Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1546: A cheerful world makes a cheerful hearts...

!~Ding~!

[Twin Domains: 949/ 916↑]

!~Ding~!

[❗Tolerance of a 15% difference between the domains is Achieved!]

!~Ding~!

[🚨Weapons Activated.]

Aether blinked in surprise as his mouth curled up in happiness—

!~Ding~!

[‼️ALERT: Extreme External Restrictions detected on User state and operational parameters]

!~Ding~!

[‼️ALERT: Access to all energy channels has been forcibly sealed by detected external restrictions.]

!~Ding~!

[‼️ALERT: Manipulation of energies and access to all weapons have been limited and cannot be utilised to their full potential!]

The happy smile suddenly disappeared along with annoyance, ’Tsk, Fuck you, Log!’

[😜]

”Aether? Is everything alright? You had been staring at the sky?” Helena asked with a worried tone, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Aether smiled softly, looking around the High Priests who were still kneeling and looking forward to his words, ”Tonight is meant for joy. Please stand up.”

He turned toward the gathered people, his expression calm and warm.

”You lit candles not because you were ordered to. You lit them because you believed... Because you hoped.... Because you loved this land and each other.

If light rose to the heavens, it rose from your hearts first.”

A mother in the front row wiped her tears and smiled, pressing her child closer. A young man raised his candleless holder and nodded proudly.

”So tonight,” Aether continued, a softer smile forming, ”let us celebrate not a miracle, but ourselves. Eat well. Laugh loudly. Hold the hands you are blessed to hold.”

As he bowed his head slightly, adding,

”Thank you for your presence. Please, enjoy this night together.”

The crowd trembled with tears when they saw their beloved Archpriest bowing his head in front of insignificant them.

Ppssss~PPss~LLaaa~Laaaa~Llaaa

The musicians, now emboldened, began playing brighter melodies.

Drums joined softly.

Stringed instruments followed.

The atmosphere shifted from stunned reverence to radiant joy.

People began embracing freely again.

Aether stepped back toward Sera and Helena as the celebration grew livelier around them. Vendors brought trays of sweet fruits and spiced drinks, their hands moving quickly as laughter and excited chatter filled the entire Area.

Golden lanterns were lit along the pillars, beautifully.

As the celebration began in full, the High Priests and guards moved swiftly yet discreetly through the crowd.

Today, not a single incident would be allowed to stain the name of their Archpriest. Their movements were controlled but respectful, guiding the flow of people without dampening the joy.

Aether watched it all quietly.

”Haha... Haha.. catch me!”

”I will catch you, evil and purify you with might white beam!”

BEAMMMMMM!!!

”Arrrh! No!....!”

”... Hahaha”

Children ran in excited circles, playing around, clutching candied fruits, their laughter ringing brighter than the instruments.

A young boy nearly collided with an elderly woman before quickly bowing in apology, only for her to laugh and ruffle his hair.

A group of young couples clasped hands, whispering about the miracle they had just witnessed. Some mimicked the lotus of fire with exaggerated gestures, their eyes sparkling as they relived the sight.

Sera slowly approached Aether first.

”You handled that well,” she said, her grey eyes watching the crowd fondly.

Aether smiled softly and said weakly, ”I need to leave. Lyirrs has found a way to contact the Terra Empire.”

Though her expression darkened for a brief moment, Sera steadied herself and nodded.

”Okay. I will take care of everything here.”

Aether smiled softly as his gaze drifted toward Helena. She was clearly pouting, her lips slightly puffed, her golden eyes shimmering with restrained disappointment.

She had prepared herself for this day with quiet anticipation, and now it was being interrupted so abruptly.

How cruel the timing felt!!

Yet even through her disappointment, she understood. She knew he did not step away lightly. He carried the weight of everyone upon his shoulders... So she swallowed her feelings, lifted her chin, and nodded with a small but genuine smile.

Aether turned to leave the stage quietly. He barely took three steps.

A sudden swarm of children rushed forward like an unstoppable tide, their small feet slapping against the floor as they collided into him without hesitation. Tiny arms wrapped around his legs, clinging tightly as if he might vanish at any moment.

”Big brother!”

”Oh!” Aether stiffened in surprise, blinking down at the cluster of bright faces pressed against him, each trying to secure their place around him. They tugged at his robe, reached for his hands, and shouted over one another with boundless energy.

”I want toys!”

”Big brother, dance with me!”

”No! Big brother, dance with me!”

”I want bofff... magic again! Please, big brother!”

Their words overlapped into cheerful chaos. One child jumped repeatedly, trying to grab his sleeve. Another tugged at his hand with determined seriousness.

Aether offered a helpless, weak smile as he glanced toward Sera and Helena. They immediately moved forward to rescue him from the overwhelming affection.

”Big brother has important work,” Sera said gently, crouching down to the children’s level.

”Let’s play later, okay?”

”How about big sister dances with you instead?” Helena offered warmly, extending her hands toward the most energetic little girl.

But the children refused stubbornly, shaking their heads vigorously.

”No, big brother dances with me!”

”No, with me!”

”NO! I want magic!”

Several small hands began poking at Aether’s sides and waist, fingers wiggling mischievously as they tickled him without mercy.

”Haha... stop... ahaha...”

The dignified Archpriest of the Empire dissolved into helpless laughter, bending slightly as he tried to pry small fingers away from his ribs.

His laughter rang clear and unguarded, bright as silver bells.

The children laughed with him, delighted by their victory.

Sera covered her mouth, unable to hide her smile. Helena shook her head fondly, golden braid swaying as she reached in to rescue him from the tiny attackers.

”Careful,” Helena teased softly, ”you are assaulting the Archpriest.”

”He’s our big brother!” one child protested proudly.

The laughter spread like wildfire.

Nearby priest and people, who had just begun their celebrations, paused mid-step when they heard his laughter.

They turned toward the sound instinctively... Seeing Aether doubled slightly with laughter, surrounded by children clinging to him without fear or hesitation, their expressions softened.

The sight carried something powerful!

Their lips curved upward almost instinctively, as though his happiness spread through the air like invisible fire.

The Empire had just witnessed a miracle... yet this simple sound felt just as precious.

Aether continued laughing freely, unaware of how deeply that moment was etching itself into the hearts of everyone present.

The laughter continued, bright and contagious. Conversations lightened... Smiles widened. Even the musicians adjusted their tempo, weaving playful notes into the melody.

Aether finally managed to crouch down, still chuckling as he gently steadied the children.

”Alright, alright,” he said between breaths, still trying to recover from the relentless tickling. He straightened slightly, though several tiny hands still clung stubbornly to his robe.

”Dance, right?”

”Yes!”

”YES!”

”Toys!”

”Magic!”

Aether looked down at them, ”Haha... fine. Let’s start with dance.”

”YAAEEE!!!”

The children erupted in cheers loud enough to compete with the musicians.

Sera quickly gestured toward the instrumentalists, who caught on immediately. The melody shifted into something lighter, playful, with quick strings and rhythmic claps that invited movement rather than reverence.

Aether allowed himself to be pulled forward by at least three different children at once. He stood in the middle of them, surrounded by bright faces tilted upward in anticipation.

”Like this!” one little girl demonstrated enthusiastically, spinning in an exaggerated circle until she stumbled into another child.

”No, like this!” a boy countered, stomping both feet in a dramatic rhythm that barely matched the music.

Aether raised an eyebrow playfully. ”So many masters here. I must learn properly.”

He began with an intentionally stiff posture, moving awkwardly as if he had never danced before. The children burst into giggles, immediately correcting him with serious expressions.

”No, big brother! Not like that!”

”You have to spin!”

”And clap!”

”And jump!”

He obeyed dramatically, spinning once before clapping in exaggerated rhythm. The children roared with laughter. Encouraged, he bent slightly and matched their energy, stepping lightly in a circle as they followed him.

Soon, what began as chaotic motion found a strange harmony. The children formed a loose ring around him, mimicking his steps as he lifted one arm and turned smoothly.

Helena watched with her hands clasped near her chest, golden eyes glowing with affection... she joined them as well, ”Me too!”

The children gasped dramatically as if a new competitor had entered the arena.

”Big sister!”

”Dance with us!”

Helena joined the circle without hesitation. Her braided golden hair swayed with each movement as she spun gracefully once, far more fluid than Aether’s exaggerated attempts.

The embroidered stars along the hem of her gown shimmered beneath the lantern light.

One little girl grabbed her hand immediately and pulled her into a clumsy twirl. Helena laughed openly, adjusting her pace to match the child’s shorter steps.

Aether raised an eyebrow. ”Ah, so I have competition now.”

Helena shot him a teasing glance while continuing to spin with the children. ”You started this. I will finish it properly.”

The children shrieked in approval.

Sera remained just outside the circle, her serene smile deepening as she observed them. She folded her arms lightly, content to watch the chaos blossom into joy.

Still spinning with a child hanging onto his sleeve, he glanced toward Sera. Their eyes met across the lively circle. Without breaking rhythm, he extended one hand toward her and crooked his fingers in a silent invitation.

A simple gesture.

Clear enough... Come here!

Sera blinked, caught off guard by the sudden attention. A faint blush rose across her cheeks, delicate yet unmistakable. She shook her head gently, taking a small step back.

Aether pouted a bit, ”Come on~” as he winked at her, ”Stella~”

Sera’s cheeks turned even redder as she lowered her head. This was one of the rare moments... and everyone was enjoying it.

So why ruin it?

She looked at Aether’s extended hand again. For a heartbeat, she hesitated, not from reluctance, but from the unfamiliar warmth blooming in her chest under so many eyes.

Her blush deepened slightly.

”You are relentless,” she murmured.

”Only when necessary,” Aether replied calmly, though the playful spark in his eyes gave him away.

Sera finally unfolded her arms. With graceful composure that barely concealed her embarrassment, she stepped forward. Instead of taking his hand immediately, she lifted her chin slightly and met his gaze.

”Do not laugh if I step incorrectly,” she warned quietly.

Aether’s expression softened. ”Then I will follow your steps instead.”

She placed her hand in his.

Sera allowed herself to move, slowly at first. Her steps were controlled, elegant, almost ceremonial, as though even dancing required intention and balance. Aether adjusted his rhythm to match hers without hesitation.

The children watched with open admiration.

Sera’s blush deepened. She held his fingers a little tighter than necessary, then stepped closer, the distance between them narrowing naturally as the music slowed into a gentler rhythm.

Her grey eyes lifted to meet his.

”I wish we could stay like this forever...” she murmured softly, the words barely rising above the music.

Aether looked at her for a long moment.

He smiled gently.

Before the moment could deepen further, Helena suddenly appeared at Sera’s side with exaggerated determination.

She nudged Sera lightly with her shoulder, her lips forming a playful pout.

”I can dance better than you,” Helena declared confidently.

Before Sera could respond, Helena caught Aether’s free hand with swift precision and tugged him away from Sera’s grasp in one smooth motion. Her golden braid swung over her shoulder as she pulled him into a playful spin, the embroidered stars along her gown flashing under the lantern light.

The children exploded into laughter.

”Haha... big sister stole him!”

”Big sister is jealous! Haha!”

Helena froze for half a heartbeat mid-turn.

Her cheeks flared a deep, unmistakable crimson.

”I am not jealous!” she protested immediately, though the sudden stiffness in her posture betrayed her.

The children only laughed harder.

”She is!”

”She stole big brother!”

Helena’s cheeks burned brighter, but this time she did not argue.

Her fingers remained wrapped around Aether’s hand.

The laughter of the children blurred into the background for a moment as she lifted her gaze. Her golden eyes... softened into something vulnerable. The lantern light reflected in them like trembling stars.

They moved together in slow rhythm.

Helena swallowed softly. She leaned closer under the pretence of a turn, her braid brushing lightly against his arm.

”I... I love you,” she whispered, so quietly that it barely rose above the music.

The words brushed against his ear like something fragile and sacred.

Her entire face was beet red. Even the tips of her ears had flushed. She avoided his gaze for half a second after saying it, as though fearing she had revealed too much in front of everyone, even though no one else could hear.

Aether felt his chest tighten unexpectedly... shit, he wanted to kiss her and hug her forever!

But before he could say anything, Sera snatched him.

”Hahaha... Again stolen!”

The children laughed loudly.

The group danced with happiness and love...

When everything was going happily—

/Aether... We are under attack!!!/

His laughter and dance stopped instantly.

”What—”

Pssssss~

His ears twitched as he heard a sharp whistling sound.

His head snapped upward toward the sky, his pupils widened as a single blue glowing point descended rapidly from the darkness, and in a fraction of a second...

BOOOMMMMMMM!!

The stage exploded!!!

_________

[A/N: Hello guys, I just wanted to let you know that I’m not feeling well. My throat feels scratchy, I’ve been coughing a lot, and my thoughts are all messy. Even my fingers feel tired while typing.... I think I might be coming down with a fever, so I MAY not be able to upload new Chapters for a while.

This Chapter was written yesterday, thankfully, but if I suddenly disappear and don’t upload, don’t panic.

I’m probably just knocked out somewhere, resting... or getting a drip.

Or... If I am alright, Chapters will continue as usual.

If not, give me a little time to resurrect myself.

Just wanted to give my beloved readers a friendly heads-up.

Thank you for understanding.]