My Wives are Beautiful Demons - Chapter 578

Chapter 578: Choosing the first opponent.

Sapphire clapped her hands once, loud enough to echo throughout the hall, and immediately all attention turned to her. The fire in Katharina’s hands dimmed, the wind currents around Roxanne calmed, and the blood on Ada’s fingers seemed to evaporate. Even Ingrid looked up, realizing the situation had suddenly changed.

“Very well,” Sapphire said, her voice firm but laced with a faint hint of reproof. “I want everyone to pay attention. Ingrid, could you explain to me why you were defeated so easily?”

Ingrid took a deep breath, trying to control the anger burning in her chest. The shadow of shame and frustration still lingered, but she responded with the same fury she felt deep within her soul:

“That man… he’s a fucking monstrosity,” she said, her teeth clenched. “He’s impossible to defeat. He toyed with me… as if I were nothing.” I feel like trash, completely useless. And… and I’m only here because he wanted to kidnap me. I want… I want to kill him more than anything in this world.

The room fell silent for a moment. Katharina’s fire crackled slowly, as if reflecting the tension of the scene. Roxanne held her arm, looking away, while Ada clenched her fists, the energy pulsing slightly, controlled only by the conscious effort not to explode.

Sapphire sighed deeply, the tip of her hand touching her chin in an almost maternal gesture. Her eyes, which normally conveyed command and sternness, now reflected restrained pity.

“He’s getting arrogant again,” she murmured, her voice thick with disapproval. “If I were him, I would have crushed you without leaving any room for revenge. But no… he chose to play. And now you come here, with that look of hatred, full of resentment, ready to die or to kill… and yet you survived.”

Ingrid clenched her fists, feeling the heat of the shadows gather around her, as if they wanted to shatter the ground beneath her feet. She took a deep breath, trying to recall every blow, every move, every flaw Vergil had provoked in her strategy. It was humiliating—but it also made her want to outdo herself irrationally.

“I’m going to kill him,” she repeated, her voice low and tense. “And no matter how many times he makes me look like a fool, I’m going to kill him.”

Katharina sighed, throwing her arms in the air and crossing them over her chest. The golden flame in her hands dissipated, as if she realized that any attempt to calm Ingrid was futile.

“For the love of all that is holy, let’s go,” Katharina said, her tone mixing frustration and mild amusement. “Let’s finish this before he comes back and finds us here laughing and screaming instead of fighting.”

Ada, who was already stretching slightly, smiled. “I agree. The sooner we finish, the better.” And honestly, Katharina… you can’t hide the fact that you’re curious to see how she fares against us.

“Curious?” Katharina smiled broadly, her fingertips igniting again by automatic reflex. “Of course. But let’s be honest: I just want to make sure this party ends without me losing my temper.”

Roxanne, who had remained more restrained, simply crossed her arms and sighed, the gentle wind around her fading completely. “Very well, then. Let’s settle this.”

There was a slight tension in the air before the first exchange of attacks, but Katharina decided to cut through any formality with a classic—and perhaps stupid—idea.

“So, let’s decide who goes first…” she said, her voice thick with irony. “…with a fair game. Jokenpô.”

Ada laughed, a light, audible sound, while Roxanne arched an eyebrow, clearly finding the idea ridiculous.

“You’re joking, right?” Roxanne asked, crossing her arms. “Decide who will attack a Demon Queen candidate with a game of rock, paper, scissors?”

“Exactly,” Katharina replied, shrugging and clapping her hands. “Simple, quick, and totally effective.”

Ingrid, standing a little to the side, gave a look of disbelief. “Are you serious? You’re going to play ‘who will try to kill me first’ as if it were a joke?”

“Yes,” Ada replied, throwing her head back and laughing. “And frankly, you’re going to like it.”

“As if anyone had a choice,” Roxanne muttered, but her smile betrayed hidden enthusiasm.

Katharina snapped her fingers and everyone lined up. Ingrid watched with a mixture of anger and curiosity.

“Okay,” Katharina said. “One, two, three…”

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

The hands moved quickly: Katharina opened her palm—paper; Ada clenched her fingers into a fist—rock; Roxanne made a scissor gesture.

“Papers cover rock!” Katharina exclaimed with a victorious smile. “First turn is mine!”

“Damn it!” Ada groaned, throwing her arms up. “I can’t believe I lost to this.”

“Relax,” Roxanne said calmly. “I still have a chance to go later.”

“Hah.” Katharina stepped forward, the flames beginning to rise around her body, their intensity controlled and vivid. “Let’s get this over with.”

The mansion gate opened with a heavy creak, and the afternoon wind blew in, carrying the scent of stone and sun-warmed earth. Katharina led the way, her red hair rippling like living flames, each step sending small sparks flying. Ingrid followed, katana in hand, shadows rippling lightly around her feet. The air between them felt charged with electricity—not just any electricity, but the kind that heralds inevitable storms.

“So, this is where we’re going,” Ingrid murmured, surveying the wide open field between the mansion and the castle gardens. “The perfect place for someone to try to kill me before I even fully understand what’s happening.”

Katharina laughed, a laugh that felt both warm and dangerous. “Exactly. But don’t worry, we’ll keep this… fair. Just a practice session between us.”

Ingrid narrowed her eyes, anger burning like black fire. “Practice or not, you’re not going to let this go. I won’t lose again.”

Katharina raised her right hand, and a circle of golden flames began to form around her, swirling and growing until they created small ripples of heat visible in the air. “Good. Let’s see what you’re capable of.”

Without further warning, Katharina advanced, her hands opening in a dance of concentrated fire that transformed into flaming blades around her. Each movement was elegant, almost hypnotic, yet deadly. Ingrid didn’t hesitate: the shadows around her feet expanded, undulating like black serpents seeking to intertwine with the fire, absorbing some of its energy and unleashing attacks in the form of dark tentacles.