Chapter 75: Simona Thinks There Is Still a Chance

The Saintess began to sob.

Although she had once told all the knights that showing weakness on the battlefield was mercy to the enemy and cruelty to one’s comrades,

she still could not accept it.

What she found even harder to bear was that Lady Gabriella was still alive, yet she herself was about to become her enemy.

She had to confirm it, yet she could not overcome the coordination of the two before her.

She could trade her life for one of theirs… But ever since that day the crack appeared, she had begun to fear—deep in her heart—being abandoned.

If I break, she will never look at me again.

“Miss Saintess?”

Elsa slowly drew closer. 

Now she felt a trace of guilt.

In fact, she had made the Saintess cry.

Just moments ago, Elsa had confirmed that the Saintess definitely had some connection to Gabriella. 

She had gambled correctly, yet she had never expected the Saintess to actually cry. 

Back in the knight order, the Saintess had always been the one scolding everyone.

Tina glared at her fiercely, but seeing that Elsa had already resolved the issue, she lowered her hands.

“Elsa, what do we do with her?”

“Take her with us.”

Elsa said.

“Since she is Big Sister’s belonging, there is no need to let her go.”

“Mmm.”

Tina nodded.

She had long wanted to punish this overbearing Saintess.

Elsa controlled the shadows binding the Saintess, gently lifting her up.

This power was nearly identical to Big Sister Gabriella’s. 

What was once pure silver-white had now been tainted pitch-black. 

It could not only suppress any non-homologous power and pin it down, but even erode the enemy’s mind. 

The Saintess had likely been affected by the shadows to some degree.

The Saintess was then carried in Tina’s arms. 

The two of them brought her along toward the direction where Gabriella and the Demon King were.

On the way, the Saintess spoke:

“I will handle the matter with Philina, but… you must keep your promise.”

“Mmm~”

Elsa leaned into Tina’s embrace and smiled.

“The Holy Queen’s side should be just about wrapped up by now, right?”

At the same time, Simona—subdued by massive shadow claws—trembled. 

She opened her eyes wide, incredulously discovering a fact too difficult to accept.

The Saintess’s power had vanished. 

This meant she had already lost.

This was completely unexpected.

Who… exactly could defeat—even utterly overpower—the Saintess?

Among the demons, aside from the Demon King, did such a being truly exist? 

Could it be Liya?!

Yet even she, five years ago, would not have been defeated by Liya without any resistance.

But she had little time to ponder this question.

Because her own situation was much the same.

However.

If she could break free from the shadows in a short time and use a teleportation scroll, there would be no problem.

Soon after,

she was bound by several demons who had descended from the sky and flown toward the Demon King’s Castle.

She knew what this meant.

For her, the Holy Queen, to be captured—the consequences would be unimaginable.

She had to find an opportunity to escape from here together with the Saintess.

They passed through the Demon King’s army and arrived at the Demon King’s Castle.

It was a city built upon a floating island.

The bricks, seemingly made of special black stone, rendered nearly every building uniformly pitch-black. 

Ghostly blue flames made the atmosphere even more eerie.

At night, beneath the vast starry sky, the city resembled a gigantic beast slowly breathing.

One could see bustling demons on the streets. 

The bizarre demons that had once raged on battlefields were now living peaceful, prosperous lives.

They were even stronger than five years ago.

All of this was because the Demon King seemed to have gained a powerful subordinate, allowing the demon race to flourish so greatly.

She knew the existence that had made the demons this powerful was the Demon King herself. 

But without Gabriella’s help, she could never have overcome the current human forces.

Afterward,

she was imprisoned in a tall tower.

Once the demons left, she began observing her surroundings.

The space was vast and cold, though there was a small recessed room in one wall.

Around her neck was an iron collar-like ring connected to a cross in the center of the space.

She tried to break free from the chains.

“【Purification】”

As runes appeared on the back of her hand, orange-red flames ignited along the chains.

“Haa…”

Yet these chains seemed crafted from extremely special material—even she, as Holy Queen, could not forcibly destroy them.

But she felt she was still rather fortunate.

These demons had at least not treated her too poorly. 

There was no torture, no verbal abuse.

They were high-tier demons, and they were even wearing maid outfits?

The chain around her neck would automatically disappear when leaving the door.

She sat on the bed, gazing at the vast space around her with some bewilderment.

She needed to find an opportunity now.

Yet only five minutes passed before the door opened again.

Two demons entered.

They wore maid outfits, just like the demons who had brought her to the tower.

But when they drew close—when she could fully see their faces—Simona momentarily thought she was seeing an illusion.

They were actually Elsa and Tina?!

Dressed in white silk stockings and frilled dresses, all the dignity they once possessed as knights was utterly gone.

Only two maid-outfitted demons remained, exuding an aura of cuteness mixed with a trace of demonic charm.

“As expected…”

The Holy Queen did not look at them. She did not attempt to negotiate.

The two horns on Elsa’s head already proved she had submitted to the demons, just like Gabriella.

Behind them followed a silver-haired girl.

It was the Saintess, more familiar to Simona than anyone.

“Good evening, Miss Simona~”

“Lady Holy Queen.”

Elsa and Tina walked before her and performed a practiced maid’s curtsy.

For a moment, she recalled the image of the two pure knights slightly bowing before her, pledging loyalty. 

Their blue and white capes fluttered in the breeze, the medals of honor on their chests gleaming brilliantly under the sun.

Yet now, the two of them had… been defiled by the demons into this state—and were even willingly becoming demons?

Simona merely lowered her head and silently prayed for them, hoping that when she found the chance to purify the demons, they would not yet be completely consumed by the curse.

“Lady Holy Queen, please bear with sharing the night with Miss Saintess.”

Elsa said with a smile.

“Lady Gabriella is still very busy right now.”

Simona did not reply. 

She knew that when eroded by the curse, one would wholeheartedly become a loyal slave to the demons.

No matter what was said now, it would be useless.

“If there is nothing else, we will take our leave.”

When the two left and closed the door, Simona shifted her gaze to the Saintess.

She had lost as well. 

As expected, Tina and Elsa—corrupted by darkness—had surpassed the knights they once were.

The slight damage to her clothing proved it.

But still.

“Are you unharmed, Miss Saintess?”

Simona’s voice was firm.

“I’m fine…”

“Rest assured, Saintess. We have not lost yet… I have two teleportation scrolls here. Once I break the seal in this place, we can find an opportunity to escape.”

Yet the Saintess wore an expression of reluctance. She slowly walked to the bed and sat down.

A faint blush rose on her face.

“I… am not leaving.”

“Why?” Simona did not understand.

“I’m sorry, Holy Queen Simona.”

The Saintess’s eyes were hollow as she spoke calmly:

“I want to stay.”