The club was packed. Monsters and humanoids alike filled the seats, eager to witness the spectacle. The competition was fierce, and the tension in the air crackled like static.

  Vey was up first. The dark elf stepped onto the stage with effortless grace, weaving illusions that danced and shimmered around her. Her magic turned the club into an ethereal dreamscape—a sky of floating stars, a pace of mist. She danced through her illusions, making them part of her body, her movements an extension of the magic itself. It was mesmerizing.

  Then, it was Echidna’s turn.

  She stepped onto the stage, the clinking of the anti-magic colr around her neck silencing the whispers. A smirk pyed on her lips as she met the gaze of the crowd. She could feel their curiosity, their disbelief. How could a succubus perform magic with a suppression colr?

  She let the question linger, feeding the anticipation.

  Then, she raised her hand.

  A fme ignited in her palm.

  The audience gasped. Even the owner, watching from his seat, leaned forward slightly.

  She flicked her wrist, and the fire curled around her fingers, forming intricate shapes—birds, dragons, cascading ribbons of light.

  The crowd erupted in whispers.

  Then, she did more. Water spiraled around her arm. Wind danced at her fingertips. Shadows stretched unnaturally beneath her feet.

  Magic—while wearing an anti-magic colr.

  Vey’s eyes narrowed, suspicion fshing across her face. This should be impossible.

  The audience was enthralled. Some murmured about a hidden loophole, a rare gift, something divine. What was she?

  And then, she revealed the trick.

  With a confident smile, Echidna raised her arms, showing her wrists where thin, near-invisible wires glinted in the dim light. The “fire” had been nothing more than a cleverly concealed spark powder, ignited with a flick of her fingers. The “water” was stored in tiny, pressurized pouches. The “wind” came from a hidden mechanism strapped to her forearm. The “shadows” were carefully positioned gss shards reflecting controlled lighting.

  The audience fell into stunned silence.

  Then, appuse.

  Not just appuse—cheers.

  She had pyed them all, made them believe in the impossible, and then shattered the illusion with a simple truth: it wasn’t magic—it was skill.

  Vey stared at her, unreadable. The owner smirked.

  And just like that—Echidna won.

  After the competition, Echidna found Vey seated at the bar, a gss of something dark in her hand. The elf wasn’t sulking, but the defeat weighed on her.

  Echidna took the seat next to her. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

  “I know what you’re doing,” Vey finally said, swirling the liquid in her gss. “Gloating?”

  Echidna smirked. “You think I’m here to rub it in?”

  “You won. What do you want?”

  Echidna exhaled, leaning against the counter. “You’re talented. The way you use illusions—you’re more than just a dancer. You were a fighter once, weren’t you?”

  Vey’s eyes darkened. She didn’t answer.

  Echidna took a sip of her own drink, then set the gss down. “I did some digging. You’re in debt. And not to just anyone.” She turned slightly, lowering her voice. “One of the hero’s men.”

  Vey’s fingers tightened around her gss.

  “Why?” Echidna pressed. “Why do you owe him?”

  Vey let out a dry chuckle. “Not all debts are by choice.”

  She exhaled and finally spoke. “Years ago, before I ended up here, my family was caught in a war between the hero and the demon king. We were mercenaries, but we fought for the wrong side, the losing side. When we lost, we were either executed or ensved.” Her gaze flickered toward the stage, then back to Echidna. “I was given a ‘choice.’ Either serve the hero’s forces, or let my remaining family die. I took the deal. But when my use ran out, they still branded me a criminal and left me with a debt I could never pay back.”

  Echidna watched her, really watched her.

  A familiar kind of anger coiled in her chest.

  “I hate him too, you know,” she murmured. “The hero. Or as I like to call him, ‘The Pig.’”

  Vey raised an eyebrow. “The Pig?”

  Echidna’s smile was sharp. “Long story.”

  She swirled her drink. “I’m building something. And I need people who are smart, strong, and—most importantly—hungry.” She met Vey’s gaze. “You want to be free of your debt? I can make that happen. You want food, security? I’ll provide it.”

  Vey’s expression was unreadable. “And in return?”

  Echidna leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “Be my right hand.”

  Vey let out a breathy ugh. “You trust me that easily?”

  “Not at all.”

  Vey chuckled, shaking her head. She was skeptical, but she was considering it.

  Echidna finished her drink and stood. “Think about it. I’m not offering this twice.”

  Vey stared at her for a long moment, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll work for you. Just don’t expect me to start calling you ‘boss’ anytime soon.”

  Echidna grinned. “Deal.”

  "For starter, please take care of my child when I'm working."

  "Fine, I guess it's not that hard. But I'm never pregnant so you still have to breastfeed him yourself."

  "Don't worry. I have enough milk for him, and for you if you want some." Echidna jokes with Vayle which she respond with a disgust on her face.

  Echidna took a deep breath, the echoes of appuse still ringing in her ears. The competition had ended in her victory, but what lingered in her mind was the conversation with Vey. The woman’s initial skepticism had melted into reluctant trust, and now they sat together in a dimly lit corner of the club, away from the prying eyes of patrons.

  Echidna swirled the drink in her gss, her gaze shifting to Vey. "Now that you're working with me, there's something I need to know," she said, her tone casual but firm. "What kind of person is the Demon King?"

  Vey exhaled, setting her own drink down. "His name is Demon King Typhon. A monster covered in writhing snakes, pure bck skin, and glowing purple eyes."

  Echidna listened closely, absorbing every detail.

  "He's a cold person," Vey continued. "But I never hated him. In fact, I respected him. He’s harsh, but fair. If you’re loyal, he treats you well. If you betray him, you won’t get a second chance. One thing’s for sure—he doesn’t discriminate. To him, race doesn’t matter. Monster, demi-human, beastfolk… as long as you serve him well, you’ll be fine."

  Echidna arched a brow. "But?"

  Vey’s expression darkened. "There is one race he absolutely despises."

  "And they're?"

  "Humans."

  A chill ran down Echidna’s spine. "Why?"

  Vey shook her head. "I don’t know. It’s a deep, burning hatred. He never expins it, but I’ve seen it in his eyes. If he could, he’d erase humans from existence. And sometimes… he gets these headaches. Like something’s cwing at his mind."

  Echidna’s fingers tightened around her gss. "Headaches?"

  Vey nodded. "And when he has them, he mutters things. Strange things. But there’s one thing I’ve heard him say more than once: ‘That pervert ruined my Hoshino.’"

  Echidna’s breath caught in her throat. The name struck her like a dagger to the heart.

  Hoshino.

  Her name.

  The name she had in her old world.