When Lai and Marilyn approached the second cell door and looked through the tiny barred window, they saw a young woman sitting on the floor with her back facing them. She was wearing a light-colored blouse and bck skirt, but her long bck hair hid her face. Her head was bowed low, resting on her knees.

  Lai didn't know who it was, but Marilyn did, "Hey, is that Grace? Are you alright, Grace?"

  "M-Marilyn, is that you?! Thank the gods, you're okay!... Oh, and Lai is with you," Grace said, turning around and looking through the bars.

  "Grace! I'm so happy to see you! We'll get you out. Just hold on," Marilyn said excitedly.

  “Amazing! But wait—who rescued you? It can’t be Lucius, right? How did you manage to escape?” Grace asked, her disbelief evident as she struggled to grasp the situation.

  “Actually, it was Lai who came to my rescue. She’s the one with the pn to get us all out of this mess,” Marilyn expined, nodding towards Lai with a grateful smile.

  Grace stood out as the third most enchanting woman in the vilge of Ars. With her flowing bck hair that danced in the breeze, a graceful, slender figure, and a captivating smile that could light up even the cloudiest day, she truly left a sting impression. Her delicate beauty was complemented by her charming features, making her the kind of person who effortlessly drew attention wherever she went.

  The bck-haired young woman stood up quickly and hurried over to the door, peering at Lai with an expression of wonderment and awe. At first, but then she couldn't help but notice that Lai looked different. She thought it was the low light coming from the single ntern in the room, but she could swear Lai had two tiny horns coming from her forehead.

  "Step aside, Marilyn. I'll unlock the door," Lai said.

  Marilyn nodded and stepped back to give Lai space to work with.

  "Alright, tail. Do your thing," Lai commanded as she pointed her spade tail at the lock.

  As Grace caught sight of Lai's tail, a chill raced down her spine. What stood before her might have had Lai's familiar face, but the dark, twisted appendage told a different story—it was a demon, and a wave of dread washed over her.

  'W-WHAT!?... It can't be true! Is Lai a demon, or is a demon using her body?!... I-I need to warn Marilyn! Wait!? Or is Marilyn under this demon's spell?'

  The spade end of her tail moved on its own, entering the lock and moving around its inner workings. The sound of the lock opening echoed throughout the small, cramped room, and the door slowly swung open.

  Grace remained rooted to the spot in the cell; her gaze fixated on Lai's tail, a flicker of terror evident in her wide eyes. Panic coursed through her veins, but escape was impossible. The walls felt like they were closing in, leaving her with nowhere to flee.

  "Grace? Come on, I'll get you out of that dirty pce," Lai said, unaware that Grace could see her horns.

  "D-Demon..." Grace stammered.

  "Huh? D-Did you say something, Grace?"

  "You... You are a demon," Grace accused, her voice trembling.

  Lai's blood ran cold as her hood fell off, revealing her bright red hair and the horns on her head.

  "I-It's true, isn't it? That you are a demon."

  "Gah!? Stupid hood!... N-No, I'm not a demon! Well, maybe I am, but I haven't changed, Grace," Lai responded as she tried covering her head again.

  "Y-You don't deny it!? Then... You are controlling Marilyn! You want to eat us!"

  "E-Eat?! Of course not!... And I'm not controlling Marilyn. We are trying to save you and the other prisoners."

  Marilyn had never seen Grace this scared before, and Lai didn't look threatening at all, "Calm down, Grace. Miss Velno rescued me and is here to help you."

  Grace shook her head vigorously, retreating further into the shadows of her cell while keeping a wary eye on Lai. "No, you don’t understand," she insisted, her voice trembling with urgency. "She is pure evil—The Demon Lord's Mistress! Once she has us alone, she'll have her way with us! And I'm a virgin!"

  Lai groaned, and her succubus tail swayed angrily. "Stop being stupid, Grace. First, you say that I am going to eat you, and now I'm going to have my way with you? Really?... Use your brain, Grace! I'm still Lai Velno. Even if I have a tail and horns, I'm still me."

  Marilyn nodded in agreement, "Yeah, and if Miss Velno were to take advantage of me, she would have done it while we were alone in the brig. And... I trust her. I trust that Miss Velno would not harm us, even if she is a demon."

  Lai and Marilyn watched Grace shaking her head and turning to try to climb the wall, but there were no windows, and the walls were made of sturdy oak.

  "I will not be fooled by a demon!... Don't come near me! I won't let you have my innocence! I won't let you corrupt me! My soul is pure and holy!" Grace cried out in terror as she hid behind the metal bed frame.

  'Holy Soul? Gods be damned, Grace has gone insane... I-I really need to apologize to Chase. He wasn't even mad at me when I came at him with my sword. If only I could show her that I'm not a threat,' Lai thought.

  The succubus knight stood at a crossroads, unsure of how to reach the panicked young woman before her. Tension crackled in the air, a mix of frustration and urgency swelling within her. She could see the fear in Grace's eyes, a wild spark that hinted at fight-or-flight instincts taking over. It was as if a thick fog had descended, obscuring crity and reason. Lai knew she needed to break through the haze of anxiety and help calm Grace’s racing heart, but how?

  "Lai, what should we do?" Marilyn whispered, worried for her friend.

  "I... I don't know. Grace is scared of me... M-Maybe I should find the others, and hopefully, she'll calm down," Lai whispered.

  Marilyn noticed the pain etched on Lai's face and, feeling a surge of concern, made her way over to Grace, determined to find a way to help.

  "Grace. Look at me. Do I look like I'm under a spell? I'm okay, and Lai is my savior," Marilyn pleaded, stepping closer to Grace who looked like a cornered animal.

  "Get away from me, Marilyn! S-She's a demon. A demon will take our souls! The church taught us about these creatures of darkness, and their leader is the Demon Lord. She wants to steal our innocence!" Grace cried out.

  Marilyn's brow furrowed in anger as she raised her hand. The sharp crack of her sp echoing against the tense silence surprised Grace into stunned silence.

  "Get ahold of yourself, Grace! She's Lai. We've known her for three years. You know she wouldn't hurt us, and all you are doing is causing trouble," Marilyn scolded the frightened young woman.

  "N-No, it can't be true... Y-You're under her spell. Once you get corrupted, there's no going back! Y-You will lose your innocence and become a sinner!" Grace said defiantly.

  Lai sighed in defeat, 'There's no turning back?... But I don't feel any different, and Chase hasn't forced me to do anything I didn't want to do... And he left my soul intact. If he were a bad person, he would have taken my soul. But he didn't. He gave me a choice. So, Grace is wrong! Even if my human body was corrupted into a succubus, I'm still the same... That means my soul is still mine. It hasn't been taken from me.'

  Lai closed her eyes and thought of Chase, imagining him smiling at her. The memory of his tender words and soft touch flooded her mind, stirring a warmth in her chest. This reconfirmed what she already knew. He had shown her kindness and respect she had never experienced. He had treated her like an equal, giving her the freedom to make her own choices, and for that, she felt a deep appreciation. She had seen the compassion in his eyes and heard the honesty in his voice. There was a gentleness in his touch, a sincerity in his words.

  "She's not a monster!" Marilyn shouted, her voice rising with fierce determination. "Remember the kind-hearted knight who came to our rescue when our cart broke down or helped us track down that missing goat? Just look into her eyes—there's no malice there!" Her gaze bore into Grace, challenging her to see the truth.

  Grace turned to Lai, studying her eyes closely. They sparkled with a warmth so familiar, reminiscent of the woman she had met long ago. A soft glow shimmered within them, hinting at courage and kindness that could never be evil. They even glowed a bit like an angel's.

  Grace's gut was telling her that Marilyn was right, but her mind was fighting it. Everything she had ever learned about demons was screaming at her, warning her not to be deceived.

  "B-But she's a demon..." Grace muttered weakly.

  "It doesn't matter. She's still a knight. And a knight protects those in need. She didn't come to ensve us or corrupt us. She's here to save us," Marilyn argued, her eyes fshing with passion.

  Grace paused, her heart racing as she weighed her options. The air was thick with tension, and each possibility seemed to loom rger than the st. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, grappling with the gravity of her choices.

  'Do I run out of this room and into the demon's hands or accept that Miss Velno is here to help me and the other prisoners?' Grace thought as she stared at the open door.

  "How can you believe her words, Marilyn? Demons lie, you know. They say things to corrupt your heart. How do you know that she isn't tricking you? She's a demon. She could be maniputing you to follow her," Grace countered.

  Marilyn struggled to find the right words. Deep down, her instincts whispered that Lai was anything but evil. She couldn’t shake the unwavering trust she had in her friend, who had always been a beacon of loyalty and kindness. Lai had never once given her a reason to question her character, and that familiarity tugged at Marilyn’s heart, urging her to stand by her.

  "Listen, Grace," Marilyn insisted, her voice steady yet imploring. "If Lai truly wanted to trick or ensve us, she would’ve done it by now. We have to trust her. But if you can’t see that, we might as well leave you here. It’s your call."

  Grace crossed her arms, defiance etched on her face. “I refuse to take her word for it, Marilyn. Trust a demon? That’s not happening.”

  Lai felt a pang of disappointment at Grace’s words. She had longed to show her friend that she was different, that she could be trusted. But at this moment, all of that seemed out of reach.

  'Fine... If Grace doesn't trust me, then that's her problem. I got other women to save. And if Grace is a lost cause, I will not waste my time here. The next prisoner may be more reasonable.' Lai thought as she watched the two women bicker in front of her.

  "Well, we'll leave you be, Grace. I'm sorry that this didn't turn out as pnned," Lai’s voice wavered with a hint of sadness as she pivoted on her heels and walked away from Grace’s cell, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

  Marilyn spun around to face Grace, her expression a storm of anger. “I hope you’re proud of yourself, Grace,” she spat, the venom in her words slicing through the air. “Lai just saved us from being sold off to Gods knows who!”

  Grace felt a jolt of disbelief. She had never seen Marilyn speak to her with such harshness before, and the sharpness of her words stung more than she anticipated.

  'S-She must have been corrupted. Y-Yeah, the Marilyn I know would have never talked to me like that. But how am I supposed to survive alone if there are demons nearby? What if Lai is working for the Demon Lord, and they come back to eat my soul?'

  Marilyn's heart raced with disappointment as she turned away from Grace, who showed no hint of remorse for her hurtful words about Lai. Determined to make things right, Marilyn stormed out of the room, her mind set on finding Lai and offering her support in the face of the other prisoners.

  “W-Wait, Marilyn! Don’t leave me—Oof!” Grace’s voice broke through the tension as she attempted to follow, but fear froze her legs in pce. In an instant, she stumbled, crashing onto her stomach with a heavy thud, the weight of her emotions holding her down. "Gah!? Stupid legs!... Why won't they move?!"

  Left alone in her dim cell, Grace gritted her teeth, willing her body to cooperate as she fought against the panic and terror swirling inside her. It was hard to stay calm, but she tried taking slow, steady breaths, hoping it would give her strength to get on her feet.

  ***

  Lai walked over to the next cell room door. But unlike the first two cells, this one was enclosed with no windows, and a heavy steel padlock kept the occupant from escaping. She was hesitant to open it at first, wondering if the prisoner inside will just freakout like Grace.

  "I-I can't let my fear get the best of me... I-I need to focus on saving the rest of the prisoners, not thinking about how they are going to react." Lai muttered, steeling her resolve.

  With a determined flick of her tail, she edged closer to the hefty padlock. Her heart raced as she maneuvered it into the keyhole, feeling the satisfying click as the lock released. It fell to the ground with a thunderous thud, echoing in the silence. As she swung the heavy door open, her breath caught in her throat. Before her y eight lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor, their stillness sending a chill coursing through her veins.

  “Oh Gods,” Lai breathed, her voice trembling as she took in the horrifying sight, the weight of the moment pressing heavily upon her chest. Just then, Marilyn emerged from behind her, her expression mirroring Lai's shock and disbelief. The reality of the scene settled in around them like a dark veil.

  "W-What happened to them? Miss Velno, what do we do?" Marilyn's eyes darted to Lai, pleading for an answer, but all the knight could do was stare bnkly ahead.

  Lai raced into the dimly lit cell, her heart pounding as she braced herself for the unimaginable. The scene that awaited her was a nightmare come to life. As she drew closer to the still forms of the women strewn across the floor, a chill crawled up her spine. It was clear that they were all lifeless, their skin an eerie pale white, and their eyes gzed over as if they had seen too much of the world’s darkness. The air hung heavy with a sense of tragic finality, and Lai could feel the weight of their silent stories pressing down on her. The one thing that stood out was all the blood coming out of their mouths. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Lai to notice that these women had died a painful death.

  "It seems they've been poisoned. And the blood is a sign that they died choking on their own blood."

  "N-No... W-Why?" Marilyn muttered weakly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stood at the door.

  Lai stood frozen, her eyes locked onto the haunting tableau of lifeless girls sprawled before her. Each face was strikingly familiar, and it was as if echoes of their ughter still danced in her memory. A chill slithered down her spine, a cruel reminder of the vibrant lives that had been extinguished too soon. She could almost hear their voices, recalling the sunlit days spent in the vilge, where they meandered through the fields, their ughter weaving a tapestry of joy against the backdrop of everyday life.

  Among them, the youthful features of the girls still bore a ghostly radiance, their innocence preserved in death. Lai's heart ached for the memories shared—stories exchanged under the sprawling trees, secrets whispered on the wind. Yet amidst the chorus of lost youth stood the nun, who seemed to embody a stark contrast, her mid-twenties visage etched with somber wisdom that death had not cimed. The juxtaposition of vibrant innocence and profound tragedy enveloped Lai, creating a heavy weight on her chest, an indelible mark carved deep within her heart that would forever remind her of the fleeting nature of life.

  Marilyn's voice trembled as she covered her mouth in horror. "D-Did they really take poison?"

  Yes, they chose to end their lives before the mayor could exploit them?” Lai replied, her voice heavy with sorrow as she stepped closer to the nun’s lifeless body. A small bag y at Sister Margaret's side, its contents spilling out—delicate flower petals drifting slowly to the floor.

  “It’s a tragedy, dear Sister Margaret... You thought you were saving everyone from a cruel fate. If only she knew that I was coming,” Lai whispered, gently closing the nun's eyes, her heart aching for the choices made in despair.

  Marilyn stepped forward, her gaze drawn to the petals scattered around them. “Sister Margaret had ‘Silent Night’ in her possession,” she gasped, the weight of the revetion hitting her like a cold wave.

  "Yeah... I was too slow to—"

  *Cough! Cough!*

  One of the teenage girls y on the cold floor, coughing violently, her breath coming in shallow gasps as crimson droplets stained her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, but the once-bright spark within them seemed dim and unfocused, a haunting pallor overtaking her youthful complexion.

  Lai and Marilyn exchanged shocked gnces, disbelief coursing through them as they realized that Fiona, against all odds, was still clinging to life.

  “Oh, thank the Gods, someone's alive!” Marilyn excimed, her voice a mix of relief and desperation, cutting through the tension that hung in the air like a tempest.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, Lai sprang into action, her heart racing as she knelt beside Fiona. Gently yet urgently, she scooped the fragile girl into her arms, feeling the weight of her frail body press against her. With a surge of adrenaline, she dashed out of the dimly lit room, every instinct urging her to escape the looming shadows of despair.

  'Hang in there, Fiona. I won't let you die.'

  Fiona was a striking figure in the vilge of Ars, with her flowing brown hair and a charming pink dress that fluttered around her as she moved. Her captivating dark brown eyes would sparkle with curiosity, and she stood just a bit shorter than her friend Grace, which added to her endearing presence. As the daughter of a merchant, Fiona carried an air of spirited confidence, and a tiny mole on her left cheek gave her an unmistakable character that drew people in, but she was at death's doorstep.

  'Chase is the only one who can save her now. Even if she gets turned into something other than human, at least she'll live. I will not allow her to die!'

  "Don't worry, Fiona, you will be okay. Stay strong, and hang on!" Lai called out, her voice tinged with desperation, as she raced down the long hallway of the brig.

  Lai burst out of the dim confines of the brig, cradling Fiona tightly in her arms as she sprinted up the creaking staircase. Her heart raced with urgency; she had to reach the ship's deck before it was too te. “Just hold on, Fiona! We’re nearly there!” she urged, desperation creeping into her voice.

  Fiona’s face remained pale and sorrowful, the flicker of life in her eyes dimming with each passing moment. Lai’s thoughts were consumed with hope—hope that Chase would be waiting for them, ready to save the girl from the clutches of death.

  ***

  Grace could finally sense the warmth returning to her legs. After a few clumsy tries, she managed to push herself up and stand tall for the first time. But just as she was about to step out of her cell, Lai suddenly dashed by like a bolt of lightning. Startled, Grace instinctively leaped back, only to lose her bance and tumble down onto the cold floor once more, nding squarely on her ass.

  'W-What was that?!... O-Oh no, was she carrying a body?'

  As Lai vanished into the hallway with surreal speed while carrying a young girl in her arms, a sense of dread welled up in Grace's chest. She quickly rose to her feet and scrambled to the door frame.

  'I-I didn't know that demons were that strong! Who was in her arms? It wasn't—'

  "M-Marilyn?!" Grace shouted, panic cing her voice as she watched her friend dash past her in pursuit of Lai.

  "It's Fiona! Sister Margaret gave everyone in her cell Silent Night petals, and she's the only survivor!" Marilyn called out as she chased after Lai, her blonde hair flowing wildly behind her.

  Grace stood stunned, her mind reeling as the words sank in. She knew what the poison could do to someone. It causes the victim to bleed internally. And the only cure was an antidote that only a high-ranking alchemist could make.

  "P-Poison!?... Wait, Marilyn! Ugh! Stupid legs! Get up!... Damn it!" Grace cursed herself up, and slowly, her legs began to move, carrying her out of the cell and following after Marilyn.

  'I don't know what I can do, but I need to make sure that Lai doesn't eat their souls or whatever! And Marilyn needs my help!' Grace thought as her pace quickened, her determination renewed.