Chapter 488: The Influence of Scarlett

This request is slightly frightening.

Luo De had to clearly explain that this device was for refining and synthesizing items, and he demonstrated the 【 Wanxiangronglu 】 by smelting several batches of Slime Swords.

Mainly because he feared harming her.

Yet the eighth-rank peak scorpion woman remained unmoved.

But rather, this was precisely what she needed.

In Hera's expression, Luo De saw seriousness and determination—she clearly had a reason to ascend to the ninth rank.

Luo De did not press further, and ultimately agreed.

Hera was a true woman of action; the moment she agreed, she stepped into the 【 Wanxiangronglu 】.

Luo De was taken aback.

He saw the panel display:

【Smelting in progress】

【Name: 'Hera'】

Just in case.

After she entered the 【 Wanxiangronglu 】, Luo De linked her to the 【Far-Speech Chain】.

He spoke to her briefly, confirmed her condition was stable, then relaxed.

Today, he unusually spent the entire day in the Eucalyptus Grove.

Gazing at the forest, glowing faintly in the night.

A breeze stirred, leaves rustling softly.

His mood improved considerably.

Luo De stood in the Eucalyptus Grove for a long while, scratching his head.

He kept feeling a swelling sensation coming from the 【 Wanxiangronglu 】.

"This must be what Tally called the bloated feeling? It's so strange."

He had just thought of Tally.

Her voice came through the 【Far-Speech Chain】.

During the day, she had been shouting along with Luo De.

But she's a succubus.

You know how they are—lazy creatures who soon hid back in the shadows to nap.

By noon, she complained his shouting disturbed her sleep and wandered off grumbling through the forest.

She wasn't annoyed by his shouting itself.

She was annoyed that he shouted other women's names—this made the innocent succubus's heart ache.

Better not to hear, better not to mind.

Now, though.

Night had fallen, and she began worrying her master had been lured home by some seductive woman, frantically sending 【Far-Speech Chain】 messages urging him to return.

【Tally: Cute little Tally's already soaking in the bath (splashing sounds)~~ Oh no, I forgot to bring my new silk spider-leg stockings—they're on your pillow~~ Master, come back and get them for me~~】

Spider-leg stockings.

Crafted by the Spider-Spirit Yuna, lightweight, smooth, delicate, pure white.

After magical enhancement, they automatically adjust to the wearer's body temperature—warm in winter, cool in summer.

They looked almost identical to the white stockings from his past life.

Luo De had long wanted to feel the sensation of his thighs wrapped around a bear's waist in silk stockings; hearing Tally's words, his heart flared hot.

Yuna's body hadn't fully recovered earlier—only now could she produce them properly.

【Luo De: Don't let the bathwater get cold—I'll come back and soak with you.】

【Tally: Okay~~ I'll scrub your back—with my chest, okay~】

"Luo De?"

Luo De, about to open his 【Tree-Walker】, was called from behind.

He turned.

It was the rabbit-girl Oona.

She was unusually not wearing her hood.

Her red eyes stood out sharply against her wheat-colored face.

Her upright, snow-white ears, their tips trembling with the night breeze, revealed clean, pink earlobes that carried an inexplicable blush.

"Oona, out so late?"

"I just came back from the Magic Control League—bought some potions for sleep and healing. That Scarlett, every morning she wakes up and immediately goes to fight Amy. Her face is never unbruised, and it's kept me up all night."

She said this with a sigh.

Luo De smiled.

Generally, mushroom folk were gentle by nature.

Someone like Scarlett, so combative, was rare indeed.

"Also, I noticed she's been secretly cultivating hallucinogenic spores. Ugh, today's kids are so hard to raise."

"Isn't she also a Boundary-Purist like you?"

Unlike ordinary humanoid races, mushroom folk's Boundary-Purism means abstaining from absorbing hallucinogenic spores.

"Yes, which is why I'm worried—breaking the Jie is indulgence, but afterward it's mental torment. Not only that, when she sleeps at night, she—"

"What else?"

Oona's wheat-colored round face flushed.

"She sneaks off to touch herself in her sleep."

Luo De's expression froze:

"Where?"

Mushroom folk don't have a 'where.'

Luo De, having personally experienced mushroom folk, was the most qualified to say so.

Back then, to remove the Golden Flesh Crown, Tally had to cut open a slit with a knife.

"Oh, you know—there!"

". Are you sure?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. I didn't believe it at first, so I checked with a mental spell—and found she was reliving that day with you. I can't say it out loud."

"Wait, she feels this? Aren't mushroom folk more like plants than living creatures?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because of your 【Charm Fluid】. And maybe she's cultivating hallucinogenic spores to test the difference."

Oona's upright rabbit ears drooped slightly.

Her small face tightened, pleading:

"I don't want her to become addicted to hallucinogenic spores—they're too destructive for mushroom folk. You've seen what Binen, the Mushroom King, became. Scarlett's a child with ideals; she can't turn into a walking corpse. Luo De, please help me."

They had discussed this before.

Oona wanted Luo De to have another intimate encounter with Scarlett, to help her clearly distinguish between men and hallucinogenic spores.

In short, it would be a lesson.

Oona would be the teacher; Scarlett, the student.

Hmm.

It wasn't really a disadvantage.

And since it was Oona's request, he couldn't refuse.

"I'll help with Oona's request—even if you hadn't asked, I'd have done it. But you understand, if I bring it up, it seems ungentlemanly."

"Perfect! Let's go now!"

Oona's ears snapped upright, and she bounced excitedly.

Luo De thought for a moment—it was fine.

Whether early or late, he'd have to go anyway; better to settle it now while he had time.

As for Tally.

Let her wait a bit.

After all, this lesson isn't about pleasure—just one or two symbolic releases should end it.

Won't take long.

Once agreed,

the two walked and chatted.

Oona took out her new butterfly hairpin and pinned it beside her white hair—adorable.

As a staunch Boundary-Purist, Oona was firm; when Luo De sincerely complimented her, she took it as a friend's praise, smiling brightly and purely.

It made Luo De feel like punching cotton.

As they talked,

they arrived at the mushroom folk's burrow in the forest.

But—

As they neared the magical wooden hut and Oona reached to open the door,

Luo De's face suddenly froze.

After all, in a familiar girl's private chamber, a respectable Forest Warden would normally suppress his senses at this moment.

But despite that, his exceptionally heightened senses still let him hear first the muffled, soft whimpers of pleasure.

"Oona, wait—"

His attempt to stop her was already too late.

With a snap, the wooden door swung open.

There, in plain view, was Scarlett curled up in a chair, her feet in the air, perfectly facing the doorway.

Oona's smile froze.

(End of Chapter)