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

The instant Vieya sealed Zhuyou into the painted scroll, the unknown enemy hidden within the void also fled at high speed, vanishing beyond the range of perception in the blink of an eye.

‘At least you ran fast.’

Vieya gazed for a moment at the calm, clear sky. After confirming that all the hostile auras from earlier had completely disappeared, she put away the scroll in her hand and looked down at the large fish beneath her feet.

“She’s sealed inside the painting for now. I’ll interrogate her tonight when I have time. I’ll also deal with the problem on your body while I’m at it.”

Isabelle nodded, looking extremely well-behaved.

The very next second, the fiery red great bird that had been circling in the sky transformed in a blink.

Phoenix landed behind Vieya, both feet stepping onto the fish’s back. The subtle sensation beneath her soles made her instinctively step on Isabelle a couple more times.

Then, an odd glint appeared in her eyes as she asked Vieya,

“Who do you think is more comfortable to ride—her, or me?”

“?”

Vieya froze for a moment, baffled. “Why are you asking that?”

“I should be more comfortable to ride,” Phoenix evaluated confidently. “My feathers are pretty and warm, and I’m faster than her. And she’s all slippery—if you’re not careful, you’ll fall off. Don’t you think?”

After saying that, she looked at the slime girl expectantly... somehow managing to convey expectation through eyes that burned like flames.

Vieya fell silent for a moment. Not wanting to take the bait, she forcefully dragged the conversation back on track.

“The owner of that golden giant hand that appeared in the sky just now—do you know who it was?”

Phoenix thought for a bit, then shook her head. “He [N O V E L I G H T] hid himself very well and kept more than a kilometer away from us the whole time. With only a brief exchange, I couldn’t judge who it was. But...”

She paused, then added, “The power he used seems to be related to a group of bald humans. All shiny and golden.”

“Bald humans?”

Vieya suddenly sank into thought.

She recalled that many years ago, when she fought Elizabeth, someone had also launched a sneak attack on her from the shadows... and just like this time, they’d fled the moment things went south.

That enemy back then had come from the organization known as 【Ghost】. Could the unseen enemy this time be connected to them as well?

Thinking of this, Vieya slowly exhaled. What a bunch of lingering pests—once they latched on, they never let go.

I don’t have time to look for trouble with you right now, and yet you’re the ones coming to me first.

Next time I get the chance, I should probably go ask that white fox again.

......

Mirror Lake, the altar at the lake’s center.

The ominous red light grew deeper and heavier. Out of the nine elves, four had already been eliminated.

Kui dragged the four unconscious elves outside the altar, pulling their bodies out of the red light’s range.

Thud!

Another elf collapsed on the altar. Only four were left standing now.

Kui returned once more, carrying the fainted elf out on her back.

At this moment, Vieya also returned. She was still seated on the back of the blue fish that Isabelle had transformed into, but Phoenix was no longer behind her.

That earlier sword strike hadn’t burdened her too much, but she was still a little tired—like being forcibly dragged into running three thousand meters. Well, considering her current short little legs, and compared to her Hero days, this slime body was practically suffering from severe kidney deficiency.

“Miss Vieya? You seem quite tired right now...”

Kui stacked the elves who had fainted due to failing the trial neatly against a large tree. Then she stepped forward and carefully helped Vieya down from the back of the deep-blue fish, saying with concern,

“Would you like me to send you back to rest for a bit? Once the results here are out, I can inform you.”

“It’s fine.”

Vieya waved her hand. “Those people really did come for me—or rather, for the maid under me. But the matter’s already been resolved. The main culprit has been executed. As for the remaining stragglers, your Queen is personally leading other elves to search through the forest.”

“That’s good.”

Kui visibly relaxed. She glanced at the blue-haired Demon King standing quietly behind Vieya, behaving herself and not interrupting, then softly asked,

“Miss Vieya, would you like to eat some nutritious fruits to replenish your strength? Your breathing seems a little unsteady...”

Vieya nodded.

Kui opened the altar. Before long, when the wooden clone returned, it was carrying a large pile of fragrant fruits. Just the scent alone was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

Isabelle took the initiative to step forward to peel the fruit and cut it into small pieces. Being waited on like a placenta, the slime suddenly felt a bit awkward.

She wanted to tell Isabelle to go stand aside, but refusing already-peeled and neatly cut fruit just to do it herself wouldn’t fit her status as the master.

After a few pieces of fruit went down, Vieya immediately felt a warm current rise from her lower abdomen, and the emptiness within her body rapidly filled as her magic power recovered.

At the same time, she noticed an extra buff appear beside her status bar called 【Premium Grand Mana-Recovery Fruit】, lasting thirty minutes. While out of combat, HP and MP recovery speed were increased fivefold.

The elven forest really did have an abundance of rare treasures...

Thud!

At this moment, another elf in the center of the altar convulsed and collapsed, losing consciousness.

As usual, Kui went over to carry the fainted elf out of the red light’s range and then continued waiting—though there was now a clear tension in her eyes.

Only three elves remained on the altar.

Vieya’s heart lifted into her throat. She began silently praying for Aislin. Dear gods—if Aislin failed at this step, she’d genuinely feel like jumping into a river and killing herself.

Uh... water-element slimes probably can’t drown.

‘Black-haired elf and blond elf, hurry up and faint, hurry up and faint, faint...’ Vieya muttered under her breath.

Isabelle gave her master a strange look. After thinking for a moment, she began muttering along with her,

‘Black-haired elf and blond elf, hurry up and faint, hurry up and faint, faint...’

Like master, like servant.

Kui shook her head helplessly. Just as she moved her gaze from the pair back to the altar, her pupils suddenly shrank.

A sudden change erupted at the altar’s center.

The three remaining elves opened their eyes simultaneously. In the very next instant, they were blasted away from the altar by an invisible force. They cried out in pain, flung backward like birds with broken wings.

Vieya reacted instantly. Forgetting all about continuing to curse the other two elves with her maid, she took a single step forward and firmly caught Aislin as she fell from the sky.

At the same time, Kui swiftly activated her wooden clones to steadily catch the other two elves who had been flung away.

“What happened?” Kui asked immediately.

“I don’t know...” the black-haired elf coughed weakly, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. “It felt like we were rejected by the afterimages of the past Elven Queens. They expelled us.”

How was that possible—everyone failed?!

“No... that can’t be right. Something must have gone wrong.”

Kui murmured to herself, countless thoughts flashing through her eyes in an instant. Suddenly, she looked toward Aislin, who was being held by Vieya and receiving healing, and asked softly,

“Your Highness the Princess—could you please tell me in detail exactly what happened to all of you?”