After Ginny fled, the fear aura's effects faded, but everyone didn't immediately wake up—instead they transitioned into ordinary sleep. Vera could only wake them one by one.
On the ground, Feiyin slept without any dignity, drool tracing glistening trails across her dirt-smudged face, mumbling incoherently in her dreams: "Sister... that thing on you... is my underwear..."
Before she could finish, Feiling, who had woken up first, grabbed her cheek: "What on earth are you dreaming about?"
On the other side, the succubus Moya hurried in. She rushed to the corner, grabbed the goblin from the ground, and prepared to deliver a couple of heavy slaps.
However, before her hand could fall, Stinky Fish suddenly snapped his eyes open.
"Moya? Did you forget what I taught you? At a time like this, you should be running." Stinky Fish was somewhat incredulous.
"I rescue you and instead of thanks, you lecture me?" Moya's eyes widened in anger. "I'm telling you, I almost died this time. That little stash of yours—you owe me at least half..."
"Wait!" Stinky Fish suddenly leaned closer, sniffing vigorously with his nose, then recoiled sharply. "What's wrong with you? How can you be in heat at a time like this? Stay away from me, stay away! I finally survived—I want to live a few more years!"
When succubi become aroused, they naturally secrete a scent with seductive properties—one of their racial instincts.
Moya sniffed her own arm. There was indeed a bit of that smell, but only a little.
Just as she was about to explain, Stinky Fish had already found a rag from somewhere and pressed it firmly over his nose and mouth, urging through the cloth: "Stop wasting time! Let's go! You actually dared to get mixed up with these humans—you've gone completely mad!"
Unfortunately, they were a bit too slow.
"Demons!" A hate-filled roar interrupted them.
A male adventurer who had just awakened, despite his unsteady steps and the sedatives still wearing off, picked up a short sword someone had dropped from the ground and blocked Moya and Stinky Fish's path, his eyes full of hatred.
Other adventurers who gradually came to also supported each other to stand, their gazes converging on these two non-humans, undisguised hostility in their eyes.
"Are you kidding me? I just helped save all of you!" Moya's heart-shaped tail bristled upright in anger.
"You were only doing it to save this goblin," the adventurer gripped his short sword tightly, "I don't owe you demons anything!"
"You...!" Moya was about to curse when something cold and hard was suddenly pressed into her hand—a short blade that Stinky Fish had passed her.
Stinky Fish himself had already tensed his body, holding a dagger in a combat stance.
At this tense moment, Vera walked between both sides.
Vera's gaze didn't fall on the hate-filled adventurer before him, but looked past him toward Anton, who was being helped to his feet by his companions.
"Anton," his voice was calm, stating facts coolly, "she did provide crucial assistance, and I promised I would rescue her companion. Next time we meet on the battlefield, killing each other is fine, but this time, we shouldn't cross the river and demolish the bridge."
Feiling and Feiyin stood behind Vera. They weren't opposed to slaughtering these two demons here—they came forward simply to support Vera.
Anton dragged his weakened body forward, placing one hand on his agitated companion's shoulder.
"Captain, they're demons! My family was..."
"I know," Anton's voice carried fatigue and helplessness. "But look at us now—everyone's injured, we're not at full strength. If we really fight, we might lose the lives of brothers who finally survived."
Several other adventurers also came over. Under their persuasion, the adventurer finally lowered his weapon, though his bloodshot eyes still fixed intently on Moya and Stinky Fish.
"Go quickly!" Stinky Fish maintained his defensive posture, pulling Moya along as the two quickly ran past the group of human adventurers.
"Damn it, your scent is getting stronger again!"
"I can't control it! Besides, I saved your life—where do you get off complaining so much?" Moya's annoyed voice rapidly faded as their figures disappeared into the forest.
Anton withdrew his gaze and came before Vera, jokingly thanking him: "Too bad you're not a noble lord... otherwise, I'd want to bring my brothers and swear fealty to you."
As he spoke, he habitually reached out to pat Vera's shoulder in a gesture of closeness and gratitude.
Unexpectedly, this single pat made Vera's body sway and nearly fall backward—fortunately Feiling caught him from behind in time.
"Vera!" Feiyin also cried out in alarm and rushed over, frantically tearing open Vera's shirt.
His lean torso was covered in large patches of purple-blue and even blackened bruises, especially on his chest, abdomen, and back—there was hardly any intact skin.
The staff-wielding cultist's attacks seemed bloodless, but the internal damage from blunt force was extremely severe.
Everyone hurriedly searched for healing potions they carried and carefully helped Vera drink them.
Only when some color returned to his pale face and his breathing became steady and deep did their anxious hearts settle somewhat.
Feiling touched the bruises with some distress: "If only Syrean were here... he's the best at treating this kind of internal injury."
"I'm fine, Feiling." Vera sat up on his own. "Let's leave quickly. Those cultists we led away might still come back."
Though with the party's current strength they weren't incapable of fighting, everyone's condition was extremely poor—there was really no need to take more risks.
Everyone nodded in agreement and, supporting each other, chose a different route from the one they came by and quickly left the abandoned church.
On the road, Feiling took responsibility for protection, shooting down any slimes that tried to approach.
As they walked, Vera, who was being half-carried and half-supported, suddenly turned his head and asked with some curiosity: "Feiyin, who is this Syrean you two keep mentioning?"
After several seconds of silence, Feiyin shouted toward her sister who was on alert up ahead in panic: "We're doomed, sister! Vera... he hurt his brain!"
"?!"
...
On the tree branches above, three Puchis stood in a triangular formation, silently watching Vera and the others depart.
One of the Puchis had a broken slime core wrapped in its tentacle.
Hm...?
There really are a lot of strange things happening here!
First there were slimes under [kin control].
And now suddenly this virtue appeared...
[Virtue of Sacrifice: Realize wishes at the cost of oneself]
Never mind the cost part—Lin Jun really wanted to know what "realize wishes" meant.
I really want to use him as a test subject!
But this guy belongs to that old Divine Tree geezer.
Lin Jun sneaked a glance at Syrean, who was bouncing a Puchi like a ball while waiting for news.
No, this is the first time seeing a virtue, and with such an outrageous description—can't let Divine Tree keep him all to himself.
Got to find a way to slip a Puchi in there. Once the rice is cooked, even if the old Divine Tree geezer comes back, he probably won't be able to say much!
Thinking this, one of the three Puchis made a few leaps and quietly followed after them.
(End of Chapter)
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