Message from Yumi

We arrived in the city center. Sebastian was there, his eyes dark, poised to attack civilians.

Galadriel 's device , transforming herself into the Knight of Judgment.

She intercepted the blow, grabbing his arms.

"Sebastian! Wake up!" Melissa shouted desperately.

For a moment, he hesitated.

"If you kill me, he dies too. Our lives are intertwined." But then, a guttural voice echoed from within him:

Melissa fell to her knees, desperate.

Amid the chaos, he removed his armor, revealing his identity to the crowd.

People screamed in surprise… but not in fear.

— She's the queen!

— The Knight of Judgment!

She's protecting us!

The people started throwing stones and fruit at the parasite, distracting it. Melissa cried, deeply moved.

"Forgive me... I promise to save Sebastian!" she declared, raising her sword.

The parasite roared, attempting to crush a group of civilians.

Cassandra activated Mahōkaze , launching Grinn into the air toward the enemy.

"Wait! If he kills the parasite, Sebastian dies too!" she shouted. Shana .

Cassandra deflected the wind at the last second; Grinn fell unharmed.

"Make up your minds! Will you kill the servant... or the city?" the parasite mocked .

I stood there for a moment, my brain burning.

"Think about it, Fujimoto . There has to be a way."

"I can save him... but I need to touch his belly button!" I yelled .

— Then let's go! — Kairo came to my side.

Sebastian struck, but Cassandra used the wind to propel me forward.

I dodged the attacks, slid beneath him. Kairo activated Intangibility, and together we passed through the butler's body.

I hit the right spot.

CANCEL!

A flash. Sebastian and the parasite froze in place.

"It worked?!" Koharu shouted.

"I canceled his abilities... but our lives are still connected," I explained.

The effect wore off; the parasite regained control and attacked.

Melissa intercepted the blow.

"Have you given up already? As long as Sebastian breathes, there's still hope!" she shouted firmly.

Her words rekindled everything.

And then a quick cut: Sebastian's arms were severed.

A potion was poured directly into his mouth.

The parasite jumped out of the body and dissolved into thin air.

Sebastian fell, breathing heavily.

"Who... did this?" he asked . Koharu , looking around.

A girl appeared with a jar, the parasite trapped inside.

"Careful, little one!" he said . Grinn , approaching.

But when he saw her ears, he froze.

"You... are an elf ?" Grinn said, surprised.

I recognized her immediately.

—Finna ! — I shouted.

"We came to visit Melissa and Grinn . But we realized they needed help," she said calmly.

"We came"? Did you come with someone? Koharu noticed.

Before she could answer, a clear aura filled the square.

Yumi appeared, her gaze serious and calm.

Koharu took a step back.

"Didn't that damned woman die?!" Koharu shouted.

Shana's eyes widened.

Galadriel 's messenger ?" Shana asked.

He ran to Yumi , shaking her hands.

"Please , go easy on the report!" Shana pleaded.

Everyone stared, perplexed.

Koharu and Shana approached, carefully observing Yumi 's severed ears. The contrast between the wounded tips and the elf 's dark green hair was striking.

Koharu tilted her head, intrigued, while Shana silently analyzed every detail, trying to understand why someone had done that to her.

"Hey, you two…" Yumi murmured, blushing slightly.

"I know what to do," he said . Shana is smiling.

With a touch, he restored the elf 's ears .

"Thank you, you idiots," Yumi grumbled, embarrassed.

Sebastian opened his eyes.

"Your Majesties... forgive me. I lost control. If losing my arms is the price, I will accept it," said Sebastian.

Melissa hugged him, crying.

"It wasn't your fault," Melissa said .

"We'll give you all the support you need," Grinn said .

Shana raised her hand and healed his wounds.

The arms regenerated slowly.

"Thank you, young Shana ," murmured the butler.

Meanwhile, deep within the Giolal forest , Alisiya gazed at a black mirror.

"So that damn Yumi saved my brother again... I need to settle this personally," he whispered .

Jamaka Cave , the echo of her footsteps still ringing in the background.

We returned to the palace in silence. The atmosphere was heavy, suffocating… as if the very air had been contaminated by everything we had seen the day before.

We proceeded to the main room, where Melissa relayed the latest information to Yumi and Filna . After she finished, Yumi crossed her arms and took a deep breath.

"I could never have imagined that the reason Shouta helped Hiroshi with his atrocities was because he was being threatened by him," he said . Koharu , tense.

That doesn't matter now. What we need to discuss is Fedorova. Alisiya . — she replied. Yumi , steady.

"That girl is evil incarnate ," Melissa murmured.

"The question isn't whether she is evil or not," Yumi replied without hesitation.

"What do you mean?" I asked .

"We don't know her abilities. Nobody knows for sure what the Fukkaseina power means ," he added . Filna .

"Exactly. Without understanding this ability, we'll always be one step behind," he said . Yumi .

"From the information I've gathered, there's a possibility that Alisiya can read minds," she continued . Filna .

— Perhaps. But there's something strange about it… something that doesn't fit. — he replied . Yumi .

Before anyone could speak, a guard rushed in and bowed.

"Your Majesties, we have done as we were ordered," said the guard.

"What did you and Grinn send someone to investigate?" Cassandra asked .

Leskip 's house . And then?" he replied . Grinn .

"We found the house completely destroyed, sir. But there was a box on the table, along with a letter," said the guard.

"A letter?" Melissa asked .

The guard nodded and handed over the note. Grinn opened it and read aloud:

"Open the present inside this box. From Alisiya , to Fujimoto and his friends."

Silence fell like a blade.

"This could be a bomb. Or some kind of trap," he said . Shana , seriously.

"There's a magic barrier here. If it explodes, we'll be protected," Melissa replied .

"So... let's open it," I said, swallowing hard.

Melissa opened the box. Instantly, her face turned pale. She screamed, throwing the object away.

The box tipped over, and something rolled across the floor.

Ros 's head .

I was paralyzed.

Everyone stayed.

The silence turned into despair, into disbelief, into pure horror.

Minutes dragged on.

Melissa, Cassandra, and Kairo fainted.

"Are they better now?" I asked after a while.

"They're resting. But I can't say how much this has affected them psychologically," he replied . Grinn , downcast.

"We're dealing with someone who has too much power. And who likes to be seen," she commented . Yumi .

"The solution is simple. We kill her," he said . Shana , crossing her arms. —

"Before that, I want to speak privately with the three of you: Fujimoto , Shana, and Koharu ," he interrupted . Yumi .

Grinn stepped forward. "There's a free room. I'll take you there."

We went together. As soon as we went inside, he closed the door and left us alone.

"So? What do you want to talk about?" I asked .

— Fujimoto . Can I ask you a question? — he began. Yumi .

"Of course," I said.

"What is the relationship between the Demon Queen and the Angelic Princess?" Yumi asked.

I remained silent.

Koharu and Shana exchanged tense glances.

"She's going to put that in the report..."

Shana seemed to have read my thoughts.

"This will go in your report to Galadriel , won't it?" Shana asked.

"Go," Yumi replied without hesitation.

"Don't do that, Yumi ! Have you forgotten the conversation we had when I visited the elven kingdom?" he said. Shana .

Koharu let out a nervous laugh.

"It's a good thing Galadriel didn't ask for a report on me..." Koharu said with a smile on her face.

complete freedom. As long as I don't lie or commit injustices, I can write whatever I deem necessary," he said . Yumi .

"Don't do that, Yumi . Have you forgotten that we were schoolmates?" he insisted. Koharu .

"So tell me, Fujimoto . What's the relationship like between those two?" Yumi said , looking directly into my eyes.

Shana and Koharu looked at me, desperate.

"Please, don't say anything. If you don't tell me, I'll let you... touch my breasts," she pleaded . Shana .

"That's indecent behavior for a queen. I'll include that in the report," Yumi replied , writing something down in a small notebook.

" I'm just kidding!" he said . Shana , blushing.

Yumi kept her gaze fixed on me.

"They're always fighting. Sometimes it looks like they're planning to kill each other," I replied , trying to sound nonchalant.

"Aren't you two ashamed?" Yumi sighed and said.

She looked at Shana and Koharu like a teacher reprimanding disobedient students.

" Fujimoto may be the strongest, but you hold leadership positions. This behavior is not worthy of those who bear the title of queen and princess," he continued . Yumi .

They both lowered their heads, ashamed.

"Even so... I can write nice things about you." Yumi smiled slightly.

Koharu and Shana looked up, excited.

"Seriously?!" they both asked at the same time.

"It depends on your behavior from now on ," he replied . Yumi .

The two remained silent.

Yumi simply nodded and turned to leave.

Suddenly, Yumi stopped.

A blue glow pulsed on her back, and an itch seemed to bother her.

— Yumi ! What is this?! — I exclaimed .

"It's just a communication spell. I left it connected to Shouta . He activates it when he needs to escape from Hiroshi," he explained .

She closed her eyes and concentrated. But, within seconds, her face paled.

"No... this can't be... " he said . Yumi was scared.

"What happened?!" I asked .

— Alisiya appeared in front of Hiroshi's group. — Yumi replied.

"Don't tell me she killed them!" I exclaimed .

"Even worse. She told Hiroshi that you're in Omeron ." Yumi 's expression turned serious.

I remained silent.

Koharu clenched her fists.

Shana clenched her teeth.

"That means... confrontation is inevitable," I murmured .

— Yes. And now all that remains is to choose the battlefield. — he replied . Yumi .

"If they stay in Omeron , they'll fight amongst civilians. If they go to a forest or desert, they can avoid innocent deaths," Yumi explained.

"They can't beat us all," Koharu said firmly.

"Perhaps. But Filna and I won't be able to help them," he replied . Yumi .

— Why? — I asked .

— Because we're going after Alisiya — Yumi replied.

"I recommend they leave today. Or, at the latest, tomorrow morning," he concluded . Yumi .

"Is Hiroshi's group really that strong?" I asked .

"More than you think. And there's something important: Hiroshi possesses the Enslave ability ," he replied . Yumi .

Whoever is struck by a magical lightning bolt in the head becomes its slave.

"Then why didn't he enslave Shouta ?" I asked .

"Because he sees him as a court jester," he replied . Yumi .

"Did he manage to enslave many powerful people?" he asked . Shana .

— Yes. Including people stronger than him. But his focus is on women. — she replied . Yumi .

Some of our colleagues have been enslaved... and I believe you know why.

Koharu turned pale.

Yumi , Shana , and I looked at her.

" Koharu ... what happened?" I asked .

She started to cry.

"How could I have forgotten that...?" Koharu said.

— What? — I asked .

Yumi closed her eyes, tense.

"Don't tell me he... tried something with you," Yumi asked.

"What kind of business is this?" I asked , my heart already racing.

" Koharu only dated Hiroshi to prevent him from attacking you," he explained . Yumi .

I stared at her, stunned.

" Koharu ... did he do something against your will?" I asked.

"He kissed me against my will, even though I said I didn't want to. And he tried to take my clothes off several times," she said , crying.

"And this happened at school?!" I asked , indignantly.

"The principal was his father. Do you think anyone would punish him?" he replied . Yumi .

I felt my blood boil.

"Damn them..." I said angrily.

"And there's another reason for his hatred of you. Your mother killed Hiroshi's father and sister," she continued . Yumi .

"That's impossible! His sister died in a car accident! The driver was drunk!" I exclaimed .

"The report was forged. The driver was bewitched by Karina." Yumi stared at him seriously.

Shana frowned.

— What is a “car”? — Shana asked.

"A type of transportation similar to a carriage. But powered by something called gasoline," he explained . Yumi .

"I understand," Shana replied thoughtfully.

She then looked at Koharu .

"Don't worry. That worm won't touch you. I am the Queen of Demons... and I myself will kill it," she said . Shana trying to cheer up Koharu .

Koharu wiped away her tears and smiled. "Thank you. You're actually nice sometimes."

— (Those two... They're really full of surprises.) — I thought .

" Yumi , do you know how many people he has enslaved?" I asked .

" Five men and seven women . His level is forty," Yumi replied.

"Difficult ... but not impossible to overcome," I murmured.

"What are your levels?" she asked .

" Thirty-five ," Shana replied .

" Thirty-three, " said Koharu .

" Thirty-two ," I finished.

"And the others?" he asked . Yumi .

"Max is at thirty. Cassandra is at thirty-seven. Kairo is at thirty-nine," I replied.

Yumi made a worried expression.

"That could be a problem," he said . Yumi .

Hiroshi enslaved three men of level thirty-five and two women of level thirty-three.

But the biggest problem... is Nakajima Himeno .

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Koharu looked at me, pale.

— Hymen … It can’t be… — I whispered.