Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill

Max stepped straight into the room, but stopped dead in his tracks.

Violet smoke covered almost the entire chamber. Thick. Suffocating. It crawled along the floor and climbed the walls as if it were alive.

The smell hit him first. Blood. Burnt flesh. Dust.

His eyes widened at the horrifying scene before him.

The demon women on the bed... weren’t moving. They were still bound, but their throats had been slit. Clean cuts. Blood had soaked the sheets. Their white dresses were now red.

A hollow feeling spread through Max’s chest.

He turned toward the silver cage. Nothing remained. Just dust. Fine ashes gathered at the bottom, shifting slightly with the air. The succubi had been... incinerated.

"What the hell is this?"

A strange sound behind him snapped him back.

The other demon woman—the one bound by her limbs—her body trembled violently. Foam poured from her mouth. From her nose. From her eyes. Mixed with blood.

She had been poisoned.

And Max felt it, he had arrived too late. Again.

"This can’t be."

A faint creak beside him.

Max looked up.

And saw her.

Lamia stood there. Threatening. Her massive scissors open, framing Elise’s neck—the wife of Azael, the only one still alive.

The blade barely touched her skin. A thin red line had already begun to form.

Elise didn’t move, but her eyes were open. Terrified.

Max took a step forward.

"...please, Lamia."

His voice came out broken.

"Don’t do this. She doesn’t deserve it."

The smoke shifted.

Lamia slowly turned her head toward Max and looked at him. Her eyes... were wet. But there was no doubt in them.

"...it’s already too late."

Her voice was a whisper. Hollow.

"There’s no turning back."

The scissors closed a little more. Elise’s skin gave way. A drop of blood fell.

Max tensed, gripping his hammer.

"Lamia, don’t!"

The shadows around her moved.

Two bony hands emerged behind Lamia, skeletal knights. Their fingers clamped onto her arms. They held her for a moment, but it was enough.

The shadow beneath Lamia’s feet warped, split open.

And from it, Azael emerged.

His hand caught the scissors. Stopped them. Not a millimeter further.

His other hand closed around Lamia’s neck. He lifted her slightly, without much care.

His eyes glowed in the darkness. Cold.

"...you’re done here."

Lamia didn’t smile. Her gaze locked onto Azael. She shook her head just barely.

"...I’m not done yet."

Violet smoke burst from her neck, growing denser, heavier. It swallowed her body instantly. Her form became unstable, slippery.

Azael’s grip... failed.

Lamia slipped out of his hands as if she had no weight.

The skeletons tried to hold her, but it was too late.

The scissors flashed and in a single cut, both skeletal knights were split apart. Bones scattered across the floor.

Azael turned.

But Lamia was already in front of him.

She spat.

A dark liquid struck his eyes directly.

"gh..."

Azael staggered back a step. His vision... completely gone.

Lamia didn’t hesitate.

She pulled a small vial from her outfit. Popped it open with her teeth and drank it in one gulp.

No hesitation.

She lunged at Elise, and kissed her.

The liquid passed from her mouth to Elise’s.

"NO!"

Max hurled his hammer. Spinning. Fast.

But it was too late.

The strike hit.

Lamia was sent flying. Her body slammed into the ground. Rolled. Coughed up blood—but she kept laughing, as if her plan had already succeeded.

Azael was already moving.

His hands caught Elise. He cut the ropes. Lowered her carefully.

"...my beloved Elise."

He held her in his arms. His body trembled.

She coughed blood as well. Her eyes barely focused.

On the ground, Lamia raised a hand to her mouth. More blood. But her smile remained.

"...heh..."

She coughed.

"I... finally... did it..."

Her eyes locked onto Azael.

"It’s too late for her... you can’t... save her..."

Max didn’t look at her.

His eyes moved quickly.

Calling the system. Searching for the main quest, it was still active. It hadn’t failed yet.

His heart pounded.

"...there’s still time."

He looked at Azael.

"Azael!"

Firm. Urgent.

"We need to take them to Dorian right now, he can heal them!"

He pointed at the women.

"All of them! They can still be saved!"

Azael didn’t answer immediately.

He was looking at his wife. His hand trembled over her face.

"...easy..."

His voice was low, but steady.

"I’m here now to save you, my love."

He clenched his teeth.

"I won’t allow myself to lose you again."

A tear fell from his face.

Then—

"...Max."

He turned his head slightly.

"Summon every skeletal knight you can."

Dark. Cold.

"Right now."

Azael raised his hand. The ground trembled. Shadows split open.

One. Two. Five. Ten. No, fifteen.

Fifteen skeletal knights rose around him.

Max didn’t hesitate. He snapped his fingers. Ten more appeared beside him.

"Move. Get these women out of here."

The orders were clear.

Some skeletons rushed to the bed, carefully lifting the women. Others moved to the cage, collecting the ashes into containers. Others cut the bindings. Efficient. Fast. Others rushed out to secure the exit.

Azael stood, Elise in his arms.

"I’ll go ahead, Max."

He didn’t wait for a reply.

He moved fast.

Disappearing into the violet smoke.

Max remained behind.

For a second.

He turned his head.

Lamia was still on the ground. Coughing. Blood spilling from her mouth. Her eyes barely focused on him.

"...don’t look at me like that... don’t worry..."

A weak laugh.

"I’m... already dead..."

She struggled to breathe.

"In... a few minutes, the effect of my poison..."

Max looked at her. Serious.

"No."

He stepped closer.

"I’m going to need you by my side."

Lamia blinked. Confused.

"...what?"

Max crouched down and lifted her, carefully.

"To finish this."

He carried her in his arms. Stood up.

The violet smoke covered the exit.

Max walked forward. Without stopping.

"We’re not done here yet."

And he left the room, carefully, with Lamia in his arms.