Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 134: A Connection- Part 1

Mary stepped forward, adjusting her cloak before looking at the Goddess sitting in front other.

"I’ll escort the goddess to her next destination. You and Carol are needed at the temple, after all."

Lilith and Carol both frowned at that, clearly reluctant to let Auriel leave without them, but they also understood the necessity.

Auriel nodded.

"That’s fine."

Without wasting any more time, Mary turned and began walking, leading Auriel away from the ruined village.

Carol still looked frustrated but begrudgingly let them go.

"Stay safe, Auriel."

Auriel gave her a small nod before following Mary.

______

They walked in silence for a while, the wind whistling softly through the trees.

Auriel remained quiet, but her gaze was sharp, watching Mary closely. Something was off.

It wasn’t until they had put a good distance between themselves and the village that Auriel finally spoke.

"Mary,"

She said, her voice soft but firm.

Mary glanced at her.

"Yes, Goddess?"

Auriel didn’t break stride as she continued.

"Why did you lie?"

Mary faltered slightly in her step, but she quickly recovered.

"What do you mean?"

Auriel tilted her head, her gaze unwavering.

"You never intended to take me to another temple, did you?"

Mary was silent for a moment before she let out a small chuckle.

"What makes you say that?"

Auriel simply shrugged.

"Because you are not Mary."

At that, Mary—or rather, the one pretending to be her—stopped walking altogether.

She turned to Auriel, her expression unreadable.

"...What did you say?"

Auriel met her gaze evenly.

"Your soul and aura are different from the Mary I know."

For a moment, there was only silence between them. Then, a slow, amused smile stretched across Mary’s lips.

"Well, aren’t you perceptive?"

Auriel’s grip tightened on her staff as she took a small step back, her body tensing.

The fake Mary let out a low, almost playful laugh.

"I was hoping to fool you for a little longer, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You are, after all, the Goddess of Purity."

Auriel remained silent, watching as the imposter’s form shimmered slightly, her features twisting like mist before shifting into something else entirely.

Gone was Mary’s familiar face. In her place stood a woman with sharp, elegant features, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous amusement.

Auriel narrowed her eyes.

"Who are you?"

The woman tilted her head. "Does it matter?"

Auriel’s expression remained cold.

"If you went through the trouble of deceiving me, then yes, it matters."

The woman chuckled.

"Very well. You may call me Seraphina."

Auriel’s eyes flickered with recognition. She had heard that name before—whispers of a being who moved through the shadows, orchestrating chaos in the mortal world.

A demon.

Seraphina smirked.

"I assume you’ve heard of me."

Auriel didn’t answer, but her silence was enough of a confirmation.

Seraphina sighed, as if disappointed.

"I suppose this means you won’t come with me willingly?"

Auriel tightened her stance.

"You already knew the answer to that."

Seraphina clicked her tongue.

"Pity."

Auriel didn’t lower her staff, her golden eyes narrowing as she regarded Seraphina warily.

"What do you want from me?"

Seraphina clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head with an amused smile.

"Oh, nothing too drastic. I simply want you to come with me."

Auriel frowned.

"Where?"

Seraphina’s smirk widened.

"A dungeon has appeared in the human world, one that is wreaking havoc upon my village. I need your help to deal with it."

Auriel let out a short laugh, shaking her head.

"A demon asking a goddess for help? I find that hard to believe. Your kind thrives on chaos, and yet you expect me to believe that a mere dungeon is causing you trouble?"

Seraphina gasped, placing a hand over her heart as if Auriel’s words had personally wounded her.

"Oh, how cruel! You lump all demons into one category as if we are all the same. That’s rather ignorant, don’t you think?"

Auriel rolled her eyes, unimpressed by the act.

"Demons are inherently destructive. That is the truth."

Seraphina dropped the dramatic act, her smile turning more genuine—though there was still something mischievous about it.

"Not all of us. Some of us have learned that harmony has its benefits." freēwēbnovel.com

She countered.

Auriel scoffed.

"Harmony? Between humans and demons? Don’t make me laugh."

Seraphina simply shrugged.

"Believe what you want, but my tribe has lived in peace with humans for generations. We have a mutually beneficial relationship—one that has lasted longer than most human kingdoms."

Auriel’s gaze remained skeptical.

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"You don’t have to believe me. Come and see for yourself"

Seraphina replied smoothly.

Auriel studied her for a long moment, then sighed.

"Fine. But if I find out you’re lying—"

"You won’t. Shall we go?"

Seraphina interrupted with a wink.

______

The journey didn’t take long. Seraphina led Auriel through dense forests and past abandoned roads until they reached the demon’s village.

Auriel’s first impression was... confusion.

The village itself was surprisingly well-maintained. The buildings were solid and clean, the streets free of decay, and the marketplace bustling with activity.

But what caught her attention the most were the humans.

Humans walked alongside demons, but there was something off about them.

Auriel’s gaze sharpened as she noticed the collars around their necks—each one marked with glowing runes. They weren’t just following the demons; they were behaving almost like servants. No—slaves.

Auriel’s expression darkened.

"You expect me to believe that this is coexistence?"

She asked coldly.

Seraphina gave her a knowing smile.

"Oh, don’t be so quick to judge. These people are here willingly."

Auriel’s hands tightened into fists.

"Willingly?"

"Yes. They are here of their own free will. They serve us because they want to"

Seraphina replied.

Auriel didn’t buy it.

"And those collars? What are they for?"

Seraphina waved a hand dismissively.

"A formality. They are symbols of their devotion, nothing more."

Auriel’s eyes narrowed as she observed the humans carefully. There was something unnatural about the way they moved—too obedient, too eager to serve.

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on free(w)ebnovel(.)com