Originally,

Liyu had been staying inside the small wooden cabin in the eastern part of the forest. While directing nearby Abyss Demons to decorate the cabin, she was also using the feathers Mother had sent back to begin making a large bed...

Oh,

of course,

there was also the little girl Mother had sent back—the girl sleeping within the crimson cocoon of energy.

As one of the few obedient and composed children around Mother, Liyu had always handled Yumo's instructions with utmost seriousness and diligence. After the pink-haired girl was brought to the cabin, Liyu skillfully cleaned away the impurities covering the cocoon and placed it inside the icy spring...

Just as she was busy inside the cabin,

the sudden release of Limo's power caused the little girl to frown and look toward the southern part of the Great Winter Forest in surprise.

Out of concern,

Liyu had no choice but to put down her work. Spreading her wings, she shot toward the forest's outer perimeter amid howling winds. Her speed was so astonishing that her two little pets couldn't even keep up.

After arriving at the edge of the forest,

Liyu quickly noticed her silly older sister battling White Yama.

Although she really wanted to go over and beat up that Heavenly Apostle,

she ultimately suppressed the impulse.

After all, Limo was currently in her released state, which meant Mother had certainly given permission. If Liyu guessed correctly, Mother had started another experiment again. Perhaps some sort of one-on-one battle test.

In that case,

it wouldn't be appropriate for her to interfere.

Thus,

Liyu sat quietly atop a distant giant tree and silently watched the battle between Limo and White Yama, as well as the situation inside Garos Fortress.

Until now...

When she saw White Yama charging up an attack against Mother,

and sensed the terrifying power within the black sword—a power that even made her heart tremble—

Liyu shuddered.

Though she guessed this was probably another one of Mother's experiments,

this time...

she couldn't hold herself back.

—

In a split second!

The speed-specialized Liyu transformed into an emerald ray of light and exploded into Garos Fortress, rushing directly above White Yama!

?!!

“Li-Liyu?!”

Seeing this, Yumo couldn't help but cry out in surprise and immediately tried to stop the girl through telepathy.

Unfortunately,

before even a word could be transmitted,

the enraged Liyu viciously kicked downward.

“DON'T HURT MY MOTHER!!!”

The acceleration gained from diving from the sky, combined with the dense Shadow of Silence Power coating her legs and the terrifying physical capabilities of a Demon King-class being, brought Liyu's speed to the absolute peak.

White Yama, whose entire attention was focused on Yumo, never noticed the incoming threat.

By the time she was still imagining herself defeating the black-haired girl—

Liyu's attack had already arrived.

“BOOM!!!!”

Accompanied by a heaven-shaking explosion, emerald Shadow of Silence Power shattered White Yama's overwhelming sword aura.

Under Yumo's complicated gaze,

Liyu's tiny foot landed directly on the back of White Yama's head.

White Yama: Huh??!!

The next instant,

caught completely off guard by the heavy blow to the back of her head, White Yama's eyes rolled back and her consciousness left her body.

“Boom!”

She crashed headfirst into the scorched ground below.

Her head was even stepped into the earth by Liyu, achieving negative-distance contact...

And with White Yama rendered completely incapable of fighting,

the tremendous power gathered upon the black sword instantly collapsed and dispersed into countless white particles that vanished into the air.

Yumo: ...

Looking at this scene,

Miss Yumo froze in place and looked blankly at her chest, the black sword lying on the ground, and White Yama in the distance, planted into the earth like a carrot...

Forget seeing whether she could break a single brick off her body—

the experiment hadn't even happened!!

I played the villain for so long, and this is the ending I get?!

Disappointment spread rapidly.

Pouting unhappily, Yumo turned toward the sudden little troublemaker, ready to give her disobedient daughter a proper scolding.

?!!

Eh?!

However,

before Yumo could say anything,

the gray-haired girl leaped directly into her arms and tightly wrapped herself around Yumo's slender waist, burying her face into her chest.

Before Yumo could even understand what was happening,

the little girl's voice, full of fear and anxiety, entered her ears.

“Wuuuuu! Mother, you're too reckless! That white-haired woman isn't an ordinary Hero! She's a Heavenly Apostle! What if you really got hurt?! I don't want to see Mother get hurt! Wuuuuuu! Please don't joke around with your own body! Wuuuuuu...”

“Y-you promised before... promised not to take risks anymore... wuu...”

“W-why are you doing dangerous things again? If something happened to Mother, what would Sister and the others do? Mother is a bad person, a bad, bad person, wuuuuu...”

“From now on... y-you can't do this anymore...”

“Li-Liyu...”

Looking at the little girl hugging her and crying pitifully,

Yumo froze once more.

The miserable sobbing instantly extinguished the trace of anger in her mind.

The reprimand she had been about to spit out was forcibly swallowed back down.

The child was already crying so sadly.

How could she possibly scold her now?

Besides, the girl had done this to protect her...

After gaining a basic understanding of her own durability,

Yumo knew very clearly that White Yama's full-power attack couldn't kill her.

She had merely wanted to see how much damage it could inflict.

But,

just because she knew didn't mean Liyu and the others knew.

In their eyes, White Yama's attack had undoubtedly been deadly.

Seeing their mother about to be struck by such a terrifying attack, it was only natural for them to panic.

Sigh...

Looks like in the future, 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

aside from those matters she was forbidden to reveal,

she should explain other things properly to these children.

Thinking that,

Yumo slowly regained her senses.

The displeasure within her crimson eyes completely vanished, replaced by relief.

Then she gently reached out and rubbed Liyu's little head, speaking with guilt in her voice.

“Sorry. I won't do such reckless things again. Xiaoyu, stop crying...”

“R-really? You really won't do reckless things anymore?”

“Really. If it's an attack that actually poses a threat, I won't casually take it head-on.”

Yumo said somewhat against her conscience.

“O-okay...”

Feeling the warmth of Mother's palm and hearing those words, Liyu gradually stopped crying and loosened her arms around Yumo's waist.

Then, somewhat embarrassed, she looked up.

“Sorry, Mother, I soaked your clothes with tears... and... there's dirt too.”

“Ah, this?”

Looking down at the large wet patch on her chest, as well as the dirt that had splashed onto her when White Yama's head hit the ground, Yumo simply shook her head.

“It's fine. I can just change clothes. As for the dirt? Washing will take care of it.”

“Then... can I wash together with Mother?”

“T-together?”

“Mhm.”

Liyu nodded.

Looking into her daughter's expectant eyes, Yumo—who always spoiled her children—couldn't possibly refuse.

She smiled softly and nodded under Liyu's delighted gaze.

“Okay. As long as you like it.”

“Mhm! Mother is the best!”

Liyu couldn't help revealing a sweet smile.

However,

while smiling contentedly, the little girl suddenly noticed the silver-haired figure lying atop the ruins nearby.

Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly.

Her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her dress.

An almost imperceptible killing intent appeared in her eyes.

But,

Liyu quickly suppressed it.

Then she turned to Yumo with an innocent expression and asked curiously,

“Mother, who is that girl?”