Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1824: And… When the Devil’s heart hurt….

“NOAH!”

Lily ran toward the water, her heart jumping into her throat.

Step!

Young Aether was already moving.

His body vanished from the spot before Lily could even reach the shoreline.

SPLASH!

He plunged straight into the ocean.

“Unc!”

Lily froze at the edge of the water.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Only the endless waves rolling beneath the sky light, their white foam rising and collapsing against the shore.

A robotic lifeguard who had already noticed the commotion came sprinting down the beach, another following close behind.

“Stay back!”

Lily stood trembling at the shoreline, her eyes fixed desperately on the place where Aether had disappeared.

“Noah…”

The waves rolled over the spot where Aether had vanished, concealing everything beneath their restless surface.

The robotic lifeguards rushed toward the water.

Then…

A small head emerged from behind the crest of a wave.

“Wah…?”

Lily’s eyes widened.

Her brother’s head popped out from behind the rolling water, his wet hair plastered against his forehead.

“Noah!”

Relief flashed across her face.

But the sight that followed left everyone completely speechless.

Young Aether slowly rose from the water.

He wasn’t swimming.

He was standing!

His wet hair clung to his forehead as seawater streamed down his face and soaked his clothes. Droplets rolled from his chin and fell back into the ocean.

And sitting comfortably on his shoulders was Noah.

The little boy’s arms were wrapped securely around Aether’s head, but there was no trace of fear on his face. His eyes were wide with wonder, and the biggest grin stretched across his cheeks as though he had just discovered the greatest amusement park in the world.

[+1000 AP]

“Wahhhhh!”

Aether glanced sideways at him.

“You okay, buddy?”

“Wah!”

“Good.”

Noah giggled and tightened his arms around Aether’s head.

The nearest lifeguard stopped.

“What…?”

Young Aether took another step.

His foot touched the surface of the water.

Instead of sinking, his sole skimmed across it.

A thin sheet of water curled beneath his foot, spreading outward in delicate ripples.

He shifted his weight.

Then, right before everyone’s eyes, he glided across the ocean surface.

From a distance, it looked as though he were standing on an invisible surfboard, effortlessly carried forward by the moving water.

But there was nothing beneath him.

Only his feet.

Everyone assumed it had to be some kind of technology that had yet to be released, perhaps some experimental device or personal DIY invention that had somehow escaped public attention.

The robotic lifeguards turned toward Lily.

“What technology is he using?”

“…Well.” Lily blinked.

How the heck was she supposed to know?

She glanced toward Aether, then back at the robotic lifeguards. Her mind raced for anything that sounded remotely believable before she blurted out a few technical terms with as much confidence as she could manage.

“We have yet to patent it, so, yeah, we cannot disclose the details fully.”

The robotic lifeguards paused.

Then they nodded.

“Understood.”

They turned around and left.

Lily stared after them for a moment.

She slowly covered her face with one hand.

“Seriously…?”

Meanwhile, Young Aether leaned forward.

The next wave rose before him.

“Hold tight.”

Noah immediately wrapped both arms around Aether’s head.

“Wahhh!”

Young Aether lowered his stance.

The wave came crashing toward them.

Instead of stopping, he angled his body and stepped onto the rising face of the wave.

His foot slid upward with it.

Water exploded around his ankles as the wave lifted them higher.

WHOOSH!

Young Aether rose with the wave.

For a brief moment, the two of them climbed above the surrounding surface, suspended against the vast blue sky.

Noah’s eyes widened.

The wind rushed across his face, carrying tiny droplets of seawater that glittered around him. His mouth slowly opened into an expression of pure amazement.

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“WAAAAHHHH!”

Noah’s delighted scream echoed across the water.

Young Aether smiled.

Then he leaned forward.

The wave carried them down its slope.

They shot forward.

The ocean stretched endlessly ahead of them as they raced along its surface, leaving a long trail of disturbed water behind.

Noah screamed with pure delight, his laughter mixing with the roar of the sea.

“WAAAAAHHHHH!”

“Enjoying yourself?”

“Wahhhh!”

“That sounds like a yes.”

Noah laughed again, his little hands still firmly wrapped around Aether’s head.

Young Aether shifted his foot.

His body tilted gently to one side.

He carved across the wave.

Water sprayed outward in a glittering arc, droplets flying through the sky light before falling back into the sea.

Noah stretched one tiny hand toward the spray, trying desperately to catch the sparkling droplets.

“Wah!”

“You want to touch it?”

“Wahhh!”

Young Aether glanced at the tiny hand reaching toward the water and smiled.

“Fine.”

He shifted his weight again, guiding them closer to the edge of the wave so the spray could reach Noah’s outstretched fingers.

Young Aether guided them toward the rising edge of another wave.

As they climbed, Noah reached out with both hands, his tiny fingers stretching toward the crest. The instant they touched it, cold seawater splashed across his face.

He blinked.

For a second, he simply stared.

Then he burst into another excited cry.

“WAWAWAWA!!”

[+3000 AP]

Young Aether laughed.

He lowered his stance again as another wave approached.

“Ready?”

Noah immediately hugged his head tighter.

Young Aether pushed off.

The two of them shot across the water.

The wave lifted them higher, carrying them along its curling surface. Noah’s little body rose with it, his hair whipping wildly in the ocean breeze as his laughter scattered across the sea.

For an instant, they seemed to hover above the curling blue water.

Then they descended along the opposite side.

SPLAAASH!

Water erupted around them.

Noah laughed through another stream of excited sounds.

“Wahhh! Wahhh!”

Young Aether couldn’t help smiling.

He guided them through the waves for several more moments, weaving around the stronger currents rather than fighting directly against them. Every movement was smooth and effortless, as though the ocean itself had become an extension of his body.

Meanwhile, Lily stood on the shore with a blank expression.

How was he doing that?

Honestly, was he really using some kind of technology?

Young Aether had started shooting streams of water from his mouth like bullets, while Noah held onto his hair as though he were operating a machine gun, firing each watery projectile at the waves ahead.

Lily stared at them.

She had so many questions.

But then Noah’s laughter rang across the ocean again.

Seeing him laughing so freely, Lily eventually sighed and smiled.

“Looks like they’re bonding well,” she mumbled as she watched them enjoy themselves.

“Hhaha… Come on Noah, more power!”

“WAAHHHH!!!”

“Yes, baby~”

“WAWAWAWA!”

“Hahha”

“…”

Suddenly, she felt jealous.

Noah was enjoying himself way too much.

Her cheeks puffed up into a pout.

“Hmph! Bad Uncle and bad little brother! They forgot about me!” she mumbled.

Well, one should remember…

It wasn’t like Young Aether was actually controlling the water.

It was more like he was still the wielder of Love’s Trident, right?

The Ruler of the Ocean?

So, yeah…

The ocean was simply obeying him.

Nothing else.

“Haha…”

“Waaaahhhh~”

The more their laughter echoed across the water, the more Lily’s lips twitched with annoyance.

Eventually, they turned back toward the shore.

Noah was still clinging happily to Aether’s shoulders, but his face now carried a smug little expression that only a big sister could truly recognise.

“Wahhh…”

His voice had become softer now.

Young Aether glanced upward.

“Tired?”

Noah nodded.

Young Aether chuckled.

“You caused all this trouble, and you’re the one getting tired?”

“Wah??…”

Noah’s expression seemed to say, Who? Me?

“Yeah, yeah.”

Young Aether slowed down.

The waves gradually became smaller beneath his feet. With each step, the water grew shallower until his feet finally touched the sandy bottom.

He simply walked back toward the shore, carrying Noah as though nothing unusual had happened.

Though Lily was still pouting, she had been worried about him the entire time. The moment Aether reached the shore, Lily rushed forward and hugged Noah.

“Oh, Noah…”

She squeezed him tightly.

“You scared me!”

She kissed his forehead.

Then…

“WAAHH!!”

She pinched his butt hard.

“I told you not to touch the water.”

Her voice turned cold as ice.

Noah’s face immediately turned pale, as though he knew something was about to happen.

Like a little-brother detector!

He gulped and immediately turned toward Young Aether for help.

“See ya~.”

But that man betrayed him!!

With a casual wave of his hand, Young Aether walked away as though he had absolutely nothing to do with this.

For the first time in his life, the little child felt betrayed.

“Waaahhh!” he shouted for help.

Young Aether simply whistled as though he hadn’t heard anything.

“What are you shouting at, brat?” Lily called in a cold tone.

She turned Noah around and slapped his butt again and again until he cried, his little butt turning red.

Young Aether sat on the sand.

‘Man, that’s going to hurt like hell,’ he thought as he listened to the slaps.

While crying in pain, Noah looked toward Young Aether for help.

Young Aether immediately averted his eyes.

As if to say, I’m not getting involved in those butt slaps!

For the first time since he had come back, Young Aether found himself laughing and genuinely enjoying the moment.

But then…

!~Ding~!

[❗Notice: The 24-hour restriction following the previous Null-Return activation has ended. A new Save Point may now be designated.]

[Do you wish to create a new Null-Return?]

Young Aether stared at the words for a moment before glancing toward the two children.

He shrugged.

“Yeah.”

Tik~

[⚠️ Warning: New Null-Return Point has been successfully created and saved.]

Tok~

Soon after, Lily came over carrying Noah in her arms. He was quietly sniffing against her shoulder, his little face still showing the aftermath of his punishment.

“Unc, it’s almost lunchtime.”

Young Aether nodded.

“Yeah… I think I saw a restaurant nearby. Let’s go there.”

He stood up and dusted the sand from his clothes before looking toward the restaurant.

He was just about to move when his ears twitched.

His expression immediately changed.

“How about you guys go first and order whatever you like?”

Lily frowned.

“Where are you going?”

Young Aether gave an awkward smile.

“Well, you know… man things.”

“Pff! Alright, alright,” she said, turning away while carrying her little brother on her shoulder.

Noah, still sniffling painfully, looked back at Young Aether and frowned as though blaming him for getting his butt slapped.

Young Aether giggled.

“You deserve it, brat.”

He turned and walked away.

Step!

He disappeared instantly.

Meanwhile, near the corner of the children’s restroom, a chubby man stood alone, clutching a digital camera that looked like something from a previous era.

He repeatedly glanced over his shoulder, making certain that nobody was watching before scrolling through the photographs he had secretly taken.

“…Hehe… It’s going to sell well. Today I got so many shots… heheh.”

His voice was low and repulsive, filled with the confidence of someone who believed he had nothing to fear.

Snap!

He took another disgusting photo.

“Wow. That’s some nice shot, man.”

A cold voice suddenly came from directly behind him.

The chubby man’s entire body jolted.

He spun around.

A young boy stood only a few steps away.

The young boy’s expression was strangely calm.

Too calm.

His eyes were fixed on the camera.

The man’s throat tightened.

“N-N-No, it’s not what you think it is.”

The young boy said nothing.

For several seconds, he simply stared at him.

Then his expression softened into a faint smile.

“It’s alright… I understand. Because I am too~You know~”

The man’s fear slowly faded.

A sly grin crept across his face.

“Hehe… You understand?”

The young boy nodded.

“Hehe~ Can you show me what you’ve been taking?”

The man hesitated before opening the camera.

The chubby person nodded and proudly showed the images he had taken that day.

“Look at her… isn’t she a nice one? Especially that butt. And look at the cleavage… haha. Look at those poses… It’s peak!”

Young boy nodded with the same wicked expression, “Indeed. Look at them… those cute little butts… those curves, dang it. You’ve got to admit, they’re pretty nice. But why are you taking all of this with an old-fashioned camera? Don’t you have something more advanced?”

The chubby person shook his head with a smug grin. “Even though they’re old, these things are untraceable, unlike modern ones that are constantly being monitored. So, even if I posted these photos online, no one would be able to trace them back to me or figure out where they came from. Pretty clever, right? How is it?”

“That… is somewhat impressive.” The young boy nodded as he clicked through the files and saw… a thousand images of children posed in disturbing and inappropriate ways.

“…Huh… that’s a lot,” the young boy said, staring at the screen with growing interest. “I’m already getting turned on~”

“See! I am going to fap to this at least ten times,” the chubby man said in a wicked tone as he licked his lips, his eyes glued to those fucked-up images.

“Just ten times?” The young man snorted. “I have something worth a hundred times!”

The chubby man’s eyes widened, sparkling with excitement.

“A hundred times? How much? I’ll buy it!” he exclaimed eagerly, leaning closer as he turned toward the young man.

Only to see…

“yOuR mOTheR, BiTCh~”

The chubby man’s expression instantly froze.

A dark, wicked monster stood before him.

The chubby man couldn’t even run. His legs had forgotten how to move, trembling violently beneath him as an unnatural fear rooted itself deep within his chest.

He stared into the darkness.

Two crimson eyes slowly emerged from the blackness,

The darkness behind those eyes seemed to move.

The chubby man’s face turned pale.

His lips trembled as a pair of long, dark fingers emerged from the darkness and slowly wrapped around his cheeks.

The monster’s wicked grin widened.

“Let’s see if you can fap to this… Heheheheeeeeeeeee~”

“ARRHHH—”

Crack!

Something inside his mind shattered.

His scream died halfway through his throat.

His pupils trembled as his consciousness was dragged somewhere far beyond reality. In a matter of seconds, his mind broke beneath a nightmare so horrifying that even his own memories became weapons against him.

His entire family appeared before his eyes.

But they were ruined.

Everything he wanted to do to others…. now happened to him!

Then the darkness spread across his flesh.

His skin slowly turned charcoal-black, cracking beneath the pressure as thin crimson lines appeared throughout his body.

The monster leaned closer.

Its grin widened until it became almost inhuman.

“A filthy piece of shit…”

Its crimson eyes narrowed.

“You aren’t worthy of being my meal.”

The dark fingers tightened.

Crack!

The man’s body compressed violently.

Crack… crack…

His flesh collapsed inward as the darkness crushed him from every direction.

Then…

PUF!

His entire body burst apart into a cloud of fine ash.

The powder drifted through the air like the remains of ashes. A few crimson sparks flickered among the ashes before fading into nothingness.

Even the monster didn’t want to eat this shit!

Just then…

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“Wah?”

The monster suddenly flinched.

Noah was peeking from around the corner.

“…”

The monster went completely still.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Then the monster slowly raised one dark hand.

“Come here, child…”

Its voice was deep and distorted, barely resembling a human voice anymore.

“I have a candy~”

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“…Wah?”

Noah tilted his head.

There was no fear in his eyes.

Only curiosity.

The monster’s grin widened.

“Yes… Come closer.”

Noah took one small step.

The monster’s fingers twitched.

Step by step.

The monster watched him approach.

“Waahh~”

It was his uncle… He had seen everything. He had witnessed the darkness, the terrifying grin, and everything that had happened before his eyes. Of course, he should have been scared. He should have cried, screamed, or run away, and yet… for some reason, he didn’t.

Was it because his uncle played with him and made him laugh?

Was it because… his big sister had told him that Uncle wasn’t a bad guy?

Was it because his uncle had given him the kind of happiness he had never known before?

Or… was there simply something about his uncle that made him feel safe, even beneath all that frightening darkness?

Perhaps, somewhere in his little heart, he already knew that the monster standing before him was still his Uncle.

Or… maybe he simply wasn’t scared of him.

What was it?

The monster’s hand slowly lowered.

His fingers curled.

For a fleeting moment, the darkness around him became heavier.

A terrible hunger surfaced within those crimson eyes.

He could crush this tiny body with a single movement.

The thought came naturally.

Too naturally~

His arm moved.

Noah stopped.

The monster’s hand hovered inches from him.

One more movement.

That was all it would take.

The darkness around the monster trembled violently.

His fingers shook.

“…”

Something inside him fought against itself.

He looked at Noah.

The child wasn’t looking at his claws.

He wasn’t looking at the darkness.

He was looking directly into those crimson eyes.

And somehow… He smiled.

The monster’s breathing stopped.

A stupid little smile from a child who didn’t understand what was standing in front of him.

Yet something deep inside the monster twisted painfully.

Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and wrapped his tiny arms around the monster’s darkened leg.

“Wah!”

The monster froze.

His entire body went rigid.

“…”

His crimson eyes widened.

“Wahhhh!”

He raised both arms toward him.

He wanted to be picked up.

The monster stared down at those tiny hands.

His fingers trembled.

The monster slowly reached down.

His dark hand hovered over Noah’s head.

He hesitated.

His claws could tear through flesh.

His strength could crush bone.

But this time…

Those fingers gently slipped beneath Noah’s arms.

He lifted him.

Carefully.

So carefully that even the monster himself seemed surprised by how gentle his own hands could be.

“Waaahhhh!”

Noah’s eyes widened as he was lifted until he was level with the monster’s face.

The creature stared at him.

Noah stared back.

Then his tiny hand reached forward.

He touched the monster’s wicked grin.

The monster didn’t move.

Noah’s fingers traced the strange shape curiously.

His eyes sparkled with admiration.

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“Wah… Wahhh!”

The monster blinked.

“You have one just like mine?”

Noah nodded proudly.

“Wah!”

He gestured toward his own mouth, apparently trying to explain that his grin was even bigger than the monster’s.

“…”

The monster stared at him.

His monstrous grin slowly disappeared.

The darkness around his face began to retreat.

It crawled backwards across his skin like smoke being pulled into an unseen void.

The crimson eyes dimmed.

The terrible presence vanished.

And beneath the darkness…

Young Aether’s face appeared.

“Wha?”

Noah blinked.

His eyes immediately widened.

Then they sparkled.

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“Waaoooo!”

Noah stared at him in complete awe.

Young Aether looked back at him.

For a long moment, he couldn’t say anything.

Then, quietly…

“Are you… not scared of me?”

“Wahh?”

Noah tilted his head.

His expression seemed to ask a simple question… When was I ever scared of you?

Young Aether’s lips parted.

“…But… But I…”

He glanced at his own hand.

The same hand that had almost attacked Noah.

His fingers slowly curled. “I almost…”

He stopped.

He couldn’t finish the sentence.

He shook his head.

Then he looked back at Noah.

“So you really aren’t scared of me?”

His expression suddenly changed.

“Warrrhh~”

The darkness returned across his face, forming that wicked grin.

“WARHH!!”

Noah roared back at him.

Then he burst into laughter.

“Wawawawa…!”

“…”

Young Aether stared at him for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

The darkness disappeared completely.

He smiled.

“I am so scared~”

Noah giggled.

Young Aether gently adjusted his hold around him.

He stepped out from the corner of the restroom.

Young Aether glanced around before looking down at Noah.

“Where is your sister?”

“Wah! Waaaarrrhhh!”

Noah excitedly pointed back toward the restroom, apparently wanting his uncle to become the monster again.

“Nope~ We’re not doing that.”

Noah pouted.

“Warrrh!!”

“Nope~ Noooopppeeee~”

“WArh!”

Noah’s face became furious.

He suddenly leaned forward and bit Young Aether’s cheek.

“Hahaha…”

Young Aether laughed.

This was what they called…

100% Attack and 0% Damage!

‘So cute~’

He continued toward the restaurant with Noah in his arms.

But after several steps, his smile slowly faded.

He frowned.

He looked left.

Then right.

“It wasn’t this empty before…”

The beach was practically empty now.

Something was wrong.

!!!

Just then, the hair on the back of his neck stood up.

Young Aether instantly turned around.

His hand shot through the air.

Between two fingers…

A tiny needle was caught perfectly between them.

“Tranquillizer?”

He frowned as he examined the dart.

It was the kind used to incapacitate animals.

His expression hardened.

“Noah, where is your sister?”

He asked again.

This time… Noah didn’t answer.

Young Aether’s eyes narrowed.

He looked down.

Another tranquilliser dart was already embedded in his back.

SSSNNNNGGGGGGG~

A massive humming sound suddenly rolled across the beach.

The air itself began to vibrate.

Young Aether slowly raised his head.

Above him… An aircraft hovered in the sky.

“UNCLE!!”

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[A/N: I know Chapter got bigger… I am sorry again]