Dying Once Again.

“Cough, cough….”

After her lungs were battered like they had been blasted by heavy artillery, combined with suffocation, it felt as if she was about to die.

Aren felt absolutely terrible.

She had been squeezed by something like iron pincers to the point of nearly fainting, a sensation terrifyingly close to death.

At the moment she was about to lose consciousness, she felt as though she saw a strange white light.

Within that white light, she vaguely saw the people who had gone on the expedition with her.

Without exception, they all shared one trait.

They were all dead.

From the civilians who were dragged along to fill numbers and died in the Demon Castle, to her own close subordinates and friends, all of them stared at her with eerie gazes.

There was anger, pity, expectation, and mockery.

Without exception, they were all ridiculing Aren.

The expressions on their faces were many, but each clearly revealed what they were thinking.

Even so, Aren quickly regained consciousness.

Because she was only on the verge of shock, a little oxygen was enough to make those terrifying figures disappear.

Aren could not help but let out a relieved breath.

Although her entire body was still extremely weak from oxygen deprivation, she was like a crawling insect, greedily sucking in the precious oxygen.

Because of this, she ignored the torn wounds and pain.

She even ignored Lilith beside her, who was wearing a sinister smile.

“I’m talking about you….”

A somewhat low voice, tinged with faint mockery, reached her ears.

Before the sentence was finished, Aren felt a burst of severe pain.

Then she felt her whole body fly through the air.

Lilith kicked Aren, who was kneeling on the ground and had not yet recovered, sending her flying.

The force was so great that Aren was lifted off the ground and smashed hard into the wall.

Because of that terrifying kick, Aren’s arm was instantly broken.

The pain of the fracture spread through her entire body in an instant.

It surged into her brain.

In that moment, a loud ringing filled her ears.

It was accompanied by a sudden blackout.

She could not see anything for a short time.

But this was not the end.

What followed immediately was the intense pain of crashing into the wall.

After the two impacts, Aren felt her consciousness becoming hazy.

“Why did you run….”

She seemed extremely angry.

Strands of black mist actually rose from her head.

Within her pitch-black pupils there seemed to be a magic that inspired fear.

Although Aren’s whole body was in agony at this moment, she still stubbornly forced herself to sit up against the wall.

She had already lost to her from the very beginning.

From the moment she was sent on the expedition, her defeat had already been decided.

Now it seemed the Demon King intended to kill her.

There was nothing to fear in that.

After all, she had long been a dead person already.

Dragging out such a miserable existence was worse than dying cleanly.

Even though her head was spinning, Aren forced herself to think.

If that was the case… then she might as well gamble everything.

Aren thought to herself.

Aren had a dagger she had taken from the armory hidden on her body.

It was tucked along the side of her short boot.

At first it was for emergencies.

Now, it seemed, it was time to use it.

“I… I was just going out to gather information….”

“I have something to tell you….”

“Come a little closer.”

She pretended to be calm.

It was clearly unnatural.

But Lilith did not seem to notice at all.

“Oh?”

Lilith looked at her with a hint of playful interest.

Lilith slowly bent down.

She lowered her head.

She wore an intrigued expression.

This posture clearly showed that she had already seen through the lie.

She was merely playing along with Aren.

Yet Lilith showed no sign of vigilance.

There was no trace of madness.

There was no magical barrier at all.

At this moment, Aren did not know where on her head she was injured.

Blood flowed down from her forehead.

It ran across her cheek.

It dyed half of her face red.

She looked extremely eerie.

Good.

Although it was a bit despicable, as long as I can stab her.

If I can kill her with one strike, maybe I can truly kill her.

Then even if I die, it will count as completing the expedition.

The Empire will definitely commemorate me.

It definitely will.

Aren thought to herself.

Her hand unconsciously tightened around the dagger in her boot.

She waited for the perfect opportunity.

Closer.

Closer.

Just a little more.

Just that little bit, and it would be a distance no normal person could possibly react to.

Now.

Aren used all her remaining strength.

Although her head was dizzy, Lilith’s head was almost tilted against her.

She would definitely hit.

A smooth, flowing draw.

That was the feeling.

The dagger was about to stab into Lilith.

At that very instant, Lilith revealed a bizarre smile.

Perhaps because she felt victory was assured, Aren also let out a frenzied, crazed laugh.

She put even more force into the dagger.

Just a little more.

Just a little more and it would hit.

Slash—

The dagger stopped dead.

Lilith grabbed the dagger tightly with her hand.

She held it completely still.

Although blood poured out, her expression did not change at all.

No matter how Aren struggled, the dagger would not move.

It was as if it were embedded in solid stone.

Lilith was still smiling.

Her eyes had narrowed into slits.

The black mist around her head seemed even thicker.

A layer of black fog formed behind her.

A trace of despair appeared in Aren’s heart.

She had no time to think.

She strained even harder, trying to pull the dagger free.

It would not budge at all.

This situation did not last long.

At that moment… Lilith moved.

She cleverly changed the direction of the force.

Aren’s strength followed Lilith’s movement.

Pff—

The dagger pierced into her own body.

Only then did Aren snap out of her frenzy.

When she saw Lilith’s narrowed eyes, a chill ran down her spine.

Perhaps because of excessive blood loss.

Perhaps because of the cold weather.

Or perhaps because of Lilith.

Aren felt as cold as ice.

She trembled uncontrollably.

The crazed smile still remained frozen on her face.

The intense pain was like a death warrant.

It reminded Aren that her internal organs had likely been pierced.

A sweetness rose in her mouth.

She spat out mouthfuls of blood.

The blood slid from the corners of her lips.

It ran down her neck.

It soaked into her clothes.

A few drops fell to the ground.

They made sounds like dripping water.

Drip—

Drip—

This was the symbol of Aren’s life slipping away.

Fear exploded into Aren’s mind.

Terror followed.

Then despair.

She was going to be killed.

“So the little maid really wanted to kill me that badly, huh~ hehehe~.”

“And also~ little maid, you didn’t call me ‘Master’ just now~.”

“You even dared to address me directly~.”

“Don’t you think you deserve a little pu~ni~sh~ment~?”

Lilith smiled with narrowed eyes.

Such a smile might have seemed gentle.

On Lilith, it inspired only dread.

Her playful tone made one’s blood run cold.

No joking.

Aren knew she would not live much longer.

Drowsiness washed over her in waves.

Let alone any punishment.

There was still some strength left.

She could run.

Aren thought.

Weakly, she pushed Lilith.

Lilith was blocking her path.

Unexpectedly, Lilith stepped aside.

Supporting herself against the wall, Aren stood up.

She staggered forward.

The pain in her body had gone numb.

It could no longer stop her.

Blood continued to flow endlessly.

Lilith crossed her arms.

She leaned against the corner.

She watched Aren with a teasing smile.

One step.

Two steps.

Every step drained her remaining strength.

She struggled against sleep.

The basement exit was right ahead.

She could see the stairs.

Once she got out…

It would be fine…

Blood dripped onto the floor.

Plop—

Aren collapsed to the ground.

She was completely exhausted.

She could no longer stand.

She would not make it out.

Aren stopped trying to move.

She lay face-down on the ground.

She did not want to move anymore.

Lilith approached.

She took out a bottle of green potion.

It came from her skirt pocket.

She poured it into Aren’s mouth.

The liquid rushed inside.

It seemed mysterious.

In an instant, the pain disappeared.

Aren felt no pain at all.

But the cold remained.

Blood continued to flow.

She could no longer feel it.

She felt as if she had endless strength.

Her body was numb to pain.

Aren stood up.

She continued walking forward.

Plop…

She fell again.

Lilith grabbed the chain of her collar.

She yanked Aren to the ground.

Lilith held her thin sword.

She walked toward Aren slowly.

So this is it.

Finally giving me a quick end.

Aren thought.

The sword was raised.

Crack.

Crack.

Two sounds of flesh being cut rang out.

Aren felt no pain.

She saw Lilith sever her Achilles tendons.

“I told you a long time ago~ you’re just a parasite~.”

“Erasing your memories would be troublesome~.”

“But I can turn you into a parasite~.”

Her playful tone was terrifying.

“Parasites can only crawl, right~.”

“So from now on, you’ll crawl for me~.”

“Oh, and they don’t have eyes~.”

Lilith walked closer.

She pulled the collar chain.

She lifted Aren’s head.

Aren’s beautiful face looked horrifying.

Blood and tears mixed together.

They smeared her face like paint.

Tears flowed silently.

Lilith hesitated for a moment.

The hesitation vanished quickly.

This person had tried to stab her without mercy.

A lesson was inevitable.

Removing her pain was already mercy.

Lilith hardened her heart.

She drew out a wisp of black mist.

She sent it into Aren’s eyes.

Blood seeped from her eyes.

Aren’s dark red eyes lost their luster.

Her pupils dilated horribly.

Aren gradually could not see.

Now, Aren truly looked like a parasite.

Crawling on the ground.

Perhaps from extreme exhaustion, Aren finally fell asleep.

Or perhaps death would be a more accurate word.