If, in the midst of it all, some of Hades’ inner emotions would reveal themselves, that would be a plus.

I stepped closer to Hades.

“Let’s defeat the Demon King together.”

Uttering such a childish line made my face flush, but nothing else seemed more appropriate now.

Hades looked down at me with an unreadable expression.

“The Holy Maiden…”

His voice, tinged with fatigue, resonated in my ear.

“I…”

It was then that I realized something was off. Hades’ face was flushed, and his hand was slightly trembling.

His whole body had stiffened, clearly not welcoming my touch.

‘Is he unwell?’

Concerned, I reached up to touch his forehead when Hades abruptly seized my wrist.

“…!”

It was clear. He was trying to take Denesor again. Although I wasn’t worried about that, since I could summon it…

“Uh, ah…!”

An unbelievable event occurred. Hades’ lips overlapped mine.

Hot breath permeated his entire body. Leaning completely on me, one hand on my wrist, the other grasping my right cheek, he kissed me deeply.

I panted for breath.

My first kiss happened in the Demon King’s lair.

In a situation where it was hard to say which was more burdensome—before or after—Hades’ actions became even more intense.

Something more than just heat emanated from his fully attached body. I shrank back, but Hades did not pull away. Rather, he became even more audacious as if he didn’t care about my will.

Why didn’t I actively stop him?

Every single action of Hades was so stimulating that I couldn’t regain my senses.

Even when I tried to recover a shred of rationality, Hades would dive into that moment and turn it into an electrifying sensation, causing my mind to reject any further judgement.

But the biggest reason I didn’t stop him was…

‘I don’t dislike it.’
All these actions felt sweet. I wanted to be closer to Hades, wanted to spend even a little more time with him. I wished he would breathe more hot air into my ears. And even more, I wished he would tear me apart and love me.

I tightly closed my eyes.

Perhaps, it wasn’t only Hades who had succumbed to desire in this land.

(A time separator is here.)

‘What an idiot.’

Altair looked down at the fallen prisoner beneath his feet, sneering internally.

Due to the dusty and tangled hair and tattered clothes, it was hard to see the face clearly, but considering there weren’t many prisoners in Donovan Duchy, the identity was clear.

It was Tobias Giseniri, who was once a knightcommander.

Altair was well aware of his actions, as Liridel had already completed all the investigations.

A traitor to the Duke and his comrades.

If he had even succeeded, it would have been better, but he had failed miserably and become a prisoner in the underground dungeon.

Naturally, such a person would join in on Altair’s plans to destroy Donovan Duchy.

Yet this person…

‘…What is he thinking?’

Altair shook his head.

It was none of his business to know.

Tobias had completely lost consciousness; he would disappear entirely from this world along with the collapsing castle.

As he recited the final spell to activate the magic stone, it started to emit a brilliant purple light.

“…?”

Altair blinked.

It should have emitted a white light, not a purple one.

That the magic stone did not activate properly even though he had performed everything correctly pointed to only one fact.

‘I’ve been deceived!’

Altair flipped Tobias over.

He must be doing something.

But Tobias was entirely unconscious and collapsed, not performing any actions to activate the magic stone. In fact, it would be more accurate to say it was impossible.

Altair’s eyebrows narrowed further.

‘What’s going on?’

Then it happened.

Bang!

An earsplitting noise resonated, and the surroundings were filled with red light.

Altair opened his mouth.

Only one answer came to mind to explain this phenomenon.

It was the beginning of a new event.

Signaling the destruction of the world.