Catgirls And Dungeons

What the hell is going on

Why is everybody suddenly accusing me of turning into a demon when I’m clearly not?

Alter’s thoughts spiraled into panic and confusion. Her mind raced as countless possibilities flashed through her head, yet none of them made any sense. She was certain she was still in control of her own body, certain that the demonic curse had not taken effect.

Then...

Could it be that even she had been fooled?

That the demonic curse had actually activated without her knowing?

And just like that, doubt took root, leaving Alter unsure of what to do. The certainty she had clung to moments ago began to crumble beneath the weight of everyone’s accusations.

But before she even had time to examine herself, hundreds of people were already charging at her, swinging swords and spears while arrows rained toward her from every direction. Even the people who had followed her all this time—her most loyal generals, the soldiers who had once sworn their lives to her—now wanted to kill her.

CLANG!

BOOM!

CLANG!

The battlefield was filled with the deafening sounds of clashing steel and exploding spells. Dust and shattered stone filled the air, while flashes of magic lit the battlefield like bursts of lightning.

Alter moved swiftly, weaving through the rain of arrows while dodging every sword slash and spear thrust that came her way. Her feet barely touched the ground as she slipped between attacks with instinctive precision.

But of course, she remained purely on the defensive.

If she wanted to, even if the entire kingdom’s army came at her, she could kill half of them before escaping without a scratch.

But...

There was no way Alter would ever fight back and risk hurting them. No matter what, she was still the Princess of Ventaria. Those people shouting and trying to take her life were still her subjects—people under her protection.

And just like that, the situation grew worse and worse.

Alter tried to shout. She tried to explain herself. But no matter how loudly she screamed or demanded to know what the hell was going on, no one answered.

They charged at her with nothing but bloodlust in their eyes.

As though...she were a terrible enemy.

As though she were a demon that had to be erased from this world.

Soon, her stamina began to run out, and her movements slowed. Combined with the panic clouding her mind and her unwillingness to hurt anyone, it was only a matter of time before they finally overwhelmed her.

Shhk!

An arrow pierced Alter’s arm.

Pain shot through her body, and she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay standing.

Then another arrow struck her leg.

Her movement faltered, forcing her to raise her greatsword to block the slash of an incoming knight. The sheer force behind the blow sent a shockwave rippling through the air and numbed both of her arms.

But at the same time, two more knights closed in from different directions.

A spear pierced her shoulder, its tip driving clean through her shoulder blade.

Then another sword slashed at her.

She raised an arm to block it, and the blade bit deep into her flesh.

Then another.

And another.

They just kept coming, wave after wave, leaving deep cuts all over Alter’s body until there was barely an inch of uninjured skin left.

Within minutes, she had suffered hundreds of wounds, and her dress had long since been dyed crimson with blood. Blood dripped steadily onto the broken ground beneath her feet, leaving a trail wherever she staggered.

Alter coughed violently, blood spilling from her mouth as her vision spun.

Her strength had almost completely drained away.

Even her greatsword felt unbearably heavy now.

"Ah..."

A bitter smile appeared on Alter’s face.

"So... this is the end?"

Thinking that, her eyes instinctively turned to her left.

Another spear skewered her deep through the chest, but this time, she simply let it be. She didn’t care anymore. All she wanted now was to see her dearest people one last time.

There, at the far corner, stood Purigon and Fishia.

Purigon was still injured, his wound continuing to bleed, yet he was shouting at the generals to kill her and not let her escape. His voice had become hoarse, but his hatred showed no sign of fading.

Meanwhile, Fishia...

The girl was crying as she gritted her teeth, her trembling hands tightly clutching her big brother. But even then, her tear-filled eyes never left Alter.

Well...

No matter what had actually happened, to Alter, this actually isn’t such a bad ending after all...

Alter let go of her sword.

The massive blade crashed heavily against the blood-soaked earth, while a smile bloomed across her face like a rose in the darkness.

Because sooner or later, she was going to die anyway. And if death was inevitable, then she would much rather die here, in her homeland, than in some distant place at the hands of those bastard angels.

Perhaps...

Her nephew and niece had wanted this for her all along.

Was that why they were doing this?

Regardless, she felt grateful to them.

After that, Alter turned her head in another direction, looking toward her wife, who still lay asleep, chained down and suppressed by the sealing swords.

Morvena looked more beautiful than ever.

"Hey..." Alter raised a trembling hand toward her. "My love... looks like I’m going to go first. I’ll wait for you down there. Soon... we’ll be together again."

Tears streamed down Alter’s face.

And Morvena...

As though she felt something as well, a single glistening tear rolled down her own pale, beautiful cheek.

And just like that... Alter was ready to embrace death.

Dozens of spears pierced her body, yet she felt no pain.

Only regret.

She regretted not kissing Morvena more.

She regretted not making love to her more... not stepping on her more... and harder.

Maybe she should have gotten Morvena pregnant at least once...

"Goodbye..."

Alter slowly closed her eyes.

****

But then, for some reason, the final attack never came—the attack that would pierce her heart, or sever her head from her neck. The attack that would finally kill her.

Instead, the sounds of steel striking something solid echoed all around her.

Alter slowly opened her eyes.

To her surprise, a powerful figure was shielding her with a giant black wing. A dark-skinned, one-winged angel stood between her and the raging mob, every incoming arrow and blade crashing harmlessly against the enormous feathered shield.

"T... Teacher?" Alter murmured in disbelief.

"Don’t worry. Everything will be fine," Azraphael replied calmly before pulling Alter close.

"Commander Azraphael, what the hell are you doing?!" General Raphael shouted. "That woman has turned into a demon! She’s no longer our princess! We need to kill her right now!"

But Azraphael didn’t answer.

With a single flap of her wing, a terrifying gust of black wind erupted outward, blasting hundreds of people backward.

Raphael and his soldiers were thrown through the air before crashing onto the ground like scattered leaves. Even the arrows that had filled the sky were swept away by the violent gale.

"Azraphael!" he roared as he struggled back to his feet. "Don’t you dare! If you do this, the entire kingdom will come after you!"

"Then let them come," Azraphael replied coldly.

"I see..." Raphael’s expression darkened.

"Archers!" he commanded.

"FIRE!"

"KILL BOTH THE DEMONIC PRINCESS AND THE TRAITOR ANGEL!"

At his command, thousands of arrows shot toward them, darkening the sky like a black storm.

But it was useless.

With another flap of her wing, Azraphael shot into the sky at incredible speed, carrying Alter in her arms as she pierced through the clouds, leaving the battlefield far below.