Chapter 0: Prologue

The ruins were already empty.

But despite their desolate appearance, the ruins weren’t entirely devoid of life.

A girl perched atop the rubble, facing a man and his entourage, proved as much.

Despite outnumbering her, the tension was palpable on the side of the larger group.

The girl, in contrast, remained relaxed.

No.

From the start, her indifferent gaze had been fixed on a single person. As if only she and her target existed.

Finally, the silence broke. The man at the front of the party, the Hero, reached for the hilt of his sword.

His sword flashed out, swinging towards the girl. Rubble exploded, sending dust and debris flying. But when the dust settled, the girl was gone.

“Nothing to say?”

Having easily evaded the sword with a burst of speed, the girl landed a short distance away. The Hero seemed unsurprised, as if he’d expected as much.

She wasn’t someone who would be defeated so easily. The attack had been a mere prod for answers.

“…”

Impassive.

Even though the spot where she’d been sitting had been obliterated, her gaze held no emotion as she glanced at it.

After a brief pause, her red lips parted, and her even redder eyes finally met the Hero’s.

“If you mean do I have anything to say, then no. If you have questions, feel free to ask. I have plenty of time.”

“…”

“Considering I’m the only one around, take your time.”

Their gazes locked in the air.

“Why are you here?”

“Now why would I be here, Hero?”

“Don’t call me that. Answer the question before I swing again.”

“Oh, should I call you Leon then, like old times?”

“…Don’t play dumb…”

“Anger is a good mask for agitation. But for those who know you well, it only confirms their suspicions.”

“…”

Doubt, then fury. The blue eyes, visible through his blond hair, fixed on the girl who regarded the situation with unnerving calm.

A golden aura flared around the man. In response, his holy sword, wreathed in similar energy, glowed brightly, a warning to the girl.

“…Aria.”

“…”

The tense standoff was interrupted by the Saint, stepping between them. The Hero addressed her with displeasure.

“…Lucia.”

“Leon, please…”

“Fine…”

At the Saint’s earnest plea, Leon sheathed his sword. Aria and Lucia exchanged glances as if waiting for his next words, but after a sigh, Leon remained silent.

He was shaken, but he knew his shock was nothing compared to what Lucia, his companion, must be feeling.

Especially considering their relationship.

“Aria.”

The Saint, with her white hair and blue eyes, was the spitting image of the girl before her, save for the girl’s black hair that reached her waist. Lucia’s features mirrored the girl’s almost perfectly, only the colors differed.

Because…

“Yes, sister. It’s been a while since I called you that.”

The girl was Lucia’s only family, her younger sister.

“Why are you here, in a place meant for demons?”

“Didn’t you already know, sister?”

“That’s why I’m asking!”

“Haha…”

The girl chuckled, genuinely amused by Lucia’s outburst, as if she was denying her own thoughts.

Lie.

“You’ve been anticipating this, yet denying it all along.”

“You can still stop. Please…”

“No. Saying I can turn back now just proves how little you understand. You know who I am. What I’ve done.”

The girl, Aria, rose to her feet, shaking her head.

“Since you don’t seem to get it, I’ll spell it out again.”

The Saint’s only sister, and…

“I am Aria. And I am Lucifer, Commander of the Demon King’s Zeroth Legion.”

Known to the world as the strongest of the Demon King’s commanders.

With a menacing metallic scrape, the girl drew her sword. The blade reflected the crimson moonlight of the demon realm, glowing a bloody red.

Without hesitation, without a shred of doubt, she pointed the tip at them and declared,

“By His Majesty’s order, you shall not pass unless you kill me.”

“Aria.”

“So less talk, more fighting. You were expecting this, weren’t you?”

Aria taunted them, flicking her sword. Shadows coiled around them, churning like a living tide.

“Prepare yourselves. Our objective is to subdue, or eliminate, the Commander of the Zeroth Legion.”

[TL Note: Zeroth Legion-A mysterious and elite force under the Demon King. Aria is its **Commander]

Looking at the girl, once their comrade, everyone present finally understood. There was no room for compromise.

Leon’s holy sword blazed again, and flames erupted from the mage’s staff. The spearman took his stance, and their mentor drew his sword.

“You’ll be too late if you don’t hurry, sister.”

“…Aria. You’re my only sister.”

“Shut up. Those words mean nothing now.”

Harsh words, unlike her usual self. But the Saint’s resolve remained unbroken. Rather, her determination to save her sister only intensified.

“Then I will bring you back!”

“If you still cling to such hope, prove it with your strength.”

Her last words were a signal. Immense holy power surged from the Saint. And with that, the Hero’s holy sword and the girl’s blade clashed in the air.

This is that story.

The story of me, a transmigrator, a traitor. A commander, and the Saint’s sister. My struggle to survive.