Chapter 679: I Need Your Help

While Carmela and Joy were facing each other right now—Cassius himself was looking at Carmela with absolute adoration right now.

After all, he had only expected a show from Joy—that was why he’d let himself be bound, why he’d watched with such amused curiosity.

He wanted to see what the newly transformed saint would do, what new tricks she had up her sleeve.

But this? Carmela standing between them, daggers drawn, ready to fight her own friend for his sake?

His heart swelled.

The words she had spoken—calling him kind, gentle, funny, foolish—echoed in his mind.

It all meant that she cherished him. She truly, deeply cared for him. Enough to face a saint in battle. Enough to risk everything.

’So you do love me.’ His eyes seemed to say as he gazed at her back with an intensity that could melt steel. ’You really do love me after all.’

Carmela could feel his stare boring into her.

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, the heat spreading down her neck.

She couldn’t believe she had said all those things—especially not in front of him.

Especially not with him listening to every word, watching her with that look that made her want to disappear into the floor.

But she couldn’t afford to be embarrassed right now.

Joy was still there. Still approaching. Still looking at her with that unreadable expression.

And Carmela was keenly, painfully aware of her current state.

Her body was still sensitive from Cassius’s touch, her pussy wet and leaking with evidence of their encounter.

She wanted to cover herself. To grab clothes, to hide her shame.

But she couldn’t move.

She knew if she looked away for even a second, Joy would take advantage. She was certain of it.

So she stood firm.

Unwavering.

Watching.

Waiting.

And then—

Joy moved.

Her lips parted.

Her posture shifted.

Carmela’s eyes sharpened instantly.

She’s coming—

Her body tensed, ready to strike—

But—

"...Wait."

The word cut through the tension.

Carmela blinked.

"Who in the world told you I’m going to attack Cassius right now?"

Carmela stared at her, utterly dumbfounded.

"What?"

"Who told you that I’m trying kill Cassius?"

Joy repeated, genuine confusion on her face.

"Where did you get that strange idea from?"

Carmela’s mind scrambled. This wasn’t the response she had expected.

But still, she recovered quickly, pointing an accusing finger at the bound figure on the bed.

"I mean, you never said anything. But you don’t have to say anything to realise what you’re trying to do!"

"Just look at what you’re doing!"

She pointed at Cassius, still bound and gagged on the bed.

"You completely restrained him! Made him defenseless! And you’re approaching with that scary look on your face!"

Her hand then swung to indicate Joy’s new features.

"Not to mention, those horns of yours! And those wings! It’s so obvious!"

"What’s obvious?"

Joy dryly asked to which Carmela immediately replied saying,

"It’s so obvious that out of desperation to defeat Cassius, you made some deal with your goddess for power!"

Her voice grew more certain, building her case.

"Last time this happened, you met a deity, and now you’ve returned with new abilities! It’s clearly all for the purpose of going after him!"

But even as she said, Joy just stared at her like she had no idea what she was talking about.

The silence stretched.

And finally, Carmela’s confidence wavered.

"...Isn’t it?" She asked, her voice small.

"No, Carmela." Joy shook her head slowly. "No."

Her voice was dry, almost exasperated.

"Not only do I have no intention of killing Cassius right now, but that’s honestly the last thing on my mind."

She paused, thinking about the universal annihilation that would result from such an act.

The shudder that ran through her was genuine.

"I also didn’t make any deal with the goddess to eliminate him."

She added which made Carmela relax slightly—then tensed again as Joy thoughtfully continued,

"Well, actually, I did make a deal with the goddess. And I am carrying out her request right now."

Carmela’s daggers rose again in defence.

"But." Joy held up a hand. "It’s not what you think. It’s for a completely different purpose. With a completely different intentions toward Cassius."

Carmela hesitated, suspicion still burning in her eyes.

"What intentions?" She demanded warily. "What exactly are you trying to do to him?"

Joy looked at Carmela. Then at Cassius, who was watching with keen interest despite his bonds. Then back at Carmela.

She hesitated.

The words stuck in her throat.

This was so embarrassing. So utterly humiliating.

Especially with Cassius right there, looking at her with those eyes that seemed to see straight through to her soul.

But she had to say it.

She took a breath and finally said,

"I...I’m going to seduce him."

The words hung in the air.

"I’m going to make him utterly fall for me and make him unable to live without me."

"Basically turn him into a love slave."

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a wave of frustration and embarrassment wash over her.

Her cheeks flushed—barely, subtly, but it was there.

But nonetheless this was enough to prove her innocence.

Surely this would prove her intentions were harmless.

Surely Carmela would understand.

But to her surprise, that didn’t happen and instead Carmela’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"Okay. That’s it."

Her voice was ice.

"You’re definitely possessed. There’s no way the Joy I know would even joke about something like that."

She took a step forward, pointing a blade at Joy.

"Whatever is inside Joy right now—get out!"

Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.

"Get out before I drag you out myself!"

She looked ready to pounce, to exorcise whatever demon had taken root in her friend’s body.

Even Cassius, who had been watching with amusement, frowned slightly.

His posture shifted, as if preparing to break free of his bonds and assist Carmela if necessary.

And seeing their reactions, Joy’s jaw dropped.

"What?! No! I’m not possessed! I’m still me!"

"Don’t lie to me!" Carmela shot back. "Even if you held a knife to Joy’s throat, she would never say such things! She would cut her own tongue out first!"

Her eyes blazed.

"So, stop making a mockery of me! Whatever you are, just accept it! There’s no need to pretend!"

She tensed, ready to spring and Joy realized, with dawning horror, that Carmela genuinely believed she was possessed.

That words alone would never convince her.

And Cassius was clearly leaning the same way.

She needed proof.

Something undeniable unless she wanted to fight them both and have some holy water doused on her in the name of a exorcism.

Then it hit her. She knew exactly what she needed to do.

So, she raised her hand.

Carmela saw the movement and lunged forward, daggers flashing. Cassius began to strain against his bonds, ready to break free and join the fight—

But then—

A blinding white light exploded from Joy.

It filled the entire room, pure and radiant and undeniably holy.

The moment it touched Carmela’s skin, she felt it—purification, warmth, the unmistakable essence of divine light.

Cassius felt it too. His struggles ceased as the holy energy washed over him, cleansing and pure.

Joy then lowered her hand.

The light faded, but its afterimage still burned in their vision.

She looked at them with solemn eyes.

"I hope this proves I haven’t been possessed." She said quietly. "If I were, I wouldn’t be able to use my holy powers. The Goddess would have revoked them instantly. And more importantly..."

Her voice hardened

"—I would have died on the spot just from the backslash."

Hearing this, Carmela stared at her in disbelief.

Cassius stared at her in confusion like he had heard a plot twist that he had never expected.

The logic was sound. Undeniable. No evil being could wield the goddess’s power so freely, so purely.

It would be revoked the moment corruption touched the soul.

So if Joy could still use her holy abilities...

Then she wasn’t possessed.

Which meant—

Which meant she had actually said those words.

She actually intended to seduce Cassius.

Realising this, Carmela’s daggers lowered slowly, her expression shifting from battle-readiness to something else entirely.

Shock.

Utter, complete, bewildered shock.

"You..." She breathed. "You actually...You really..."

Beside her, Cassius’s eyes had gone wide.

His bonds suddenly felt less like a restraint and more like a front-row seat to the most unexpected show of his existence.

Both of them stared at Joy with expressions of utter, complete disbelief and wonder.

They looked even more shocked than when they thought she was possessed.

Because the idea that Joy had been taken over by a demon?

That was scary, yes, but it made a certain kind of sense.

But the idea that Joy—pure, pious, untouchable Joy had willingly, of her own free will, decided to seduce Cassius?

That was even more terrifying.

Meanwhile, Joy looked at both of them and felt a flicker of confusion.

Why did they look even more horrified now than when they thought she was possessed?

She shook the thought away.

It didn’t matter.

She had a mission.

Turning to Cassius, she met his gaze with straightforward determination.

"I know I shouldn’t be saying this." She began, her voice steady. "Blatantly telling my target about my mission and purpose is something no competent operative would ever do."

She paused.

"But I don’t like playing mind games. I don’t like tricks and manipulation. I’d much rather be straightforward."

Cassius’s eyebrows rose above his gag. Despite his bound state, his eyes sparkled with renewed interest.

"Right now, the Goddess of Light has given me a mission." Joy’s voice didn’t waver. "I am to seduce you. Make you utterly fall for me. Make you unable to resist me to the extent that you follow me to the side of light and become a believer in her faith."

Both Cassius and Carmela stared at her with identical expressions of shock.

Cassius’s mind particularly reeled.

The Goddess of Light—the one he had assumed wanted his head on a platter—was now sending her most devout follower to seduce him?

One moment he was expecting divine retribution, holy judgment, perhaps a lightning bolt or two.

The next, he was being informed that the enemy had switched tactics from assassination to...seduction?

He didn’t know whether to be terrified or flattered.

Joy ignored his internal crisis and pressed on.

"So to follow my mission and complete my promise to the Goddess, that’s exactly what I’m going to do."

Her eyes narrowed with focus.

"I’m going to seduce you. I’m going to turn you into my love slave—someone who can’t do anything without me."

Then, without warning, she turned to Carmela.

"...And you’re going to help me."

Carmela’s jaw dropped.

"What?!" The word exploded from her. "Why?! Why should I help with such a ridiculous task? I’m not a follower of your goddess! I have no obligation to—"

"Because I have absolutely no clue about the art of seduction." Joy interrupted calmly.

Carmela blinked in confusion, while Joy held up her hand, watching the faint pink glow that shimmered around her fingers.

"I have these abilities now. The Goddess gave them to me. But knowing how to use power and knowing how to apply it are two different things."

She looked at Carmela directly.

"I’m completely inexperienced when it comes to matters involving the bed."

"But you?" She pointed at Carmela. "You have experience."

Carmela’s face went red.

"Wha—I—that’s—" She sputtered, completely flustered. "No! No, no, no! I want nothing to do with this!"

She waved her hands frantically.

"And even if you say I have experience, it’s barely anything! If you want real experience, go ask any of the women in this mansion!"

She gestured wildly toward the door.

"They’re basically Cassius’s sex slaves! They dream about him and his cock day and night! They’d be much better teachers than me!"

But Joy shook her head firmly.

"I can’t do that."

Carmela blinked. "Why not?"

"First, those women love him too much. They wouldn’t dare do anything that could possibly sabotage him or put him in a position they don’t control."

"They’d either refuse to help or try to twist the situation to their advantage."

She then thought for a moment and added,

"Second, they’re all incredibly gossipy. The moment I reveal anything to them, it will spread through the entire mansion within hours. It will reach my sisters. My mother. And even the entire estate."

She rubbed her forehead in frustration.

"That’s the last thing I need."

She looked back at Carmela, her gaze intensifying.

"But you? You can keep a secret. You’re already here, already involved. And most importantly..."

Her voice softened unexpectedly.

"I trust you."

Carmela’s eyes widened.

"I trust you very much." Joy continued quietly. "And I feel that if you were by my side, I would feel much better. Much safer. Like I’m not entering completely uncharted territory alone."

Her eyes grew vulnerable—an expression Carmela had never seen on her face before.

"So, please, Carmela." Joy said softly. "Please help me with this. Help me seduce Cassius."

Carmela stared at her, speechless.

Part of her wanted to refuse.

This was messy. Complicated. Involved divine politics and goddesses and missions she wanted nothing to do with.

But then she looked at Joy’s eyes.

So sincere.

So earnest.

So completely unlike the stoic, unshakeable commander she had come to know.

And Carmela understood how much effort it must have taken for Joy to ask for help.

After all, Joy was like herself.

Independent. Proud. Someone who solved her own problems, fought her own battles, never leaned on others.

So, the fact that she was asking Carmela for help meant she was struggling. Drowning, even.

And she had come to Carmela.

Not anyone else.

Her.

Carmela’s resolve crumbled and she finally let out a long, defeated sigh.

"Fine." She muttered, her voice reluctant but genuine. "If the Saint of Judgment herself is asking me for a favor, the I really can’t resist."

She then glanced away, her cheeks flushing slightly as she timidly added,

"And...technically...you are my sister now too."

The words came out shy, almost embarrassed.

"And sisters are supposed to help each other, right? So I’ll help you. This once."

Hearing Carmela call her sister again made Joy’s own cheeks warm.

The term felt strange on her ears. Foreign. But not unpleasant.

Both women found themselves looking at each other with a new awareness—a connection forming, deepening, becoming something more than just alliance or friendship.

The air between them grew warm, almost awkward.

Then—

Ahem.

Cassius cleared his throat loudly against the gag.

Both women snapped out of their daze.

They looked at each other, then at Cassius.

And something shifted in their eyes.

Determination.

Focus.

The unrelenting gaze of women on a mission.

They walked toward Cassius slowly, and the look in their eyes made even him feel a shiver run down his spine.

They looked like wolves.

Hungry wolves.

And he was the prey.

Bound. Gagged. Completely at their mercy.

He stared at the two women approaching him—one a transformed saint with succubus powers, one a vampire who had just confessed her love—and wondered:

Should he be worried about this?

Or utterly, completely happy?