Darkness, who had been dragged out from the shadows, stared at Liyakade in terror.
She couldn’t understand how Liyakade’s power had suddenly become so strong.
The pitch-black blade sliced through the bloody net in front of her, but Liyakade had already appeared before Darkness.
“Die.”
Korim had no intention of playing cat and mouse.
After all, she could only possess for ten minutes.
If she ended up like Darkness, insisting on toying with her opponent and getting herself killed, it would be bad.
She’d have no way to explain to Liyakade.
The scarlet claw, brimming with overwhelming force, tore down from above, ripping open Darkness’s shoulder.
Darkness was instantly split in two, her face still twisted in fear.
But the next moment, the severed Darkness turned into two puddles of black mud, flopping onto the ground.
“Shadow Substitute, huh? So you’d prepared an escape route from the start.”
Korim shook off the black mud from her claws and slowly walked toward Alice and the others, who were still bound.
Because of the Shadow Substitute, Darkness did not die after taking Korim’s direct attack.
Instead, she was transported to a previously set Anchor Point.
This was Darkness’s Life-Preserving Skill—she could switch with a shadow she’d set up in advance when a fatal blow landed.
Now, she was at a certain distance from Korim and the others, so Korim had no intention of pursuing.
After all, Darkness had already suffered a heavy blow.
The rest could be handled by the awakened Liyakade and Alice.
Even if Liyakade didn’t participate in the remaining battle, the others could still defeat Darkness.
Right now, there was something more important to do—rescuing her precious daughters-in-law from here…and taking a good look at them.
A scarlet arc flashed.
The Shadow Cocoon binding Alice and the others was instantly shredded into dust, and they were freed.
“Liya…kade?”
The first thing Field did after escaping the Shadow Cocoon was to rush over and check Liyakade’s injuries.
Although Liyakade’s tactics had anticipated this situation and had a solution prepared, seeing Liyakade’s arm being cut off still made Field’s heart tremble.
After being released, Field saw that Liyakade had already regenerated a new arm and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she looked at Liyakade’s small face.
At this moment, Liyakade’s expression was clearly different from usual.
Before, Liyakade had always been approachable, like an ordinary girl next door.
But now, every glance and smile exuded a woman’s allure and charm.
It seemed Liyakade had used the ability to summon her ancestor.
If so, the person standing before them was no longer Liyakade but her ancestor—Korim.
“Are you…the ancestor Liyakade mentioned, Korim?”
“Mhm, indeed, it is I.”
Korim looked Field up and down.
“You’re the Kingdom’s Third Princess, Field, aren’t you? Liyakade often mentions you.
Such a talented person.”
“You were worried about Liyakade just now.”
While unbinding everyone, Korim could clearly sense Field’s anxious and uneasy feelings.
It was Field’s concern for Liyakade.
“Thank you for always taking care of Liyakade.”
“Eh? Um…n-no, not really, just a little…”
Field felt a bit overwhelmed by Korim’s insight and unexpected praise.
“Heh, I’ve seen it all. I’m sure Liyakade can feel your affection as well.”
Korim’s straightforward words made Field blush with embarrassment.
“Greetings, Mother-in-law!”
Alice came over and greeted Korim.
Mother-in-law!?
Field’s lips parted slightly.
Her face twitched as she glanced at Alice.
Just a couple of days ago, she was saying Korim was definitely an evil being, and now she was kneeling before her?
Didn’t she feel any caution after what Korim did to Liyakade?
And besides…Liyakade isn’t even Korim’s biological daughter, and you’re calling her Mother-in-law?!
Alice seemed to feel Field’s gaze and met her eyes.
Didn’t you also boast about teaching Korim a lesson?
In the end, you caved after a couple of compliments, didn’t you?
“Alice, I can sense a very strong Light Element aura from you.”
Because Korim was a pure-blooded Demon Race, she was highly sensitive to Light Element.
By rights, a Light Element Magic User should be a nemesis of demons.
But Korim held no hostility toward Alice, instead looking at her with a hint of affection.
Of course, that was because Alice was also her daughter-in-law.
To be honest, when Korim learned who Liyakade’s two lovers were, she was shocked.
She never expected Liyakade would end up entangled with two such powerful figures.
The first was the Kingdom’s Third Princess, Field, of royal blood and high status.
The second was a Light Element Magic User, the Savior of Humanity in prophecy, the Nemesis of Demons—Alice.
And, judging by Liyakade’s demeanor, their relationship had already been confirmed—and perhaps even more than once.
Korim was quite curious—when the three of them played together, did Alice’s Light Element ever surge uncontrollably?
Wouldn’t that make it painful for Liyakade?
However, Korim quickly let it go.
A little pain could be part of the pleasure for Liyakade.
Their race was just like that.
“Mother-in-law, huh… Though I’m not Liyakade’s biological mother, you can call me that.
Our clan now only has Liyakade and me left.
Liyakade is also my other half, so it’s fine for you to call me that.”
“Yes, Mother-in-law!”
Hearing Korim say this, Field also knelt down.
After all, this was their first meeting with the family.
They had to leave a good impression on Korim.
Besides, Korim wasn’t as bad as Liyakade described.
Her movements were more elegant and seductive than Liyakade’s, but that was due to her succubus bloodline.
And it wasn’t to the level of seduction—Liyakade clearly exaggerated.
“And who is this?”
“Chloe, a classmate of ours.”
Field briefly introduced Chloe to Korim.
“Greetings, Lady Korim!”
Chloe quickly bowed to Korim.
From Alice and the others’ conversation, she understood that the person before her wasn’t Liyakade but a mysterious figure named Korim.
So Chloe addressed her accordingly.
She also understood that it was thanks to Korim’s arrival that Alice and the others were saved from danger.
“Mother-in-law, about that Demon Race just now…”
Field looked at the black sludge on the ground and asked Korim.
“There’s a type of magic in Shadow Magic called Shadow Substitute. It allows you to evade a fatal attack once and teleport to a set Anchor Point. That’s how she escaped. But she’s been badly injured now. With your abilities, you can defeat Darkness.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
“I never thought that person would plant traps here as well…”
Alice removed the Fourfold Element Amulet from her neck.
At this point, the amulet’s four colors had been dyed completely black.
No other element or magic could be sensed from it.
Its ability to boost magic power at fourfold speed was also gone.
Originally, with Liyakade’s strategy and preparations, Alice and the others had pushed Darkness into a desperate corner.
But Darkness had laid traps for Liyakade and the others ahead of time, even tampering with the Fourfold Element Amulet.
This time, Liyakade had given the amulet to Alice to help her level up.
To be honest, if Liyakade herself had been wearing the amulet, after Liyakade was restrained, Alice and the other two could have cooperated and perhaps still managed to save Liyakade from Darkness, putting Liyakade’s side at an advantage.
But as it was, the one who got bound was Alice.
Without Alice to suppress Darkness, the situation reversed instantly.
Fortunately, Liyakade had kept a trump card.
If she hadn’t obtained new abilities in advance, this time, they really would have been in danger.
In fact, if Liyakade had truly fallen into a life-or-death battle, as a LV.57, she wouldn’t have lost so quickly.
But if she exhausted too much magic power, summoning Korim would become meaningless.
Moreover, Liyakade was more worried that Darkness would attack Alice and the others directly.
So, after a brief exchange, Liyakade handed control of her body to Korim.
“That’s right… Liyakade was correct—Darkness really was hiding among the academy’s upper echelons.”
Field nodded in agreement.
This amulet was a reward from the Festival Flower, and for Darkness to have tampered with it proved Liyakade’s suspicions weren’t wrong.
So—who exactly had Darkness hidden within?
“Um, Mother-in-law…may I ask you something?”
Alice seemed a bit shy, hesitant to speak.
“What is it? Go ahead.”
“Um…for the Succubus clan to inherit their powers, do they really have to…do that kind of thing?”
“Mmhmhm?”
The moment Alice spoke, Korim understood what she was thinking.
She tilted her head slightly, her tone no longer serious but replaced with a mischievous smile.
“That kind of thing? Which kind do you mean?”