On the road after setting out, Eve couldn't stop touching her neck again and again.
With the mirror Takumi had given her, she could see the faint, barely noticeable pink collar pattern there. As long as the curse didn't activate, the mark stayed dim—subtle enough to miss if one wasn't looking closely.
"A collar around my neck… it really does look like a slave's mark. Can't we move it somewhere else?"
"Where? Your face? Your chest? Your butt? Maybe your lower belly?"
Takumi's casual response instantly shut her up.
For some reason, she could feel the bad intentions dripping from his tone at the mention of every other place. Yet at the same time, a strange sense of reassurance washed over her.
No matter what, she was now fully on Takumi's side—finally, she had someone she could trust completely.
A light blush touched her cheeks. Then suddenly, a thought struck her. Walking beside the group, Eve asked, "Where exactly are we going?"
Hearing that, Takumi paused mid-step. "I told you before—I saw your memories, remember?"
"Ugh… don't say it like that! That's embarrassing!"
Her face turned bright red, lips puffed in frustration. Having all her memories exposed to him was basically the same as being seen completely naked.
This time, Takumi didn't tease her. His expression turned serious.
"The place we're going is the holy land protected by the Black-Wing Tribe's priestess—Sovifio."
Eve froze, immediately realizing what he was planning.
"You—you can't mean… you're going after the Divine Bird of Plague, Kaladorius!? That thing can't be controlled! Every demon who's ever tried to obtain its power… ended up dead! Even the current Demon Lord fears that bird's power—no one dares approach that place lightly!"
Her voice rose in alarm, panic mixing with disbelief. At that, the other women following them also looked uneasy.
"So dangerous? Takumi-sama, are we really going there?" Flare asked nervously.
Takumi replied easily, "I'm different~."
His confident tone left them all speechless.
Their journey took ten full days. Takumi spent most of it alternating between walking and sleeping on the move.
When the towering mountains finally came into view, Eve nearly cried.
Ever since forming the Master–Servant Contract, Takumi had become completely casual around her. Sometimes he would walk by holding Setsuna or Kureha—or even someone else—in his arms, right in front of her.
Every sight, every sound was like an itch she couldn't ignore—humiliating, yet impossible not to look.
Of the original seven members, only four remained active now. Anna and Norn were too weak-bodied—they hadn't gotten out of bed in days. Kureha, on the other hand, was full of energy at first. She sparred with Takumi by day, then… engaged in penance sessions by night.
After seven days of that intense routine, she had completely burned out. Even three days later, she still hadn't recovered.
Setsuna, however, was thrilled. Serves her right—Kureha had been competing the hardest for Takumi's essence. Didn't know how to pace herself? That's the price of overindulgence!
While the group traversed the dense forest leading to the holy land, Setsuna suddenly sensed danger. In the next instant, a flurry of magic bolts shot toward them.
"Takumi-sama, look out!"
Setsuna's claws slashed through the air, perfectly deflecting the first wave of incoming attacks. Flare reacted right after, raising her staff and casting a barrier spell.
"We're surrounded!"
Setsuna scanned the trees—dark silhouettes emerged from the shadows one after another. Her small frame tensed as she entered full combat readiness.
Then an old man stepped forward, his voice stern. "Outsiders, leave at once!"
Seeing him, Eve gasped. "Grandpa Miru!?"
"Eh? Lady Eve!?"
Miru froze, then glanced at Takumi's group. Realization struck his face—and fury followed.
"You vile human! Step away from Lady Eve right now!!"
Takumi remained calm, while Setsuna was the first to bark back, "What's going on? Another group of enemies?"
Sensing the tension about to explode, Eve quickly stepped between both sides. "Everyone, wait—listen to me first!"
She turned to Takumi to explain. "Even though the current Demon Lord is hunting our kind, there are still small Black-Wing Tribe settlements hidden here. I was afraid my presence would draw the Demon Lord's wrath to them—that's why I've been wandering outside."
With that, Setsuna and Flare's hostility instantly faded.
Eve then faced her tribesmen, explaining quickly, "They're not enemies—they saved my life. If not for them rescuing me in Branicca, I would've died to the Mad Bull Tribe's hunters."
Her words made the gathered Black-Wing Tribe members exchange uneasy glances before murmuring among themselves.
Finally, Miru's expression softened. He bowed slightly to Takumi. "Lady Eve is the last hope of our tribe. We owe you deeply for saving her."
The warriors lowered their weapons; the tense air eased.
Takumi gave Eve a look of approval for her quick thinking. "Good—someone who knows how to explain things clearly. Now, let's discuss the real matter at hand."
He turned to Miru and directly stated their goal.
When the Black-Wing Tribe learned they sought to undergo the trial of the Divine Bird Kaladorius, everyone frowned.
They shared Eve's opinion—this was far too dangerous.
"Lady Eve, you know it yourself," Miru said gravely. "Many powerful beings have gone to challenge that trial. Yet none have ever returned alive from the Sacred Peak."
Eve fully understood their concern. But she clenched her delicate fists and said firmly, "But the ancestor of the Reese family succeeded once—then so can I!"
Thinking of Takumi's recognition gave her strength; her voice grew steady.
She turned to him with a proud smile. "Besides, I have comrades who support me now!"
Her confidence shone—but Miru and the others still looked troubled.
"Lady Eve, please reconsider. You're our last hope. If you can win the Demon Lord succession war and become the next Demon Lord, our tribe will regain its honor.
Risking your life for the Divine Bird's trial before that… it's too reckless."
From their point of view, survival was everything. As long as Eve lived, there was still hope for the Black-Wing Tribe's future.
"At first, I thought that way too," Eve said quietly. "But the more I ran, the more my people died. Takumi is a Hero—stronger than you could ever imagine. For the future of the Black-Wing Tribe, I'm willing to stake this life I've already lost once before!"
Her eyes burned with conviction like never before. That unwavering resolve shook the hearts of every Black-Wing tribesman present.
...
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