Chapter 389

"Flora, are you still dreaming that foolish dream?"

Amid the steaming mist of the Sulfur Lake, the succubus Lilith curled her tail around a cluster of cerulean flame, playing with it between her fingers.

Hot magma flowed slowly across the ground, staining the bottom of her eyes with crimson.

She smiled faintly, crushing the flame in her hand, then turned her gaze—glowing with desire—toward the figure seated on the distant cliffside.

"..."

The petite figure now ignored her approach, head bowed, silently flipping through the pages of a book.

The book was worn, not a grimoire, merely an ordinary mortal text with no special value.

Yet it was treated with great care, held in the petite figure's hands as if it were a precious treasure.

For it was an extremely rare volume in the Abyss—a guide describing the customs and landscapes of the mortal world.

Lilith glanced at the book and sneered.

"Tch."

She sat down beside Flora, tilting her head to look at her, teasing: "Don't tell me you're still fantasizing about escaping from here?"

Only after Lilith sat beside her did Flora finally lift her eyes, murmuring, "Mm."

"Mm. That's exactly what I plan to do."

Then she returned her gaze to the book and added calmly, "And this isn't fantasy."

Hiss!

Lilith snorted in derision, slapping her hand down on the book. "Still calling this not fantasy? This is pure fantasy!"

"You don't seriously believe a demon like you or me could receive fair treatment in the mortal world, do you?"

After uttering the word "fair," Lilith's disdain deepened; she sneered at Flora's calm expression. "What's that look for? Did I say something wrong?"

"If this isn't fantasy, then what is?"

"Our little fledgling is still so naive—she's forgotten her identity and still yearns for 【Love】. Hehe~"

If Lilith's expression had merely been disdain when mentioning "fair," it was now pure revulsion upon hearing the word "love."

Deep, visceral loathing.

As if a physical repulsion had crawled over her skin, raising goosebumps.

Flora's reaction, however, was the exact opposite—her expression remained serene, and she gave a slight, noncommittal shake of her head.

She neither affirmed nor denied Lilith's mockery.

Flora had no desire to argue about this; they had exchanged countless similar dialogues already.

Since neither could convince the other, further debate was pointless—only wasted breath.

So she said nothing, choosing to ignore this sharp topic entirely.

Yet this indifferent, unshakable expression only further enraged Lilith, making her mood even more foul.

"Hah!"

Lilith scoffed. "Isn't this ridiculous? A succubus—yearning for 【Love】?"

"Does that word even fit us?"

Succubus and love?

Hah!

The tall succubus sneered, speaking with exasperated frustration: "You don't actually believe those stories in the books, do you?"

"Those romance novels? Where lovers of vastly different status break through societal barriers and unite at last? Pfft!"

"What nonsense."

"Flora, understand your identity! You're a fallen succubus—not some holy nun!"

They were succubi.

Fallen demons feared and reviled by countless mortals.

"Do you really think anyone would ignore your identity? See you as anything other than a succubus?"

"Impossible! No such person exists," Lilith declared firmly.

Such a person could not exist.

"Even if you could express your thoughts, prove yourself, make them believe you're different from other succubi—it wouldn't change a thing."

"Believe me, in their eyes, you're nothing but a convenient toy, easy to take, meant only to satisfy their desires!"

What treatment would a succubus who longs for love receive?

It's not hard to imagine.

To mortals, succubi are terrifying beings that steal lives.

But to true强者, succubi hold no real power—only useful, disposable playthings—and most succubi enjoy this role.

Whether in the Abyss or within the towers of powerful mages, they are all豢养 playthings.

When succubi prey on the weak, they themselves are exploited by the strong.

This is the fate of succubi.

"Because no one will trust you—they will never believe a demon!"

"They'll only summon holy knights and use every means to drive you out, destroy you!"

Lilith kept talking, muttering incessantly: "You'll only be hurt again and again, used and discarded over and over!"

"Until that moment, you'll finally realize—I was right all along!"

After Lilith spoke for a long time, Flora finally reacted—the last trace of hope hidden deep in her eyes slowly faded.

"... Lilith."

The calm words made Lilith, who was still speaking, pause.

Flora closed her book and set it aside, looking at Lilith with disappointment in her eyes, and said softly:

"I had always assumed that the other sisters were all foolish, and that only you — I thought you might understand my way of thinking."

As the two rare anomalies among the succubi who loved knowledge, Flora had once regarded Lilith as a kindred companion.

But later, she realized she was wrong.

Apart from being alike in a few small ways, the two of them were completely different in the vast majority of respects.

One could even say they were exact opposites.

Lilith was a product of evil and chaos, no different from any other succubus.

Lilith was a textbook succubus — she longed to vent her own desires upon others.

At the same time, she also enjoyed being used as a channel for others to vent, and savored the process.

Flora had thought she had found a friend, but in the end she discovered that she and Lilith still differed enormously.

Flora remained alone.

"I once held expectations for you, but now it seems that was merely my own wishful thinking."

Flora looked at Lilith with regret, shook her head, and said: "You are no different from the rest of them."

*Slap! *

The tail behind Lilith lashed out violently, smacking hard against the ground like an iron whip and gouging a crater into the floor.

"Flora! You are no different from us either!"

Facing Flora's regretful gaze, Lilith did not back down either; she struck back decisively, taunting: "We are all creations of the Abyss — how much nobler could you possibly be?"

How are you any different?

Aren't we all succubi?

"You're right, I am also a succubus, and indeed I am not much nobler, but unlike you, I at least know clearly what it is I want." Flora replied calmly.

Unfortunately, this argument did not convince Lilith.

"What you want? Or is it what you call 'love'?"

The enchantingly bewitching succubus could not help but burst into laughter, retorting: "Do you really think anyone would truly fall in love with you?"

"Besides, the 'love' you speak of is nothing more than a kind of deception!"

She did not agree with Flora's view, and even regarded it with contempt.

"I only need to crook my finger and I can make any man fall in love with me, make him obsessed with my beauty, make him utterly intoxicated with me."

"I can bewitch him into giving up everything for me — money, dignity, even his life!"

"But can that be called love?"

"I don't love him; in my eyes, he is nothing more than a toy I can easily manipulate."

"And what he falls in love with is merely my flesh and outward appearance."

"All I do is amplify the desires suppressed within their hearts, giving them a chance to vent."

"He has simply surrendered before his own desire!"

Lilith spread her arms wide, letting her charm radiate outward, finally transforming into a pink shockwave that spread into the surroundings.

"And what I can do, you can do as well!"

This was the succubi race's innate ability — Alluring Spirit Energy.

Such powerful spirit energy could be likened to the most potent aphrodisiac; one did not even need to inhale it — mere contact was enough to arouse the deepest desire in one's heart.

Without sufficiently resolute will, a mortal would swiftly surrender before this corrupting spirit energy and become their slave.

Lilith gazed at Flora and asked slowly: "Is this the love you long for?"

Is this the love you yearn for?

After being attacked for so long, the silent Flora finally responded.

"……No."

She shook her head and said lightly: "The love I long for is not as shallow as what you describe."

"What I have always longed for was never romance."

Or rather, not only romance.

But Flora did not offer Lilith any further explanation.

They wouldn't understand anyway; there was no longer any need to explain further.

"I hope someone can fall in love with me, and I also hope I can fall in love with someone else."

"I do not merely long to receive others' love — what I hope for even more is actually being able to let others receive my love."

Rather than being loved by others because of her own charm, Flora hoped she could resist this chaotic instinct and possess the ability to love someone else.

After speaking, Flora hesitated for a moment, then added: "And besides, there will always be someone who can withstand this corrupting spirit energy, and fall in love with the real me rather than this bewitching charm of mine."

After hearing Flora's response, Lilith frowned; she did not continue to mock her, but instead asked with a strange expression: "Do you really believe such a person exists?"

Flora nodded.

"They must exist."

She drew a deep breath, her tone even but firm as she stressed: "Such a person will definitely exist."

Although Flora was also somewhat lacking in confidence, she was willing to believe in this possibility.

If within the endless chaos an anomaly like herself could be born, then somewhere in this world there must surely exist that person who could ignore her corrupting charm.

She would surely find love.

"……"

Lilith narrowed her eyes and silently gazed into Flora's eyes.

And Flora did not dodge either, calmly meeting her gaze.

The two stared at each other in silence, neither speaking again.

After a long while, Lilith was the first to break the silence.

"... Ah ha."

She shook her head, sighed, and asked in a slightly dejected soft voice: "Have you already made up your mind? Are you really leaving?"

"Mm."

At this, Flora's mood was equally low, but she still nodded firmly.

"I'm leaving this place."

"I'll walk out of the Abyss and travel the mortal world."

Lilith pursed her lips, no longer mocking her naivety, and instead asked: "Will you come back?"

"Perhaps I will, and perhaps I won't." Flora answered thus.

They both knew the future could not be guaranteed.

Maybe, after traveling for a while, Flora would find her answer and safely return to her homeland.

Or perhaps, during her travels she would encounter danger and be purified by some Holy Knight appearing out of nowhere.

In the end, Lilith silently stepped aside to clear the Path to the Outside World, and tossed Flora a bag stuffed with mortal-world currency.

She did not try to stop her again.

Or perhaps, Lilith had already said everything she wanted to say about stopping her, in her own way.

And Flora did not offer thanks or apologies either, taking the money pouch before turning and leaving.

However, after Flora had walked away step by step, Lilith, who remained in place, finally could not help but shout: "Flora!"

Flora's ear twitched, but her footsteps did not pause.

She had already decided — she would not pause again because of someone else's words.

"Although you're very confident!"

"But that flat little body of yours, like a child's — won't be liked by anyone!!!"

"They all like bi— ones!"

Flora:?

Flora, who had always been so silent and composed, finally reacted, whipping her head around and shooting the other a fierce glare.

"Hahaha!"

Lilith looked at Flora's glaring expression and laughed merrily.

She squeezed her own devastating assets at the front, raised her eyebrows, and shouted: "Like mine — grow a little bigger!!!"

Flora:!!?

"Hmph!"

She snorted angrily, gritting her teeth: "Shut up! You tasteless bunch!!!"

"What's so great about being big?"

"Small ones are cute too!!!"

After glaring fiercely at the sister she didn't know whether to call a friend or something else, Flora spun around abruptly and stormed off in great strides.

At the very end of her departure, Flora turned her head to look back at Lilith, who still remained in place, and watched her kick that tattered old tome off the cliff.

"..."

In the end, she silently withdrew her gaze.

Flora left.

After that, she chose to flee the Abyss alone.

Even to this day, she has never gone back.

"..."

Flora did not know why she was recalling this distant past again.

But it didn't matter — it wasn't the first time anyway.

"Since I've recalled all this again, it seems I've fallen into confusion once more."

Within the confused dream, she narrowed her eyes and thought.

"Then what comes next... will be what?"

For some reason, she suddenly thought of a youth.

"Will he be there?"

(End of chapter)