Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1023 1023: Mother... is calling you

Archpriestess, seeing her puppy eyes werenʼt working on him, let her lips twitch ever so slightly. ʼHeʼs grown resilient too... I like it,ʼ she thought to herself with a strange mix of admiration and frustration.

Still, she wasnʼt about to give up that enormous amount of money—funds that could sustain her Empire for years, maybe even decades.

So what did she do?

Something clever... something simple. Take him to the orphanage, and let the rest unfold naturally~

After all, she knew Aether far too well. She understood his heart.

Aether stood there, staring blankly at the crowd of children who had swarmed around him. They clung to him like a group of curious kittens discovering a warm human for the first time. Their big, sparkling eyes and innocent grins made it almost surreal.

One moment, he was sipping tea in the quiet comfort of her room—and the very next... he found himself in the middle of this chaotic bundle of laughter and noise.

His gaze shifted toward the Archpriestess, who now wore a smirk—amused, teasing, almost like she was waiting for a reaction.

”What is this? What are you doing?” Aether asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

The Archpriestess shrugged with a graceful motion. ”Nothing at all... Iʼm simply letting you witness the true heart of our Empire,” she replied, stepping aside with elegance, watching him like a cat observing a mouse. Aether, on the other hand, was already being pulled into a whirlwind of energy by the children.

Since Aether was a new face, and most of these children rarely encountered anyone from outside, they were absolutely brimming with excitement. Their reactions were so raw, so innocent—just like their faces. And seeing someone like Aether, someone gentle and kind, they felt an instant connection. Whether it was his natural charm, his aura, or something else entirely—they were enchanted.

Aether offered a weak, helpless smile as the children clung to his arms, tugged at his clothes, begging him to play. He couldnʼt help but notice how many of them there were—far more than he expected.

ʼWas she already planning this in advance too?ʼ Aether thought, sneaking a look at the Archpriestess with suspicion and awe mixed in his expression.

”Big brother!! Play with us!!”

”Yeah! Can you tell us a story too?”

”Nooo! Donʼt listen to them! Come play tag with us!!”

”What kind of magic do you use?!”

”A-Are you married already?!”

Those voices—all high-pitched, wild, and unfiltered—belonged only to the children.

Aether chuckled softly. Their big, round eyes and bubbly little faces... there was no way—no way in hell—he could abandon them. Not with those pleading looks staring right at him.

Not with hearts that pure.

”Alright, alright... who wants to see something magical~?” Aether said, waving his hand with a flourish. In a breath of energy, purple fireflies emerged from his fingers and danced through the air like tiny glowing spirits. The children gasped, their mouths open in shock and wonder, reaching for the light with awestruck joy.

While Aether played with the children, laughing along with them, the Archpriestess stood in silence, watching.

To be honest, this hadnʼt been her idea. She knew he had a soft spot for children—but this exact approach?

This specific gathering of orphaned children, especially from the outskirts and less privileged locals?

That idea came directly from the Mother Goddess herself.

The Archpriestess didnʼt fully understand what Mother was aiming for, but... she was fine with this.

More than fine!

Manipulate Aether?

Obviously. Why not? Mother had once ordered her to kill him—brutally, without hesitation.

Compared to that, this... this was paradise.

Mother, for some unknown reason, had ceased her death command. She had stopped whispering for his execution. And the Archpriestess had no idea why, but she wasnʼt about to question it. This was the best possible outcome—for her, for everyone.

As long as the Mother Goddess maintained this peaceful interest in Aether, there would be no bloodshed on this sacred soil.

No need for blades or... betrayal.

And most of all... the Archpriestess found herself smiling. Truly smiling, as she watched Aetherʼs expression shift. This side of him—the playful, relaxed, carefree version—was rare. It was precious.

Even though he wore a smile, she could feel the urgency in his soul. He was always on edge, like he was constantly bracing for something to come. Like he was preparing for war, even when surrounded by peace.

”Haha! Come on—add more!” Aether shouted joyfully as he spun around, children clinging to his muscular arms. He twirled like a carousel, their laughter echoing as they flew with him in circles, squealing in delight.

It was like... as if... as if Iteration No.25 had come back to life—if only for a moment.

The childrenʼs joy was infectious. Their laughter filled every corner of the orphanage. For the first time in what felt like forever... this sacred place wasnʼt just shelter—it was home. It was alive with happiness.

Aether, who was spinning around with a joyful face, suddenly paused mid-twirl as his eyes caught sight of a red-haired child standing quietly near the edge of the group. Something inside him stirred—deep and sudden.

That hair...

That colour...

He knew... that child.

His gaze sharpened, scanning the area quickly—until he saw two more children standing nearby, slightly distant from the rest.

His breath grew uneven, shallow. Those kids… he recognized them. They were the ones he had once held, once guided, during a previous iteration. Ones he had protected with his own hands and... killed with his own two hands.

Lowering the children in his arms gently to the ground, Aether began walking slowly toward those familiar faces. The three children, unlike the others, seemed distant—like outliers, detached from the happy chaos surrounding them.

”Sigh... Iʼm bored,” one of them muttered, kicking a small rock.

Another, a boy, smirked and nudged him. ”Come on now. You need to wake up a bit. See? The Archpriestess and your little sister are both looking at the new guy. Wonder why, hmm?”

Just then, Aether crouched down beside them with a curious smile. ”Hey, you three... why arenʼt you playing with the others?”

The red-haired boy frowned and gave a small snort. ”Iʼm not interested,” he replied bluntly.

Aether couldnʼt help but smirk. Without warning, he picked up the boy and spun him around in a wide circle. At first, the child squirmed and scowled in annoyance—but then, slowly, his laughter broke through. Aether knew these children better than anyone ever could. He knew their stubbornness, their pain, their silence.

The other children watched in surprise, wide-eyed, realising that the newcomer wasnʼt just another stranger.

He understood them... Deeply. Almost like... he was one of them. Or maybe something more.

It felt like they had found... a big brother?

Time passed as the sky above turned from soft white to gentle dusk. The children, now exhausted from all the running, games, and laughter, began to slow down. Their tiny legs couldnʼt match Aetherʼs endless energy. The Archpriestess, noticing their growing fatigue, sighed and stepped in—grabbing Aether by the arm and dragging him out without a shred of hesitation.

Aether waved goodbye, watching the sleepy children begin to slump over, some yawning mid-sentence. His voice rang out with cheer, ”Iʼll come play again tomorrow, alright~?”

He blew them a playful flying kiss, which the children eagerly returned, giggling and waving back with sleepy joy.

”Weʼll wait, Big Brother!!” they shouted in unison, their voices full of laughter—though a few of them looked close to tears, already missing him as he walked away.

As they walked through the grass-covered path, the Archpriestess glanced sideways at him. ”Tomorrow? Are you staying here again?”

Aether gave an awkward little laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. ”Canʼt I? Just one more day.”

”Of course,” she replied gently, smiling. ”Youʼre welcome to stay as long as youʼd like.”

Aether smiled in return as he stepped over the soft earth. His eyes drifted around, taking in the quaint houses, the tall trees, the slowly darkening sky. Everything felt... peaceful.

Familiar.

He felt like he had come home.

And yet, Aether inwardly shook his head, silently warning himself not to get carried away. He needed to stay steady. Focused. He couldnʼt afford to let his guard down.

”You know...” the Archpriestess murmured softly, breaking the silence, ”I didnʼt bring you here to make you feel guilty. About how these children eat barely enough each day, how we stretch our rations to keep them alive, or how people are dying just to protect what little we have left... when all the money was suddenly gone.”

Aether blinked, then turned to look at her. ”...Now I do feel guilty,” he muttered with a slight frown, earning a soft chuckle from her.

He sighed, shaking his head. Of course, he knew about the Empireʼs situation.

How much money it took to support those children without receiving anything in return.

Even the adults lived on bare minimums—barred from leaving the land, unable to earn from outside. The economy was sealed. Closed. Every resource had to be conserved carefully.

And the population was rising steadily.

Aether knew firsthand just how impossible it was to sustain everything... how overwhelming the cost truly was.

Then why had he asked for money in the first place?

Because...

”How about something else?” Aether asked suddenly, a sly grin spreading across his lips... He already knew the outcome...

But before he could finish his thought—

The Archpriestess flinched—not because of his words, but from something else entirely. Her pupils flashed with a faint, eerie glow.

”Mother... is calling you,” she whispered.