Chapter 172: Consultation

"Not only that, we also found this—Brittley's Ceramic Plate, a disc formed by spells used to store Magical Items. Breaking it releases what I checked; inside is very likely the plague of a Plague Mage."

Rod: "I heard earlier that the Ruin Brotherhood recruited a Plague Mage. It seems they brought him in as well."

The witch Dimia angrily covered her head: "Even worse, I found this in Sharon's recovery cottage. The magical doll at the door was destroyed, which means that Plague Mage targeted her."

That place is also close to the forest.

Rod's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

There are many injured in the forest now.

Especially Zombie Selena and the Orc Amy.

The former Suffered Heavy injuries and exhausted her mana; she is still alive solely thanks to the Zombie's 【Undying Body】.

After Kali's treatment, she woke up in the evening, but was as listless as a corpse.

She couldn't even speak.

The latter used 【Frenzy】 three times in a row; the burden on the body was immense. When her spirit relaxed during the day, she fell into a complete coma.

Fortunately, Penny the Ghoul, the forest's first line of defense, did not have major problems.

Rod: "Did Sharon have any problems?"

Dimia: "Fortunately, no. She told me that a free mage named Hiver passed by and drove away the intruding Plague Mage."

"There are free mages in Shi Ying Town?"

"As far as I know, no. But now the situations in Twilight Hills and Coral Bay have become complex. Many bards have come smelling the scent of a major event; it is possible that one or two among them are highly skilled free mages. In any case, most of the plague on Sharon has been cured. I plan to bring her back to town."

As a friend, Rod had to remind her: "Are you sure you can handle it? Sharon was targeted, and recent events are not lacking in the slightest. If you have another emotional outburst like during the Labyrinth Cutting Ceremony, no one will be there to save you."

Last time, the elf Kali offered advice: find an outlet for this witch whose ability to adjust is weak.

Where is the outlet for writing vulgar and violent novels? Rod really didn't know.

Dimia's baby-fat cheeks turned slightly red.

"That time was an accident."

"Kali gave you advice, right? Find your own outlet."

"My outlet is writing... writing novels. Recently I found a lot of material points, and the outline is organized. I am not anxious at all now!"

Rod shrugged: "I hope so. As one of the few friends who knows your identity as a pornographic author, if you need consultation or experience to reference, feel free to ask me."

Dimia hesitated: "Um..."

Rod laughed helplessly: "There really is?"

"A small question. I wanted to ask before, but I never had the chance."

"Please speak."

The witch coughed lightly, covering her mouth and simultaneously hiding her red face.

"It's just... just that the hero Orpheus will soon face a challenge from a Young Lady Succubus and plans to keep her by his side. I want to ask... how does a Succubus feel?"

Rod was puzzled: "Isn't the hero Orpheus's partner always human?"

"As the hero's adventure deepens, Orpheus has to face various enemies."

Rod nodded.

He began to tell her about the various wonderful uses of Succubi, including but not limited to the tricks for using various openings, the entertaining role of the Succubus's versatile and cunning nature, and the wonderful uses of various innate spiritual spells, such as the contraception of 【Shadow Spells】, the application of all human-developed positions brought by 【Transmutation】, the forced erection caused by 【Charming Fluid】, and the super-strong suction brought by 【Essence Drain】, and so on.

Dimia's face turned pink.

She took notes while listening.

After listening, she asked again:

"How do you maintain your physical fitness without weakening while keeping a Succubus? Physical strength can indeed help with essence recovery, but after reaching a certain intensity, it is very limited. Under the endless 【Essence Drain】 of a Succubus, even high-rankers have a probability of failing."

Rod naturally could not tell her about his enslavement ability to share skills.

So he said: "It might be talent. I have never experienced exhaustion."

"Never?!"

Dimia was dumbfounded.

She instinctively looked at him.

The witch was a maiden who had never experienced worldly affairs; all descriptions and hearsay were learned from books and newspapers.

But she also knew the weight of fighting endlessly without falling.

I wouldn't even dare to write this in my novels, yet you are so exaggerated in reality?

Rod saw the other party's gaze staring at him without restraint.

Instead, he felt a bit embarrassed.

Don't misunderstand me. Although I, Rod, am promiscuous, I rarely think in that direction when dealing with friends.

He lightly squeezed his legs together.

Dimia immediately came to her senses.

Her face instantly turned red with embarrassment, and she looked up, glancing wildly around the ceiling.

The sound of knocking on the office door broke the awkwardness.

Following Dimia's trembling voice saying "Come in."

The old cuckold Hen...

The old gentleman Humbert walked in elegantly, leaning on a cane.

After the banquet, he, who had a Serious Illness, instantly recovered; even after the seventh-rank demon and the feathered people caused a disturbance, he was not affected in the slightest.

After the other two committee members fell ill, he directly took over the burden and commanded the rescue work.

"Mr. Rod!"

He came over and tightly shook Rod's hand, tears in his eyes: "Thank you again for you and your partners' efforts for Shi Ying Town. We will remember it in our hearts."

Rod waved his hand, sparing them the pleasantries.

He smiled instead and said, "What's going on between you and your stepdaughter?"

After the banquet, he returned his stepdaughter Tobecca to the old gentleman.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Rod. Tobecca's situation is not bad."

"She clearly wasn't doing well at Coral Bay. You might as well just take her back."

The nature of Coral Bay as a harbor meant the cost of living there was never low. Her husband was only a dockworker and clearly couldn't support them, which had led to her having experience of selling herself.

Humbert: "I've talked to her about it, but she refuses to leave that man, even though he's the one forcing her to earn money in a brothel."

Then there's nothing to be done.

Love-brained people are all like that — they can only wait to die.

Rod shook his head.

The old gentleman gave a wry smile. "So I suggested letting her bring that man along. I can support them both."

Well then.

Though it goes against propriety, watching your beloved stepdaughter come back with a man to be lovey-dovey — you're a damned love-brain yourself.

Rod couldn't be bothered to discuss this wretched matter any further.

He asked instead, "What's the situation over at Stormwind City? Argyle's descendants being transformed into demon-kin is no small matter, and it looks like the transformation has been going on for some time. What's their response?"

"I've actually come about this very matter. A magic pigeon from Stormwind City brought a letter. They claim they'll soon send someone to go together with Shi Ying Town to negotiate with Coral Bay."

(End of this chapter)