I'm a little bit cute after transforming.

Inside the Demon King's castle, in the same conference room, all the captains were already seated, with Ariel at the head of the table.

Everyone stared intently at Mei, who had her eyes closed.

Suddenly, Mei slowly opened her eyes, her pure black pupils gradually turning purple.

Mei used her skill (Shared Vision) to recount what she saw through the eagle.

The rough voice of the Third Regiment Commander, Jer, rang out.

"Has the Demon King been exposed? We must hurry and go to his rescue!"

"Jel, are you an idiot? If the Demon Lord is exposed, will the Hero just let it go like this?"

A somewhat disdainful voice rang out, and then she looked at Demitrus.

"Demitrus, what do you think?"

Demitrus pondered for a moment.

"We can't draw any conclusions based on the current information. Mei, investigate the hero's movements again, but be careful not to be discovered."

Mei nodded and then closed her eyes again.

When she opened her eyes again, she looked puzzled.

"The hero's party has left the city walls, and their destination seems to be—the Demon King's castle!"

Dimitrus adjusted his glasses.

"It seems my guess was right! The hero already suspects the Demon King's identity, but he can't be sure yet! He's probably here with that purpose in mind!"

Everyone suddenly realized that, considering the recent battle at the Demon King's Castle, even the Demon King's army from the front lines had returned.

The heroes must have noticed this unusual scene and must have sent someone to infiltrate the Demon King's castle to gather information.

Everyone's expressions turned serious.

Ariel, legs crossed, leaned lazily against the chair, a smile playing on her lips.

"Looks like we'll have to play along with the hero for a while!"

Everyone instantly understood what Ariel meant and couldn't help but laugh.

Jere was so anxious that he scratched his head and looked around, but he didn't dare to ask.

'What exactly is the hero here for? What are you all laughing at?'

······

After traveling for a whole day, the heroes finally arrived at the territory of the demons. They could see the Demon King's castle just over the hill ahead.

A young man dressed in ornate robes complained:

"Enoch, is it really alright for us to head to the Demon King's castle like this?"

Enoch glanced in the direction of the Demon King's castle.

"Willie, if that girl is the new Demon King, the capital is in danger!"

Willie explained:

"I just feel that we are not yet at our current level to contend with the Demon King!"

"Besides, the demon generals have already returned to the Demon King's castle, there's no need to take this risk!"

Lucy twirled the dagger in her hand.

"I'll go alone! I should be able to infiltrate the Demon King's castle."

Enoch refused.

"No! It's too dangerous. I felt something was off when you infiltrated the Demon King's castle so easily last time."

"Hey~ Don't you guys think it's a little too quiet around here~"

Sora's weak voice rang out.

Enoch's pupils contracted.

"Oh no! An ambush! Run!"

Before he could finish speaking, a jet-black spear shot towards Sora's chest. It was so fast and so sudden that the others didn't even have time to react.

Sora's pupils dilated suddenly, as if time had slowed down.

'Am I going to die?!'

Enoch was about to draw his sword as a white light rose from his body, but Willie picked up his staff from the ground, and Lucy threw the dagger in her hand.

The dagger blurred into a streak, striking the black spear, only to be deflected after a few sparks were thrown away.

Sola was about to die.

The burly man who had been watching Sora the whole time rushed over immediately and shoved Sora aside.

A soft thud sounded as a spear pierced the flesh.

The burly man groaned and knelt on the ground. His abdomen, along with his armor, had been pierced, and blood was gushing out.

"George!"

Sora scrambled to her feet and rushed forward, pressing her hands firmly against the bleeding wound.

A white light shone from her hands, but the blood continued to gush out.

Large tears streamed down Sora's fair face as she cried out.

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

However, the blood continued to flow, staining her hands and white clothes bright red.

Iruka had already drawn his holy sword and blocked the direction from which the spear was coming.

Willie's magic circle was also formed, a blue shield protecting the group, while at the same time, a purple magic circle was slowly taking shape.

Lucy darted behind Simon and pressed her hand against his wound.

"Sora! The wound is cursed! Cleanse it quickly!"

Somewhat distraught, Sora hurriedly began to pray, her voice trembling.

"Great Goddess of Light, grant me the power to dispel evil..."

A moment later, white light rose from Sora's entire body.

Black smoke billowed from the wound in George's abdomen, and he groaned as he gritted his teeth.

After dispelling the curse from the wound, Sora immediately used healing, and the bleeding slowly stopped.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, George, it's all my fault!"

Sora said, her voice trembling with tears.

George's lips were a little pale. He raised his hand as if to comfort her, but in the end he didn't touch her.

"It's alright, Sora, I'm strong, this injury is no big deal!"

Clap~ clap~ clap~ Applause rang out from behind the hillside.

Ten figures emerged; they were none other than the Ten Demon Generals.

Behind them, a petite figure walked step by step through the air, reached a suitable spot, sat down in mid-air, and crossed her legs.

“It’s so touching~”

Ariel sat on the barely perceptible spider silk, clapping her hands with a mocking expression.

Enoch gritted his teeth and shouted:

"Demon Queen—Ariel! What a brilliant tactic!"

"They actually went so far as to destroy the Demon King's castle to lure us here!"

Ariel laughed dismissively.

"You too?"

Enoch quietly crushed a piece of crystal in his hand.

"Oh~ otherwise, what was the point of all this trouble?"

Ariel snorted and gave a look.

Is delaying the inevitable useful?

Several people rushed forward.

······

Diana was fast asleep in a room beneath the city walls of the border town.

Bang! Bang! Bang! A rapid knocking sound rang out on the door.

Diana remained fast asleep, unmoved.

The door was forced open with a bang.

Adolf, utterly exasperated, burst through the door to find Diana still fast asleep in bed.

He quickly went over and woke Diana up.

Diana rubbed her eyes.

"Hmm~ Is it already dawn?"

Adolf hurriedly said:

"Anna, Anna, something terrible has happened! The hero is in mortal danger!"

Diana paused, then grew somewhat impatient.

"What does it matter to me if his life is in danger?"

After saying that, he planned to go back to sleep.

Adolf quickly grabbed Diana.

"The hero is over at the Demon King's castle! If the hero and the others are all dead, another war will break out!"

Diana scratched her head, a little annoyed, mainly because her sleep had been disturbed.

"What's going on? Didn't I order the demons not to harm humans?!"

Diana got out of bed in a daze.

"Where? I'd like to see who's brave enough!"