The news that Demon Lord Via had taken in the Human Saint quickly spread throughout the entire demon race.
Via was not surprised by this.
After all, the Demon King himself already knew about it, and her unreliable subordinates all had loose tongues.
The speed at which the news spread depended entirely on the fastest communication methods among the demons.
Moreover, someone from within the demon ranks—an undercover agent no less—had somehow obtained footage from the church showing Via’s original declaration to humanity.
Soon, the demon race was thrown into an uproar.
For a Demon Lord to take in a Saint was a forbidden combination that instantly stirred unrest within their ranks.
Some demons, more interested in the drama than the facts, had already begun speculating on how their Lord might humiliate the Saint.
“Don’t go outside these days.”
Having just returned to her residence after patrolling the battlefield, Viya said this as she took off her coat.
“Huh? I thought you said I should stay by your side?”
Cecilia looked puzzled.
“You seem to enjoy this job quite a bit,” Via teased, “but for now, it’s better not to. Given the current situation… you’re not really suited to appear in public.”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
Via couldn’t say that Cecilia had already been imagined by those meddlesome demons as her personal living weapon…
If the Saint went out now, who knew what outrageous rumors would be spread by those loose-lipped demons.
“…Am I causing trouble for you by being here?”
Cecilia’s eyes dimmed.
For some reason, seeing her like that softened Via’s heart.
She paused for a moment before lowering her voice, “It’s not you. The problem isn’t with you.”
“That’s good. But since I can’t stay by your side, please try to come back as early as possible when you go out.”
Cecilia obediently sat there, timidly speaking.
“Huh?”
Via was momentarily stunned.
What was this, a nagging wife telling her husband to come home early? This woman’s behavior had clearly been a bit off in the past few days.
But considering that Cecilia was alone in the mansion surrounded by demons, Via assumed it was just the Saint’s fear of being attacked by opportunistic demons.
“Is that okay?”
The Saint nervously twirled a strand of her hair and asked.
“…I’ll try.”
Viya quickly gave in.
Something felt off, but then again, it was only natural for the Saint to lack a sense of security in demon territory.
Watching Via’s delicate figure leave, Cecilia’s lips curved into an uncontrollable smile.
“A ‘toy’… huh.
That definition from the start really was a bit harsh.
But obviously, even Via herself hadn’t realized that as time went by, how her treatment of me no longer resembled that of a ‘toy.’”
Cecilia had never been an innocent, pure, and flawless good person.
The Church’s Saint was selected based on a variety of factors, with virtuous character and devout faith being the highest merits.
However, the Saint also had to participate in the Church’s religious affairs, including dealings with secular authorities.
Pure goodness alone couldn’t secure the position of Central Saint.
She did harbor grand ideals, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t manipulate people’s hearts.
Her kindness was genuine, but when it came to matters that required some cunning, she wouldn’t let her kindness hold her back.
“Lady Via… you really are easy to understand…”
Thinking this, Cecilia whispered softly, clutching the pillow beside her and rubbing it gently as if it could provide some comfort.
“Qin.”
Back in her private chamber, Via looked at the cup of tea that had already been brewed and naturally knew someone had visited.
She softly called out a name.
The space beside her suddenly warped for a moment.
In the shadows, a pitch-black figure appeared at her side.
The shadow was so dark it seemed to consume all light.
No facial features could be seen, but from the silhouette, it was clearly a woman with a graceful figure.
“Lady Via, I’m here.”
The shadow’s voice was pleasant, but whenever it spoke, there was always a hollow echo.
When Via first came into contact with Qin, she found this unsettling—as if a ghost was speaking from all around her.
Of course, by now, she was used to it.
“There’s no need to hide like that next time, and constantly staying in that state must be a burden for you too, right?”
“The safety of Lady Via must never be compromised. I must always be prepared.”
The shadow whispered.
Qin was the Shadow Demon Via had once defeated.
She belonged to the Shadow Demon clan—a race born from the deepest depths of shadows, said to be the collective will of countless creatures who died within darkness, combined with shadows and condensed into existence.
Now, Qin had followed Via for many years.
Her primary duty was to protect Via’s immediate safety—though when it came to the Demon Lord, who protected whom was not so clear-cut.
“Starting today, there’s one more person you need to protect—the Saint. She has just joined the demons, so naturally, many will have issues with her and might even come looking for trouble.”
Qin was momentarily stunned before silently nodding.
“Lady Via.”
“Yes?”
“I believe you should remain cautious of the Saint. After all, she ventured into our demon territory alone, and it’s definitely not just because she had no other choice. I’ve investigated her escape route when she was being hunted. She fled straight toward our side.”
Qin stopped herself from continuing, as what she meant was clear enough—
From the very beginning, the escape route had been planned to lead directly to Via.
This premeditated route showed that the Saint was not panicked or desperate, forced into this territory.
At the very least, when she was first hunted, she was already prepared to come to the demon lands.
“I know there are parts of her story she hasn’t told us,” Via nodded, acknowledging this perspective.
“So, you must help me ‘protect’ the Saint well.”
“Yes, I will fulfill the mission you have entrusted to me.”
Just as Qin was about to slip back into the shadows, Via suddenly called out, “One last thing.”
“Please speak.”
“The tea was brewed nicely. I like it very much.”
Viya smiled.
Qin’s silhouette paused noticeably, then her voice carried a trace of laughter that was almost audible.
“I’m glad you like it, Lady Via.”