Chapter 38: No one understands the difficulty of defeating demons better than me.

Long silence.

Novich Emperor snorted.

“That your ‘terrifying’ Nightmare Demon? Three seconds?”

Cassius never imagined instant death—froze, mind blank.

Emperor’s icy words snapped him.

“Er—Majesty—they… luck! Their mindset—impossible pass. If not luck—saintess cheated!”

Sweat soaked brow, back. Under glare, coughed low.

“Majesty—trust. Nightmare just doorman. Stronger inside—many! Heavy losses!”

“Demons master disguise, deception. Careless—ally demon. Newbies—how spot?”

“Fortress—elite graveyard!”

Recall recent losses—confidence returned.

Luck wins countless—but one fail: doom.

Doubt endless wins!

“Hmph. Hope so.”

Emperor cold sweep—eyes to Sight.

Mars eyes shone. Majesty present—or cheered.

Nora similar—awed Knights, glanced Isabelle.

Calm—as predicted.

Recall Celis’s words.

Death training works? Villain—mask?

…

Fortress.

Nightmare slain—all freed illusions.

Leanna dispersed teams. Unlike dungeon: visible mutual.

Aid fast—avoid wipe or pick-off.

Steps in—ragged, bloodied woman burst ruined house.

Saw Leanna—fear to mad joy.

“You—knights save us?!”

Leanna eyed.

“Yes. Survivor?”

“Y-yes! Take me out—please! No more demons!”

Terror recalled—face paled despite grime. Knelt, begged.

“Shh!”

Aaliyah finger to lips, beckoned, sweet smile.

“No rush, no fear. We’ll get you out! Quiet—or attract demons.”

“I-I know.”

“Come—we protect!”

Despair to hope—Aaliyah angelic, Celis-like gentle.

One look—panic soothed.

“Yes!”

Nodded hard. Approached fast.

Unseen corner: sharp fangs flashed.

“Please… protect…”

Tears. Near Aaliyah’s chest—abdomen pain.

Looked: angel girl smiled, dagger through gut.

Blood gushed. Pain—pupils shrank.

“Y-you?!”

“What? Kill demon.”

Smile sweeter. Dagger deeper.

“Disguise—trash. Murder intent face-written.”

“Trash? Don’t know…”

“Just entered—you approach? No suspect us demons? Survivor now—careless?”

Face twitched. Pupils shook. Hoarse.

“…What say? Don’t understand.”

“No matter. True survivor—stabbed, unconscious.”

Real: collapse.

This: stood, schemed.

Not human.

“Damn!”

Exposed—true form. Next: Leanna’s slash—halved.

Corpse thud. Aaliyah sneered.

Fake survivor?

Old trick.

Dungeon: lost talismans to “survivors.”

Now: survivors near—stab first.

Real: sorry, heal.

Fake: likely expose—kill.

Rare tank stab unexposed?

Fine—heal: extras.

Odd—doomed.

Joyna’s plan. Leanna squad unanimous.

…

Rooftop: two red demons watched.

“Hm? These humans tricky. Both failed—dead.”

“Tell boss?”

Lead: frog-big eyes. Rolled—nodded hard.