“…Lin? Bella?”

Delphine quickly ran over and took out the walkie-talkie with trembling hands.

Then she whispered carefully towards the black object.

“…Marian?”

[“Delphine.”]

The familiar voice came through from the other side of the walkie-talkie.

Tears that had welled up fell and trickled down her cheeks.

“Lin! How… W-where are you transmitting from?”

Ioan had clearly said no magic works in the underground prison?

Lin calmly answered her puzzled question.

[“I knew it. That man didn’t tell you anything.”]

“What do you…”

[“Delphine. We escaped from that prison a long time ago.”]

Thud.

Her heart made a loud noise as it plummeted to the floor.

“D-Don’t tell me…”

“How are they doing?”

This had recently become one of Delphine’s habits.

Asking about the wellbeing of her companions imprisoned.

Even just last night, she had done the same.

As usual, while he embraced her from behind, only clad in thin clothing, and nuzzled her neck with his chin, the first thing she asked was directed at him.

As if checking the terms before making a deal.

To that question, he affectionately kissed her forehead and whispered.

“…They’re all doing well. With limbs intact. With fingernails and toenails safe too.”

Then, does this mean he had been continuously deceiving her all this time?

While knowing full well why she had so willingly fallen into his arms?

An intense feeling of betrayal rushed in.

Because he had been so kind and intimate with her these past few weeks, the sense of betrayal was even greater.

Despite kissing and joining bodies every night like that.

Despite incessantly whispering tender words in her ears.

In the end, was there not a single shred of sincerity in that man’s heart?

Delphine laughed bitterly as she felt hot tears rolling down her cheeks.

‘What on earth was I expecting?’

Because he had been so affectionate this past month, she had mistakenly thought there must have been some genuine feelings mixed in there.

…Like a fool.

[“There’s not much charge left in the possum so we can’t talk for long.”]

Lin urgently continued speaking through the walkie-talkie to the shocked and speechless Delphine.

[“Delphine. Listen without being startled. While on the run, we investigated your mother.”]

Delphine blinked her teary eyes at the unexpected next words.

“…My mother?”

Why bring that up all of a sudden in this urgent situation?

[“It’s difficult to explain in detail. Delphine. Don’t recklessly try to escape.”]

Don’t try to escape?

Before she could reply, Lin hastily added.

[“Call for us. When you see an opportunity. We’ll come to you.”]

You’ll come here? Rather than me getting out?

To this mansion guarded by Ioan?

Coming here now was no different than willingly walking back into the limbs they barely managed to escape from.

“No! It’s dangerous! The mansion is swarming with knights right now.”

Delphine hurriedly cried out.

[“It’s alright. In the meantime, please…”]

The transmission cut off there.

Most likely because the charge in the possum had run out.

Delphine dejectedly looked down at the crackling walkie-talkie.

The study where the conversation ended was utterly silent.

Suddenly, the realization dawned on her that this was the first time in nearly a month she had spoken with someone other than Ioan.

For the past month, she had sat here obediently waiting for his return…

“Until it’s safe…”

In the end, was it to hide this truth from me?

Delphine buried her face between her knees to conceal her miserable emotions.

[This is the timeline separator]

The door to the dark study opened.

The man who entered the room in search of her carefully called her name.

“…Del?”

Still with her head buried between her knees, Delphine’s thin shoulders trembled.

Don’t call me by that name.

That affectionate nickname my mother used to call me.

With her head lowered, Delphine gnawed at her lips.

She absolutely mustn’t let him find out she had received a transmission.

If she showed even the slightest hint, they could fall into even greater danger.

So she had tried her utmost to calm her heart before he came, but half a day was far too short to erase the piercing sense of betrayal in her heart.

Soon, a candlelight was lit.

Delphine quickly composed her expression, raised her head, and hastily smiled, trying her best to conceal her grief.

“…You’re back?”

“Del?”

As expected.

The man, who immediately noticed her expression, slightly stiffened his face with worry.

“Did something happen while I was away during the day?”

What could possibly happen when you keep me locked up like this?

Delphine desperately suppressed her surging anger.

If she acted as if nothing was wrong, it would only make him more suspicious.

So instead, she slightly drooped her eyebrows as if sullen and depressed.

“…I waited for too long. Why are you so late today?”

To confirm the kill, Delphine added again.

“Do you never think of me, alone in this mansion all day…?”

It wasn’t a complete lie.

For the past month, her only conversation partner had been Ioan.

To that extent, she had gradually weakened and come to rely on him, a fact Ioan couldn’t have failed to notice.

“Sorry. I had a lot to take care of today so I’m a bit late.”

As expected, the stiffness around his eyes immediately melted away.

“My. I’ll make sure not to be this late next time…”

He embraced her waist as if to soothe her and brought his lips to her earlobe.

Of course, the soothing gestures quickly grew more and more intimate.

Despite ravishing her all night, he once again had thirsty eyes like a man abandoned in the desert.

Under that gaze, her lower belly now ached and tingled with familiarity.

“Del…”

“…”

Delphine gnawed her lips while embracing him so he couldn’t see her expression.

Normally, she would have willingly fallen into his arms like this.

She would have surrendered herself to his hands clinging to her body as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from her for even a moment.

But not now.

“…I don’t feel so well.”

“Oh no. Delphine. Where does it hurt?”

“My stomach is a bit…”

It was easy to deceive him as her face had already turned pale.

While heading to the bedchamber in his arms, Delphine once again hid her face against his chest.

So he couldn’t read her expression.

He was a man with senses as keen as a beast.

Now that she had already been caught and failed greatly once before, she needed to be even more cautious.

[“Call for us. When you see an opportunity. We’ll come to you.”]

What did those words mean?

Why were they coming all the way to this mansion guarded by this man?

That opportunity… how could she obtain it…?

[This is the timeline separator]

Lanchis Town located in the eastern part of District 3.

A place where all sorts of criminals and vagrants stagnated, it was generally the most lawless area even within the largely anarchic District 3.

Even in a place like this, there were inns for those wandering in search of a place to spend the night.

Of course, safety and security were up to each guest.

A shabby room in the old and run-down Goring Inn, the cheapest place in Lanchis Town.

Creak-.

A figure shrouded in a black cloak entered the dimly candle-lit room.

Although it was still broad daylight outside, the room was as dark as night because the windows were all covered with cloth.

Only after fully closing the door did he take off the cloak covering his head.

Brown hair tied up in one bunch was revealed underneath.

“Phew. The humans in Lanchis really… always exceed imagination.”

Marian plopped down on the worn-out single bed and grumbled.

“I beat up four thugs just on the way here.”

“You didn’t attract too much attention beating them, right?”

Bella, who had been sitting on the floor scribbling something, raised her head and asked.

Her attitude showed no concern even after hearing about the thugs, but Marian also nodded as if it was only natural and replied.

“Yeah. Dragged them into an alley and quietly beat them.”

That much was a daily occurrence in this chaotic Lanchis.

Only then did Bella return her gaze to the paper she had been working on, feeling relieved, and asked.

“The item?”

“Got it. Here.”

Marian took out a small pouch from her bosom.

Then she handed it not to Bella, but to Lin who was sitting in the corner.

He was in the middle of boiling something with a small jar in front of him.

Looking at him, Marian joked cheerfully.

“The title of a witch’s descendant really suits you, Lin.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Lin, seated in front of the burning fire, gloomily retorted.

Then he took out a grotesque-looking claw from the pouch Marian had handed him.

With a disgusted expression, he threw it into the jar.

Inside the jar, a liquid that looked dangerous at a glance was bubbling and boiling.

“…It’ll be done soon.”

Lin, who had been silently watching him, parted his chapped lips and asked.

“So when are you going to carry out that plan?”

He looked haggard, having noticeably lost weight in less than a month.

“I told you. When we see an opportunity.”

At Bella’s words, still answering without even raising her head, Lin ground his teeth.

“How much longer are you going to let Delphine be trapped in that mansion?”

She still didn’t know.

That that bastard was someone who sold his soul and made a contract with a demon.

And that she was the descendant of a saint who should never get involved with him.

Just thinking about her, isolated from the world and not knowing anything, made him feel like his heart would burst.