Volume 1, Chapter 50 – Revenge Drama

“I declare the winner… Stella Darkfallen!”

The moment Cheryl was taken away by Gehenna, the succubus referee announced Stella’s victory.

A unanimous cheer erupted from the succubi in the stands, yet Stella couldn’t feel happy at all. She genuinely thought these succubi looked exactly like excited spectators watching her about to be beheaded.

That wasn’t an exaggeration in the slightest.

Principal Gehenna’s words before leaving were essentially a death sentence for Stella, yet there was nothing she could do about it.

She couldn’t refuse at all. Doing so would only make Gehenna suspicious of her, which could expose her identity on the spot.

‘My life is over.’

Those words filled Stella’s entire mind.

“Stella!”

A platinum-blonde figure came running over while lifting the hem of her skirt.

The moment Remedios reached Stella, she naturally took her hand.

“Congratulations on your victory.” Remedios’s aqua-blue eyes were filled with admiration. “Congratulations on winning the duel and defeating the legitimate Valentine heir.”

“If you ask me, this revenge drama couldn’t possibly have been more thrilling. A script of return written solely for hatred, filled with deception, struggle, and traps. How magnificent, how dazzling, no different from fragrant fine wine!”

“…?”

Stella tilted her head blankly, her steps unconsciously slowing by half a beat.

‘Wasn’t it just an ordinary fight where I got beaten up and fought back?’

‘Is there really any need to describe it in such… theatrical terms?’

Besides…

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‘Legitimate heir?”

‘Revenge drama?’

‘What kind of fit was Remedios having? What was she even talking about?’

Stella couldn’t understand a word.

“I still have something to do, so I’ll be going first.”

Stella pulled her hand back and turned to leave.

No matter what, she should return to the dormitory first.

Even if she could only come up with some excuse to delay things for a little while, at least it would give her time to mentally prepare herself.

“Stella, you’re going to the infirmary for your bloodline inspection, aren’t you? So eager to prove yourself? This must be part of your plan too.” Remedios covered her mouth and giggled. “But the infirmary isn’t in this direction.”

“You’re flawless when it comes to strategy and strength, yet unexpectedly bad with directions.”

“No, I actually wanted to…”

Before Stella could finish speaking, Remedios naturally walked a little ahead of her and moved to her side.

She turned slightly, blinked, and spoke in a cheerful tone.

“The route to the infirmary is a little winding. I’ll take you there.”

‘It’s over.’

‘Now I couldn’t even delay it…’

“…Thanks a lot.”

“You’re welcome, sister.”

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The journey to the infirmary was long and agonizing. Logically speaking, when someone was trapped in a helpless situation, there was always a chance they might come up with a solution. Yet Stella racked her brains and still couldn’t think of any way to muddle through this.

This was completely different from every situation she had faced before. A bloodline inspection was a dead end she had absolutely no way to escape.

After all, no matter how much she presented herself to outsiders as a genius succubus, what flowed through her veins was still human blood so pure it couldn’t possibly be any purer.

“Stella, are you all right?”

“Stella?”

A slender hand waved in front of her eyes, stirring a faint breeze.

Stella came back to her senses. Remedios was walking beside her, her aqua-blue eyes reflecting Stella’s slightly vacant face.

“…Remedios, what’s wrong?” Stella rubbed her temples.

“There’s something that wasn’t convenient to say in public, but now I can. Stella, I believe you’ve had your first taste of revenge, but whether as your accomplice or as your friend, there’s something I must remind you of.”

Remedios suddenly stopped smiling. She took a step forward, shortening the distance between them until Stella could even smell her perfume.

She lowered her voice.

“By declaring your return with such fanfare, there’s no possible way the Valentine family will ignore you.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly. Her gaze passed over Stella and fell upon the night sky beyond the corridor, forever shrouded beneath the blood moon, as though she had already foreseen the bloody storms to come.

“Of course, if this is exactly what you want…”

The two stopped in front of the infirmary door.

Remedios turned back and extended a hand toward Stella, her pale palm facing upward like an invitation to dance.

“I’ll lend you my strength.”

Remedios smiled, her blue eyes reflecting Stella’s bewildered face.

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“It’s fascinating, isn’t it?”

Before Stella could recover from that entire pile of incomprehensible words, Remedios was already preparing to leave.

“I’ll wait for the good news from your bloodline inspection. I still have something to take care of, so I’ll be going now. See you later.”

Remedios gave a respectful bow.

She had come entirely on her own initiative, and now she left entirely on her own initiative too.

Just before turning the corner of the corridor, Remedios suddenly stopped, looked back, and gave Stella an enormous thumbs-up.

“…”

Watching her leave with that raised thumb, Stella couldn’t help clutching her head.

What was coming would come eventually.

Or rather, ever since Remedios had personally told her that every SSS+ freshman would inevitably undergo a bloodline inspection, Stella had known there was no escaping it. Every day since then had simply been borrowed time.

Admittedly, the high-grade elixir made using the Tear of Valentine as a catalyst, combined with the potent treatment Mara had given her, was indeed incredibly domineering.

It had given her hard, sharp horns, a sensitive and restless tail, crimson magical factors, and even awakened a peculiar bloodline talent within her. But ultimately, all of it was nothing more than a layer of paint smeared across a canvas, a magnificent garment she had borrowed.

Otherwise, all Principal Gehenna had to do was examine her blood a little, and she would immediately discover the percentage of human blood within it.

…100%.

Without question.

Once she was exposed, Lainia would probably be buried along with her.

That was fine too. At least when two members of the clergy went up to heaven to meet the Lord together, they would have someone familiar to chat with. It would save them from becoming too bored in that silent paradise filled with sacred hymns.

Stella even felt somewhat comforted. At least on the road to the afterlife, she would have a trustworthy colleague for company and wouldn’t be too lonely.

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She wondered whether the Inquisitor would take into account that Stella had died in the line of duty and allocate a little extra compensation money to the rural monastery.

The old chapel roof needed renovation, and the rows of potatoes in the backyard needed new fertilizer too. Hopefully that miser Itheria would be generous for once.

Unless one of Stella’s ancestors really had been a succubus, she was dead no matter what.

Of course, even thinking about such a thing was impossible.

She was a legitimate Saintess!

Come to think of it, it was a miracle that she had actually survived until today while surrounded by all these restless succubi, despite being in danger of dying at any moment.

Fortunately, she had never died.

Tragically, she had never died.

She had even managed to cling to life all the way until now.

Stella gritted her teeth and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Translator Note

Let’s see…

Will the secret be revealed this early, or another bluff came up?