Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1172: Want to learn how to fight against the souls?

Later, Aether and Nyx returned home, even though the meeting was still ongoing. Discussions were continuing about the repaired cycle of samsara, yet everyone knew deep down—it didn’t guarantee the return of The Eye and The Hands without Grace.

They had more work to do... and they knew it.

Since Aether had openly revealed what he done... everyone started seeing him in a different light. Not just as Nyx’s husband. Not just a slave. But as something... far more significant.

Even though many of them didn’t like it.

And for some reason, that shift in perception definitely began to bother Mary more.

Meanwhile,

As Aether and Nyx stepped through the door of the house, they halted for a moment, surprised to see... Nightfire was still inside, pacing restlessly like she had been waiting the entire time.

The moment Aether walked in, Nightfire’s eyes lit up, her face instantly softening with a bright, relieved expression.

[+1000]

”The fuck you went off to—”

She stopped herself mid-sentence, slapping a hand over her mouth the instant she noticed Nyx glaring sharply at her from behind Aether. Nightfire quickly swallowed her words.

”I mean... where have you two been the past few days?”

Nyx didn’t reply. She just let out a faint hum under her breath, brushed past Nightfire without a word, and grabbed Aether’s wrist with a firm grip, pulling him along.

Nightfire stood there, watching them disappear into their room like she wasn’t even there. Her jaw tightened. She clicked her tongue with a low scoff, ’Here I was, worried sick about that bastard... fuck, he didn’t even glance at me!’ The bitterness rose in her mouth like a sour taste she couldn’t swallow down.

[+2000 AP]

”Tsk... I really hate him.”

She muttered under her breath, then turned and stomped back to her room, fists clenched.

Meanwhile, back in Nyx’s room,

Aether could already guess what was about to happen. It was one of those moments again. The usual, empty sex. No emotion. Just a routine.

He sighed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. ”Let me just take a quick bath...” he mumbled tiredly, his body still stiff and exhausted.

But Nyx didn’t respond with words. Instead, she pushed him down onto the bed with quiet urgency.

”It’s already late... I need to do it,” she whispered in a low, unreadable tone.

She climbed over him, straddling him smoothly without hesitation.

She didn’t go straight to taking his shaft. Instead, she just stared at him. Her purplish blue eyes locked with his face.

There was a strange stillness in the air.

Aether blinked. ”...What are you doing?”

He frowned a little, confused by her behaviour. Normally, she’d be silent and quick. But now... she was looking at him.

Like actually seeing him.

Nyx leaned in... and for the very first time, her lips touched his.

”Hmm~”

Aether froze slightly at the warmth of her dry, soft lips pressing against his. It wasn’t wild or lustful. Just simple... and almost shy.

His heart gave a small stutter.

She slowly pulled back, her face unreadable as ever. Then, without speaking, she slid down, pulled his pants down, and exposed his shaft.

It was already stiff and leaking at the tip, clearly excited.

Just from a kiss!

Her gaze lingered on his shaft, then drifted back up to his eyes for a brief moment. Then she slowly slid her panties aside and moved her hips forward—sinking him into her.

Aether’s breath hitched when he felt it.

Warm. Wet.

Wait... wet?

He blinked, completely taken aback. ’She’s wet? Since when?’

It was the first time she had ever been ready like that. He looked up at her, but her expression remained flat. Blank. Just like always. There was no outward sign of desire, no moaning, no flushed cheeks.

But her body... told a different story.

She began to ride him with slow, steady movements. Bouncing on his shaft in a practised rhythm.

Everything seemed usual... until something completely unexpected happened.

”Hmm~”

She moaned.

For the first time ever, a soft, breathy moan escaped her lips as he filled her deeply. Her voice trembled just slightly, like she wasn’t sure what was happening to her own body.

She exhaled sharply, then collapsed forward, laying flat against his chest.

And just... stayed there.

Still impaled on him. Still joined together.

Aether looked down at her in disbelief, his hands hesitantly resting on her back. He didn’t know what to say. He had expected some kind of change... but not this.

Nyx didn’t even lift her head. She tilted it slightly to the side and stared up at his face, her eyes half-lidded.

Aether smiled softly, brushing his fingers gently against her back. ”...What?”

Nyx gave a small shake of her head. Then, in the quietest, smallest voice he had ever heard from her—

”I hope... we have a baby soon,” she whispered.

Then her eyes drifted shut.

She didn’t know why she was doing this.

Why her chest felt so full.

Why her heart ached in a good way.

But... she felt warm. Safe. Gentle.

And for the first time, she wanted to hold on to that feeling forever.

Aether hummed in response, smiling faintly. His eyes closed, too, but he didn’t fall asleep.

In the twin domains,

”Hello, Grace~”

Aether waved his hand gently as he appeared beside the floating cage, wearing a soft, radiant smile.

Grace was sitting on the bar inside the cage, legs casually dangling, and not even sparing him a glance as she asked flatly, ”Did you do the job?”

Aether nodded with a warm, almost childlike grin. He sat down beside the cage and replied in an excited tone,

”Of course! Thanks to your help, I was able to seal the crack... and finally, the cycle of samsara started functioning properly again. You know, I was honestly surprised when the entire mountain lit up with this glowing color... it was so bright, so magical. Like something out of a dream.”

He chuckled softly and continued, voice thick with emotion.

”And also... Mary was so happy when she saw me. She almost cried—sniff... sniff... You should’ve seen her face... she looked so beautiful, full of love. The moment she saw me walking back toward her, I could feel her heart just burst.”

Aether sniffed again, trying to keep himself composed, but his throat tightened. The memory of Mary holding up overwhelmed him a little, and he wiped under his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

”Oh, my sweet Mary... I love her so much. And you know what else? She actually jumped in surprise when I showed her that rope you gave me! Honestly, she was over the moon.

Now she can finally introduce me to the whole world as her husband without anyone looking down on her. No more shame in her eyes.”

Hearing him go on and on about Mary, Grace’s lips twitched.

Not in amusement.

In irritation.

”Enough,” she snapped. ”If you had such a lovely time with your precious Mary, then why the hell did you bother coming here?”

She was barely holding her anger in check.

Aether paused mid-sentence. Then slowly, his expression softened again as he looked at her, noticing how she averted her gaze for the first time.

”Because... I thought you might be lonely here.”

”...”

[+10 AP]

Grace turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing as if saying, Are you even listening to yourself?

”Boy... I don’t need your pity. I’ve always been alone.”

Aether slowly shook his head. He reached forward and gently took the cage into his hands, holding it close to his chest like it was something precious.

”I’m not pitying you... You’re the mighty Grace. If anything, I feel sorry that you’re locked up here. Maybe you’ve always been alone before... but now, you’re stuck with me. And I just don’t have the heart to let you suffer through it alone.”

”...”

Grace stared at him with an unreadable expression. Her face blank, but something clearly stirred inside her. She hated the way he talked. The way he looked at her like that.

She was... annoyed.

And yet... she didn’t say anything. She just rolled her eyes and shrugged, ”Suit yourself.”

Aether hummed with a satisfied little chuckle. ”Still... it would be boring if we just stayed like this and hugged each other all the time.”

”We are NOT hugging!” Grace snapped instantly.

Aether raised his hands defensively, looking awkward, ”Of course, we’re not... obviously.”

Seeing his face fall a little, a tinge of worry behind that goofy smile, Grace sighed and shook her head in disbelief.

”Honestly... what do those two bitches even see in you? You were different before. But now... you’re just pathetic.”

”...” Aether bit his lower lip, her words hitting harder than expected. He looked away, then glanced back with a slight frown. ”...Different, you said? You knew me before?”

Grace shook her head slowly, ”Not exactly. But I can see it. Part of you... left behind.”

”Huh?” Aether blinked, clearly confused.

Grace stared at him, eyes locked. ”Don’t tell me... you haven’t noticed.”

”Noticed what?”

She groaned in frustration and facepalmed, then pointed toward the space behind him.

Aether frowned, eyes narrowing as he cautiously turned his head.

And there it was.

A faint wisp of black mist hovered in the air. Soft, flickering... then gone.

”...What the...”

Aether froze, startled. He turned back to Grace, brows furrowed. ”What was that?”

Grace crossed her arms and leaned back. Her expression turned serious.

”When it comes to the soul... There are things only you can find.”

”...I... I don’t get it.”

Grace shot him a sharp look, that familiar smugness crawling back onto her face.

”Want to learn how to fight against the souls?”

”...”