Volume 2 – Chapter 25: “To Fight a Demon, One Must Become a Demon”

“The flow of time around the Golden Sacred Tree is different from the outside world. Time passes much slower here,” said Bilodis in a soft voice, as though she had read Teresa’s thoughts.

Was she suggesting she might let her go?

Teresa considered the possibility, but quickly dismissed it. This buxom old cow was unfathomable—truth and lies all tangled together, real wrapped in false and false wrapped in real. No one could tell what she was truly thinking.

In the garden, an unknown breeze drifted by. Two stunning golden-haired girls sat in vine-woven chairs still damp with dew. The tea in their jade cups steamed gently, the morning air cool and fresh with the scent of dew, adding a layer of hazy warmth to the mist rising from their drinks.

They looked like two radiant flowers seated in harmony. To be having tea with such a shapely, curvaceous beauty should have been a privilege—but Teresa sat there like someone owed her fifty thousand gold.

Maybe she’d lived too long and turned sly—this elegant golden-haired beauty serving her tea was a certified white lotus in appearance and black-hearted to the bone.

“…This tea is bitter.” Teresa put down her cup, licking her glistening lips with a hint of disdain. “Don’t tell me you’re using Sacred Tree sap to steep this too?”

“Tea is meant to be savored slowly. You don’t drink tea for the tea itself, but for the scenery around you, to appreciate the moment, to reflect, to indulge in sentiment,” Bilodis said with a smile, sipping lightly from her cup. “Then you’ll realize—within that bitterness, there’s a lingering sweetness that gently seeps into your heart.”

“Really?” Teresa glanced at the scenery. Drinking tea in this serene garden with exotic beasts flitting through the trees… yes, it was picturesque. But she had no energy to appreciate it. Fingering her hair absently, a faint gloom passed through her eyes.

This unfamiliar palace and courtyard gave her a strangely strong sense of déjà vu—like she had once sat just like this, sipping tea, basking in peace.

Bilodis noticed the fleeting confusion in her eyes and smiled, resting her chin lightly on her hand.

She hadn’t thought she would ever again sit like this—chatting over tea in the garden with her most beloved little sister. It felt like... returning to a distant past.

“Hm?” Deep in thought, Teresa felt a hand toying with her hair. She looked over, only to meet Bilodis’ gentle gaze—like a still emerald lake.

“Sis—... Miss Bilodis, are you some kind of hair-fetishist? Why do you always have to play with my hair?” Teresa cut herself off mid-sentence, raising her chin slightly with a teasing tone.

Ugh. Just this morning, over that damn rune stone, this busty devil had forced her to call her “sister.” She may have even said it last night, which made it roll off her tongue too easily now.

“Mhm~ That’s right. Is it strange to love hair? Little Sha’s hair is so soft, who could not love it?” Bilodis’ lips curled up ever so slightly, clearly catching on to Teresa’s slip.

“Then why not play with your own hair?” Teresa rolled her eyes from her own locks to Bilodis’. They were nearly the same anyway.

“Not the same at all. I only came to love hair because of you, little Sha. In other words, the prerequisite for my hair obsession is you. If it's you, I could be obsessed with anything~” Bilodis batted her lashes seductively.

Tch. What a gross old woman. How could someone her age still act all cutesy?

“My my, Miss Bilodis. Are you sure that’s an appropriate thing to say to your little sister?” With a night of proper sleep and her meridians flowing freely, Teresa had regained some of her spirit. She smirked faintly, mocking Bilodis. “Calling you a sadistic sister wasn’t wrong at all.”

“I see.” The next second, a floral fragrance swept over her. Before she knew it, that fantasy-like, fairy-tale beauty was only inches away.

Teresa wasn’t sure if the scent was Bilodis’ perfume or her hair, but it was like a sea of lavender had burst around her, petals swirling in her vision, intoxicating.

Her body leaned closer, and the soft twin peaks swayed faintly in the breeze, their honey-sweet scent wafting over—maybe from nearby shrubs, maybe not.

Before she could react, slender fingers lifted her chin gently, locking her gaze straight into those verdant eyes.

“So, is little Sha implying that she wants me to be that kind of sadistic sister?” Bilodis smiled enchantingly, a touch of pink gracing her cheeks. To see such a sultry smile on the pure and holy Elf Empress was unimaginable—yet that stark contrast created a kind of irresistible allure.

“If little Sha is willing, big sister is ready anytime. In fact, I’d be delighted~”

“Wait, you—” Teresa was caught completely off guard. She’d just wanted to tease and regain some ground—not provoke a full-on assault. But Bilodis had flipped the script and charged in headfirst.

She’d started it. She couldn’t back down now, could she?

“So does that mean I can ‘eat you up’ right now, little Sha~?”

“Miss Bilodis, please act normal.”

“I am normal. Very clear headed. And isn’t this what little Sha wants?”

Teresa realized the situation was spiraling out of control. Wasn’t Bilodis supposed to banter back? Why was she advancing??

“Well then, I won’t be polite~”

“What are you not being polite about?!” Teresa tried to shake her hand free, but her strength was pitiful in comparison.

This was the Golden Sacred Tree, Bilodis’ turf. She had no power here.

She hadn’t expected things to turn out like this—but come to think of it, there really wasn’t anything she could do to stop Bilodis right now.

Not only could she not resist, she might even have to pretend to enjoy it.

“I didn’t agree to this. Let go,” Teresa muttered hastily. Bilodis finally released her hand.

As Bilodis returned to her seat and sipped tea with a calm smile, Teresa felt like she’d just been completely outmaneuvered.

This woman had known from the start she’d chicken out, hadn’t she?

Tch…

Teresa was furious but couldn’t show it. All she could do was glare at Bilodis over her teacup, brimming with silent complaint.

“What’s wrong, little Sha? Is your tea finished? Would you like some more?” Bilodis tilted her head innocently.

“If you get more, you have to drink it all, you know.”

“No thanks.” Teresa shook her head.

“Oh.”

Moments passed. Teresa kept her eyes fixed on Bilodis with faint resentment, while Bilodis calmly drank her tea, seemingly oblivious.

“Little Sha, wait here a moment.” With that, Bilodis rose. Her open-toe heels tapped gracefully on the stone floor as she walked away with her usual poise.

Teresa watched her leave, then looked down at her reflection in the tea. She murmured, “What a villain…”

“She even messed up my hair.” Muttering, she began fixing her hair. She hated when people touched it. No real reason—she just hated it.

This woman had played with her hair at least five times in less than three days. Totally unacceptable.

She took a sip. The bitter mix of spring water and tea leaves made her wrinkle her nose.

Forget food—even leisure tea breaks here were full of bitter herbal junk. How was this living?

Still, she couldn’t go full immortal. She needed at least something in her stomach to feel human.

Cradling her cup miserably, her eyes wandered to Bilodis’ untouched tea on the vinewood table.

She looked around. No one.

Where’d that busty she-devil go? Why was she taking so long?

Bathroom break?

So even celestial beings had to pee.

Her fingers tapped the table absently, eyes drifting back to Bilodis’ cup. A wicked idea took shape in her mind.

No, no. That was petty. She wasn’t the type to play dirty tricks.

She looked away, tapping growing erratic.

Yes, it was petty. But…

She was so annoyed.

Poking at her cup, she puffed up her cheeks in frustration—just like a sulky child throwing a tantrum.

Since yesterday, this malicious cow had toyed with her constantly—knew all her weak spots, even what she was thinking. This smiling tiger had her completely figured out.

Teresa hated this.

She’d always been the one doing the teasing, always left unscathed. When had she ever been on the losing end?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. And somewhere inside, her own inner demon stirred.

Yes. It wasn’t wrong.

You couldn’t beat a devil with virtue. If you wanted to beat a demon—you had to become one.

No morals. No rules. She had to outwit, outmaneuver. Be even more devious.

Just imagine: this elegant, ethereal queen, face twisted in fury, dignity shattered—

The image made Teresa so excited she nearly cracked the edge of her vine chair.

Scanning the area once more to confirm Bilodis hadn’t returned, Teresa pulled out a potion from her chest.

“Oh no, oh dear~ My hand slipped. Whoops.” Smiling sweetly, she opened the bottle and propped up her chin with her elbow, looking like a proper lady—while pouring every drop into Bilodis’ cup.

“Oops.” She even gave the bottle a good shake to get every last drop out.

“All done. Oh well, nothing I can do now~” She beamed as she stashed the bottle away.

It wasn’t anything terrible—just a common anti-fatigue potion. But due to species differences, it had certain side effects on elves, which was why Teresa had never used it.

The main ingredient was a herb called Lorine grass, which stimulated metabolism. For elves, that meant one thing:

Diuretic.

Teresa wore a refined smile identical to Bilodis’, looking every bit the noble lady—while plotting pure evil inside.

She was already planning how to humiliate her.

She’d teach her a lesson: what goes around, comes around. Even dragons had to coil, even tigers had to crouch.

“I’m back, little Sha~”

“Mhm~” Teresa nodded sweetly, even taking another sip of her tea.

“Huh?” Bilodis looked surprised. Her sister usually greeted her with a scowl. “Why the sudden good mood~? Don’t tell me little Sha did something naughty behind my back?”

“Of course not. What, do you think I’m you?” Teresa feigned annoyance, giving her a glare as she lowered her head to drink.

“Is that so? Good, then.”

Teresa kept glancing at her, waiting. And finally—Bilodis raised her cup, her delicate lips brushing the rim.

Yes! Drink it! Drink it!

It’s full of my love for you~

Teresa bowed her head, hiding the smug smile spreading across her face.

Hehehe…

She took another sip. Like any nervous person, she was unknowingly draining her own cup rapidly.

Now, Bilodis’ lips had touched the cup. Teresa could barely wait to see her lose her composure.

She’d even prepared the audio rune stone.

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