Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1032 1032: ...Did you hear? There was a man... in the Archpriestess’s room...

The Very Next Morning,

”Arrhh...” Sera groaned with an exaggerated sigh, dragging her feet forward. Her whole expression screamed frustration.

Last night... she hadnʼt slept a wink!

And not for any wild, sexy reason.

Not because heʼd done something to her.

No. It was because that fucking man didnʼt even touch her!!

Her eyes twitched. Dark and shadowed with annoyance, they glared holes into the ground. Last night... she had waited.

Expected... Imagined!!!

So many thrilling thoughts played over and over in her head like a performance waiting to begin. And yet, what did he do?

He kept his hands clean. Like a monk on a diet. Not even a brush of fingers. Not a single attempt. Nothing!

Like a saint!

ʼSaint my ass,ʼ she cursed under her breath.

That, more than anything, made her blood boil. Especially after all the juicy details she had managed to squeeze out of Helena. The girl had been reluctant at first, her face red as a tomato, lips trembling... but Sera was persistent. She knew Helena well—how to coax her. A few teasing words here, a sly smile there, and boom—Helena had spilled everything like a bursting dam.

And when she heard what that bastard actually did with Helena...

Seraʼs hand had almost gone to Helenaʼs neck and wanting to... gave her a ʼsoftʼ strangulation session out of pure jealousy.

That much...?

Aether had done that much to Helena—playing, teasing, ravishing—and yet, with her?

Sera, the Archpriestess? He did nothing but kiss her like a feather on a temple statue!

”Arrhhh!!” she groaned again, louder this time, startling a passing bird as she shot a sharp glance at Aether.

He was walking beside her with a brisk step, looking way too fresh and rested for her liking. His posture relaxed, his face radiant, like heʼd just come from a spa instead of a night of not-touching-the-horny-Archpriestess.

She clenched her fists.

She wanted to punch that smug, well-rested face.

ʼBastard... do you even know how many men would fall on their knees just to stand beside me? You have everything laid out, on a golden plate, right in front of you, and yet... you just walk away like some clueless monk?!ʼ she screamed inside her head.

”Where are we going?” Aether asked suddenly, blinking innocently as he tilted his head toward her. His voice was laced with curiosity, but there was a slight smirk playing on his lips.

He definitely knew she was mad, but chose not to comment on it.

Sera clicked her tongue. ʼHe knows. He totally knows,ʼ she muttered inwardly, gritting her teeth.

After all... it wasnʼt like he was truly a saint or anything.

Far from it.

It was this place—something about the Empireʼs sacred grounds, or the thick spiritual energy maybe—it made him hesitate. Like, being here made his body refuse to act out... or perhaps it was guilt... or some dumb divine reason. Whatever it was, he couldnʼt just go all-in like he usually did.

And on top of that, she wasnʼt just anyone—she was the Archpriestess.

If she lost her virginity to him? The consequences were harsh. She would be stripped of her title, banished from the Empire like a soiled relic.

He knew that... Maybe thatʼs why he stopped himself.

Still... couldnʼt he have at least fondled a little?

Sera sighed, the weight of her frustration almost making her trip over a small rock. She groaned softly, letting her annoyance fade into a forced calm. ”Weʼre going to see the land. The one for you,” she said, her tone flat, clearly still sour.

Aether blinked, lifting an eyebrow in surprise, ”Land? That fast? I thought the High Priests had to give their approval first?”

Sera narrowed her eyes, ”...How do you know that?”

Aether froze for a split second... Crap!

He slipped up.

”Ah, well... I just... overheard Helena mentioning something like that...” he replied quickly, waving it off, then raised his voice slightly, ”Speaking of which... where is Helena, anyway?”

Sera stopped mid-step, staring at him blankly, ”You do realise sheʼs been following us ever since we left the main temple, right?”

She lazily flicked her eyes to the alleyway beside them. Half a golden head peeked out. Not even hiding properly. Just standing there, stiff and trying to look like a wall. Her eyes wide, her body half-exposed, and not even trying to match the shadows.

Aether leaned in and whispered under his breath, ”Sheʼs doing her best, okay? Compared to before, sheʼs improved. Like, she evolved. Sheʼs trying to be stealthy. As her lover, I need to appreciate her growth...”

Of course, heʼd noticed her long ago. She wasnʼt even subtle. Heʼd tried to call her through telepathy, but she just ignored it and kept sneaking behind them, probably thinking she was invisible.

Seraʼs lips twitched. ”Lover, huh...” her voice dipped, dark and slightly ominous, as her glare focused on Helenaʼs clearly visible boot poking out of the alley. But then—

”Of course, youʼre doing your best too~” Aether leaned close to her ear, his breath warm and teasing, ”holding back like a good, obedient wife~”

Her cheeks flushed red instantly. She jolted like someone poked her with a divine spear, and without replying, she stomped toward the carriage and climbed in.

Aether chuckled, casually following her... completely ignoring the sound of a brick wall in the alley cracking.

Yup... Letʼs pretend that didnʼt happen.

As Sera took away Aether from Helenaʼs searching eyes!

Some Time Later...

They arrived at the location, a wide, open area stretching near the edge of the Empire. The carriage came to a stop, and the moment the door opened, a dry wind brushed past their faces.

Sera stepped down first, her robes fluttering gently. She looked out over the vast, empty land—dusty, barren, untouched.

It was enormous.

”This,” she said, spreading her arms dramatically, ”this whole place is completely yours.”

Aether stepped out, blinking at the land as he adjusted his collar. The place stretched on and on, almost like a sea of dirt.

Easily five thousand acres, maybe more.

”...All of it?” he asked, eyes wide.

Sera nodded.

Aether blinked again, staring at the endless stretch of barren land before turning to her with raised brows, ”Are you... serious?”

Sera nodded once more, her expression calm, yet holding a mischievous glint.

Aether bit his lip, his gaze shifting back to the dusty horizon. It wasnʼt worry that gripped him... it was disbelief. Shock, even. That she was giving this much land—just like that—to an outsider like him?

ʼJust what is she thinking...?ʼ he wondered.

If he were that Aether—the Iteration No. 25—he mightʼve understood it as a necessary investment for his divine mission. A tool. A base of operations. Something strategic. But this... giving away an entire land just for some Thrusters?

It felt too much.

He tilted his head, suspicion mixing with curiosity, ”So... Let me get this straight. Youʼre saying I can take this land, build on it, live on it—without any issues from other priests or... Motherʼs authorities? And I could literally do anything with it?”

Sera nodded again, her lips curling into a soft, teasing smile, ”Exactly that... except for one little thing—you need my approval before doing anything major here,” she added, voice sweet, like she was granting a favour and a threat at once.

Aether blinked. That was... expected, actually.

”Fine then,” he shrugged. He wasnʼt going to complain about free land.

Sera, however, looked a little hesitant before speaking again, ”Also... about the Thrusters. We cannot allow outsiders to work on them here. Itʼs a sacred boundary... You would—”

Before she could finish, Aether raised his hand, nodding in understanding, ”Donʼt worry, I get it. Iʼll create jobs for the locals. No outsiders except for one person. My... uhh...” He paused, searching for the right word, lips twitching with hesitation. ”...Secretary?”

He was thinking of Lyirrs—the one who handled all his tasks with terrifying efficiency.

Seraʼs eyes narrowed slightly.

”...Is that a woman?”

Aether opened his mouth... then closed it. He simply nodded.

”I knew it!” Sera exploded, throwing her arms up with an annoyed pout that couldʼve powered an entire village.

”Come on now!” Aether defended, frowning seriously. ”She just works under me!”

Seraʼs eyes drifted down—landing squarely on his crotch.

”Under, huh...”

Aether blinked, realising too late how that sounded. His cheeks flushed. ”Oh come on!! Thatʼs not what I meant!!”

He had said it totally normal! It was her who twisted it into something dirty!

Not him!

Sera gave a smug shrug, turning away with a victorious hum, ”Anyway, letʼs go visit the locals. They should see your face and know whoʼs taking over this land.”

Aether followed with a groan, still mumbling under his breath and trying to explain what he meant.”I said ʼunder meʼ as in... in position! Not like that! Why does everyone always take it the wrong way and most of all... Iʼm not putting my hands on my Loyal subordinate Dragonʼs daughter, alright?”—”

Sera said nothing. She knew he was telling the truth. She wasnʼt really mad.

But watching his flustered panic?

His red ears and flailing hands?

It was... adorable. So she let him suffer a little longer.

Meanwhile in another edge of Empire—

BOOM!!

A distant explosion echoed through the hills.

”Huff... Huff... Huff...” Finnian panted heavily, his chest heaving as smoke swirled around him. He stood at the base of a shattered mountain, a massive hole carved right through its side.

His hair was a mess, his robe half-burned, and his body dripping with sweat.”F-Finally...” he gasped, falling to his knees with exhaustion. ”I leveled up...”

It had been days since he last saw his Archpriestess. He had been training nonstop—fighting monsters, testing divine spells, risking his life—just to prove his worth to her, to regain his dignity.

Now, it was time.

He packed his things with determined hands and began the long walk down the mountain path. The closer he got to the city, the more eager he felt.

Until—

He heard it.

A whisper.... A murmured rumour was carried between two gossiping villagers near the market.

”...Did you hear? There was a man... in the Archpriestessʼs room...”

Finnian froze mid-step.

His face turned pale.

His heart stopped.

His hands trembled slightly as he repeated the words to himself like a death sentence.”A... man... in her room?”

Pure horror washed over his face like cold holy water.

”No... No, it canʼt be!” he choked, imagining unspeakable scenes. ”She wouldnʼt—she couldnʼt—”