Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

As if she had seen a crack in a solid city wall, Ryuka subtly quickened the movement of her fingers, while continuing to whisper sweet nothings in Gerberi's ear:

"Sure~ Go if you want to~ There's nothing to be ashamed of, just like I admit I want to hug you tight, Gerberly's body is cute and charming~ Even her nasty personality can be exciting~"

"So it's perfectly fine for Gerberly to admit she wants to go~ Even if she's not a witch, ordinary girls would feel the same way~ After all, it's a natural desire that everyone has~"

"Gurgle... No! Stop talking! Haa~"

With a suppressed scream, the tall, muscular body in Liuxia's arms went limp! The grass beneath their feet was soaked with light rain! But just as Gerberi was about to fall into her own juices, those arms didn't release her as they had the previous night. Instead, they gently pulled her to sit on the ground, then lifted her chin with one hand and turned her around...

"See? Her expression has become shy and gentle, hasn't it? A perfect shy expression!"

Happy Dragon Boat Festival! I'm taking a day off.

Happy Dragon Boat Festival to everyone!

Chapter 14: First Clues

On the path down the mountain, Ryusha rode his horse laden with luggage with ease, humming as he rode towards the town of Cornwall in sight. Gerberly followed behind him, her still slightly sore body swaying back and forth on horseback. She stared intently at Ryusha's back with a hint of resentment, her fingers unconsciously stroking the collar around her neck.

"Damn it, why did I..."

Recalling the scene just now, Gerberly felt her cheeks burning. She had collapsed weakly into Ryuka's arms, a Heavenly Rank Witch, yet her body was limp from the surge of heat, like a helpless little girl being held in the arms of a boy ten years her junior, being coaxed into a hazy, indifferent state by cheap sweet talk…

Ryusha ultimately didn't take her right then and there, letting her go after she showed a shameful expression that made her unable to look him in the eye. What bothered Gerberly somewhat was that her body felt a strange emptiness afterward, and even now, she couldn't help but feel a slight pleasure from the undulating saddle, with an urge to secretly thrust her hips!

What humiliated her even more was the choker she wore around her long neck.

Because of her status as a slave knight, Ryuka had placed such an obvious object around her neck. Although there were no chains binding her, Gerberi still felt her cheeks burning. If it weren't for Nanalia's witch artifact concealing her identity, the mere thought of her collared face being exposed to strangers would have made her heart explode!

In addition, there were of course low-level slave scroll imprints. Although the magic imprints had faded after being applied and Gerberi could break free instantly with her strength, Gerberi still felt extremely humiliated just by feeling the invisible magic imprints flowing on her skin.

But precisely because of this, her shy and embarrassed expression was perfectly preserved from the moment she climaxed. No one could have imagined that this slave knight, who looked so alluring and as melancholic as a young woman, was actually Gerberi, the cold-blooded and cruel woman from Otus.

"Hurry up and keep up, 'Bella'! Do you want to be disciplined again tonight?!"

A few sparse terraced fields appeared ahead, with several figures working among them. Liu Xia, cracking her whip, reprimanded Gerberli, who was lagging behind, without any mercy. The sound made the farmers working in the terraced fields look up curiously, scrutinizing the two visitors from the mountains.

"Gurgle! Ryukatsu...!"

Gerberly instantly tensed up. The feeling of being publicly humiliated, even with just a simple sentence, was a hundred times more shameful than the humiliation Liu Xia had inflicted on her in private! Even though she was now in a false identity, she felt like she wanted to disappear into the ground! But seeing the mocking look Liu Xia gave her as he turned around, she could only squeeze her legs between the packhorse's belly and quietly follow.

This scene didn't pique the curiosity of the farmers in the fields for long. They only glanced up briefly before burying themselves in the sweltering heat of the fields, not even straightening their bent backs, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. Only a few children working alongside the adults curiously observed Liu Xia and his companion. They seemed not to understand the insults hurled at them, only staring with fascination at the luggage on the packhorses, before being scolded by their parents and quickly lowering their heads to continue their muddy work.

There seemed to be nothing special about them at first glance, but as Liu Xia glanced at the farmers out of the corner of her eye, her lowered head revealed a hint of wariness in her eyes. Those eyes were like those of a small wild animal in the mountains when it saw a human—cold, distant, and with a touch of fear, as if they were from another species.

"Wow, this is really something to look forward to!"

Liu Xia muttered to himself that this mountain town, even larger than Linhu Town, was definitely not as ordinary as it seemed. He walked until he reached the entrance to Cornwall, where two guards checked his bearings. Only then did Liu Xia dismount, a shrewd smile plastered on his face.

Who are you?

Looking at the two poorly equipped militiamen in front of her, Ryuka glanced at them and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Two full-fledged knights! The militiaman dressed as an archer on the wooden wall behind them is a full-fledged mage! In this small town in the remote mountains, a true knight from Hetia, just by wielding a sword and wearing armor, could make everyone tremble! Even though Cornwall is a bit bigger, how can the mere militiamen guarding the gate have such a setup? What kind of den of dragons and tigers is this?

Like militiamen in various places, the three men before him looked like greenhorns in their early twenties, their equipment tattered and worn. If this was a disguise, the innocent stupidity in their eyes was too obvious. Liu Xia could tell that these men were genuine farm boys, the kind who lacked experience and understanding. Yet, despite this, they possessed the strength of a full-fledged officer at such a young age. In any part of Otus, this would be enough to be called a village genius, and even in a big city like the capital, they could earn a living under the city guard or some nobleman.

This is like winning the lottery! Ryusha beamed, her heart overflowing with joy. Even before entering Cornwall, she was certain this place held a great secret. And Ruklati's voice, long forgotten, echoed in Ryusha's mind.

"These humans are almost completely drained of their life force..."

So it really is a secret technique that burns life force to gain power? These people in front of me are indeed just ordinary people. Even though their life force is almost completely burned off, they only gain the strength of a regular class. They are not on the same level as Monica and Ada at all.

Moreover, their gazes were truly those of low-level soldiers...

So how many people in this entire town are in this situation? It's practically a fortified fortress with a reinforced army!

"Brother, I'm a traveling merchant, here on behalf of my uncle, old Lucas. You must know him, right? He's the one with the long beard who likes to talk nonsense when he's drunk!"

While gesturing with her fingers to her face, Liu Xia tried to get closer to the guards, and then took out the identity document she had prepared, which was a merchant's certificate and pass valid in the Bauhinia Kingdom and several surrounding small countries.

"Old Lucas's nephew?" The guard frowned, seemingly recognizing him. He took the document from Ryusha and examined it suspiciously.

"Shane, 18 years old... quite young. Have you already been to so many places? The cargo permit contains various groceries and specialties from Otus. Open it and check."

He sized up Ryūka's appearance; in his eyes, Ryūka was just an ordinary country boy. He returned the documents, and the guard didn't engage in any conversation because of his identity as 'Old Lucas's nephew,' but proceeded with the procedure rather indifferently.

However, the presence of Gerberly behind Ryusha caught their attention.

"Was she with you? Why didn't she dismount?"

The question instantly made Liu Xia put on an angry look. He rushed over and lashed Gerberi's thigh with his whip. The holy energy he secretly infused caused Gerberi to scream in pain.

"You worthless brat! Get down here right now! You truly are a useless slave! You don't even have this much manners!"

The tip of the whip, out of the guards' sight, quietly brushed against the most delicate and sensitive nerve at the base of Gerberly's thigh, causing the already ashamed Gerberly to let out a muffled groan. With tears in her eyes, she tumbled off her horse and stood aside, feeling wronged and ashamed, looking at Ryusha, not daring to move!

Her submissive and silent demeanor made the guards realize who this woman was!

Ryūka's actions greatly shocked the two guards, who looked at her with disgust and a hint of pity in their eyes as they gazed at Gerberi. Ryūka, however, seemed oblivious, smiling at the two men.

"Please excuse my poor appearance, these are newly purchased slaves who haven't been properly trained yet and are very unruly!"

Chapter 15 Stepping into the Enemy's Position

"slave?"

The guard glanced at her, his scrutinizing gaze making Gerberly wish she could disappear into the ground. Although in the guard's eyes she was just an ordinary woman, being stared at with a frown for the first time in her life still gave Gerberly an urge to kill!

But Ryūka was laughing right next to her, and she could only endure it in humiliation. Because every time she saw this little rascal's smile, her mind was filled with her recent embarrassment, and she felt so ashamed that she wanted to dig her toes into her shoes.

Where is her identification?

The guard only glanced at her twice. Gerberly was dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a collar around her neck and a short sword at her waist, looking rather reserved. In his eyes, she was just a woman with regular features, neither particularly beautiful nor ugly, but rather tall. The guard stopped looking at her and began questioning Liu Xia, which relieved Gerberly.

"Here it is, look, I forgot."

Liu Xia smiled and took out a certificate, a document issued in a neighboring small country, that had been certified as a legitimate slave market transaction.

Bella, age 27, a full-time knight, from Ottus. Source: Captured by mercenaries.

Tipalotura had already made arrangements regarding the background, so even if someone investigated, they wouldn't find anything. Although there wasn't a large-scale war at the moment, in some private conflicts, many caravan guards, mercenaries, and adventurers were still enslaved for various reasons, so this identity wasn't anything special.

The guard glanced at it a few times, returned the identification to Liu Xia, and asked with a frown:

"You, a traveling merchant, can afford a slave who is a professional female knight?"

Old Lucas and his associates knew him; he wasn't exactly a wealthy businessman, just a small-time trader in the southern countries, and most of the time he was drunk. The fact that his distant nephew could afford slave knights did raise some suspicion.

Ryuka chuckled, quite pleased with himself, and said:

"That's all I have to do with my hobbies~ Besides, it's like buying a bodyguard, a wife, and a maid. It couldn't be more convenient for people like us who travel far from home!"

"Wife..." Gerberly glared at Ryusha secretly. Where did this little rascal learn such glib talk? When he acts, he's no different from a real street ruffian! The guards only frowned, seemingly disapproving of the slave trade, but still accepted Ryusha's explanation.

After all, buying and selling ordinary female slaves as tools for procreation was not uncommon among the lower classes. And lower-class merchants had certain needs for security when traveling, so female slave knights were more cost-effective than ordinary guard slaves, both in terms of physical strength and their usefulness as female slaves.

In addition, Liu Xia looks quite young. For a man of that age to spend money on a woman instead of repeatedly wasting it in brothels, he certainly knows how to do business.

The guard nodded to his companion, and after the two men inspected Liu Xia's luggage and belongings, they waved their hands and said:

"Alright, go in. You can stay in Cornwall for five days. If you overstay, remember to go to the mayor to complete the formalities. One-tenth of the income from the transaction is taxed, understand?"

"I understand, I understand, Uncle Lucas told me everything."

Ryuu smiled and nodded, leading Gerberly through the town gate. The guards behind them whispered and took notes, occasionally glancing at their retreating figures.

'Pay a little attention, the Holy Maiden recently gave some instructions...'

'They seem fine, but they're unfamiliar faces after all. Oh, right...'

The whispers behind him abruptly ceased, and the guard shouted loudly at Ryūka's retreating figure:

"Your business license is valid only in the residential area; you are not allowed to wander around! Do you understand?"

Liu Xia readily agreed, waved goodbye with a smile, and left, inwardly sneering!

For a small town, this level of scrutiny was far too thorough. Moreover, the guards were all respectable individuals; they didn't demand bribes or give anyone a hard time.

'Saintess'... Ryusha remembered the nun in the photo Tipalotura had given him. It seemed that this town was indeed firmly under the control of the local church.

In the official Papacy, the title of 'Saintess' is quite rare; it's generally reserved for those recognized by the Holy City. How could there possibly be a true Papacy Saintess in such a remote town?

"It seems that the church here has already been transformed by the Chosen Ones..."

Liu Xia led her horse, curiously observing everything along the roadside. It wasn't much different from Linhu Town, with muddy dirt roads and gloomy wooden houses. However, due to the climate, most of the houses here were built on stilts, with the lower floors used for raising livestock, and the air was filled with an unpleasant smell.

The faces of most pedestrians wore a cold, reverent expression, occasionally casting scrutinizing glances at him and Gerberly. Beyond the entrance, a section of stone houses stood, somewhat neglected, bearing traces of their former grandeur but now appearing desolate…

"An uncomfortable little town..."

Gerberly whispered softly, using her battle aura to project her voice into Liu Xia's ears. Just walking around here made her feel uneasy; even though she was already a Heavenly Rank cultivator, she still felt an inexplicable sense of unease about this town. She surveyed her surroundings; there were many idle people in the streets and alleys, but with her strength and observational skills, she could tell at a glance that these people were not truly scoundrels.

Apprentices, full-time employees, knights, and mages... Hidden in the crowd, even from a distance, one could tell that some people possessed extraordinary skills. Even some shop owners, with their gloomy expressions, secretly exuded fluctuations of power, causing Gerberly to clench her fists involuntarily.

This was only the outskirts of the town. Gerberly couldn't help but look up at the church district towering in the town center. Behind the spires and walls built on the mountainside, who knows how many unknown secrets were hidden in the shadows!

This small town! The water is so deep!

She understood why Tipalotura insisted on having Ryusha and her come. If they weren't Heavenly Realm experts, even those at the Grand Master level wouldn't be able to discern the strength of those around them, and would be devoured without a trace! And this was, after all, the territory of the Bauhinia Kingdom; they couldn't possibly send a large force here, as that would be tantamount to alerting the enemy!

"This is it."

Ryusha arrived at a market in a corner of Cornwall town, calmly spread out her stall on the ground, took out some groceries from her luggage and began to set up her stall. Her practiced manner made Gerberi feel unfamiliar, and she blended into the crowd as if she had not heard what she had just said at all.

The groceries brought from Otus were popular, and despite their high prices, Sochi's goods had already gained some fame in the south, attracting many people to inquire about prices. Although they looked less lively, they were no different from ordinary people. However, Gerberi remained somewhat wary, because many of those who came to inquire about prices were hiding their true wealth.

Although their strength was no match for her and Ryuka, it still made her wary. But Ryuka chatted with them casually, occasionally bringing up the meeting being held on the border with exaggerated words, rambling on about what the southern trade routes would look like in the future, what kind of goods would be available, and talking big like a seasoned old hand from the streets.

As the sun began to set, a third of the groceries were sold, and the crowd thinned out by closing time, Gerberly finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Ryusha.

Next...

She exchanged a glance with Liuxia, silently packed her luggage, and walked into the winding, secluded alleys of Cornwall...

The sign on the door read "The Tavern That Never Sleeps," and a commotion could be heard coming from inside. This was the inn where old Lucas often stayed. Naturally, Ryuka, disguised as someone else, had also come here. After greeting the owner, she asked for a room in the backyard and ordered two dishes before taking Gerberi to her room.

Knock knock knock! Not long after, the door to the room was knocked open, and a short, plump maid with dirty, tattered clothes walked in carrying a plate.

"Dear guests, this is your dinner."

Gerberly immediately stood up, seemingly sensing something, her gaze fixed intently on the maid. Ryusha then took out a few coins and handed them to her. The maid bowed her head in thanks without expression, then turned and left.

However, after she turned around, her figure slowly elongated like an inflating balloon. An unusually large bulge appeared on her bulky back, as if something was about to burst out from it!

Black, messy hair, sticky with a little slime, squeezed out from the large bag on her back and fell to the ground with a thud! A whole living person had detached from the plump maid's back as if torn apart, but she seemed completely unaware, continuing with her previous pace, carrying the empty tray, pushing open the door and walking out…

As the wooden door creaked shut, Ryusha immediately activated a magical barrier, cutting off the outside world. Gerberi excitedly rushed over and helped up the black fur covered in slime on the ground.

"Sienna! It really is you!"

Chapter 16 'Parasite Witch'

Ryusha watched as Gerberi stepped forward to help the 'thing' on the ground up, while the fat maid walked away completely unaware, as if she had no idea that such a creepy thing had once resided in her body.

The witch's abilities were truly bizarre. The sticky substance on the large clump of hair on the ground quickly evaporated, turning into a colorless and odorless gas in the air. Then the clump of hair shook, and its long, black, waterfall-like hair parted to reveal a pale and tired face.

"Derberly... keep your voice down, I have a headache..."

Sienna, Ryuga observed the long-haired witch. Whether it was the way she emerged from the fat maid's body or her current appearance, Ryuga couldn't help but think of the infamous Sadako. Her long, straight black hair, almost reaching her calves, enveloped the witch lying on the ground, slightly disheveled, like an unopened black chestnut. The woman's face revealed by her parted hair was beautiful, but listless. Despite severe dark circles and slightly puffy eye bags, this witch named Sienna still possessed a unique and captivating beauty.

Before setting off, Tipalotura had mentioned to Ryusha that she had planted many witches in the southern continent. These witches were mostly skilled in stealth and transformation, responsible for gathering intelligence and rare resources. For this mission, one witch had infiltrated Cornwall early on as an inside contact—this was the 'parasitic witch' Sienna.

She can burrow into living organisms and acquire all of the host's memories and emotions, while the parasitized person is completely unaware of this, whether at the moment of possession or the moment of release, they are not aware of any abnormality.

Furthermore, Sienna can secretly manipulate the thoughts and actions of her hosts. Unlike ordinary witch charms, the hosts she controls remain fully conscious throughout. No matter how irrational the actions Sienna makes them do, they are unaware that their behavior is not intentional. Sienna controls their thoughts, making the hosts generate a complete logic and idea of ​​'I want to do this'.

Just like her nickname, the 'Parasitic Witch', who is like a parasite...

However, it seemed she would experience a period of weakness after separating from her host; even Gerberi's slightly agitated voice gave her a headache. Tipalotura hadn't provided much information about Sienna, especially regarding her weaknesses, which Ryuka knew nothing about. Faced with such a powerful new witch, Ryuka instinctively remained vigilant, watching Gerberi and Sienna reminisce.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ Here she comes~ A witch with unsettling abilities, there were many of these in ancient times~ My little master, Ryuka, you'd better be careful, if she 'piu~' suddenly burrows into your body, you're doomed~"

Ruklati's joking voice rang out, causing Ryuka to purse her lips. Just as she had said, witnessing Sienna's separation from her host was enough to send chills down Ryuka's spine, regardless of Sienna's stunning beauty; she felt a physical aversion to it. Especially the fact that being parasitized by Sienna would allow her to read all of Sienna's memories—this incredible ability made Ryuka secretly wary.

However, Ruklati's words made Ryuka very concerned.

"Were there many witches like this in ancient times? Wasn't there only one witch in the past, the Primordial Witch Bell?"

"How could that be! Didn't I say that? Strange, why did I just say that..."

Ruklati's voice rose, sounding quite surprised. But then it softened again, and she said with considerable annoyance:

"It's probably because my memories are fragmented and confused. There's nothing I can do about it. I only have a small fragment of my original self now... But when I saw this witch, I subconsciously said that she looked familiar."

Not in the mood to comfort Ruklati, Ruxia asked the same question again. Ruklati tried hard to recall and explained what she had just blurted out—the ancient witches were not simple creatures. There was only one Cruel Witch, but she could create various witches by corrupting or even splitting with other creatures. And witches could even reproduce with each other or split on their own, just like plants or fungi.

"Otherwise, why do you think the witch almost destroyed the world? Nowadays, your understanding of witches is basically based on the legends left by the Church. Even the lineage of the Otus family is probably incomplete! After all, as descendants of Kranar, they have even changed their family name within a thousand years. And the witches we see now are all witches who were 'cursed' by Kranar and permanently solidified into human form by the power of order!"