“What’s wrong? Wolves hunt deer, and humans and beasts hunt each other. This is an unavoidable principle of nature.?You’re a knight. From now on you have to keep killing monsters! But what if you freeze up in real life because you’re scared? What will you do then, eh? I trained you!!”

Saleos growled as he leaned in towards her and met her eyes. His fierce aura was ferocious. But the more furious he got angry, the colder Lillian became.

She glared at him with green eyes blazing with an icy fire as she pointed out the gaps in Saleos’ argument.

“Don’t talk as if it was for me! You relished every time I—who knew nothing—killed a monster so you could absorb energy from the slaughter. All of this was for your gratification and appetite. Did you ever ask for my consent in the process? Did you?”

“They were all essential processes! To whom do you owe today’s win in the arena? If it weren’t for me and my powers, you would have been burnt to a crisp as you cried like a coward!! Tell me I am wrong!”

Saleos’ voice rose. He had masked himself well so far, but his fundamental disposition was that of a demon’s.

He was arrogant, adamant, and selfish. He couldn’t stand Lillian’s judgments against him.

Fueled by rage he could not suppress, Saleos’ power exploded making things burst and rolling and knocking down everything in the dressing room.

Lillian was not fazed and did not blink even amid the chaos around her. She stood upright with her pale face looking straight at him as Saleos arrogantly demanded,

“So stop nitpicking—you should be grateful for what I did! Because of me, you were able to fix your weak heart. You owe me.”

When he said that, Lillian lowered her eyes without saying a word; her eyelashes hid her gaze.

There was silence passing between the deep valleys of emotions. Saleos thought maybe she was crying. Because women were usually such creatures.

But after a moment, Lillian raised her head and was—unexpectedly— smiling.

Lillian’s despondent countenance was coupled with her venomous atmosphere.

“....You’re right. Thanks to you, I’m going to change.”

A lot.

Mumbling quietly, Lillian turned away. It was only a waste of time to talk to the demon anymore. She had now learned that demons were not ones to converse with but were for using.

For just that lesson alone, she was truly grateful.

After turning around, as if he wasn’t there, Lillian took off her armor over his body without reluctance.

She peeled off her hard black leggings and leather tights drenched with the monster’s blood. Lillian peeled them all off one by one. Until the unclad body, a vulnerable woman with white skin, emerged.

“What are you doing now?”

Saleos growled in a voice murky with anger.

Lillian looked back over her shoulder, flipping her long black hair out of the way.

A devastating sad smile materialized on her cold, clouded face.

“What? I should pay for the transaction.”

“..... What?”

“You want to sleep with me, don’t you? That’s why you tricked me. But as you said, you paid me back and then some more. I owe you. Then what can’t be done?”

The words that came out of Lillian’s mouth echoed exactly what he said. However, it was being twisted and not being used as he intended.

So, Saleos frowned and his eyes narrowed on her. Lillian, who turned toward him, slowly reached out.

“Come on. Take my hand. And prove to me that what you said was not a falsehood.”

He won’t be able to turn down my offer, Lillian thought as the corners of her mouth twisted.

Saleos had set up this trap to get what he wanted, there was no way he could resist the tempting gift she was putting within his reach. He was such a clever evil beast.

But it was fine. From now on, she would be more cunning and him more devious. It was going to be more ruthless. So she wouldn’t be fooled or swayed by him again.

The world was a cold and cruel place. Only female protagonists like Aleyna could receive favours free of charge in a place like this.

It was a given that it wasn’t the same for her, a mere supporting role. But instead, she had forgotten her place, built up, and had been betrayed by her unrealistic expectations.

She was pathetic.

Lillian tried to swallow the self-hatred and malice that threatened to vomit up and instead smeared over her being like nausea.

And, like the original namesake of her body, Lillian smiled innocently like a blooming lily.

Her red lips softly whispered his name:

“Saléos.. Hurry up.”