“Master! The Master has been killed! Who? Who did this?!”
When the henchman woke up in a daze, he saw only the merchant Julian lying on the ground with his heart pierced.
By the balcony, where a storm raged through the open doors, a dark figure stood.
He couldn’t make out her features clearly, only those pink, charming eyes flashing with murderous intent.
They stared at him coldly, causing his legs to buckle as he collapsed to the floor.
‘That… that is definitely the color that brings calamity,’ he thought, trembling.
Looking at the dark traces left on the ground where Julian had been stabbed, it was clear.
This was the legendary Witch! A Demon!
“You… you Witch… just who are you?!”
Idrilla cast a cold glance at the henchman, who looked as if he had lost his soul to terror, before leaping over the balcony railing and vanishing into the night.
She left behind nothing but dead silence and dread.
‘Now, the fear of the Witch should be engraved even deeper into their hearts… Next, I’ll just go back quietly. I hope Hailey doesn’t find out…’
Jumping down from Julian’s mansion, she heard his men quickly reacting.
The guards of the Wealthy District were immediately alerted and began following Idrilla’s trail.
However, before a guard could even catch a corner of her black dress, a shroud of darkness instantly veiled them all.
By the time the black mist dissipated, she was long gone.
Somewhere on a street corner, a group of thugs who were drinking strong liquor to vent their frustrations suddenly dropped dead at their tables.
Dark traces of Mana stained the area around them.
In a hidden corner near the Residential District, a young girl took off her night-cloaking cape.
Gasping for breath, she propped herself against a wall and walked slowly.
“Whew… My remaining Mana is dwindling. Fortunately, I’m almost there. I just don’t know when a certain someone will notice I’m not in my room…”
‘Will Hailey cry in a corner because I’m gone? Though, if I just died like this, maybe she could successfully replace me.’
‘Or maybe I should just stay here and slowly die. Hailey might still remember me…’
Suddenly, she seemed to hear Hailey calling her name.
“Idrilla Senele! Get over here—”
‘Am I seeing things? Is Hailey walking toward me looking furious? Is it a hallucination? I really am at my limit; I have no strength left.’
‘As expected, I’m hearing things again. That was the first time I heard Hailey get angry at me. My eyes have no Mana supply left either… It’s so dark and lonely…’
The next second, Idrilla tumbled into a warm embrace.
Hailey, looking like she was at her wit’s end, pinched Idrilla’s soft cheek aggressively.
This girl… Not only did she run off and leave Hailey alone, nearly scaring her to death, but now she was lying in this corner with a peaceful, ready-to-die expression.
If you’re going to die, do it properly in my arms… No, die at my hands!
“You’re already a sickly thing, yet you get so cocky just because you absorbed a little Mana? If you’re so brave, why don’t you drain me dry in one night? You were so wild that night…”
Hailey grumbled as she picked up Idrilla.
Without Mana to support her, Idrilla had finally become frail and weak, leaning into Hailey like a small bird.
Hailey’s tone remained harsh, but she went quiet for a moment when a pale little hand gently took hold of her right hand.
“Hailey, is that you? I think I can’t see again…”
Without the nourishment provided by the Eye Patch, Idrilla felt a slight ache even with her eyes closed.
This was a side effect of her body.
Even under the faint, silver-speckled moonlight, the beautiful lunar glow brought a dull, burning sensation to her eyes, causing her immense discomfort.
Left with no choice, Hailey carefully placed her hand over Idrilla’s eyes.
Feeling the warmth on her eyelids, Idrilla’s expression softened significantly.
‘Hailey’s hand is much warmer and more delicate than those strange people’s hands. And it’s so gentle…’
“Is that better? Don’t move around. I’m taking you back.”
‘I should have brought the Eye Patch. But looking at her now, her eyelashes really are long…’
Idrilla was cradled in Hailey’s arms, but if Hailey had been paying close attention, she would have noticed her Mana being drawn away in very small fluctuations.
‘Hailey is always so easy to fool, yet only Hailey is willing to let me fool her. As expected, Hailey is only good to me…’
Hiding in Hailey’s embrace, Idrilla’s actions became bolder, perhaps because Hailey was spoiling her or perhaps because of her injuries.
“Hey, what are you doing… Are you a Vampire? Why bite so hard?”
*Hiss*—that was a big bite.
There would definitely be a tooth mark left when they got back.
Had this girl really become this arrogant?
“Wait, where are you biting?!”
By the time Hailey carried her back to the residence, Idrilla, who had been secretly absorbing Mana, was already clinging to Hailey’s arm, affectionately rubbing against her neck.
“Hailey, I think I’m feeling a little better… So, can you… give me a little more…”
Wait, something was wrong.
‘Why does my body feel heavier and heavier? Why do my eyelids feel so heavy? *Yawn*… I can’t… my head is so dizzy…’
As Hailey approached the sofa while carrying Idrilla, her eyelids grew heavy.
She suddenly collapsed onto the sofa with Idrilla in her arms, falling into a deep, lazy sleep.
Gently pushing Hailey’s arms aside, Idrilla, who had replenished her Mana, crouched by her side.
She playfully and tenderly poked Hailey’s cheek.
‘I’m sorry, my little Hailey. I made you worry so much today. Have a good dream. I won’t make a certain someone “count stars” tonight.’
Only Idrilla understood that tonight’s brief, indulgent spectacle had already made her body crave Hailey’s Mana uncontrollably.
Her instinctive actions just moments ago were proof of that.
Her desire wanted to consume Hailey entirely, though it also hid many of her own complex emotions.
Therefore, she couldn’t do that.
As Idrilla’s right hand gently brushed over Hailey’s body, a faint, pale-golden warm glow settled over the Doll girl.
It was holy and gentle.
Once the golden light fell, the dark Mana that had originally been clinging to Hailey retreated in defeat, turning into famished little black snakes.
These black snakes turned and flowed into Idrilla’s left hand, merging into her body as a dim, Mana-colored hue.
Idrilla doted on Hailey, stroking her messy, sleeping face.
‘Hailey is drooling even in her sleep, which means she definitely isn’t dreaming of me… That must be a beautiful dream.’
She gently picked up the sleeping Hailey and carried her back to the room as usual, leaving a mark on Hailey’s forehead with a soft kiss.
“My dearest Saintess, see you tomorrow.”