Once again, she wore a short skirt that barely reached above her knees, paired with boots.

“I wasn’t exactly eager to see you again.”

“That demon… last time…”

At that moment, Meteor also recognized Aldred.

How could he not?

This time, it felt like Aldred had specifically targeted me by opening the dungeon. He had mocked Meteor by saying, “An unnecessary pest rolled in with you?”—a clear sign of his intent.

Sharp-witted as he was, Meteor must have been bothered by those words.

Aldred had likely intended to summon me to the Demon Realm, and Meteor, who was with me, had been dragged along as collateral damage.

I decided to act shamelessly.

“Hey, we were just about to head to bed. What’s the big idea summoning us here? Send us back right now!”

“How disrespectful. Do you even know how many years older I am than you?”

“I couldn’t care less about showing respect to a demon!”

“Daring to speak to someone old enough to be your mother like that!”

Aldred’s expression turned terrifying for a moment.

She looked about fifteen in human years—what did she mean by “old enough to be my mother”?

Her face, twisted in a terrifying grimace as if about to explode, quickly calmed. Aldred raised the corners of her lips in a sly smile.

“…Fine. What’s the point of arguing with a child? But you’d better brace yourself. Do you even know where you are? This is where generations of my ancestors lie in rest—a place where I’m stronger than anywhere else.”

A devilish laugh echoed from Aldred, her amusement clear.

She had summoned me to the Aldred family’s ancestral graveyard for a reason, after all.

Whatever her motives, one thing was certain—I had to kill Aldred here and now. If she lived, more trouble would undoubtedly follow.

Just then, Meteor’s whisper reached me.

“Be careful, Crescent. That demon seems even stronger than before. And the killing intent…”

“I understand.”

Before I could finish my reply, a sudden gust of wind swept past, tossing my hair into the air.

Shhh! A swift sound of air being cut followed.

A silver blade slashed through the hazy light of the air.

Before the remnants of that light fully disappeared, Meteor’s sword struck Aldred from behind, imbued with immense divine power.

Aldred flinched and retreated, clearly caught off guard by the sudden attack.

At the spot she had occupied, a lock of black hair fell to the ground, still braided in a spiral.

It had been attached to Aldred’s head moments before.

“!”

Did he just cut her hair?

Aldred’s widened eyes darted to one of her twin braids, now missing.

Gone!

Realizing it was truly gone, Aldred glared at Meteor with a murderous gaze.

“You dare cut my hair? The hair of someone soon to be a bride?”

“Is she really stronger now?” Meteor retorted in a low voice, gripping his sword tighter.

I couldn’t help but be in awe.

I hadn’t thought Meteor stood a chance against Aldred.

Even Cardinal Reuben had only been able to fight Duke Ismir, ranked 147th in the Demon Realm, to a standstill. Aldred, ranked slightly lower than Ismir, should have been far beyond Meteor’s ability.

And now, Aldred was even more powerful than usual.

Yet Meteor had cut her hair?

‘Meteor seems different somehow. Could it be…?’

As the thought crossed my mind, the saints reacted.

<"Dragon Slayer Sylvester" says, "That’s chivalry for you.">

<"From Maid to Saintess—Astina" exclaims, "Meteor is amplifying his power to protect you!" She lets out a squeal, her face turning red.>

<"Yuri-loving Druid Gabriella" comments, "That’s not exactly a good method. Overexerting himself will cause his body to fail and make him lose consciousness quickly.">

‘Oh no…’

My suspicions were right.

Meteor wouldn’t be able to sustain himself for long after that attack. His sneak attack had been intended to raise his chances of success.

He must have known he couldn’t defeat Aldred with his usual strength.

However, as long as Aldred’s attention was focused on Meteor, he wouldn’t be able to find an opening for another attack.

‘I need to divert Aldred’s attention to me.’

Quietly, I gripped the Pluto family’s heirloom dagger, Pinky.

Channeling more divine power into it, I sent a desperate command.

‘Stay hidden for now. When I signal, rush in and aim for her vital points.’

Shhh…

The blade dimmed its glow, hovering silently in the air.

I also unsheathed my own sword and smirked at the demon with a single braid now hanging down.

“Oh dear, what should we do? Should I cut off the other one for you?”

Aldred’s gaze snapped toward me.

Got it!

Meteor was now out of her line of sight.

Quick-witted as ever, Meteor didn’t miss the opportunity. As soon as Aldred’s focus shifted, he leapt into action, and I charged toward Aldred at the same time.

‘I need to keep her eyes on me.’

With that singular determination, I shouted.

“Pinky, now!”

The dagger spun and shot forward, its blade aimed directly at Aldred.

Aldred clenched the air, and a scythe with a massive, gleaming blade materialized in her hand. Its length and size were intimidating, as though it belonged to the Grim Reaper himself.

A doll-like demon wielding such a weapon—it was unnerving.

Clang!

Aldred’s scythe collided with Pinky.

But that wasn’t the main issue.

‘What’s Meteor doing?’

I had avoided glancing toward Meteor to keep Aldred from catching on.

“Ugh.”

A faint groan from Meteor reached me.

I turned toward him, and what I saw shocked me.

Bones had erupted from the ground, wrapping around Meteor’s limbs and dragging him down into the earth.

He struggled, resisting with all his might, but the bones held him firmly, pulling him deeper into the ground.

“Meteor!”

I instinctively tried to run toward him.

But Aldred blocked my path, dragging her scythe toward my neck.

“!”

The sharp blade encircled my throat, holding me in place.

“Ha! Did you really think I wouldn’t notice, little brats? I’m not my usual self here.”

The blade hovered perilously close to my skin.

It was terrifying, but I refused to flinch, glaring up at Aldred.

“What do you gain from killing us?”

“Obviously, I need to kill you. I’ll do whatever it takes to win his favor.”

I glanced toward Meteor.

He was on the verge of being completely buried.

“Seems like I’m the one you really want. Just let him go.”

“You’re worrying about someone else when your neck’s in my hands?”

Crack!

A sickening sound echoed as Meteor’s body was dragged entirely underground. In an instant, he vanished.

“Meteor!”

It felt like my heart had plummeted into the ground with him.

I tried to move, but Aldred pulled her scythe tighter, pinning me in place.

Frantically, I reached out to the saints.

‘Is Meteor dead?’

<"Dragon Slayer Sylvester" mutters that he doesn’t like spoilers.>

‘No, I’m asking if he’s dead!’

<"Dragon Slayer Sylvester" reluctantly answers, "He’s not dead." He sounds dejected, claiming your yelling hurt his feelings.>

<"Yuri-loving Druid Gabriella" adds, "Meteor has lost consciousness.">

‘Thank goodness.’

But if he stayed buried for long, his life would surely be in danger.

This place was steeped in heavy Magi, and the soil was the densest concentration of it.

If time dragged on, Meteor could die.

‘Unless he escapes quickly, we’re in serious trouble.’

I needed to deal with Aldred before that happened.

Aldred’s laughter brought my attention back to her.

Her severed hair was growing back, braid and all, exactly as it had been.

‘Ugh, she’s such a demon…’

“Shall I cut your hair too? The Demon King himself would like that.”

“What exactly do I want?”

A new voice echoed suddenly.

It was someone who hadn’t been in this space before.