Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Contradiction

Serinda slowly rose from her dirt bed, yawning, stretching, feeling light and refreshed. The illumination spell had dispersed, but the sunlight seeping through the tiny crack had replaced it and illuminated the room.

To her side, Artium was still sleeping. The wounds on her body had healed; she only needed a bit more rest to fully recover. It had been three days since they had come to this floor. This was the first time they had a chance to relax and laze around. Many things had happened, both good and bad, but the best thing was that they were still alive.

Serinda smiled and caressed Artium's soft cheek. As she traced her fingers along the lovely face, she touched a damped streak of tears. Her smile faded. She could guess what Artium wept for in her sleep. She also dreamt the same dream.

Marina, why did you have to leave so soon?

"What happens to our promise?" Serinda mumbled.

"Serinda, a new day begets a new hope," Iris, who was sitting a bit away, said. "Is mourning the way you intend to live your best?"

"I will become stronger and explore the world. I'll take Artium with me and go everywhere we want. Only then will I know I've lived my best."

A rich fragrance drifted to Serinda and dispelled her heavy thoughts. She turned to Iris, who was holding a stick of roasted meat in her hand. Her mouth became watery as she stared at the delicious meal.

With a smile, Iris handed the meat to Serinda, who immediately bit into it. The brown, juicy texture exploded in her mouth, flooding her tongue with a barrage of salt, sweet, and spicy flavours. The whirlpool of joy and satisfaction bombarded her mind.

Before, she and her friends had to rely on fruits, canned food, and dried jerkies they prepared. These emergency rations couldn't compare to the skillfully cooked meat. Serinda almost cried a tear of joy when she tasted the good meal once more. She instantly devoured her piece, then looked at Iris, her eyes glittering in anticipation.

"Sister Iris, how did you get the meat? How did you cook it?" she said. "Did you turn yourself into the food and let us eat you? We can't trouble you like that. Your body is too beautiful and precious. I still have the emergency food with me."

Iris giggled and shook her head. It was true that she could turn a part of her into ingredients, but she was too embarrassed to do that. The thought of cooking herself and letting her friends eat her was too unbearable. Only for the truly desperate time would she consider it.

"I secretly went out to the nearby forest and hunted two rabbits," she said. "Don't worry. I've scouted the entire area. There is no sign of the black puppets or any battle nearby."

"What? You went out of the town and into the forest?" Serinda looked at Iris like she saw a monster. "That area is off-limit. The test said so. Sister Iris, who are you?"

"When I came here, I didn't get any notification or prompt about the test. You know my special circumstance. I might have broken something."

"With you here, we'll definitely get out alive. Even the Legacy Ground couldn't contain your magnificence!"

Iris quickly stuffed another stick of meat into Serinda's mouth. Serinda didn't resist. She carefreely nibbled onto the delicious feast and intentionally let Iris hold it for her. As her tongue carefully coiled around the meal, her face expressed utmost pleasure, like she was melting in a flame of desires.

"Wait, how did you cook this without letting out the smoke?" she said. "I've never heard of such magic. It is really convenient."

Iris turned smug as she held her chest high, but her spirit fell as she realised Serinda was staring at her breasts. She immediately stepped to the side, revealing a patch of the ground which was slightly looser than its surrounding.

"I don't have any affinity with magic, but I’ve learnt many things from a friend named Fugria." Iris placed her hand on the loose dirt. "I cooked the rabbits under our shelter and used the magic to capture the smoke. After I got all the meats out, I permanently sealed the ground."

Iris casually explained her tricks. Serinda carefully memorised them. Though she had travelled in the Sinking Dark Forest for some time, her experience couldn't compare to Fugria, a Master Archer who specialised in the subject.

"Thank you for teaching me, Sister Iris," Serinda said. "Your knowledge is priceless. I shall repay you with my body. It is priceless too."

"Serinda, do you want to fall asleep again?"

"Sister Iris, are you playing hard to get? I’ve heard that Slime Girls are one of the lewdest Monster Girls. Why aren't you like the rumours? You promised me last night!"

"Don't speak too loudly, or you will startle Artium." Iris blushed, feeling troubled. "Here is dangerous. Battles may occur at any time. What if those black puppets come and ruin the moment? Will you be able to stop?"

"Getting watched sounds like an exciting idea." Serinda averted her gaze. "As expected of Sister Iris. Even I hesitate to accept your marvellous idea."

Iris felt like sending Serinda back to sleep again. She quickly gave half of the ration to Serinda and left the other half for Artium. Without anything to do, she cautiously peeped out of the shelter through the entrance. Though the sun had risen, it wasn't high in the sky. Its orange light painted the town with a sense of majesty, the dawn of a new day.

"It's still so early," Iris said. "I think I'll take a light nap. You should too, Serinda. The opportunity to sleep to your heart's desire is rare. Treasure this moment. Sleep with Artium. She needs your comforting warmth."

"Hug me first. I'll be jealous when someone gets something I don't."

"My body is not warm at all. It's sticky, wet, and cold."

"I want your sticky, wet, and cold embrace. I've been a leader for too long. It has spoiled me. Now I'm unreasonable."

Iris sighed and leant forwards, hugging Serinda. They held each other for a while before Serinda reluctantly released Iris and went to sleep. She didn't sleep alone like before but lay beside Artium, looking at her sleeping face. After a while, tiredness overtook her; she fell into a slumber.

Iris listened to the uniform breathing of the two Monster Girls, her mind rapidly moving. She had already slept enough in the Safe Zone; her body was full of energy, but her two friends needed the rest. Though she couldn't go out, she could still contemplate the events which led her to this moment.

"Overseer, why did you fear me leaving this Legacy Ground?" Iris mumbled as she stared at the ceiling of the shelter. "What are you planning?"

Thoughts emerged and collided inside her mind, producing many speculations. The strange conversations with Quasi surfaced, adding missing pieces into her puzzle, slowly guiding her to what she presumed to be the truth.

The more she affirmed her belief, the heavier her heart became. Her anxiety was not for herself but for those whom she implicated. She sighed as she glanced at the two Monster Girls who were sleeping soundly. She had to protect them, that was her promise.

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...

The Overseer was still sitting on the same metallic throne, but his expression had turned dark while staring at the electric displays. Through them, he witnessed the Monster Girls throughout the Puppeteer Legacy Ground. Only a few could capture his attention, but only one demanded his sole focus.

"Iris, so your name is Iris," he said. A strange feeling of irritation and helplessness manifested in his heart. "Quasi, why did you let her go? What did you tell her? I thought that you, too, desire to see the glory of our era once more. What happened?"

The Overseer turned to the side, where a black necklace silently floated. It was the treasure bestowed to the Overseer by the imperial family, capable of bending the rules of the Legacy Ground. Like the black card, it could only be used once.

If not for the abrupt destruction of the everchanging orb, the Overseer wouldn't give up the black necklace. The situation forced his hands.

Without the power source, the Legacy Ground would crumble. Without the Legacy Ground, the Overseer would be no more.

"But this is better." The Overseer smiled. "Iris, you must have gained unimaginable power from the energy source. Nothing in the Legacy Ground will be your match. Your might will resound throughout the world, your disposition akin to the divine. Only with such power could you be qualified as the vessel, our hope, our salvation!"

While screaming, the Overseer abruptly coughed. The central control room he resided in faintly trembled. The wires and light embedded on the walls burst into storms of electricity and flames, blasting against the floating displays. Though the black necklace could temporarily sustain the Legacy Ground, it couldn't compare to the everchanging orb.

"It erupts slower than I expected," the Overseer said. "Your Majesty, your resurrection is nigh. I shall personally oversee the ceremony, as I always did."

The Overseer's eyes gleamed as he raised his hand and pressed down. An unseen, unknowable force descended and suppressed the tempests of destruction. The ruptured wires and shattered walls rapidly regressed. The electricity and flames and debris flowed back into their initial places, resealing like before.

After making sure everything returned to its original state, the Overseer glared at the displays, revealing the sleeping Iris and many other high-potential candidates. Before, the Overseer had planned to kill every Monster Girls and feed their power to Iris, but now, it was unnecessary.

"You all are lucky that she decided to go into the sacred graveyard and absorb the energy source. Otherwise, I would have enough power to annihilate everyone and shut down the Legacy Ground."

Despite a miscalculation, the result was within the Overseer's expectation, yet his premonition was telling him something was wrong. This was the deal the imperial family did with Gulia, the evilest existence in the world. Was this just luck that the Monster Girls survive, or did Gulia have another plan in mind?

"These two Monster Girls must leave." The Overseer observed the sleeping Artium and Serinda. "Iris, you will come to me. Your kindness won't let you leave. That kindness shall be your downfall, and your downfall shall be his emergence."

...

Iris stood in front of the door and raised her arms to the side, blocking her sisters from leaving. Though her expression was full of shyness and guilt, her body remained frozen, unwavering from her position. Her sisters were staring at her, but their faces were calm, not angry at her behaviour.

"I won't allow it," she said. "If you want to go out, you'll have to defeat me. Even if I lose, I won't let you leave."

Reta knew why Iris was acting so desperately, but she couldn't do anything. She wanted to speak up, but she had to keep the promise. She could only stay silent, peeking at her other sisters, guessing their thoughts.

Though they wouldn't do anything to Iris, Iris might not be able to bear the shame of keeping them in the dark. She was too emotional and remorseful. That was her charm but also her defect. She was too caring to the point of self-destruction.

As Iris was at her limit, Lenmia stepped forwards and grasped Iris's hands. Iris didn't dare to meet her concerned gaze, but Lenmia playfully seized Iris's chin and forced it up. Their sight connected, causing Iris to flush.

"Sister Lenmia, even if you do this, I won't back down," Iris said, though she was trembling. "I won't accept anything. You can't tempt me!"

"Iris, are you hiding something from me?" Lenmia smiled. "If the you I know is the real you, you would recklessly try to participate in the war. You're too emotional, too lovely, too caring. It's vexing to think about how to stop you from being sentimental."

"What do you mean? Why should I keep something away from you? You all are my family, the only thing I have!"

"Iris, your voice is shaking." Lenmia let go of Iris's hands and hugged her, nuzzling Iris, patting her back. "I know you mean well. I won't blame you if you decide to hide something. You did it for our safety and wellbeing."

Iris bit her lips, her heart racing. After silently hugging Lenmia and peeking at her sisters, Iris took a deep breath and tensed up.

"Sister Lenmia," she mumbled, "it's—"

As Iris was about to confess, Reta stepped in and hugged Iris, squeezing her until she lost her voice. She struggled, but Reta held her tight, not leaving any room to wiggle around.

"Sister Iris, you want to go alone, right?" Reta said. "It's too dangerous. Sister Vilia wouldn't want you to avenge her, not because you're weak, but because it would harm you. Let me go with you!"

The other sisters sighed and came together, hugging Iris, petting her head, rubbing her cheeks. Iris couldn't speak, but relief and happiness emerged in her heart. Before she could thank anyone, some naughty hands groped her breasts and caressed her butts. One even slipped into her warm crevice.

"Sisters, what are you doing!" Iris fought back. She could casually slip away, but her heart didn't want so. "Not here, please. We're too close to the door. What if someone comes in? This is too much, too lewd. You're all meanies."

"If someone comes in, I'll ask them to join us," Pallorn said. "But Iris is correct; here is not appropriate. Shall we go up to Iris's bedroom?"

Iris tried to refuse, but everyone else agreed. They dragged her upstairs, teasing her sensitive body, giving her no chance to rest. Soon, her voice echoed throughout the house, seeping outside for the passing Monster Girls to listen and imagine what happened inside.

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