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Da’at Criferd had appeared out of nowhere.

The players nearby noticed her presence and began mumbling among themselves in hushed tones. Crim, however, bowed slightly toward them, her eyes never leaving Da’at Criferd.

“My apologies, everyone. It seems my storyline will involve everyone here.”
“Wh-What should we do?”
“Just try to survive as long as possible.”

A cold sweat ran down Crim’s back as she squared off against Da’at Criferd. Every instinct screamed that the girl standing before her was dangerous.

“I have some business with that girl there. Would you mind letting me borrow her for a bit?”
“Never!”
“Oh…”

Crim’s voice was defiant, filled with resolve. Da’at Criferd raised an eyebrow before striking an exaggerated pose of mock surprise.

“Well… in that case, I suppose I’ll just have to take her by force, huh?”

The moment she finished speaking, something sharp and as thick as Crim’s body erupted from the ground in front of her. Roots began spreading rapidly, snaking toward Crim and Rouge.

“Rouge, take cover behind me!”
“O-Okay.”

Rouge, still weakened from using Break Blood, was in no shape to fight. Crim took a protective stance in front of her, skillfully cutting down the oncoming roots with her scythe.

“Why! What are thy intentions with Rouge!”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? I need her to eliminate you, Scarlet Demon Lord.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. The potential to surpass your power lies within her. With my help, she’ll become the perfect countermeasure against you… and I’ll finally be able to rid myself of you!”
“Kyah?!”
“Rouge?!”

While Crim focused on fending off the relentless roots, a sharp cry from behind sent her heart racing. Turning quickly, she saw Rouge ensnared by briars that had materialized out of nowhere, dragging her helplessly toward Da’at Criferd.

“Damn it…!”

Crim rushed to chase after her, but more roots and thorns erupted between them, creating an impenetrable barrier. She relentlessly cut through everything in her path, but Rouge was already in Da’at Criferd’s grasp.

The robed figure held Rouge like a coiled snake, leaning close to whisper in her ear.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll give you power… I’ll make you so strong that nothing will ever scare you again.”
“I… I don’t need that power. I don’t want it..!”
“Oh, really? How can you say that, when you’ve already killed dozens of men, hmm?”
“No… I don’t want that! I don’t want to kill… or be killed..!”
“…Is that really what you think? You didn’t feel even a little better after they stopped chasing you? After wondering why all of this had to happen to you?”
“No… no… I… I didn’t..!”

Rouge’s voice wavered as she tried to resist, but her protests grew weaker.

Fear and hatred were deeply intertwined, and since Rouge had experienced fear, she could not avoid the creeping presence of hatred. Da’at Criferd knew this all too well and deliberately targeted the raw wounds in Rouge’s heart.

“You hate them, don’t you? All those men who hunted you like an animal… I understand how you feel. That’s why you don’t have to be afraid anymore. I’ll give you the power to make it stop.”
“No…no..!”

Rouge shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to resist Da’at Criferd’s temptation. But the emotions she had tried so hard to suppress were beginning to leak out, coaxed to the surface by Da’at’s insidious words.

Crim watched the scene, and for the first time in her life, she felt the burning sensation of true hatred.

“Stop that… STOP THAAATTT!!”
“Oh dear, scary scary. Your big sister sure has a nasty temper, doesn’t she?”

Crim’s white hair stood on end as she bellowed in rage, slashing faster through the roots and thorns with renewed ferocity. Da’at Criferd, however, only smirked, her mocking tone adding fuel to Crim’s fury.

Crim wasn’t the only one consumed by heightened emotions.

CLINK!!

“…Oh, what do you think you’re doing? You’re nothing but a Doppelganger!”

Hinagiku’s Doppelganger swung her katana, but it was stopped mid-air, caught by one of the thick briars surrounding Da’at Criferd like a shield.

Lycoris’ Doppelganger quickly moved to assist, but another briar lashed out, restraining her arm and trigger finger, rendering her unable to fire her weapon. Even so, the two Doppelgangers glared fiercely at Da’at Criferd, their anger evident as she held Rouge captive.

“…What’s gotten into the two of you? And why is that ancient defensive system letting you ignore your orders?”
“ “…!” ”

The briars grew thicker, coiling around the two Doppelgangers and immobilizing them completely. But it didn’t stop there—the mana that made up their bodies began to drain away, their extremities fading first, little by little.

“Stop! Don’t do something so awful to them!!”
“Awful? I think it’s rather merciful, considering they’re nothing but useless tools who’ve forgotten their purpose.”
“Please… you two, just run away!”

Rouge’s frantic voice carried over the chaos, and her words made the two struggling Doppelgangers pause. They turned their gazes to her, their expressions filled with sorrow.

Moments later, as though shedding their forms, red orbs—each one a core—fell from their bodies. Their physical forms disintegrated into shadows, roughly resembling clay dolls.

“Someone, please protect them..!”

Rouge’s plea broke through the haze over the players watching. Snapping out of their daze, they rushed forward, collecting the two cores—the true forms of the Doppelgangers.

Rouge let out a breath of relief as she watched the players carry the cores to safety. But then…

“…Ghah?!”
“Rouge?!!”

The hollow bodies of the Doppelgangers finished disintegrating, their mana rapidly drawn into Rouge’s body. She cried out in anguish, and the fiery pattern on her skin twisted, morphing into a thorn-like design.

“Da’at, stop this!!”

Crim’s view was nearly completely obstructed by the relentless roots that continued to rise and block her path. Each time she cut one down, another sprang up, leaving her no time to cast any spells. Her movements were slowing as exhaustion began to creep in.

Just as she started considering a reckless charge through the barricade, disregarding her own safety…

“I see… So this is why you wanted me to come here.”
“…What?!”

A familiar voice echoed from above. Crim glanced up just in time to see a figure leaping down from the rooftops. In one swift motion, the newcomer swung a crimson blade down at Da’at Criferd, slicing through the hood concealing her face.

“…What a troublesome man. It’s not time for you to show up yet.”
“You’re not the one who gets to decide that, woman.”

Da’at Criferd muttered in frustration, her disbelief evident as her hood fell away. Beneath it was a face identical to the dryad Crim had encountered before—except for one striking difference. While the dryad’s hair was red, Da’at Criferd’s transitioned from red to a golden yellow.

Standing before her was a young man with fiery red hair, gripping a sword with an air of confidence.

“You’re… Suzaku?!”
“Hey, Demon Lord. Looks like you’re having a bit of trouble there.”
“Why… No, more importantly! I need your help! That girl she’s holding—that’s my tamed monster—no, my sister!”
“…Well, I do owe you from before, so alright.”

Crim’s desperation caused her to momentarily drop her roleplay persona, but Suzaku only nodded, raising his sword with a determined expression.

“Hmm…” Da’at Criferd tilted her head, her voice still calm but now tinged with annoyance. “I can’t afford to fight you in this incomplete state.”

She extended a hand outward. A swirling portal, like a teleportation gate, materialized behind her.

“Are you trying to run away?!”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing. Let me share a little secret about this dungeon: equipment restrictions are lifted from the fourth floor onward. I’ll fight you there.”

With that, Da’at Criferd turned around, carrying Rouge, who was now bound tightly with ivy.

“If you’re a good older sister, you’ll come rescue her soon, won’t you?”
“Don’t you dare..!”

Crim glared at Da’at Criferd, her fury barely contained. However, Da’at seemed to quickly lose interest in her and turned her gaze elsewhere, as if something else had caught her attention.

“One last thing. You, the cheeky girl over there.”
“Huh? M-Me?”

Da’at pointed toward the shadow of a nearby house, where a girl who looked like a younger version of herself peeked hesitantly from behind the corner.

“Yes, you. You can have the name Da’at Criferd. I don’t need it anymore.” With a twisted grin, she held the hem of her robe and gave an exaggerated bow. “I’m… Belial. That’s my name now.”

She introduced herself with a smirk.

“And with that, be sure to tell that other Da’at from Seyfert that I’m no longer a mirror of her.”

Belial chuckled darkly as a brilliant light surrounded her. She and Rouge, still bound and unable to move, began to fade away into the portal.

Crim frantically fought through the roots and debris that cluttered the ruined city, desperate to reach them. But despite her efforts, she was just out of reach.

“ROUGE!!”

Her voice cracked as she shouted, stretching her hand toward them, even as they became increasingly translucent.

“I promise… I promise I’ll save you! So hang tight… don’t give up!!” Her desperate cry reached Rouge, whose eyes widened with surprise.

I’ll wait… so come save me. Rouge forced a small, trembling smile and silently mouthed those words just before she and Belial vanished entirely into the light.

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