Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1037: Scared of losing to a mere ʼslaveʼ?

Finnian... after what took him almost a day... searching relentlessly around the Main temple, asking Helena (who oddly seemed to be following him after that), interrogating other servants, even questioning the carriage man who had taken the Archpriestess..... He finally found the Archpriestess—and the man who had stayed inside her room.

His face was thunderous with fury... a storm behind his eyes… when he heard his beloved Archpriestess had been forced by a filthy man!!

Finnian stormed forward, his footsteps heavy and echoing with rage as he approached Aether and the Archpriestess.... and then he saw it—Aether still holding the Archpriestess as though she meant nothing, as if her sacred presence didnʼt even matter... and that... that ignited something far deeper and darker in Finnianʼs heart.

ʼFucking bastard! How dare he touch her!! My Goddess!!ʼ Finnian screamed inwardly, his rage boiling just beneath the surface. But he didnʼt let his anger explode—not yet.

No, not in front of her.

Not before his beloved Archpriestess. He had to stay composed, had to be the image of calm faith and devoted love.

Aether slowly began to let go of Sera, but... Sera held onto him, not intending to let him escape or back away just yet.

Finnian stepped forward, placing himself firmly before Aether like a wall of righteous fury and said in a stern voice, ”Let the Archpriestess go from your filthy hands.”

Aether blinked, frowning, clearly confused. ”I wasnʼt holding her though.”

Finnianʼs brows furrowed deeply as he looked down and noticed something shocking—it was the Archpriestess who seemed to be holding Aether. But still, he barked, ”She wouldnʼt do such things!!” His eyes shot daggers at Aether, growing even more furious by the second.

ʼIs this fucker blind or what?ʼ Aether frowned in irritation.

Seraʼs calm started to slip. She furrowed her brows and asked, ”What are you doing, Finnian?”

Finnianʼs expression softened instantly. ”Donʼt worry, My Archpriestess,” he said, voice tender, nearly trembling with concern and love, as he knelt before her like a knight before his queen. ”I know I arrived late... But as they say... A hero always comes at the right time. I too have come at the right moment, and Iʼve witnessed this man trying to take advantage of you... so do not worry. I will protect you with all that I have, My Archpriestess.”

Sera blinked slowly, her mind catching up to the absurdity, ʼDid he misunderstand something?ʼ she wondered, completely baffled.

Aether stared at him. Then at Sera. Then again at him... then again at her.... And again. ʼDonʼt tell me... this guy...ʼ His eyes narrowed, his mind piecing together something bizarre and ridiculous.

He honestly thought Finnian was only obsessed with Helena, but... he was wrong. He was also after Sera.

Talk about Harem!

ʼTsk... I hate these kinds of guys,ʼ Aether thought with visible irritation and disappointment.

[.... Should I say something now?🤨]

Aether completely ignored his Log.

Sera, meanwhile, shook her head slowly, trying to untangle the foolishness with patience, ”I think you mistook something here...” she said with a composed expression, trying her best not to burst out laughing or screaming, ”This man here is actually my--”

”Need not worry, My Archpriestess... I will take care of this man. This filth! This impurity that dares to touch your divine self! This filthy being!!” Finnian interrupted with a fiery outburst, his expression twisted in unfiltered rage and misplaced devotion.

”...” Seraʼs eyes went completely blank, her expression froze in dead seriousness. An eerie silence spread across her face, and then—without a word—her hand flew toward Finnian, packed with raw killing intent.

BOOOMMMMMM!!!!!

A sudden shockwave burst out before Sera could land her hit. Finnian stood there, flabbergasted, taken aback by what just happened… and then he looked down and realised—Aether was standing between them, gripping Seraʼs punch in his bare hand.

Sera blinked, her fury fading into concern as her expression returned to normal. She stepped forward, worried, ”W-Why did you do that?... Your hand--” Before she could fully voice her worry over his injury, Aether stepped forward, his expression grim and serious.

He knew Finnian. He knew his type. And he also knew—if he didnʼt deal with this right now, it would become a constant annoyance in the near future.

The kind of fly that never dies.

Finnian still looked stunned, trembling slightly at the thought that his beloved Archpriestess had just tried to strike him with brutal force. ʼW-Was she trying to kill me?ʼ he thought with a gulp. But then he shook his head, gritting his teeth as he stared directly at Aether, furious and confused. ”What have you done to her?!!”

Aether nodded silently, watching the idiocy play out. He understood—men like Finnian, so focused, so obsessed, couldnʼt accept reality quickly.

”Fin... You need to stay put,” Sera said firmly, her voice sharp and cold like the edge of a blade.

Finnian shook his head violently, refusing to hear reason. ”Archpriestess... you donʼt understand how wicked this man is... he not only corrupted my little sister Helena, but he was doing it to you too... and soon... he will corrupt this entire Empire! We cannot allow such a man near you as I, an Apostle of the Mother Goddess!” He stepped forward and pointed at Aether. ”I shall duel this servant who doesnʼt even know his place!! And if I win... You will never, ever step into this ground again—or even speak to the Archpriestess or Helena ever again!!”

With that final vow, he dramatically threw his white glove at Aetherʼs foot—a challenge made not of reason, but blind faith and idiotic pride.

”Servant? Never?” Seraʼs breath hitched, and she began to pant furiously, her composure trembling on the edge of collapse. Her eyes narrowed with disbelief and a growing sense of insult.

Still, Aether remained calm, his face unreadable, his voice even as a placid lake.

”Thatʼs an interesting duel youʼve proposed... but tell me,” he asked with subtle curiosity, ”what if I win?”

”A-Aether... what are you doing? This isnʼt necessary,” Sera whispered desperately into his ear, her fingers lightly tugging at his sleeve. ”Iʼll just talk to him. Iʼll clear the misunderstanding.”

Aether turned slightly, his head dipping toward hers,

”Thereʼs no need. Words wonʼt reach him. Heʼll only learn if he gets knocked back a little.”

And with that, he bent down slowly and picked up the glove that had been thrown at his feet, turning once again to face Finnian.

”So... what if I win?” he repeated with a calm but assertive tone.

Finnian, already furious from seeing how close the Archpriestess was standing to Aether, nearly exploded. His blood boiled like lava surging in his veins.

That closeness—so casual, so natural—it was unbearable.

”You? Win? Dream on, Slave!” he spat with venom. ”Just because you can perform some miracles doesnʼt mean you can repeat them every time!”

”...” Seraʼs expression darkened. Her serious gaze grew colder, her lips tightening into a near snarl, ʼSlave? Did he just call my Aether... a slave?ʼ Her mind burned with disbelief, ʼHow dare he... I was the one who fed him, guided him through the tough life.... And this fool dares to call my Aether... a slave?ʼ

The air around her seemed to vibrate as a flicker of killing intent leaked out from her very soul.

Meanwhile, Aether chuckled lightly, cooling her off, brushing off the insult with a slow breath,

”Indeed, miracles donʼt happen every time... but I believe the outcome often rests in oneʼs own hands.”

His eyes gleamed as he stepped forward, the glove held casually in his grasp.

”Anyway... tell me again. What if I win?”

Finnian clenched his fists, refusing to show weakness. ”You win?” he mocked, scoffing with disbelief. ”Letʼs say... even by some divine joke, if you win by one in a million chance... then fine, you can come here.”

Aether tilted his head slightly, the smile vanishing from his lips. ”Boy... I think youʼre misunderstanding something.”He stepped closer, his voice now firm, carrying weight.”I donʼt need your permission to be here. This land... is mine now.”

Finnian flinched hard. His eyes twitched, voice trembling. ”Y-Your land?”

”Indeed,” Aether confirmed, smiling faintly as he gazed down at Finnian like a child throwing a tantrum in the middle of a holy ritual.

Finnianʼs face contorted in disbelief. ”T-Thatʼs impossible!” he growled, eyes darting toward Sera as if seeking answers.

It must be her.

Aether must have manipulated her.

Thatʼs the only explanation... right?

As if confirming the madness brewing inside, Finnianʼs voice grew louder and more desperate,

”Fine then! If I win, youʼll give up everything you own here, leave the temple, leave this land, and never—never—speak to the Archpriestess or my sister Helena ever again!”

Aether nodded slowly, no hesitation in his tone. ”And as Iʼve asked before... if I win?”

Finnian scoffed with exaggerated bravado. ”If you win... then Iʼll never set foot here again.”

Aetherʼs smirk returned, darker this time. ”Not just that. Youʼll never speak to the Archpriestess or Helena again... Not even seeing them.”

”...” Finnianʼs face turned pale. His throat dried, and he took an involuntary step back.

”What now? Are you afraid?” Aether teased, voice low and mocking. ”Scared of losing to a mere ʼslaveʼ? Hm?”

He held out the glove toward Finnian, a wicked grin on his face. The tension in the air was palpable.

Finnian gritted his teeth so hard it sounded like they might crack. His fists trembled with emotion, but... he didnʼt take the glove immediately.

He hesitated.... His pride screamed, but his instincts warned him. Betting on people, on relationships... it was a dangerous move.

”Itʼs unruly to bet on a person!” he barked. ”You pathetic... one!!”

Aether blinked slowly, lips curling in disbelief, ”Did you even hear yourself, man?” he muttered, clearly amused. ”You seriously fucked that up.”Aether couldnʼt help but stare at Finnian as if he were watching an overly dramatic stage play.

ʼHonestly... this guy reminds me of Kai. The two of them would probably become best friends with how dramatic they both are.ʼ

Aether stifled a laugh.

Then he leaned in slightly, voice lowering into a sharper taunt.

”I thought Apostles were supposed to stand by their words. But clearly... not every man is worthy of the Archpriestessʼs grace... or her love.”

That one struck deep.

Finnianʼs face flushed red—pure, blazing embarrassment bleeding through his furious pride. He jerked forward, eyes burning with resentment.

”F-Fine!! Letʼs fight then! But donʼt come crawling back crying when you lose, you filthy bastard!”He snatched the glove from Aetherʼs hand with a snap.

Aetherʼs lips twisted into a smirk that spelled chaos, ”Heh...”

Meanwhile, Sera stood there in stunned silence, blinking at the two men like they were wild animals bashing heads over territory., Just what is going on here…?ʼ she thought as her head slowly dropped into her hands.

She sighed heavily, her thoughts trailing off as she glared at Aether from the corner of her eye, ʼI definitely need to teach Aether something important after this… something called violence is not always the answer.ʼ