Chapter 1: The Vermilia Route

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Would you like to save Vermilia?

Would you like to save Crimsonia?

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With Vermilia and Kain held captive, and Vermilia on the verge of being utterly violated by Nord, the system had suddenly forced a choice upon me.

Determined to halt Nord’s atrocious deeds, I chose Vermilia...

— Kain’s Dormitory Room

The door to the room swung open. Harry, Kain's classmate, stood by as Glen roughly shoved Kain inside from behind.

"Sorry, Kain," Glen muttered, looking away. "But you know what happens to anyone who defies Nord."

Because Vermilia had let her identity slip, confirming she was a demon, Kain had been sentenced to indefinite confinement within his own quarters.

Stumbling from the force of the shove, Kain stood motionless in the center of the room, his head hanging in silent despair.

Harry hurled a barrage of harsh, disappointed words at him.

"Shielding a demon at the Hero Academy, of all places... Kain, what on earth were you thinking?! I thought you had more sense than this. I'm incredibly disappointed in you."

Glen and Harry were not part of Nord’s inner circle, but because Kain had associated with a demon—an enemy of humanity—he had completely lost their trust.

The two turned toward the door, muttering to each other.

"She was really cute, though..."

"Are you out of your mind, Glen? That demon was a succubus. They're notorious for seducing men. She’d drain every drop of your life force and leave you withered like a dead tree."

With that, they stepped out, slamming the door behind them. However, they remained stationed directly outside the room, tasked with ensuring Kain did not attempt any suspicious moves.

In his dimly lit room, with the curtains tightly drawn, Kain collapsed to his knees.

"Am I... going to lose someone precious to me again...?"

As Kain knelt in despair, he felt a gentle, comforting hand rest on his shoulder. He gasped and whipped his head around.

"What?! Crimsonia... why are you here?!"

Startled by her sudden appearance, Kain fell back onto the floor. Compared to when they were children, Crimsonia had grown, though she still looked no older than a young teenager.

Crimsonia offered him a mischievous, playful smirk.

"It has been a while, has it not? You seem to be... not doing well at all."

Seeing the dark circles under his hollow eyes, she quickly dropped her playful tone, her expression turning serious.

Kain grabbed her sleeve, his voice cracking with urgency.

"It’s terrible, Crimsonia! Vermilia has been captured by my classmates, and they're interrogating her in the most obscene, horrible way...!"

"Do not fret. I am fully aware of the situation," Crimsonia replied calmly.

"What...?"

"Rest easy, Kain. There is no need for my precious servant to worry. I shall bring Vermilia back, without fail."

"Okay!"

Kain resolved himself. He knew that if he relied on Crimsonia’s help now, his time at the Hero Academy would be over.

(Still... I have to save Vermilia!)

Placing a hand over his heart, he vowed to rescue her, no matter the cost.

Thud!!

"What was that?!" Glen, guarding the hallway, shrieked as a massive tremor shook the floor. "Wake up, Harry!"

"Nn... What is it, Glen...?" Harry muttered, rubbing his eyes.

The sturdy wooden door to Kain's room had been completely obliterated, reduced to splinters. Standing in the ruins was a two-horned ogress, with Kain following closely behind her.

"Hee?! W-W-Why is there an Ogress inside the Hero Academy?!"

"Kain! You... you really are conspiring with the Demon Lord's army!!"

"I don't expect you to understand," Kain said, stepping forward. "But neither Vermilia nor Crimsonia are enemies of humanity. If you don't resist, I promise your lives will be spared."

"What nonsense are you—eep?!"

Just as Harry tried to channel his mana for offensive magic, Crimsonia intervened.

"It is futile. They have their pride, after all. They will not let us pass so easily."

Before a scorching fireball could fully form in Harry's palm, a sharp streak of red light grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.

"Lay another hand on my servant Kain, and the next blow shall pierce your heart," Crimsonia declared, her voice cold and commanding. "If you wish to die, step forward. I, the Crimson Demon Lord Crimsonia, shall personally be your opponent."

"No... way..."

"Why is the Demon Lord here?!"

Both Glen and Harry tumbled backward in sheer terror, scrambling away on their hands and knees. The figure standing before them was the very Crimson Demon Lord depicted in their textbooks—the monster who had terrorized humanity ten years ago. Even if her current appearance was somewhat youthful, the sheer, crushing pressure of her mana was enough to make any ordinary student want to flee.

But before the young aspiring heroes could run, a stern voice echoed down the corridor.

"You're awfully noisy for mere preparatory course students! Can't you even manage to guard a single prisoner, you useless failures?!"

"H-Hans-senpai!"

Glen and Harry scrambled to their feet, bowing deeply. In the Hero Academy, there was a strict hierarchy and an insurmountable gap in strength between the preparatory and intermediate courses.

Yet, Kain stood before Hans without flinching.

"Take me to Nord!"

"Haah? What kind of nonsense are you babbling, brat?" Hans sneered, looking down his nose at him.

"You're supposed to be so strong, Hans-senpai," Kain taunted, deliberately wounding his pride. "Yet you're nothing but Nord’s obedient little puppet?"

"What did you say?!"

Hans closed in, pressing the tip of his dagger's sheath against Kain's chest. But just as he did, an ominous, freezing aura washed over him, causing him to instantly pull back. Crimsonia, standing right behind Kain, was glaring at him with eyes that promised death.

Damn it... how on earth did Kain tame the Demon Lord... Hans muttered, grinding his teeth. If he fled and left the preparatory students to die, he would likely face execution anyway. He reluctantly decided to comply with Kain's demand. Hans had always been exceptionally skilled at reading the political wind—so much so that the younger students secretly referred to him as the "fair-weather hero."

"Tch... These preparatory brats only know how to play petty tricks. Fine, follow me."

Hans spat on the floor and turned, leading the way. Having successfully exploited Hans's pride to negotiate, Kain and Crimsonia shared a quick, silent high-five behind his back.

"We did it," Kain whispered.

"An easy mark, wasn't he?" Crimsonia giggled.

— The Academy Interrogation Room

Hans quietly cracked open the heavy door to the interrogation room. The rhythmic, wet slapping of flesh against flesh echoed throughout the chamber.

In the back of the room, Nord was clutching Vermilia by her twin-tails, continuing his relentless interrogation.

"...Stop... please... I'm going mad..." Vermilia whimpered, her voice hoarse.

"Speak! What was your purpose in coming to this academy?! Speak, or I shall degrade you until you can't even remember Kain's name!"

"Anything but that... please... Ah! Stop, please... Ah, ahh!"

Faced with this graphic, raw scene, Hans hesitated, catching his breath as he wondered if he should speak up.

"What is it, Hans?" Nord snapped, his hips moving in a steady, cruel rhythm as he glared at the door. "I am busy interrogating Vermilia. Wait until I am finished!"

Like a prey trapped before a predator, the difference in strength between Nord and Hans was absolute. Hans felt his breath catch in his throat, barely forcing the words out.

"Kain wishes to negotiate with you. It... doesn't sound like a bad deal for you."

Hans glanced at Vermilia, whose cheek was pressed against the table, her tongue lolling slightly as she drooled, completely unresponsive. He marveled at Nord's brutal efficiency; she had evidently fainted from the sheer intensity of the torment.

"Oho? Bring him in, then."

Nord disengaged from Vermilia, his arousal not waning in the slightest. But as he prepared to step down from the padded table:

"There is no need!"

Kain burst into the room. Although Hans had explicitly warned him to wait, Kain could not bear to listen to Vermilia's cries for another second.

"How dare a piece of trash like you enter my presence without permission?" Nord sneered.

"This isn't your room!" Kain barked back.

As Kain and Nord glared at each other, Lei, the maid, materialized from the shadows, wrapping a silk gown over Nord's shoulders. Lei then stood by the sword rack, holding the whip-sword Galianus, ready to hand it over at a moment's notice.

Realizing Nord was a dangerous, highly capable opponent, Crimsonia stepped out from behind Kain. Seeing her sister Vermilia used as a toy to protect Kain, Crimsonia nearly choked back a sob.

"Because of my weakness, Vermilia had to suffer such a terrible fate... If you must hate someone, hate me..." she whispered.

Nord's lips curled into a greasy smirk. He evaluated Crimsonia with his eyes, her petite, highly stylized miko-like appearance instantly piquing his interest.

But Crimsonia's Ogre blood boiled, and she glared back at him.

"Nord, was it? You certainly had your way with my sister! Laying a hand on the family of the Crimson Demon Lord Crimsonia is a sin worthy of ten thousand deaths."

"Fuhaha! What is this, Kain? Not only have you deceived the academy, but humanity itself!" Nord laughed. "A truly unforgivable crime—you deserve to be called the Fraudulent Hero."

Associated with Crimsonia, Kain could no longer deny his ties to the demon race. But he was prepared to make enemies of the entire academy to save Vermilia.

"Say whatever you like!" Kain shouted. "If there is a way to avoid fighting the demon race, I will choose it! I'm sick and tired of seeing people bleed!"

"Weak... pathetically weak. To think such a cowardly man held a seat at this academy... It makes me sick to my stomach!"

"Kain, it is useless," Crimsonia said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "No matter what you say, your noble ideals will not reach this man. Leave him to me."

Disregarding Kain's concern, Crimsonia stepped toward Nord. Nord warily reached for his whip-sword, but Crimsonia spoke words that shocked everyone in the room.

"Nord... would you care to take me in Vermilia's stead?"

"What?!" Kain's eyes widened in horror.

"Heh... Crimson Demon Lord, have you lost your mind?" Nord asked, his interest thoroughly piqued.

"Crimsonia! It's frustrating, but Nord is right! If you do that, you'll just become his plaything...!"

Crimsonia gently took Kain's hand.

"You are a gentle man, Kain. You dream of a world where humans and demons can walk hand-in-hand. I have decided to bet on that dream."

"Crimsonia..."

A warm tear fell onto their clasped hands. Seeing this, Nord let out a bored yawn.

"Are you finished? If you're going to keep playing out this farce, I shall return to interrogating Vermilia—until she spills everything!"

"Wait!" Crimsonia interjected. "The Crimson Demon Lord Crimsonia is offering herself in exchange for her half-sister Vermilia. Is that not a splendid bargain? Or what? Is sleeping with a Demon Lord too terrifying for you? If so, run along home and suckle on your mother's breast, little boy!"

"Fuhaha! Me, terrified? I'm afraid my mother passed away long ago!" Nord laughed, his ego flared. "How fascinating! I shall impregnate you myself. Do not cry foul when your belly swells, Crimson Demon Lord."

"No, absolutely not! There's no way Nord will keep his word!" Kain protested.

"Silence, Kain! I will not tolerate your insolence. This is a contract between the Demon Lord and myself. You have no right to interfere!" Nord snapped.

Nord was consumed by the desire to possess Crimsonia, who had remained glued to Kain's side. Though parting with Vermilia was a shame, he had already broken her in, so his interest was waning.

"Do not worry, Kain. I am a demon. I will not easily bear a human child," Crimsonia whispered.

"The Demon Lord speaks the truth. I shall return Vermilia to you—albeit slightly used. It's not a bad deal for you, is it?"

"Kuh...!" Kain gnashed his teeth in helpless rage.

Crimsonia placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered softly in his ear:

"Leave this to me. Nord will become the enemy of humanity in my stead. When that time comes, take Vermilia's hand and strike him down! Your name will be cleared, and Vermilia will be welcomed as an ally to humanity..."

With that, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a gentle, lingering kiss on Kain's cheek.

"Go, Kain. To my sister. I leave the rest to you."

"Crimsonia..."

She offered a gentle smile, utterly unfitting of a feared Demon Lord.

Nord scoffed at the display. With a flick of his chin, the cross-dressing maid Lei effortlessly lifted the unconscious Vermilia, preparing to carry her over.

"Come along, Crimson Demon Lord."

"I know! Do not rush me. This is why I cannot stand impetuous boys."

As Crimsonia pulled away from Kain, a fresh, citrus scent wafted from her—the exact same scent from when they met and parted in their childhood. Tears welled in Kain's eyes.

Lei fastened the Mana-sealing Shackles around Crimsonia's wrists, neck, and ankles, thoroughly binding her magic. Even a highly sensitive mage would struggle to detect the faintest trace of mana from her now.

"Heh... Now, I shall thoroughly interrogate you," Nord laughed, a dark, lecherous grin spreading across his face.

Like a classic playboy, Nord draped an arm over Crimsonia's shoulder, sliding his hand beneath her collar to fondle her breast.

"Insolent fool!" Crimsonia snapped, instantly grabbing his wrist to pull him away.

"Oh? Do not forget, it is by my grace that your sister was returned to Kain. If you're going to complain, I can easily call off this exchange."

Knowing her magic was sealed and Vermilia had yet to be handed over, Crimsonia knew she could not afford to anger him. Her sacrifice would be in vain.

"Do... do as you wish!" she ground out.

"Haha! I do love a cooperative woman. Though, breaking you in would be much more satisfying if you resisted a little!"

"Hyah!" Crimsonia gasped as Nord pinched her sensitive nipple in response to her sharp tone.

"Heh... As expected, even the feared Ogre Demon Lord is nothing but a woman in the end. What a lovely sound you make."

Crimsonia glared at him with a flushed, burning face, but Nord remained entirely unbothered.

"That is enough, Lei. Deliver my used goods to Kain."

"Understood, my lord."

Accepting the order like a machine, Lei handed Vermilia over to the trembling, furious Kain.

"Take Vermilia and leave this place at once," Crimsonia whispered. "I do not wish for you to see me like this..."

"Kuh...!"

Kain draped his academy blazer over the naked Vermilia, hoists her onto his back, and fled the interrogation room.

"Fuhaha! Look at that beaten dog run!" Nord's mocking laughter echoed behind them.

Powerless and without status, Kain had no choice but to comply, carrying Crimsonia's sacrifice with him as he escaped into the shadows.

A few weeks later.

Using the interrogation as a mere pretext, Nord had also forced himself on Crimsonia. It had seemed as though she had fallen completely under his sway, but...

Crimsonia was asleep, slumped back against a chair set against the wall. Suddenly, the door flew open, and Nord walked in with hurried, aggressive strides.

With a loud bang, Nord slammed his fist against the wall, startling Crimsonia awake.

"You... What the hell did you do to me?!" he roared.

The smug, composed expression he usually wore was nowhere to be found. His brow was furrowed, his face twisted into a demonic, raging scowl as he bellowed at her.

Nord yanked up his sleeve and shoved his arm in front of Crimsonia. His bulging veins were writhing beneath the skin like live worms.

And that wasn't all. Ever since Nord had finished consuming Crimsonia's body, a terrifying anomaly had been spreading through his own.

His skin was thickening, turning into a rough, unnatural hide. His eyes, once a blue deeper than the ocean, were beginning to glow with a brilliant, sinister crimson light.

There was only one possible cause: his physical relations with Crimsonia...

Yet, Crimsonia merely looked back at him with a cool, nonchalant expression.

"Why the sudden outrage now?" she remarked dryly. "You were more than happy to use my body as your personal plaything, after all."

"Damn you... You set me up!" Nord spat.

Parasites ingested through the stomach would usually cause nothing more than severe abdominal pain and food poisoning. However, parasites that invaded the bloodstream would feast upon the host's magical energy, multiplying rapidly. If caught early, they could be purged using high-level holy healing magic from a Saintess of Elise's caliber. But for someone as deeply infested as Nord was now, there was no cure.

As if to fan the flames of Nord’s rising panic, Crimsonia let a fearless, mocking smirk play across her lips and spoke with calm deliberation.

"Parasites always alter their new home to make it more comfortable, you see," she explained. "It seems they cannot properly absorb mana while you remain a mere human. Soon, your body will completely transform into a demon, making you an enemy of all mankind. Well, even for me, seeding my parasites inside a powerhouse like you was no easy feat. Thanks to that, my stock of parasites is completely depleted."

"Was this your goal from the very beginning?!" Nord demanded.

"Of course it was," Crimsonia replied. "I was prepared to lay down my own life if it meant dragging you to hell with me. My great benefactor Kain, who saved my life, and my beloved younger sister Vermilia... You hurt them, trampled on them, and humiliated them both. You casually committed acts worthy of ten thousand deaths. Die, and spend eternity begging them for forgiveness, you filthy cur!"

As Crimsonia’s eyes flew wide, staring intently at Nord, countless black fibers erupted from his body, wrapping around him in an instant.

"Argh?! What is this?! What's happening?!"

A pitch-black cocoon completely enveloped Nord. From within, his voice echoed, muffled as if trapped inside a sealed wooden box.

"You are already an enemy of mankind..." Crimsonia murmured.

Nord thrashed and struggled inside the cocoon, but his desperate writhing produced only hollow thuds, unable to leave even a single scratch on the black shell.

Sometime later, having been saved by Crimsonia’s sacrifice, Kain and Vermilia had fled the Hero Academy as if eloping.

However...

"I knew you'd be here," a voice called out.

"We've been looking for you, Kain," another added.

"Glen! Harry!" Kain gasped.

They had emerged to gather food from the cave on the outskirts of Sope Village—the very cave where Crimsonia had once hidden—only to be spotted by Glen and Harry, who now blocked their path.

Kain reached for the hilt of the Holy Sword Excalibur at his waist. Driven by the raw fury of having the heroines stolen by Nord, he had grasped the hilt, and to his surprise, the blade had slipped cleanly from its scabbard.

"Kain..."

Vermilia murmured from behind, her hand resting anxiously on his shoulder.

"It's alright. Just stay back, Vermilia," Kain assured her.

He had no desire to fight them. Yet, having failed to protect Vermilia and Crimsonia before, Kain had steeled his resolve. This time, no matter what, he would protect Vermilia with his life.

"Glen, Harry... I don't want to fight you. But if you're here to take Vermilia back..."

Kain took a step forward, closing the distance between them. But in that exact moment—

"Kain! Please, we're begging you—lend us your strength!"

"We were wrong... So wrong..."

Rather than drawing their weapons, Glen and Harry threw themselves to the ground, bowing so low their foreheads pressed against the dirt.

"Nord... he was a demon all along!" Glen cried out. "And he's insanely strong..."

"Principal Lillian and the surviving staff are holding an emergency meeting at our evacuation site right now," Harry added. "He'll probably be officially designated as a Demon Lord soon."

Kain and Vermilia exchanged startled looks.

In that instant, the true meaning behind Crimsonia’s parting words finally clicked in Kain's mind.

She had surrendered her body to Nord from the very beginning, knowing exactly what would happen...

"We're so sorry for doubting you..." Glen muttered.

"We know an apology isn't enough, but..." Harry added.

The two of them timidly raised their heads, looking up at Vermilia with the eyes of abandoned puppies.

"Vermilia, what do you want to do?" Kain asked gently. "It's entirely up to you whether to forgive them or not."

"Please, raise your heads," Vermilia said softly. "Neither of you did anything wrong. The only evil one is the man named Nord. Will you lend us your strength to defeat him?"

"Yeah! That's exactly why we came looking for you!" Glen declared.

"I was completely fooled by him too... I'll never forgive him!" Harry agreed.

With Glen and Harry joining their ranks, Kain resolved to return to the royal capital to subjugate Nord. Glen took the reins of the carriage, waiting for Kain.

"Vermilia, you can stay behind if you want," Kain said softly. "To be honest, after everything you've been through, I don't want to force you to face Nord again."

"No," Vermilia replied firmly. "I must wash away the humiliation that man inflicted upon me with my own hands. Besides, I made a promise to my sister. I swore I would never leave Kain's side."

"I see... Alright. Let's go together. This time, I swear I'll protect you."

"Yes!"

Vermilia beamed at Kain, flashing him a radiant smile unlike any she had ever shown him before.

────The Royal Capital of Ackersen.

"What the...!"

Kain stood frozen, utterly speechless at the sight before him. The campus of the Hero Academy had been completely erased, with only a few shattered ruins left behind to hint that a building had ever stood there.

Furthermore, the streets of the royal capital had been thoroughly demolished, transformed into a deserted, silent wasteland of ruins. The royal castle was the only structure left standing.

Kain, along with the faculty and students of the Hero Academy, stormed the castle. The Royal Army of Ackersen had already been annihilated by Nord. In this desperate, hopeless situation, the academy was their only remaining hope...

Kain's party fought their way through deadly traps and waves of summoned magical beasts, finally breaching the throne room.

"Nord! We're taking Crimsonia back!" Kain roared.

"Heh... Kain! How incredibly polite of you to come all this way just to let me crush you again! But rest easy. Your life ends here today," Nord sneered.

Nord sat arrogantly upon the throne of the Ackersen Kingdom, cradling Crimsonia on his lap as if she were nothing more than a pet. Despite Kain and the others bursting in, Crimsonia’s eyes remained completely hollow and vacant... On the floor beside the throne lay a young boy, whom Nord was casually trampling underfoot like a doormat.

"Your Majesty!" Principal Lillian shrieked, her eyes darting to the boy collapsed on the floor.

"You're too late, Lillian!" Nord barked. "Because you dragged your feet, poor little John ended up like this. It really goes to show how difficult life is when you're burdened with incompetent subjects."

"Nord... Do you even comprehend the scale of the atrocities you've committed?!"

"Oh, I understand perfectly. If you want him back that badly, here!"

Nord brutally kicked King John’s body. The small boy was launched into the air before rolling like a log across the scarlet carpet, stopping right at Lillian's feet.

"King John!"

The young king lay face up, his eyes wide, his complexion pale as death, and fresh blood trickling from his mouth.

"Healers, tend to His Majesty immediately!" Lillian commanded. "The rest of you, subjugate the traitor Nord!"

"Don't bother," Nord laughed. "After all, His Majesty is absolutely starving for fresh flesh and blood!"

At Nord's words, King John's eyes snapped open, and he lunged forward, sinking his teeth deep into Lillian's arm.

"Ngh...! What are you—a ghoul?!"

"So you finally noticed? Your guard was wide open, Lillian."

"A careless mistake on my part!"

Wasting no time, Lillian drew a knife with her left hand, carved out the bitten flesh from her arm, and leaped back to put distance between herself and John.

"As expected of Lillian. Fast decision-making. You didn't teach me for nothing. Though, with that arm, I doubt you'll be performing your trademark 《Blade Dance》 anytime soon," Nord mocked.

Ignoring Nord's mocking laughter, Lillian calmly wrapped a handkerchief around her right arm, biting down on one end to pull it tight and staunch the bleeding. So far, her composure was flawless.

"Principal! Let us heal you immediately!"

"Stay back! It's a trap!" Lillian barked.

The staff and students skilled in healing magic rushed toward her, desperate to treat their beloved principal. But Lillian had already noticed the floor beginning to emit a faint, ominous glow. She raised her hand to warn them away, but—

"Hahaha! Too late!" Nord roared.

A massive magic circle manifested beneath their feet, unleashing towering pillars of fire one after another.

"""""Aaaaargh!"""""

The offensive magic students panicked and tried to cast water magic to douse the flames, but Lillian physically held them back.

"Stop!" she ordered.

"But Principal, why?!"

"Can't you see? The healers are already gone. They've burned to ash."

"So you saw through my trap... You really are a shrewd woman," Nord smirked. "You used to say it all the time, didn't you? 'Magic is the art of deception'—a battle of wits. Isn't that right, Lillian?"

"You were an annoyingly brilliant student," Lillian spat. "But why play these petty games? With your power, you could have wiped us all out the moment we tried to rescue His Majesty."

"Don't think of it as a game. Don't you think the death rattles of the students and teachers who adored you make a beautiful melody? It’s the sound of burning souls. If you survive this, you'll be swallowed by a vortex of regret for the rest of your days."

"You're insane..." Lillian whispered, turning pale at his sheer depravity.

Nord merely threw his head back and laughed. The sadistic streak he had always possessed had clearly warped and magnified since his transformation into a Demon Lord.

Yet, Lillian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nord! We're taking Crimsonia back!"

Kain thrust his fist into the air, declaring his presence. While Lillian had been keeping Nord distracted, Kain had slipped behind him, scooping the lifeless Crimsonia into his arms. Vermilia had cast her stealth magic, Mirage, on him, allowing him to blend seamlessly into the background.

"Heh... Kain, do you honestly think you've won?" Nord sneered. "Forcing a Demon Lord to submit to my desires was absolute bliss! You can have that empty shell of a woman back. She’s small enough to be the perfect toy for a pathetic weakling like you."

"Insult me all you want. But don't you dare mock Crimsonia!" Kain barked.

"Very well, Kain... I will personally put an end to you. Curse your own powerlessness," Nord sneered.

"Even if it costs me my life... Nord! I will take you down!"

"Don't make me laugh!"

"In my current state, I'm no match for you," Kain muttered. "But how about this? Vermilia, draw out my hidden strength!"

"Kain... Very well."

Though Vermilia hesitated at his request, she saw the unwavering determination in his eyes and steeled her resolve.

Mental Limit Burst!

Staring directly into Kain's eyes, Vermilia activated the racial skill of a Succubus, which manipulated the target's deep subconscious at the boundary of dreams and reality. Kain swayed as if intoxicated, his eyes slipping shut. But when Vermilia lightly clapped her hands, his eyelids snapped open, revealing eyes that shone with a brilliant, golden light.

"Vermilia, please go help Principal Lillian and the others. If you do, everyone will be able to live happily," Kain said.

"Kain... I... No, you must win. Please, wash away the humiliation my sister and I suffered."

"Yeah, I promise."

Kain held out his pinky finger, causing Vermilia to tilt her head in confusion.

"We lock our pinkies together. It's a human custom—a promise bound by oath," he explained.

He taught her the playful chant, and together, they sealed their vow.

""Pinky swear, hope to die, swallow a thousand needles if I lie...♪""

As they looked at each other, warm smiles broke across their faces.

"How sweet. Quite a touching little show you're putting on!" Nord mocked. "But have you forgotten, Kain? That woman is nothing but a slutty Succubus who begged for more while writhing in my bed."

As Nord sneered at her, Vermilia cast her eyes downward in shame. But in the very next instant, a thin red line sliced across Nord's cheek.

"So what?!" Kain bellowed. "She only fell victim to your filthy schemes because she was trying to protect me. Say another word, and I'll slice that tongue right out of your mouth!"

"You bastard... You dared scratch my face? I will torture you to your absolute limit before erasing every trace of your existence!" Nord roared, pressing a handkerchief to his cheek.

But Kain drew the Holy Sword Excalibur with godlike speed, slashing at Nord before he could even register the movement. The blood-soaked handkerchief flew into the air. As Nord's eyes instinctively tracked the falling cloth, he raised his hand to cast a spell, but—

Wind... Wind Cu...

"Ngh! Impressive!"

Kain's blade swept upward from beneath Nord's arm. Forced to retract his hand to dodge the strike, Nord's unleashed spell went wild, shattering the massive glass chandelier on the ceiling.

"You're stronger in magic and swordsmanship! But right now, with Vermilia's power supporting me, I surpass you in raw stamina!"

Using the shower of falling glass shards to obscure his movements, Kain swung his holy sword, pressing his attack against Nord.

"Agh! Insolent brat!"

The glass shards that struck Nord's body began to melt, and smoke hissed from his uniform—as if he had been splattered with concentrated sulfuric acid.

"The glass shards themselves aren't deadly. But when imbued with the holy magical power of this sword, even a minor scratch is agonizing for a demon like you!" Kain declared proudly, raising his sword high.

Physical Rein...

"I won't let you!"

Nord attempted to cast a physical reinforcement buff on himself, but Kain's blade grazed his throat. Nord barely managed to dodge by leaping back, but the sheer force of the strike threw him off balance. Empowered by Vermilia’s buff, Kain's onslaught was relentless, leaving Nord with no room to even attempt chantless magic. Kain slammed the pommel of his sword into Nord's solar plexus while simultaneously sweeping his heel. Unable to resist gravity, Nord’s body began to fall toward the floor.

"Tch! Float!"

Nord hovered just inches above the floor, barely keeping himself upright.

"The first time we fought, you kicked me in the ribs with everything you had," Kain growled. "Now, it's my turn!"

Kain delivered a kick fueled by sheer, unadulterated hatred.

Nord was sent flying across the room, rolling repeatedly across the stone floor before collapsing face down.

"Blegh...!"

Pushing himself up onto all fours, Nord violently vomited onto the floor.

"Surrender, Nord! You can't beat me anymore!" Kain demanded.

"Insolent fool! You think a worthless insect like you could ever defeat me?! Your fatal flaw is your inability to be ruthless. Crush her! Serpent-Sword Galienus!"

The whipsword’s strike showed no sign of hitting its mark; Kain simply raised his holy sword vertically to block, completely ignoring the trajectory. However, the desperate strike launched by the kneeling Nord was actually aimed elsewhere—the whip's bladed chain snaked toward Vermilia, who was busy fighting John and the undead army, binding her tightly.

"Ah!" she shrieked.

The bladed chains dug deep into her skin, constricting her body.

"Vermilia!" Kain cried.

Creeeeak! Grind!

"Ngh... Aaaargh!"

The terrifying constriction of the bladed chain caused her bones to let out an ominous, creaking groan. She writhed in agony, her face contorting as she gasped for breath.

To make matters worse, the tip of the whipsword reared up like a venomous viper, swaying ominously right before her throat.

"Heh... How the tables have turned. What will it be? If you beg for my mercy, I might just spare Vermilia's life. You have five seconds to answer, Kain!" Nord sneered.

"You coward, Nord!"

"One!" Nord called out, completely ignoring Kain's anger as he folded his thumb.

"Two!"

His index finger followed.

"Three!"

His middle finger folded.

"Four! And we're done!"

Folding his ring finger, Nord suddenly went back on his word. Before even reaching five, he unleashed Black Flash Spear Longinus, piercing Kain's heart.

"Ahhh, there is nothing like the sensation of piercing a heart! Especially yours, Kain. To think I would have the pleasure of slaughtering you with my own hands... My only regret is that I didn't finish you off with my whipsword," Nord sighed with ecstatic satisfaction.

However, Kain was not the only one who had suffered a fatal blow...

"Ngh, what?! Impossible... My body is... sliding apart?!"

Like a heavy sheet of snow avalanching off a steep roof, Nord’s torso began to slide sideways off his lower body.

Even with his heart pierced, Kain had used his remaining strength to sever the bladed chain of the whipsword. He had carried the momentum of his swing into a devastating diagonal slash that cut clean through Nord's torso. Blood spilled from Kain's lips as he glared down at his foe.

"Panting... Nord, you fell right into my trap. Normally, I stood no chance against you. But what if I wagered my very life? You were too obsessed with me. That was your downfall."

Nord’s upper body hit the floor. He glared up at Kain with a face full of bitter resentment.

"The only guaranteed way to defeat you... was to let you grow arrogant... and strike when your guard was completely down... pant, pant... I finally figured it out..."

As the final words left his lips, Kain collapsed forward, his heart failing him.

"Kain! Why would you do something so reckless?!"

"It's frustrating, but... even with Vermilia supporting me, I couldn't beat Nord in a normal fight. He always plans ten steps ahead, trapping us at every turn. This was the only way..."

Vermilia rushed over, cradling Kain's head in her lap.

"Ah... to have a beautiful girl like you give me a lap pillow... at the end of my life... I couldn't ask for a happier death..."

The short skirt of the Hero Academy's girls' uniform offered a glimpse of her undergarments from below—the ultimate final indulgence for a dying hero.

But their tender, final moment was brutally interrupted.

It was Nord!

"Hahaha! You thought this was the end?! Think again! The Ogre blood... the Ogre parasites! They're squirming, screaming inside me! It seems they're knitting my flesh back together. Being a Demon Lord is truly convenient. It's practically divine!"

Countless black specks, smaller than ants, swarmed from Nord’s severed torso and lower half. As the specks coalesced on the floor, his standing lower half was pulled down by thick black threads, dragging it toward his upper body.

"Glen! Harry! Hit him with your strongest magic!" Lillian commanded.

"Right!"

"Got it!"

As Glen and Harry began their incantations, Lillian instantly unleashed a chantless Flash Fire, but—

"Don't underestimate me! A pathetic spell like that won't work on me!" Nord sneered.

Before the blazing fireball could even touch him, it shattered into harmless sparks as if hitting an invisible brick wall.

"Tch! A barrier?! In that case...!"

Lillian lunged forward, trying to pierce the barrier with the tip of her rapier. But the blade merely slid harmlessly across the spherical field, leaving her completely powerless.

"Glen, Harry! Is it ready yet?!"

"We're only halfway through!"

"A barrier that strong requires us to maximize our output, or we'll never break through!"

Lillian grew increasingly frantic as Nord’s severed body continued to slowly knit itself back together.

"Dammit! At this rate, Kain's sacrifice will be in vain!"

In a fit of desperation, Lillian slashed blindly at the barrier, but her rapier was repeatedly deflected. It seemed Nord's complete regeneration was only seconds away. But then...

"Forgive the delay... I have been waiting for this exact moment..."

Having regained consciousness under Vermilia's watchful eye, a half-dead Crimsonia dragged herself across the floor, crawling directly in front of Nord.

"""The Demon Lord Crimsonia?!"""

Lillian and the others gasped in shock, but Crimsonia paid them no heed.

"My parasites... Die! This instant!"

Groaning, Crimsonia forced her upper body off the ground. Clenching her fist, she commanded the black parasites. In unison, they dissolved into dust like sand blowing away in the wind.

"Ah...? Impossible... Defeated by a bunch of worthless trash working together...? No! This is some kind of mistake... I can't... end here. I can still... fight..."

Still lying on the ground, Nord reached out his hand, grasping at empty air before freezing like a toy whose batteries had run out. His pupils dilated completely, and his bisected body lay pathetically on the cold stone floor.

"Did we... win?"

Lillian tentatively reached out to touch where Nord's barrier had been. Her hand passed straight through. There was nothing left to block her.

"We won! We actually survived!"

"I can't believe it! We actually beat Nord!"

Glen and Harry embraced, trembling with the sheer joy of victory.

As if satisfied that her duty was complete, Crimsonia let a peaceful smile grace her lips and closed her eyes to rest.

Lillian and the others exchanged glances before gently carrying Crimsonia over to where Kain lay.

"To think we would be saved by a demon..." Lillian murmured as she cradled Crimsonia.

Despite being the principal of an academy dedicated to training heroes to slay demons, Lillian was not a fanatical zealot of the Elon Religion who believed all demons must be annihilated. Yet, fighting alongside them gave her pause.

"Heh... Kain... showed me..." Crimsonia whispered weakly. "...that humans and demons... can coexist in harmony."

Lillian’s heart ached. Though they belonged to different races, these two savior souls were about to meet their end. With his fading strength, Kain took Crimsonia's hand and looked up at Vermilia imploringly.

"Vermilia, please... You carry Ogre blood too. You should be able to save Crimsonia... Please, save her. Live happily together as sisters..."

"Kain... what foolishness are you speaking...? You must live happily with Vermilia..."

Vermilia grasped both of their hands, her face instantly draining of color.

"Kain?! Onee-san?!"

As if they had planned it together, both of them drew their final breath at the exact same moment.

"Kainaaaa! Onee-saasn!"

Her agonizing, grief-stricken wails echoed through the empty, ruined throne room. Lillian and the survivors looked upon the fallen heroes, weeping silently as they offered a final, respectful salute.

Just when it seemed like a tragic bad ending, the scene suddenly shifted.

"Are you really leaving, Kain?"

"We'll miss you..."

"Come back and visit sometime. I'll always consider you a friend, Kain."

Sitting on the driver’s bench of a covered carriage was Kain—now sporting a small horn protruding from his forehead—with Vermilia leaning contentedly against his shoulder...

Vermilia Route: FIN.

Wait, what? What just happened? How did Kain come back to life?

Could there be a hint in Crimsonia's route? Out of options, I decided to go back to the choice branch…