Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

This witch appeared when Gerberi left Tipalotura. Ruka had seen her a few times but didn't know much about her. Now, after a closer look, although she wasn't as stunning as Kania and the others, she was still a witch. Her delicate face and shy demeanor made her a model of gentle and refined young lady in every word and action.

She was short, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with dark blue hair and a slender build similar to Yurina. Dressed in a proper maid's outfit, she held a parasol to her chest, as if to avoid Ryuka's gaze...

"Hmm, a B cup... just the right amount of cuteness~"

"Alas!"

Ryuka's sudden teasing caused Nanalia to burst into tears, letting out a scream as she tried to dart back behind the screen.

Tipalotura's cold, rebuking voice immediately came from behind the screen:

"Liu Xiaqing, please don't be malicious on purpose, okay?"

"Alright, alright." Ryuka chuckled, stroking his chin as he stared at Nunnally, and recounted the information he had sensed:

"Oh wow~ This is the first time I've ever met a witch with such a pure heart..."

Tipalotura immediately asked, "How do you know?"

"Hmm, your methods of fantasy are quite traditional, or rather, quite simple. Miss Nanalia, there are many other ways besides using a table corner, don't you know there are many more interesting ones..."

She was indeed very simple. At most, Nanalia would just rub her legs together and rub against the corner of the table. She didn't even have any fantasies about the opposite sex. Although she could be called a little perverted, she was too pure for a witch, which surprised Ryuka.

Compared to the overly 'artistic' and deeper desires of Gerberi and Tipalottura, Nanalia's worst act was merely being scolded by Tipalottura for self-pleasure... It seems she's still a lesbian, but a witch shouldn't be able to control her desires for the opposite sex. Ryuka immediately couldn't help but wonder if Nanalia simply lacked a clearer understanding of that kind of thing?

But his question was immediately interrupted by Tipalotura.

"That's enough, Nanalia. What about the rest of your time? You should be able to see that, right?"

"Hmm... more than fifteen years? This..."

As Ryuka sensed the time elapsed between Nanalia's passing and the loss of control over her witch powers, he couldn't help but be surprised. Witches are generally not expected to live past thirty, but Nanalia, aside from behaving like a shy thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl, looked to be seventeen or eighteen.

"Understood, Liu Xiaqing. Could you try turning off your ability?"

Turn it off? Why turn it off? Ryuka pouted, but still tried to sense the faint witch power in her eyes, adjusting it little by little, until finally she made Nanalia's inner thoughts disappear from her sight, achieving a state where she could control them at will.

Turning off this ability is also beneficial to her. After all, if she could see Tipalotura and the others' inner fantasies, even the experienced Ryusha would feel her blood boil and her pants would bulge, making it obvious at a glance...

"It's done, you can rest assured."

"Alright, Nanalia, you can leave now."

Tipalotura seemed relieved, even somewhat pleased. Hearing her command, Nanalia, as if granted a pardon, immediately ran off and disappeared from Ruka's sight.

After she left, Tipalotura pulled back the screen. She first lowered her eyes and glanced between Ryukyu's legs. Seeing that there was no reaction, she walked out with peace of mind.

Ryuka couldn't help but purse her lips at her cautious behavior:

"Is it really necessary? I've already seen it anyway."

"At least it won't make me feel uncomfortable all the time. Do you like having your mind read?" Tipalotura replied calmly. To be honest, if Ryukatsu hadn't reacted, she wouldn't have been able to tell even if Ryukatsu secretly used this ability.

"Hmm...it should be very convenient when doing it, right?"

Liu Xia couldn't help but joke, "That way, my woman will know what she wants most at any given moment, and we won't need to bother with communication. Wouldn't that be perfect?"

But jokes aside, Ryuka immediately asked:

"How about Gerberly? Is she alright now?"

"Her body and abilities have stabilized. But just like you said, I can feel that her witch power is about to get out of control, and she really only has about three months left."

"Oh……"

Ryūka nodded, unsure what to say. He couldn't very well just tell Tipalotura to let him try having sex with her, could he? He had intended to ask about the Earth Dragon Beast's magic core, but remembering Nanalia's earlier actions, he couldn't help but ask instead:

"What's the deal with that witch Nanalia? Have you been deliberately controlling her understanding of desires?"

“That’s right.” Tipalotura nodded. “I tried to prevent some of the younger sisters from accessing that kind of information to see if it would have an effect on suppressing their witch powers… but this would also weaken their abilities, so it’s not suitable for everyone. Besides, I don’t know if it’s even effective…”

Chapter 43 Tipalotura's Confession (Part 2)

Hearing Tipalotura's explanation, Ryusha roughly understood. It seemed that after the witches kept by the Ottus royal family were freed, this princess had been searching for ways to solve their physical problems. This attempt was probably one of them, but Tipalotura herself wasn't sure whether preventing the witches from accessing knowledge of desire was beneficial or harmful to their constitution.

But what she just said was very clear: if a witch wants to use her power, she will inevitably awaken her witch power. Therefore, those who rely on physical strength, like Gerberi, have more suppressed desires, while Nanalia or the shadow witch Beverly who delivered the message that she had met before, do not need to have strong witch power, and are relatively weaker.

At this moment, Ryuga couldn't help but think of the black-armored witch who wielded a giant scythe—Felicity. Although she was now left at Sochi Academy by Tipalotura to guard the amnesiac Luminova, Ryuga still vividly remembered her calm demeanor when she said she was willing to take all punishments in place of Gerberi, even becoming a slave.

She seems to be a combative witch, and probably has deep desires. Could it be that some of the things she says beneath her cold exterior are her true thoughts?

He'd only ever seen a few witches so far, and who knew how many more, each with their own unique allure, were hidden within Tipalottura's witch form? Ryuka couldn't help but think how wonderful witches were; if he could satisfy their desires and limit their lifespans, their abilities would be truly remarkable. And each one of them was stunningly beautiful. Even he couldn't help but fantasize about how amazing it would be to have Tipalottura's entire witch army.

Unaware of Ryūka's cunning intentions, Tipalotura continued, using the matter of Nunnalia's lifespan as a pretext:

"Now that we know, she actually has so much time left. That's something to be happy about. Liu Xiaqing, it seems your ability has some real use after all."

Her expression was somewhat melancholy, as if she were reminiscing about the witches who had passed away. It's important to remember that she only brought those untouched witches under her wing after she gained power. Before that? Many witches kept in Ottus's harem were probably already beyond saving. Perhaps besides Tipalotura losing her mother in childhood, she experienced many other separations throughout her life.

The fate of witches is tragic. To prevent them from going berserk with their powers, they must often be executed while they are still lucid. And this is often after they have already given birth to daughters; for either mother or daughter, such a separation is utterly devastating.

Having thought this through, Tipalotura perhaps made a decision. She looked at Ryūka and asked calmly:

"If I entrust Gerberi to you, can you guarantee that her life will be extended?"

Is this a way of asking him to sleep with Gerberi? Ryuga looked at the female knight lying on the bed. Although he was happy to offer himself in such matters, he couldn't necessarily guarantee Tipalotura's request:

"How am I supposed to know? What if this ability is a trap set by Bell? By the way, your power of order can suppress a portion of the witch's power, right? Can't you even distinguish a little bit?"

Tipalotura shook her head and revealed some more of her secrets:

“My power of order is tied to the fate of Otus. Most of its power is used to seal Belle’s body, preventing her consciousness from returning. Normally, the sisters can enter Belle’s body through my domain to hibernate, which can slow down the growth of the witch’s power. But after all, someone has to go out and carry out the mission, just like Gerberi, whose situation is also unavoidable…”

As Tipalotura's most capable lieutenant, Gerberi will likely be away from home for a long time, and it's remarkable that she's lived to this age. Tipalotura's statement that her power of order is tied to the fate of Otus is likely similar to the relationship between Ryukyu and Sochi.

However, Otus was gradually declining, and Tipalotura's available power was also decreasing. But doesn't that mean...?

Ryūka's heart skipped a beat, and she questioned Tipalotura in a heavy tone:

"If the Otus Empire collapses, will you... be unable to suppress Bell's remains?"

"Now that Bell's consciousness has awakened, that's how it is."

Tipalotura nodded, and her words made Ryuka gasp. If the Cruel Witch were to be resurrected, it would be no different from the end of the world.

But does this mean that Kania's, or rather the memories of the liberal witch she speaks of, are false? After all, she said that only by overthrowing Otus's rule could their fate be freed...

Could this liberation of destiny refer to awakening the progenitor witch Bell?

Considering that Kania's ancestor was the last witch to separate from Bell's corpse, Ryuka felt his guess was quite reasonable. He just didn't believe Kania was lying to him; rather, she simply hadn't mentioned in her memories that this would awaken the progenitor witch Bell.

After all, Kania's attitude towards Bell was very clear: it was only right that a brutal and evil being like her be defeated and sealed away.

Seemingly sensing Ryūka's hesitation, Tipalotura quietly said:

"You can believe me or not. Since you are the holder of the power of order, you are inseparable from the fate of this world. The mission of the Kranar clan is to seal away the cruel witch. To do this, we must either collect a large amount of faith power or obtain new fragments of order. Over the past thousand years, this process has been repeated time and time again. We have collected a lot of scattered power of order, and at the same time, we have lost some..."

Liu Xia asked curiously, "Lost?"

Tipalotura nodded: "It's not just us who want the power of order. The Holy See, the Chosen Ones, and some ambitious people born in this era all want this power. And there have been rebellious people in the Otus royal family throughout history... But in general, there should be no more fragments of order left on this continent. The one you have is purely accidental."

Upon hearing this, Ryusha seemed to understand Tipalotura's purpose:

"So, that's why you want to open the heretical portal in Dongtian Lake and collect the power of order from the heretical continent?"

"Not only that, besides the fragments of order, several demonic swords were also taken to another continent a thousand years ago. Those swords are also very important to truly eliminate the cruel witch."

At this point, Tipalotura looked at the fragment on Ryuksha's body, as if she were staring directly at Ruklati.

“She’s right,” Ruklati suddenly spoke up. “We were indeed created to fight against the cruel witch; the gods granted us this ability. But this purpose was destined to fail when one of us defected to the Church…”

Hearing Ruklati's words, Ryusha looked at Tipalotura:

"So, by collecting the Demon Sword and the Fragments of Order, we can completely destroy Bell?"

"That's what I understand. The Vatican has the same goal. However, they believe it's their responsibility to do it. So, they won't object if the gate to the Heretic Continent is opened. After that, it's up to both sides to rely on their own abilities."

It sounds like a competition, but the two sides will eventually clash, and who knows what those Chosen Ones will do...

But for Ottus, whose prestige was waning, if he wanted to launch a great expedition to the unknown continent, he first had to make sure that his own backyard was not in danger.

This backyard is home to the increasingly difficult-to-control southern kingdoms.

Now, Ryūka fully understood Tipalotura's purpose. The question was, what should he do? And would Tipalotura's promise to eliminate the cruel witches have any impact on the existing descendants of witches?

Upon hearing Ryūka's question, Tipalotura couldn't help but smile:

"You really care about your little lover, don't you? Is it just pure desire, or do you genuinely value feelings that much?"

Liu Xia straightened her face and said in a serious tone:

"Both, but more importantly, I really hate stories where 'in order to seal the final enemy, we have to sacrifice some of our own people.'"

As he said this, Ryūka stared intently into Tipalotura's eyes, causing the princess to pause in surprise and burst into laughter.

"What? You think I'm ready to sacrifice myself for this world? You think I'm that kind of person?"

Her smile was beautiful, and even with her face veiled, Ryuka knew it. Her mere glimpses of her deep blue eyes were enough to captivate the world; even Ryuka only became immune to this after spending considerable time with Tipalotura. Just as she herself had said, every movement, every smile, every breath she exuded could be irresistible.

Ryuka snorted in response, feigning indifference:

"How would I know? I can only see your perverted desires and fantasies. How would I know what you think about other things?"

'Perverted desires and fantasies'... Tipalotura narrowed her eyes, snorted twice, and retorted to Ryukyu in a low voice:

"Hmph~ Well then you know me 'well' enough, Liu Xiaqing~ But..."

Her voice softened, and she murmured as if relieved:

"'One of our own'...that's really a way of putting it that suits your personality."

Her head was lowered as she smiled, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy that was truly captivating. Ryuga felt his blood rush to his head, as if a hand had gripped his heart. He quickly shook his head, forcefully suppressing his emotions. This reaction wasn't because he genuinely liked Tipalotura; it was simply that her witch power was too strong, and he could be easily influenced without realizing it.

However, compared to Bell, Tipalotura's influence lacked the elements that made people irritable and uneasy; it was more like an allure that made people willing to die for her.

"Alright, stop with the mushy talk. Take a look at this first. Olivia should have already explained the details in the crystal ball."

Liu Xia quickly shook her head, adopting a disdainful tone, and placed the Earth Dragon Beast's magic core on the table.

“I need it to help Olivia break through to the Heavenly Realm, which will also benefit Otus. If you can’t remove the witch’s corruption from it, I’ll have to find another way.”

Seeing Ryūka's stubborn expression, Tipalotura smiled:

"Another method? Could it be... um... um?"

Liu Xia couldn't help but glare at her: "If you know, don't ask!"

The princess giggled and waved to Ryūka:

"Understood. I'll let you know when it's done. By then, Gerberi should be ready too, and then... I'll call you over..."

Her words seemed to have another meaning, and she didn't specify whether or not to hand over Gerberi to Ryūka for experimentation with those 'methods'. Before Ryūka could even grasp the implication, she waved for him to leave. Ryūka had no choice but to leave her room; in a flash of light, the princess's bedroom vanished from sight, as if it had never existed.

Chapter 44 Analysis of Ruklati

Leaving Tipalotura's room, the corridor lights flickered slightly in the evening breeze, casting two interlaced shadows. Ryusha paused, closed her eyes, and spoke in a low voice to the smiling Ruklati in her mind:

"Jukrati, how much of what Tipalotura says do you think can be trusted?"

Upon hearing this, Ruklati chuckled softly a few times, her tone carrying a hint of ambiguity and teasing:

"My little master, you're really quite suspicious. Forget about that little princess, you probably don't even believe everything I say, do you? If that's the case, why ask me? I'm just a sword, not your advisor or strategist."

Ryuka rolled her eyes without hesitation, her tone tinged with a helpless honesty:

"I was just gathering information from various sources. Besides, one of you is an ancient demonic sword, another is a half-blood descendant of Kranar and a witch, and there are also some ancient gods and such—each of you has an extraordinary background. I'm just an ordinary person who luckily obtained special abilities. If I want to sit at the same table with you and play cards, do I have to be careful or just blindly rush in?"

Faced with this group of mysterious and powerful beings around her, Liu Xia knew very well that if she were to be swayed by her emotions and lose her composure, she might be used as a pawn without even realizing it.

Whether it was Tipalotura or Kania, with whom he initially had a passionate affair, Ryūka didn't want to betray their kindness. But at the same time, he didn't want to be a fool, easily swayed by those around him. Even if these two were incredibly beautiful and had special identities, Ryūka understood that they were different from women like Megan and Olivia, whom he had forcefully tamed. Both had their own stances and goals, and they were completely opposite, while he was the one caught in the middle!

Sigh! The premise of saying "I want them all!" is that you have to have the ability and be willing to put in the effort!

Liu Xia couldn't help but snort. One day, she would definitely put these two incompatible witches together to serve her and see if they were eager to compete with each other in other places!

"Pah! My little master, you haven't even solved your problems yet, and you're already daydreaming again?"

Ruklati sensed these thoughts to some extent. She gave a soft hum, abandoning her joking expression, and sincerely began to analyze the situation for him:

"Among all the people you've encountered, and those inhuman beings, the one you should trust the most is that poor goddess Chloe. As a surviving ancient deity, aside from using you to rebuild her sect's faith, she doesn't seem to have any other ulterior motives. Although she won't reveal everything, she has genuinely given you guidance, including on establishing your own 'faith' in Sochi. As a holder of a fragment of order, this is precisely the right path for you to increase your power. In this respect alone, she has always been sincerely guiding you."

Ryusha pondered in silence for a moment, then had to admit that Ruklati's words made perfect sense. Although Chloe was a deity, she adhered to the ancient divine principles: gods each had their own followers, each ruled their own domain, and boundaries were clearly defined. Perhaps in her understanding, the world should be a place where many gods and faiths coexisted harmoniously. Chloe was never stingy with her guidance, seeking only his help in resisting the Church's purges, allowing her to develop her sect and solidify her faith. Furthermore, as a surviving deity, Chloe held a strong opposition to the resurgence of the cruel witches, making their cooperation a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Ruklati paused, then continued:

"As for Kania, that little witch is completely obedient to you, without a trace of falsehood. But she is, after all, a witch, and in my remaining memories, witches have always been untrustworthy outcasts. However, the world has changed. She is someone who has been with you through thick and thin, and given your personality, she probably holds a very important place in your heart. But even so, she does have witch blood, and even if she herself has no ill intentions, it's hard to guarantee that the memories she inherited from her mother and ancestors are accurate... Anyway, after listening to what that little princess said, I feel that Kania and her so-called liberal witch are more like a backup plan that Bell has made for his own revival."

Ryūsha sighed softly. What Ruklati said was exactly what he was worried about: