“Well… How exactly should I cooperate with you?”

“After their forest ambush failed, those guys must be getting anxious,” I whispered very softly to Aifei. “They’ll definitely try to strike Prince Aide on the road. To put it bluntly—we catch them mid-attack. That proves to His Highness they’re undercover Demonkin. Doesn’t that make sense?”

“Isn’t it too risky? If we fail… Father might…”

“No ‘ifs.’ In this world, I don’t miss. Just watch my performance. There are three traitors.”

“Alright… I’ll act accordingly when the time comes,” Aifei murmured, nodding slightly with a hint of helplessness.

“Let’s move out. Yueling—and my daughter—keep close watch on everyone near me. Under no circumstances let anyone approach.” Prince Aide gave the order to the guard beside him and Aifei nearby. His heart churned with deep unease.

Aside from the guard who’d grown up with him and his own daughter, he trusted no one here.

“Understood.”

They replied in unison. They knew the situation was delicate—in such a tightly packed group, a surprise attack would be terrifyingly easy.

And so the party set off, hearts heavy with tension.

“Your Highness, I have something to report.”

After some time traveling, the guard named Yueling leaned close to Prince Aide’s ear and whispered.

“What is it?”

“My apologies… but I must perish with you.” As Yueling murmured this, a dagger slid swiftly from his sleeve—straight for the prince’s throat.

Bang!!!

Just before impact, a finger ghostlike flashed before Prince Aide, caught the blade’s tip, and flung Yueling flying backward.

The whole thing lasted less than a fraction of a second.

“Impossible! You were dozens of meters away—how?!” Yueling’s face turned deathly pale.

“So you couldn’t hold back anymore? Understandable. If Prince Aide reached his destination, your Demonkin superiors would execute you anyway. Better to gamble here.”

The one who’d arrived was none other than me—waiting all along.

“Yueling…? Could *you* be the Demonkin?!” Prince Aide gasped, shock and heartbreak twisting his voice. Yueling had been his most loyal guard.

“Your Highness, this isn’t Yueling. A Demonkin used transformation magic. The real guard’s whereabouts are unknown.”

“Oh… thank goodness,” Prince Aide breathed a soft sigh of relief. He and Yueling shared deep bonds.

“You discovered me… Who *are* you?” The imposter’s face froze cold. Demonkin horns sprouted from his temples.

Pfft~~~

At that moment, a knight in the squad secretly raised a bamboo tube and blew toward Prince Aide—a poisoned needle shot forth.

“How *dare* you attempt murder before me? Who gave you that courage?!”

My furious roar unleashed crushing magical pressure toward the knight and needle alike.

Aaaahhh~~~

The knight slammed onto the ground, screaming in agony. The needle shattered into dust.

Silence fell like a blanket. Every eye locked onto me in the distance, speechless.

In mere moments, the adventurer known as the Platinum God of Heresy had crushed two hidden Demonkin—with utterly unimaginable power.

“Last Demonkin. If you know what’s good for you, step out now. I know where you are. You haven’t acted yet. Come forward—I’ll spare your life.” I spoke sternly to the squad, my gaze lingering meaningfully on one figure.

Only silence answered.

“I count to three. Stay hidden, and I’ll drag you out—make you suffer so terribly you’ll beg for death but never find it.”

One.

Two.

Three.

“It’s me! Please spare my life!” Overwhelmed by pressure, the Demonkin disguised as a knight stumbled out, trembling.