The Holy Knight Embraces the Imprinted Succubus - Chapter 7

Rosanna couldn’t fall asleep easily and kept tossing and turning under the blanket.

She knew well that there was nothing she could do right now in this place.

So for now, closing her eyes and trying to sleep was the best she could manage.

But still, again and again…

‘Stop. Stop thinking.’

No matter how hard she tried to erase it, what had happened earlier in the day kept replaying in her mind.

What Rosanna had done to that man was something close to an accident.

“I want you…”

She had no idea why those words came out of her mouth, or why she had done such a thing…

Even Rosanna herself didn’t know the reason.

But at that moment, she had felt an intense urge to touch him. It seemed that if she let herself be held in his broad arms, her deep longing would be fulfilled.

Without realizing it, Rosanna brushed her dry lips.

Unlike when they were wet and slick with the man’s saliva, they were now simply clean. But the heat of that sensation hadn’t faded.

That rough intrusion, the thick force that restrained her inside her mouth…

‘This is strange!’

Why… Why on earth did I do that…!

Rosanna squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face deep into the pillow as if to hide her expression.

Strangely, when she recalled that moment, there was a tingling sensation between her legs. A strange feeling she’d never experienced tightened her lower belly.

‘Why didn’t that man push me away…?’

That thought kept nagging her. He still suspected her—as a demon, as a worshipper of demons.

He said he would keep watching her.

‘Then why…’

No matter how she tried to erase it, his chilling blue eyes that stared at her wouldn’t leave her mind. It felt like he was watching her even now.

That gaze, that man’s hand pressing firmly against her shoulder—she could still feel it.

The ominous beat of her heart grew louder and louder.

If, at that moment… if she hadn’t rejected him…

“Rosanna, are you asleep?”

It was then. A whispering voice reached her.

Rosanna, who had been pretending to sleep, instinctively turned her head halfway at the completely unexpected call.

“Yes… Yes?”

“Oh, you’re awake! Nice to meet you. Your name is… Rosanna, right?”

“…How do you know my name?”

“Hehe. There are ways to find out! I’m Aril.”

The one who spoke to Rosanna was Aril, the girl who used the bed next to hers.

Until now, Rosanna had avoided interaction with the other women as much as possible. Naturally, they hadn’t had any conversations or even exchanged names…

She was surprised that Aril somehow knew her name.

“Where’s your hometown, Rosanna? We’ll be going home soon. Aren’t you excited?”

Rosanna didn’t know Aril’s exact age, but the way she grinned made her seem at least two or three years younger.

As she stared at Aril’s face, Rosanna unconsciously bit her lower lip.

Unlike the excited Aril, Rosanna’s fingertips gradually turned cold.

‘Even such a young girl was brought here…’

It was still hard to believe that humans would offer up other humans as sacrifices.

“Rosanna? Why are you spacing out like that?”

Snapping out of her thoughts, Rosanna realized Aril was waiting for an answer.

“Ah… My hometown is near the capital.”

“I knew it. You seem like someone from the capital!”

Rosanna discreetly studied Aril’s face, but there wasn’t even a hint of suspicion.

Of course, what she had just said was a lie. Rosanna knew nothing about human cities.

She only knew that the place she would be going was the capital of this country, and that its name was Calven. Even that she had picked up from the women’s conversations.

With a silent sigh of relief, Rosanna gave a faint smile. “Is that… so? What about you, Aril, where’s your home…?”

“Wow, wow…!”

Aril, who had been whispering to avoid waking the others, suddenly let out a loud noise.

“Ah!” She gasped, then clapped her hands over her mouth. But the sparkle in her eyes didn’t fade.

“Rosanna, you’re so pretty. Why don’t you smile like that more often?”

“…Huh?”

“You’re so pretty when you smile, just like a noble lady. Honestly, I’d believe it if you said you were one!”

Being called a noble wasn’t entirely wrong. Rosanna’s father was a count of the Demon Realm, after all.

But it wasn’t as if Aril knew her true identity when she said that.

“Honestly, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while. You’re so, so beautiful… I hesitated for so long, but I’m really glad I spoke to you.”

Had I ever done anything to make Aril like me…?

Unconditional goodwill and kindness were deeply unfamiliar to Rosanna.

‘She said she wanted to talk to me because I’m pretty…?’

That, too, felt completely foreign.

Whenever Damion looked at her, it was with a face twisted as if he were staring at a loathsome insect. Sometimes he even acted like just seeing her around was unbearable.

“Filthy. Hideous. Disgusting half-blood. I want to crush you beneath my heel.”

The image of Damion, laughing as if he were genuinely enjoying himself while hurting her, made it impossible for Rosanna to understand Aril’s behavior.

The unfamiliar awkwardness weighed on Rosanna. She thought it would be best to end the conversation with Aril quickly.

Her mood sank, as if heavy stones were stacking one by one in her heart.

‘There’s nothing I can say except lies anyway.’

Just then, the conversation ended in an unexpected direction.

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

“What, what’s that noise? Did something happen out there?”

The women who had been asleep began to wake one by one.

The pounding of boots trampling the muddy ground. The sharp clanging of weapons and shouting. The noise from outside had everyone on edge.

As the women trembled in fear without knowing what was happening—

“Is everyone all right? Nothing’s happened here yet, right?!”

Dahlia burst through the barrack doors.

***

Panting heavily, Dahlia scanned the interior of the barracks, which were still relatively calm. Thankfully, the threat hadn’t reached here yet.

“What is going on? There’s suddenly a lot of noise outside…”

Seeing the frightened victims, Dahlia bit her lip.

The victims who had nearly been sacrificed in the Black Forest not long ago still hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma of that nightmare.

She hesitated briefly, but there was no time. Dahlia had no choice but to speak.

“Demonic beasts have crossed the defensive line and are attacking. There’s no time. You must evacuate immediately!”

As expected, chaos broke out.

Shocked, the women glanced at each other, frightened and on the verge of tears. Some, overcome by traumatic memories, began to cry.

“We have to evacuate quickly. Right now, the commander is holding them off at the front. We need to move while we can.”

Without even time to gather their belongings, the women followed Dahlia out of the barracks.

***

The forest, covered in dull hues, was where the women fled nearly barefoot.

At first, Dahlia led them personally, taking responsibility. But suddenly, a demonic beast emerged from the underbrush, blocking their escape.

“Please go on ahead. I’ll handle this and follow after.”

Judging that a few soldiers wouldn’t be enough, Dahlia made the decision.

To finish off a demonic beast for good, a knight’s holy power was required.

If holy power wasn’t used to strike the final blow, the beasts would revive again and again.

“Huh…”

Tap. Tap tap. Crackle.

Heavy breathing, the rustle of crushed leaves, and the echo of fleeing footsteps rang ominously through the forest.

Once Dahlia vanished from sight, the women’s fear reached its peak.

They had fled in the direction she pointed, but they had no idea where they were. Tearful whimpers spread through the eerie forest.

“Shouldn’t we wait here for the other knights?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t seem like they’re following us anymore. Maybe it’s not good to go too far…”

As someone suggested this, the other women nodded in agreement.

They instinctively feared straying too far from the knights meant to protect them. And they were all nearing their physical limits.

Just as they were taking a short break—

“Kya, kyaah! Get down!”

A sharp scream rang out from the front. The women immediately scattered in both directions.

Sitting in a spot hidden behind a tree trunk, Rosanna scanned the surroundings nervously.

‘What’s happening…?’

Without understanding the situation, she stood up in confusion and fled to the corner with the others.

Thud—!

At that moment, a massive tree fell to the ground as if struck by an axe. Between the shadowy forest, a creature with black, coarse fur appeared.

A demonic beast in the shape of a wolf.

A giant wolf with sharp claws and fangs that could shred fragile human skin in an instant was approaching.

Startled, Aril screamed and fell backward.

“W-what is that…! What kind of monster is that…”

Clutching her sore backside, Aril’s face went pale as a sheet.

Only then did she realize she had made a grave mistake.

The wolf beast, having heard Aril’s voice, turned in her direction and began to approach.

“H-help me… someone, help me…”

Pale and trembling, Aril cried for help.

She repeated her plea over and over in a desperate voice, but there was no one nearby who could save her.

As the distance closed, Aril’s mind went blank. She could think of nothing. Just as she looked around in despair—

“R-Rosanna…”

“……”

“Please… help me.”

“Ah…”

“Please, Rosanna…!”

Aril cried out as she spotted Rosanna, frozen in place.

“Please, hic, don’t just leave me, I-I want to go home!”

Rosanna’s heart pounded violently. Her feet froze in place at the sound of Aril’s tearful cries.