The first light of dawn filtered through the clouds, casting sunlight across the land, while the rustling of a gentle breeze through the leaves mingled with birdsong to awaken White Dove Woodland—and the monastery within it—to a crisp morning.
“Haah… another new day.”
Bilis, with her disciplined sleep schedule, woke from her dreams. She stretched lazily, drew back the curtains to let the sunlight flood the room, and took a deep, satisfying breath of the fresh air outside the window.
She thought back to how she’d once complained about the monastery’s remote location in the wilderness.
A pang of shame hit her for her childishness back then, and she silently praised the executor’s greatness in her heart.
Even the first leader, who decades ago had chosen White Dove Woodland as the monastery’s base and achieved so many great feats, probably never imagined she’d be celebrated for something like this.
But Bilis’s thinking was simple. Without the founder, there’d be no monastery. Without the monastery, there’d be no Claire taking her current position as leader. And without that, there’d be no Hidden Retreat Society.
Thinking of her bountiful gains from yesterday put Bilis, already in a good mood, into an even brighter one.
But that was secondary. The real reason her heart raced with excitement was that today, finally, it was her turn to wake Your Highness Sophirina.
She pictured pushing open the door to see Sophirina’s adorable sleeping face. Woken by her gentle voice, the little one would rub her sleepy, hazy eyes with her chubby hands while cutely mumbling in that milky voice, “Good morning, big sis.”
Blood rushed straight to Bilis’s head at the thought. She hurriedly covered her nose, silently reflecting on how her devotion to the holy light still fell short.
But put another way, this was a trial from the holy light itself.
She changed into her clothes and headed out. Walking down the corridor, Bilis recalled the captain’s instructions.
She straightened her outfit, rubbed her cheeks to soften the stiffness from her smile, then slowed her steps. She waited silently outside the attic until the monastery tower’s bell rang out. Only then did Bilis stand before Sophirina’s door.
But she hesitated over her greeting.
“Should it be ‘good morning,’ or ‘ohayo’? Or something more doting, like ‘Overslept again, Your Highness Sophirina?'” Bilis imagined herself saying it and quickly shook her head.
Just as she’d finally decided and raised her hand to knock, she heard odd noises from inside the room—faint sounds, too.
Bilis frowned and knocked on the door. “Your Highness, are you up? I hear something else inside.”
The sounds cut off right after her knock, as if they’d vanished. The door opened soon after.
But instead of the cute face she’d imagined, it was the nun who always stayed by Sophirina’s side who answered—the one called Hill.
“Please wait a moment, Miss Bilis. Her Highness is changing clothes.”
The silver-haired nun, already neatly dressed, spoke calmly and without arrogance.
She looked impeccable, but Bilis felt an inexplicable hostility—or jealousy.
How could someone who clearly didn’t grasp the true essence of the holy light stay by Sophirina’s side? What an incredible blessing.
Bilis pulled herself together and flashed a bright smile. “No problem. I can go in and tidy Her Highness’s bed first.”
Of course, tidying would involve some contact. She swore she’d feel that warmth bathed in holy light with her body, sense that wonderful aura with her heart. This wasn’t anything indecent—just a devout believer’s worship and pursuit of the holy light.
She’d already justified her “crime” in her mind when devastating news came from the other side.
“No need to trouble yourself, Miss Bilis. I’ve already taken care of it.”
Damn her…
Bilis gritted her teeth inwardly. But seeing the petite figure approaching from down the hall lifted her mood again.
Tidying the bed was nothing. According to the captain and the others, escorting Her Highness to the side hall for breakfast was another holy light blessing.
Sophirina always slept in, and when woken, she had that explosively cute, drowsy look. The one responsible had to hold her hand and guide her.
One time, she was so sleepy they even carried her the whole way.
When Kai described that soft touch and sweet scent, they all envied the captain’s luck.
Not everyone got that luck, though.
But Bilis never imagined hers would be this bad.
Watching the one walking beside Hill—alert, with no trace of sleepiness, no need for her to hold their hand—left Bilis with complicated feelings. She even sensed Sophirina was deliberately avoiding her.
Hesitant, Bilis spoke up to test it. “Um, Your Highness Sophirina.”
The little creature beside her tensed instantly and looked over. “Wh-what is it, Bilis… S-Sis…?”
Seeing her startled like that hurt Bilis even more. She murmured softly, “Nothing… just that it’s rare for Your Highness to be up so early.”
“I-It’s… not bad…”
I knew exactly what she was thinking. Before, I’d just wanted to lower everyone’s guard in the monastery. But after seeing their true faces, how could I do something as stupid as inviting wolves into the house?
Under Bilis’s lead—her young heart gravely wounded—we finally reached the side hall of the monastery’s main chapel.
Claire and the other higher-ups were already waiting. Only after I sat did Claire signal the steward behind her to start the meal.
If this were before, I might’ve wondered why Claire treated me so formally. Now that I knew the reason, every casual glance from those around me felt like pins and needles.
Just thinking that these were the ultimate loli obsessives from last night’s depraved gentlemanly gathering made sitting here feel like torture.
“Your Highness doesn’t look well. Is something wrong?”
Claire noticed my unease and gave me a questioning look.
“Th-that’s… because I didn’t sleep great last night…”
After witnessing yesterday’s earth-shattering gentleman’s assembly, how could I sleep well? I grumbled inwardly.
“Was it a nightmare?” Claire asked. Her hands paused with the silver utensils, her face deadly serious.
Facing questions from the biggest loli connoisseur, I braced myself and answered, hoping she’d pick up on my brush-off and just enjoy breakfast.
But she pressed on, clearly aiming to trigger some plot. “What kind of nightmare? I can have the clerics set up a soothing magic array in your room.”
I hadn’t anticipated this and was scrambling for an explanation when Hill’s flat voice cut in beside me.
“Her Highness dreamed the Demon King revived, leading armies to destroy the world.”
I jolted and shot Hill a look, but she gave me a reassuring glance.
Before I could figure out her angle, the monastery members—who’d been looking concerned—now wore righteous fury.
“Then we’ll send those demons back to their hellhole!”
“If that’s the case, I wanna make those ugly bastards taste the holy light.”
“World destruction? My weapon here’s got something to say about that.” Someone even pulled out an iron hammer from who-knows-where and set it beside them.
No one was more devout to the holy light than them. Many had ancestors who’d fought in the war over fifty years ago, carrying that pride. As the evil opposites, demons were naturally loathed.
Right, it’s not because a cute loli had a nightmare. It’s pure jealousy that it showed up in her dream at all (fog).
Claire raised a hand to quiet her fired-up subordinates. “Your Highness needn’t worry. The empires and church have grown mighty these past fifty years. Even if the nightmare comes true, Radiant Monastery will stake our lives to protect you, join other forces, and defeat the Demon King.”
“Yeah, with us here, not even the Demon King will touch a hair on your head.”
“Dare bully Your Highness? I’ll give ’em a lesson they’ll never forget.”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. We’ll keep you safe. Leave that foul Demon King to us.”
The others at the table chimed in.
Little did they know, the Demon King stirring their outrage sat right there, listening to them curse her out.
“Th-thank you, big brothers and sisters…”
My feelings were a mess. Cursed with no way to retort, and even having to thank them—what a powerless play. If I slipped up, it’d be all holy light face-riding bad ends.
And come to think of it, aren’t you lot part of the danger?
Just as I tried steering the topic to safer ground, Hill spoke again from behind me.
“What if the Demon King was a cute girl like Your Highness?”
Silence—
The hall, buzzing with Demon King repelling plans, went dead quiet. No one had imagined that twist.
But if it were true…
I wonder if the Demon King army’s still recruiting…
Everyone subconsciously thought it, torn between love for the holy light (lolis) and hatred for demons.
Even Claire wasn’t immune, showing rare conflict—until she remembered outsiders were present. She coughed, pulling thoughts back.
“The holy light… teaches us not to bully the weak. If the Demon King agrees to stop invading, we’ll go easy.”
Not bullying the weak… so the key’s ‘weak,’ huh?
As the clueless-about-her-own-strength one pondered that, Hill’s indifferent voice—masterfully swaying the room—rang out again.
“What if the Demon King fought Your Highness? Who’d you side with?”
Life’s full of wonders—at least to the monastery folk. While hesitating at one crossroads, a new conflict arises.
“This…”
Can’t choose at all.
Their inner turmoil showed on their faces.
For them, lolis were the holy light, were justice. Devout as they were, they couldn’t erase one justice for another.
“Hey, big brothers and sisters, why hesitate? The Demon King’s so strong—she must be here to help Sophirina, right?” I piped up, defending my own strength to rally their professionalism.
Hill added, “Her Highness is right. Beating the Demon King and seeing her hold back tears, all unresigned—that wouldn’t be thrilling?”
Who’d show that humiliated face, damn it!
But the hall gazed at her admiringly. Some even subtly thumbs-upped.
Worthy of being by Her Highness. Such profound grasp of the holy light.
Hill’s reminder sparked a frenzy of chatter—but now centered on how to “punish” the Demon King post-victory.
“If it were me, I’d snag her weapon. Watch her hop around, unable to get it back, on the verge of tears. Heh heh…”
What twisted tastes!
“Wanna pinch her cheeks, gently pat her head… feed her, pick her up high—as punishment for such a naughty invasion!”
Is this really punishment?!
“Wanna be trampled under the Demon King’s feet—best if bare soles right on the face. Make her really feel that humiliation.”
Roles reversed much?!
Less a Demon King trial, more exposing their fetishes entirely.
Even steady Claire joined in. “If true, I’d adopt her as a little sister. Demon personalities are shaped by the dark world. With care and pampering, I could raise her right.”
That’s even scarier—straight-up confinement and corruption!
Ignoring—or not needing to ignore—the combat gap with the Demon King, they all fantasized post-victory handling.
Then the certain Demon King, sensing something off amid the intensifying discussion, broke into cold sweats.
Before, she might’ve laughed it off. But after yesterday’s true faces? I was dead certain.
These loli cons would absolutely do it.