"Uh… have we met somewhere before?"

Albel couldn’t help but ask the golden-haired female knight in full armor and helmet. Her figure and aura felt hauntingly familiar.

*What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?*

Alicia’s mind was screaming. *One word from me and he’ll recognize my voice!* Relief washed over her—Albel hadn’t spotted the Holy Sword hanging at her other side, nor noticed the Fire Drake that had slipped away into the night.

*Stay calm. For Future’s sake, I must bluff my way through.*

She took a deep breath, turned to glance at Albel, then rode off with deliberate composure.

"How strange," Albel muttered, scratching his head as he watched the knight vanish. *Wasn’t that the idiot Holy Maiden Alicia?*

"Albel, what happened?" Yurei Amamiya’s voice called from behind.

"The demons retreated. The ground split open into a massive pit. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be guarding Lady Shinra?" Albel frowned at the approaching Yurei.

"Right…"

*Huff… huff…*

Alicia finally reached a deserted spot. Seeing no sign of Albel, she slumped in relief. *Phew. My quick thinking saved me. If he’d found out, everything would’ve been ruined.*

"Ash! We almost got caught!" She hugged the Fire Drake fluttering down from the darkness, heart still pounding.

"*Awooo~*" The little drake let out a proud chirp, as if boasting about its cleverness.

"Hehe, you’re such a smart boy. If that guy saw you, he’d have recognized me instantly." Alicia scratched Ash’s head, smugness bubbling up. *See? I can fool Albel too.*

Suddenly, a hand landed on her shoulder. Her whole body jolted.

"I didn’t! I’m not! It wasn’t me!" Eyes squeezed shut, she flailed her arms wildly—certain Albel had uncovered her.

"Holy Maiden?" The High Priest stared, utterly bewildered. *Has she been hit by a confusion spell?*

"Y-you! What is it?" Alicia finally saw who it was. Her tense shoulders dropped.

"Holy Maiden, many comrades fell into that rift when the earth split. With no further threats, we must rescue them." The High Priest explained urgently. During the chaos, Light Sanctuary knights had scattered—many plunged into the abyss, their fates unknown.

"W-we have to go back?" Alicia’s face twitched. *I just barely escaped alive!*

"Of course! They’re our brothers and sisters!" The High Priest’s expression turned stern. "Followers of Goddess Freyja are family. We never abandon our own."

"R-rescue them! Absolutely!" Alicia straightened up, infected by his fervor. *I am the Holy Maiden. I must lead the charge.*

"Most knights are wounded and exhausted. We can only spare a small vanguard. We implore you, Holy Maiden, to lead them into the pit." The High Priest bowed. Behind him, a dozen knights stepped forward—tired but unharmed.

"You’re coming too, right?" Alicia eyed the knights warily. *Why do I feel trapped?*

"My apologies, Holy Maiden. I sustained internal injuries in battle." The High Priest coughed violently, a trickle of blood appearing on his lips—*he’d bitten his tongue*. "I’ll await your triumphant return from the rear."

"With the Holy Maiden, we fear nothing!"

"Victory is ours!"

The knights roared, weapons raised, their fervor almost feverish.

"L-let’s go now." Alicia forced a nod, her smile strained. *I’m the Holy Maiden… I can’t refuse.* She mounted her horse, Ash settling onto her shoulder.

"May Freyja’s radiance shield you always." The High Priest clasped his hands in prayer, the bloodstain already gone.

"Why are your people heading out again?" Albel watched a squad gallop from the city toward the pit. "The demons retreated, didn’t they?"

"Many comrades fell into the rift. The Holy Maiden went to save them." The Sanctuary knight’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

"The Holy Maiden?" Albel blinked. *Only Alicia holds that title… Was that golden-haired knight really her?*

"Indeed! She’s the strongest Holy Maiden in generations—she wiped out the demon army and even slew a Demon King!" The knight’s enthusiasm overflowed.

"That impressive?" Albel clicked his tongue. *Definitely not Alicia then. Probably a new Holy Maiden chosen while I was on the island.* He smirked inwardly. *Poor bastard Demon King… Hope it wasn’t Bessarius.*

"They say his name was Albel. The former First Demon King of the demons."

"*What the—?*" Albel’s jaw nearly hit the ground. *Since when was I ‘slain’?*

Only one person would spread such nonsense.

"Is your Holy Maiden named Alicia?" he asked, voice carefully neutral.

"Yes." The knight nodded.

*Slap!* Albel smacked his own forehead. *That idiot! I didn’t recognize her?! And that coward’s leading a rescue into an unknown pit?*

*I have to find her. With her brains, who knows what disaster she’ll cause.*

"Albel! Where are you going?" Yurei called as Albel dashed toward the city gates.

"Albel?!" The knight’s eyes rolled back. His wound burst open—and he collapsed, unconscious.

---

Deep within the pit.

"What a bountiful day. While preparing for Arachne, we get such… unexpected spoils." A raven-haired, strikingly beautiful young man licked his lips, gazing at the huddled group of trembling Light Sanctuary priestesses and acolytes.

"Indeed, Lord Asmodeus! The brothers won’t be bored waiting for Arachne now." A short, green-haired demon with a lecherous grin rubbed his hands together, eyeing the women’s curves.

"Release us, monsters!"

"You’ll pay for this!"

Shouts came from above—the male knights hung by ropes from the rocks.

"Silence." Asmodeus flicked his gaze at the loudest knight. A black beam shot from his eyes—*pop*. The man’s head burst like overripe fruit. Blood sprayed like juice. The others fell deathly quiet.

"You call yourselves righteous knights? I wonder…" Asmodeus smirked. "Will your bodies betray you, watching the women you protect be defiled?"

"You bastard…" The knights seethed but stayed silent, remembering their fallen comrade.

*Whimper…*

"*Goddess Freyja, shield your faithful…*"

The women below clung to each other, some weeping, others whispering desperate prayers.

"See this, brothers? They say Sanctuary priestesses are all pure." Asmodeus savored their terror.

"Lord Asmodeus! Let us have them—we’re starving!"

"Yes! I’ve never tasted a holy maiden!"

His mixed army of demons and corrupted humans roared with lust.

"Go! Embrace your primal desires! Feast before Arachne’s rebirth!" Asmodeus threw his arms wide, laughing wildly. His troops surged toward the women.

The bound knights shut their eyes tight—but the priestesses’ screams still pierced their ears.

***BOOM!***

A pillar of holy light crashed down between the women and the demons, halting the advance.

"I am Alicia Chronos, Seventeenth Holy Maiden of the Light Sanctuary! I shall purge every demon here!" A man’s voice boomed from above the pit.

Alicia nearly kicked the loudmouthed knight off his rope. *Are you blind?! Look at all those enemies! You’re throwing me straight into the fire!*