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"Servant?"
Eve blinked. "What… does that even mean?"
"Put simply, it means becoming a demon," Edgar said. His golden eyes glimmered. "Reborn as a race capable of rivaling the gods."
"Huh?"
Eve froze.
This guy's confidence was… ridiculous.
Demon? What demon? She'd never even heard of something like that. And he was claiming they could match gods? That was some grade-A bragging.
Still… saying nothing to her savior felt rude.
She lowered her head awkwardly. "Wow… that's amazing."
"…"
Edgar's mouth twitched.
"Has anyone ever told you that lies sound better when you put some emotion into them?"
"Sorry…" Eve bowed her head, embarrassed at being called out so directly.
Edgar exhaled, shaking his head. Her disbelief didn't surprise him.
"Whether you believe me or not isn't important," he said calmly, looking down into her eyes. "You only need to understand that this is the price."
"I still think I should at least understand—" Eve began, but Edgar cut her off.
"Then I'll make it simple. Even without the price, you need power. Enough power to defeat anything."
"The Demon King is exterminating the Blackwing clan. And you know better than anyone that you can't stop him."
"I don't think you want to watch your people die, do you?"
Eve fell silent.
After a long moment, she lifted her head, gaze firm.
"You're right. I need power. If you can really make me strong enough to fight the Demon King, then becoming a demon or whatever else— I'll do it."
For her people, for the Blackwing clan, she would give anything. Even if she didn't fully understand the power she was accepting.
Edgar held her gaze for a moment, then smiled lightly.
"Good eyes. I like that. And don't worry, this power isn't harmful. You won't regret it."
Eve blinked, then smiled back. "Now that sounds promising."
"In that case, let's begin."
The atmosphere was already set. Time for the real work.
Edgar lifted one finger. A bead of golden blood rose from his skin.
Eve stared in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"The ritual to rebirth you as a demon. My blood needs to leave a mark on your body."
"Oh."
Eve slapped a fist into her palm, as if everything suddenly made sense. Maybe this really was legit.
"So, what do I do next?"
Her cheeks warmed as she looked at the finger dripping golden blood. Where exactly was this mark supposed to go? And how?
"First, take off your outer layer of clothing."
Eve froze again, eyes clouded with doubt.
…Was this ritual supposed to be proper?
Akame cut in. "Don't overthink it. It's only the outer layer."
Eve hesitated, then slowly started moving.
A moment later she held her removed top in both hands, ears burning red. "So… now what?"
Edgar gave her a resigned look. "Your arms are blocking the place where the mark needs to go."
"S-sorry…" She lowered her arms.
Her bare skin shifted as she moved, curves rising like waves before his eyes.
Edgar's gaze sharpened for a moment, but he didn't delay. He let the drop of golden blood fall against her skin.
"Mmm—"
Eve's face flared crimson instantly. She'd mentally prepared herself, but having a man she'd just met touch her like this was unbearably embarrassing.
Her heart hammered.
The moment the heart-shaped sigil appeared, a strange sensation swept through her body. Her pale skin lit up with countless symbols.
[Eve Lys]
[Race: Demon]
[Master: Edgar Lucifergus]
[Level: 36]
[Skill: Blackwing Form]
[Blackwing Form: Manifest the Blackwing racial powers through demonic energy, granting all natural Blackwing abilities.]
[Shadow of Darkness: You may manipulate shadows freely.]
"Mm. Blackwing Form. Not surprising," Edgar murmured, tapping his chin.
He'd collected a whole roster of racial forms already… he wondered what would happen if he used them simultaneously with the II… whatever twisted power he held.
He set the thought aside and looked further down the list.
"Shadow of Darkness… now that's interesting. With enough imagination, this could get wild."
He wrote down the full status and handed it to Eve.
"These abilities are the foundation of your strength."
Eve nodded and began reading carefully.
She skipped the top lines and moved straight to the skills.
"Blackwing Form… does that mean I'm still considered part of the Blackwing clan?"
She exhaled in relief.
She was willing to abandon anything for power— but keeping her identity mattered. Being able to hold onto it was the best outcome.
Then she saw Shadow of Darkness, and her eyes lit up. She could immediately sense its potential.
But…
"Even with all this, I still can't beat the Demon King, can I?" she asked.
"Of course not. The gap between you is still huge." Edgar smiled. "But my servants have a special way to level up quickly."
"Do you want to try it?"
Eve nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely. Like I said— I'll pay any price for strength."
Edgar chuckled, then leaned in and claimed her lips without warning.
His movements were forceful, almost commanding.
Eve felt like she couldn't breathe, like she was drowning in him. And then something unfamiliar— hot, overwhelming, electric— surged across her senses.
So this was the secret to getting stronger?
As the thought flashed through her mind, a wave of emotion hit her harder than anything she'd ever felt. Every cell in her body buzzed and pulsed.
Slowly, all of it fused into raw determination.
At the same time, Edgar's expression had gone almost solemn.
He had one task now: answer his servant's desire completely, and push her level upward as fast as possible.
"Master… I feel it. My level really increased."
Tears of joy welled in Eve's eyes. She could feel it. She'd grown stronger— several times stronger.
And this was only the beginning.
"This is just the first step," Edgar said. "If you want to keep climbing, it'll depend on your own effort."
"I understand… Master." Eve looked at him through half-lidded eyes, her skin flushed pink from head to toe.
Without hesitation she swallowed the enhancement potion, pushing herself further toward the next barrier.
Watching her relentless effort, the other servants grew motivated as well.
As seniors, there was no way they could fall behind.
Akame and the others rushed to grab potions and started strengthening themselves too.
"..."
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