“Hiss—”

Kanata tumbled hard onto the ground again. A dull ache throbbed in her knees and elbows—spots prone to injury.

Thick protective gear or not, getting slammed flying into a tombstone still hurt like hell.

The werewolf’s brutal strike sent her crashing into a massive gravestone. Her bones felt ready to splinter.

“Ah…”

A metallic sweetness flooded her mouth.

The impact had torn something inside. She coughed up a mouthful of blood. Her old wounds from the Imperial Guard comrades’ beating hadn’t even healed—now this was making matters even worse. Her condition was dire.

But the crystal core was right there… just a little more effort…

Kanata saw it glowing with a faint purple light. During the fierce exchange, she’d sliced through the beast’s flesh, exposing a corner of the core.

These crystal cores were mysterious products of viruses and the infected—unknown origin, versatile uses, and wildly in demand.

More cores meant more profit. Even the lowest-grade core could fetch a considerable sum. No loss at all.

Both were injured. The weakening agent injected into the werewolf was finally kicking in—annoyingly delayed, as usual.

Injured werewolf versus injured Kanata. No advantage gained. Her hand brushed her abdomen by accident—a warm, wet patch.

“No way…”

The wound had torn open mid-fight, bleeding heavily. Numb from painkillers, she hadn’t even noticed.

Keep this up, and she’d bleed out here… or become the werewolf’s next meal.

Either option was utterly unbearable.

“Am I really gonna die in this godforsaken place…?”

Dizziness blurred her vision. Ringing filled her ears, drowned by the beast’s low growls. Her head felt like it was splitting.

“When did it tear open…?”

Kanata groaned inwardly. If the nurses found out she’d snuck out again and ripped her stitches? No more ward privileges. Ever.

And if Alessia found out? Yeah. She was dead. Nozomi would lose faith in her as an incompetent onee-sama.

Hopeless on every level. Yet Kanata had no strength left—not even to rise and retrieve her thrown dagger.

The coppery taste thickened. The werewolf drew closer. Death had never felt this near.

…

“Miss Kanata Himemiya. Bold of you to break regulations behind my back.”

Calm footsteps approached from behind. That voice—unmistakably the Sovereign Alessia.

Impossible. Alessia was still in a meeting. She couldn’t be here.

“I must be… losing it… Why am I hearing… Alessia’s voice…”

Hallucinating. Must be. That woman had treated her so cruelly—so relentlessly—she haunted even her final moments.

“Nozomi… I’m sorry…”

She surrendered. Waiting for the end. Outmatched. Reckless greed. What goes around comes around.

Just as Kanata closed her eyes to rest—Alessia’s face appeared inches away. A firm hand gripped her jaw. Those beautiful crimson eyes burned with cold fury.

“Listen carefully,” Alessia’s voice cut sharp through the haze. “You die only when I permit it. Until then—you live solely for me.”