Pushing the door open, Morningstar was instantly met with Little Dragoness gritting her teeth in fury.

"Your jaw’s really something. Impressive your molars haven’t shattered yet."

"Master! Why reward *her*? What am I lacking? Am I not pretty enough? Not sexy enough?"

Judged by looks alone, Little Dragoness and Freya were equally stunning—both top-tier beauties, though their auras couldn’t be more different. Freya, high offense low defense, was fun to toy with. But Little Dragoness? One-on-one? Who’d be playing whom was anyone’s guess.

"Wahhhhh… Master doesn’t love me anymore… *sob*…"

Overcome with emotion, Little Dragoness plopped down on the floor in a duck-sitting pose and burst into tears, utterly oblivious to onlookers.

"There, there. How could Master not love you?"

Perhaps inheriting the Dark Sorceress’s tenderness, Morningstar felt a genuine pang seeing her weep. *Have I been neglecting her?*

"Alright. Later… you can sleep with me as a reward."

"Really?" Tear-streaked eyes widened. She gazed up at Master, pitiful and hopeful.

"Of course." Morningstar gently patted her head and led her back to the room.

At The Holy See, coin opened every door: holy-water baths, blessed chambers—even a nun for private prayer, if paid enough.

"Freya, stand guard outside."

"Yes, Master." Freya exhaled in relief. She’d feared more torment. Finally… a breather.

Inside, Morningstar reshaped the clinging black substance into soft sleepwear and settled onto the bed.

"Come here~" She patted the space beside her.

Little Dragoness adored snuggling close. She longed for more—but fearing rejection, she simply nestled into Morningstar’s arms.

"Soon, I’ll enter meditation to stabilize my soul. I’ll lose all bodily sensation. This body is in your care… You may do *something*… but don’t go too far."

Morningstar needed to inspect her soul—detach consciousness, dive deep, check the darkness’s reach. Truly, she’d feel nothing. See nothing. This was also a small indulgence for Little Dragoness.

"Really, Master? I swear—I won’t cross the line!" Little Dragoness patted her chest earnestly.

"Ten minutes. Use your judgment."

Morningstar closed her eyes. Consciousness sank into darkness, toward the soul’s core.

"Master? Master?"

A nudge. No response. *Is she faking?* But permission was given… no holding back now.

"Hehehe…" A mischievous grin spread. "Master said ‘don’t go too far’… but what *is* too far?"

To her, "too far" meant violating Master’s chastity—unthinkable without consent. Everything else? Hardly sinful.

"Master looks so peaceful asleep… Hope I don’t wake her…"

With feather-light care, she reached out, slowly peeling back the sleepwear. Unresisting—the black substance recognized its own corrupted creation.

At that familiar sight… her eyes lit up. Excitement surged, barely contained.

"After three thousand years… finally… I get to touch it again…"

Her pale hand drifted gently toward Master’s…

…

…

…

Morningstar beheld her soul: formless, a flickering flame. As Little Dragoness said—genderless, fragile conscious energy. Once serene azure, now pitch black. Only a faint trace of blue clung to its core, like a candle in a hurricane, trembling on the edge of extinction.

*Sigh… Worse than I thought.*

The old her would’ve recoiled. Now, eroded by darkness, she felt no sorrow—yet *knew* she should.

"Is this my last shred of humanity? How long will it last?"

Her kinder persona surfaced less often now… and even then, not so kind.

"Can I… ever go back?"

A chill of desolation washed over her. Time to return.

"Hurry… or Little Dragoness might get carried away."

She’d trusted the girl’s obedience.

She’d underestimated her.

The moment consciousness snapped back—*sensation*. Morningstar’s eyes flew open.

Then she saw it. Her whole body shuddered.

"What the—!" She kicked Little Dragoness off with explosive force. The girl tumbled several rolls before stopping.

Not a word of protest. Little Dragoness lifted her head, grinning. "Master’s awake?"

"Y-you! I said *don’t go too far*! Look what you did!"

Her actions shattered all expectations. *Good grief—does she have zero shame?!*

"What? Did you think my words were hot air?!"

"Master, this wasn’t excessive at all."

"You little—! Go eat shit!"