BOOOOM!
The telescopic baton in my hand sliced through the air.
A crimson flash erupted alongside a thunderous crack.
The holy power I'd obtained from kissing Damian's cheek—what I now proudly called the Kiss Buff—was astonishingly effective.
"GYAAAAAH!"
The baron screamed as my baton grazed his shoulder, sending him flying across the room.
To everyone else, it probably looked like a delicate young noblewoman committing an act of rebellion by beating a grown man with a stick.
But to me, the scene was entirely different.
I could clearly see the Demon of Gluttony attached to the baron's shoulder turning into a lump of charcoal and crumbling away.
The satisfying impact vibrated all the way up my arm.
I twirled through the crowd of charging nobles like a dancer in a ballroom.
"Make way! Physical therapy coming through!"
THWACK! THUD!
Every swing of my baton sent wisps of black smoke into the air.
The brainwashed nobles collapsed one after another like puppets with their strings cut the moment the demons detached from them.
Then Damian shouted urgently.
"Lady Violetta! Behind you!"
A chill of murderous intent swept down my spine.
Before I could even turn around, one of the Goat-Head's servants had already closed the distance and slashed a dagger toward my neck.
CLANG!
A sharp metallic ring echoed through the hall.
Before I could react, Damian stepped between us and knocked the dagger aside.
He hadn't even brought a weapon.
Instead, he was wielding a champagne bottle like a club.
The bottle smashed into the attacker's wrist with frightening precision.
"Wow."
I grinned.
"Not bad, partner."
"You should be the last person saying that."
Damian was breathing heavily.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Where in the world is that monstrous strength coming from?"
Understandably so.
The crimson flames blazing from the tip of my baton weren't ordinary magic.
Nor were they sword aura.
They looked remarkably similar to the Sacred Flame—the divine power Damian had devoted his entire life to serving.
The only difference was that mine manifested through the ancient and noble art of beating demons with a stick.
"Told you already."
I flashed him a smile and tightened my grip on the baton.
"I got charged up by you."
With a flourish, I pointed the weapon toward the stage.
"Looks like the trash mobs are dealt with."
My gaze locked onto the owner of the club.
The goat-headed demon standing atop the platform.
"Time for the main course."
The demon trembled with rage as it watched its followers being swept away like autumn leaves.
[Insolent insects...! How dare you destroy my farm?!]
The goat demon let out an ear-splitting screech.
Instantly, the crimson lights illuminating the banquet hall exploded.
Dark shadows surged from every direction.
The shadows sharpened into countless black spikes and shot toward us.
"Look out!" Damian shouted.
Before I could react, he wrapped an arm around my waist and threw us both to the floor.
The spot where we'd been standing was instantly pierced by dozens of shadow spikes.
The marble melted on contact.
"Long-range attacks?"
I rolled out of Damian's arms and clicked my tongue.
"Cheap."
The distance was the problem.
The stage was too far away.
To reach the demon, I'd have to push through an entire field of shadow spikes.
And my baton was a melee weapon.
If I couldn't get close, I couldn't hit it.
Which left only one option.
"Sir."
"Yes?"
"Throw me."
"..."
Damian stared.
"...What did you just say?"
I pointed toward the stage.
"I need to get over there."
Then I shrugged.
"But I'm a little short on momentum. So I need you to act as a launch platform."
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Damian's eyes widened.
"That's a mid-ranking demon! If you charge in headfirst, there won't even be enough left of you to identify!"
"I'll be fine."
I gave him a shameless wink.
"We're connected by the power of love right now, remember?"
The look on his face suggested he was questioning every decision he'd made in life.
Unfortunately, we didn't have time to argue.
Shadow spikes continued to rain toward us.
Grinding his teeth, Damian crouched low.
Then he interlocked his hands to form a foothold.
"...If you get hurt," he growled, "I'm sending you the medical bill."
"Don't worry."
I cracked a grin.
"I'm rich."
Without hesitation, I ran.
Gathering up my skirts, I sprinted at full speed.
Then I planted one foot onto Damian's clasped hands.
"YAAAAAH!"
With a powerful shout, Damian launched me into the air.
The sheer strength behind the throw sent me soaring like a stone fired from a catapult.
I shot past a crystal chandelier.
Midair, I twisted my body and raised the baton overhead.
The goat demon's horrified expression came into view as though time itself had slowed.
[Y-You insane woman! You're flying?!]
"Who's flying?!"
I bellowed back.
"I'm falling!"
Gravity.
My body weight.
And the divine power borrowed from a Holy Knight.
Everything converged into my right arm.
"GO TO HELL, YOU GOAT-HEADED BASTARD!"
KRAAAAAAASH!
The baton came down squarely between the demon's horns.
Right on top of its skull.
A deafening explosion shook the hall.
The stage collapsed beneath the impact.
Crimson holy fire erupted and swallowed the demon whole.
[GRAAAAAAAAHHH!]
The goat demon screamed.
Then its body disintegrated into black ash and scattered into the air.
At the same moment, the crimson barrier surrounding the banquet hall shattered.
Moonlight poured through the windows.
The nightmare was over.
I attempted a graceful landing.
Unfortunately, high heels and heroics rarely mix.
"Ah!"
My ankle twisted.
I pitched forward.
Just as I was about to crash face-first into the floor—
A strong pair of arms caught me.
"..."
When I opened my eyes, Damian was holding me in a bridal carry.
His sacred silver hair, damp with sweat and stuck to his forehead, shimmered beneath the moonlight.
His blue eyes swirled with relief.
Awe.
And something warmer.
Something he probably hadn't realized was there.
Lowering his voice, he murmured:
"...That was reckless."
His gaze lingered on me.
"Truly reckless."
