Demon Seed

“Your Majesty…” Black’s voice was tight with urgency,

“How is Princess Alice? May I… see her?”

Elizabeth’s eyes darkened.

She gave a subtle nod to Lucy, who stepped forward, her tone calm but grave:

“Princess Alice is no longer in Servia.”

“Her Majesty secured a vial of Regeneration Elixir from the Third Round Table Knight, Ethan, to heal her wounds.”

“Her body has healed… but she remains comatose.”

“The Imperial Dragon-Tier Healer confirmed: her affliction is not physical—but spiritual trauma.”

“She’s been taken to the Holy City of Eden. The Church’s priests specialize in such wounds.”

Black’s blood ran cold.

Regeneration Elixir… and she’s STILL unconscious?

Spiritual trauma?

He knew Alice’s injury—just a physical wound from Crimson Soul’s shard.

Jörmungandr was water-elemental—no mental attacks!

But Demeter the Mind-Devourer?

That’s his domain.

A horrifying memory from the game’s lore slammed into him.

His face drained of color.

“Lucy-dono…” he asked, voice strained, “When Alice was gravely wounded—

was Kristine close to her?

Did she… administer healing?”

Lucy blinked, then nodded.

“Yes. In the chaos, Kristine used her healing magic to stabilize the Princess. Why?”

Disaster.

Black’s mind reeled.

That’s it.

Kristine—unknowingly hosting Demeter’s soul—

had transferred the Dragon King’s corruption into Alice’s weakened psyche.

The “Demon Seed” was planted.

It would fester in Alice’s mind,twisting her memories, faith, and will,slowly transforming her into a Dragon-Corrupted vessel—

Demeter’s second body.

If the Dragon King’s main form fell,its soul would migrate into Alice,claiming her as its host.

Only eradicating Demeter’s soul could stop it.

But why Alice? Black wondered desperately.

Was it Jörmungandr’s lingering aura on her?

“Black—you’ve gone pale.”

Elizabeth’s sharp eyes narrowed.

“Did you uncover something?”

Black forced his expression neutral.

“Nothing, Your Majesty. I… merely worry for the Princess.”

He dared not speak of the Demon Seed.

Expose Kristine, and the Church would execute her—sparking war between Crown and Faith.

He bowed deeply, then followed the Dragon-Slaying Guards out.

The moment the grand doors closed behind him,a side entrance creaked open.

A girl stepped out—thirteen or fourteen, petite,yet her eyes held ancient frost,her smile polite but distant.

No child’s innocence—only steel wrapped in silk.

Elizabeth’s voice softened:

“You heard everything?

I intended to imprison him… but since you saw his worth, let him join the Guard.”

“With you watching… even his secrets won’t shield him.”

The girl—Noa—nodded, voice clear as a bell:

“Thank you, Your Majesty.

I shall return to headquarters.”

Outside the palace,the Dragon-Slaying Guards’ boots clicked rhythmically on marble—a metronome to Black’s turmoil.

He stared at the dragon-carved pillars,but his mind raced far beyond Servia’s walls.

Half an hour ago, I was a prisoner.

Now I’m chained to the Empire’s fate.

His original plan?

Use Kristine’s influence to escape jail,gather news of Alice,avoid Chapter 1’s chaos at all costs.

But fate laughs at plans.

By killing Jörmungandr,he’d shattered the game’s script.

In the original story, Jianye slayed the Dragon King,claiming its power to fuel her Dragon Tamer class—her core strength against future Dragon Kings.

Now?

Jianye had no Dragon King’s boon.

She was just a strong sorceress—not the unstoppable protagonist.

She can’t beat Demeter alone.

And Alice—supposed to die in the prologue—now lay comatose with a Demon Seed in her soul.

Black’s jaw tightened.

Every ripple… is my doing.

So I’ll bear the storm.

For Alice, drowning in darkness.

For Kristine, unknowingly a vessel of doom.

He’d walk through hell itself to steer this broken story toward hope.

His thoughts sharpened—

Demeter’s mechanics flooded back:

While other Dragon Kings slept within their sealed bodies,

Demeter’s soul could detach,drifting like a ghost—seeking hosts, whispering madness,until it found a vessel worthy of its rebirth.

And now…

it had two.