Two people were flying at high speed through the air, unbothered by the pressure the air itself exerted on them.

"Where are we going again?"

"Didn't you follow because you knew?"

Reon glanced at Orianne, who was flapping her draconic wings next to him.

"No. I have zero idea about our destination, and I didn't even listen."

"What were you even thinking about? Seriously..."

"I was thinking about you. Is it that bad?"

His eyes focused straightforwardly, as a small hint of embarrassment colored his cheeks.

"I suppose it's fine."

He coughed dramatically, calming his nerves.

"We're going to that place. The Magic Institute. I'm sure you've received multiple reports from your scouts and spies."

Reon frowned before continuing.

"I undeniably did, and what I've heard did not please my ears."

Orianne brought a hand to her mouth and pondered. She wasn't particularly adept at dealing with paperwork, but everything still had to go through her.

Still, she had a great memory when she actually tried to recall past meetings and events.

"..."

Her eyes darkened.

"I think I remember."

With a resolute nod, Reon explained the situation one last time to make sure they were on the same wavelength.

"The place is a research center where many humans are apparently treated for a disease. What kind, we have no idea."

"Many researchers have been going in and out of it, bringing new people around twice a month."

"But there is something very troublesome coming from the reports."

Reon's lightning wings released a constant trail of lightning magic behind him, rapidly dissipating into the atmosphere.

"No one appears to come out after entering the facility apart from those researchers."

"We know that only humans manage the center and that only human subjects are brought in. What we don't know is what research they are conducting within these enclosed walls."

What Reon explained returned to Orianne, who had heard something similar multiple times during the various reports she received this past year.

"So, we're going there to actually investigate?"

Orianne noticed the sharp glance he gave her.

"No. We're disbanding this facility."

"Why? For what reason do we need to attack that place?"

She was genuinely confused as to why Reon himself would move to deal with such a worthless place.

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"Orianne. You need to think a bit more about the circumstances. It would help you rule the demons with a firm hand."

He smiled at her, thinking that this side of her was a part he loved.

"Well, sure. Still, I'm not like you. I don't see the overlaying details like you do."

"And I'm sure your intel is far more accurate than what demons can actually gather."

He nodded.

"This institute isn't registered anywhere. I've been entering human cities for the past few months, trying to get information about their research."

"Not only is its name nowhere to be seen, but the research itself doesn't exist. Now, think about the place they've decided to build it."

"Eogis?"

Tilting her head, Orianne pondered.

"Correct. Who would take the blame if something were to happen?"

"Us..."

"Those pieces of shit!"

Orianne slammed her fist into her open hand.

"They are secretly conducting experiments out of everyone's eyes. This only means one thing."

"It isn't something remotely good for anyone."

"And since no one ever came out of it... I believe a lot of those people are disposable."

Reon's face darkened, thinking of the possibility of some gruesome experiments on their island.

Just thinking of what shameless humans were doing in secret made his blood boil.

As someone who enjoyed research and building apparatuses, he couldn't tolerate those who were toying with the lives of others.

After a flight of barely ten minutes, the mentioned building appeared in the distance as a tiny white dot.

"There it is."

Pointing toward the only building, alone across the entirety of the empty land, the demon woman focused.

"Get ready because we're crashing this place. Who knows what's hidden within? If this truly benefits mankind, we'll apologize and let it slide. But if not..."

Orianne and Reon lowered their altitude and grazed the land, closing in on the institute.

...

*CRASH*

The entire building shook.

"Intruders! We have intruders!"

"Who are they?! Have you seen them?!"

"No! We don't know where they are!"

Men and women in white coats ran around the labs, picking up important files as they fled toward a shelter within the building.

"Hurry! We can't let anyone find-"

A woman suddenly bumped into someone's chest and recoiled from the impact.

At the same time, she dropped a folder full of unattached documents.

"Hey! I said to hurry, but not to run in the opposite direction!"

The woman recovered her balance and lashed at the man she bumped into.

"Oh? What's this?"

A silver-haired man who looked like any other human bent forward and picked up the folder.

"That's... Who are you?!"

Suddenly, the woman realized that the man wasn't from this facility.

"Intru-"

"Quiet."

A net of lightning magic wrapped the woman's body, tightly constricting her movement and breathing.

The net also covered her mouth as fear appeared in her eyes.

"Let's see."

Reon read the first page. His eyes squinted as he read.

As he turned the page to read the one behind it, his composure became unstable.

"Orianne."

"Yes?"

A crimson-haired woman with dragon horns and a thick tail walked from behind the man.

Her hands had turned into sharp claws, and her pupils had become more reptile than human.

"Kill all of these researchers you encounter."

"Do not let any single one escape."

Reon clenched the folder in his hand without looking at Orianne. He gave his order and snapped his fingers.

"Mmhmhhm!"

*Splat*

The electrical net tightened around the woman right after she began to writhe in pain before sinking into her flesh until she exploded.

"Reon?!"

Seeing the unusual ruthlessness of her husband, Orianne shuddered.

"What made you so angry?"

"Angry?"

He turned around slowly.

"Angry? Me? No."

"I am furious."

He tapped on a device attached to his hip. When the device reacted, he placed the documents in front of it, one by one.

The trinket copied the documents before he gave them to Orianne.

"Burn these. I'm going to find every single piece of documentation I can. I'll meet you later."

The heavy footsteps of Reon, a man usually so calm that others would mistake him for a sage, echoed inside the empty corridors.

"Oh, and don't destroy the documents you find. Keep them safe for me, please."

He stopped and glanced at Orianne with a neutral smile that hid his emotions.

"If it is asked this nicely."

Ignoring the change in Reon, Orianne agreed to protect the documents. With a nod, he continued deep inside the facility.

"Guess it's bloodbath time. If Reon gave the order, it means these guys are good for nothing."

An aura as oppressing as a dragon flowed in front of Orianne, making anybody who felt it freeze on the spot.

"Let's move."

She cracked her neck with a devious smile on her face.

...

For an hour straight, screams and cries echoed throughout the facility, until not even a sob was heard.

All that was left were the pods standing tall in the basement of the institute, where a lone man waited, his mind lost in thought.

Hurried footsteps suddenly caught his attention, which came from his other half.

"I searched for you all over, Reon! I finally found you."

"Sorry, Orianne. I was lamenting my lack of commitment."

He glanced over his shoulder with a mentally exhausted expression. Seeing the drop of blood on Orianne's cheek, he turned around and cleaned it for her.

"..."

She looked over his shoulder and stared at what he was looking at. Behind Reon were a large desk and large pods with liquids in them.

On the chair at the desk, a woman with a deep hole in her chest rested with blood trickling down her mouth, looking very fresh.

"Did you..."

Reon asked.

"I killed everyone like you've asked. I also recovered all of these."

Orianne handed over the pile of documents she managed to recover— without a single drop of blood on them.

"Thank you. I can always count on you."

Turning around, he dropped the entire pile onto the table and, one by one, scanned the documents with his device.

"Reon..."

"I know what you're going to ask, and I don't think it is a good idea for you to know."

"But-"

"I should be the only one having to bear this knowledge... This... forbidden knowledge."

His eyes weren't pretty, and she didn't like that at all.

"You have to tell me! We came here together! I followed your directives to a T! I have the right to know!"

"..."

But then she shook her head. Her eyes relaxed, and she hugged his back.

"No. It's not right. I want to share the burden you're shouldering. Isn't that why we're together?"

A small smile appeared on Reon's face.

"Are you sure? This is heavy. To the point where you'll wish you never knew. You'll want to kill those researchers again after that."

Orianne nodded firmly.

"There's no going back once I start. If you're determined to know, then..."

With a document in hand, Reon turned around as Orianne took a step back.

"This place tortured children and forced a magical overload on each of them."