Selene wasn't an ordinary child. Her body and mind were growing much faster than other kids her age. Even though Esdeath had already explained this to her, it still felt strange when Selene noticed the difference between herself and the children she once played with.
And it wasn't just natural growth. Esdeath trained her every single day. On top of that, she gave her essence stones to strengthen her soul and body. This made Selene grow even faster than she was supposed to.
Even though Selene was always cheerful, sometimes her heart felt a little empty.
"It must be tough, huh?" Maruti said with a small sigh. She reached out and patted Selene's head softly. "But don't worry. Who cares about those kids? The sooner you grow up, the sooner you can interact with adults and walk beside your mother. That's not bad at all, right?"
Selene blinked, her silver eyes softening before her lips curled into a bright smile. "Yeah, you're right!" she answered happily, her mood lifting instantly.
"By the way," Selene added as if remembering something, "before leaving, Mother gave me a bunch of consumable essence stones. She said we should use them properly to strengthen our souls."
"Oh right, she did talk about that," Maruti thought, but her expression showed hesitation. Kailith and Alice were going to arrive anytime, and now Selene was also here. Things would only get more complicated and awkward.
But then, another thought struck her. "Wait… why am I worrying so much?" She remembered how Brenna instantly froze and jumped away in embarrassment when Selene had appeared earlier. "As long as Selene is here, they can't do anything weird!"
Her lips curled into a smile. Without thinking, she pulled Selene into a tight hug. "Selene, you're the best!"
Selene's eyes widened, her body stiffening a little. "W-what did I do?" she asked awkwardly and confused.
"Nothing," Maruti replied warmly, hugging her tighter. "Just you being here is the greatest help."
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Meanwhile in the Church Kingdom, Lortell had already arrived at the far back border that connected with the Kingdom of Dwarfs.
The place was filled with camps and large tents everywhere. Hundreds of dwarf soldiers stood ready, their armor clinking as they moved about.
From the Church Kingdom's side, Igret stood as the main representative, accompanied by two bishops—Ceres and Abaddon—along with a few other members.
And then there was Lortell. She had come alone, yet no one dared to object, because everyone knew she alone was equal to an entire army.
Inside the largest tent, the leader of the dwarven forces sat at the round table. Being a dwarf, her height was only about four feet and six inches, yet her presence filled the room. She had short brown hair, sharp brown eyes, and wore a black wire body suit that hugged her form like armor. A massive hammer rested against her chair.
Igret was seated on one side of the table, Abaddon and Ceres standing loyally behind her. Lortell sat opposite, her face calm but sharp as her eyes occasionally drifted to someone behind.
Esdeath.
She was there, standing silently. Lortell gave her a quick side glance, her voice carrying both frustration and anger.
"Esdeath, I told you not to come. This is a battlefield. I can't afford even a single scratch on you!"
"She's right," Igret added with a serious tone. "Your presence will only distract her focus."
But Esdeath met her gaze with a faint smile that carried hidden anger.
"Do not interfere in our matters. I came to help. I am more than strong enough to protect myself."
Krona, the dwarf leader, clapped her hands once and chuckled. "The more the better. Just don't regret it later." She leaned forward, tapping the map spread across the table. "I'm Krona, the leader of this expedition. Our main goal is not just to retrieve land… but to rescue some of our specimens."
"Specimens?" Igret questioned, her brows furrowed.
Krona nodded, her tone growing serious. "As you know, we dwarfs have always been a race of inventors. We experiment to make life easier, to become stronger. For example, this bodysuit." She touched the black suit covering her body. "It boosts ESR talent and grants extra strength. The next version may even allow an unawakened person to use magic and unnatural strength for a short time."
Ceres and Abaddon exchanged impressed looks. The suit was truly advanced.
"Of course," Krona admitted with a sigh, "it cannot absorb essence stones or use their power."
Esdeath tilted her head slightly, a small, hidden smile curving her lips.
"A cheap copy of my ZK-20."
Krona continued, her voice rising with pride. "We also experimented on dwarf bodies to make them taller, closer to humans. And we succeeded. The first batch of 'human dwarfs' is being kept near the headquarters of M.A.L.I.C.E., along with all the information on the experiments. We need them back. This is crucial for the next generation of dwarfs."
She paused, then added, "But the problem is… the area is close to M.A.L.I.C.E.'s main body. Robots guard it day and night, and the defenses are extremely tight. We only have one S-rank dwarf, and he is already holding the frontlines. That is why we need your help. We don't need you to fight all-out—just to conquer a few nearby lands and bring back our people."
"No problem. I'll only provide assistance and intervene if absolutely necessary," Lortell replied calmly, raising her hand.
"That would be enough," Krona nodded in relief. "Having an S-rank monitor is more than what we could ask for."
"Ceres and Abaddon will lead my group," Igret said gently. "I'll only watch and grant the blessing of the goddess." Her smile was calm and full of warmth.
Esdeath's eyes narrowed faintly as her thoughts stirred.
"A succubus speaking of blessings… how ironic. Still, I must admit, her acting is close to flawless. Even Predictor could learn from her."
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Meanwhile, in Maruti's room, the air felt heavy. Kailith and Alice sat stiffly on the sofa across from Maruti, their sharp gazes fixed on Selene, who sat quietly beside her. The two girls narrowed their eyes, as though Selene were some sort of suspicious intruder.
"Where did this girl even come from?" Kailith finally broke the silence, her tone sharp and demanding.
"Don't misunderstand!" Maruti quickly raised both her hands as if to shield Selene from their piercing stares. "She's Esdeath's daughter!"
"Esdeath?" Kailith leaned forward, her eyebrow twitching upward. "What do you mean? Another Esdeath?"
Maruti shook her head with a helpless sigh. "Nope. The same Esdeath you already know."
Alice, who had been quiet until now, almost jumped out of her seat at the answer. Her voice cracked with disbelief. "What?! When? How?! No, that's impossible!"
"Wait a second… I remember something." Kailith's voice dropped as she leaned back, rubbing her chin. Images of that night flashed through her mind—the night when the academy had been attacked by a horde of monsters and demons. Amid the chaos in the gardens where most survivors had gathered, she remembered seeing a small girl. A girl who looked almost exactly like Selene, standing close to Esdeath and even near Lortell.
Her eyes widened slightly as realization struck. "Why did no one ask back then? A little child suddenly appearing during an attack… and yet it completely slipped out of everyone's mind." Her words came out in a whisper, full of frustration.
It made sense, though. That night had been pure madness—fear, screams, blood, and confusion. Nobody had cared to notice who was standing where, let alone question why a child was there.
Kailith finally straightened herself, fixing her sharp eyes on Selene. "So you're telling me she's that same girl? But… wasn't she six years old at the time? She looks at least thirteen now!"
Alice frowned, tilting her head in thought. Her tone was calmer but still cautious. "But she really does look strikingly similar to Esdeath…"
Maruti chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head. "That's… a bit complicated. I'll explain some other time."
Kailith's lips twitched in annoyance. She leaned forward, softening her expression a little as she forced out a smile. "Umm… kid. Can you maybe go play somewhere else for a while? We adults need some time alone."
Selene didn't answer immediately. She turned her silver eyes first toward Maruti, then back at Kailith, studying her silently. The pause was long enough to make the room feel tense.
And then, Selene suddenly threw her small arms around Maruti, hugging her tightly. Her soft voice was stubborn yet filled with warmth. "No. I'm not leaving Aunt. Mother told me to stay with her all the time."
Kailith blinked, caught off guard. She tried to smile again, though her voice now sounded more desperate than convincing. "C'mon, don't be like that. I'll give you candy. Or… or whatever you want! Pleaseee…" She even tilted her head, trying to act playful like a child herself.
Maruti pressed her lips together, barely able to stop herself from bursting into laughter. Seeing the usually proud and arrogant Kailith begging like that was too much for her to handle.
But of course, this was all part of her little plan. She had already told Selene beforehand: "Don't leave my side no matter what."
After a few more failed attempts of persuasion, both Kailith and Alice finally gave up.
"We'll come back later," Kailith muttered with a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat. But as she turned to leave, a sharp thought flickered through her mind. "Let's see how long she can keep this up. Sooner or later, the girl will leave her alone. She can't cling to her forever."
Alice followed behind, her expression heavy with disappointment.
The very moment the door closed behind them, Maruti's entire face lit up. She jumped up from her seat like a child who had just won a prize. "A clear win!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Phew, I'm definitely going to have some free time now. Fable really did leave me a cheat code!"
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For the next few days, Kailith and Alice—as always, out of habit—kept stalking Maruti. But this time, they weren't just wandering around aimlessly. They had a clear goal in mind: to find a moment when Selene finally left Maruti's side.
But whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner… whether Maruti was strolling outside, shopping in the market, or even bathing… Selene was always there. The two of them did everything together like a mother and daughter. They even shared the same bed at night.
She just wouldn't leave her side.
For days, Kailith and Alice tried to find even the smallest gap of freedom, but except for the washroom or when Maruti was inside the academy, there was no moment where Selene wasn't glued to her.
Kailith was losing her mind. As a fallen dragon, it was already hard for her to keep her sanity under control, and now this constant frustration was eating her alive. Alice and Brenna weren't doing much better either. They all felt suffocated.
But for Maruti, these days were like paradise. She felt so peaceful, so carefree, as if the world itself had turned brighter. With Selene always around her, she had grown comfortable—like every day was a blessing.
That evening, she returned home with a basket in her hands. It wasn't groceries for cooking; Brenna handled all the meals. These were just small snacks and drinks she liked to keep for herself.
"Haha, what a genius strategy! It's been working with one hundred percent efficiency!" Maruti laughed to herself, skipping lightly as she walked down the hallway toward her bedroom. She was smiling like a child who had just pulled off the perfect prank.
"Selene~, let's celebrate another day of victory!" she cheered, pushing open the door.
But instead of Selene waiting inside, she found Kailith and Alice sitting on her bed.
Maruti's cheerful face immediately darkened.
"So… it was your plan all along, huh?" Kailith's voice came out low and twisted, filled with a sadistic edge. "You really need to be punished…"
Her red eyes gleamed unnaturally, like those of a predator losing its grip on sanity. She rose from the bed and slowly walked toward Maruti. Then, without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around her.
"Do you know how hard these past days have been for me?" Kailith whispered, her breath hot against Maruti's ear. "But I'll forgive you… because you are my beloved, after all~."
At first, her embrace seemed warm, almost affectionate—but then her grip tightened. So tight that Maruti's bones felt like they could snap any second.
"But don't ever do something like that again," Kailith warned in a chilling tone, her tongue sliding across Maruti's neck as she licked her skin slowly. "Or else I'll have no choice but to use force…"
Anyone else would have trembled in terror or even wet themselves at such a sight. But Maruti stood firm, her eyes calm and steady.
"What did you do with Selene?" she asked, her voice serious.
For a moment, Kailith's crazed expression melted away. She chuckled and leaned back slightly. "Relax. I left her with my mother. She'll keep Selene busy for a while… so we can finally have some time together."
Maruti let out a sigh of relief, tension leaving her shoulders.
"Alright then. I guess since I haven't done it the past few days… let's do it now." She walked toward the bed, her tone half-resigned, half-playful.
"Umm… why not try something different this time?" Alice spoke up timidly, raising her hand like a schoolgirl.
"Different?" Kailith tilted her head with a wicked smirk. "Of course not. I'm going to make up for all the days I've been holding back."
"No, no! Not like that," Alice quickly waved her hands. "I mean… like drinking something together, or dancing, or maybe even playing games."
"Hmph." Kailith crossed her arms, then after a moment muttered, "Wine is fine, I guess. I like red wine. It's sweet, and it can get anyone drunk easily."
Maruti sat down on the bed, resting her chin in her palm. "But I don't drink wine. And I don't smoke either."
"Don't worry, my love," Kailith said with a sly smile, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "If you can't drink it… you can still drown in it~."
Maruti gave an awkward laugh. "What's that supposed to mean…?"
"Well, then who's going to buy it?" Alice asked, glancing between the two.
"I'll go," Maruti sighed as she stood up. "If I leave one of you alone with me, it'll cause trouble. And if you both go together, it'll definitely be chaos."
"How much should I buy? Two bottles?" she asked casually.
But before she could blink, Kailith and Alice shouted together—
"Two barrels!"
Maruti froze, her jaw dropping. "What?! Are we donating it to the homeless or something?" she said in disbelief.
"No," Kailith replied with a straight face, her tone dripping with frustration. "Bottles aren't enough. Even barrels might not do the trick."
"Yes," Alice added with a sigh. "I've tried drinking so many times out of depression… but i never really get drunk. It's hopeless."
Maruti threw up her hands. "Alright, alright! Let's just hope the owner even has two barrels." She turned toward the door with a helpless expression and walked out, mumbling to herself.