Volume 1, Chapter 14 – Young Lady, Please Behave Yourself

“T-Thank you so much, Darkfallen! This is the first time anyone has ever been this kind to me! From now on, we’re accomplices in hunting the Saintess.”

The blue ribbon in Remedios’s platinum-blonde hair swayed as she bowed to Stella.

Clearly, Stella’s behavior just now had made Remedios like her far more than expected. She quickly lowered her guard and began to trust her, her aqua-blue eyes revealing her feelings without the slightest pretense.

Stella shuddered.

Succubi were terrifying. Sooner or later, she was going to be done for. The moment the Saintess was involved, every monster became filled with malice, itching to make a move.

‘If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve just rotted away in some rural convent after failing the exam. Even if you beat me to death, I wouldn’t have come to a place like this…’

No matter what, she absolutely could not let anyone discover her secret as the Saintess. Otherwise, she would be doomed beyond redemption.

There were simply far too many succubi who wanted to ‘eat’ her.

Stella hugged Primordial Doctrine more tightly against herself.

There had been plenty of complications along the way, but at least she had finally completed the Inquisitor’s assignment. Hopefully, the next time they made contact, the Inquisitor could lend her a little help.

“…H-Happy to be working with you.”

Stella forced herself to smile as well.

Deep down, she could hear her own heart screaming, but she still did her best to maintain her expression. Hunting herself was the sort of thing that was better off never happening.

As for this whole plan to hunt the Saintess, she could just humor Remedios a little later. Remedios was only a little succubus, after all. There was no way she could cause Stella that much trouble.

For now, though, Stella still had to play along.

Rеaԁ οո КatRеaⅾіոgСafе

“My name is Stella Darkfallen. You can just call me Stella.” Stella said with deliberate airs.

“Of course, Stella! Please call me by my given name too.”

Remedios smiled as brightly as a flower.

“If I had the time, I’d really love to drag you along and spend several hours exchanging ideas about how to use a Saintess. Unfortunately, I have to return to the dormitory. Unlike you, if an Administrator happens to catch me wandering around the school late at night, I’ll get thrown into the Forbidden Forest for night patrol.”

‘…N-No, there is really no need to exchange ideas about how to use one.’

Just imagining it made Stella break out in a cold sweat.

‘Research that stuff privately if you like. Just please never bring it up in front of me.’

“Since it’s already late, I’ll head back first. I still have tomorrow’s coursework to prepare for,” Stella said dismissively.

In any case, her mission to obtain Primordial Doctrine was already complete, so there was no reason for her to remain in the library. After leaving behind that barely plausible excuse, Stella hurried away from the scene.

Remedios watched her leave.

She continued staring in that direction for some time before taking out a diary. After lightly wiping the tip of her pen, she smoothly continued writing in it.

【Observation Target: Stella Darkfallen】

【Trait Assessment: Possesses exceptionally powerful talent and execution ability. Resolute and cold-hearted in temperament. Abstinent and vicious, unwilling to let even the slightest offense go. Lacks compassion for the weak, is intensely goal-oriented, and is unfathomably deep.】

【Overall Evaluation: A perfect schemer.】

Remedios lowered her eyes and gazed at the pages on the floor that had crumbled into pure white ash. The book spirit that had once caused her so much trouble had already been utterly annihilated.

Rеad οո KatReaԁіոgСаfe

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

‘A genius succubus acknowledged by the Vice Principal, overwhelming SSS+ potential, hidden strength impossible to gauge, cruel, calm, efficient, silent…’

Remedios closed her diary, her fingertips brushing against the faint unevenness of its cover.

‘Stella, if you can already reach this level while you’re still only a student, then once you graduate and leave the school in the future, won’t you end up ruling the Demon Realm?’

—————

Midnight moonlight streamed through the tall, pointed stained-glass windows, casting mottled, overlapping shadows across the corridor.

Stella walked alone on her way back to the dormitory, no longer deliberately suppressing the sound of her footsteps as she had before.

As the favored student of Vice Principal Mara, she now had an exemption allowing her to conduct extra training on school grounds. Even if she ran straight into an Administrator on night patrol, they would most likely only bow slightly to this SSS+ genius before pretending they had seen nothing.

The only thing Stella needed to do now was properly hide that troublesome copy of Primordial Doctrine.

Ahead was the common room of the House of Domination, an unavoidable stop on the way back to the private dormitories.

Normally, at this hour, there should have been nothing here but an extinguished fireplace and rows of empty velvet sofas.

Tonight was different.

The dancing firelight cast a crimson reflection in Stella’s eyes.

Someone was waiting for her.

Beside the fireplace, a figure sat in a massive blackwood armchair carved with ornate patterns.

Rеαԁ oո ΚαtRеαⅾіnɡCafе

She wore a dark silk nightgown, her crimson curls spilling over her shoulders and seeming to burn beneath the firelight.

Cheryl Valentine.

She sat there solemnly, both bare feet stretched toward the edge of the hearth for warmth. Apparently, she had been waiting for so long that even the cold had gotten to her.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, the crimson-haired succubus girl calmly nudged the coals with a poker, then looked over expressionlessly.

“Where did you go?”

Stella stopped in her tracks, a dull ache beginning to throb at the back of her head.

‘Lord…’

Did trouble really have to come in clusters like this?

If she had any choice, Stella truly did not want to run into her.

Stella steadied her breathing and pushed Primordial Doctrine even deeper into her arms, making sure no corner of the book could peek out through the gap in her cloak.

She did not approach. Instead, she stopped at the boundary between light and shadow, the firelight outlining her aster-colored eyes with a layer of cold indifference.

“Not long ago, I saw you leave with another succubus.” Cheryl stared at her, her voice very soft. “What were the two of you sneaking around doing?”

Stella’s expression did not change. She stepped forward, the sound of her leather shoes striking the floor steady and oppressive.

“If you already know I have special privileges, then you shouldn’t ask unnecessary questions like that. The Vice Principal said that while I’m here, I can torture anyone who displeases me as I please.”

Stella lowered her head, looking down at Cheryl from above.

Reαⅾ oո KαtRеаԁіոgСаfе

“I was outside torturing that ignorant piece of trash of a succubus just now, and it took a little time. What is it, Miss Valentine? Would you also like to experience some of my private instruction in the middle of the night?”

“…Y-You went to torture her?!”

Cheryl’s breathing caught slightly, then immediately grew a little quicker. Her fingers tightened unconsciously, and a flush spread across her cheeks.

“Listen carefully, Tyrannical Queen.” Stella ignored her strange reaction and bent down slightly, bringing her face closer to Cheryl’s. “If you don’t want to end up just as humiliated as that succubi, stay away from me. I used up all my patience during the day. Understood?”

With that, Stella straightened up. Without waiting for a response, she walked straight past the armchair and quickly headed toward the hidden door leading to the private dormitories.

‘Phew… That performance should’ve been decent, right?’

Throw out some vicious words, act like a pervert, then finish with a threat.

Any normal succubus who heard about torture and humiliating consequences should know to stay far away, right?

‘Please stop bothering me already, young lady!’

Translator Note

Stay far away? I bet it would make Cheryl become more excited instead