Chapter 596: Fragrance of Flowers

"Forging official seals and documents? What is this?"

The witch Demia expressed doubt about the forged documents.

Luo De did not conceal anything and recounted what he had seen last night.

Of course.

Including the leader of the Shadow Hunter, Eve, who secretly assisted—she at least meant no harm.

"Documents of collusion."

Demia's expression turned serious, tinged with lingering fear. "I never expected these bastards to be this ruthless. If this gets out, given the current climate, whether true or false, Humbert is unlikely to survive."

Given that Asmodeus has spread the secret method of opening the Infernal Passage.

The hatred and revulsion toward demons among the continent's inhabitants have reached unprecedented levels.

The local authorities in Shiying Town might manage to delay the old man's fate for a while, but once the bards' newspapers publicize it, some adventurers with intense hatred for demons may not hesitate to assassinate him.

The forged official seals were deployed to counter the conscription corps' collusion documents.

That thing is scorching hot; for a country squire like Humbert, even getting close to it would cost him a layer of skin.

Forging official seals does damage the city hall's credibility, but it's better than letting someone get outright killed.

"This operation was intense—the conscription corps may tone down for now, but they won't stop."

Luo De silently shook his head.

His intuition told him.

The conscription corps—or rather, the Igo Cult—almost certainly came here to locate Campbell's secret hideout.

The Dogkin's Five Sufferers had also said that beneath that hideout lay a research lab studying Crystal Sickness.

So.

Is the Igo Cult trying to use Crystal Sickness to mass-kill sentient beings, in order to curb the imminent threat from the nearby dimensional rift?

But ultimately, Crystal Sickness isn't a viral disease.

It's caused by spiritual blockages accumulating within the body—it's not contagious.

Hmm. Whatever.

It's not far anyway. When we find the Campbell place, we'll just go kill them outright.

A light breeze blew past.

Luo De squinted, sipping Tally's tea, watching as the thick gray clouds parted overhead, sunlight spilling onto the white wool of the sheep, glowing golden.

"Yes."

Demia nodded.

"This morning, on the street, I saw Igo Cultists preaching—saying the continent is about to reach its next millennium, that the trial of the apocalypse is coming, and only by joining the Igo Cult can one find a way to survive."

"Heh, bullshit."

Sharon said coldly.

"Do they hand out eggs?"

"Huh? No, they don't."

"Then no one's paying attention to them."

"No, they said: 'Don't fear the apocalypse—we've got Luo De.'"

"That's a heavy burden."

Luo De smiled bitterly.

Demia smiled along.

Now that she'd calmed down, she felt embarrassed about her earlier outburst.

So she took the teapot from Tally's hands to pour for Luo De.

She didn't get it—the succubus pouted, refusing to let go.

Sharon walked over and kicked Tally, ignoring the succubus's theatrical attempt to fling herself onto Luo De and fake crying.

She forcibly seized the teapot, staring oddly at Demia: "You were supposed to scold him—why did you only say two words? On the way here, you said you'd give him a proper lesson."

"Aww, I was just joking! Luo De is our Shiying Town's great hero—what right do I have to scold him?"

Demia's baby-faced cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

She took the teapot, poured tea for Luo De, then poured herself a cup.

"I'm truly sorry, Luo De—I hope you won't blame me for being so hasty."

"There's no need for such formalities between us—wait, that's—"

"I'll drink this tea as if it were wine—to apologize!"

Saying this,

She mimicked the way others drank alcohol, raising her teacup with boldness and swallowing the black tea in one gulp.

But the witch lady's throat seemed rather narrow—she gulped slowly, gurgle-gurgle.

Luo De covered his face: "... here's Tally's... stuff in the tea."

Sharon frowned: "Stuff? What stuff?"

"You know—when girls get... aroused."

Demia, still raising her teacup, froze for a moment, then spat the remaining tea straight onto Luo De's face.

Sharon burst out laughing beside her.

Then she laughed harder and harder, clutching her stomach in unrestrained mirth.

Demia's face burned crimson with shame and fury.

"Luo De!"

"..."

The witch Demia and the Dogkin Sharon walked side by side along the stone path leading to Shiying Town.

On either side stretched neatly trimmed emerald-green lawns, swaying gently in the wind—utterly refreshing.

"Hey, Sharon."

Demia, fearing contamination from the succubus's bodily fluids, downed two large bottles of clarity potion.

Yet even now, her childlike face remained flushed.

Her wet clothes were delicate; she didn't want to use a forceful dust-cleansing spell.

So she changed into a new set inside Henry's villa.

But inside the villa, the strange, sensual scent lingered—undergarments tossed everywhere, and half-open bedroom doors revealing not just one, but multiple women's thighs on the bed!

One pair was deathly gray, another rough green skin, another entwined with green spiritual vines, yet another translucent and ghostly!

Demia instantly understood what had happened here last night!

No wonder the ghoul Pan Ni said she needed a day off today!

"What's wrong?"

Sharon smirked at her—her little sister had finally had a tiny embarrassing moment, and the dog-girl found it amusing.

Not in front of outsiders, of course.

But Luo De was family—different.

"Do... do all men do this? Do they really have to drink that... stuff?"

"I bet the succubus slipped it in herself, pretending it was honey sweetness—you know how mischievous and rotten she is."

Demia nodded.

Miss Tally really was mischievous.

Then she paused, turning to Sharon with a strange look: "How do you know it was pretending to be honey sweetness?"

"Because that's exactly what her... area smells like."

Sharon's face froze, her tail stopping mid-sway.

She turned stiffly, meeting her little sister's stunned gaze.

"You've tasted it?!"

"No! I didn't! It was Luo De—he kissed me after fooling around with that damn succubus, and I didn't want to! I swear!"

"You three actually did that together?! You told me you only ever did it with Luo De!"

"Only once! Just once!"

Sharon's cheeks flushed too, tinged with embarrassment.

She wanted to drop the subject, quickening her pace beneath her fitted hunting pants.

Suddenly, her arm was wrapped and pulled by something soft she didn't possess.

Demia had linked arms with her.

She kept her head down, ears burning red.

"D-did Luo De... do that to you?"

"What?"

"I mean... did Luo De taste yours?"

"... don't want to talk about it."

"So you did! Then did you taste his?"

Demia lifted her head, her clear black-and-white eyes sparkling like stars.

Sharon felt awkward, avoiding her gaze: "Are you planning to write me and Luo De into your novel?"

You're changing the subject! So you do have some too! How does it feel? Tell me, Sharon~~

I hate people who know me too well!

Get out, get out, get out! Feel it yourself! Can't reach? Want me to help you? Go away now.

Sharon hadn't finished scolding.

She noticed Dimea's gaze had lifted, carrying a faint trace of unusual longing and curiosity, watching her timidly.

"C-can I? I don't want to be touched by a man, but if it's Sharon…"

"."

A gentle breeze passed, brushing the tips of both their hairs.

Carrying a hint of lily scent that shouldn't exist in April.

(End of Chapter)