Chapter 177: Abyss Kiss (46 Extra Chapters 23)

Flora is a demon.

And a rather special succubus among them.

And how would a succubus bestow a blessing upon her contractor?

Usually it falls into several methods,

If she's being perfunctory, a succubus will choose to meet the blessed one in a dream.

Manipulating the other's dream, making them have a lewd dream, thereby leaving a small mark upon their soul.

And if she's being greedier, she will choose to make direct, intimate contact with the other in the flesh, draining them of their various abilities—life, vigor, magical power…

Flora, however, chose one of the more moderate methods.

A kiss.

At this moment, Flora had already transformed into an entirely different appearance.

Although her face and figure hadn't changed much, her body had become almost completely demonic, thoroughly transformed into the succubus image in the common imagination.

She had an immensely bewitching face, deep purple eyes that were profound, radiating a soul-stealing, spirit-capturing magical power, as if able to see straight through a person's inner desires.

Her lips were vividly alluring, beautifully shaped, with a faint, elusive smile when slightly upturned.

Her attire had also changed into an exposed yet gorgeous style—a leather-like black revealing leather outfit, draped with a thin gauze garment that outlined an enticing silhouette.

This was the demonic nature she had been suppressing.

In this form, all of her abilities would receive a tremendous boost.

At the same time, as a side effect, the instinctive desires she had suppressed for years within her heart would also surge higher and higher, like a flood crashing against the levees of her soul.

She couldn't waste too much time.

Flora took a deep breath, lowered her head awkwardly, and gently kissed Herbert's forehead, his ears, his cheeks…

Finally, after a moment of hesitation, she lightly pressed a dragonfly-like kiss upon his lips.

【Abyss Kiss】

For a succubus, this is the highest form of blessing upon a contractor.

Although no substantial act had been performed, this restrained contact was the true one-sided blessing.

She had not taken anything from Herbert, merely bestowing her own power upon him.

After their lips parted, Flora swiftly reverted to her original appearance, suppressing all the abnormalities upon her body.

Her pink cheeks also returned to normal, showing not a trace of bashfulness.

In the past, Flora had always restrained her own instincts and had great reservations about the abilities she possessed as a succubus.

This was her first attempt; she hoped she hadn't failed.

And not long after being released by her, Herbert gradually regained consciousness.

"…"

He shook his head, feeling as though he had had an extremely lewd, pink-colored dream.

He opened his eyes and looked at Flora; after seeing that her expression was as usual, he blinked.

What had just happened?

After hearing Flora's words, Herbert's consciousness had experienced a momentary interruption.

But surely not nothing had happened at all, right?

Oh, right, there was still one eyewitness…

However, before he could speak up in his heart, Nie Nasha spoke first.

【"Don't ask me, I'm not going to tell you."】

Herbert:?

I haven't even asked anything yet.

And what's with that attitude of yours?

【"Heh."】

After Miss Xie Shen coldly laughed, she fell silent once more, leaving Herbert standing there blinking.

What's gotten into Her?

Grumpiness from just waking up?

Or is it that time of the month?

Herbert thought maliciously for a moment, then decided not to dwell on such trivial matters.

He stretched, extended his body, and after confirming nothing had changed, smiled at Flora.

"It's over? Can you tell if anything about me has changed?"

Flora had been staring at him before he woke, carefully observing him over and over.

But no matter how she looked, she saw no change at all.

"…It seems not."

"See?"

The holy knight smiled smugly and said to the demon with a grin: "Just like I said, right?"

Herbert stretched out both arms and fully activated his holy mark.

Hum—

At that moment, a resplendent golden light shone within the originally somewhat dim prison cell.

He was like a dazzling sun that had fallen into this place.

Brilliant, eye-catching.

"It's already been proven."

"I have not fallen."

The soft-spoken Lièrì Holy Knight wore a smile more dazzling than the blazing sun.

"Then that means, Flora…"

"You — do not belong to evil."

!!!

Upon reaching this conclusion, Flora was dazed for an instant.

At this moment, everything before her eyes seemed to dissolve into nothingness in her gaze.

Her eyes looked at Herbert, but they saw straight through him.

She saw a distant past — that small, bewildered self who had crawled out of the Abyss Blood Pool.

She felt how out of place she had been with the entire Abyss back then, felt how different she was.

Only now could she finally tell that newly-born self of back then:

It was not your fault.

You… never belonged there in the first place.

At this moment, she suddenly felt her cheeks grow damp.

"This is…"

As Flora lowered her head, a crimson tear, red as blood, fell — and halfway down was gently caught by another large hand.

Herbert gazed at that crimson teardrop, crystallized like a gem, resting in his palm.

A demon's tear.

He said nothing, simply tucked that teardrop away with practiced ease, then raised his hand and placed it once more atop Flora's head.

He gently rubbed her head, then drew her into his embrace, and said softly:

"Welcome to a new world."

!!!

Feeling the body in his arms go from stiff to relaxed, and finally begin to tremble lightly.

He patted Flora's back gently, a smile on his face.

Family…

Obtained (scammed) new monster materials again!

After soothing Flora, Herbert changed course and headed to the Bronze Fortress.

But before he could even speak, he received Kreyte's appraisal: "Honestly, sometimes you look more like a devil than I do."

???

"What are you saying to a Holy Knight? You devil, that's truly rude of you."

Herbert rolled his eyes and waved his hand: "What are you even saying? Honestly."

What do you mean I look more like a devil than you?

Clearly it's that you don't look like a devil enough, alright?

Where have you ever seen a devil get beaten up by a demon like that every day…

This is obviously your problem, not mine!

"You really do have a talent for beguiling hearts — honestly, how about giving up being a Holy Knight and becoming my contractor?"

"Hm?"

Before Herbert could even open his mouth to reply, he sensed something was wrong, and cast a pitying glance at Kreyte.

Bad move, you're done for.

【"Hm? Even you too?"】

One little wild-cat goddess casting greedy eyes is one thing, but what do you think you are?

The Ice-Snow Goddess — can't deal with her for now, so I'll endure Her for the time being.

But you, a tiny little devil, dare to act up in front of me???

Kreyte was baffled by Herbert's gaze, and knit her brows.

What kind of look is that?

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt the shadow beneath her feet move…

"Hm!!?"

(End of chapter)