Village Head's Debauchery - Chapter 1113: Straying From The Plan
One of the older leaders, with scars on his body and one eye, stepped forward and whispered into her ear, “Mistress Iyalis, I’m sure you’ve already arrived at this conclusion; now it makes sense why the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise, Trekking Flamingo, and Sleeping Fox
Runaway Cities haven’t left the territory.”
“They have pledged their loyalty to Paradise, staying under its protection rather than leaving. Maybe this is what they came here for in the first place,” he said, then added hesitatingly, “Maybe this is a sign for us. Perhaps we should just stay and… join them.”
“You? Do you even know what you’re talking about?” Iyalis hissed, her pale face contorting into anger as she glared at the older leader beside her. His name was Karev, and he was the former Chief advisor to the leader of the Stone Fang Stowaway.
The Stone Fang Stowaways were scavengers, even among other Stowaways. They ranked at the lowest tier of power, willing to do anything to grow stronger or survive. This was why they accepted this mission: to participate in the subjugation of the Runaway Cities and claim a share of the spoils.
Because of this, they had no qualms about abandoning their leader and his mistress in the grip of a formidable enemy and fleeing.
Iyalis felt irritation rise within her. Accepting this unknown force’s terms would make her sacrifice worthless, leaving her bound as an enslaved person under an unknown power. She could feel the restraints binding her soul, body, and mind, a dull ache manifesting whenever she considered attacking that ‘man.’
Despite her frustration, she knew that if she hadn’t accepted the man’s condition, one of the other leaders would’ve clung to the faint hope of freedom rather than waiting foolishly for death. But what greater foolishness could there be than returning to the clutches of an enemy from whom they had once fled?
Would this unknown force treat them respectfully or cast them even lower because of their status? The answer was evident to even a child.
As Iyalis was lost in thought, the gods’ chosens and leaders shared similar thoughts. They stood frozen in place, no longer advancing, their eyes drifting between Iyalis and the other leaders.
Sensing her hesitation, Karev muttered, “You have already taken the slave seal, so what use is there for hesitation now?” Noticing Iyalis’s pained expression, he continued, “If there truly are divine beings in this Paradise, one capable of all of this, then I don’t mind taking a slave seal either. I’ve sold myself for less, and many here feel the same. Look around you.” His single eye swept across the group, landing on Iyalis.
Even if there weren’t any divine beings, the fact that someone had the power to push back the Vylkr vines and seal them out of a part of their territory was enough for most of them.
Seeing the truth in Karev’s words, Iyalis glanced at every Stowaway present. Her shoulders slumped.
They were all ready to pledge their allegiance to this mysterious force called Paradise. “You fools!” Iyalis muttered under her breath, her shoulders sagging.
“Hey, get moving! We don’t have all day to waste!” bellowed an orc gods’ chosen, his thundering voice filling the entire area with a stern tone.
“Pick up the pace!” barked another gods’ chosen from behind, his voice sharp and impatient.
“You’re lucky we’re in a good mood, following the Supreme Leader’s orders,” a third gods’ chosen, a succubus, added, her tone dripping with irritation. “Otherwise, I would have tossed you out and returned to training. Now quit dragging your feet and move!”
Initially, The group’s shock at the mention of divine beings was understandable, as they had gone through something similar just months ago. But as the minutes passed, they realized they needed a firmer push to return to their senses.
Hearing their words, Iyalis and the other sharp-minded leaders finally grasped the gravity of the situation. They stood there, their jaws dropping and eyes wide in disbelief.
It dawned on them that the man they had encountered was the Supreme Leader of Paradise. A cold chill crept down their spines.
Iyalis swiftly regained her composure and stepped forward. “Wait, hold on!” she called out audibly, bowing respectfully toward one of the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City representatives. “We have changed our minds; we no longer desire to leave!”
“Huh?” The gods’ chosen turned to Iyalis, frowning with confusion crossing his face.
…
Orion stepped out of the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City alongside Zogar and Iris, soaring into the sky. He paused midair, glancing down to observe the leaders and gods’ chosens of the Stone Fang Stowaway being escorted back to their Stowaway.
With the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City stretching tens of thousands of meters in length, comparable to hundreds of sperm whales stacked together and towering over a hundred meters tall, the Stone Fang Stowaway, barely a few dozen meters in size, looked like a mere speck of dust in comparison.
This stark difference made Orion wonder about the immense courage and desperation that had driven them to ambush a Runaway City.
Suddenly, Orion’s gaze shifted to the bridge connecting the Stone Fang Stowaway and the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City. He noticed the gods’ chosens of the Stone Fang Stowaway heading back to the Runaway City and frowned, his brow creased in confusion.
‘Huh? What’s going on?’ Orion thought.
Zogar and Iris also noticed the bizarre situation.
“Let’s go and see what’s happening,” Orion said, descending toward the bridge.
Zogar and Iris nodded and followed beside him.
As if sensing their approach, two gods’ chosens, both incubi, soared unsteadily into the sky toward them. Their ascent was shaky, prompting Orion to use the One-Winged Sky Art to stabilize them and bring them closer. Within seconds, they arrived.
“What’s going on?” Orion asked, skipping formalities as the gods’ chosens attempted to bow
and greet him.
The gods’ chosen on the left quickly replied, “Supreme Leader, it’s the Stone Fang Stowaway’s gods’ chosens and their leaders. They have all decided not to return to their
Stowaway.”
Orion, Zogar, and Iris were taken aback. They would have doubted the gods’ chosen words had they not seen the scene below them.
Wasn’t this the same Stone Fang Stowaway whose leaders had chosen to risk their lives by taking a slave seal for freedom rather than face an uncertain fate in the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City’s underground cell?
The same group that had abandoned their leader to escape, sparing him only a few glances?
However, Orion, who had sifted through the memories of their leaders, knew the reality about the Stone Fang Stowaway better than anyone present. Regaining his composure, he asked, “Do you know how they came to such a decision.”
The gods’ chosens hesitated briefly before nodding. They quickly explained the situation
within a minute.
Once they finished, Orion nodded. “I see. It’s not your fault.”
Hearing the Supreme Leader’s response, both gods’ chosens exhaled inwardly in relief.
The Stone Fang Stowaway’s reaction to the vast plain devoid of any Vylkr vines was understandable, as was the response they received from the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City, which had no reason to lie.
Nonetheless, Orion furrowed his brows in thought at the unexpected deviation from his original plan. He was impressed by their swift judgment, but if the Stone Fang Stowaway
chose to stay and devote themselves to Paradise, then who would deliver the message of their experiences to the Dreyal Alliance?
Zogar and Iris also seemed to recognize the same issue, their expressions tightening with a
deep frown.
Orion gestured for them to follow as he descended toward the bridge.
Due to the presence of both Runaway Cities, the gods’ chosens below had already noticed the
arrival of the Supreme Leader and the other leaders of Paradise. They remained silent, ensuring total quiet among themselves.
As Orion, Zogar, and Iris descended, becoming the centre of attention. They landed at the
edge of the bridge.
Several figures immediately emerged from the crowd and bowed before them. These were the leaders of the Stone Fang Stowaway whom Orion had spoken with only minutes earlier.
“Supreme Leader of Paradise, we no longer wish to leave. We want to stay, serve you, and devote ourselves to Paradise!” Iyalis shouted, her voice firm and resolute. She bit her lip subtly, finding the situation somewhat ironic; having been turned into an enslaved person, she was now granted absolute freedom, only to run back into the arms of the man who had initially placed the slave seal on her.
It was as though a servant had returned to their master, offering all the wealth they had earned to serve once more.
“And what makes you think we would accept your devotion?” Orion asked, his tone dripping with ridicule as he glanced at the others. “Do you have anything to offer like the Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise, Sleeping Fox, and Trekking Flamingo Runaway Cities?”
Iyalis trembled in fear and swiftly prostrated herself on the ground before him.
….
[Author’s Note: Wanderlust Travelling Tortoise Runaway City = 935 sperm whales in length, and 2
to 3 times the height of the pyramid of Giza.]