Soon, Valo ordered Finney to help her pack up Saintess Anqi and quietly bring her back to the dormitory shared by the mother and her two daughters.
Should it be said that this was expected? Her Demon Seed daughter, Kaika, was indeed still awake and waiting for her return.
Even upon seeing Saintess Anqi trussed up like a mummy and carried by Finney, Kaika didn’t show the slightest hint of surprise.
Instead, she shot a slightly resentful look at Valo, as if to say, ‘Mother, how could you go out to have fun without me?’
At this moment, Valo didn’t have the luxury to study Kaika’s mood.
After briefly explaining the events of the day to Kaika, she sent the girl out to keep watch near the dormitory.
This night was destined not to be peaceful.
Small lights flickered between the floors of the Clock Tower, which usually should have been silent.
Most likely, the anomaly in the Mid-level Arena had already alerted others, and the faculty of the Clock Tower were currently investigating the cause.
Furthermore…
The Saintess of the Hidden Sea Church had not returned tonight. The church members had likely begun a secret search for Anqi.
To make matters worse, she was usually accompanied by that invisible ghost Sister Superior—the one who “let the wind tell you.” It was only a matter of time before Anqi was found.
Therefore, Valo had no choice.
The dormitory was no safe house. She had to escape the loop of the Bad Ending—[Main Perspective Identity Exposed, Judged by the Saintess]—before Anqi was discovered and rescued.
Valo watched as Finney tossed Anqi onto the bedroom bed and thought for a moment.
Then, she said seriously, “Finney, you are a Hero, not a traitor. And Anqi is your teammate. Please, do not hurt her no matter what.”
Right now, in the [Nurturing Panel], Finney’s [Justice Value]: 0!
In the game, if this situation occurred, it meant Finney no longer wanted to be a Hero.
Among the routes in the “Finney Start,” there was certainly a path where she said, ‘A Hero? I stopped being that long ago.’ But in her current situation, once Finney abandoned her status as a Hero…
She would absolutely fall into an irredeemable Bad Ending because of her complicated relationship with the Villainous Demon King.
Fulfilling her responsibility as a mother to some extent, Valo didn’t want Finney to make one mistake after another.
Besides… she had her own little scheme.
“Next, I will take Kaika and quickly leave the Clock Tower… It’s not the first time, anyway. Kaika has already prepared.”
As she spoke, Valo paced back and forth by the bedside, carefully glancing at Finney. The next part of the plan was her core objective!
“And then there’s the arrangement for you, Finney. I’m sorry… After this, I’m afraid I can’t be your mother anymore.”
The more dangerous the situation, the better the opportunity to cut ties with her identity as the Hero’s mother!
‘The bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish!’ Valo thought. ‘Mom has to run away, so she can’t be your mom anymore. It’s perfectly logical!’
As long as she could use this crisis to cut off her identity as the Hero’s mother, she wouldn’t lose anything!
Seeing Finney stunned and unable to object for a moment, Valo quickly delivered the finishing blow!
“Finney, I am already very grateful that you were willing to believe in me. But you cannot let your status as a Hero be questioned because of your relationship with me. After I leave, please explain your original intentions clearly to Miss Anqi. I believe she will understand you once she calms down.”
Looking at Anqi, who was currently writhing on the bed like a caterpillar and making muffled “wuwu” sounds while glaring at her, Valo felt smug. ‘Plan successful.’
It was right for this Saintess to hate her!
‘Hate me, Lady Saintess!’
As long as Anqi directed all her hatred and blame toward Valo, she would naturally shield Finney, who was her good friend.
As for herself? She was running away anyway, so she didn’t mind how much blame she had to shoulder.
This way, the Saintess would have someone to judge, the Hero Finney would be cleared of suspicion of rebellion, and she, the Villainous Demon King, would take Kaika to find another way out, regroup, and then make a comeback.
Everyone would have a bright future.
She only needed Finney to nod.
However, in the next moment, the girl turned around with a resolute attitude that made Valo realize she had likely underestimated the emotional weight of a female Hero’s feelings toward the main perspective after her [Justice Value] hit zero.
“No, Mother. I have already made my choice. I don’t need you to make any more sacrifices for me!”
Even though she was making excuses for a Villainous Demon King, the girl puffed out her chest as if she were upholding justice!
“I will explain your kindness to everyone! I will also protect you from being harmed by those with prejudice! If your choice is to flee, Mother, then… I am willing to go with you! I’ll give up my Hero—”
Before Finney could say something irreversible, Valo lunged forward and covered the girl’s mouth with her hand!
“Don’t you dare say such things!”
She was truly getting anxious. Such a perfect opportunity to cut ties with the Hero’s mother identity and run away was right here, but the female Hero in front of her wouldn’t let her…
Why did she want to stick to her side and not leave!?
‘Finney! Don’t ruin my grand plan!’
Without realizing it, Valo’s brow furrowed, and her tone carried a hint of anger. She had to put on her airs as a mother and command Finney to comply.
“Doing as I say is the best solution! You just need to be obedient!”
She completely failed to notice…
Under the night sky, within the crimson eyes of the girl staring straight at her, the brewing emotions were becoming increasingly intense, burning hotter and hotter.
“Why won’t you listen to me? Am I not your mother?”
“No, you aren’t.”
The girl’s soft interruption floated through the quiet room.
By the time Valo caught the scent of Finney’s warm and sweet breath and her body instinctively sensed danger, it was already too late!
“You weren’t my mother to begin with. You are the Demon King, Valo Lant, whom I call ‘Mother.’ Isn’t that right?”
Finney easily grabbed her wrists and pinned her down on the bed as she countered. Cheeks close, long hair tangling. Breaths intertwined, gazes locked.
It was as if the girl was using this most direct method to make her understand: her motherly identity wasn’t always a master key…
Sometimes, it was even a dangerous temptation.
“Regarding the part of you that is ‘Mother,’ I will listen to you, because you are the most gentle and kind mother I have ever met.”
The girl’s fingertips brushed against her cheek.
Any struggle or resistance was futile because this Hero only needed to lightly grasp her wrists… casually pin down her legs… or even just whisper a sentence into her pointed ear as if blowing air…
Valo felt her legs go weak; she couldn’t even push against the girl’s chest with her hands.
Locking eyes, she felt as if she were being stared at by a female wolf that hadn’t eaten for three days.
If her gaze shifted even slightly, she feared the other party would turn into an irrational beast, pouncing to devour her soft and delicious self completely.
This was not Valo’s imagination. After this ordeal, her Hero daughter… didn’t seem to view her solely as a mother anymore?
‘No… Please don’t.’ Why were her daughters all becoming a bit abnormal?
Above her, Finney’s tone shifted, and her gaze grew dark.
“But Mother, don’t forget your identity as Valo Lant. Weak and powerless, yet misunderstood by others because of your status as the Demon King… Without my protection, relying only on Kaika, how far could you possibly run?”
The girl took a deep breath, and as she leaned down, their lips nearly touched.
“So, I’ve decided: in matters concerning our family bond, I will listen to you. But on matters regarding your identity as the Demon King… you must listen to me.”
For a moment, Valo didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. ‘My dear daughter, then let me ask you!
Is this current situation where the daughter is in the dominant position also considered a matter of my Demon King identity?’
“Mother, if you don’t answer, I’ll take it as your silent consent.”
The girl’s voice was already wandering near her neck, even inching down toward her chest.
But at this moment, how could Valo have the mind to worry about how Finney would force her to agree?
‘It’s over, it’s over, it’s over!’
The attempt to cut ties as a mother didn’t work, and instead, it made the female Hero even more clingy!
Now, if she couldn’t leave Finney behind and run away, how was she supposed to handle Saintess Anqi, whom she could neither kill nor touch!?
“Wuwuwu!”
Suddenly, Anqi, who was beside Valo, made a pained sound as if she had just eaten chocolate that tasted like feces.
Having witnessed Finney and Valo’s current posture, position, and every single move… the Lady Saintess simply closed her eyes and fainted!
Valo wasn’t surprised at all. Anqi was likely disgusted by the intimate contact between her and Finney.
After all, in this timeline, Anqi wasn’t her daughter; she would instinctively be repulsed by Valo’s identity as the Villainous Demon King.
…
Wait?
Her current dilemma was that she couldn’t deal with Saintess Anqi, because as a Saintess, Anqi’s stance was to despise the main perspective.
And in the game’s opening, the only situation where Anqi didn’t despise the main perspective was in the route where Anqi was the daughter.
Since Finney’s appearance had already proven that she could have more than one daughter in this timeline, then…
Could Anqi also join this family?