“Don’t worry, I’m… fine… mmm… really~”
Gabriella instantly understood. The evil god had noticed she had left the residential palace.
Honestly, that idiot Isabella is way too anxious.
“Ha… mmm.”
Gabriella tried to steady her voice, but the Curse Ring refused to let her go.
The tingling numbness spread through her entire body, turning her limbs weak.
Her head was filled with images of the idiot Isabella.
Her mind went blank.
For a moment she even forgot what she was supposed to do next.
Then shadow flooded the emptiness in her brain, repeating the same command from her master.
Submit.
The Curse Ring punished any act of resistance from its slave.
Even the slightest disrespectful thought toward the evil god would result in more darkness being poured in.
With the ring already activated, Gabriella’s whole body felt numb and electric.
“Haa… haa…”
Gabriella breathed heavily, her face flushed crimson as if recalling some rosy scene.
If the evil god were standing in front of her right now, she would abandon everything and do whatever it took to please her.
She recovered quickly and calmed herself.
It was just the dark magic power eroding her, the curse engraved on her, the evil god’s shadow brainwashing her—that was all.
She simply liked that idiot too much~
She had not been toyed with by shadow until she fell.
Gabriella was not being controlled.
She felt perfectly fine; the strange sensation had lasted only a split second.
However, the two heavenly oracle envoys in front of her were beside themselves with worry.
“Lady Gabriella…”
Damn evil god.
Philina and Morphis rushed over at once.
They stared at the Curse Ring glowing on Gabriella’s neck, guilt twisting their hearts.
If the evil god hadn’t gotten to her first, if they had awakened sooner, Lady Gabriella would never have had to suffer like this.
And yet right now they could do almost nothing.
Morphis was filled with self-reproach.
She could clearly see that Gabriella had been cursed by the evil god.
Even restoring the Holy Body carried the risk of control.
She knew she had to do something.
“Saintess Lady.”
[Shining Saint] Morphis suddenly thought of something and turned to the silent Saintess beside them.
“Does your body still contain the [Pure Spring]?”
“Mm… what is that…?”
Philina also looked at Saintess Loli, curiosity sparking at the name.
From the sound of it, it seemed like some kind of purifying item?
Loli nodded, but a dark cloud settled over her heart.
“It is still there.”
This was her own doing.
She had never built good relationships with anyone, so naturally no one supported her.
If the Pure Spring could purify Lady Gabriella’s [Holy Body], then it should be able to break the evil god’s chains.
Her gaze shifted to Gabriella, waiting for her answer. It was uncertain, but it was the best option they had right now.
“Sure, Loli~ Shall we head out?”
Gabriella smiled thoughtfully.
Loli’s heart trembled.
She nodded and bowed slightly to Gabriella. “Understood, Lady Gabriella. Please follow me.”
Gabriella followed Loli’s steps, but she noticed the girl’s mood had plummeted.
Loli kept her head down, looking utterly dejected.
She was usually so good at hiding her emotions, the silly girl.
Loli led her to the third floor of the castle, through the forge and side streets, until they reached a spacious hundred-square-meter room.
Compared to the chill outside, the candlelit room felt much warmer.
This was clearly her bedroom.
“Master Gabriella…”
After closing the door, Saintess Loli spoke in a halting voice.
She didn’t dare meet Gabriella’s eyes, as if something heavy weighed on her mind.
“Next, we’re going to make all the heavenly oracle envoys fall, right?”
Gabriella touched the Curse Ring at her neck. “That’s right.”
In an instant her body was wrapped in darkness. Her demonic form reappeared, and a pair of adorable wings fluttered up and down.
She didn’t know how else to explain it, so she spoke directly:
“They will come to understand the evil god and join the darkness.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Gabriella’s face turned bright red. Doesn’t that sound way too fallen?!
She had said similar things a few times before. Was there really no problem with it?
For a second Gabriella felt like one of those brainwashed good guys in stories who tried to drag other good guys into the villain’s side.
It’s fine. Loli should understand what I mean!
“The reasons are complicated~”
“I understand, Lady Gabriella.”
“Mm.”
“I’ve been looking for a chance to thank you.”
“Hm?”
“As your sword, I am truly honored. Thank you for letting me meet a master like you. I don’t know how to repay you… Thank you, Master Gabriella.”
Loli’s voice grew wistful, as if she were saying goodbye.
Gabriella instantly understood what was going on inside the silly girl’s little head.
Handing over the [Pure Spring] meant Loli would have to sacrifice herself.
“I already know. You were the best sword I’ve ever used. You stayed with me for so long and you’ve been so obedient lately.”
Loli raised a hand to her eyes.
She seemed to be crying, but Gabriella couldn’t see her full face.
“Thank you… thank you…”
“I’m so honored… I love Master Gabriella’s warm power so much… I don’t know how to repay you. I’ve done everything I can.”
By now her voice was strained, as if she were slowly pulling her soul out of her body.
Loli had thought she could be stronger than this. She had wanted to leave the world more calmly, to say goodbye to Gabriella with a cool, handsome smile.
She didn’t want to bring this sad atmosphere to the maid friend she loved or to the Demon King.
Loli wanted to prove to Gabriella that she wasn’t the cold, heartless dictator the knight order thought she was.
She had a gentle side too.
And this was the perfect chance.
“Ugh… Master Gabriella, thank you for giving me a name at the very end. Thank you… I’m really, really happy…”
Loli choked on her words.
She never thought a girl with such a terrible personality could cry one day.
She would use what little time she had left to make Master Gabriella happy.
She would return the [Pure Spring] inside her body to Master Gabriella and, at the final moment of her life, offer her last strength in service to the evil god’s wish.
Because I fell in love with the evil god, I have to give everything I have too.