Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 86: A Mother’s Guilt
The morning light hit his face directly. It was too annoying.
Max frowned. His eyes slowly opened.
The forest was no longer dark. Sunrays filtered through the branches, falling over him.
"...ugh, shit... I fell asleep..."
He shifted slightly. And then he noticed.
He was still sitting.
With the hammer in his hand. The shield resting at his side.
He had fallen asleep like that. On guard.
He exhaled through his nose.
"...great."
Around him, the group began to wake up.
Low groans. Slow movements.
The campfire was nothing but dead ashes now.
And the cold was noticeable.
It seeped into their bones.
Moonlight was shivering. Sitting there, hugging herself.
Max didn’t hesitate. He reached into his infinite backpack and pulled out a blanket.
He wrapped it around her, hugging her.
"Moon, it’s chilly. I don’t want you catching a cold."
Moonlight grabbed it immediately.
"...thanks, Dad."
She wrapped herself up tighter, moving a little closer.
Max reached in again. He pulled out what little food he had left.
Bread and some dried meat. It wasn’t much.
"We’ll have to ration."
It was simple and direct. He handed out a small portion to each person.
Neros looked at his portion, then at his sister.
"here, Soph."
He held it out to her.
"I don’t need it."
But his stomach growled loudly, saying otherwise.
Neros blushed.
Sophie looked at him and laughed.
"you don’t have to."
She gave the portion back.
"You need to eat too."
She smiled at him.
"We need you strong."
Neros hesitated for a second. Then nodded.
"...fine, but if you end up hungry, don’t complain, little sis."
Meanwhile, Max pulled something else out.
A jar. He held it in front of him.
Inside were dark ashes.
He looked at Dorian.
"Is there any way to bring them back to their original form?"
Dorian looked up, yawning. Tired, thoughtful.
But before he could answer—
"Yes, I know how."
The voice cut through the air.
Everyone looked. It was Lamia, sitting on a log. Awake.
"They were burned with silver."
Her tone was calm.
"When they fell into my smoke magic."
A pause.
"If you take those ashes to Abel..."
She lifted her gaze.
"He’ll know what to do."
Dorian frowned.
"...I knew succubi didn’t really die."
He ran a hand over his face.
"But I never found the magic to restore their bodies."
Lamia shook her head slightly.
"They do die."
A pause.
"But not like this."
She looked at the jar.
"Not when they’re reduced to ashes by silver burns."
Max nodded.
"Great, then."
He looked at her.
"And now that you’re awake..."
He smiled.
"And looking a lot better."
Dorian leaned in a little, looking her up and down.
"She really does look better than ever..."
His gaze dropped. Straight to her cleavage.
Max didn’t hesitate. He smacked him on the head.
"Quit drooling."
"Ow!"
Dorian grabbed his head.
Lamia laughed. Then winked at him.
Max sighed.
"Anyway."
He looked at her again. Serious.
"I’m going to ask you for a small favor."
He took a deep breath.
"I want to know if you’re willing to help us kill Dante."
The atmosphere shifted. Lamia was no longer smiling.
"Without a doubt."
Her voice was firm.
"I’d sacrifice myself if necessary."
A brief pause.
"As you’ve probably already noticed, that part isn’t a lie."
Max shook his head.
"Relax, I’m not asking for anything like that. Not right now..."
He crossed his arms.
"But I remembered something."
He looked at her intently.
"The Phantom was known for using the deadliest poisons."
Pointing at her mouth.
"Especially since your body produces them."
Lamia smiled and nodded proudly.
"You’re correct."
Max continued.
"I have a power. An ability."
His eyes glowed faintly.
"I can make your poisons more effective."
A pause.
"I’m going to need a sample. The most lethal one you can produce."
Lamia didn’t hesitate. She pulled out an empty vial.
Dorian looked at it.
"There’s nothing in that."
Lamia looked him straight in the eyes. Then, without breaking eye contact, she began to spit—provocatively. A white liquid fell into the vial, slowly filling it.
An uncomfortable silence followed.
Max grimaced.
"...that’s disgusting."
Dorian covered his face.
"I can’t deal with this woman..."
He blushed.
"She’s driving me crazy..."
Lamia laughed and handed the vial to Max.
He took it carefully, looking completely grossed out.
"Did you have to do it like that?"
She smiled.
"I thought it’d be fun."
Max sighed.
"Yeah, well..."
He looked at the vial.
"I didn’t."
He stored it in his infinite backpack.
Then looked at her again. More serious.
"Now there’s something else."
He crossed his arms.
"I want you to apologize."
He pointed at the women.
"For trying to kill them."
The atmosphere tensed.
Lamia lowered her gaze.
"...I truly do regret it."
Her voice was softer.
"But I’m not someone who apologizes."
Dorian looked at her. Serious for the first time.
"They really deserve it. Don’t be immature."
A pause.
"Especially if you plan on working with us."
Dorian smiled at her.
Lamia closed her eyes for a second. Exhaled.
"...fine."
She lifted her gaze.
"I’ll apologize."
Lamia stood up slowly.
Her steps were soft and measured.
The group of women was gathered under the tree.
Some were just waking up. Others were already sitting, leaning against each other.
Abby was with them. Holding a container of warm water, carefully handing it out.
"drink slowly..."
Her voice was gentle.
"It’ll help with the cold."
The women nodded, completely grateful.
Their faces still showed exhaustion... but no longer despair.
Until they noticed.
Lamia was approaching.
Some shrank back. Others took a small step away.
The fear was obvious.
Abby reacted instantly. She stepped in front of them.
She raised her hand, pointing it like a weapon, ready to fire another fireball.
"I don’t know why Max saved you."
Her voice turned firm and cold.
"But don’t even think about getting close to them."
Lamia stopped. She raised both hands.
"Relax."
She took a deep breath.
"I didn’t come to fight."
Her eyes scanned the group.
"I came in peace."
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"I want to apologize."
Silence remained.
"I was blinded."
Her voice lost strength.
"By revenge."
She swallowed.
"I wasn’t thinking about anything else."
She looked up.
"I want the same thing you do."
She smiled gently.
"To free this world from Dante."
Her eyes trembled slightly.
"I regret... what I put you through."
Abby didn’t respond. She looked back.
At the women.
They exchanged glances. Calmer now.
But still tense.
Then, one of them stood up. Slowly. Her body trembling.
On her neck, claw marks were still visible. Her skin was pale.
She approached. Step by step.
Abby didn’t stop her.
The woman stood in front of Lamia.
And then—
SLAP.
The sound cracked through the air.
Lamia’s face snapped to the side.
The echo lingered.
No one spoke.
And in the next second, the woman hugged her. Tight.
It was unexpected for everyone.
Lamia froze. Not reacting.
"I met your daughter."
The woman’s voice trembled.
"Layla."
A pause.
"She was a great woman."
She tightened the embrace.
"A great companion..."
Her voice broke.
"In this shitty life that monster forced us to live."
Lamia trembled. Her eyes widened.
"...Layla..."
Her hands clenched. Then she returned the embrace.
Tight.
As if she was about to break.
"...my Layla..."
Her voice cracked. And she couldn’t hold it anymore.
She broke. The tears came out uncontrollably.
The other women looked at each other. Surprised.
"...Layla?"
"Is she...?"
"Her mother...?"
The murmurs began.
"Layla was..."
"The one who had been here the longest..."
"She always helped us..."
"She taught us how to survive here..."
Voices overlapped.
Shared memories.
Respect.
Pain.
Lamia listened. And each word dragged her deeper. Her hands trembled.
"...I almost..."
Her voice came out broken.
"I almost killed..."
She clenched her teeth.
"...my daughter’s friends..."
Tears overflowed.
"...for a stupid revenge plan..."
She couldn’t hold herself up. Her body bent forward.
The weight of everything crashed down on her.
Then, a hand rested on her shoulder. Firm. Warm.
Max.
"I don’t know what you had in mind."
His voice was calm. But steady.
"But the real enemy is Dante."
A pause.
"And no one else has to suffer because of that bastard."
Lamia looked up.
Her eyes were red.
Filled with tears.
"...I’m sorry."
She looked at all of them.
"Truly..."
Max held her gaze.
"We’ll forgive you."
His voice hardened.
"When we have Dante’s head."
He smiled.
"But this time..."
His eyes gleamed.
"He needs to be truly dead."
