Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1541: These People... are really something else!

Later that same day, the official engagement ceremony of Helena Sunfire and Seraphina Ashwood unfolded beneath the sky.

The entire empire shimmered beneath cascades of golden lantern light and oceans of flowers that spilled across balconies, rooftops, and temple stairs.

Drawn images of Aether soared high above in kite form, drifting like blessings carried by the wind.

The banners of Aether, Helena, and Sera fluttered proudly from every tower and gate, their colours rippling through the air while children ran beneath them laughing, chasing ribbons, playing as if joy itself had taken physical shape and decided to dance among the streets.

A grand stage had been built in Aether’s land, the very land Sera had officially gifted to him.

It stood polished and radiant, carved with delicate sigils and lined with white stone that reflected the evening glow. The city surrounding it overflowed with guests, music, and trembling anticipation. Merchants handed out sweets without asking for coins, elderly couples wiped their tears quietly, and young lovers clasped hands with shy dreams in their eyes.

Many were nearly in tears witnessing such devotion and unity gathered for an engagement.

It felt larger than a ceremony; it felt like redemption.

And those unfortunate enough to travel from distant borders did not need to despair, for the celebration was telecast on massive crystal screens across other territories and frontiers, ensuring every citizen could witness the sacred union and feel included in the moment.

Aether’s grace must fall upon these people, and tonight it felt as though it already had!!

While the celebration roared outside like a joyful storm, inside the brides’ chamber...

Sera stood before a tall mirror framed in silver vines, preparing herself with expressions far too serious for a bride who was meant to be glowing with carefree delight.

”Is it too much?” Sera murmured softly, tilting her chin toward the mirror. Her dark lipstick sharpened her features, giving her an aura both regal and dangerous.

She frowned at her reflection.

”I look like a slut,” she muttered under her breath, as she wiped the lipstick away and splashed cool water against her face, droplets sliding down her cheeks.

”Archpriestess, tell me which suits me best?” Helena stepped into the room holding two white gowns draped carefully over her arms.

Sera turned slowly and examined the two dresses. Both shimmered faintly under the lamplight, both elegant... both impossibly similar.

”If you keep changing clothes every five minutes, why are you asking me for divine guidance?” Sera replied, crossing her arms. ”Also, forgive my honesty, but I do not see any difference.”

Helena blinked, genuinely startled. ”But this one has golden flower embroidery woven along the hem, while this one has golden star embroidery stitched near the sleeves. The symbolism is completely different.”

Sera pressed her fingers to her temple and exhaled slowly, fighting the urge to laugh and scream at the same time.

This was their day, their sacred day, and she refused to let irritation steal even a fragment of it.

She softened her expression and stepped closer, gently adjusting Helena’s hair.

”You could wear a plain cloth and still look radiant,” Sera said quietly, ”Choose the one that makes Aether’s heart flutter. That is the only difference that matters.”

”But you keep putting that ugly makeup on again and again....” Helene murmured with a pout.

”...”

Was she... saying The great Sera being a bitch here?

Even though she helped her many times?

Before Sera could respond with an annoyed expression, a deep voice echoed from outside the chamber doors.

”Lord Archpriest has arrived.”

Both women froze and,

”Shit,”

”Shit,”

****

Meanwhile, at the teleportation station within the Aurora Empire, Aether stepped from the sacred platform for the first time since the disaster that had nearly shattered everything.

The moment his boots touched the polished stone, he inhaled deeply.

The scent of purity lingered in the air, clean and almost holy. It flowed into his lungs and settled within his chest, calming his racing thoughts and smoothing the tension in his shoulders.

He closed his eyes briefly and nodded.

”It has been a while,” he murmured, straightening his simple white garments. Unlike the grand robes he once wore, these were humble and unadorned, yet they carried quiet dignity.

Sometimes, true beauty and love required no ornament... He smiled faintly and stepped forward, only to halt in surprise.

Before him stood an ocean of people.

Rows upon rows of kneeling figures stretched as far as his eyes could see.

”What in the...” Aether thought, stunned into silence as he surveyed the vast gathering.

He had expected a small reception, perhaps tears, perhaps apologies. After all, they had once abandoned him.

He assumed they might attempt a modest welcome to soothe their own guilt.

But this... this was overwhelming devotion laid bare!

High Priests, Priests, children clutching their mothers’ robes, pregnant women struggling to kneel, elderly men leaning on trembling hands.

Thousands upon thousands bowed before him like waves frozen mid-motion.

If counted, they would number in the hundreds of thousands!!

Fuck!

Aether’s smile wavered under the weight of it.

”How are you all?” he asked gently. ”It has been a long time since I have seen you gathered like this.”

Though his voice was soft... His words echoed across the square, brushing against every bowed head.

None dared to lift their gaze. Their shoulders trembled not from fear alone but from shame and guilt.

”Lift your heads,” Aether said quietly, though a faint sigh slipped from him.

Not a single soul moved.

They knew he stood there out of duty, for Sera, for Helena, for responsibility.

Not for them.

They believed they had forfeited that privilege forever!

Aether’s expression darkened slightly. ”Today is meant to be joyful,” he continue, ”Why do you greet me with sorrow?... Does my presence burden you so heavily?”

”NO!”

The response thundered through the air in desperate unison.

One High Priest slowly raised his head, though his eyes remained fixed on the ground. His voice shook as he spoke.

”Forgive us, Archpriest. We failed you when you needed us most. We failed when you placed your trust in us.... Emptiness blinded us after Mother’s disappearance, and in our weakness, we allowed doubt to cloud our faith.

We did not see the truth standing before us.”

He pressed his forehead to the stone.

”Please... do not leave us again. We do not ask for easy forgiveness. We know we betrayed our only hope.

If punishment is deserved, we accept it.”

Aether raised his hand slightly. ”You made a mistake,” he said, ”And you realised it. That is the beginning of redemption, not the end... So Lift up.”

A pregnant woman trembled as she spoke next, her voice fragile yet sincere.

”T-That is why you are our Archpriest. Your heart is greater than our s-sins. Even now, you forgive us while we kneel in shame.” She winced softly, gripping her stomach.

”But forgiveness does not erase our guilt.”

Aether’s expression shifted instantly. He stepped forward and gently grasped her arms, helping her rise despite her resistance.

”You carry life within you,” he said with a chill tone, ”Do not kneel in suffering for my sake. Your child deserves strength, not pain.”

A ripple of fear ran through the crowd at the chillness hidden beneath his calm voice.

”Did these priests force you to kneel?” he asked, eyes narrowing slightly.

”N-No,” the woman replied quickly.

”Did the... Archpriestess command this?” His voice turned colder still.

”N-No. She would never demand such a thing from us.”

Aether blankly stared at the group, still lowering their heads and still avoiding his gaze. He coldly uttered with authority,

”If you remain kneeling... then I will leave this empire forever, and I will not look back.”

That was all it took.

Every single person rose to their feet at once, as if pulled upward by invisible strings.

The square shifted from a sea of bowed heads into a trembling ocean of faces, red eyes, shaking lips, hands clutching robes and sleeves.

Aether’s gaze moved slowly across them, and it paused on the pregnant women struggling to breathe evenly, on the elderly whose knees had clearly painfull.

Pain lingered in their expressions... but so did something far stronger.

For the first time since everything had shattered, they were seeing him again.

Their Archpriest stood before them dressed in pure white garments almost identical to their own.

No royal crest... No imperial insignia... No crown of authority from the Naiadae Empire or the Zephyra Empire.

Just white cloth flowing gently in the breeze.

He had not come as a ruler... He had come as one of them.

That struck deeper than any punishment could have.

Their hearts tightened painfully inside their chests. Fingers curled into fists as if trying to hold in emotions that refused containment.

Look at those calm ice blue eyes, serene yet unfathomable, carrying burdens no mortal could measure. Within them rested secrets of the world and, impossibly, love that still had not died.

Look at those black strands of hair dancing softly in the wind, brushing against his forehead like they too felt relief at returning home. He looked at ease, almost peaceful, as though the storm between them had never existed.

There was no accusation in his gaze.

No resentment.

No visible betrayal.

Only a quiet concern at the sight of their suffering.

Who could remain so gentle after being abandoned?

What world deserved a man like him?

If only they had stayed.

If only they had believed.

If only they had not allowed emptiness to rot their faith.

He might have belonged entirely to them!

But regret could not rewrite the past... What had happened had happened.

Tears would not undo it.

They would begin again.

And this time, their faith would not waver.

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...

..

.

Tears fell freely.

Drip...

Drip...

Heads lowered once more, not in shame now but in overwhelming devotion.

”F-Finally...”

”O-Our God...”

”He came back to u-us? After everything we did? H-He is so... so...”

The murmurs rippled through the crowd like wind through tall grass, filled with love, guilt, awe, and disbelief.

Aether raised an eyebrow slightly. He knew these people were devout.

He knew their faith bordered on fanaticism... Still, witnessing it firsthand felt like being swept into a tide he had not fully prepared for.

Even after forgiving them, they reacted as if he had descended from heaven itself.

What exactly was he supposed to do with this level of fanaticism?

He considered several options, dismissed most of them, and then chose the simplest path.

”What do you want me to do now?” Aether asked plainly.

Direct and uncomplicated... No overthinking over these fanatics.

The High Priest exchanged glances with the others. Warm smiles spread across faces streaked with tears. He stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and spoke with trembling sincerity.

”Please... walk over us.”

Aether blinked... His expression clearly translated to, What did you just say?

For a moment, he genuinely wondered whether he had accidentally joined a cult without noticing the paperwork.

Before he could question their sanity out loud, another High Priest hurried to clarify.

”Archpriest, we wish to carry you to the brides. On our arms, our shoulders, our backs. However, we can. Please allow us this honour.”

Aether stared at them. He almost asked what exactly they meant by h’owever we can’, but he stopped himself.

These people were painfully pure.

If there were corrupt thoughts in this square... they belonged exclusively to him.

He shook his head slightly. ”I do not think that is—”

”Please.”

”Please allow us this,” the first High Priest insisted, his voice cracking.

”T..This is the only way we can atone. We... We abandoned you when you n-needed us most.

We doubted you.

We... We f-failed you.” His fist clenched tightly against his chest. ”If we cannot carry even your weight, then what right do we have to call ourselves your followers?”

Aether looked at him carefully. The man already appeared on the verge of collapsing from emotion alone.

’You look like you might die just from breathing too hard, and you want to carry me?’

Before he could respond, a woman stepped forward,

”Please let us bear you,” she said through clenched teeth. ”Your feet should not touch ground that we tainted with our betrayal. Let us cleanse it with our backs.”

And just like that, they began kneeling again. Pregnant women, children, and elders. All are lowering themselves without hesitation.

Aether pressed his fingers to his forehead.... They would not stop unless he accepted.

He exhaled slowly.

”Fine.”

The reaction was immediate.

”YAAAAYY!!!”

Cheers erupted like fireworks. Tears streamed freely. Some laughed, some sobbed, some nearly fainted from joy.

It looked less like permission and more like a divine prophecy fulfilled.

”But,” Aether added firmly, raising a hand. ”Be careful. Especially the pregnant women, the elderly, and children. If anyone strains themselves because of this, I will be extremely displeased.”

The concern in his tone struck them harder than any blessing.

”H-He still worries about us.”

”He did not abandon us in his heart.”

”I... I can die peacefully now. pfffiii~”

Aether shook his head, though the faintest smile leaked on his lips... These people truly were something else.

The High Priests positioned themselves first, lowering into crouched positions like human steps. Their backs aligned carefully, hands gripping the ground for balance.

Aether rolled his shoulders once. If they insisted, then so be it.

His foot touched the first High Priest’s back.

Step.

Then the next.

Step.

The first two High Priests nearly wept from joy at the contact. To them, it felt as though their sins dissolved beneath his touch.

They smiled warmly...

”Archpriest is very light, is he not—”

THUD.

THUD.

”ARHH!”

”ARHH!”

Both High Priests collapsed flat against the ground, groaning in agony.

Aether stumbled forward, barely maintaining balance. ”Are you alright?” he asked quickly.

No immediate response... Just painful wheezing.

Concern flickered across his face as he tried to step down, but the crowd surged forward, hands raised desperately to prevent his feet from touching the ground.

They urged him onward while others rushed to help the fallen men.

Aether sighed and stepped onto the next pair of backs.

THUD.

THUD.

They flattened instantly.

He stared in disbelief. ”What is happening?”

One of the crushed priests groaned, ”Y-You are... heavy... Archp-ahrr” he groaned heavily as his spine bent inwardly as Aether’s foot pressed on his back.

Aether’s eyes widened in offended shock.

Heavy?

He was not even that large.

Little did he know... that what pressed upon them was not flesh and bone.

It was the weight of his soul!