Peace Returns

Gasps erupted from the crowd as whispers spread like wildfire.

"White Jade Goblins?" someone muttered in disbelief.

"But that's just a myth!" another said, shaking their head.

Reiza shook her head firmly. "It's no myth. These goblins were said to have great strength, capable of rivaling even dragons and elves. But they vanished from the world centuries ago, It's said that only in the most extraordinary circumstances could a normal goblin evolve into one of them."

Scarlett's brow furrowed behind her blindfold. "Extraordinary circumstances…" she echoed.

Reiza nodded. "To revive the dead, you used the Fallen Soul, It seems the intense energy during the ritual triggered something dormant in their bloodline. They… they've evolved."

The crowd erupted in hushed murmurs again, and Scarlett raised her hand, signaling for silence.

Semiath looked at Scarlett, his new appearance making him look both imposing and regal. "Does this mean we're no longer hobgoblins?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with uncertainty.

Scarlett's lips curved into a faint smile. "It means you've been given a gift," she said. "A rare transformation that only proves how remarkable your spirits are. Embrace it."

Sierra hesitated for a moment, then clenched her fists. "A gift, huh?" She looked at her reflection again and smirked. "I guess I do look amazing."

Scarlett leaned close to Seirra, her lips just beside the goblin's pointed ear. Her voice was soft but playful as she whispered, "I touched your butt when you were dead."

At once, Seirra's entire face turned bright red, her eyes widening in shock and embarrassment. Her mouth opened to protest, but no words came out.

Scarlett, pleased with herself, chuckled softly and stepped back, leaving Seirra frozen in place.

Without waiting for a response, Scarlett turned and walked away, her movements confident and unbothered. The goblins behind her erupted into murmurs, some discussing plans to throw a celebration. After all, they had been through a lot and finally had something to be happy about. Scarlett didn't stop or turn back. She let them enjoy their moment.

As Scarlett moved away from the lively crowd, her mind began to wander. Her steps were calm at first, her hands tucked casually into her pockets. She had a destination in mind, but her thoughts were what truly occupied her.

"Huff… That whole torture thing was strange," she mused, her expression thoughtful. "I expected to feel disgusted or even guilty, but instead, I feel… happy? No, more than that—pleased. It's like I enjoyed it."

She paused mid-step, a small smirk forming on her face. "I always knew I had a complex personality. But now… it's like I've crossed into something darker. Am I a psychopath now? Or I was a psychopath from the start? " She tilted her head slightly as if pondering the question.

For a moment, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind, but it vanished as quickly as it came. Her smirk grew into a cheerful grin. "Not that it matters," she said aloud, her tone light and almost carefree. "As long as I can turn back into a man, these little things don't mean a thing!"

Her mood shifted, and with a sudden burst of energy, she began to skip down the path. Her steps became light and playful as she hummed a lively tune, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet corridor of the castle.

Scarlett's purple hair swayed with each jump, and the blindfold over her eyes didn't seem to hinder her movements at all.

----------------

In a quiet, dimly lit room, the only sound was the faint rustle of the breeze slipping through a small crack in the window. A teenage girl with long, silky black hair lay on the bed, her chest rising and falling steadily. Her serene face made it seem like she was lost in a deep slumber, completely oblivious to the world around her.

This girl was none other than Yumi Yamamoto.

Scarlett had intentionally put her to sleep using Lunatic, knowing Yumi would be a hindrance to the chaotic tasks she had undertaken. But now that the work was done—the kingdom of Gwarga defeated and the villagers brought back to life—it was finally time for Yumi to wake up.

Scarlett had planned to handle this herself, but when she arrived at the room, her sharp eyes immediately spotted Lunatic sitting on a chair in the corner, her legs crossed and an amused grin plastered across her face.

"How the hell did you know I was coming here?" Scarlett asked, her voice laced with annoyance as she folded her arms.

Lunatic giggled, her mismatched eyes sparkling mischievously. "Hehehe... just a lucky guess."

Scarlett's eyes narrowed. She wasn't buying that excuse, but she let it slide. She didn't knew the real reason. Lunatic had a heart pact bound to Scarlett, allowing her to instinctively sense Scarlett's decisions and preferences. Of course, she already knew Scarlett was on her way here.

Ignoring Lunatic's sly grin, Scarlett walked over to the bed. By now, Lunatic had already dispelled the spell she'd cast on Yumi. The girl's eyelids twitched slightly, her face scrunching as if resisting the urge to wake up.

Moments later, Yumi's eyes fluttered open. She blinked several times, adjusting to the light in the room. Her voice came out groggy and faint as she murmured, "Where am I?"

Scarlett leaned casually against the bedframe and greeted her with a simple, "Yo."

Yumi sat up slowly, holding her head as a wave of dizziness hit her. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she looked around the unfamiliar room. "What... what happened? Why does everything feel so strange?"

As she sat up, Scarlett began explaining everything that had transpired while she was asleep. She spoke of the events following Yumi's forced slumber, carefully omitting the darker details of her actions.

The explanation was far from the full truth. Scarlett skillfully wove a narrative that painted her as a savior, carefully avoiding mention of the torture she had inflicted on Lysander and his family or the morally ambiguous choices she had made. Instead, she framed herself as a decisive hero who had faced overwhelming odds for the sake of others.

Scarlett detailed how she had defeated the kingdom of Gwarga, claiming to have battled their entire army and used their collected souls to revive the villagers who had been lost.

Yumi, still groggy but trusting, accepted Scarlett's account without question. To her, Scarlett's actions seemed noble and selfless, cementing her admiration. As Scarlett concluded her explanation, Yumi felt a surge of gratitude.

--------------

It was a quiet night, and Scarlett found herself alone in the palace. The only other presence was the soldiers stationed outside, standing guard under the starlit sky. She relished the stillness, knowing it wouldn't last long. From tomorrow, the palace would be bustling with life as those she had selected—Xao, Li Feng, Reiza, Lunatic, Baron, and the Gorgon sisters, Euryale and Stheno—would all begin living there.

Sitting on the fences of balcony, Scarlett gazed out at the village below, which had grown into a thriving town. Once a primitive settlement where people didn't even know how to harness fire, it had transformed into a bustling town reminiscent of the 16th century. The people had learned to wield magic, craft weapons, and armor, and become self-reliant.

The town shimmered with soft, warm lights that illuminated the homes, streets, and districts. The view was enchanting, like watching a sea of fireflies spread across the land. Scarlett couldn't help but feel a rare sense of peace as she admired the fruits of her efforts.

Her moment of tranquility was abruptly interrupted when she felt hands grab her from behind, squeezing her chest. Startled, Scarlett's face flushed as she spun around, only to be met with Lunatic's mischievous smile.

"Enjoying the moment, huh? Let's make the night even better," Lunatic whispered in a playful, sultry tone.

Scarlett jumped back, freeing herself from Lunatic's grasp. She felt a mix of embarrassment and confusion. How had Lunatic managed to sneak up on her? Scarlett's instincts were usually razor-sharp, yet this time, she hadn't sensed anything.

She quickly realized the cause—her blindfold. The blindfold acted as a seal, suppressing much of her immense power, including her ability to perceive her surroundings clearly. While the blindfold kept others safe from her cursed eyes, it significantly dulled her senses, leaving her vulnerable.

In recent days, Scarlett had gained a unique skill called *Sixth Sense*, which allowed her to perceive her surroundings without relying on sight. It had been a lifesaver, enabling her to navigate and fight even with her eyes covered. However, she hadn't fully mastered the skill yet. That inexperience had exposed her to Lunatic's surprise.

Lunatic, now the succubus queen, had grown much stronger. She had hidden her presence so well that even Scarlett's heightened senses couldn't detect her approach. Scarlett clenched her fists, frustration flickering across her face.

"I need to perfect my control over this skill," Scarlett thought, her mind racing. "If I can't rely on my instincts fully, I'll be vulnerable. This can't happen in front of an enemy."

Lunatic, meanwhile, chuckled, clearly enjoying Scarlett's reaction. "You're so adorable when you're flustered," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.

"Could you stop doing this? I only ever hoped for one girlfriend, and somehow, I ended up with two wives. That's already more than enough for me!" she said, her tone laced with annoyance.

Lunatic tilted her head innocently, clearly not taking Scarlett's frustration seriously.

Despite her playful demeanor, Scarlett wasn't lying. She genuinely didn't want to expand her relationships further. Sure, she enjoyed teasing Yumi and Seirra now and then, but it was all in good fun—not because she wanted them in her life romantically.

In truth, Scarlett was satisfied with just Irish Heartfelia. But fate had other plans. Reiza had barged into her life, and thanks to Reiza's ancient traditions, Scarlett ended up marrying her too. It wasn't something Scarlett had sought out or wanted—it simply happened.

Scarlett thought back to her past decisions. "If I keep going around entertaining every girl that crosses my path, wouldn't that just make me exactly what I look like?" She winced. "A slut".

She groaned inwardly, recalling her reflection in the mirror countless times. "Why does my face have to look so slutty?" she often muttered to herself. It was why she tried to avoid these situations, why she pushed back against the idea of having multiple partners. But even her best efforts didn't seem to work.

Scarlett glanced at Lunatic, her thoughts wandering. "Her personality when we were fighting was so much better. What happened to her? It's like her whole personality rotated 180 degrees."

But Scarlett had no way of knowing the truth. Lunatic had fallen head over heels in love with Scarlett the moment she laid eyes on her.

Even when Scarlett had outright rejected her, Lunatic hadn't cared. It was as though the words hadn't even registered. She was completely blind in her love, her obsession overriding all logic.

Lunatic's lips curved into a seductive smile as she licked them slowly, her eyes glinting with desire. "Run as far as you want, Scarlett. But sooner or later, I'll catch you. And when I do…" Her voice lowered, thick with promise. "…I'll devour you whole."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Hmph. I'm leaving," she snapped, turning on her heel to walk away.

But Lunatic wasn't done. She stepped forward and called out, "Wait a minute! I didn't even tell you why I came here!"

Scarlett paused, reluctant but curious. "What is it?"

"The palace is nearly done," Lunatic said, her tone softening. "But the throne and crown are still missing. You said you'd help with some suggestions later."

Scarlett furrowed her brows, her annoyance momentarily replaced by thought. Then, as if struck by inspiration, her expression brightened. "Oh, of course, I have an idea!"