The wooden box under the bed landed on the floor with a “clang”.
Lilia knelt in front of the box.
She grabbed the stolen Demon King’s Breath Chili Powder and poured a generous amount into her palm.
Then, she added three drops of Weeping Konjac Juice.
“Tsss—”
As the two substances mixed, a pungent, stinging scent exploded in the air.
Her eyes watered instantly.
She sneezed several times in a row, but excitement filled her heterochromatic eyes.
“Achoo! That’s strong, nya!”
She pinched her nose and sat cross-legged.
After ascending to the next rank, the Magic Energy Network in her body became smooth.
She no longer had to struggle to “pull” it—just a thought, and magic gathered in her palm.
Following the blueprint in her mind.
She constructed a pressurization structure, a sealed chamber, and an ultra-fine caliber jet tube.
Half an hour later.
A palm-sized mini High-Pressure Water Gun floated in her hand, glowing with purple light.
Lilia gripped it.
In her mind, she was already picturing Lucia’s face covered in the mixture.
The collapse of that eternal iceberg expression—
Satisfying!
She wrapped the mixture inside the Crystal Bottle with her mental power.
Compressed it into a deep purple bead the size of a rice grain.
Carefully, she injected it into the “magazine”.
“Click.”
Loading complete.
Lilia raised the water gun, aimed at the night sky outside the window, and pulled the trigger.
“Zzz!”
A thin line of purple water, nearly invisible, shot out.
It pierced through a drifting cloud outside the window.
That cloud instantly turned purple and began to smoke.
More powerful than she expected.
If this hit Lucia’s face—
“Miss.”
Lilith’s voice came from outside the door.
Lilia jolted and quickly hid the water gun behind her.
“What is it? Nya?”
“It’s time for your dinner.”
The door opened.
Lilith entered with a silver tray and set the food on the table.
Her gaze swept across the room.
It paused for a fraction of a second on the open wooden box, then moved on.
Her nose twitched.
The air held the scent of chili, konjac… and a strange, burning smell.
She said nothing, lowering her gaze.
“Miss, please eat.”
Lilia sat at the dining table, eating with her head down, sneaking glances at Lilith.
She needed an opportunity.
A chance to be alone with Lucia, when the other was completely off guard.
“Lilith Onee-san.”
She put down her knife and fork, a flattering smile on her face.
“When does the Master usually come to check my homework, nya?”
Lilith’s hand paused as she collected the empty plates.
She looked up, her purple eyes staring at Lilia for two seconds.
“Your Majesty will be handling official business in the Central Study tonight.”
Her voice remained calm.
“As usual, she will conduct your bedtime inspection personally at midnight.”
She picked up the tray and headed for the door.
Her hand paused on the doorknob.
“The cleaning in the Central Study is not yet complete.”
Lilith’s voice was very soft.
“While Your Majesty is working, she dislikes being disturbed, so the Defensive Array will be deactivated until morning.”
“Bang.”
The door closed.
Lilia froze.
Central Study?
Defensive Array deactivated?
Until morning?
Her heart raced wildly.
Lilith Onee-san… is this—
No.
She definitely didn’t do it on purpose.
Just information slipped out unintentionally.
Lilia gripped the mini water gun in her dress pocket tightly.
Lucia.
Tonight.
This is your doomsday! Nya!
Midnight.
The corridors of Evernight Palace were silent.
Only the magical wall lamps emitted a faint purple glow.
Lilia tiptoed down the long corridor without a sound.
She lifted the hem of her Gothic Lolita Dress, terrified of making even the slightest rustle.
She had wrapped the bell on her neck tightly with a small piece of cloth.
Her heart pounded, ready to leap from her throat.
Nervous, excited, and a bit uncontrollably thrilled.
In her small hand, she gripped the palm-sized purple High-Pressure Water Gun formed from magic.
Central Study.
Lilith said Lucia would be there tonight handling official business.
And the Defensive Array was deactivated.
Lilia crouched beside the massive ebony door.
She pressed her ear to it, straining to hear any sound inside.
Nothing.
Did Lilith lie to her?
Or was Lucia simply not inside?
She hesitated.
What if this was a trap?
But the humiliation she suffered in the hot springs last night flared up in her chest.
Let’s go! Do it!
The bold are rewarded, the timid starve!
Tonight, either she died, or that perverted Demon King would suffer social death!
Lilia put her hand on the doorknob and turned it gently.
It wasn’t locked.
She pushed it open a crack and peeked inside.
Only a single Magic Lamp illuminated the study, the light dim.
Lucia sat behind the massive Throne at the desk.
She had changed out of her imposing Imperial Robe and wore a loose black silk nightgown.
Her waterfall-like black hair draped down, covering half her face.
She bowed her head, absorbed in reading an Ancient Parchment Scroll.
Completely oblivious to the movement at the door.
Chance!
Lilia lowered her body and crept inside, silent as a shadow.
Then hid behind a giant bookshelf.
Distance to the target, about ten meters.
At this range, with the range and accuracy of her “High-Pressure Water Gun”, she couldn’t miss!
She raised the water gun in the shadow of the bookshelf.
Through a gap, she aimed the nozzle at the defenseless figure behind the desk.
Aim… for the face!
It had to be the face!
Only a hit to the face dealt the greatest psychological damage!
Lilia’s finger rested on the “trigger”.
She gripped so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her breathing nearly stopped.
Now!
“Die! Perverted Demon King! Nya!”
She screamed in her heart.
She pulled the trigger without hesitation!
“Whoosh—”
No sound.
Only a near-invisible strand of purple liquid, thinner than a hair.
It sprayed from the barrel!
It sliced through the air.
Unerringly aimed at the target just meters away.
Ten meters.
Five meters.
One meter.
Lucia looked up.
Too late.
“Pa!”
The sound of liquid bursting.
The deep purple bead struck Lucia’s flawless face.
Directly between the eyebrows.
Then, the liquid slid down her high nose.
Time froze.
Lilia remained in her shooting stance, stunned.
Success?
Did she… really succeed?
With her own invention.
She ambushed the only “God” of the Empire of Erya world?
A massive wave of joy washed over her.
“Haha… Hahahaha! Nya!”
Lilia couldn’t hold it in any longer.
She jumped from behind the bookshelf, hands on hips, and laughed wildly.
“Lucia! You pervert! Bet you didn’t expect this, nya!”
“Taste the might of my special chili water! Nya! Spicy? Satisfying? Nya!”
She pointed at Lucia behind the desk, laughing until tears nearly fell.
This is what victory feels like!
This is what it means to trample the Demon King beneath your feet!
However, as she laughed, her voice gradually faded.
Because she realized Lucia’s reaction was off.
No scream.
No rage.
Not even a trace of pain.
Lucia sat calmly on the Throne.
She raised her hand, long fingers brushing a bit of purple liquid from her face.
Then, she brought her fingers to her nose and sniffed.
A pungent blend of chili, konjac, and burning filled the silent study.
Lilia’s laughter died completely.
A chill crept up from her feet to her scalp.
She saw Lucia raise her head.
Those blood-red eyes pierced the dim light and locked onto her.
That flawless face, streaked with purple, showed no expression.
But from those eyes, Lilia read something she’d never seen before.
Not anger, not murderous intent.
But a mix of surprise, confusion, and… curiosity and excitement…
Amusement.
Lilia’s legs gave out.
Her fingers loosened, and the High-Pressure Water Gun dropped to the floor with a “clatter”, dissolving into purple light.
It’s over.
Those were the only words left in her mind.
She might have… overdone it.
“Interesting.”
Lucia spoke.
Her voice was soft, but every word hammered Lilia’s heart.
“My little pet actually learned to fight back like this.”