The day had been nothing short of perfect. Esdeath and Lortell had eaten together, then spent hours shopping. Though Esdeath insisted she didn’t need anything, Lortell wouldn’t take no for an answer. She kept buying one thing after another—jewelry, dresses, rare accessories, even books Esdeath might like. The sheer amount of gifts was beyond extravagant; the total cost was enough to be a lifetime’s savings for most people.

After shopping, they wandered through the city, playing games at stalls, exploring hidden alleyways filled with unique shops, and visiting places that held a certain charm. Lortell had thought this date would be challenging, that Esdeath might resist her advances, but to her surprise, everything felt… natural. Smooth.

Before they knew it, the sky had darkened into a warm evening glow, and they found themselves under a small bridge that crossed a quiet river. It was secluded, a place where no one usually passed by. The soft ripples of water reflected the golden hues of the sunset, casting a peaceful atmosphere around them.

Lortell moved closer, pressing Esdeath gently against the stone wall. One of her hands rested against the wall beside Esdeath's head, while her forehead touched Esdeath’s, closing the space between them.

Esdeath’s face turned red. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Lortell’s intense stare. Her heart pounded against her chest.

“Esdeath,” Lortell’s voice was deep, soft, her warm breath tickling Esdeath’s skin. “You know… there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

Esdeath hesitated but finally looked into Lortell’s red eyes, her own red ones shimmering with emotion. “M-Me too… I wanted to tell you something, too.”

Lortell smirked slightly. “Oh? Then you go first.”

Esdeath swallowed hard. Her hands trembled slightly as she balled them into fists, gathering all her courage. She took a deep breath, her lips parting.

“I-I lo—”

BAM!

A sudden force interrupted her.

Something flew in and smacked Lortell right in the face.

Lortell’s expression turned dark, her brows twitching with annoyance. “Who the—” She was about to curse but paused when she saw a golden letter floating in the air.

Her sharp eyes recognized it instantly.

A Golden Flying Letter Essence Stone.

Her heart sank. She reached out, catching the letter as it glowed faintly in her hands. With a tense expression, she unfolded it and scanned the contents.

Her entire body froze.

Her breath hitched, and her fingers tightened around the letter. Her red eyes, which moments ago held warmth and mischief, were now filled with shock and disbelief.

The words in the letter burned into her mind.

Her father, Arthur Mariette, was gravely ill. He was taking his last breaths… and he wanted to see her. One final time.

For the first time in a long while, Lortell felt something heavy settle in her chest. A feeling she couldn’t ignore.

Lortell turned to Esdeath with an apologetic look. "Esdeath… I'm really sorry, but something urgent has come up," she said, her voice laced with regret.

—------------

They stood at the edge of the market, right where the path led back to the academy. The evening breeze was gentle, but the moment felt heavy.

Lortell leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Esdeath’s cheek before pulling back. "Please forgive me. I won’t leave you alone next time, I promise. Just this once, let me go," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

She had already apologized more times than Esdeath could count.

Esdeath let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "I understand. You don’t need to apologize so much. Honestly, it doesn’t suit you. You should’ve just said, ‘I’m leaving,’ and I would’ve obeyed without a second thought," she said, smiling.

Lortell smirked. "I see. Well, I’m glad you understand. We’ll meet again soon," she said, waving her hand before turning to leave.

Esdeath stood still, watching Lortell’s figure grow smaller in the distance. Her red eyes dimmed slightly.

“I wanted to tell you… I love you,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely reaching the wind.

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Both of them had wanted to confess that night. Both had gathered the courage. But a single letter had interfered.

Lortell had two choices: rush her confession and then leave or meet her father first and confess later. She wanted her confession to be special, not something hurried in passing. Besides, Esdeath wasn’t going anywhere. She could always confess next time.

But what Lortell didn’t know was…

She had just made the worst decision of her life.

---------------

Esdeath arrived back at the academy just as the sun was beginning to set. The golden light spread across the sky, painting everything in warm, soft hues. The gentle evening breeze brushed against her skin, making her feel oddly calm. It was a beautiful, peaceful moment.

But the second she stepped inside the academy, a strange sensation washed over her body.

She froze for a brief moment, her red eyes narrowing slightly.

"What… is this feeling?" she wondered. It was unsettling, but she quickly shook her head.

"It must be because my date got interrupted halfway," she muttered, trying to push the uneasy feeling aside as she continued walking.

—------------

"Ugh… I actually let my lust take over me. My mind has been completely corrupted," Kailith groaned, burying her face in her hands. A deep blush covered her cheeks as she fidgeted on the seat, her bare legs shifting uncomfortably.

She was still half-naked, her body covered in light marks from everything she and Maruti had done… multiple times. Now that her mind had cleared, guilt started creeping in.

Maruti, who was calmly putting on her uniform, glanced at her with an amused look.

"Why the fuss? Weren’t you the one who started all this?" she asked with a sigh.

"I know, but— but girls aren’t supposed to do things like this! And with another girl at that! It’s… it’s completely taboo!" Kailith said in frustration, gripping her own arms tightly.

Maruti let out a small, bitter laugh.

"Does she really not know she has an interest in girls?" Maruti thought, It was first time watching Kailith's flustered expression. It was actually kind of cute.

She couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Just hurry up and put on your clothes before someone walks in," Maruti said, leaning in slightly. Then, with a teasing smirk, she added, "And if this bothers you so much… just call me whenever you feel horny."

Her tone was playful, but the effect was immediate.

Kailith shot up from her seat, her expression suddenly serious.

"Does that mean… we’re in that kind of relationship?" she asked hesitantly, looking away in embarrassment.

Maruti blinked in surprise before shaking her head.

"Nope. I don’t like being in relationships," she replied casually.

Kailith frowned and crossed her arms, pouting slightly.

"Then tell me… how many times have you done this before?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of jealousy.

Maruti tilted her head. "Huh? What?"

"Don’t play dumb," Kailith huffed, her silver eyes narrowing. "You’re way too experienced at this."

Hearing that, Maruti chuckled.

How was she supposed to explain? In her previous life, she was a man… and let’s just say, she had plenty of experience.

She let out a sigh. "Believe it or not, theoretically, I’m a virgin. You’re my first," she said with a half-smile. "Let’s just say… I’m half-virgin now."

Kailith’s eyes widened in shock.

"I was your first?" she asked, completely caught off guard.

Maruti waved her hand lazily as she walked toward the door.

"Rule number three—friends don’t lie, I practiced a lot at home and got pro at these kind of things," she said before stepping out.

As she left, she couldn't help but smirk to herself.

"If I still had my thing, this would’ve been way more fun. It felt weird in a girl’s body… but it was still pretty good. Guess I’ll let it slide," she thought as she disappeared down the hall.

Inside the room, Kailith sat still for a moment, rubbing her hands together as a slow, excited smile spread across her face.

"That means… I’m her number one," she murmured to herself, her silver eyes shining. Then, she straightened up with sudden determination.

"Ahem… ahem… now I just need to make sure I stay her number one for life," she declared to herself.

As she put her clothes back on, another thought crossed her mind.

"What did she mean by ‘call me whenever you feel horny’? Does she not know that as a pseudo-Constellation species, we have no such physical limits? If one wanted and had control over emotions, They could stay completely calm for their whole life… or do it every single day for years without stopping."

Her face turned even redder at the realization.

"She really has no idea what she just got herself into,"

------------------

The back side of the academy, near the outskirts of the giant Colossal Forest, was usually a place of relaxation for many lower and middle-ranked mercenaries, along with the academy's high-ranking teachers.

Among them were two Rank A Awakened.

One was an older man in his fifties, with slight wrinkles, a small beard, and a cool mustache. He sat calmly, sipping tea. Beside him was a woman in her early thirties, in the prime of her youth. She had striking purple hair, thick eyelashes, and wore a gown-like dress with revealing cuts that drew attention. Her bold red lipstick and makeup gave her an alluring charm.

"Hahaha… Another peaceful day! No monster waves, no students getting abducted. That means tomorrow, I can finally relax and go on a date with some young men," the woman, Ms. Felicia, laughed cheerfully.

The old man let out a satisfied sigh. "You’re right, Ms. Felicia. I can finally visit my grandchildren again," he said, closing his eyes and taking in the taste of his tea.

Just as he was about to take another sip, he noticed his cup was empty. He turned toward a Rank C Awakened, an assistant teacher who was currently acting as a waiter.

The assistant quickly grabbed a fresh tea box and rushed forward.

"Here—"

Swish!

The sound was sharp, cutting through the air like a whisper of death.

Fast… fast… Too fast!

The assistant never got the chance to finish his sentence. An arrow filled with dense mana zipped through the air at terrifying speed. Before anyone could react, his head was gone—beheaded in an instant.

The entire group froze. Their eyes widened in shock.

"What just happened?!"

The two Rank A Awakened immediately stood up, and the others rushed forward in alarm.

One of the awakened members quickly took to the air, trying to spot the direction from which the attack had come.

But the moment he laid eyes on it, his face went completely pale.

Cold sweat covered his entire body, and a shiver ran down his spine. His breath hitched, his limbs trembled, and for a moment, he felt as if he might lose control of his bladder.

What he saw was something straight out of a nightmare.

A massive wave of monsters was emerging from the forest—an army so vast it stretched nearly beyond sight. Goblins, Orcs, Skeletons, and even humanoid creatures filled the land like an large river.

But that wasn’t the worst part.

Among them were terrifying Rank A-level monsters:

—Scorching Lava Snake slithered forward, its body made of molten rock, oozing with liquid fire with bull like face and horns instead of snake head.

—Spider Queen Madam Eight Legs, a grotesque creature with an eerily human-like face, scuttled alongside them, her many eyes gleaming with hunger.

Even Rank B-level monsters were present:

—The Eight-Horned Raging Bull, a creature with muscles like steel, stomped the ground, its breath thick with steam.

—The Lightning Charm Wolf, its fur crackling with blue electricity, growled lowly, its piercing eyes scanning for prey.

But even more horrifying were the figures mixed within the army.

Real demons.

Some had human-like bodies with ominous horns protruding from their heads, while others had grey, monstrous forms, their eyes glowing with pure malice.

But that was only half of the terror.

The man turned his gaze to the sky—only for his breath to hitch.

There, soaring high above, were creatures that should never have been enemies of humans.

A Divine Flame Phoenix… and Red Dragons.

His mind spiraled into chaos.

"Why…? Why are red dragons here?!" he muttered in horror.

The dragons had long established treaties with humans—agreements of peace that had lasted for generations.

Then why…?

Why did it feel like every species had suddenly joined forces to wipe out humanity?

His thoughts crumbled. His reason collapsed. The overwhelming terror consumed him entirely.

"This is the end…! Hahaha… HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

His mind snapped. His body trembled violently as he let out a crazed, hopeless laugh.

And then—

FWOOOSH!

The Divine Flame Phoenix flapped its massive wings once.

A wave of fire erupted, roaring across the vast distance like a tidal wave of destruction.

The heat alone was enough to turn steel into liquid.

Before the man could even react, the flames engulfed him entirely.

His body didn’t burn.

It melted.

It's as if His existence was erased in an instant.

He was beyond dead.