Serena
Seraphim blinked and asked again.
"Huh? That's it?"
"So... the captain of Haven came all the way to Darkteria just for one flower?"
Disappointment was plain on her face.
Like someone who'd anticipated some massive secret or conspiracy, only to hear a utterly banal conclusion.
"It's not 'just' anything. The Soul Orchid is a legitimate legendary flower."
"Oh please~ It's only legendary because no one can find it. Even if it exists, it's useless. Pretty to look at, that's all..."
Seraphim trailed off, then her eyes suddenly sparkled.
"Ah!"
She clapped her palms together and shot to her feet.
"It's a gift for a woman! Oh my, Captain, you're more romantic than I thought?"
"..."
Why did this woman twist everything in that direction?
But I couldn't argue back.
I'm giving it to Baekseol anyway... so she's not wrong.
"Silence means yes~ Hehe, who is she? What woman melted our icy captain's heart?"
Seraphim stepped even closer.
"Is she prettier than me, by any chance?"
She thrust her face right up to mine, batting her eyes.
...Hate to admit it, but she's filthily pretty.
"I have no obligation to explain myself to you."
I deliberately drew a cold line.
"I'm simply showing courtesy to the owner of Black Rock Canyon rather than barging in blindly. I have no desire to be mistaken for a trespasser."
"Hehe, then I'm the owner~ and you're the guest... so the owner gets to do whatever she wants, right?"
Seraphim cocked her head.
"So you're refusing permission?"
I unleashed my cold aura once more.
"Haha, Captain... no, brother Astra is in such a hurry?"
"...Brother?"
An incredulous tone slipped out before I could stop it.
This woman calling me brother?
As far as I knew, Seraphim was at least over a hundred years old.
Demons had lifespans far longer than humans.
Especially one with power on the level of the Seven Deadly Sins.
She could probably live several hundred more years without issue.
"What's with that look?"
Seraphim puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
"Don't tell me you're calculating my age right now? That's rude to a lady!"
"You calling me 'brother' is far more unpleasant. Answer quickly. Do you permit it or not?"
"Oh~ How could I say no? I'm not idiot enough to make an enemy of the captain over one little flower."
Seraphim wagged a finger as she continued.
"But since I gave permission... I should get something out of it, right?"
"What do you need?"
I'd half-expected as much.
A captain from Haven striking a deal with one of Darkteria's Seven Deadly Sins? She'd demand a hefty price.
Information, resources, political alliance...
I was in the disadvantaged position from the start, so I'd grant most reasonable requests.
But Seraphim's gaze was... off.
It started at my face, then drifted slowly—agonizingly slowly—downward.
Neck, chest, abdomen... and kept going lower.
...No way.
A foreboding chill ran through me.
Her gaze locked on my lower abdomen.
Her pink pupils grew hazy, her cheeks flushing red.
Then she slowly licked her lips with a small tongue.
"Captain's... essence."
"What?"
My voice cracked.
Even she would pull this in a serious negotiation?
Incurring a debt to Haven's captain was a massive gain on its own, but that wasn't what she wanted.
This demand was way outside my expectations.
"Hehe, no need to look so shocked? I'm the demon of Lust. Forgot?"
Seraphim flashed a sultry smile and took another step forward.
I retreated a step on instinct.
"Besides, essence from a man as strong as you, Captain... it'd taste so good."
She licked her lips again, her slender fingers trailing slowly down her own nape.
"Ah, just imagining it..."
Fuck, my virginity...
"That lewd bitch has Haven's captain in her territory?"
A cold voice echoed through the dark room.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Haven's captain in her territory... If he's come here, he must wield black magic. I'm curious who it could be."
Not far from the Ruberia family's domain.
Unlike Seraphim, this woman—head, eyes, clothes all pitch black—listened to her subordinate's report.
"His purpose is unknown, of course?"
"Yes, sorry, Lady Serena."
"Wasn't expecting you to know anyway."
The black-clad woman called Serena drummed her sharp nails on the armrest.
"Guess I'll have to check it out myself."
"Pardon? B-but the Demon King's orders aren't—"
The subordinate rushed to dissuade her, then froze as the atmosphere turned frigid.
He looked up to find Serena staring him down.
"So?"
That single word made the air sink heavy as lead.
"Because of your incompetence, I have to move personally—and you dare tell me no?"
"N-no! My apologies!"
The subordinate slammed his forehead to the floor in haste.
"I don't know what that Seraphim bitch is scheming... but if my little sister pulls her crazy stunt on Haven's captain, it'll be a disaster. Right?"
"Absolutely."
"...Absolutely? So you're saying my sister's a crazy bitch?"
Cold sweat trickled down the subordinate's spine.
Fuck, what am I supposed to say...
He cursed inwardly but only bowed deeper outwardly.
"Well, she is crazy, so I'll forgive you."
"Th-thank you!"
The subordinate prostrated even lower, relieved to have survived.
She was Seraphim's older sister—the embodiment of Wrath among the Seven Deadly Sins, and known as the strongest in raw combat power.
"By the way, Haven's captain... heard his name?"
Serena rose from her seat and asked her subordinate.
"Sorry, not yet..."
"Sigh, why are you lot so utterly useless."
Serena's voice dropped lower.
Danger sign.
"..."
"Should I just kill you all?"
The subordinate immediately smashed his head into the floor at those words.
"Please, spare me!"
"...Fine. Replacing you would be a hassle. Just do better."
"Yes!"
The subordinate let out a sigh of relief and wiped his sweat.
Almost died...
True to her domain of Wrath, she often exploded suddenly and acted on impulse.
That was why all demons avoided the Seraphim-Serena sisters more than any other Sins.
Sigh... how did I end up assigned here...
"Heading straight to Seraphim's castle."
"I'll prepare. The carriage—"
"No. I'll fly."
"Pardon?"
Before his question finished, Serena unfurled massive black wings.
She kicked through the window in an instant and shot into the sky.
Bang!
Shattered window fragments scattered across the floor.
Left alone in the empty room, the subordinate clutched his head.
Sigh... window repairs coming out of my salary again...
He let out a deep sigh.
But he snapped to attention.
If the window was still broken when Serena returned, he really might die.
"...Gotta relay orders to tighten surveillance on the others first."
He muttered as he shuffled out of the room.
Sigh... cleaning up Lady Serena's messes one by one—maybe it'd be better to just die now...
He sighed again while trudging down the corridor.
"Kuhuhu... Kyahaha! Kkuk... Kyaaa!"
Seraphim's high-pitched laughter filled the office.
"Stop. Laughing."
I pinched my forehead and sighed.
"But, but... Pfft! Kkk... You actually misunderstood that? My brother?"
Sigh, fuck...
I cursed inwardly.
My virginity was safe, at least.
Her "essence" was exactly that—literal essence.
Life force, vitality, mana-infused energy.
A succubus-like ability to drain it without actual intercourse.
She grew stronger from it, describing a strong person's as "delicious."
No, come on—who wouldn't misunderstand that setup...
Face in my face, licking her lips, nonstop "it'll taste so good"—what man wouldn't?
"Looks can be deceiving, but I'm a virgin, you know. Virgin. Not 'beach'—virgin. Though if the captain really wants, I could offer my—"
"Shut it, Seraphim."
My voice turned glacial.
"Anytime you want~ I welcome handsome, charismatic, powerful men like the Demon King or you, Captain."
Seraphim flicked her tongue and grinned provocatively.
I clenched my fist tight.
First time I'd been this tempted to swing since possessing Astra.
"Hoo... So, gonna give me that essence?"
She returned to the point.
"Something else."
"Oh~ Upset? Angry? Shy?"
Seraphim tilted her head and peered into my face.
Sigh... how the hell did the game hide this personality? Or rather, could they even implement it?
The game wasn't rated 19+, obviously. This blatant flirtation would've drawn fire from Korean parents' groups.
Wouldn't have passed ratings, either.
"Ah, essence please! Essence!"
Seraphim begged desperately.
"It won't harm me in any way? If there's any issue with my body, I'll kill you."
"No worries~ Super quick and clean. Save the slow stuff for the main event."
...Soon as I get the Soul Orchid, I'm out of Darkteria.
I'd planned to linger a bit for black magic training, but Seraphim forced a change.
"Fine. Get it over with."
"Okay, time for a delicious—"
Seraphim cut off mid-sentence.
Her head snapped skyward as a guttural curse burst from her lips.
"Fuck, why's that crazy bitch here all of a sudden?"
Who?
I dropped into alert stance on instinct.
And moments later—
BOOM!!!
The shockwave from the ceiling rupture shook the entire office.
Amid flying stone shards and dust, a black-winged woman landed gracefully.
"Oh, little sister. Long time no see?"
The black-clad woman smiled coldly as she spoke.