Accept me.

“It has begun... There’s no turning back now.”

Marcus stood frozen, fists clenched. He was terrified—and yet, filled with a desperate resolve.

To save Illya. Even if it was hopeless, he had to try.

Before him, Illya was changing.

Demonization.

A dark mist slowly coiled around her body. Illya trembled, clutching her head in both hands.

“Aaaah—! No! Get out of my head!”

Her scream echoed, voice shaking with terror.

“A battle is raging inside her mind,” Marcus muttered. “If she loses... she won’t be herself anymore.”

He watched as Illya dropped to her knees, consumed by the torment within. She wasn’t breaking physically—but spiritually.

Her heart wasn’t just fighting a demon.

She was fighting herself.

---

Inside Illya’s Mind

“Stop resisting,” whispered a voice. Cold. Inhuman.

“You’ve already lost. Accept it. Whether you like it or not, you’ll become a demon... just with a pretty human face.”

“No! I’m not a demon!” Illya screamed. “Don’t compare me to you!”

A dark figure crept closer. Illya stepped back—shaking, but defiant.

“Afraid of me?” the demon mocked.

“N-no… I’m not afraid…” she whispered.

But she couldn’t believe her own words.

Not because she feared the demon—

But because deep down, she feared she had already become one.

“You’re hiding your true self,” it continued. “Beg all you like—no one will forgive you. You’re selfish. Weak. Always pretending to be something you’re not.”

“Stop… talking…”

Illya clutched her ears, trembling.

“You're worse than I am, but you can't accept that, can you?”

The demon leaned in, its voice soft—almost tender.

“Accept me.”

Her thoughts blurred. Her heart faltered.

She no longer knew who she was—or whether anyone would forgive her if they found out the truth.

“…Fine,” Illya whispered. Barely audible.

“I accept you.”

The demon smiled. Wide. Satisfied.

---

Outside, the black mist thickened rapidly. Illya’s body began to change.

“W-What?! Already?!” Marcus stumbled back. “She’s already half-demon…”

> “It seems... this is her fate,” the System remarked coldly.

Marcus rushed forward, grabbing her shoulders.

“Illya! Wake up!! This isn’t you!” he shouted, shaking her.

“Please... You can’t become a monster…”

His voice cracked. It was raw desperation. But she didn’t respond.

---

Inside Illya’s Mind

The darkness consumed everything.

She stopped resisting.

She believed she didn’t deserve to be herself.

And then—

A flicker.

A memory.

Sunlight.

A quiet room, smelling of cloth and tea.

A girl with chestnut braids.

“Illya, you can’t sew like that!” puffed her childhood friend, Marianne.

“I just… can’t do it…” Illya sighed. “I guess sewing’s not for me…”

“Why?” Marianne sat beside her. “You just can’t give up!”

“This is my third try…” Illya held up a crooked handkerchief.

“You’re making it for your dad, right?” Marianne smiled gently.

“Yeah… His birthday’s soon. I just want him to praise me. Just once…”

Marianne hugged her tightly.

“Then as long as you put your heart into it, it’ll turn out great. Just never give up, okay?”

The memory faded.

“…I’m sorry, Marianne,” Illya whispered.

“I… gave up. I didn’t choose you…”

---

The mist outside closed in completely.

Illya was gone.

Standing in her place was a horned demon.

But deep in its gaze… a faint light still flickered.

“Damn it… Damn it!!”

Marcus trembled, barely able to stay standing.

He had to know what came next.

He activated Written Story.

> [12:50 — Illya becomes a demon.

12:55 — Alrik awakens.

13:00 — Battle begins between Alrik and the demon.

13:05 — Instructor Irma Delar intervenes.

13:10 — The demon dies.

Next: No data.]

Mana: 220 / 500

Marcus lowered his hand.

“…So no matter what… she dies?”

His voice cracked. His chest ached.

He knew everything.

And yet, he couldn’t change a thing.

Others were ignorant.

But they still had a chance to act.

“Will you be the first?”

The demon’s voice pierced the air like a needle.

> “No matter how hard you try… this is her fate,”

said the System, emotionless.

Marcus looked down.

“…I’m sorry, Illya,” he whispered.

“I couldn’t save you…

I’m not the author.

I’m just his shadow.”