If there was one aspect of fighting demons that made them a particular pain, even more so than most other enemies, it was the fact that they often simply refused to give up. Scarlett had been prepared to fight through hordes of demons while navigating Anguish’s citadel, yes, but did they really have to be so tenacious?

Maybe it was because they knew that their demise merely meant a return trip to the hellish Blaze they hailed from. That, and having a master likely conjuring unspeakable forms of torture for those who failed, probably served as a decent motivator.

All Scarlett knew for sure was that each and every demon that had obstructed her path until now refused to yield. As long as a single mobile appendage remained on their fiendish frames, they fought on, even if all they had left was a freaking femur.

She had known demons could be resilient, but there had to be limits. She had witnessed a demon resembling a cross between a troll and a wretched, disease-ridden dog drag itself across the floor, desperately—or perhaps maniacally—trying to strike Fynn with the remains of its charred leg. And yet, even such a pathetic attempt posed a threat if ignored, as a demon’s touch could carry a corrosive element.

Scarlett had already lost count of the number of demons she’d had to reduce to literal ashes to finally silence them. Her sense of smell had already succumbed to the acrid fumes left behind by all their bodies, and that was even without counting the effect of the suffocating miasma that hung in the air in some of the citadel’s chambers. Without Fynn’s wind magic to blow away the worst of it, she could scarcely imagine how she would have managed.

These were the realities of combat that never came across when you ran a dungeon while only looking at your characters through a computer screen in the game.

Needless to say, she was not enjoying their journey through Anguish’s citadel. Most of the demons they encountered were manageable in terms of individual strength, and even when they appeared in swarms of dozens, Scarlett’s party of eleven proved a very efficient counter to most threats thrown against them. However, it did drain their resources more than she had anticipated.

Allyssa’s stock of potions and alchemical mixtures was rapidly dwindling, as the Shielder was making good use of her various concoctions to keep the demons in check where possible. Meanwhile, Scarlett, Raimond, and Fynn had been the main damage dealers, finding themselves expending mana in high quantities to sustain their spells and magic. Scarlett’s hope of conserving her supply had been quashed early on.

She had to admit that having Raimond and the knights by her side made things considerably easier. That said, she still believed she could have managed on her own if necessary, both because she could have made use of [Ittar’s Genesis] and could have bypassed more encounters with smaller numbers. The demons, while numerous, were mostly at a level where her pyrokinesis could effectively neutralize them.

Nevertheless, she appreciated the assistance that she was given under these circumstances. If she could ensure that neither Raimond nor the knights got in her way later, this might even be the ideal approach. Although this was assuming Raimond wasn’t plotting something with his presence here, and that the Dawnbringers or some other Followers of Ittar faction weren’t waiting to rush in to make a mess of things.

After nearly two hours of exploring the citadel, Scarlett and her party reached a wide, seemingly empty chamber. They had just emerged from a corridor that could best be described as a twisted fusion of Doom and Castlevania, filled with enough demons to make most holy men shake.

Taking this opportunity to take a brief rest, the group gathered at the center of the chamber as Scarlett considered the paths open to them from here.

As with any dungeon that was larger in this world than in the game, navigating Anguish’s citadel with her foreknowledge proved a bit of a challenge. She knew some general guidelines that appeared to stay true. Up was good, while down was bad. Narrow passages and hidden staircases, often disguised or hidden behind grotesque imitations of paintings, offered alternatives to the main, demon-infested routes.

Still, the citadel was an architectural mess, devoid of any real rhyme or reason in its construction. It seemed content to mimic the general form of human structures, but didn’t care much beyond that.

Nevertheless, Scarlett knew of ways to expedite their progress even further, and she had been on the lookout for them all this time. And it appeared she had finally found a promising opportunity.

Her gaze focused on an opening at the far end of the chamber, shrouded in inky darkness similar to the citadel’s main gate. The opening was encircled by more of those eerie human wall sculptures that dotted the citadel’s inside. Other, less foreboding paths were next to it, marked by simple—if large—doors. In comparison, this one practically screamed ‘trap’.

Which was exactly what Scarlett was looking for. Anguish was a Vile, after all. While the demon took a perverse delight in tormenting just about anyone, the arrogance that came with being such a powerful existence also meant that Anguish occasionally played ‘fair’, offering rewards of a sort to those who took risks and lived to tell the tale.

At least that was how it worked in the game, and Scarlett suspected the same held true here.

After having rested for a few minutes, Scarlett gathered the others and approached the shadow-veiled opening. The knights regarded it with caution, while Scarlett’s party members looked at her with expectation.

She met their gazes. “For now, all of you will remain in this chamber while I venture through this veil.”

Surprise appeared on all their faces, and a couple of the knights stared at her as though she had lost her mind.

“Is that wise?” Shin asked, studying her closely. He was familiar enough with her to know she had a reason for giving that order and was probably asking what that reason might be.

“It is a safer alternative than all of us entering together,” Scarlett replied.

“From your words, one could be led to believe you know precisely what lies beyond that veil,” Raimond observed, a strange glint in his eyes.

“I have some notion of it, yes.” Scarlett nodded. “I will not go into details now, however. Simply know that none of you should cross through until I return. Understood?”

The man placed a hand on his chin, carrying a thoughtful expression. “Clear as the waters of Rellaria.”

“Yeah, but…” Allyssa seemed uncomfortable with the prospect, but that was expected. Fynn and Shin remained silent, and though the knights appeared the most apprehensive, none of them had challenged Scarlett’s commands since they entered this place.

“Good,” Scarlett said with confidence. “Then we will reunite soon.”

With that, she stepped through the dark veil. The sensation was a bit like walking into a physical shadow, though how that felt she couldn’t really say. A moment later, she found herself in a narrow corridor.

Compared to the other spaces in the citadel, this place was almost tame in its decor. The left wall and the ceiling seemed crafted from literal obsidian, illuminated by crimson lights hanging from sconces. As for the right wall, it was just a single polished silver surface, functioning as a mirror reflecting the corridor with a ghostly, otherworldly glow.

It was precisely the place Scarlett had been looking for.

She paused to examine her own reflection in the mirror. Her long, dark-red hair was slightly disheveled, she realized. And her expedition attire, while practical, didn’t exactly fit the air of a noblewoman. If it weren’t for the steely, imperious gaze present on the reflection’s face, she might have actually mistaken herself for an adventurer or a Shielder.

Reaching into her [Pouch of Holding], she retrieved a comb and began tidying up her hair as she moved deeper into the corridor. There was another opening on the other end, concealed by yet another veil of darkness.

Suddenly, a noise from behind her made her stop and spin on the spot. There, at the mouth of the corridor, she found Raimond stepping through the veil she’d come from. The blond priest adjusted his white robes with both hands as he looked around, surveying his surroundings and examining the mirror to his right.

“I distinctly recall instructing you to remain behind,” Scarlett said.

“Ahem.” Raimond cleared his throat and shifted his attention to her, offering a somewhat wry smile. “Yes, and I happen to recall responding to that instruction in the rather positive affirmative. I had no intention of ignoring your request in that regard, had it not been for that dreadful scream we heard immediately after you disappeared.” He gestured at her with one hand. “Fortunately, it seems we were mistaken about its source.”

Scarlett arched a brow. “So you followed me out of concern for my safety?” This was just what she had come to expect from Anguish. The Vile liked to play her tricks. “And what of the others?”

Raimond extended his arms in an almost apologetic gesture. “I could hardly restrain them after that blood-curdling scream. You have some devoted retainers in your employ, Baroness.” The man’s brows furrowed slightly. “Of course, it would appear that despite my swift entrance after Fynn and Allyssa, I am still the sole person to have joined you on this side. This does raise the questions about the others’ whereabouts.”

Scarlett’s gaze lingered on the priest for a moment before she turned around and resumed her course down the corridor. “They are indeed loyal, yes. There is no need to fret about their safety. I have faith that they trust in my judgement.”

She could hear Raimond’s footsteps behind her as he began catching up.

“Well, I may not fully understand the basis for your confidence,” Raimond began, “but who am I to doubt your word? For now, however, it appears as if we must navigate this situation on our own. Although it might seem slightly inappropriate given the circumstances, I must admit to feeling some satisfaction about that. There is a certain matter that I have been eager to discuss with you.”

“Of course there is,” Scarlett said, stealing a quick glance at their reflections in the mirrored wall to her right. Raimond’s robes flowed gracefully around his feet as he walked in an exaggerated gait that was far from suitable for their hostile environment.

“I imagine you might already have an idea of the topic I want to address.” The priest’s voice held a hint of amusement.

“I do.” Scarlett nodded, reaching out with one hand towards the [Pouch of Holding] at her waist.

Raimond’s reflection in the mirror seemed to appreciate his own image for a moment, waving cheerfully. That was definitely inappropriate given where they were, but Scarlett supposed that was something Raimond could have done.

“Then, let me begin by saying—”

With a mental command, Scarlett activated the ability of her [Garments of Form]. A mist formed around her and teleported her behind Raimond. Unlike what the man’s reflection had shown, Raimond himself held a long blade in his hand and was in the middle of thrusting it at the spot where Scarlett’s neck had been. She recognized the brief moment of surprise in his movements at her disappearance.

Feeling the warmth of [Ittar’s Genesis] as she held it in her left hand, Scarlett channeled its power, conjuring an array of Aqua Mines around Raimond. They exploded in a burst of steam, knocking the priest to the ground.

But she wasn’t finished.

Unrelenting, she drew upon the mana stored inside [Ittar’s Genesis] and summoned a blazing bonfire that consumed Raimond entirely. The flames burned with the ferocity of a live forge as Scarlett watched, her expression void of emotion while the man’s features transformed within the inferno. They turned sharper, more jagged, as his true form was revealed.

The demon howled and tried to stand in order to lunge at her, even while enduring her fiery onslaught, but Scarlett conjured more Aqua Mines, detonating them to keep the demon at bay.

A short while later, the demon’s physical form was reduced to a crisp, and its essence was banished to the infernal realm it called home.

Had that been the real Raimond, Scarlett suspected he would have lasted a lot longer.

She allowed her flames to dissipate as the scent of burnt flesh filled the air, a dark silence settling around her. She turned her attention back to the mirror, which still showed Raimond’s uninjured and innocent appearance, standing beside Scarlett’s own reflection as it gazed back at her.

It was smiling.

Meeting its eyes, Scarlett raised her hand once more, pulling even more mana from the artifact she was carrying. A swarm of Aqua Mines appeared all across the corridor, aimed at the silver mirror. As they detonated, hundreds of cracks formed in the metal, warping it. Then the mirror shattered, disappearing into countless glimmering fragments that faded into nothingness.

Where the mirror stood now was an identical copy of the corridor Scarlett currently occupied. Her reflection remained, now alone, its smile having grown even wider.

“You certainly are a tricky one to catch off guard,” her replica spoke, mimicking Scarlett’s voice and mannerisms with uncanny precision, though the unsettling smile didn’t quite match. “What if he had been the real one? Poor priest, he would have been slain in cold blood by the ally he thought he could trust, without any inkling as to why.”

“Did you truly believe that would be enough to fool me, Anguish?” Scarlett asked, her voice glacial.

Anguish, wearing Scarlett’s appearance, shrugged, smile fading and replaced with the same unemotional expression Scarlett often wore. “I thought it convincing enough, yes.”

“As I have already explained, my people are loyal, and they know when to trust my judgement. Even had they heard my scream, they would not have come.”

Fynn, in particular, would probably have stopped anyone who tried.

Anguish clicked her tongue in a manner that felt all too familiar to Scarlett. “I suppose that is something I should have considered. I’ve always been diligent in keeping my pets on a tight leash, and from what I have seen, you are much my kindred spirit in that. One does not have to look any further than Rosa for an example.”

“Miss Hale is not a ‘pet’.”

“Oh, but she very much is. Do you not have her at your beck and call, believing everything you tell her and ready to carry out your every command? You have trained her well. Even better than I managed, despite all the years I spent with the girl.”

“I suggest you consider your next words carefully.”

“And why is that?” Anguish asked, giving her a knowing look. “That is how you secretly regard her, isn’t it? A convenient tool, obediently carrying out your bidding while serving as a decent replacement for lugging around too many healing potions. I can tell as much.”

A frown found its way onto Scarlett’s face. “Your attempts at provoking me are serving to do nothing but strengthen my resolve to ensure your end is as pathetic as it can be.”

At that, Anguish burst into a sudden, echoing laughter that felt utterly incongruous with Scarlett’s appearance. Then the demon’s expression changed, taking on an alluring yet dangerous air. “I’m merely calling it as I see it, dear,” she said, her tone markedly different. “I have been watching you and darling Rosalina since you first met, witnessing every exchange, every stolen glance, and all those intriguing little interactions of yours. I understand the nature of your relationship better than Rosa herself. While it may outwardly appear as a relationship of mutual respect between an aloof noble and her whimsical bard, we both know that’s far from the truth. Oh, sweet Rosa may think she knows you, but the poor girl is blissfully unaware of how much she’s being led by the nose by you, isn’t she?”

Scarlett’s brow furrowed deeper with her frown. “That is enough of that.”

Anguish stared at her for a moment, seemingly surprised. Then she let out another warped laugh. “Could it be? Are you genuinely ignorant of what I’m talking about, or are you continuing the charade even in front of me? Considering you are the one who orchestrated this entire situation without telling Rosalina even the teensiest bit, it would be truly rich if it were the former.”

“There was little choice in the matter,” Scarlett said. “Arranging Miss Hale’s meeting with Malachi would not have been possible had I made her aware of the circumstances. Have you perhaps already forgotten the pact between us? You seemed to care little for it when you sent your toy count to pester me in Windgrove, so it would not surprise me if your memory is failing you after all this time. Unfortunate for you, I would say. I have heard rumors circulating of investigations surrounding his involvement with certain groups in Ambercrest. It would seem you are at risk of losing another pawn.”

A few days ago, Scarlett had received an update from Beldon, informing her that his men had found suspicious activity related to Count Soames in the city. They had also long since begun planting suggestions in the right ears to deal with what the man was up to.

“‘Miss Hale’, you say, even after all this time.” Anguish remarked, showing no concern about Scarlett’s words regarding the count. “So formal. I feel sorry for our dear Rosa. But I digress. You should know that what I am referring to isn’t just how you manipulated her like your puppet here in Bridgespell. From the moment you met her, you’ve subtly ‘guided’ her, influencing her with vague words and unspoken promises of a help you knew Rosalina dearest wouldn’t even dare hope for, exploiting the vulnerabilities left in her broken, pitiable heart. Even I had to marvel at the precision with which you molded her to suit your purposes. It was truly something to behold, and yet another reminder why humans should never be underestimated when it comes to their capability for exploiting one another.”

Scarlett fell silent, absorbing Anguish’s words as she gazed upon the demon who wore her face.

It was…disconcerting that she couldn’t entirely dismiss the Vile’s statement. In many ways, she had manipulated Rosa based on her knowledge of the woman from the game. While she didn’t personally think she had done a particularly good job most of the time, from an outsider’s perspective, it might be a different story.

What gave her pause was contemplating whether she should feel remorse for her actions or not. She might not have acted ethically, but she had a justifiable enough reason, didn’t she? If anything, she had done the only thing she could. The alternative would have been to leave Rosa to her fate, potentially damning the woman and unleashing a Vile into the world without resistance.

Still… She should feel at least a twinge of guilt, shouldn’t she?

The question was, did she?

It was genuinely hard to tell, as with most relationships she’d formed as Scarlett in this world. The line between where she cared for something and where she was merely protective because it was useful to her felt blurry. Rosa should be in the former category, but why were things still complicated?

“You know,” Anguish continued. “When I originally agreed to that awfully cute pact of non-interference of yours, I thought you were just a mildly interesting mortal who might amuse me for a while. Watching you through Rosalina’s eyes, though, I have grown impressed by your depth of knowledge and your ruthlessness. I’ll even admit to some disappointment that I couldn’t see things through your eyes so that I could witness everything you’ve done, even the sinister little secrets you hide away from Rosa.” A dark, menacing smirk crept across her face. “But perhaps what intrigued me the most was the source of all your knowledge.”

“Having you stuck in my head does not sound like an appealing prospect, so I am glad that was not the case,” Scarlett said, raising her hand. “Not that it matters any longer. I tire of this conversation. I had intended to ask about the Blazes’ current happenings, but I believe I will save that for later, after I have reached the top and you are at my full mercy.”

Just as she was about to conjure forth her fire to deal with the copy standing before her, Anguish uttered a single sentence.

“You are an Anomalous One, aren’t you?”

Scarlett stopped, fixing her gaze on the demon. “…What do you mean by that?”

Anguish’s smirk grew. “Oh, you’re asking me? But you’re the omniscient one, aren’t you? Always traipsing around, flaunting your superiority over other mortals. It is only a matter of course that you should know what I mean.”

Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “You are testing my patience.”

“I do so try.” The Vile chuckled. A few seconds of silence passed as Anguish regarded Scarlett. “…It is impressive, truly, how subtle it is. Even I, after months of observation, have only begun to discern hints of the Fate that swirls around you, rewriting itself according to your whims. It’s as if the very laws of reality have chosen to work differently for you. Only once before have I witnessed an example of the same that has been so profound, and even then it was quite different.”

“You are referring to the fate-defiance of the Hallowed Cabal,” Scarlett said.

“No, I am speaking of something beyond what mere mortals like them could achieve. I am speaking about that which the Cabal’s devouts cling to in their desperate dream of ‘a perfect world’.” Anguish seemed to find what she said amusing. “That entity is an entirely different breed, and like you, it adheres to rules distinct from the rest of us. An anomaly that even those high-handed gods had to fear. In comparison, its followers are insignificant ants, and their attempts to imitate its abilities are laughable at best. That is why it makes one wonder how you are accomplishing a similar feat.” Her gaze bore into Scarlett. “Perhaps I was wrong in my assessment. Perhaps you’re not just a mere mortal.”

Those words felt more like a threat than anything else the Vile had said during this conversation. Scarlett almost instinctively prepared for a confrontation even though Anguish was in no condition to attack her.

“It makes me even more eager to make you serve me,” the demon continued, her features twisting as her smile grew. It was unsettling to see the face that Scarlett had become accustomed to as her own in this world looking back at her in such a way.

“Your threats hold little weight coming from one currently trapped within a ‘mere mortal’,” she said.

“Oh, we’ll see for how long I remain trapped. I’m certainly not lacking for entertainment while I am, though. My precious Rosalina and I are finally enjoying this opportunity to chat. We’re having a splendid time, I assure you. I’ll be sure to convey your greetings~”

With that, the skin of the clone before Scarlett began to melt away, and Anguish’s cursed laughter resounded through the space.

“I trust that we’ll meet again soon,” were the Vile’s parting words, and Scarlett clenched her teeth, fighting to contain the anger that had built up inside her.

Her gaze shifted to the far end of the replica corridor, where a single spiral staircase beckoned — a shortcut leading upward.

She was so going to give that demon hell.