"Pah! Why the hell should we listen to that brat?"

"Tch. That little punk actually thinks winning one battle makes him boss? Telling us not to touch civilians, not to harm women and kids? What’s wrong with that bastard’s head? If we can’t do that stuff, why’d we even join the army? For fun?"

In Barnell City, two Great Empire soldiers—fully healed from their wounds—strolled through the residential district.

When locals spotted the imperial troops, they knew their city’s army had been utterly annihilated.

The last defensive wall lay in ruins.

Now, facing even this small force of barely a thousand wounded soldiers, Barnell’s citizens were powerless.

If these soldiers decided to slaughter them, they’d have no choice but to await death.

"Huh? Hold up—look what we’ve got here."

Their wandering led them to Barnell’s slums.

Life here was the hardest, the most wretched.

These were society’s lowest rung—happiness and freedom were luxuries they’d never taste.

"Isn’t that a Succubus?"

"Yeah. Wanna check her out?"

"Tch, I’d love to, but that brat’s orders—"

"Screw that brat! We’re Lord Elv’s army! Why should we care what some rotten kid says? Hah! I could take ten of him!"

Watching his comrade bluster, the guard lowered his head, thinking.

*What’s so special about that kid anyway?*

*He single-handedly wiped out nearly half the enemy forces—and walked away unscathed.*

*I’ve never heard of anyone that strong in our Empire. Does he have some shady backing?*

*Damn it!*

*If that’s the case… why are we holding back?*

"Alright. Let’s just… take a look."

"Look! Look! We’re Lord Elv’s army—we’ve burned, killed, and plundered after every siege! If I don’t get my fun this time, I’ll burst!"

The two madmen rubbed their hands together, grinning lewdly as they crept toward a little Succubus girl playing alone on a crumbling road.

"Hey there, little sister. What’re you doing here? Got any fun games to show your uncles?"

"You…"

Staring up at the towering Great Empire soldiers, the girl’s face twisted in sudden terror.

"You’re imperial soldiers!"

Though just a child, years in poverty had taught her this truth:

To the nation, imperial troops were monsters. To slum-dwellers like her? Pure nightmare.

"Aha! Even gutter rats know us! How about coming with Uncle? We’ll play real fun games—way better than this dump."

Unnoticed, the girl’s faint Succubus aura seeped into the soldiers. Heat flared in their veins. Their gazes turned filthy, ravenous.

The two lustful men had fallen under her unwitting influence.

"Don’t come closer…"

The girl didn’t understand why these soldiers suddenly burned with desire.

Her Succubus powers were weak—just a child’s instinct. But for men already rotten with lust, even a trace was enough to drive them mad.

"Leave her alone."

As the soldiers cornered the girl against a wall, a ragged middle-aged man stumbled out of a nearby shack.

The girl darted behind him, trembling.

He was her guardian.

"Hah? What’d you say, old man?"

"I said—don’t bully children!"

Exhausted but resolute, the frail man stood between the soldiers and the girl, shielding her from their lecherous stares.

"Uncle… I’m scared…"

"Xiao Mei, don’t fear. Uncle will drive them away."

Behind him, the girl shook violently, clutching his tattered sleeve like a lifeline.

"Drive *us* away? You’ve been poor so long your brain’s rotted! A penniless trash like you thinks he can chase off imperial soldiers? Pathetic."

"Hey—I just remembered. Barnell bans non-humans, right? What if we tell everyone there’s a Succubus brat hiding here?"

"They’ll beg us to ‘deal’ with her! Hahaha…"

The soldiers advanced, pressing psychological terror, forcing the old man to yield the child.

"You imperial dogs, you—"

"What’re you gonna do about it? Hah! This is how we roll!"

One soldier lunged, seized the man’s throat, and hurled him into a pile of broken rubble.

"Ah—!"

His scream cut short as debris buried him.

"UNCLE!"

"Don’t run, little pest."

Before the girl could reach him, a soldier snatched her wrist, pinning her to his side.

"Let… let her go…"

"Shut it, trash. Slum scum like you have no right to speak to us."

"Let go of Uncle! You monsters!"

The girl finally understood: escape was impossible. Against these brutes, they were lambs for slaughter.

"Just be good, little one. You’ll enjoy it soon enough."

"No! Don’t touch me! Monsters!"

"Release her, you filth—*agh!*"

The guardian’s plea died as a blade pierced his heart. No struggle. Just death.

"Tch. Annoying fool. Now that the pests are gone…" The soldier grinned down at the girl, blood dripping from his knife. "Time for fun, little Succubus."

"Uncle! Uncle!"

She stared at the cooling corpse, blood pooling from its chest. Tears flooded her face.

*No escape now. These soldiers will do whatever they want to my body. Dirty things.*

*Of course. I’m a Succubus.*

*A stowaway from the Demon Kin continent. Humans always despise us… use us.*

*No one like Uncle will ever care again…*

*Will they sell me to nobles after they’re done?*

*I’m so scared…*

*Humans are disgusting…*

*I hate you…*

"Aha! Now we play a *fun* game, little Succubus. *We’ll* enjoy it… you? Heh."

"…"

The girl’s face went blank. Her eyes turned hollow, unfocused.

She’d stopped fighting. Collapsed on the dirt, motionless.

*Uncle…*

*If they defile me…*

*I’ll find you in death.*

"Stay still, sweetheart. Let’s just—"

*Thwip.*

Before their hands could touch her, blades punched through both soldiers’ backs.

Steel jerked upward sharply.

Two living men became four bleeding halves on the ground.

"I did say—don’t touch civilians." A black-clad youth stood behind them, voice icy. "Since you chose death… I won’t hold back."

He glanced at the blood-slicked sword in his hand and tossed it aside.

*I hate nobles.*

*Even their armies reek of filth.*

"Preying on children now?"

He knelt beside the catatonic girl.

"Hey. Can you hear me?"

He waved a hand before her vacant eyes. No reaction.

"Tch. Given up on life? Shutting down."

His brow furrowed—he wanted to help. Then it smoothed. An idea struck.

"Listen here, girl. Your ‘uncle’? I killed him."

"You… killed him?"

Her head lifted slightly. Eyes met his.

"Exactly. I led a thousand soldiers to slaughter your city’s army. Burned everything. Took everything."

*Damn. Will she even believe this? Feels weak.*

"You… led them?"

"Yes! So his death is on *my* hands!"

"You… killed Uncle…"

Her eyes cleared. Focus returned.

But something new flickered in them.

"I did. I destroyed your life. Hate me?"

"Hate you… hate you…"

"Then kill me. If you can’t? Get stronger. Strong enough to hunt me down and avenge him."

*This sounds insane.*

*But she needs a reason to live. Even hatred works.*

"Hate you… HATE YOU!"

Watching her blaze with fury, the youth’s chest tightened.

He hadn’t pulled the trigger—but he’d lit the fuse.

If they didn’t charge in, the boy and his army would be slaughtered by others, reduced to nothing.

If they charged in, they’d shatter the town’s peaceful life forever.

What unfolded now was his punishment.

A form of punishment for the last shred of conscience in his heart.

"Hate me. Good." His voice cut through the silence. "Remember my name: Baiyi."

"You must grow stronger. Stronger still! Then take up arms and kill me. Avenge your uncle’s death! That’s your purpose. Your goal. Do you hear me!?"

*Tch. What the hell have I done?*

*Just digging my own grave, huh?*

*But… this mess is my fault too… Damn it.*

*If only that noble hadn’t… No. He’s dead. Pointless to complain.*

"I… what I must do…" The little girl’s trembling hand reached out, fumbling for the sharp dagger beside her. Slowly, she lifted it. Her eyes burned with pure fury as she locked them on the boy before her.

In a frozen voice, she whispered:

"For vengeance… I will kill you."