The Hero Who Became a Monster Girl Will Never Fall to Evil

“Where did Mom go...”

Late at night, Jasmine sat on the bed in her room. After the banquet ended, she had come back earlier with the cat-sister and the others.

Everything had gone safely. They hadn’t run into a monster ambush, nor any child-trafficking kidnappers. Everyone returned to the inn in one piece.

But after her mom was called out by Teacher Anna, she still hadn’t come back.

“Did Mom go escort Teacher Anna home? But Teacher Anna can use teleportation... she shouldn’t need an escort, right?”

“Or maybe... did Mom and Teacher Anna run into trouble and get delayed?”

One question after another filled Jasmine’s tiny head, so much that she didn’t even sense the cat-eared maid coming up behind her.

Helcat had long grown used to this dazed little Demon Princess.

As long as she stuffed that cheap “master” back into the little Demon Princess’s arms, everything would immediately return to normal.

But right now—

Helcat reached out and poked Jasmine’s back with a fingertip.

“Ya!”

Jasmine jolted violently, her blank gaze snapping back into focus. She whipped around, mildly annoyed, and met the catgirl maid’s helpless expression.

“Cat-sister, why’d you scare me!”

“It’s because Your Little Demon Majesty spaced out for far too long.” Helcat pointed at Jasmine’s clothes. “Your mom told me to bathe you when I got back, so you don’t slip and fall in the bathroom again.”

“I won’t fall again!”

Jasmine puffed her cheeks, pushed off the bed, slipped into her slippers, and marched straight toward the bathroom.

Behind her, Helcat yawned and glanced out the window.

It really was getting late—barely half an hour before midnight. Once Jasmine finished bathing, she had to go to bed on time.

Sigh... where the hell did that cheap master wander off to this time? Always stirring up trouble everywhere, day in and day out.

And to think she used to be just like me... just a big lazy cat...

Whatever. Take care of the Little Demon Princess first.

...

Elsewhere.

Vieya had already confirmed that the blonde brat in front of her was indeed the same girl she had held in her arms many years ago.

Heh. The one who peed all over her back then—was this little brat right here.

“What are you staring at! You reek of booze, it’s disgusting!” As soon as the gagging silk scarf was pulled out of her mouth, Irena immediately started yapping. “Hurry up and untie the ropes on my feet too.”

Vieya shook her head, covering her nose as she stepped back. “You stink. Did you step on wild dog crap in the sewer?”

“Y-You—what are you even blabbering about!”

Irena panicked, but her face was too smudged and filthy to show much expression. She just lay on the ground, spewing complaints.

“My best friend got kidnapped! If you delay anything, I’ll tell Sister Yuelong! She’s a genius magic-swordsman from the Royal Capital—she can slice a booze-soaked white-haired hag like you clean in half with one strike!”

“That’s how you treat your savior?” Vieya asked curiously.

“None of your business!” Irena glared. “Who do you think you are! Just hurry and untie me! I can pay you! A thousand gold? Or ten thousand? Name your price!”

Even lying in a pile of filth with sewage all over her, that haughty tone hadn’t changed at all.

This brat was really annoying.

Vieya drained the last swig of alcohol from her bottle, let her smile fade, and stepped toward Irena. Standing over her, she looked down with cold, moonlit emerald eyes.

Such beautiful eyes—but the gaze was freezing cold, like ice.

Looking into the white-haired woman’s eyes, Irena suddenly felt a flicker of fear. But only fear—her mouth was still as stubborn as ever.

“Do what I say and I’ll give you money you’ll never finish spending in your whole life. But if you don’t listen, then I’ll—”

Smack!

Vieya lifted her foot and stomped hard on Irena’s raised butt, grinding her heel twice as she taunted:

“And you’ll do what to me?”

“Aaah—! You damn drunk! Move your foot «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» off my—!”

Irena’s face flushed red. But the pressure kept increasing, her pelvis aching sharply, until she finally couldn’t hold back a scream.

“...Move your foot off my butt!!”

“How old are you?” Vieya asked mildly.

“You!” Irena clenched her teeth. “Thirteen...”

“Mhm.” Vieya responded lightly. “And weren’t you still wetting the bed when you were three?”

“You—what is wrong with you!”

Irena was shocked and furious, with a shame-tinged tremble. How the hell did this drunk woman know such embarrassing things?!

Maybe she guessed... or maybe she used some terrifying black magic that reads minds!

Black magic users were infamous—temperamental, ruthless, unpredictable.

That infamous apostate Hero was one, a betrayer and a heretic.

People like that would smile at you one second and stab you the next! Terrifying!

A tremor ran through Irena. She almost played dead to escape this.

But then she remembered her Little-Fish sister, alone in the hands of those criminals, possibly suffering all sorts of horrible humiliation.

Her desperate desire to save her friend finally crushed the haughty pride she’d clung to for more than ten years.

“Ah—! What do you want me to do so you’ll let me go save Little-Fish sister!” Irena shouted stubbornly.

“Want to save her?”

Vieya pressed her heel down even harder, until the blonde brat nearly burst into tears. Only then did she ease the pressure.

“If you’re asking someone for help, you need the proper attitude. Your tone must be polite, your wording respectful.”

“Uu... I’m gonna kill... uuu...” Irena whimpered.

Vieya gave a sharp nasal hum. “Hm?!”

The near-splitting pain made Irena swallow her unfinished threat. She choked softly.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please loosen up. We really can’t waste any more time—Little-Fish sister will be sold as a slave... and once she’s forced into a slave contract, her life is over...”

“See? You can speak like a person.” Vieya raised a brow and withdrew her foot. “Get up. I’ll take you to save her.”

“But the rope on my feet—”

“Already undone.”

“And those criminals...”

Irena slowly pushed herself off the floor, staring at the people collapsed along the walls and on the ground. Unconscious. She murmured:

“Shouldn’t we call the city defense knights to arrest them first?”

Then she looked up timidly at Vieya again.

Even in that short time just now, this woman had left a long-lasting trauma on her young heart.

“You talk too much.” Vieya put her hands on her hips in annoyance. “It’s late. I don’t have time to go through procedures with you. Didn’t you escape from their hideout? Just take me there. Don’t tell me you forgot the way.”

“I remember, I remember...” Irena lowered her head, not daring to look her in the eyes. “But we have to go through the sewer.”

“Tch... take off those filthy clothes.” Vieya crossed her arms and ordered.

Irena froze. “W-Why?”

“Your clothes are too dirty. I don’t want to touch them.” Vieya said calmly. “Going through the sewer is too slow. I’ll fly you there.”

“Fly?!”

Irena’s eyes flew wide open.

...

Yes. Fly.

In the night sky, Irena’s scream echoed loudly!

Vieya carried her by the back of her collar, slicing through the air at high speed.

“Scream again and I’ll drop you!”

“I won’t scream, uuuh!”

“Where were you kidnapped?”

“Next to a big restaurant... it’s called something-something Pavilion...”

“Here?”

“Yes yes yes! There’s a tea-house beside it, we were in—ah!”

Vieya abruptly accelerated, plunging from the sky like a meteor!

Boom!

Residents nearby woke in a panic, cursing as they covered their ears and heads.

“That was—way too cool!”

“Shut up.”

“Mmm...” Irena mimed zipping her mouth shut, then unzipped it again immediately to speak at full speed. “There’s a basement here... I escaped when they thought I’d passed out from the drugs... my staff and magic stones are still inside!”

Bang!

Still holding Irena, Vieya stomped forward and kicked the tea-house door open.

Inside, dozens of tea tables were filled to the brim with people. The moment they heard the loud crash, they all turned in unison and shouted:

“How dare you come back!!”

Outnumbered. Massively.

Irena almost dropped to her knees.

But with someone backing her, she straightened her neck and yelled:

“Where did you bastards take Little-Fish sister!”