"Come on, Little Dragoness—suck the darkness out of her body for me."

"Huh!?"

"Huh!?"

Little Dragoness and Freya wore identical shocked expressions.

"I—I asked you to *transfer* the darkness from my body into hers, not have her *suck* it out!" Freya whispered urgently into Morningstar’s ear.

"I know. But I can’t use dark magic right now—it might awaken my dark persona. Relax. My authority as master still holds. She’ll obey."

"I—I see…"

"Master? What are you saying? Why should *I* suck the darkness out of *her*?"

Little Dragoness pointed at Freya with clear disgust. She loved the taste of darkness—but only when it belonged to her master. The corruption within Freya, though originally from Morningstar, had festered inside her for centuries. Secondhand. Tainted. And honestly? Little Dragoness never liked this Divine Maiden anyway.

"Less talk. Suck it out. Or are you disobeying your master?"

Morningstar’s aura of command surged. Little Dragoness fell silent instantly—though her scowl remained fierce.

"Yes, yes, yes! I know!" Her mouth stretched wide open, revealing twin rows of razor-sharp fangs. A long, crimson tongue slithered out.

She looked just like Tor from *Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid* going berserk.

"Grrr——————!" A tiny black flame shot from her jaws. She stomped forward, eyes blazing.

"Come! Let me suck the darkness from your body!"

"Uh…" Freya hesitated. Terrifying. It looked like she’d be devoured. But… if this worked? She’d regain her holy magic. She could help the Dark Sorceress hold onto her goodness.

Steel yourself. For the greater good.

She didn’t resist as the fearsome Little Dragoness closed in.

"Hehehe… Showtime." Morningstar watched, amused. The more the Dark Sorceress awakened, the more playful she became—and Morningstar had always loved fun. No games or anime here? Fine. Real-life drama beat button-mashing any day.

"Master… where should I start?"

"Wherever you like."

"I don’t have the Demon Eye—I can’t see where her magic pools."

"Right. Let me check…" The Demon Eye on Morningstar’s chest slowly opened. Freya’s state flashed clear: centuries bound by chains, black corruption seeping through iron links. Her limbs were darkest.

"Just her chest. Suck the darkness from her heart."

"Huh?" Freya froze. *Arms* were the tainted spots—why her chest? If Little Dragoness…

N-no! Don’t!

"Master?! You really want me to bite *there*? Wouldn’t that be… cheating on you? Right to your face?"

"What relationship do we even have? Stop overthinking. Hurry up."

"Got it!" Little Dragoness smirked. She knew this mood—master’s playful side, unchanged for millennia. Watching the Guardians "play games," then jumping in herself. If master enjoyed it? She’d play along.

"Holy Maiden… here I come. First time sucking darkness—I’m not very skilled." She crouched slowly, bloodthirsty maw inching closer.

"Gulp… gulp…"

Freya braced herself. For the sake of—

"Hmph!" She caught the Dark Sorceress’s expression across the room. That teasing, amused smirk. *She’s enjoying this.*

"Master?"

"Hm? What is it?"

"You’re laughing at me, aren’t you!?"

"…You could say that!"

"Where’s your *kind* personality?!"

"Just suppressed her. I’m the evil Dark Sorceress~ The naughty side deserves more screen time!"

"So you made her suck *my chest*… purely for your twisted amusement?!"

Before Freya could rant further, a strange pressure at her front cut her off. She turned—

"Shut up already!"

"Master’s command is absolute."

"To hell with the command! Stop—it’s not even *working*! You’re not sucking anything out!"

Little Dragoness had zero idea how to extract darkness. She was just acting.

"Stop it! How are you so strong?!" Freya shoved at the dragon’s head—useless against ten-thousand-ton strength.

"Alright, pause. Someone’s outside."

At Morningstar’s word, Little Dragoness halted. Freya scrambled up and fled backward.

Black viscous liquid oozed from Morningstar’s pale skin, hardening into a simple cotton robe just as a voice called:

"Lady Freya? Are you there?"

Leticia. At this hour?

"Enter."

Leticia stepped in, glanced at Little Dragoness and the other maid nearby, and assumed they were Freya’s servants. No suspicion.

"What brings you so late?"

"To thank you again for today’s kindness."

"Oh? No need to over-thank me. Truly, just a small favor." Morningstar laughed lightly—but inwardly sneered: *Ugh. So bothersome. Interrupting my fun. Should’ve left you.*

"Anything else? You wouldn’t come this late just for thanks…"

The Demon Eye on her chest had already read Leticia’s hidden intent.

"W-well… I am the second daughter of House Laurenst. Father will reward you greatly for saving me. So… might I invite you to our home?"

Clear as day: impressed by her power, seeking alliance.

"Hehe… You’re inviting a wolf right into your own home."