Chapter 18: What If I Kill Angelica Now?
Qin Chu wanted Candice on his side.
It had nothing to do with her beauty or her alluring figure.
He knew that, as the Hero, he could have any woman he desired. A snap of his fingers would bring a bevy of eager noblewomen to his doorstep.
But that held no appeal for him.
Candice’s value lay in her unique position, her connection to the Demons, her ability to gather information.
He wouldn’t take unnecessary risks, not after his previous life’s brutal lessons.
He had chosen her because he understood her, knew of her growing disillusionment with the Demons, her yearning for acceptance.
And, of course, his decision was also based on his newfound strength.
He wouldn’t have attempted this risky maneuver without the power boost he had gained from devouring the Phantom Demon.
He was still weaker than the approaching Demon, and far weaker than Candice, whose magical prowess was likely around level fifty.
But he had Rage, a Super-tier Ability that amplified his strength in proportion to his anger. And his rage, fueled by the memories of his previous life’s betrayal, burned with a white-hot intensity.
Rage Explosion could temporarily double his power, granting him a fighting chance, or at least enough strength to escape if things went south.
Candice, after a moment of stunned silence, nodded. The request, though unusual, wasn’t unreasonable.
He understood her, just as she was beginning to understand him. Abandoned by her father, used by her mother, ridiculed and abused by both humans and Demons… she had grown numb to their petty squabbles, their hypocritical judgments.
Years of servitude, of enduring their insults and betrayals, had eroded her loyalty.
She wanted a place to belong, someone to accept her, someone to make her feel less alone.
Whether that someone was a human, a Demon, or this enigmatic Horus… it didn’t matter.
Besides, she wasn’t the Succubus Queen’s only daughter. Her half-sisters, all pure-blooded Demons, despised her, their jealousy manifesting in subtle sabotages and even outright assassination attempts.
Her patience had worn thin.
She had no qualms about killing a Demon. But where was this Demon?
They were alone in the tavern. Surely, he didn’t expect her to kill herself?
A moment later, she sensed it, a faint disturbance in the magical flow, a presence approaching.
Her gaze snapped to Qin Chu.
She hadn’t sensed anything, not until he had alerted her.
How powerful was he?
He had clearly detected the approaching Demon long before she had.
Her respect for him, for his power, deepened.
…
Smash!
Crash!
Shatter!
Loseweisse, her rage a tempestuous storm, destroyed everything in her path.
Delicate teacups, crystal figurines, a gilded mirror… all reduced to shards, their remains littering the floor.
She hated Qin Chu for daring to become the Hero.
She hated him for rejecting her.
She hated the nobles for praising him, for comparing him favorably to Jie Luo.
But most of all, she hated Angelica, that wretched creature, for stealing her moment, her glory.
She craved revenge, yearned to make them all pay.
The crimson fire in her eyes faded, replaced by a cold, calculating glint.
She left her room, her gaze falling upon a figure walking towards a small chamber at the end of the hallway.
Angelica.
The object of her most venomous hatred.
Her former servant, now transferred to the Hero’s care. Angelica’s new position, though still lowly, afforded her a degree of protection.
Even Loseweisse couldn’t abuse her without consequence. It would be a direct insult to the Hero.
But some urges were simply too powerful to resist.
Tonight, she had been humiliated, her pride shattered. She had to unleash her fury, to find an outlet for the venomous emotions that threatened to consume her.
And Angelica, her face alight with a genuine smile, her steps light and carefree, was the perfect target.
She stopped in front of Angelica, her golden eyes boring into the maid’s.
The same face, the same eyes.
But there was a newfound radiance about her, a spark of hope that had been absent before.
Angelica flinched, her smile fading as a wave of fear washed over her. Years of abuse had left their mark, the ingrained terror difficult to shake off, even now that she was free.
After a moment, she straightened her back, her hands clasped together, her voice trembling slightly. “Holy light be with you, Mistress.”
The customary greeting of the Goddess of Holy Light’s followers.
Loseweisse, however, didn’t respond, her lips curving into a cruel smile.
She raised a hand, her slender fingers reaching out to caress Angelica’s cheek.
Angelica trembled, her body frozen in fear. She had summoned all her courage to accept Qin Chu’s proposal. Now, faced with Loseweisse’s wrath, she felt powerless, her defiance crumbling.
But the expected pain didn’t come. Loseweisse’s touch was light, almost gentle, her fingers tracing the contours of Angelica’s face.
Her long nails, however, sent shivers down Angelica’s spine, their sharp edges a subtle reminder of her mistress’s cruelty.
She twirled a strand of Angelica’s emerald green hair around her finger, her smile widening.
“Angelica,” she said, her voice soft yet menacing. “You will be serving the Hero now… Don’t embarrass the Holy See, understand?”
Her words, though seemingly innocuous, sent a chill down Angelica’s spine. Loseweisse’s gentle tone, her serene smile, were often a prelude to something far more sinister.
Angelica swallowed, her throat dry. This visit to the Church, though brief, was her final test, her last hurdle before escaping her tormentor’s clutches.
“Yes, Mistress,” she stammered, her voice barely audible. “I will… I will…”
Her words were cut short by a scream, her hand flying to her ear, her fingers coming away stained with blood.
A lock of her emerald green hair was wrapped around Loseweisse’s finger, ripped from her scalp.
Loseweisse’s eyes widened, a thrill of excitement coursing through her veins as she watched Angelica writhe in pain.
This was more like it. This was the Angelica she knew.
That pathetic creature, daring to replace her?
Unforgivable.
A dark thought, a venomous seed, took root in her heart.
What if… what if she killed Angelica now?
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