Demonic worshipers are shrouded in mystery, possessing abilities that defy the world’s common sense.

    One of the most notable examples is necromancy.

    Even necromancy itself was treated as top-secret until it became publicly known.

    Necromancy does not completely resurrect the dead, but it is a deeply unethical practice.

    Scholars are divided on whether it should be classified as magic or sorcery.

    While rituals, akin to sorcery, are required to practice necromancy, its systematic structure resembles magic.

    Thus, necromancy has become a hallmark of demonic worshipers, and its dangers are widely recognized.

    However, necromancy is not merely the ability to animate corpses.

    While that is the publicly known aspect, it encompasses a variety of abilities.

    For instance, necromancy can summon the dead to converse with their spirits or temporarily transfer the practitioner’s soul elsewhere.

    Mastery of necromancy can even allow the practitioner to transfer their soul into a new body upon the expiration of their current one.

    Consequently, some demonic worshipers have used this method to extend their lifespans, leading to their involvement in human trafficking.

    This trade serves not only to offer sacrifices to the “Father of All Things” but also to find suitable bodies for themselves.

    However, this heinous method was so exclusive that only a tiny fraction of demonic worshipers practiced it, leaving its existence virtually unknown.

    “Mother! Stay with me! Someone, get a priest, quickly!”

    “Why did she suddenly collapse? What did you do to her?”

    “What could I have done? She just fell over as I reached out to stop her rushing in!”

    Chaos erupted at the entrance of Halo Academy, where knights stationed at the gate scrambled in confusion around an elderly woman lying motionless on the ground.

    They shook her body and attempted first aid, but the woman showed no signs of life.

    [That’s because she’s dead.]

    Overlooking the frantic scene was a man whose lips curled into a smirk.

    At first glance, he might be mistaken for a wizard, but his appearance was strikingly peculiar.

    His entire body was pitch black, as if stained, and his features were unnervingly plain.

    He was completely naked, yet devoid of reproductive organs, resembling an unfinished sculpture.

    His face was smooth like an egg, with only a mouth present, creating an eerie impression.

    [I must move before she arrives.]

    Muttering to himself, the man slipped past the commotion into the academy.

    The elderly woman had been nothing more than a decoy to buy time.

    His true target was within the academy: Isaac, his greatest adversary.

    [No matter how favored he is by false gods, he cannot guard his soul.

    I’ve gone to great lengths for this moment, through countless nuisances.

    All to accomplish this grand endeavor.]

    The man reflected on his efforts to eliminate Isaac.

    Normally, he would have transferred into new bodies like changing clothes, but the exposure of his human trafficking operation had rendered such practices nearly impossible.

    The Minerva Empire, once his haven, had launched an extensive crackdown, supported by neighboring nations.

    Should the operations be fully dismantled, the slave trade would be eradicated.

    Thus, he had personally intervened.

    [Living in that body won’t be so bad.

    I’ve heard there’s no shortage of beauties around, including the Elf Queen.

    I should’ve done this sooner, haha.]

    The man—or rather, the soul—let out a lecherous chuckle as he advanced toward Isaac’s location, filled with anticipation.

    Although the revelation of demonic worshipers’ existence was a significant blow, the specifics of their abilities remained largely undisclosed.

    Even when possessing the elderly woman earlier, the church’s priests failed to detect him, not even the Grand Inquisitor, Kate.

    Only in his exposed spiritual form might they notice him, but while possessing a host, special measures were required to identify him.

    [Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will be victorious.

    Nothing’s changed since the past.]

    He had gathered every piece of information available about Isaac, including his divine favor.

    Attempting possession without preparation would have been futile, given Isaac’s powerful divine protection.

    However, he had offered numerous sacrifices to breach that divine barrier.

    Once that was overcome, seizing Isaac’s soul would be a trivial matter.

    Divine protection was merely a shield; it could not alter the essence of a soul.

    Years of switching bodies had taught him this, leading to important revelations.

    [Good thing he’s human.

    If he were another species, this wouldn’t even be possible.]

    For possession to succeed, the host had to be of the same species and gender.

    A human soul attempting to inhabit an elf or demon’s body would likely collapse under the strain, as the shorter lifespan of humans would cause severe mental dissonance.

    While beastfolk were somewhat compatible, their animalistic instincts often caused issues in daily life.

    [But... who’s this?]

    Before seizing Isaac’s body, the man looked at the figure Isaac was holding like a doll.

    The individual had red hair like Isaac and an appearance so beautiful it was difficult to determine their gender.

    What stood out most were the sprout on their head and the wings on their back.

    Judging by their appearance, they were undoubtedly an angel from the records, but the man dismissed the idea as impossible.

    In his centuries-long life that transcended human lifespans, he had never encountered an angel.

    Perhaps Isaac had a hidden child, and he had given the child wings. Of course, those wings had to be fake.

    [But wasn’t he said to be under 20? Then who is this?]

    While the man was puzzled by this unexpected detail, it happened.

    Flash—

    The figure sleeping in Isaac’s arms, Ariel, suddenly opened her eyes. Her golden irises, resembling Isaac’s, glowed brightly.

    She turned her gaze directly at the man in his spirit form, staring straight at him.

    If Hawk’s earlier glance had been a coincidence, Ariel was unequivocally looking at the man.

    [W-what...]

    As the man flustered, Ariel wriggled out of Isaac’s embrace.

    Even as she moved, Isaac remained fast asleep.

    Given how mentally exhausted he had been, he clearly needed this rest.

    Ariel climbed down from the bed and stretched her tiny hand toward the air.

    Grab!

    [W-what?!]

    She had caught him—or rather, he had been caught.

    The man panicked as Ariel held onto his spirit form.

    In his centuries of existence, there had only been a handful of beings who could even see his spirit form, let alone touch it.

    And those beings had only been able to see him, not physically interact with him.

    But Ariel had physically grabbed him.

    What on earth was going on? As the man reeled in shock, Ariel, clutching his leg, blinked and made her move.

    “Ahh.”

    Nom—

    Ariel put the tip of his spiritual foot into her mouth. She didn’t stop there.

    “Slurp, slurp, slurp.”

    Like someone savoring a delicious treat, she began sucking him up, starting from his foot.

    She moved past his knees, then his thighs, and eventually reached his groin.

    [Aaagh! L-let me go!]

    Though he was in spirit form, he seemed capable of feeling pain, screaming and struggling.

    No matter how hard he tried to escape, it was all futile.

    He even reached for Isaac in a last-ditch effort to take over his body, but it was useless.

    Just as he almost touched Isaac, his hand slowly pulled away as Ariel started consuming his torso.

    [W-what... what is this girl?!]

    “Slurp.”

    [This... wasn’t... part of the plan!]

    Swoop—

    Finally, Ariel devoured the last bit of his spirit, including his head.

    Following Isaac’s teachings, she chewed thoroughly before swallowing it down.

    “Burp.”

    A satisfied belch escaped her lips.

    Pfft—

    Followed by an adorable little toot.

    As Ariel let out a cute fart, she turned around.

    Unlike the ominous dark spirit from earlier, a pure white aura floated up into the air, dissipating into the ceiling.

    Ariel watched quietly until the aura disappeared before turning her gaze back to Isaac.

    Through it all, Isaac remained sound asleep.

    “Yawn...”

    Ariel yawned and wriggled her way back into Isaac’s embrace, snuggling against him.

    Isaac instinctively wrapped his arms around her as if nothing had happened.

    The father and daughter duo continued their peaceful slumber, as if the chaos never occurred.

    “Isaac! Isaac! Open the door, quickly!”

    Outside, Kate banged on the door, arriving too late to witness the spectacle.