When they arrived at Pandemonium Castle, Mina and the others were ushered inside immediately.

  It seemed her grandmother had already sensed their approach. She had most likely been watching over them throughout their journey. Mina was dying to know what kind of person her grandmother was.

  “Hey, Arc… what’s my grandmother like?”

  Arc flinched and stared at her. He was silent for several seconds.

  “…She’s a really nice person. Very kind…”

  Mina studied him closely. His eyes were darting around. His evasiveness made her a little uneasy.

  “What kind of person is she, really…?”

  Maybe she wasn’t the wrinkly, smiling, gentle grandmother Mina had been imagining. A small knot of anxiety formed in her chest.

  “I’m sure Arc is just nervous because she’s the Queen of the Demon Realm!”

  Either way, Mina was her granddaughter. She wouldn’t be treated badly, at least.

  While she was mulling this over, their escort opened an enormous door—one large enough for a giant to walk through.

  “Right this way, please. Her Majesty is waiting.”

  And what awaited them inside was a throne room vast enough to rival a gymnasium.

  Lavish chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Paintings and sculptures adorned every corner.

  A red carpet stretched straight from the entrance to a flight of roughly ten steps, atop which sat a throne.

  “Your Majesty… I have brought Lady Mina.”

  “Ah, well done.”

  Mina turned toward the voice. On the throne sat a woman clad in black leather combat attire. She looked to be in her late twenties at most—with radiant, youthful skin and an almost overwhelming sensuality.

  “Hmmm?”

  Mina’s eyes bulged as she tilted her head. The woman on the throne was, by any measure, not a wrinkly old grandmother.

  “Oh, Mina! My granddaughter!”

  The woman in black leather rose from the throne and spread her arms wide. Her lips, painted a deep crimson, curved into a beaming smile as she gazed at Mina.

  “Grand… ma?”

  The woman nodded enthusiastically.

  “My name is Lilisia Nocturna. Queen of the Demon Realm.”

  Lilisia held her arms open wide, beckoning with both hands.

  “It’s Grandma, Mina! Come here!”

  Mina glanced at Arc.

  He was grimacing, jerking his chin as if to say: Just go—now!

  This was clearly not a situation where hesitation was an option.

  Mina broke into a trot toward the throne.

  Up close, the Queen was stunningly beautiful. And tall—with legs that went on forever. Her chest bounced with every movement, and her figure was, well, absolutely voluptuous.

  But more than anything, the sheer aura of royalty she projected was overwhelming. Mina stopped at the foot of the stairs leading up to the throne.

  “What are you waiting for? Come here!”

  The Queen beckoned, but was it really okay to ascend to the throne? Mina looked back at Arc. His expression was deadly serious, and his face said: Go. Now.

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  Mina climbed the stairs, and her grandmother came forward and embraced her.

  “I’ve wanted to meet you so badly, Mina. When your mother became human, I thought I’d never get to see my grandchild’s face. I was in despair.”

  “Grandma…”

  Tears slipped from Mina’s eyes.

  “When I heard Lilia had died, my grief was deeper than the ocean. But meeting you has given me a new reason to live.”

  Mina buried her face in Lilisia’s chest. It was remarkably soft and bouncy.

  “Grandma… you look so young.”

  Lilisia blinked, then smiled.

  “Surprised I’m not all wrinkly? When you have as much magical power as I do, you can constantly rejuvenate your cells. Eternal youth comes with the territory.”

  “That’s amazing, Grandma.”

  Lilisia looked thoroughly pleased at being praised by her granddaughter.

  “Oh?”

  Lilisia’s expression darkened. She shot a piercing glare at Arc, who had been standing at a respectful distance.

  “Arc! What happened?! Explain yourself!”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  Arc rushed over like the wind.

  “What is this black ring around my granddaughter’s neck?!”

  Arc lowered his gaze.

  “The angels led by Seraphim—the ones who attacked Lady Lilia—threatened that unless Mina found Lady Lilia’s treasure within one month, they would strangle her. Then they left.”

  “They what?!”

  Lilisia’s face twisted into something demonic as she glared at Arc. He went pale.

  “I received orders from Lady Lilia just before her death to go rescue Mina. By the time I reached her, the black mark was already on her neck.”

  Lilisia bit her nails in fury.

  “Damn you, Seraphim…! And there’s only one month?”

  “Yes… that’s correct.”

  Lilisia examined the black collar around Mina’s neck. She let out a deep, troubled groan.

  “Fine—we’ll just have to kill Seraphim!”

  At that, a man who had been standing in the back rushed forward.

  “Please wait, Your Majesty! If we move against Seraphim now, it could trigger all-out war between the Celestial and Demon Realms!”

  “Aizel! That man killed my daughter and is trying to kill my granddaughter! You expect me to sit back and do nothing?!”

  Aizel struggled desperately to calm the enraged Queen.

  “I understand your feelings, Your Majesty, but as your chancellor, I cannot condone this. The timing is catastrophic. If our armies leave the Demon Realm now, Verglies and his anti-Queen faction will seize the opportunity to strike. I implore you—please show restraint!”

  Lilisia ground her teeth.

  “Then what, Aizel?! Are you telling me to sit here and watch my granddaughter suffer in silence?!”

  “No, no—not at all.”

  Aizel bowed low.

  “There is a man named Rimel who specializes in this type of curse. Let us have him examine her first.”

  Lilisia considered this with a growl.

  “Aizel… summon this Rimel at once.”

  Aizel bowed.

  “Yes—I will fetch him immediately.”

  He dipped his head and swept from the throne room like the wind. Lilisia watched him go, then turned back to Mina with a sorrowful expression. She embraced Mina gently, then looked her in the eye.

  “Mina… I’m truly sorry for everything you’ve been through. But no one gets to choose their parents. You have no choice but to accept this situation. Do you understand?”

  Mina gave a small nod.

  “Yes… I understand. It’s hard to accept, but I’ve come to terms with it.”

  She shrugged.

  “What a brave girl you are!”

  Lilisia pulled Mina into a tight hug, her brows knitted with emotion. Her shoulders shook—she was crying.

  Mina hurried to rub her grandmother’s shoulders.

  “Don’t worry, Grandma! I’ll be fine!”

  Lilisia pulled back and studied Mina’s face.

  “You’re so strong, Mina… That’s my granddaughter.”

  “Well, ha ha—if I hadn’t accepted things quickly, I might not have survived this long.”

  When Mina said this with a laugh, Lilisia managed a smile. She thought for a moment, then turned to face Mina squarely.

  “Mina… as a human going up against beings from the Demon and Celestial Realms, you’re going to face enormous challenges. I want to give you a gift.”

  “A gift?”

  “You might think Grandma’s just spoiling her grandchild, but… this is about all I can do.”

  Lilisia raised one hand toward the sky. A black hole opened in the empty air above them.

  “Come forth—Regalia!”

  At her command, an object resembling a pure white jewelry box descended slowly from the dark portal. Lilisia caught it and gently lifted the lid. Inside, a bracelet, a ring, and a necklace glittered brilliantly.

  “Come here, Mina.”

  The Queen herself placed the jewels on Mina’s finger, wrist, and neck.

  “These three pieces are called the Stormbound Regalia—special magical artifacts that only those recognized by the Queen of the Demon Realm may wear.”

  Mina’s heart leaped. She was finally getting her own equipment. Lilisia picked up the necklace first.

  “This is the Voltheart Necklace. It improves your control over lightning magic.”

  Mina stole a glance at Arc. He was pursing his lips with a look that said: Yeah, this one’s for you.

  “Got it! So it’s like an inverter?”

  “Um, yes… I’m not sure what an inverter is, but I think that’s probably right.”

  Lilisia then produced the bracelet.

  “Next is this—the Stormcrystal Armlet. It’s specialized for lightning defense. Simply put, any lightning magic used against you is converted into your own energy.”

  “Wow! That’s incredible!”

  Mina was astonished. That would make her effectively immune to lightning attacks.

  Finally, Lilisia placed the ring on her finger.

  “This ring is the Thunderbrand Ring. It can store one single, devastating lightning spell. I’ve already loaded a powerful one for you—use it when you’re in real trouble.”

  Lilisia squeezed Mina’s hands tightly.

  “Together, these three make up the Queen’s Three Thunder Artifacts—the Stormbound Regalia.”

  Lilisia gazed at Mina intently.

  “Thank you, Grandma…”

  Mina remembered the tarot reading from the shrine. A guide will appear—someone who possesses wisdom. That must have been her grandmother all along.

  Just then, Chancellor Aizel returned with a man in tow.

  “Your Majesty! I’ve brought Rimel!”

  All eyes turned to the man behind Aizel. Rimel was a tall young man with curly blond hair.

  This person might be able to remove the collar! As the thought crossed Mina’s mind, her heart swelled with hope.