Sariel''s golden eyes flickered as she squeezed Ryuji''s hand and pulled him out of her memories.

Their minds returned to the spot on the castle wall, and a few moments at most had passed.

"This is what I remember, Ryuji, though I didn''t realise the truth of the matter until you helped my soul come out. It seems that the queen is a victim and a villain... To force her to drink that blood. It is no wonder she became a harlot and lost all traces of her love for the king..."

Ryuji wasn''t that interested, but when it was the sealed Sariel talking, he knew he could learn more. So he asked, "What do you mean?"

"If a creature drinks the blood of my race... especially the lesser species that don''t exist on this continent, the energy or aura will cause a sort of awakening. My kind can easily tempt men to make them aroused and sap energy and vitality from them... However, what do you think happens to a normal woman if she drinks their blood and performs a profane ritual to taint their profane blood?"

He tried to think the succubus seemed to be a race that enjoyed or survived sex. So what could make their blood rot and become putrid like that small room?

"I don''t know..."

"It''s simple, for this type anyway. The things that are deadly to a lesser succubus are pure feelings."

"Pure feelings?"

"Yes, a normal woman would never act so lewd with a man they do not love. They might feel a momentary pleasure or desire, but that will carry guilt and regret in some cases. However, if they drink this blood... then perform acts of debauchery, infidelity, incest, or betrayal...

then their pure feelings of love will be destroyed by this ritual and used to taint the succubus blood flowing through their veins."

"Can you say it for someone with a simple mind?"

"The love she felt for Avandar and any positive feelings she held towards him, love, affection, admiration, all of it. Each time she drank the demonic blood, it would replace her human blood because of this ritual, so when she had sex with other men, her feelings were destroyed, used to taint her blood to make her the perfect vessel."

''So the queen must have actually loved the king a decade ago... now that is gone, and she hates him, hates his family, hates his country... all because some existence asked her to undergo this trial... buy why?''

"Why? What vessel would she be perfect for?"

"It''s obvious, isn''t it? The queen is now a perfect vessel for an archdemon. You''ve seen the demon lords and queens in your memories, right? Archdemons are just a step lower, and they can command entire legions, not to mention that they can control any creature from the demon race. Their bodies and souls will become vessels for an archdemon, a true demon of calamity, and then..."

"Then the church will declare a holy crusade against Grigor and its demonic ways to usurp their kingdom?"

"Exactly, there will be blood, chaos and death. The church rules the empire and can take the last independent human nation into its control. As for the Demon King or Queen, I am not sure. The one in the north isn''t a demon but her strength is far beyond any of the past. I can''t be certain of anything."

Ryuji took a deep breath and nodded.

"So, the biggest issue remains... I need to become stronger, and Liana must be kept safe."

Ryuji didn''t really care about the church or who was in control of this plan right now. His mind focused on the simple things. What he could do, rather than what he couldn''t.

''I need to speak to Alan; after this tournament, I will leave Grigor until I can match Alan''s power at least...''

The tears and frustration that built up, the confusion and fear that he forced down while telling himself he was fine, and the demonic blood would just force it all into a corner of his heart. All of it felt as if a gentle breeze was sweeping away his worries and allowing him to feel a little calm.

"You were just like Sariel, all alone for so many years... but it''s okay, now you have me... and the others, but don''t tell them that I said they were important, or they will get big-headed. Hehe, don''t forget to spend time with Sariel when you''re not busy. I will never let you be lonely again."

While he knew how important Liana, Erika and Yumiko were to his various sides...

He realised that the appearance of Sariel might not have been chance but fate... Because she was the only one in his life who could make his heart so calm, and the shame of feeling so pathetic and weak felt natural and something he didn''t need to feel embarrassed about.

"Thank you... Sariel..."

"Hehe, don''t thank me, silly, it''s what family does, you don''t have to pretend or act with me. Master~ I can see and feel everything."

Ryuji didn''t correct her, and instead, he hugged the small girl close as her tail coiled around him and brushed along his back.

Ryuji just held her tighter; the poor succubus began to struggle to endure his strength but didn''t complain despite her face turning a dark blue. "Just a moment..."

"Ehehe, it''s okay, Master. Let''s stay here, but you have to get ready soon. Sariel will wait here."

The warmth from her body soothed him, and her soft skin and pleasant scent made his mind fuzzy... The idea of holding her like this and sleeping with her gently patting his back and kissing his head was a pleasant thought.

With Sariel, he could return to those nostalgic moments, alone in the evening dojo, after he finished training, unable to move, filled with frustration because he failed... while his mother would embrace him and tell him it would be alright.

A few minutes passed, and the lovely succubus was now almost a purple colour...

"Thanks, Sariel... I needed that."

"Naturally, Master, hehe."

As her cheerful smile and adorable giggle brought a grin to his face, Ryuji took a deep breath and let her go, a small sigh of relief escaping her lips.

"Now, we should get you prepared for the battle today. Do you have a plan, Master?"

"I will fight with everyone—this time, I will rely on their power instead of forcing myself into a corner. There''s no need to kill, only crush them and quickly end the tournament."

"But master... isn''t that a little dull? Don''t you want to get rid of them and show everyone who you are and what you can do?"

Ryuji shook his head. "No, we''re not here to play or show off. The only people I need to show my cool and strong sides to are you and the others. So I can do that in the dungeon when it''s just us, right? Haha."

The small girl''s face blushed, and then a smile curled her lips.

"That''s true... Sariel is looking forward to it. Ehehe, I bet the others are, too."

Sariel giggled and nodded, a warm smile on her lips as her golden eyes shimmered as she flapped her wings, floating away but whispering into the wind. "But Master... to Sariel, you look cool no matter what you do."