Chapter 27: Bite you!

Hoo…

As the blue soul forms gradually approached, the sounds reaching Ilea’s ears grew ever clearer.

[Money…under…the floor…don’t take it…don’t take it…]

[Don’t kill me…I…I don’t know…anything…]

[Hehehehehehe…]

Some of these wandering spirits repeated the words they most wanted to say before death, while others…seemed to simply weep or laugh meaninglessly.

Even Ilea, a fully qualified necromancer, felt a chill run down her spine and goosebumps rise when she heard these voices.

Was this…the natural suppression that undead beings exert over humans?

“Gather here, to be commanded by me!!”

Huff!

Ilea shook her head hard, clearing away distracting thoughts.

Death mana continued pouring from her body into the parchment before her.

Those mindlessly giggling or crying spirits seemed quite unintelligent.

They were easily lured by the aura of death emanating from the parchment and, the moment they drew close…they fused into it like rabbits stumbling into a trap.

But those spirits who repeated words seemed to have a certain intelligence; they merely stood at a distance, refusing to come closer.

“Huff…Huff…Huff…”

Though her mana was still plentiful, beads of sweat were already forming on Ilea’s forehead.

Using this kind of ritual magic was like constantly doing muscle training.

As expected…even a mage needs a strong body…

Huff!

She raised her hand to dispel the black mist from her eyes.

Ilea didn’t wish to force herself too much—she had already captured four wandering souls, enough for her research for now.

“Ugh…”

The moment she stood up, her legs suddenly went weak!

Damn it, she really needed to work on her physical fitness…

“My lady!”

Yumina was about to step forward, but someone else moved even faster, catching Ilea just before she collapsed.

Huff!

Holding Ilea up, Viel froze for a moment.

Why…had her body moved on its own?

Wouldn’t it have been better to let this woman fall flat on her face?

“Really now…you’ve only just begun learning, don’t push yourself!”

Though her thoughts were quite malicious, that’s what came out of her mouth.

“Heh, this is me being restrained already…”

Ilea gave a somewhat helpless smile, then slowly leaned closer to Viel.

In Viel’s bewildered expression, Ilea buried her face against the girl’s neck and shoulder.

“KR…”

“Don’t move. Your aura…will help me recover faster.”

Her faintly cold voice made the goddess instinctively stiffen.

Pervert!

Idiot!

Woman-eater!

Scoundrel!!

Viel cursed nonstop in her heart, but her body merely trembled slightly.

She could feel Ilea’s every breath, the warmth and ticklishness it brought to her neck and shoulder…

“Hey~”

“Uh…what…now?”

“I’m going to bite you~”

“What? Mmngh—?!”

A sudden sharp pain and a shiver-inducing itch spread from her neck!

Viel reflexively tried to push the other girl away—

But Ilea only wrapped her arms around her even tighter!

“Ugh…doing this kind of thing in a graveyard…isn’t it a bit…improper?”

Standing nearby, Yumina muttered under her breath, then tactfully turned around.

“You…let go…mmph! That hurts! Damn it! Let go! Don’t… don’t bite there…”

When she finally pulled back, leaving two rows of red teeth marks and a little bit of blood on the girl’s delicate swan-like neck…it was unclear if it was due to Viel’s resistance or because Ilea herself regained control.

Ilea unconsciously licked the corner of her lips.

“Thanks for the meal.”

She felt…much better.

“You… you bastard!”

Viel, forced yet again, hadn’t lost consciousness, but her lips were trembling, and her dark eyes seemed to brim with tears.

“Get away! Don’t come near me!!”

“Viel…”

Watching the girl bare her teeth like an angry rabbit, Ilea slowly took two steps forward.

Huff…

Her slender right hand reached out, grabbing the girl’s black bangs and yanking her closer!

“Mm!”

In pain, Viel suddenly realized—Ilea’s face was now just inches from hers.

“This time it was you who came to me. But no matter what…you will always be mine—my personal belonging, and only mine.”

Those crimson eyes drew ever nearer; Viel could even feel the other girl’s slightly chilly breath on her nose.

“I don’t ever want to hear you say things like ‘get away’ to me again…understood?”

“…”

“Answer me!!!”

“I understand!”

Viel answered reflexively, her whole body trembling, tears instantly rolling from her eyes.

So scary…Ilea…is so scary…

Huff!

But in the next moment, she was once again pulled into Ilea’s embrace.

“Don’t worry. As long as Viel obeys, her master will give her everything she wants. Be good~”

Soft words echoed by the goddess’s ear.

That hand, which had just hurt her, now gently stroked her head, carefully wiping away her tears.

When she looked up, those terrifying crimson eyes had vanished, replaced by her master’s sweet smile.

Is this woman…two-faced?

Viel only dared glance at Ilea quickly before hastily looking away.

“Huff! Alright, let’s go back.”

Ilea smiled as she rubbed Viel’s little face, as if nothing had happened just moments ago.

Thud!

“Hoo—!!”

Back at the castle, the young lady didn’t even bother changing her clothes.

She just sprawled out on her bed in a big star shape.

Today, she had come to fully understand herself.

Or rather, to fully grasp the fusion of Wu Chou’en (her past self) and Ilea Batius (her current body).

She possessed her previous life’s calm, insight, and decisiveness.

At the same time, she had inherited Ilea’s arrogance, cruelty, and domineering nature.

Whenever she felt pleasure, Ilea couldn’t help wanting to hurt others.

Combined with her original ruthlessness and decisive killer instinct, it had become…a personality much like a “tyrant.”

This seemed etched into her very bones—completely unchangeable.

Or perhaps…deep down, Ilea didn’t even want to change.

“So this is what they call…the villain template?”

She covered her crimson eyes with her slender arm.

Well…whatever.

It wasn’t like she couldn’t control herself.

The truth was she wanted to act that way—so she did.

A goddess?

Just her personal “battery,” that’s all.

No need to care so much about it…no need…

But at that thought, Ilea suddenly felt irritated.

Her mind kept replaying the scene from noon—in that dim room, pinning Viel down and forcefully taking what she wanted.

“Tch.”

Huff!

Ilea abruptly sat up.

The purple moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, shining on the tips of her ears—now faintly flushed red.

“Seriously, making it so I can’t even sleep well.”

The young lady muttered to herself, not even sure who exactly she was complaining about.

In the end, she still pulled out that piece of parchment from her bosom and started studying the captured wandering souls inside.