Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 732 [Bonus(づ ◕‿◕ )づ] Because... that was our final trial!

”That day... that smile... I still vividly remember it...” Dora mumbled softly, her gaze lost in the endless expanse of the sky.

Aether remained silent after hearing everything about Luna and Dora. There was nothing he could say—no words that would make a difference.

But one thing was clear...

ʼDamn, why does everyone have such a tragic backstory?!ʼ Aether couldnʼt help but sigh inwardly. It didnʼt matter who they were or where they came from—every single one of his women had endured some kind of pain, just like his own fucked-up past life.

Though Liora and Delphine might not have had deeply tragic histories like the others, they still hadnʼt lived easy lives... they had suffered in their own ways.

ʼIs this fate at work? Am I only drawn to people with broken pasts, or is it that Iʼm fated to meet them? Fuck it!ʼ Aether mused, his lips curving into a faint, amused smile before his expression darkened slightly.

”If only I hadnʼt fallen for their tricks... if I hadnʼt gone looking for answers... Luna might have still been alive,” Dora muttered, her voice laced with self-reproach, as if blaming herself for the girlʼs death.

Anyone else might think she was just wallowing in self-loathing, caught up in pointless regret.... But they didnʼt know.

No one knew.

That smile.

That warm, gentle smile before the portal had closed.

It was seared into Doraʼs memory like a ghost that refused to fade, haunting her every time she closed her eyes.

Aetherʼs grip on Doraʼs hip tightened slightly as he pulled her closer.

Dora let out an awkward chuckle, shaking her head, ”To think that one day, Iʼd be telling all this to my own disciple... Hah... Fate really does have a twisted sense of humour and worse, he was way younger than me yet comforting me? Hah... Fate indeed!”

Aether thought, ʼFate is more like a bitchy one, if you ask me,ʼ before shifting his focus back to what he had learned. He had gathered most of the information he needed about Luna… but there was one crucial detail that stood out.

ʼShe died... which means the Master is trying to bring her back to life. But how?ʼ He pondered for a moment, then a particular memory resurfaced—one of his past iterations had been captured by the Master, who had extracted his blood and used his abilities to rewind time.

ʼSo, he wants to rewind time?ʼ Aether muttered inwardly, but something felt off.

Even if the body was restored... the soul had already passed on. Rewinding time wouldnʼt be enough.

ʼAm I missing somethingʼ he thought.

”Now itʼs your turn,” Dora suddenly declared, leaning in close, her eyes sharp and demanding.

She had given him the answers he sought—now it was time for him to return the favour.

Aether exhaled heavily. He knew there was no escaping this. Dora wasnʼt going to let him off the hook unless he gave her what she wanted. Thatʼs why he had already decided—he would tell her the truth.

Just like in the previous timeline, he had revealed his ties to the Arcane Hunter Organization while searching for Aqualina and Celestia. But this time, he added a few extra details, carefully mixing in information about Master Snape, blending everything together smoothly to make it sound as natural and coherent as possible.

By the time he was done, Doraʼs face had gone pale, her expression frozen in horror.

”W-What do you mean... the Head of the Organization is Master Snape?” Her voice wavered slightly.

Aether nodded, watching her reaction closely. The way her body stiffened... the flicker of something unreadable in her eyes...

ʼWhy does she look like that? Does she know something? Maybe they had a past... is that why he killed her easily before?ʼ Aether speculated.

Dora took a deep, steadying breath, but her mind was in turmoil. What Aether had just told her was too much..... Too impossible!!

ʼThereʼs no way... no fucking way... Not him! Itʼs not possible!ʼ She screamed internally, refusing to accept what she had just heard.

Dora exhaled, ʼThat has to be it. Someone else must be using his name… Fuckers!ʼ she clenched her fists, inwardly cursing whoever was responsible.

Just then, Aetherʼs brows furrowed slightly, and he hesitated for a moment before asking, ”By any chance... did Luna ever have a relationship with someone?”

Dora blinked in surprise before letting out a sharp snort,

”Saintesses arenʼt allowed to have relationships...

They must remain pure. Thatʼs an absolute order from Mother. If they donʼt, theyʼll be sacrificed!!” she said with a scowl before pausing. Her eyes suddenly widened in realization, pure shock flashing across her face. ”D-Donʼt tell me you fuc—”

”I didnʼt fuck Helena!” Aether cut in immediately, his voice firm and serious. But inwardly, he was screaming, ʼOh my fucking goodness! What the actual hell?! There was a rule like that?! You crazy-ass Mother Goddess!!!ʼ

To be completely honest, he had been tempted to sleep with Helena. He had come close. The only reason he hadnʼt gone all the way was because of her habit of passing out after climaxing.

ʼBut to think... a Saintess has to remain pure... Thatʼs...ʼ Aetherʼs thoughts trailed off as he realized something.

Helena... wasnʼt 100% pure anymore.

Dora was still staring at Aether, her eyes filled with suspicion as if she wasnʼt convinced he was telling the truth.

Aetherʼs lips twitched in frustration. Here he was, pouring everything out, and yet she was still doubting him!

Unbelievable!

Shaking his head, he decided to change the subject.

”So, youʼre telling me Luna never had a relationship before?” he asked, steering the conversation back.

”No!”

Aetherʼs frown deepened, ʼThen why the hell did that man have her photo...? Could he be her father?ʼ The thought lingered for a moment before he quickly dismissed it. He recalled the crazed, obsessive look in Master Snapeʼs eyes, the way his expression twisted into something unhinged.

That wasnʼt the face of a fucking father!!

That was the face of someone utterly consumed by obsession!!!

ʼYeah, thereʼs no way thatʼs a fatherʼs expression,ʼ Aether concluded with certainty.

”Well...” Dora suddenly hesitated, her lips pressing together as she looked away. ”She did have someone close to her.”

”Who?”

Doraʼs expression became unreadable, her brows furrowing slightly as she let out a quiet sigh. Then, instead of answering, she simply shrugged. ”Iʼm not telling you.”

ʼThen why bother to tell that?ʼ Aether thought shouted inwardly!! as his lips twitched in frustration. Without hesitation, he reached over and pinched her hip.

Dora let out a small, startled sound before turning to glare at him. ”Ow! What the hell was that for?”

Aether met her gaze with a flat expression. ”I told you everything, yet youʼre still keeping secrets? That feels unfair to me, donʼt you think?”

Dora exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as if dealing with him was giving her a headache. ”Itʼs not that I donʼt want to tell you... Itʼs just...” She trailed off, biting her lip before finally admitting, ”There was one man who was close to her.”

Aether narrowed his eyes. ”Who?”

Dora hesitated again, visibly struggling with whether or not to reveal the truth. The reluctance on her face was obvious, her fingers tightening into a loose fist.

Aether sighed before pulling her closer, his voice dropping into a serious tone. ”Dora, please... I donʼt have time for this.”

Inwardly, he thought, ʼOtherwise, Iʼll have to ask others, which will take way too long... and I really donʼt feel like wasting time on that right now.ʼ

Dora turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze for a moment... the sense of closeness and his innocent eyes.... Then, she looked back at him with an arched brow. ”You do realize that Iʼm your Master, right?”

Aether didnʼt even flinch. ”Of course,” he said without hesitation, tightening his hold around her waist. A small smirk played on his lips as he thought, ʼThere is absolutely no way Iʼm letting my cute little Master slip into someone elseʼs hands.... Especially not after seeing her true form.ʼ

He still wanted to uncover the other secret she had been keeping from him, but right now, that could wait. There was something even more pressing—Master Snape. That information took priority.

Doraʼs lips twitched slightly, and she sucked in a sharp breath, feeling his hold tighten. She should have punched him, shoved him away, done something to stop him from being so brazen. And yet…

ʼTsk, I hate myself so much right now,ʼ she gritted her teeth inwardly, scolding herself. It frustrated her how she no longer had the will to push him away like before.

And just like that, Aether had fully wormed his way into Doraʼs heart, securing a place there with nothing more than a single moment of concern.

”...Itʼs our Master,” Dora finally admitted, her voice reluctant, ”My predecessor. The Ex-Sovereign...”

Aetherʼs eyes widened in sheer shock.

ʼWait, what? All this time... he was the Sovereign?!ʼ

He couldnʼt believe what he had just heard. But then, as he thought about it, everything started to make sense.

That Master had always known more than anyone else—more about the world, more about the Ebon Stone, more than even Isadora, the current Sovereign.

”Whatʼs his real name?” Aether asked, his voice steady despite the storm raging in his thoughts.

”...” Dora ran a hand over her forehead, clearly exhausted by the conversation.

”Come on, Dora,” Aether pressed his tone firm. ”Tell me.”

With yet another deep sigh, Dora finally muttered, ”...His name is Snape.”

Aether blinked, his mind working to piece everything together. His voice reflected his shock as he said, ”Then the person whoʼs leading the Arcane Hunters is—”

Before he could even finish, Dora shook her head firmly. ”Nope! Thatʼs not possible.”

Aetherʼs brows furrowed. ”What do you mean itʼs not possible? They have the same name! And based on his knowledge, itʼs obvious that he—”

Dora cut him off again, this time with more force. ”Itʼs. Not. Possible, Aether!”

”Why?” Aether demanded.

Dora bit her lip, her entire posture stiffening as if she was determined not to answer. But when she met Aetherʼs unyielding gaze, the way he silently told her that he wasnʼt leaving without the truth... she wavered.

Her heart clenched as she realized just how persistent he was.

ʼFuck, I hate this!ʼ she cursed herself again before reluctantly confessing:

”I wasnʼt supposed to tell anyone, Aether... But...” She sucked in a slow breath, her voice dropping to a whisper as if uttering the words aloud made them real. ”I was the one who killed him.... With my own two hands!”

”...Why?”

Doraʼs expression darkened slightly. ”Because... that was our final trial.”