Choices and betrayal?

Day. Night. Day. Night. Days passed in a blur. The first few days of monster hunting had been exciting. But now? It felt... dull. Repetitive. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't exactly thrilled either.

Did I secretly wish for an apocalypse to shake things up? No. That wasn't it.

We switched party members often, so I'd gotten to know them better over time.

Nova wasn't as unkind as Violet. she reminded me of myself. June was kind, warmer than I expected. Gyro was skittish, but when it mattered, he didn't hesitate. And Ruby… well, Ruby was Ruby.

I stayed behind today. The others left, eager as always. Renia, of course, wanted to stay with me, but I shooed her away. She pouted, but she went.

Now, I sat in my room, staring out the window at the empty sky.

I was currently level 26. Was I supposed get more stronger? Then what? I am gonna die someday, and I don't mind it being few years earlier.

Become a hero? A villain? Something in between? Would that be fun?

Or was my purpose to protect the people I cared about?

I didn't really care. As long as Renia died by my side, nothing else mattered.

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair.

Jeez. What am I even thinking about?

"You're a funny human," a voice chuckled behind me.

I spun around, my staff appearing in my grip in an instant.

A girl stood there, watching me with amused red eyes.

She was taller than me, with long crimson hair cascading down her back. Dark horns curled from her head, and a pair of blood-red wings twitched slightly behind her. A tail flicked idly at her side. Her outfit if you could even call it that, left little to the imagination, but at this point, I was used to the way people in this world dressed.

More importantly, I could feel it.

She was strong.

Stronger than me by an overwhelming margin.

And yet, there was no hostility in her presence.

She stepped forward, her hips swaying with a practiced ease.

"Now, now. Why don't we put away the useless weapons, darling?" she purred, pressing a single finger against my staff. She pushed it down gently.

I didn't move.

"Curious. That's all I was about you," she continued, smiling as she reached out. Her fingers caught my chin, tilting my face toward her.

I tensed.

A demon. In this world.

Wasn't this supposed to be a safe one?

She laughed. "I am a demon, yes. And I have my ways of getting here. Nothing you need to worry about~"

"You can hear my thoughts?" I asked.

She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear. "That's right, dear."

Great.

"Why are you here?" I asked. "What's your objective?"

She chuckled. "Oh, you really think I'd tell you that?"

Of course not. Would've been too easy.

She sighed, then placed a light kiss on my cheek. "But I suppose I can humor you. Little you wouldn't be able to stop me anyway."

Her fingers trailed off my chin as she stepped back.

"I'm here to place a demon crystal."

I frowned. "A demon crystal?"

She smirked. "Oh dear, do the so-called heroes of humanity not teach you anything? It's a portal, darling. A gateway for demons to come here."

My grip on my staff tightened. "And you're just telling me this?"

"Mmhmm." She gave a playful twirl. "After all, what can you do about it?"

So, destroying it would stop demons from coming.

She stretched her arms over her head, her wings fluttering lazily. "They freed our conquered worlds, so it's only fair we fight back, don't you think?"

I readied my staff. "Then I can't let you live."

Her eyes glowed, her smile widening. "Oh, sweet thing. That means I have to kill you now too."

Hah she would have killed me either way because I now know what she plans.

I fired before she finished speaking.

A concentrated ball of fire shot toward her fast and precise.

She waved a hand. The flames vanished.

I tried again. Ice shards materialized above her, sharp as blades.

She snapped her fingers. They disappeared.

"The difference between us is like heaven and earth, darling." She smiled.

And then,

She was gone.

No... she was in front of me.

I barely registered the movement before her fist slammed into my stomach.

"—!"

Pain exploded through my body. The air left my lungs as I crashed onto the cold floor.

I doubled over, gasping, clutching at my stomach.

It hurt.

More than anything I had ever felt.

Blood.

I coughed, and a crimson stain splattered the floor.

Tears pricked at my eyes. My body trembled. Out not of fear, but sheer pain.

She sighed dramatically. "Oh dear, I didn't hit your face because I didn't want to ruin it, but look at you. Ruined anyway, covered in blood and tears."

Slow, deliberate steps. She walked toward me.

I tried to get up.

Her foot slammed into my stomach.

"—AGHHH!"

Something rose in my throat, blood, vomit. I barely managed to turn my head before it splattered onto the ground.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't.

A foot beneath my chin.

She tilted my face up with the tip of her foot.

"No lie," she mused, "A hurt you is cuter."

I gasped. "S-Stop… Please…"

So this is how I die. Before Renia.

She wouldn't hate me for that, right?

The demon girl crouched beside me, her expression softening. "Poor thing." She reached out, brushing a bloodstained strand of hair from my face. "I really didn't want to hurt you, you know. But you forced my hand."

Her fingers trailed down my cheek.

"You don't have to die, you know."

She cupped my cheek, her fingers warm and unnervingly gentle. Before I could react, she leaned in, pressing her lips against mine.

The taste of iron lingered between us.

When she pulled back, a thin strand of bloodied saliva connected our lips. Her smile deepened as she licked it away, crimson staining her lips.

"Originally, I planned to play with you a little before giving you a quick death," she mused, tilting her head. "But then I realized, why waste someone with potential?"

Potential? Hah there are many better than me. Bet she just enjoys killing.

I exhaled sharply, my breath ragged from pain. "No thanks. Just kill me and get it over with."

She giggled. "Stubborn. I don't hate it."

She straddled me effortlessly, pinning me down as if I were nothing but a wounded animal.

"Are you sure, though?" she purred, fingers moving to my belt. "I'm not doing painless deaths anymore."

The buckle came undone with a soft click.

"Over and over again."

Her nails traced along my stomach.

"I'll heal you, and then break you all over again." She smiled as her hand drifted lower.

I hesitated.

I clenched my fists. My body screamed at me to move, to fight back but I had nothing left. My magic was useless against her. Even if I resisted, what then?

"Why is it not hard?" she mused. Her lips curled in mock disappointment as she traced her fingers along my skin. "Am I that disgusting? How cold."

---

Time blurred. When it was over, she pulled away, her body still flush from exertion.

"Mhmm… You haven't made up your mind yet, have you?" She rested her head next to mine, her breath warm against my skin. "But I can guess what's running through that little head of yours."

I said nothing.

"You just care about that Renia, don't you?" she mused, playing with a strand of my hair. "I could make it so she stays unharmed."

I shut my eyes. Damn it.

Choice, I had a choice. Die a painful death and risk Renia getting hurt… or submit to something worse than death.

No. I couldn't risk her. Not her.

"Fine," I said, my voice hollow. "But you guarantee their safety. Not just mine and Renia's, the entire guild. And no one finds out I'm working with you."

Her laughter was soft, almost delighted. "You really think you're in a position to bargain?"

I didn't respond.

She sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I suppose I can spoil you a little."

She stood up and with a flicker of black flames, a parchment materialized in her hand. The edges shimmered with faint embers.

"A contract," she said, holding it out. "Sign it with your fingerprint. Even someone like me can't break it."

I took it cautiously, scanning the words. The conditions were exactly as we discussed, my guild would be spared once they conquered this world, and she wouldn't expose me as her subordinate. But there was no clause protecting me if I was discovered.

Of course there wasn't.

I hesitated, but I had no choice.

Pressing my thumb against the parchment, a dull glow radiated from the paper before fading, taking the contract with it.

She grinned. "And with that, we're bound. My death means yours. Your death… well, that's just yours."

Her tone was lighthearted, but the weight of her words settled deep in my chest.

"Now then," she mused, stretching her arms. "I should introduce myself properly."

She placed a hand over her chest, giving an exaggerated bow.

"Selphira Noctis. Second daughter of Count Afton Noctis." She winked. "And you, dear Rin, are now my property."

I glared at her.

"I'll contact you soon with your first task. Until then~" she waved her fingers, her form beginning to fade into shadows.

"Bye, darling~"

And just like that, she was gone.

Silence.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling. My hands curled into fists, nails biting into my skin.

I felt sick.

Angry.

Weak.

I wanted to destroy something. To tear this entire room apart. To scream.

But I didn't.

I just lay there.

I refused to work for her not because I hold attachment to this world, but because of my pride. Was that a bad reason? Perhaps.

---

I don't know how long I stayed on the floor.

At some point, my heavy eyelids forced themselves shut. When I finally opened them again, the room was still. The air was stale.

I forced myself upright, my muscles protesting with every movement. My stomach ached. Every step toward the washroom was a struggle.

Staring at my reflection, I barely recognized myself. Blood crusted around my mouth, my skin pale.

I turned on the water, letting it run over my hands before splashing my face. The cold did nothing to wake me.

I needed to get stronger. Even a little bit.

I needed a way out of this.

I'd leave the guild.

Join the Etherbinders.

Not today. Maybe not tomorrow.

But soon.

Because I wasn't going to be her property.

Not for long.