Your Majesty's money, why don't you engrave my name on it?

“The Queen wouldn’t do that,” came the maid’s voice. These creatures’ voices were usually hoarse and unpleasant, but at this moment, Leslaufer found them strangely familiar and pleasant. “Come, take my hand, and I’ll take you to see her.”

Many beings with useful spellcasting abilities have tried to control Raslaufer's actions, and without exception, they have all failed. But this time, Doppler involuntarily raised the arm marked by Rose and stretched it out towards the other party.

The sticky, oily texture was disgusting. He had seen the true form of these creatures before. Their seemingly dark elf appearance was just a disguise; the wax monsters were actually no better than mud monsters.

However, this sensation only lasted for a moment. His body suddenly became light, and then, some supreme power beyond his comprehension gently patted his back, throwing him into the heavens.

Raslaufer even felt as if he were traversing thick layers of earth to reach the surface. The underworld, Inassus, and even the entire surface world shrank beneath his feet, with the sun, moon, and stars revolving around him. He felt as if he had escaped from a colossal wheel containing all planes, or as if he had left the cosmic tree that arranged all planes, where every branch and even leaf was a world in itself…

Endless possibilities arose and vanished around him. He subconsciously looked up, and above him, the seven heavens, existing only in myths and oaths, seemed within reach...

But the next second, he plummeted down, crashing into the ground and traversing layer after layer of abyss.

Chapter 507 Unable to Fall

Falling, an endless fall.

One bizarre world after another roared in and out of Leslaufer's ears. He saw countless strange creatures, some as weak as ants, others as powerful as menace. War, slaughter, betrayal, plunder—chaos manifested itself in and around them in countless ways, and the means by which they carried it out were even more indescribable.

Even an ordinary dark elf, with great potential, might succumb to this at this point, twisted into a terrifying monster by fear or desire.

The fact that they could return to the material world was already a mercy bestowed upon them by their gods.

But Leslaufer did not do so; in fact, he watched with great interest.

An unparalleled sense of familiarity enveloped him; he could recognize many of the demons, though he might not know their names, but their lives had indeed been lost at his hands.

He didn't have any attachment to these places; he only hoped to continue downwards until... somewhere.

Raslaufer was unaware; perhaps he was simply more curious about the demons who hadn't died by his sword.

But this wish ultimately came to naught. As the sixtieth or seventieth level of the abyss left him, a colossal spiderweb, so complex it defied description, unfolded before him. This web seemed to be an entire world, or rather, some being had folded the entire plane to this extent, making it look like a magic web.

Dubler was caught in this net. Whatever his expectations for the world beyond, his journey would end here.

Leslaufer couldn't help but sigh.

"When you go back and see that your body is still 'decent as a human being,' you will be grateful that I stopped you."

A familiar voice drifted from the depths of the magic network, inviting Raslaufer, who had just gained a foothold in the network, to come in: "Come in, let me take a good look at you, let me see what my mercenary really looks like."

Having come this far, there was no reason for him to stand still. Doble took a step forward, but to his surprise, after only two steps, when he took his third step, a barrier seemed to appear in front of him, rippling like water as it touched Raslaufer's body, blocking his way.

"Ok?"

The voice from the depths rang out again, but this time it lacked indifference and instead carried a hint of doubt—as if she herself had not anticipated this situation.

“Didn’t you tell me to go through?” Raslaufer looked around. Apart from the endless spider webs that covered the sky and the earth, there was nothing here. It seemed as if it had been deliberately cleared out. He paused and tried to move forward again.

The result was exactly the same; he was stopped again, but this time, Raslaw raised his eyebrows.

The ripples in the water seemed somewhat familiar, but... his memories were as if they had been sealed away, covered by a thick layer of cobwebs.

Try again?

"No, stop!" A wax demon emerged in its true form, dragging Leslaufer backward. "Are you insane? Your mind will be torn apart!"

How could he know?! Dobler rolled his eyes.

"Your spirit is being watched over by another deity, and its power is at odds with that of the Queen!" The words of the Wax-Melting Demon were unlikely to be of its own volition. "What you are seeing now is merely a projection. You have not truly reached the abyss. Therefore, without a physical body to shield you, you are likely to be torn to shreds by the power struggle between the two deities!"

"The final victory will still belong to me," the Spider Queen's will reverted to its original cruelty deep within the web, "even if it means you are reduced to ashes."

Reslaufer waited, knowing there would be a turning point.

“But—” Sure enough, “If it were that coward Corellon, it would be fine, but Edas… there’s no point in getting into this kind of emotional fight.”

In Raslaufer's view, it seemed that Adas had taken the initiative to stop him, but that was just an illusion created by another powerful god, and the essence was actually quite the opposite.

The spider inside the web murmured, “That’s why I don’t like this guy: she does very little but always gets a lot; she’s pitifully weak but manages to fool even her enemies into siding with her.”

"Destroying you would fulfill her wish, while keeping you alive is also part of her plan, tsk tsk."

Leslaufer stared in bewilderment at the distant darkness: "I don't understand—"

“She wants you on her side, and of course I want you to be on her side too,” Raslaufer replied with a laugh, as if relieved. “As for the rest, you don’t need to know. Go ask the spring girl (goddess). You’re neither a woman nor a dark elf, so I don’t need to tell you anything more.”

"Go on to complete your task. You need to eliminate some of Sinvalles's devout followers so that you don't leave any trace."

"Remember, you must stop when I tell you to stop. Only by doing it just right can the debt be wiped out."

For the first time in his life, Raslaufer began to regret taking on a debt of life—a debt to the gods was obviously not so easy to repay, especially since Rose was not a magnanimous goddess.

However, a mortal's complaint could not possibly have any effect on the gods. As soon as he heard the sound of a thread snapping in Raslaufer's ears, he was standing firmly again in the magic circle in front of the Mara family altar in the next second, as if the experience just now was a bubble and a dream.

"Spider venom! What is that?" The smoke from the surrounding candles had completely dissipated, and Leslaufer was still immersed in the aftertaste of his experience when Vanzelin's exclamation pulled him back to reality.

A series of "click-clack" sounds came from his feet. Reslaufer turned his head and saw that a huge arthropod had appeared next to him!

The creature's shell was dark brown, and its entire body slowly emanated a dark greenish-yellow glow, while its eight eyes shone with a fiery red light. Its body itself was nearly a meter long, but if its long claws were included, it would almost double in size.

It seemed quite pleased to be noticed, and as it paced around Leslaufer, the spider-like creature let out a demonstrative, ghostly howl at the four priests!

“Mother, this…this…” The eldest daughter of the Mara family was so shocked that she could not even speak properly. It was not that she did not recognize what it was; on the contrary, she clearly knew its identity and origin!

Even the most inept priest, even one who cannot summon a wax demon, can still summon this creature!

“Without a doubt, this is a Soul-Eating Spider!” Matriarch Brar felt her tongue was tied in knots; she had never seen or heard of anything like it before. “But why? Why is it next to this man?!”

Chapter 508 Using a big banner as a tiger's skin

Like the Wax-Melting Demon, the Soul-Eating Spider often appears as Rose's messenger in ceremonies held in Rose's name, only with a lower rank than the Wax-Melting Demon.

Even so, it still represents Lolth's will. Matron Brar had heard of such things: a matron unaware of her fall from grace might try to summon a Waxmelter, which would then release a Soul-Eating Spider as a substitute. Without orders, the Soul-Eating Spider would directly attack the priests who were no longer in favor. Perhaps this punishment was not fatal, but it was a clear indication of their loss of status.

Could it be...? Madam Brar felt a little uneasy; had she also lost Rose's favor?

But why?

"Mistress," the two women noticed something unusual and quickly called out to their mother, "Look! It seems to be protecting Zaknavan; it has been given instructions!"

The members of the Mara family quickly looked over, and sure enough, when Raslaufer stood there, the Soul-Eating Spider did not attack anyone, but just slithered around him, occasionally letting out a howl, as if announcing something.

The four hearts fell, then hovered in suspense once more.

What does it mean that a man is so guarded by Rose's messengers?

“It’s obvious!” Madam Brar reacted immediately, speaking quickly, “This is proof that Rose has approved of the mission he’s entrusted with! This man is under surveillance; he must complete his mission under Rose’s watchful eye—to capture the traitor who fled their family!”

Leslaufer shrugged. Except for the last paragraph, Madam Brar's statement was not wrong.

"Do you think there's anything wrong with this explanation?" Madam Brar narrowed her eyes and looked coldly at Leslaufer, as if she would devour him alive if he said "no".

She wouldn't do that, but Raslaufer wouldn't argue with her either, because he found that, whether Rose did it intentionally or not, it seemed to make his actions easier.

"Now, have I proven myself before the gods?" he asked instead of answering.

“…Of course,” Madam Brar said reluctantly, “Very well, you can leave with that homeless merchant!”

“I’m sorry, I refuse,” Raslaufer raised her head to face the matriarch, “Now, in Rose’s witness, I will ask you one more time:”

"Where did you get that man?"

"Don't push your luck!" Her scarlet eyes seemed to be spitting fire, but at the same time, the Soul-Eating Spider at Raslaufer's feet also let out a threatening howl, forcing the mistress's arrogance back.

"...Mares of the Larembass family captured them. After discussion, it was decided that we and the Larembass family would each take one, and the remaining three families would each take two, and each would interrogate them separately."

"What are you interrogating?" "Nothing..." "You need to think this through, Matriarch. You said it yourself: my task is to carry out the will of the Goddess."

Otherwise, this anomaly could easily be interpreted by power-hungry men as an insinuation by Lolth to male dark elves—which would absolutely cause chaos, and Brar would have to stick to his story.

And everyone has to acknowledge it—including herself.

“A family that rose to earth under the protection of the Queen of God, but now they’ve begun to trade with those lowly humans,” Madam Blar said, downplaying the seriousness of the matter. “We must stop this blasphemy!”

“It’s about making more money, isn’t it?” Leslaufer sneered, repeatedly provoking the other woman’s anger, but Madam Brar was powerless to do anything about it. “What did they find out?”

“A small squad, they brazenly infiltrated underground and attempted to rendezvous with reinforcements,” the matriarch of the Mara family said slowly, trying to ignore the feeling of being interrogated by a man, “but what does this have to do with you?”

“Of course there’s a connection,” Raslaufer laughed at the question that seemed to have led him right into a trap. “I’ve followed that traitor all the way here. Think about it, where else could he possibly be hiding?”

"The surface." Van Zelin and the other three looked at each other and couldn't help but speak.

“If you can’t get anything out of him, I’m taking him away,” Leslaufer turned and walked straight toward the tortured prisoner. “I’ll treat his wounds while I’m at it. Getting him down from here won’t be easy, will it? If he dies on the way, who will I ask to find out where that traitor is?”

Madam Brah didn't want to release him, but this was out of face rather than a real concern for her interests—the other party didn't know much, and he wasn't some tough guy with a steely backbone. He had already revealed everything she knew, and even if she searched his soul, she was unlikely to get any results.

“But how do you know he has the information you want?” Brar’s eldest daughter suddenly spoke up, looking at Leslaufer with suspicion.

Perhaps she thought she was being clever, using this to strike at the men below her, but this was just another excuse that Raslaufer needed.

“Of course I can’t be sure,” the transformed dark elf grinned, “but it doesn’t matter. Didn’t you say there were four? I’m not familiar with the surface anyway, so it’s good that they’re all together.”

"I think the other families in this city, the allies of the Mara family, must also be devout believers of the goddess, and would definitely not interfere, right?"

A moment later, as the temple doors opened, a Soul-Eating Spider leaped out in full view of everyone, followed by Raslaufer, who walked out leisurely, and the mother and daughter, Brar, with gloomy faces—Vanzerin was also carrying the unconscious mercenary on her back.

How did he do that?

Halewin felt like his world was being turned upside down! Especially that Soul-Eating Spider! Why was it by Lord Raslaufer's side? What on earth was going on—

Before anyone could speculate further, Madam Brah revealed the answer, but it didn't seem to suit her taste. So, as soon as she finished speaking, she turned back—which proved the truth of what she said: this man carried a mission that Rose had made him complete.

"You bunch of scum! Haven't you seen enough yet?!" The eldest and second eldest sisters also dispersed, leaving only Vanzelin among the family priests. She turned around and looked at the men who were still in a daze with an unfriendly expression. "All of you, get over here! Carry this guy on your backs!"

"If you allow his wound to split open to the size of a hair, you can expect to become food for the giant spiders!"

With the burden removed from her back, Vanzelin's complexion brightened considerably. She turned to look at Leslaufer, gazing at the body favored by the goddess, and her previously dormant heart skipped a beat for some reason.

“Um…” she called out before Leslaufer could go and talk to Halewin, “Hey! You were also injured by Bintel before, why don’t you come over with us, just in case there are any future problems!”

Chapter 509 Returning to My Companions

The dim red candlelight cast flickering shadows on the damp stone wall. A dull thud followed as the bronze bowl struck the stone platform. Van Zelin, her fingertips stained with dark green ointment, hovered above a blackened, ripped-out sword wound on the man's shoulder. Suddenly, she realized she had been standing there in a daze for far too long.

Raslaufer's muscles rose and fell with his breath, his dark purple skin, now the color of dusk after he transformed into a dark elf, taut and firm, the crisscrossing old scars resembling the work of a stonemason's apprentice.

That apprentice was very talented.

It was so captivating that even she was mesmerized.

Generally speaking, dark elf priestesses tend to prefer toys like Lolth's servant Camputo—handsome, stylish, witty, and flattering—believing that union with such a person can produce more women—meaning spellcasters and priestesses.

That is, power.

As for civilian soldiers, there are as many as you need.

But the man in front of her made her hesitate to make a move.

His uncle, Bintel, was torn to pieces by him. He showed no fear or timidity in the face of his volatile mother and sisters. Even Rose sent a messenger to his side...

The pungent smell of the ointment, mixed with the scents of rust, purple mushrooms, and mushroom-removing solution on his body, filled Van Zelin's nostrils, causing her wrists to tremble almost imperceptibly.

Rose, the young priestess, lowered her head. On Raslaufer, she did not see the bag containing the mushroom-removing solution.

"Not done yet?" Leslaufer couldn't help but ask. "It wasn't this troublesome when you were applying the ointment to that human earlier."

"Shut up!" Van Zelin snapped instinctively, but then her slightly hoarse voice softened a little. "Your injuries are different. This kind of toxin... is not easy to treat."

Dubul snorted but didn't speak. He sensed something was off about the other person, but... never mind.

If he wants a hot, pointy-eared lover, he might as well go to Amansa; at least he wouldn't have to worry about her poisoning his pillow.

She may crave her own body now, but what about as time goes by? Or even after she discovers she is human? Raslaufer was unfamiliar with the customs of the Dark Elves, but his mercenary background instilled in him the danger of falling into their trap—being a used and discarded toy?

He'd rather be like that old soldier on Skadi's side, an old bastard who was so drunk his whole body trembled.

Vanzelin finally made her move. Perhaps it was because Rose's favor had already taken effect, but Raslaufer couldn't feel anything coming from the wound. He only heard the priest exhale with a sigh of relief after finally finishing her work.

The surrounding air became sweet, almost like poison.

“Alright, that should do it…” Van Zelin stood up and casually wiped the remaining ointment off a pelt. “Take the people and go, go and do what you need to do.”

The cloak tailored by the dwarf was once again draped over Dubler, who was still fully covered as when he arrived. He picked up the still unconscious mercenary with one hand and walked toward the door.

But this time, all the dark elves in the city will know of his existence—and what he's going to do.

He was going to collect the remaining three prisoners.

Of the five families that formed an alliance to annihilate Evans, the remaining three smaller families surrendered their captives—a miner and the bard Daisy—without resistance, under the watchful gaze of the eight single eyes of the Soul-Eating Spider.

To Raslaufer's surprise, the poet looked radiant, as if she had not suffered any torment at all. She was brought out in full dress, accompanied by two priests, and was carrying a lyre.