Chapter 132

“…You sure are a mischievous one, Mr. Joker.”

With that brief remark, Maria rubbed her face against my chest like a baby. I chuckled and looked down at her from above.

“Maria, that’s just how the world works. It’s a bit mischievous, isn’t it?”

“It’s mischievous but warm. But why does Mr. Joker only have mischief?’

“Maybe I didn’t learn any better? Hahaha! So you should teach me, Maria!”

Maria’s back was gentle and soft to the touch—it felt calming, somehow.

Daytime Maria and nighttime Maria are definitely the same person: same height, build, weight, and appearance. Of course they’re the same; it’s the same body.

But just by switching personalities—and with that, expressions and tone—she creates an entirely opposite atmosphere.

Even with the time gap between the two personalities being long, the difference is still curious.

“Maria, there’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“You mentioned this before. You said when you were younger, you had a bit of arrogance in your personality, but as you grew up, it changed.”

“Yes, though it’s embarrassing, that’s true.”

“What exactly happened? Was there some event that changed your perspective?”

“…It’s not a pleasant memory, but since you asked…”

Maria’s gaze drifted off into reminiscence. I waved my hand dismissively.

“No, if it’s a painful memory, you don’t have to bring it up.”

“I’ve already brought it up. Besides, I was planning to tell you today anyway. Please listen.”

“Huh? Today? Why?”

“There’s a big event coming up… I need to request something regarding it.”

Maria lifted her head. Her crystal-clear white gaze locked onto mine. I cupped her round cheeks in my hands and spoke.

“Go ahead. If it’s Maria’s request, I’ll do anything.”

“Thank you. The timing… was midway through the first semester of our first year at the academy. Around then, students had to take an evaluation—a midterm exam.”

“Midterms? What about them?”

“The midterms tested various things, but there was one traditional custom for assessing the skills of first-year students: monster hunting. Students formed pairs and entered the mountains, where their rank was determined by the number and grade of monsters they captured.”

“Oh, I think I get it now. Did something happen during Eden Academy’s monster hunt this year? I seem to remember hearing about it involving the Demon Realm and the Demon King’s Army.”

Wasn’t it the Lahurst Mountain Range? First-year students went there for the evaluation, along with a few teachers.

And there, they encountered some dangerous presence.

“The Lahurst Mountains aren’t particularly dangerous. There aren’t many high-tier monsters, and teachers or supervisors were stationed among the trees to ensure student safety. It’s suitable for evaluations. Occasionally, unlucky students might encounter a pack of monsters and meet their end, but even then, it’s rare. And if anyone survives with just a breath left, the kingdom’s medical technology and holy power can revive them.”

“And we’ve got the Saintess too. Holy power is pretty much all-purpose.”

“…If only it were truly all-powerful, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Maria’s muttering carried a hint of sadness. I pulled her soft cheeks like rubber bands.

“That time… wasn’t that when ‘he’ descended?”

“Yes, it was a disaster, a calamity, a catastrophe. Unless you’re an absolute master, stopping him would’ve been impossible.”

“Heh heh, just thinking about that guy makes my legs shake. Before I absorbed Merlin, he held the second-in-command position in the Demon King’s Army.”

Both Maria and I recalled the same person. Then, while Maria looked troubled, I grinned as both our voices chimed together.

“‘The Eastern Duke of the Demon Realm, Jack.’”

Jack. One of the four dukes of the Demon Realm, shoulder-to-shoulder with Western Duchess Lilith the Succubus Queen, Southern Duke King the oldest male duke in the Demon Realm, and Northern Duke Joker, head of the Lucifer family.

He’s an outsider, from another world.

Shiver-shiver-shiver.

Maria’s hands trembled like bare branches in the wind, shaken by memories etched into her mind.

“The sky turned dark, and the mountain groaned mournfully. Her very existence warped the environment around her.”

“She’s an odd one. Too much demonic energy to be a mere warrior, yet too focused on martial arts to be a pure mage. She has the heart of a swordsman but also deep expertise in swordsmanship, making her hard to categorize.”

“Indeed… she didn’t belong to this world. A monstrous being from another dimension. Eighteen students faced her descent, and soon after, a massive explosion occurred.”

“Was it Jack’s doing?”

“Who else could reduce an entire forest to dust with such an explosion?”

Duke Jack. She’s a madwoman.

“It’s said there was some conflict between the students and her. When Jack asked for directions and location details, the students questioned why she needed them and eventually accused her of being a spy because she was alone in such a dangerous area.”

“A reasonable suspicion. Even if she wasn’t, clearing her name and apologizing would suffice.”

“Yes, but in the world Jack came from, such concepts didn’t exist. The tension escalated until the students decided to restrain her and hand her over to the police. Sensing the hostile intent, Jack struck first, and the aftermath was devastating.”

“How many died?”

“Seventeen out of eighteen. The sole survivor was kept alive only to interrogate about terrain and locations. However, other students were scattered throughout the mountain, and teachers were present too. Seeing Jack covered in blood and clutching a student’s neck, no one could mistake her for anything but an enemy.”

“I know what happened next. A 1 vs 100 battle, right? Jack told me herself over drinks—her exact words were: ‘These brats, despite being too young, showed remarkable prowess in power and sorcery. Their control and precision were lacking, but compared to the disciples of our school, they weren’t far behind.’”

“…Then what’s the point? Nearly half of them died.”

“Mm…”

Maria extended her trembling hand, seeking comfort. I had no reason to refuse.

“At some point during the battle, though the order varied, the students and faculty slowly realized something.”

“What?”

“That Jack wasn’t injured at all, while our side was gradually being worn down. And that Jack was holding back, gauging our strength.”

“That’s something you shouldn’t realize mid-battle. It crushes morale.”

“Yes, so the students began fleeing. The teachers, being human, couldn’t help but flee too. Overwhelming fear doesn’t care how old you are or how skilled you are. But… I couldn’t move. I couldn’t abandon the fallen students.”

What must Maria have felt back then? A routine midterm suddenly turned into a massacre by a monster who killed friends and teachers alike.

She resisted until the end, but in the end, everyone fled, leaving her alone. Surrounded by the bodies of her friends, she was left face-to-face with the monster who killed them all.

“So, what happened?”

“Jack stood before me. To my young self, she seemed as towering as Mount Tai. I hated her for killing my friends, but I couldn’t attack.”

“Because you’re the Saintess?”

“No, because I was afraid. Fear overwhelmed me completely, preventing any resistance. I just clutched the corpse of my dead friend, shaking and crying endlessly.”

“Fear is a survival mechanism. It can overpower anger.”

“To me, Jack approached step by step. Then she knelt down before me, staring directly into my eyes and speaking.”

“Ah, I heard this part from Jack too, but I’d like to hear it from your perspective. Tell me.”

“She said, ‘You understand things well, for a weakling. In whatever rules this world follows, if beasts exist, the weak shouldn’t challenge the strong. If not, well, nothing can be done.’ I couldn’t punch her, despite her hateful face being so close.”

“Hmm.”

“She continued, ‘If they break this rule, they end up like those fools. Such is the law of the jungle. I don’t know why they risked their lives trying to capture me, but hey, your inner energy is remarkably pure and vast. So pure, the Taoists or Shaolin monks would’ve gone crazy calling it fragments of immortals or Buddhas. Are there many like you in this world?’ Naturally, I couldn’t respond. I was overwhelmed by the pressure.”

“What happened next?”

“Nothing special. When I delayed answering, Jack shrugged, stood up, and vanished like the wind. At the time, she was just an unknown monster, but weeks later, news arrived. A new duke had been born in the Demon Realm… the Eastern Duke, Jack.”

I also recall those memories vividly.

Some random human woman stormed into the Demon Realm, and without using holy power, wiped out an entire noble house—something I never imagined possible. Before the Demon King Canos stepped in to recruit her, the Eastern Duke Jack was unstoppable.

“My personality changed at that moment. After Jack left, I was left alone amidst the brutally slaughtered corpses of my friends. I felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.”

“That must’ve been horrifying.”

“It was heartbreaking. Until that day, I had grown up without lack. The church provided a luxurious life, and people praised my use of holy power as ‘miraculous.’ No matter how severe the injuries, I could heal them with holy power. That’s why I became arrogant.”

“But then?”

“No matter how much holy power flowed from me, no matter how much I pleaded for divine mercy, the dead didn’t come back. Despite healing others countless times before, I failed here. This was my first defeat, a bitter awakening. I realized I was nothing more than someone gifted with a bit of holy power—just an ordinary person.”

Saying this somewhat bitterly, Maria tapped her prominent chest.

So that’s why Maria’s personality shifted once.

Honestly, I don’t dislike her current demeanor either. The way she puffs up her chest proudly when praised, or the shy smile she can’t hide, is quite cute.

“So, what do you want? You said you had a request.”

Cutting straight to the chase, Maria placed her ample bosom on my knee and slowly climbed up until she sat on my lap, her eyes meeting mine.

Gripping my hands tightly, Maria pleaded earnestly.

“Please stop the accident that day. Only you, Mr. Joker, can do it.”

“Pfft.”

A snicker escaped me. Unable to contain my laughter, I burst out laughing uncontrollably.

“Hahahaha!”

Maria looked confused.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Not that I didn’t already plan to stop it, regardless of your desperate plea. I mean…”

“What?”

“I didn’t bring Beatrice, Langwang, and Aru to the academy for no reason. It’s to protect the Saintess during upcoming events! Hahaha!”

Duke Jack. I’m actually pretty close to her. In a past life, we shared several drinking sessions, bonding especially over our love for alcohol.

That’s why I know how powerful she is. Her strength surpasses even Duke King’s imagination and dwarfs Duchess Queen’s overflowing power. Jack’s strength is unmatched.

To protect our Saintess from someone like her, mere preparations won’t cut it. Of course, the best option is avoiding a fight altogether, but…

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