“What’s wrong?” Sophia reached out to support Selim.
“Cough, cough…” Selim’s face was pale, and she shook her head. “I’m fine. I just overexerted my Soul power. I’m a bit tired.”
“I can still hold on.”
Selim broke free from Sophia’s embrace and tried to stabilize herself using her Soul Tentacle.
She coughed a few more times on purpose, then slid down against the wall into a half-reclined sitting position, breathing in a rapid yet weak manner.
Waving her hand to decline Sharn’s attempt to help her up, Selim turned to look at Sophia.
“Can you help me get a little bit of Zerlo?” Selim’s eyes were filled with a pleading look as she watched Sophia. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be fine.”
Sophia clenched her fists, her heart resisting the idea of letting Selim touch the Zerlo, but seeing Selim’s increasingly pale face, her grip slowly loosened.
“Alright…” Sophia walked a short distance away, stained her finger with a tiny bit of Zerlo powder, then crouched beside Selim. “Is this enough?”
“It’s enough.”
Selim grabbed Sophia’s hands with both of hers, closed her eyes, and activated her Soul Devour ability on the Zerlo powder at her fingertip.
Before everyone’s eyes, the Zerlo powder ignited, turning into wisps of thin blue smoke that merged into Selim’s body.
“Phew, I’m back to life.” Selim opened her eyes and saw the worried or complicated expressions of the three others.
Selim once again successfully piqued everyone’s curiosity.
“Sorry for worrying you.”
Meeting their gazes, she used her Soul Tentacle to prop herself up, rubbed her fingers, and spoke quietly. “There is a reason why I can manipulate those beasts and gain the trust of that cultist.”
“I received the Blessing of the ‘Mother of Lustful Souls’ when I was a child. However… I prefer to see it as a curse.”
“Selim… did It do anything to you?” As one of the victims of the Mother of Lustful Souls, Sharn was the first to express concern about Selim’s current state.
“It’s a double-edged sword. Whether I gained or lost, I can’t really say.”
“The benefit is that I obtained this power.” Selim touched the Soul Tentacle she had created, then pinched her own calf. “But as the price, I forever lost the right to measure the earth with my feet, and can only use these to walk instead.”
“So you…” Sophia understood what Selim meant, but she didn’t finish the sentence.
“That’s right. I am the Chosen of the ‘Mother of Lustful Souls’—the Saintess in the eyes of the Order of the Blood Players.” Selim took over the conversation from Sophia.
“Then you…” Sharn hesitated for a moment before asking, “Why did you choose to help me?”
“It’s simple.”
“Because I have always believed that a person’s fate and the person they want to become should be entirely in their own hands.”
“I refuse to submit to the fate It gave me!”
“I want to accumulate any power that can help me resist. For that, I need that Zerlo powder and the help of all the High Goth.”
Selim played the victim to the group, not just to obtain the Zerlo powder, but to thoroughly bind the interests of the High Goth to herself.
As for the reward, she only needed to paint a grand vision, promising them land under the sun.
In any case, the person currently in control was Charles, not her. Making promises with someone else’s things was truly a profitable venture.
“Is that so?” Sharn stepped forward and patted Selim’s head. “I understand.”
She turned to Sophia and Bart, speaking up, “Since that powder called Zerlo is harmless to you, I propose we collect it and hand it over to Selim for disposal. What do you all think?”
“Agreed.”
“Alright… I agree too.”
Bart and Sophia finally relented.
Seeing them agree, Sharn turned back to Selim.
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I cannot agree to the other proposal.” Sharn said apologetically, “As a Priestess of the High Goth, I believe our entire tribe should choose to move away from this land to avoid potential threats. Therefore, I cannot agree to tie all the High Goth to your chariot.”
“If it’s just my power or even my life, you may take it as you wish.”
“I understand this request is very excessive, but please, hear me out.” Selim prepared to start painting a grand vision for Sharn.
“What if I could promise the High Goth a piece of legal, tax-exempt land under the sun, and allow you to freely integrate into the world of Humanity?”
“With this condition, how about we conclude a Secret alliance treaty?”
Hearing Selim’s promise, Sharn couldn’t help but feel moved.
Their tribe had been wandering for many years, always longing for a safe land of their own. They had even had many conflicts with other races, only to be disappointed time and again.
“How do you prove your promise is valid?” Sharn ultimately maintained some composure.
“By the fact that I am not only the Marquis of the Rhine Territory, but also the sole Ducal Heir of the Nutrisko Family in the Lupine Heart Kingdom.”
“You are…” Sharn thought for a moment and exclaimed, “You are that distant fiancée of Charles?”
“I don’t like the identity of being Charles’s fiancée.” Hearing this title, a look of annoyance inevitably appeared on Selim’s face.
“This was also not my choice. Besides…” Selim intentionally glanced at Sophia. “I have my own choices.”
Being glanced at by Selim, Sophia couldn’t help but feel her heart skip a beat. Her ears turned slightly red, but she could only keep telling herself not to overthink things.
Sharn looked at Selim, then at Sophia, sensing something unusual between them.
Seemingly understanding something, she narrowed her eyes, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
“My apologies, I was out of line, Lord Marquis Selim.”
“I have noted your proposal. It is very attractive, but you must give me some time to convince the other compatriots in the tribe.”
“Of course. I’ll have to ask you to look into this matter more, Madam Sharn.” Selim also knew it wasn’t appropriate to push too hard and chose to give the other party some time to think, but she finally added one more thing.
“I hope you, Sharn, and all the High Goth can realize that no one can escape the disasters that these so-called Supreme Lords will bring.”
“It’s only a matter of time.”
“Alright, I’ll remember that.” Sharn nodded solemnly. “Is there anything else to explain? If not, I’ll head back with Bart first.”
“Oh right, don’t forget the equipment I requested. Send it directly to the Estate where I’m staying.”
“As for the excuse…” Selim held up a hand and suggested, “How about under the guise of sending some candy?”
“Fine.” Sharn and Bart bowed to Selim once more. “Bart and I will do our best to persuade our compatriots. Even if it doesn’t work out, please use our strength as you wish.”
“Goodbye.”
“Yes, goodbye.”
Selim and Sophia watched the two of them leave.
After learning about the heavy Secret Selim carried, Sophia also felt a bit of pressure. A silent atmosphere fell between the two.
Finally, it was Sophia who spoke first.
“What do we do now? Go home?”
Selim teased, “So Sophia is actually a good child? Going home as soon as it’s time?”
“Did you forget?” Selim winked at Sophia. “You still owe me a high-end dessert meal.”
“I’m in urgent need of a sugar boost right now.”
“I’m surprised you still have such a good appetite.” Sophia laughed, her tense emotions relaxing. “Then this time, it’s my treat.”
“Mm, I knew you were the best, Sophia.”
After completely collecting the Zerlo, the two finally crawled out of this now completely dead Blood-Flesh Demon Lair.
Sophia picked Selim up and placed her back into the Wheelchair.
Selim looked at the sky and said to Sophia, “Let’s spend the night outside today.”
“Just you and me, okay?”
“Huh?”