The Taidin Case has finally been settled, and as for the girls involved, some have temporarily left the Royal Capital, while others have moved to the Cathedral of Light, far away from the mundane world.
But the impact of the incident is just beginning.
The morale of the Royal Guard of the Royal Capital has plummeted, forcing the Royal Palace to divide them into three groups: one was directly disbanded, another was given leave, and the last was sent to the mountain region outside the Royal Capital for intensive training.
As for daily patrols, these have been taken over by some of the older Palace Guards.
With the city sealed for several days and all the troops being shuffled around, the people of the Royal Capital grew anxious.
Normal production and commercial activities suffered a heavy blow.
Some Ministers suggested supporting another major city and separating the political and economic centers of the kingdom, so that such a situation would never happen again.
The best candidates discussed were several major port cities, but there was a small problem—since the Independence War, relations between the Human Race and the Coastal Sirens have not been very good.
All in all, that light stab Zero made back then has brought about many unexpected consequences.
But all of this is already far removed from her.
Right now, she’s following Rolls, walking the road to his hometown.
“Child, look—the flowers are blooming across the fields. This is the best time of the year.”
Rolls wanted to show Zero that there is still beauty in the world we live in, hoping to give her a bit more hope for life.
But when he turned around, he found she was gone.
A few minutes later, Zero came rolling back, holding a few freshly picked wildflowers in her hands.
“What did you just say about the fields?”
“…Never mind.”
You’ve already picked all the flowers; what’s left to say?
Rolls watched her carefully put the flowers into a bottle and asked curiously, “What are you picking those for?”
“Ah? N-no reason.”
Zero’s little face suddenly turned red, and she stammered, “It’s just… just because they look nice.”
“I see.”
Rolls didn’t think much of it.
What other thoughts could a child have?
Onward, onward they went.
The aftermath in the Royal Capital didn’t affect them, nor did it disturb the peaceful days of the Cathedral of Light.
Morning came.
As the first rays of sunshine lit up the chapel’s spire, the priests and sisters recited their prayers devoutly.
“O Light, we greet the new day you bring. Grant us your blessings…”
In a corner of the courtyard, a pink-haired, well-endowed girl watched the scene and secretly stifled a yawn.
“Up so early,” Ella muttered under her breath.
She really didn’t want to get up; sleeping in was so comfortable.
But there was no helping it.
As the broad-minded Demon King, how could she let laziness make her miss a chance to observe enemy movements?
As the prayers finished, it seemed as if a few faint golden rays truly fell upon them.
There wasn’t any special effect, just that everyone felt a bit more refreshed.
Ella realized she was the only one yawning in the whole chapel, and for some reason, she felt a little awkward.
Hmph… hmph, all this flashy nonsense.
Washing your face would have the same effect.
Our Dark Magic is the real practical stuff.
“Yawn~”
“Stop yawning. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” a voice came from beside her.
“Come with me, inside.”
Ella turned and saw the blonde Saintess standing right in front of her.
Leah was dressed in a thin gauzy robe, just finished praying, her body still glowing with a layer of Light, and her shapely figure looked even more translucent.
This Saintess is really well-endowed too.
Ella quietly shifted her stance, scooting over a bit to line her body up with Leah’s on the same X-axis, glancing back and forth.
Haha, I’m still bigger.
The dark side wins again.
“What are you doing?”
Leah seemed to sense something odd, turned back, and glared at her.
“Didn’t you hear me? Get inside.”
“I heard you, I heard you,” Ella replied sweetly, “I’m coming right away.”
Heh, acting so fierce even when she’s lost—what would she be like if she’d won?
The room was a small side chamber in the Cathedral, with no bed or chairs, but a thick carpet on the floor, so you could just lie down.
Before entering, you had to take off your shoes and use a simple little Blessing to get yourself all clean before going in.
There were several windows in the room, ensuring sunlight streamed in from different angles all day long.
Leah went in first, sat down on the left in a duck-sit, and pointed to the right.
“Sit there.”
It was Ella’s first time trying to sit like that, and she was a bit nervous.
But when she tried, she succeeded immediately—super obedient duck-sit.
That’s the Demon King for you—talented at everything.
“You lived in the Demon King’s Castle for a long time, so you’ve absorbed a lot of the dark aura there, especially a certain lewd—cough, sinister energy. If left alone, it’ll affect both you and those around you over time.”
Leah spoke sternly.
“As the Saintess of Light, I will never tolerate such Evil!”
Ella raised an eyebrow, wondering if Leah hadn’t said the same thing yesterday.
Before she could think more, Leah clasped her hands over her chest and began to pray:
“O Light, please grant your grace. Use your loving radiance to drive away all darkness.”
A holy light radiated from her, falling upon Ella. It was warm and especially comfortable, like a wonderful sunbath that didn’t tan your skin.
“Mmm~”
It was so comfortable that Ella couldn’t help but let out a soft hum.
But Leah’s expression grew more serious.
She sniffed carefully, clasped her hands again, and recited another prayer:
“Light above, begone, lewdness!!”
The words were simpler, but the intensity was a level higher.
Another holy light fell upon her.
This time, it wasn’t a sunbath, but more like a spa with a gentle massage—so very… comfortable.
“Mnh~”
Ella couldn’t help but make a strange sound, her cheeks flushing.
“Sorry.”
She wasn’t just goofing off and enjoying herself—she’d been paying close attention.
Judging from the prayers, the first was a general Blessing, but the second was much more targeted.
Just listen to what she said—lewdness, right? Lewdness.
Absolute slander.
The Demon King refuses to accept this.
Leah’s pretty face was a little red, too, but not because of that soft moan—it was because she realized her treatment hadn’t worked.
This was the first time she’d encountered such a situation.
As the dignified Saintess of Light, to be helpless against the Evil before her—this was a tremendous humiliation.
“Rest here for a while.”
Leah stood up from the carpet, went to the door, and put on her shoes.
“I’ll go do some research.”
She planned to visit the Sacred Archive of the Church of Light and look up more case files and records, hoping to find clues and inspiration.
This was no ordinary Evil—it called for drastic measures.
Ella stayed where she was, sitting in her duck-sit, watching Leah dash out of the room and into the distance.
After a few moments of silence, once Leah was truly gone, the pink-haired, well-endowed girl let out a yawn to the empty air.
Church of Light, nothing but petty tricks. Not only are they overestimating themselves, but they’re also so shameless.
Darkness scores another point!