Volume 1 Chapter 680

Chapter 680: Send Off to Parents

The slowing patter of rain steadily supplanted the earlier tempest’s fury, like successive waves of overwhelming Holy Light submerging the chaotic, malevolent forces.

It appeared as though the evil deity was retreating, the disturbances quieting—an illusion of normalcy returning to the Holy Capital. Though ravaged by unprecedented calamity, neither the church nor this ancient city’s foundations seemed truly shaken… at least superficially.

Yet reality differed profoundly.

Lolth understood keenly… The true trial now commenced.

The Wizard Association’s "Elemental Primal Gods," the cultists’ "Twisted Incarnations"… and this deranged fragment of Nonlandti before her—all would now demand her attention.

But first…

Before those divine shadows could creep across the Devout Zone to this chapel…

Her awareness snapped to four approaching figures splitting into pairs—each carrying another. One duo she’d anticipated.

"Well done, Patricia… and Dorothy."

The second pair made her blink incredulously.

"And why in blazes are you here, Lalea… Kanor?!"

"What happened to you two?!"

The sight of exhausted Lalea and blood-smeared Kanor left her momentarily speechless. Lalea flushed with chagrin.

"It’s… complicated…"

Lolth inhaled sharply, cutting through the stammer.

"Peace—I know the blame lies elsewhere…"

Nearby, Dorothy—having just concluded her communion with the Rod of Eden—opened eyes glimmering with conflicted emotions.

"Sister Kanor…"

"That girl… endless troubles!" Lolth muttered, weaving her hands through arcane patterns. Vital energies cascaded into both youths.

Patricia observed Kanor with awed respect.

"At eight winters, I molded clay dolls in the Mage Tower…"

"Though by twelve, I did traverse continents…"

Color returned to Dorothy’s cheeks as Kanor stirred weakly. Eyelids fluttering open to slate-gray skies, the novice relaxed at her master’s familiar magic enveloping her.

"Master… my apologies for the inconvenience…"

"But I killed a Great Sage named ‘Never-ending Night’ Philtes and accelerated the formation process of the ‘Elemental Primordial God’… I hope this won’t unintentionally complicate things for you."

As Kanor spoke, she slowly climbed down from Lalea’s back.

"Philtes is dead?"

Patricia stood frozen in shock.

She then focused on the more crucial part of Kanor’s revelation.

"Wait… you’re responsible for that ‘Elemental Primordial God’?!"

Kanor met Patricia’s gaze and nodded sheepishly.

"My apologies if this caused issues for your Wizard Association… but I’m certain Master will have countermeasures prepared?"

"…And forgive me, Sister Dorothy. I overstepped boundaries and made decisions on your behalf."

Kanor bowed slightly toward the pair of Patricia and Dorothy.

Patricia blinked twice before shrugging.

"Truthfully, it’s no major concern – this succubus situation remains manageable…"

"I’ve no intention of holding grudges against junior disciples… Though considering you eliminated a likely ‘divinized’ Philtes whom I couldn’t possibly defeat, my seniority remains technically valid… I suppose."

Dorothy displayed uncharacteristic timidity, her usual composure softened.

"No apology needed, elder martial sister. Your intentions were kind… and remarkably effective."

Her eyes flickered briefly toward Lolth while speaking.

Noticing Dorothy’s glance, Lolth’s cheeks flushed faintly pink.

Kanor observed their interaction with an amused smile.

"Regardless, I hope Master and Sister Dorothy won’t reprimand me… Though speaking of which, Dorothy continuing to call me ‘elder martial sister’ feels increasingly peculiar – strange before, utterly absurd now!"

Dorothy pondered momentarily before shaking her head.

"Let’s maintain separate forms of address to prevent confusion."

"At least our relationships stem from mentorship rather than noble lineage… with their tangled bloodline webs…"

Both Lolth and Kanor stiffened simultaneously at Dorothy’s words, their minds flashing to memories of "Trish Diana" and the notorious Diana family origins.

"Ahem…"

Master and disciple coughed in synchronized discomfort.

Lalea chose this moment to interject.

"Succubi do thrive in chaos, but perhaps this isn’t ideal timing, friends – shall we really discuss familial titles like ‘sister’ versus ‘teacher’s wife’ before an incarnated evil deity and berserk primordial god?"

She gestured toward the approaching monstrosities now looming dangerously close – a pulsating mass of rotting flesh sprouting eyes and tentacles, and a swirling elemental maelstrom crackling with arcane sigils. Both entities now loomed less than fifty meters from the church courtyard where they stood.

"Let’s not forget the deranged Hell Demon God avatar present too."

As Lolth spoke, she gestured toward the massive twisted shadow behind her that spewed viscous sludge.

"That Hell Demon God isn’t dead yet?!"

"I thought that was some ritual you conjured?!"

Patricia and Lalea shrieked in unison.

Though both had accompanied Lolth’s disciples for some time and grown accustomed to the succubus’ audacious methods,

Dorothy and Kanor still fell far short of "mastery" or "surpassing their teacher" when measured against their mentor’s standards.

In matters of madness and iconoclasm… this succubus remained perpetually ahead of the curve.

"What in blazes are you scheming now?"

The question burst from Lalea’s lips before she could restrain it.

Beside her, Kanor adopted an attentive posture, all ears to learn.

Lolth shrugged at the interrogation.

"Well… The God of Light made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. We struck a bargain to rebuild His church from the ground up – reached an understanding with the late pope, you see."

"The Church of Light requires fresh leadership. Someone utterly reliable to steer systemic reforms."

"Three stages forge such a leader. First – identify a candidate and instruct her in revolutionary principles."

"Fate conveniently delivered a Lady of Light to my doorstep recently."

"Second phase – before her ascension, eliminate entrenched corruption and toxic power blocs she can’t remove herself. My… external perspective and certain minor arcane advantages proved useful here. That’s what I’ve been occupied with until moments ago."

The succubus paused to wipe rainwater from her face, her grin undiminished.

"As for the third act…"

"She’ll require a coronation of unprecedented grandeur! A ceremony cementing supreme authority and prestige!"

"The Church preserves an ancient rite called ‘Divine Appointment’ – invoked only twice in its history!"

"This transcends even the God of Light’s will, channeling pure Holy Light essence and the Land of Light’s collective consciousness. No elections, no divine blessings – when crisis endangers Holy Light’s domains, the perfect successor emerges spontaneously…"

Understanding dawned on the four listeners.

"But those two instances occurred during the Church’s first millennium!" Patricia interjected. "What conceivable threat could shake today’s entrenched institution?"

Lolth extended both hands toward the Hell Demon God’s frenzied avatar, the reviving evil deity’s malformed incarnation, and the swelling elemental primordial.

"How about this trifecta?"

Though half-expecting this answer, Patricia slowly nodded.

"You’re utterly, magnificently deranged, you incubus-skirted lunatic. Sometimes I genuinely want to transplant that cracked mind into my own skull."

Noticing Dorothy and Kanor’s murderous glares, the speaker hastily raised placating palms.

"Easy now! That’s high praise! No harm intended – really!"

As Patricia backpedaled, Lolth clapped twice with amused finality.

"There, there."

"Thank you all for your efforts—Dorothy, who flawlessly executed the plan…and Kanor, whose unexpected assistance proved invaluable."

"My gratitude extends to Lalea and Patricia as well…Should any of you require future aid, simply ask—I owe you this debt."

"For now, please withdraw…Take caution!"

As Lolth spoke, her hands interlaced. Spatial distortions rippled outward as mana oscillations layered dimensional folds around the quartet.

Both Dorothy and Kanor paled visibly.

"Wait—Teacher Lolth! Let me remain!"

"Master, my injuries have nearly healed…"

Though Lolth typically respected her companions’ and disciples’ opinions,

This critical moment revealed her decisive streak.

"I’ll retrieve you after handling matters."

"Kanor, watch over Dorothy…Our reckoning with Golden Peacock awaits."

Before any protests could form—

The four materialized beyond the Church of Light’s domain, atop Holy Lieto Empire’s northern frontier.

"…How dare she!"

Dorothy stamped her foot, first to recover speech.

"Rather excessive," Kanor agreed. "I just slew a quasi-divine Great Sage while Sister Dorothy channeled an evil god into the Hallowed Quarter—yet we’re still treated as fledglings?"

Her gaze flicked toward Dorothy mid-sentence.

"…Me as a child, and Sister Dorothy as some delicate damsel."

A mischievous grin tugged her lips.

"That correction was totally unnecessary, elder martial sister," Dorothy crimsoned, biting her lower lip. "We’re merely…"

"Necessary indeed," Patricia chimed, eyes glinting. "Notice how our senior sister also slipped—using ‘Lolth’ instead of ‘Teacher’ earlier!"

"Oh-haaaaa~"

Lalea drawled mockingly.

"We’re diverging," Dorothy protested, ears burning scarlet. "The actual issue is her unilateral teleportation!"

"Outrageous—deprived me of front-row seats!"

Patricia nodded vehemently.

"Were you even planning to help?"

Lalea challenged.

"Pfft—Legend High Level and Epic High Level aiding a succubus? Shall we perform titillating dances instead?"

Patricia spread her palms, instantly withering under Kanor’s glacial stare.

"Jesting! No designs on your master—since when is this junior sister so perceptive?! Are we certain she’s eight? Terrifying!"

She cast Dorothy a pleading look.

"Single-parent upbringing perhaps? Mother-only households breed precocious sensitivity…per Master Lolth’s pedagogical texts."

"Theory holds water," Lalea interjected. "Though you’re hardly textbook—I immolated my mother and plot patricide, yet at eight remained…comparatively ordinary."

"Consider our company," Patricia mused. "South Sotua’s princess, Wizard Association’s Great Sage adoptee, Golden Peacock royalty…plus our single-parent Miss Kanor. Between us four, can we muster two complete parental sets?"

Three pairs of fingers began counting.

After prolonged silence, Dorothy ventured:

"Comatose parent? My mother slumbers preserved."

"Full validation," Lalea affirmed. "Though might I disown my father? His vitality notwithstanding, a vegetative state might constitute better parenting!"