Volume 2, Chapter 8 – Are You Kidding Me!

In the Sadik Empire, on the outskirts of the western city of Saberius, lay the main residence of the Blackrose Family.

After knocking and receiving permission, a woman dressed in a black-and-white maid uniform entered. She possessed a graceful figure and long, deep blue hair, and she walked with elegant steps into the patriarch’s simple yet majestic office.

“Duke, Lady Qiu Mingtong has arrived at Windward City,” the maid said respectfully.

Upon hearing this, the black-haired man sitting in the armchair with his eyes closed slowly opened them, looking indifferently at the blue-haired maid. His smooth, pale face was framed by sharp, handsome features. His dark, deep eyes were like black onyx, shimmering with a charming luster and an unknown, mysterious allure. His thick eyebrows, high-bridged nose, and perfectly shaped lips all proclaimed his nobility and elegance.

Clearly, this handsome and imposing black-haired man was the head of the Black Rose Family, Xiao Blackrose. He was also Saibok’s direct superior.

Faced with the maid’s report, Xiao raised a hand to his chin and slightly arched an eyebrow. “She’s arrived? And what happened after that?”

“In response to the Duke, because the garrison of Fort Garros was almost completely wiped out, the troops in Windward City also lost their combat effectiveness under the influence of the ‘Blood Butterfly’s’ residual aura. Therefore, after using the excuse you prepared, Lady Qiu Mingtong easily obtained permission to cooperate from Marquis Xiumu. She has now led her legion into Fort Garros to take up station.”

“Oh? Completely wiped out? How pitiful,” Xiao said tonelessly, though there wasn’t a hint of sympathy in his voice.

“Life truly is a fragile thing.”

“Indeed it is, Duke.”

“It’s good that she obtained permission to cooperate. By the way, what is this ‘Blood Butterfly’ you just mentioned?”

“It is a designation for a new demon king tier, just issued by the Ashurmos Main Church.”

“Oh? I see.” Xiao nodded slowly.

‘Blood Butterfly? It feels like a code name that carries a sense of cruelty. It doesn’t quite suit Lady Yumo; Lady Yumo is clearly so gentle.’

Rеαⅾ οn KαtReadiոɡCаfе

And furthermore… “What is the Church’s positioning for this ‘Blood Butterfly’? Just a demon king tier?”

At this question, the maid smiled playfully, her tone full of mockery. “Yes, demon king tier.”

“Heh, a bunch of fools,” Xiao laughed coldly, then leaned back into his chair with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

“Indeed.” The maid nodded noncommittally.

Then, she frowned slightly as she noticed something unusual around the Duke. When the Duke was working, the old butler who always stood by the desk was nowhere to be seen. Without the old butler there, things felt a bit off.

On the other side, seemingly noticing the maid’s confused expression, Xiao spoke up. “Is something wrong, Luowei? If you have something to ask, just say it.”

Although Xiao usually wore a poker face, he gradually revealed a hint of a gentle expression toward the child he had previously adopted.

In response, Luowei bowed apologetically. “My apologies, Duke. I was just a bit curious, where did Lord Saibok go?”

“Oh, that fellow…” As he spoke, a faint, schadenfreude-like smile appeared on Xiao’s handsome face. Then, the Duke of Blackrose slowly turned his head to look out the window at the rose garden. “As for him, heh, it seems he’s currently getting a scolding.”

“Huh? A… a scolding? Lord Saibok?”

A being who could scold Lord Saibok, other than the Duke himself, seemed to be only…

Thinking of this, the maid named Luowei couldn’t help but show a startled expression. Following the Duke’s gaze, she looked curiously into the garden.

There, she saw the old butler, who usually looked so elegant in dress and posture, looking extremely anxious. He was pacing back and forth in the garden, constantly saying something into the communication magic stone in his hand. Drop after drop of cold sweat flowed continuously from his forehead.

Rеad οո КаtRеаdiոɡCаfe

“We agreed she would sleep for five days! It’s only been a few hours! How did she suddenly wake up! You had better give me a reasonable explanation! Or you can look forward to having your backside flayed!”

Inside the small wooden cabin, Yumo sat on a chair in the bedroom, already changed into new clothes. she gripped the communication magic stone tightly, questioning him with suppressed anger.

Soon, Saibok’s panicked voice came through the stone. “My-my apologies, Lady Yumo! Please calm yourself and listen to my explanation!”

“Then you’d better hurry up and explain.”

“Uh, right. I-I think this must be an extremely rare and special case!”

“What special case?”

“Under normal circumstances, someone whose soul power is exhausted will definitely fall into a deep sleep. However, according to Weisle Theory, a very small number of special individuals will briefly wake up after coming into contact with certain special power signatures!”

“Special signatures? What signatures?”

“That-that depends on the constitution; it varies from person to person.”

“And you say it’s a ‘brief’ awakening?”

“Yes, they will wake up for a short period! Afterward, they will fall back into a deep sleep until their soul power recovers to a certain level. Furthermore, they won’t retain any memories of the time they were awake!”

Hearing this, Yumo’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she raised a hand to prop up her chin, seemingly entering a state of deep thought.

“No memories? Will she wake up again before her soul power is fully restored?”

Rеaԁ on КatReαⅾіոɡСаfе

“No, she won’t! In medical records, there has never been a record of someone waking up twice!”

Hearing this, Yumo frowned slightly and asked in a suspicious tone, “Are you sure?”

“Yes! I am certain! Unless… unless a ‘blurring phenomenon’ occurs! However, that possibility is far too low, almost infinitesimal. Lady Yumo, there is no need to worry!”

“Sigh, fine, I’ll trust you one more time. If anything else goes wrong, you can go eat the food Li Yu cooks!”

“Sigh…”

After a helpless sigh, and ignoring Saibok’s subsequent rambling, Yumo withdrew her Shadow Essence, ending the call. She then tossed the depleted blue magic stone out the window. Because she was feeling a bit displeased, she accidentally used a bit too much strength, causing the magic stone to vanish into the horizon.

After throwing the stone, Yumo silently closed the window to prevent the warmth inside from escaping. After all, she wasn’t the only one in the room now.

Then, Yumo slowly turned her head, looking thoughtfully at the beautiful girl lying on her bed.

‘Forget it, if she doesn’t remember, then she doesn’t remember. I had even thought of a whole set of excuses to trick her. It seems they won’t be needed. But this is for the best. If the female lead really woke up in the middle of the Deepwinter Forest, it would be a bit hard to explain…’

‘Let’s leave it at this. Let her rest quietly like before.’

Thinking this way, Yumo’s gaze swept with a hint of appreciation over Mengxi’s eyelashes, which were like resting butterflies, and her cherry lips, as red as begonias. Her face was so supple that one felt the urge to touch it upon seeing it. Her face shape was so symmetrical, pointed but not sharp, sharp but not pointed. Her eyes were especially enchanting, overflowing with a goddess-like aura, beautiful and filled with a sacred breath.

Then, Yumo’s gaze fell on the fragrant shoulders exposed by the camisole dress. Her skin was as flawless as snow, and her silk clothes were slightly disheveled. Even the brilliant sapphire placed by her pillow could not compare to the radiance of her skin. Mengxi slept so gracefully that the curves of her body were simply soul-stirring, making Yumo’s face flush slightly.

“As expected of the Chosen Maiden,” Yumo couldn’t help but sigh again.

Rеαԁ οո ΚаtRеаⅾіngСаfе

Especially those bright, star-like pale purple eyes; they were truly soul-snatching…

Soul-snatching…

Soul…

Wait?! Eyes?!

Wait a minute!!

“You! Why are you awake again?!”

In an instant, Yumo realized what was happening and couldn’t help but let out a startled cry. This sudden “second performance” of the scene caused Yumo to turn pale with fright, abruptly jumping up from her chair!

She stared in utter disbelief at the silver-haired girl who had awakened once more. Mengxi just silently stared back at Yumo with those crystal-clear, innocent eyes. It caused Yumo’s heart to skip a beat.

After a moment, once Yumo regained her senses, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth.

‘You said she wouldn’t wake up?! Saibok, you brat! Can you try being a bit more reliable!! You can choose for yourself later—having your backside flayed or eating Li Yu’s cooking!!’

At the same time, far away in a foreign land, Saibok suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and let out a violent sneeze.

Saibok: “?!? Why… why do I suddenly have a bad feeling…”