent of blood.

She’d met Blood Clan members—vampires—before. Their leader visited her Dark Lord father every few years, so their aura was familiar.

“Did these reckless adventurers steal a Blood Clan coffin?” Given the scene, it made sense. But where was its owner?

As if on cue, a crimson blur shot toward her.

“Filthy humans! How dare you steal my coffin! You’ll—*snore*…” A woman in red leather bodysuit and sheer black gauze skirt appeared. The alluring outfit made Rebecca’s eyes widen—but mid-sentence, the woman’s head lolled. She swayed on her feet, fast asleep standing up.

“Uh…” Rebecca froze, bewildered.

“I fell asleep? Huh? Who are you? Ah! My coffin! What happened to it? Was it you? Damn—*snore*…” Her head drooped again.

Rebecca pressed her lips together, cheeks puffing as she stifled a laugh. How absurd—falling asleep mid-sentence! The woman was stunning, her antics utterly endearing.

“Hey…” Rebecca patted the woman’s cheek.

No response.

“Wake up!”

“Ah! I dozed off again? Ugh, what happened? Who are you? Where are those humans? Eep! My coffin! Waaah…”

“The humans are dead—killed by a Night Demon. Your coffin’s broken, as you see.” Rebecca hadn’t planned to engage this silly Blood Clan woman, but her beauty and charm were too amusing to ignore.

“Dead? Unbelievable! And you’re—*sniff*…” The dazed vampire paused, nostrils flaring. She caught a scent on Rebecca—intoxicating yet terrifying.

“You’re… you’re…!??”

“Hm?”

“You’re… you’re!!! *snore*…”

“…”