On the other side, specifically in room 3-27 of the Bright Light Hotel in Bright Light City, which someone had just mentioned…

 

After giving Prakaka some precautions and confirming that everything was more or less foolproof, Violet, who had already removed the 【Dominion of the Fox Mask】, retracted her distant avatar projection. With a sigh of relief, she unceremoniously flopped backward onto the soft hotel bed, sprawled out in a relaxed, “大” shape, and stared absentmindedly at the magical lamp on the ceiling, which emitted a gentle glow.

 

“That should just about cover everything… Ugh, suddenly it feels like my schedule is packed, and I’ve turned into a very busy person. Tomorrow morning, I think I still need to visit the Spirit Veil Merchant Guild to see Yuna and that old Diviner… But the King of Corruption and the Four Demon Lords, huh…”

 

Sounds interesting.

 

I wonder what the Demon Realm is really like. If we go by Sethlin’s theory of multiple worlds, it should be a large world similar to Aibus. But considering that demons usually come here by opening portals or through summoning rituals without fixed locations, it seems to differ from a place like the Abyss, which is connected by borders.

 

Could it be that these two worlds aren’t actually connected at all?

 

Those Demon Lords… From all the rumors that paint them as nearly invincible, far beyond the reach of mere mortals, it’s almost as if their arrival would mean the end of the world. They’re probably at least on the level of true gods, maybe even greater. If I ever have to face one, I wonder if I’d be able to handle it…

 

Like a little caterpillar, the petite black-haired girl rolled around on the bed with remarkable agility, and the freshly changed white pajamas she wore quickly became wrinkled and creased.

 

However, in her natural state of laziness when in private, she didn’t care about such things. Facing upwards, she playfully used her hand to block the light from the ceiling, then let out a lazy yawn.

 

“Ha~ who cares, anyway, those guys can’t come here, it’s impossible for us to run into each other, so whatever~ Time to say goodbye to anxiety, just chill out!”

 

Muttering without any decorum, the girl’s light breathing soon filled the room as she fell into a deep sleep.

 

The night grew deeper.

 

But some people still couldn’t sleep.

 

“Doo-doo-doo~ doo-doo-loo doo-doo~ doo-doo-loo doo-doo~”

 

A bizarre figure, humming an unintelligible tune, wandered through the empty streets in the dead of night.

 

“Doo-doo-loo doo-loo doo… Oh~?”

 

It turned around, seemingly having discovered something interesting.

 

A standard temple knight squad consisting of five members was approaching. They were equipped with full-body white armor, long swords, and shields, and included Holy Knights, arbiters, and other classes.

 

They were on a nighttime patrol mission and had come to investigate the unusual sounds that shouldn’t have been there.

 

The figure’s gaze fixed on the blonde knight leading the group, and it smiled with an eerie delight. It didn’t move, simply standing still and waiting for the inevitable encounter.

 

Twenty meters, ten meters, five meters—they were getting closer.

 

“Hmm? What is this…”

 

The female captain of the Holy Knight squad stared at it for a long while, exchanging glances with her colleagues. Her previously vigilant and serious expression softened slightly. She sheathed her sword, which was glowing with holy light, and carefully crouched down, as if afraid of frightening it.

 

“Little sister, it’s so late. Why are you out here alone? Are you from Bright Light City? How about I help you find your mommy and daddy?”

 

“Hee-hee…”

 

The voice that emerged was the clear and melodious tone of a young girl, but it sounded bizarre. The knights could not see her expression but could clearly see its.

 

Because it was wearing a mask, a mask interwoven with black and white, with a crazed smile showing a joyful but disturbing expression.

 

“Hey, captain, I have a bad feeling about this…”

 

The knights behind her noticed its oddness and gave a low warning. They raised their holy swords once more, appearing on high alert.

 

Alert… alert… hee-hee-hee… What kind of expression is that for an alert?

 

It pondered, feeling curious.

 

The leading female knight seemed to sense the strange and dangerous aura as well. She discreetly placed her right hand back on the sword hilt but continued to crouch in front of it, trying to smile as gently as possible.

 

“Little sister, why aren’t you speaking? We’re not bad people, we’re messengers of light and knights of the goddess. Don’t be afraid. Let us help you get home, okay?”

 

“Hee-hee-hee…”

 

The goddess’s knights… light… It was searching, it was curious.

 

She was on guard, and it was curious about this emotion. It was distorting, wanting to imitate, not knowing how to imitate.

 

“By the way, this little mask is quite unique. It even moves. What kind of new toy is this… Ahhhhhhhh!!!”

 

It erupted, attaching itself, plundering, and draining the pure soul!

 

Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!!! Curiosity! New emotions! Information about the light! It needed it!!!

 

“By the goddess, what is this thing!!”

 

“Senior Josh, the girl has collapsed!”

 

“Captain, are you okay!?”

 

“Run… run away…! You all quickly run and take…”

 

I see… I see… This is alertness, this is a wonderful emotion, it understood.

 

It absorbed, it was satisfied. Her trembling gradually ceased, her emotions and memories turned into nourishment. She became it. The new body slowly stood upright, grasping the weapon with a blade. It began to imitate.

 

“Hee-hee…”

 

“C-Captain?”

 

“Hey, wait a minute. Look… is that mask changing…”

 

“Pffft!”

 

It swung the weapon, and the head encased in armor flew through the sky, stained with blood.

 

“Senior Josh!!!”

 

“Captain!? Are you insane!!!”

 

Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!!! What is this, what is this? Is it fear? Or confusion! How delicious!

 

“That mask must be problematic! Jeremy, go back and report! We’ll buy some time!”

 

“But…!”

 

“For the goddess’s sake, stop talking and go!!!”

 

“Yes…! I’ll return as quickly as possible! You must hold on!”

 

Some fled, but it didn’t care.

 

“Hee-hee-hee…”

 

It licked the hot blood and soul from the sword, craving more emotions. Not enough, not nearly enough. These weak souls weren’t even enough to fill the gaps between its teeth.

 

“Breathe deeply, Daren. Reinforcements should arrive soon. Focus on defense, and be careful not to hurt the captain. Watch out for that strange black-and-white mask. I suspect it’s a parasitic creature, possibly even a demon. That little girl was probably subjected to the same thing, and now it has changed its host.”

 

“Okay, be very careful too, but if this parasitic monster can use the captain’s full strength, just the two of us might…”

 

“Don’t talk despairingly! Let’s go!”

 

“Alright!”

 

“Hee-hee-hee…”

 

More emotions churned, more information… It needed, it searched, it hadn’t found… It was searching… for the light…

 

So, let’s begin feeding…