Chapter 96: The Devil’s Child Return

’Who’s that!?’ Noticing the silhouette, Nadia weakly turned to look up.

But the moment she did...

Something gentle suddenly brushed against the side of her face, cupping her cheek. It had the shape of a hand, smooth and strangely wet to the touch. It also wasn’t cold, which usually came with being wet; in fact, it was more accurate to say it was...

’Warm...’

Nadia, who was stunned, subconsciously leaned into the hand — basking in the warmth that radiated from it.

Having been submerged in the sea’s freezing-cold temperature, it was only natural that she felt this way — to feel comfort from something so unusually warm...

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

To her subconscious dismay, the hand suddenly left her cheek and made its way down to her chin to lift it. This provided the Heroine with enough support to look up properly. And once she did...

What she saw shocked her to her very core.

"You’re in quite the rough shape, Nadia Crane~..."

Standing before her under the luminous moonlight was a woman covered head to toe in blood.

The uniform she wore was stained with dry blood, as was her long brown hair that could easily be mistaken for dark red; even her black latex gloves were stained with it.

But beneath all the blood, it was obvious who this was. With her deep red eyes and signature smile, the woman before her was none other than the notorious Devil’s Child—

"Hilda... Hertel..."

Hearing Nadia whisper her name, Hilda’s smile became warmer.

"I’m back. How are you holding up?"

Nadia bit her bottom lip at that question. "Do I... look like I’m holding up well?"

Hilda chuckled at that response. "Hehe, I suppose not."

The Heroine then watched as the German knelt down to her level and reached out to grab her right hand.

Nadia watched as Hilda studied her hand before turning flustered when the woman suddenly interlocked fingers with her. Taken aback by such an unexpected and intimate gesture, her mouth gaped slightly in shock.

"H-hey, what are you—" As Nadia was about to reflexively pull away, she felt Hilda’s grip on her hand tighten.

"Your Strength of Heart has improved," Hilda proudly evaluated, her gaze turning soft. "You’ve exceeded my expectations today. Well done, Meine Dame... you’ve proven to be quite the asset."

Nadia’s eyes widened when she heard that. If Hilda had told her any other time before now, she would’ve scoffed. But right now...

"Kuhk... Y-you’re such an... insufferable person..." Nadia’s eyes watered.

Hilda blinked, surprised by the tears welling up in Nadia’s eyes before smirking. "Oh, my~ did I make you cry?"

"Be—Khuk—quiet..." Nadia teared up as she looked away. "Even if I was—Khuk... it would be because of my arm... It hurts."

"Is that so~? I guessing with how you’re on the ground you also can’t move?"

Nadia nodded instantly without thought. And when she did, Hilda smirked again.

Before the Heroine had the chance to question the odd look, she was already scooped up into a princess carry — with her broken arm nestled against Hilda’s chest.

Nadia’s eyes lit up with shock and fluster. "W-wha—p-put me down this instant, Hilda! If you’re going to carry me, let it be on your back like before!"

Hilda hummed in consideration before shaking her head. She then flashed a cheeky smile. "I think I prefer carrying you in this manner rather than on my back."

Without waiting for a response, she turned to Seraphine and said:

"It’s good to see that you’re doing well, Miss Halloway. It seems the expectations I had for you were not misplaced. May I ask you to help me with a simple request?"

Seraphine, who had been watching the two ladies interact with a dumbfounded look, woke up. She then nodded exaggeratedly. "S-sure, what did you need help with?"

"Could I ask you to gather all those who are still able to move, along with Mr Callum Ashby, Mr Ross Kestrel, Mr Elias Thorne, Miss Roxy Rutherford, and lastly Miss Beatrice C. Johnson?"

"H-huh? Could I ask why?" Seraphine tilted her head.

Hilda chuckled whimsically. "Haha, is it not obvious? It’s so I can transport those still capable to a more safer location—"

"H-hold up!" Nadia interrupted before reaching out and grabbing the woman’s collar. "You’re not suggesting we leave everyone who isn’t able to move behind, are you? The people who are still alive!?"

The flustered and shy look she had a second ago had been replaced with an incredulous and defiant look.

Hilda smiled. "Of course, I am. What else could I be suggesting?"

She then glanced over at the Predicaments, who had turned away to feast on the countless corpses strewn among the ruins — including the corpses of their own.

"It already took quite a bit of effort from me to get back here. So, I’d rather not fight any longer, just in case."

"Y-you’re lying, right? Just messing around?" Nadia straightened her back in disbelief. "I’m sure you still have a lot of Vitality left — enough left to take them all out, easily!"

At that question, Hilda’s smile turned wicked. "Oh~? Shouldn’t you, of all people, be able to tell? Or could it be... you don’t have enough Vitality to use your Gift?"

Nadia flinched, but chose not to answer. Instead, she asked:

"B-but what about the exam? What about your secret mission?" Nadia pulled herself closer to Hilda’s face. "You were ordered to protect us, weren’t you?"

Amusement flashed through Hilda’s eyes.

"I’d rather you not brazenly speak about it out loud, but that’s true~... but that’s only if it wouldn’t place my own life in risk. It’s not really an obligation."

She then gestured towards the collapsed people with her head.

"Think about it, do you honestly believe they would choose them over someone as strong as me?"

Nadia’s grip on her collar tightened as her body began to shake with dread. "T-they wouldn’t..."

"See~ you get it!" Hilda snickered as she averted her gaze. "Now that you understand, let’s get to looking around and—"

"Please..."

Sensing Nadia’s grip on her collar loosen, Hilda turned back to the woman in her arms and found her with a helpless expression.

"Please save them, Hilda... save everyone. Please..." Nadia begged, pressing her face against Hilda’s chest in an attempt to hide her shameful expression.

Watching the woman devolve into this state, Hilda revealed a cold look before flashing a broad grin. "Alright, fine. But I’ll do it under one condition."

"... Huh?"

Surprised by how easy it was to convince the German, the Heroine looked up from the woman’s chest and found her face dangerously close to hers.

Before she could react to the sudden closeness, Hilda had already begun to state her condition.

"I recall that we made a deal. For ensuring your safety, you would grant me a small favour. Let’s change that. How about this: for the price of ensuring everyone’s safety, including your own, you must grant me one wish?"

"... Wish?" Nadia widened her eyes, stunned.

How could a wish from her possibly be on par with the lives of everyone here?

’Could it be she knows I’m from the LCEO?’ She froze. That couldn’t be; she didn’t say anything that could give Hilda that idea!

Seeing Nadia deeply pondering this, Hilda began to hurry her. "Well? You better hurry, because we don’t have a lot of time."

"Ngh... fine!" Nadia exclaimed fiercely. "I’ll do whatever you want, just please save everyone!"

"You promise that on your Heart? You can’t take this back."

"I promise!"

Once Hilda heard that confirmation, she smirked triumphantly.

’Excellent...’

"Very well, then."

After passing Nadia over to Seraphine, Hilda unbuttoned her coat before tossing it towards the Heroine, who caught it out of reflex.

She then stared curiously at it. "What are you doing?"

While pulling the black metal clock hand out from the Scoundrel, Hilda glanced back with a charming smirk. "You looked cold earlier. Although my coat is covered in blood und has a few tears, it should be good enough to warm you up."

Taken aback by Hilda’s kind gesture, Nadia gripped the woman’s coat with a thoughtful expression.

"Thanks..."

After that, she watched as Hilda ran off with the clockhand resting on her shoulder.

Seraphine, who had stayed quiet the entire time, looked down at Nadia, who was in her arms.

She then said:

"See what I mean? Anyone would misunderstand your guys’ relationship—"

"Please, no..."

...

The small Conundrum of Scoundrels gathered around a corpse of their kind.

One was chewing the flesh of an arm until it heard something strange. It looked up from the corpse, its ears twitching at a peculiar sound that seemed to get closer.

The Predicament immediately spun around, sensing the sound coming straight behind it. When it did, a black metal clock hand pierced through its face and exited its skull.

It then collapsed onto its back in front of the other Predicaments, who became startled by the sudden ambush.

Hilda, who now stood on top of the Predicament, pulled out the black clock hand.