At the bottom of the Chaotic Abyss.
“The demons we just sent out today have been discovered!”
A black shadow suddenly appeared before the massive, fortified wall of the Chaos Demon Soros — it was a Shadow Demon bringing urgent news.
Since Soros needed to figure out exactly what method the gods used to instantly kill the Primeval Demons, but feared that venturing into the Deya Plateau would result in immediate death, he decided to first send out a group of low-ranking demons to probe the situation.
The result was obvious: the city of Deya was well prepared.
This morning, as some low-ranking demons sneaked into Deya City, a Demon Hunter Squad swiftly rushed over from the Watchtower and secretly took control of the city gates, seemingly planning to trap someone.
And around noon today, they appeared to have caught a demon companion trying to leave the city — a dwarf, who was currently being escorted to the Watchtower, likely to be subjected to harsh interrogation.
“There’s one more thing. A demon noticed that among the Demon Hunters’ escort team, there’s a twin-tailed girl who possesses the rare Eye of Sin Mark. She should be a key protege of the Goddess of Life and definitely knows a lot.”
“So we can try to gather forces to ambush the escort team, see if we can directly kidnap that girl, and at the same time rescue the captured dwarf demon.”
The Shadow Demon voiced its plan, hoping to use the twin-tailed girl to break their passive situation of knowing nothing.
After receiving Soros’ approval and support, soon, not far from the edge of the mist, near Rachel’s escort team, three second-rank demons and one third-rank demon simultaneously received Soros’ urgent mission in their minds…
“Nah nah, how old are you this year? When was the Eye of Sin Mark activated?”
Rachel’s Demon Hunter Squad — after being brought out of Deya City — were still handcuffed with mithril shackles and locked inside a sturdy iron cage on a cart.
Outside the cage stood a glum Tia, while at the very front of the cart was a slightly embarrassed Rachel, her cheeks faintly flushed.
Back in the armory, unable to refuse Truth’s adorable questioning, Rachel had casually said, “Come with me and I’ll tell you what the Goddess really wants to do.”
Heh heh, you’ll know when you arrive at the military camp — that’s the demons’ nightmare!
It wasn’t much of a secret anyway, just that the Goddess was starting another demon-hunting campaign, but Truth had cheerfully followed along and obediently stepped into the iron cage.
Rachel always felt like she was trafficking a naive girl, but thankfully the Eye of Sin Mark let her see Truth’s true nature early on, or else she might really have been seduced by her!
Until Rachel figured out whether Truth was a true demon or just a naive girl possessed by one, she refused to respond to any of Truth’s questions.
“Why won’t you answer me? So stingy! I’m cooperating so well!” Truth slightly pouted.
“Honestly, I’m actually a high-ranking demon. The reason I haven’t killed you is because your deaths don’t benefit me. But instead of being grateful for my mercy, you’re just here playing a tease-and-denial game with me?”
Rachel still didn’t reply, nor did the other hunters. After all, Rachel was their captain, and without her consent, none would act on their own.
Suddenly, Truth reached out her right foot and lightly kicked Rachel’s soft buttocks outside the cage.
“Ugh!”
Unbelievable! Not even my teacher has ever bounced my butt like that! Rachel was a bit angry but still held back from turning around.
“Should I get mad? Should I just slaughter all of you?” Truth said her “final ultimatum” inside the cage with the gentlest tone.
Everyone remained unmoved, but Tia — who wasn’t locked inside the cage — instantly panicked and hurried to the cage’s side, shouting at Truth:
“Absolutely not! As the Holy Maiden, killing is forbidden!”
Such a gentle and adorable Truth could never say something like “I’ll slaughter you all” — this must be the Recluse secretly stirring trouble behind the scenes!
Tia was determined to stop the Recluse’s bloodbath. If so many Demon Hunters died, the Goddess of Life would definitely take notice, which would only bring harm to Truth.
But Truth had another perspective, turning to glare at Tia:
“What’s this? Before, when I needed you to speak for me, you weren’t around. Now that I’m about to kill these people, you suddenly show up. Are you regretting the big burden you got because of me?”
“What?!” Tia’s face was shocked, her hands gripping the iron cage as she gritted her teeth:
“You’re the one who clung to that twin-tailed girl first. What’s so good about her? Terrible personality and no figure. The moment you met, you started acting all coquettish to her face. Just thinking about it makes me angry and I can’t even find a reason!”
“I never clung to that twin-tailed girl! What fun is there in a fledgling like her? You’re just wildly imagining things yourself!”
“Not imagining! You just like those flat-chested, no-curve types, and don’t like someone like me who’s got… a little figure. No wonder you used to hang out with Suna all the time!”
…
Why did this suddenly turn into an argument about me? And in front of me, no less, badmouthing me?!
Rachel felt unfairly targeted and was shaking with anger. Even my teacher never nagged at me like this!
She really wanted to turn around and scold those two criminals harshly, but held back and continued to listen to the quarrel behind her, which sounded like jealous lovers fighting.
Unlike Suna, who would silently endure troubles in private, Tia confronted problems head-on.
Loved, loved the wrong person… a trace of grievance rose in Tia’s heart, making her nose sting slightly. She had sacrificed so much for Truth, but received no gratitude.
Truth was enjoying this. She only meant to tease Tia a little but hadn’t expected her to be so fun, a bit cunning, and even easily jealous.
She liked her even more.
Truth kept teasing Tia, while throwing in some bad words about Rachel, which made Tia so furious she wanted to rush into the cage and hold Truth to teach her a lesson, but the iron cage wouldn’t budge.
All she could do was rage powerlessly atop the cart.
Because she was blessed by the Goddess of Life, Tia was basically immune to demonic possession, as demons were extremely fearful of the Goddess’ divine attacks.
The Demon Hunters knew this, which is why they put Tia and Truth on the same cart but didn’t lock them together.
What threat could a priestess pose? The only reason they weren’t caged together was to prevent Truth from taking Tia hostage.
Although Tia, the high priestess, was accused of “murder” and “harboring demons,” if she died on the way to judgment, it would be the hunters’ negligence. They had a duty to protect all priests’ safety.
Truth and Tia chattered on like this for about five minutes until Rachel could no longer stand it. Why did everything between you two always have to involve me?
And always said in front of so many of my subordinates? That’s so shameless!
Look, several of them were already covering their mouths and quietly laughing! So what if I’m flat-chested and flat-bottomed? What does it have to do with you?
Rachel finally turned to glare at Truth, about to curse loudly, when two black shadows flowed like water suddenly appeared around the escort team.
“Enemy attack, two Shadow Demons!”