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"You agreed that quickly?"
Edgar looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you even going to ask what the price is?"
At his words, Setsuna's eyes stayed calm—utterly still, without the slightest ripple of doubt.
She had known since childhood:the world had never been fair.
No matter how much you give, there's no guarantee you'll ever get anything back. If you want something, you have to pay for it. That was the most basic truth.
Setsuna drew in a deep breath, her voice steady."As long as it makes me stronger, I'm willing to pay any price. The only thing I ask—don't twist my will."
No matter what she became, she would always be a proud warrior of the Ice Wolf clan. She would climb to the very top, and she would protect her people.
Edgar studied her for a long moment, then smiled faintly.
"Relax. Your will always belongs to you. What I want… is simply you."
"M-me?"
Her cheeks flushed scarlet, her composure crumbling.He wants me?Does he mean… starting a family with me?
She sneaked a glance at him.Actually… well, he is pretty handsome. By human standards or wolf-tribe standards, either way, Lord Edgar was more than attractive.
"…All right. I don't mind."
Even with her resolve, the words came out shy and halting.
Edgar raised his hand, a droplet of golden blood forming at his fingertip."Then let's begin—the rebirth ritual."
"O-okay…"
Nervousness welled up in her chest.Rebirth ritual?So this is the path to power? But… what exactly was going to happen?
Anna, standing nearby, kindly reminded her,"Miss Setsuna, you should take off your outer clothes first."
Setsuna froze, her skin instantly flushing pink.Wait—already? Are we… having children right now? Isn't this a little too fast?!
Seeing her panic, Anna hurried to explain,"No, no, don't misunderstand. Master just needs to leave a mark on your body, that's all."
"Oh… I see."
Setsuna exhaled in relief and moved to obey. She loosened the rough fur robe, and the faint curve of her figure slipped free, sinful and tempting.
In a small voice she asked, "Then… what do I do next?"
"Nothing. Leave the rest to me."
Without hesitation, Edgar let the droplet of golden blood fall against her bare skin.
Hummm—!
A magic circle flared on the floor, its dazzling light tracing across her pale body, shaping itself into a delicate heart-shaped sigil.
"Ahh…"
Setsuna clenched her teeth softly, feeling an unfamiliar power flood into her.
Crack… crack!
For a heartbeat she thought she heard something inside her break.
And then—her whole body felt unbearably light, as though a weight had been stripped away.
Her heart began to pound, blood surging like it was boiling in her veins.
Her breathing grew ragged, every nerve and cell in her body burning with a wild rush of energy.
The power that had been shackled for so long… finally burst free.
So Lord Edgar hadn't been lying.
A flicker of understanding flashed in Setsuna's eyes.
The ritual he performed—it had completely shattered her chains.
Without thinking, she clenched her fists, her whole body trembling with excitement.
She knew her own condition better than anyone.
Once upon a time, no matter how much effort she poured in—ten times, a hundred times more than her kin—it never mattered. She stayed stuck in place.
All because her level cap had been locked.
But now…
That fate was broken.
And it was all thanks to the man standing before her.
Unconsciously, her gaze toward Edgar softened, shifting ever so slightly.
He didn't notice. His attention was fixed on the glowing display of her stats.
[Setsuna]
Race: Demon
Master:Edgar Lucifergus
Level: LV 9
Skills: Ice Wolf Form, Call of the Wild
Ice Wolf Form: Transforms the demonic body into that of an ice wolf, unleashing the full strength hidden within the bloodline.
Call of the Wild: Awakens primal instincts slumbering in the blood, drastically increasing physical power.
As expected, aside from humans, every race that reincarnated as demons retained the powers of their original lineage.
Edgar's gaze lingered on Call of the Wild.
"Not bad. A transformation skill that's actually useful."
He stroked his chin, nodding to himself. A skill like this was a solid trump card.
Satisfied, he jotted down her stats and handed them to Setsuna.
She blinked at the paper. "What's this?"
"Your attributes," Edgar explained simply.
Setsuna gave a small nod of understanding. Everyone in this world was familiar with the concept of attributes, so she quickly turned her attention to her skills.
"I'm… a demon now?"
Her voice wavered as her eyes landed on her new race.
A demon?
Did that mean she was no longer a daughter of the Ice Wolf Clan?
For a moment, a wave of loss washed over her.
Edgar noticed her expression and reached out, ruffling her hair in a gentle head pat.
Then he calmly explained the meaning of her skill, Ice Wolf Form.
"Oh… I see."
The realization brightened her face. She touched the tip of her tail, a smile tugging at her lips.
"No wonder my body doesn't feel any different."
So what if she was a demon now? She'd gained power while still keeping the heritage of her clan.
That tiny price—if it could even be called that—was nothing.
Becoming a demon was amazing.
For the sake of getting stronger, it was hardly a sacrifice at all.
Edgar couldn't help but smile at the sight of her grin.
"Looks like you're feeling good about it."
"Mhm!" She nodded eagerly.
Setsuna nodded eagerly, her fluffy tail swishing nonstop behind her.
"But you know…" Edgar's voice dipped, his gaze deep and unreadable as he gently rubbed the ice wolf girl's soft ears. "There's another way. A way to make you stronger, faster. Want to try it?"
Setsuna's eyes lit up with a flash of anticipation.Could her master really make her stronger that quickly?
She forced herself to hold back her excitement and whispered, "I'll do it, Master."
The Star Spirit stiffened.…This is bad.Really bad.Don't tell me he's about to do that again?
Almost on instinct, she wanted to bolt. But before she could move, an invisible barrier spread outward, sealing her in with Edgar at the center.
The very next moment, Edgar pressed forward and claimed Setsuna's lips without hesitation—forceful, burning, undeniable.
The pressure that poured off him was overwhelming. Setsuna felt as if she'd been dragged into a bottomless abyss, her breath stolen away, her body trembling from the alien intensity flooding her senses.
Is this… really the way to get stronger?
The thought flickered through her mind—then was drowned out completely as an unfamiliar tide of emotion seized control of her.
The forest, the earth, the air around her—gone.Everything dissolved into a vast, fathomless ocean.Invisible currents pulled her deeper and deeper, sinking her into a place where she couldn't breathe.
"Damn it… too late again…"
At the edge of the barrier, the Star Spirit clawed at herself in frustration. She wanted to turn away, but her body had frozen stiff—she couldn't move, couldn't look away.
Even her own breathing grew ragged, heavier and heavier."T-too… can't… breathe…"
Setsuna clenched her fists, desperately trying to draw in air, only to find it was pointless.
Then—warmth. Edgar's hand settled on her head in a gentle pat, his voice calm and steady:"Don't forget—you've got the Wild Call skill."
Right. She couldn't just give in.
Resolve returned to Setsuna's eyes. Her posture straightened, and light seemed to spill from within her."I'll… I'll become stronger."
And in that instant, her power surged, her body brimming with strength once more.
She felt like she could do anything.
"..."
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