Edmund responded briefly, only nodding.

He saw Lilith open her palm, summoning a crimson red orb with a fairly strong energy aura.

The woman split the red orb into three, then shot them forward into the bodies of the three prisoners.

Edmund kept watching them, carefully observing Lilith’s power, fitting for a mage.

A red mark glowed on their foreheads, then streams of red mana energy flowed out from their bodies.

The three streams of mana moved steadily toward Lilith.

The process was different compared to when Lilith consumed souls from livestock.

The prisoners tried to scream, but their throats were dry, making their voices disappear.

So that’s how she absorbs their souls.

When the flow of energy vanished, the prisoners’ bodies collapsed, lifeless, dead with hollowed and blackened eyes.

The other prisoners experienced the same thing, until all three men were completely dead and their bodies lay limp on the ground.

Lilith took a long breath, then exhaled slowly. She opened her eyes and looked to the side with a smile.

"Done," she said lightly.

"How do you feel?" Edmund asked.

"Much better."

"Can you get rid of their bodies?"

Lilith looked in the direction Edmund pointed, then nodded slightly.

Her hand extended forward again, summoning blazing fire that burned the three corpses.

A bright light flared in that place from the roaring flames. Edmund responded by turning his head, telling the three soldiers to open their eyes.

Edmund reached into his pocket and took out three black pouches from his pants, handing them over.

"Keep your mouths shut and leave."

"Yes, thank you, Viscount Edmund."

They stored the money, climbed onto the carriage, and quickly drove away from the forest.

Now, only Edmund and Lilith remained in the forest, standing in front of the three burning corpses.

"I can’t keep feeding you like this. The whole city will be haunted by fear," Edmund said firmly.

"Hmm, what about livestock?"

"You’re clearly trying to drain my wallet."

"Then what about monsters?" Lilith asked.

Edmund fell silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he looked into hers. She wasn’t joking, nor was she lying.

What she said was the truth.

"Monsters? You come from demon blood. How can you eat your own kind?" Edmund asked.

"How rude!"

"I am of the demon race, but the demon race isn’t the same as monsters," Lilith explained.

"Maybe... it’s like you compared to lions, bears, or wolves."

"You wouldn’t want to be compared to a wolf, right?"

Edmund nodded. Lilith continued explaining that she didn’t mind absorbing the souls of monsters, whether directly from them or through monster cores.

Monster cores. Those were common in adventurer guilds.

"You can eat souls from monster cores?" Edmund asked, and Lilith nodded.

The man began to smile, finally finding a clear solution to Lilith’s hunger.

If he couldn’t give her humans or livestock, then he could give her a whole box of monster cores instead.

"Alright. That’s much better," Edmund said.

"I want to ask for a condition," Lilith added.

"What?"

"It has to be monster cores above low-grade," Lilith said, raising her hand. "I don’t like low-grade cores. They’re bitter!"

"Medium?" Edmund asked.

"That’s better, but I prefer high-grade."

"I’ll consider it later," Edmund replied.

Slowly, the flames over the three bodies began to fade, accompanied by the metallic smell of blood and burned flesh.

They couldn’t stay there any longer. People might grow suspicious of the smell and accuse Edmund of murder.

He asked Lilith to get back on the horse, then urged it down the forest hill and onto the dirt road leading to Archester City.

The gate opened when the guards saw Edmund from afar. The two of them rode quickly into the city without suspicion.

Not without suspicion, but because they had been ordered to keep their mouths shut.

The journey that night was much faster. Edmund and Lilith’s ride arrived in front of the the house.

They got down, and Edmund tied the saddle rope to a iron fence in front of the house.

"Go back to sleep. Don’t let anyone find out," Edmund said.

Just before entering, Lilith turned and faced him. A wide smile spread across her face, her eyes fixed on Edmund.

Edmund was clearly confused, "What is it?"

"Do you want to know how to completely get rid of this Night Personality?"

The man was startled, then nodded without saying anything. Lilith raised her hand and pointed to her head. Edmund didn’t understand.

"Leonor has to be willing to accept me. Only then will she and I merge into a single soul," Lilith said.

"She will inherit my power... and my personality," Lilith added.

"Do you want that?"

"What if I do? What will you do?" Edmund asked.

"I’ll awaken and take control of her mind, tell her everything about me, and ask Leonor to make her decision."

Edmund fell silent for a moment. Seeing Leonor’s innocent face and nature as a human, he clearly couldn’t let that happen.

If Leonor agreed and their souls merged, Lilith’s power would be controlled by Leonor, and her personality would also be passed on to Leonor.

This was confusing.

"Will Leonor lose her memories?" Edmund asked.

"No. She’ll still remember everything, but with additional memories from me."

"Basically, this girl is unique. She has half human blood, but also half demon blood."

"The choice is in your hands. Do you want to see Leonor as purely human, or half demon?" Lilith added.

A decision like this was major and would determine whether Leonor would become a villainess again or not.

If Edmund made the wrong choice, it wasn’t impossible for Leonor to become a threat to him and the Aschwin Family.

"So, Viscount Edmund?" Lilith asked.

────[MAJOR CHANGE WARNING]────

[Your choice will determine the fate of Leonor Reimard and your future!]

────[OPTION 1: SOUL FUSION]────

[Unify Leonor & Lilith into a single entity]

[Effect:]

[1. Removes internal conflict]

[2. Full access to all of Lilith’s power without condition limits]

[3. Increases mental and spiritual stability]

[4. Significant attribute evolution boost]

[Bonus for host: +50 STR || +30 INT || +10 AUTH]

[Bonus for Leonor: Unlock Demon Crimson Art Magic]

[Risk:]

[1. Leonor’s identity may permanently change]

[2. Lilith’s instincts may dominate]

[3. Reduced empathy toward humans]

────[OPTION 2: DUAL EXISTENCE]────

[Maintain separation between Leonor & Lilith]

[Effect:]

[1. Preserves Leonor’s original identity]

[2. Access to two personality modes situationally]

[3. Increases tactical flexibility]

[Bonus for Host: +50 CONS || +30 INT || +10 CHAR]

[Bonus for Leonor: Unlock Salamander Fire Magic Art]

[Risk:]

[1. Internal conflict remains]

[2. Lilith’s emergence cannot always be controlled]

[3. Increased risk of mission failure in critical situations]

[Decision Required]

[Accept Option 1 / Accept Option 2]

[Time Limit: 00:59:59]

The large system panel indicated the direction of the plot and Edmund’s future plans. Both options offered their own advantages and disadvantages.

However, Edmund couldn’t act recklessly in making such a major decision regarding his future and Leonor’s.

"Viscount Edmund?"

A soft, quiet voice came from ahead. Edmund turned, and to his shock, the girl before him was no longer Lilith, but Leonor.

"What happened? Did I sleepwalk again?" Leonor asked.

The difference between Leonor and Lilith was striking.

Edmund smiled faintly, crouching in front of Leonor. His hand reached forward, gently stroking her hair.

"It seems so," Edmund said.

"Then what are you doing here tonight, Viscount Edmund?" Leonor asked.

"I... am making a decision."

"A decision?"

It will be troublesome if I keep two existences in one body. I won’t be able to control it optimally.

If I let Lilith take over Leonor, it’s the same as creating a villainess destined to destroy me.

Can I really choose one of these options?

His hand clenched tightly, his eyes closing for a moment as he let out a slow breath.

Slowly, Edmund calmed himself. He had to make a decision. Time kept ticking, chasing after him.

"Listen to me."

This isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about who will remain in front of me.

I... have to make a decision.