[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu":3,"chapter-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-148":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm a Forest Warden—Why Am I Enslaving a Succubus?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2329192,4555,"Chapter 148: Rumors","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-148",148,"\u003Cp>“As for basic troops, I don’t recommend borrowing more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The witch Dimia said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Coral Bay truly needs manpower, I can lend the combat power of a sixth-rank witch—that should demonstrate sufficient sincerity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elderly gentleman Humbert also said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have twenty retired militiamen, strong and fit, who can accompany Lady Dimia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can go too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not for Coral Bay’s sake—mainly to see the sirens and the ghost pirates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard most females of these two races are of supreme beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dimia shook her head, “Mr. Luo De, the current situation is chaotic; Shiying Town needs you to hold the line. Unless absolutely necessary—of course, we have no intention of kidnapping you here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Mr. Luo De.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Luo De has already become Shiying Town’s guardian deity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quite right, quite right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the committee members agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gazes toward Luo De were filled with hope and warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puzi—puzi—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid all the encouraging and hopeful words, no one noticed the strange sound emerging again beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tally’s cheeks were puffed out, barely holding the food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slick trail leaked from the corner of her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gulped it down with a swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she opened her mouth wide, “Ah!”—signaling Luo De to inspect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from this issue, the committee had other matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the volcanic eruption in Twilight Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some cities could sustain a super-large magical barrier, but that privilege belonged only to the central regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast majority of farmland could not be covered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiying Town rose from mining; its farmland was underdeveloped, even relying partly on imports from neighboring towns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If volcanic ash spreads down, next year everyone won’t have enough to eat, let alone export.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of this, everyone grew gloomy again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No solution came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another topic was the land naga’s settlement in the Desert of Death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The committee members mainly sought Luo De’s opinion, since he was the forest warden of Windwall Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether to build a barrier wall, establish new magical pacts, determine strategy toward the land naga, define future trade attitudes—basically, they gave him every courtesy, fearing his displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the current state of Aitheron’s borders, nearly all individuals above seventh rank, except those in the royal capital, have been dispatched to the front lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De, invincible below seventh rank, is unquestionably qualified to be Shiying Town’s guardian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the kingdom, without a word, sent over an unruly new neighbor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were unhappy, but they couldn’t defy the kingdom’s orders—so they could only soothe Luo De personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The committee meeting lasted until afternoon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because all issues were resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because Coral Bay’s high-ranking officials would arrive at dusk today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The committee members hurried off to prepare for their reception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De, curious, decided to wander the town to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tally had eaten her fill beneath the committee table and now slept soundly, hidden in her master’s shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone pavement of the central avenue glowed faintly under the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the carved wooden windows of shops on either side drifted the scent of baked bread and the unique metallic odor of smelted ore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De paused at a stall selling hand-carved mineral sculptures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he browsed, he happened to see girls walking out of the bakery, laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They carried bread baskets covered with checkered cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be afternoon tea time at the mine—they were bringing food to their families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spotted Luo De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First they froze, then murmured shyly, giggling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De was used to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bought a white crystal carved with a unicorn from the stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the kind Kali would like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d asked her for too many favors lately—just a small gift, then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De grew tired of shopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dragging out the banshee Krist from the gambling den, he went straight to the Violet Inn and drank giant’s ale to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luo De!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his surprise, the goblin merchant Pete was there too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He controlled his magic puppet to arrive at Luo De’s table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Long time no see—I haven’t thanked you for supporting my cousin’s business last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pete raised his giant’s ale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled on his face, secretly envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His cousin had told him this man never stopped drilling since leaving for Jade City, and along the way tangled with all sorts of women—succubi, half-dragons, halflings, banshees, and land nagas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why don’t people on this continent appreciate goblin looks?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m one of the most handsome in my clan, for heaven’s sake!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Gaima was the best guide I’ve ever met.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De raised his cup in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This goblin was a traveling merchant whose intelligence network moved faster than most newspapers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he asked: “Any new news from Coral Bay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pete glanced at the banshee hovering beside Luo De, her face full of resentment, and couldn’t help but envy again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He manipulated his puppet to pick up a peanut and toss it into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ruin Brotherhood set up a blockade there—no merchants allowed near. I don’t get what they’re up to—maybe they fear bards sneaking in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De felt disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But they underestimated the bards—they’re a fanatical bunch chasing big events, more annoying than flies. Funny thing—I just did business this morning with a bard who just came out of Coral Bay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he changed tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder it’s you, Pete!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two clinked cups lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Abyss, Luo De. That rebel mage is a tiefling—a servant of a demon duke from the Abyss. He exploited the ghost pirates’ innate desire to conquer all seas, promising them entry into the Abyssal Blood Sea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pete didn’t drag it out—he cut straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that tiefling mage is searching for a descendant of the Argyle family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humans once fought demons. The Argyle family was the main force—they nearly wiped out all demons in the west, and as a result, were cursed with a short lifespan by Abyssal magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A short lifespan curse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. But the Argyles were geniuses—they didn’t remove the curse; they actively harnessed its power. Now, the curse is hollow—no longer shortening life, even stronger than some blessings… Perhaps that’s why they want to sacrifice them? I don’t understand magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De drank another sip of the bitter, astringent giant’s ale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A demon duke…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long ago, while clearing the demon nest, he’d heard from Falsard about a demon duke worshipped by dark elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now another one shows up here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even the Abyss’s denizens are showing up, this isn’t just instability in human society—it’s instability across the entire continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pete glanced around, saw no one paying attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned in and whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pay attention, Luo De—pay close attention!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve probably noticed the continent’s anomalies—frequent cosmic creature disasters, massive volcanic eruptions, all kinds of cults rising, and now the Abyss intruding into the world…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three months ago, I drank with an elder of the half-deer people in Silver Hoof Deer Valley; after getting drunk, he told me a strange spark had been born in a certain dimension, perhaps allowing someone to ascend to godhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1190,"2026-06-20T19:55:30.170Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c5f43548cb5da066f5358112d4a5ec174cd88a7c8fc4ed8c8b00fce9bacc243a","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-149","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-147",704,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-cover.jpg"]