The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

So some things had to be said. Even in this way, even if she was seen as the villain... no, she was the villain to begin with.

"So, this whole thing was just a test I put on you to see if you truly love Maya, if you can truly accept her, and if you can be her only support. Because your love for Maya was so clearly shown to me, I tentatively accepted you, which is why I made an exception to save you and bandage you up... Don't misunderstand, girl. The person standing in front of you is just a big devil who staged this farce to torment you, to test whether you're worthy of Maya. What a pity, the true face of the angel of my dreams is a villain like me. Doesn't it feel like the sky is about to fall?"

The Demon King gently stepped aside from the speechless, stunned Malya, picked up the piece of iron that Malya had used to cut the flesh wall, which had resulted in her own hand being mangled beyond recognition, bent down to pick it up, and with a "whoosh," threw it toward the bottomless cliff.

"You were supposed to end up like this thing. But that girl Mayera is just too disobedient and has disappointed me too much. When Mayera wakes up, tell her that I have stripped her of her princess status and banished her from the Demon Kingdom forever... After that, let her go wherever she wants. I will pretend I never had a daughter like her..."

"So...so that's how it is!!!"

Just as Naka lowered her head and uttered words against her will, Malyajie seemed to have just come to her senses.

She understood. Even if she was naive, she wasn't foolish enough to ignore, avoid, or overinterpret facts told to her directly by the person involved. Naka was Mayera's mother, and also the Demon King. This fact had already been ingrained in Maya's mind.

However, none of that prevented Ma Yajie from expressing her true feelings.

"So, Miss Angel... is Xiao Ai's mother! No wonder you and your mother are such benefactors in my life... It turns out that the two people I value most are mother and daughter... That's wonderful!!"

More than that, "Naka ​​is the Demon King" was what Maya was focusing on. She ran back to Naka and grabbed Naka's hand again.

"Thank you so much for bringing such a wonderful girl like Xiao Ai into my life... You truly are an angel who brings me happiness!"

The Demon King's words not only failed to provoke hatred in the other woman, but actually made Malyajie even happier and more determined to call him an "angel." This reaction was truly unexpected for the Demon King. Naka couldn't hide her embarrassment, looking at the girl who insisted on her opinion despite knowing she was the Demon King, with an expression as if she had seen some rare and exotic creature.

"...Didn't you hear me? I said I'm the Demon King..."

"What you call me doesn't matter at all! You saved me and brought such a wonderful girl like Xiao Ai into this world... I will be eternally grateful for what you've done for me!"

"I... I told you, it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing..."

"That doesn't matter, facts are facts!"

"Ugh! That's enough!"

Talking wasn't going to change this stubborn girl's mind. Naka simply shoved Maya away. For some reason, Maya seemed incredibly strong at that moment; even the Demon King seemed a little out of breath trying to push her away.

"I'm the one who stole the past from the person you loved so deeply... the one who hurt Maya so deeply! How could someone like me... possibly be an angel!"

"...Please don't deny that I am your benefactor."

"what?"

"Even if you are your benefactor, I cannot simply listen to you deny yourself."

Malyajie calmly approached Naka again, taking her hand for the third time.

"Miss Angel, you said you took away Xiao Ai's past and hurt her...that is indeed your fault. But I'm happy because you know now."

"......I see?"

"Because while you were still alive, while Xiao Ai could still pursue happiness, you already knew that what you did was wrong, and you tried to make amends and atone for your sins. That's why you arranged this operation... isn't that right?"

"....."

"Unlike my father...did he realize the mistakes and sins he committed until the moment he died?...Even if he did, he was powerless to make amends...You recognized your mistakes and genuinely cared for Xiao Ai, testing whether I could bear Xiao Ai's life and future. Isn't this...one of the ways you deeply love Xiao Ai?"

As the innocent girl spoke, she took up her slightly trembling hands, which were adorned with a flower ring.

"For the sake of the one you love, you're even willing to play the villain... That's why I'm even more certain that you are indeed an angel!"

"Stop talking!!"

Those flowery words will only make the Demon King feel worse now. She didn't roughly shake off Malyajie. She just yelled.

"Actually... actually, the death of your father, Malthus... was also orchestrated by me!!"

"Huh?"

"Although it was Lux who did the dirty work... I was the one who helped her and gave her strength! Even if Lux hadn't killed him, I would have killed your father! I am also your father's killer! So don't call me an angel..."

"Swish"

The response to the demon king's voice, which was trembling uncontrollably, was the embrace of the weakest girl.

It would be impossible not to be surprised and shocked by what the Demon King had just said. However, the stubborn young lady still pulled the culprit who caused her father's death into her arms.

"...Because Dad did something wrong, right?"

"ah..."

"Because Dad kept repeating the same mistakes, he did wrong things to me, to Miss Lucy, to you, Miss Angel, and to so many other people, that's why you chose to kill Dad, right...? I know everything, Miss Lucy has already told me everything Dad did..."

Although she was heartbroken and in pain, Ma Yajie accepted the reality.

From the public's righteous indignation towards her father that day, and from the knowledge that Lucy had taught her, Marjane had already glimpsed a corner of the "sin" her father carried.

So it's not hard to imagine what will happen to him... even his children will suffer the same fate.

"...So, I won't hold a grudge against you, nor will I hold a grudge against Miss Lucy. On the contrary, if you two hadn't stopped Father, perhaps he would have made even more mistakes and hurt even more people..."

"..."

"Perhaps you've made many mistakes in the past, but since I've known you, you've always been doing good, always striving for the right thing, trying to help and save others... That's the angel I see! Since the past can't be changed, what could be a better outcome than this?"

"..."

"So, Miss Angel, you don't need to play the villain anymore... Maybe you were a villain before, but you definitely aren't now!"

"......Never mind...call me whatever you want..."

"That's more like it, Miss Angel~"

Finally, the Demon King was defeated once again by the girl's stubbornness.

If even bringing up the fact that you are the one who killed her father can't change the girl's mind, then you might as well not try to change her at all.

And what the girl said wasn't wrong; it's just that I've been running away...running away from a flawed past, running away from a flawed version of myself. That's why I've recently done so many things that the Demon King of the past would never have done...

Before facing the inevitable divine retribution, this is all I can do. With what little life I have left, I will create a happy and peaceful future for as many people as possible.

Once upon a time, the Demon King had abandoned his violent side and original intentions. He had honestly faced his true feelings at this moment.

"To do things that save others, to do things that bring happiness to others."

Hands that have taken innocent lives can also be used to save innocent lives.

It wasn't to gain someone's forgiveness, nor was it for any kind of "angel" title.

Just so that when I pass away, I can at least lessen the regrets in my heart. Just so that this world can be a better place after I'm gone...

"Xiaoya... could you step back a moment...?"

Thinking this, Naka spoke up.

"Um?"

Maya Jie tilted her head in confusion, but still obeyed Naka's instructions, releasing her while taking two steps back.

"snort!"

Just then, Naka raised her right arm. A stream of dark magic formed the shape of a blade.

"drink!"

Then he stabbed it down hard...

...

...and stabbed Naka in the abdomen.

"Gurgle... Ah, slave! Ha... Ha..."

When they pulled their hand out again, they saw that Naka's abdomen had no external injuries, but she was covered in sweat and panting heavily. She could barely stand.

"Miss Angel!? What...what are you doing!?"

Malya was also frightened by Naka's behavior and quickly helped Naka up when she almost fell.

"Mayera..."

"what?"

"I just severed the 'connection' between myself and Mayera..."

Naka looked at her daughter lying on the ground with reluctance and despair. But she still smiled peacefully.

"There's always been some kind of connection between Meira and me...like an invisible umbilical cord...that's why Meira is immortal...but conversely, if I die, Meira will die with me...that's unfair...Meira's life and death shouldn't be tied to mine anymore...so, I just severed that 'umbilical cord.' From now on, Meira is no longer immortal...and even if I die, she won't disappear with me..."

"Wh...what?"

"No matter what you say, Xiaoya, I am still a sinner. I have committed acts more despicable, filthy, and inhumane than your father, Malthus's, greatest misdeeds... Just as your father died, my retribution will fall upon me sooner or later... But that is not something Maya should bear... I cannot sacrifice the happiness between you and Maya because of me... So I sever it. From today onwards, Maya is just an ordinary person with a little magic... She is no longer the Demon King's daughter, nor is she a strange creature of research value... She is 'herself' again..."

At this point, Naka smiled with satisfaction again.

"...Perhaps in a sense, today is the day Mayella is truly born and truly becomes independent..."

"Oh my god, Miss Angel..."

"Okay, all done!"

Naka swayed as she forced herself to her feet and slowly walked towards the cliff.

"From this day forward, Maya will no longer be hunted by her mother, nor will she be captured and used as research material... She is no longer the princess of the Demon Kingdom, nor is she prey in the eyes of some crazed humans. Instead, she is you: Maya's lover... The two of you should go to a peaceful and tranquil place and slowly enjoy time that belongs only to the two of you... I wish you happiness, but don't tell Maya this, Maya. Let her hate me for the rest of her life..."

As she spoke, she reached the edge of the cliff where Malya had just fallen. She leaned her body towards it.

"Farewell, forever..."

Although she didn't intend to kill herself, she had said everything she needed to say, and it was time for her to leave the lives of Marjane and Mayera forever... This was also one of the final farewell rituals Naka had prepared for herself.

but...

"No...no!!"

But this carefully prepared exit was blocked by Ma Yajie.

She rushed over and grabbed Naka, pulling her back before she actually fell.

"Malya Jie...! You...!"

A stunned Naka was about to question them when she was met with a furious rebuke from Malyajie.

"Miss Angel, what were you trying to do?! Were you trying to commit suicide?!"

"I...I'm the Demon King, I won't fall to my death from this height..."

"So... what exactly were you trying to do just now?!"

"I just want to... disappear from your sight forever..."

"Disappeared before our eyes!? Why! Miss Angel was such a good person... why did she have to disappear from our sight!?"

"Don't you understand?! Mayra already knows what I look like... knows I'm her mother!! What right do I have, what face do I have to stay by your side?! How can I make her believe I no longer intend to take her away?! As long as I'm still by her side... Mayra can never be happy!!"

"That's not true at all!!"

Naka's answer was met with an even louder and more forceful response from Malyajie.

"Farewell to Xiao Ai forever...? Miss Angel... Xiao Ai has already lost thirteen years of happiness and motherly love because of you... Are you going to make Xiao Ai lose her mother again today?! I will never allow it!"

"What?"

"Miss Angel, if you truly know that what you did before was wrong, and if you really want to make it up to Xiao Ai, you shouldn't have done this... You should start today to repay Xiao Ai, little by little, with interest, all the maternal love you couldn't give her. That's the right thing to do!"

"There's no need for that anymore! In the rest of your and Maya's lives... there's no need for someone like me to get in the way! You should just enjoy your happiness with Maya..."

"It's not that kind of fake happiness!"

Malya grabbed Naka's shoulder, conveying her unwavering resolve through her eyes.

"I want Xiao Ai to be happy. But it's not just happiness between the two of us. It's everyone's happiness! I hope Xiao Ai is happy and joyful no matter who she's with! You are her mother... so you are also like my mother! I've read in books that the happiness that family members feel because of kinship is called the joy of family life... That's a happiness that I, who have been separated from my mother since childhood and have hardly ever seen my father, have never experienced! Miss Angel! This is a happiness that only you can give us!"

"...But what should I do?!"

If possible... who could bear the pain of being separated from their loved ones?

Even the Demon King was still happy for that one day of blissful time spent with her mother... If she could, she wouldn't want it to be just a fleeting dream...

"But I don't know... how to face Mayera again..."

At this point, the Demon King finally broke down.

The mask of feigned seriousness, earnestness, and coldness shattered completely, washed away without a trace by two streams of tears.

"...I can't get this child's forgiveness, Malyajie..."

"I will try my best!"

The answer to the bewildered and tormented demon king was Malya Jie's powerful response.