Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 135: A Connection- Part 2

Seraphina noticed her expression and sighed.

"I knew you’d react like this."

"How else am I supposed to react? Humans serving demons? This is beyond unnatural. It’s wrong."

Auriel said sharply.

Seraphina’s smile didn’t waver.

"Why is it wrong? Because it goes against the stories you’ve been told? Against the divine order you believe in?"

Auriel crossed her arms.

"Humans were not meant to serve demons. Demons corrupt. It is in their nature."

Seraphina chuckled.

"Oh, how little you know. These humans came to us of their own volition. We protect them, and in return, they offer their service. Unlike the gods, we do not demand faith without proof. We give them tangible benefits—power, security, and knowledge they would never gain under the rule of your kind."

Auriel’s jaw clenched. She wanted to refute Seraphina’s words, but there was a strange logic to them. Humans, by nature, sought power and protection. If these demons provided that, perhaps some humans would willingly submit.

But that didn’t mean it was right.

"You may have convinced them, but you will not convince me."

Auriel said and Seraphina sighed.

"I didn’t expect to. But you’re here for the dungeon, not for a debate on morality, aren’t you?"

Auriel exhaled sharply.

"Where is it?"

Seraphina gestured toward the village’s outskirts.

"Not far. But I must warn you—it is unlike any dungeon I have ever seen before."

Auriel gave her a wary look.

How so?"

Seraphina’s expression turned grim.

"It does not act like a normal dungeon. It spreads, consuming everything around it. Even my people are struggling to contain it."

Auriel frowned.

"A spreading dungeon? That’s impossible."

Seraphina shrugged.

"Perhaps. But it is happening."

Auriel studied her carefully, then nodded.

"Fine. Take me to it."

Seraphina grinned.

"Gladly."

______

As they walked toward the dungeon’s location, Auriel couldn’t help but glance back at the village. The collared humans moved about their duties with mechanical precision, their eyes dull but obedient.

She didn’t believe Seraphina’s words. These humans weren’t free.

And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this place than she understood.

As Auriel and Seraphina approached the so-called dungeon, Auriel’s brows furrowed in confusion.

She had been to many dungeons before, from ancient ruins to cursed labyrinths, and each one had a distinct energy—something undeniable, something oppressive. But here? She felt almost nothing.

"This is the dungeon?"

Auriel asked, skeptical.

Seraphina nodded, her expression unreadable.

"Yes. What’s the problem?"

Auriel glanced around. The land was barren, scorched in some places, but nothing about it screamed ’dungeon’ to her.

Normally, dungeons radiated strong, unstable magic—something primal that warped reality. Yet, here, the air was eerily still.

There were no creatures, no signs of miasma, not even the faintest pulse of arcane energy.

"I don’t sense anything."

Auriel admitted.

"If this were a true dungeon, the distortion of magic would be apparent, but here... there’s nothing."

Seraphina’s jaw tightened slightly.

"Are you saying I lied?"

Auriel studied her carefully. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"I’m saying something doesn’t add up."

The demoness looked away, her tail flicking in agitation. Auriel caught the slight tension in her stance, the way her fingers twitched ever so slightly. Seraphina wasn’t telling her everything.

Auriel decided not to press—at least, not now.

"It would be better if we came back tomorrow. If something is happening here, maybe it’s just dormant. I’d like to observe it over time."

She said instead.

Seraphina hesitated before nodding.

"Fine. Tomorrow, then."

By the time they returned to the village, the sky was painted in hues of deep purple and red, the sun barely visible on the horizon.

Seraphina led Auriel to a modest house, far from the central marketplace, nestled between taller, more imposing demon residences.

"This will be your temporary residence. I live here as well, so if you need anything, let me know."

Seraphina said as she pushed open the wooden door, gesturing for Auriel to step inside.

Auriel walked in, glancing around.

It was simpler than she expected for a demon’s home—wooden floors, soft candlelight illuminating the rooms, and bookshelves filled with scrolls and old tomes. It was well-kept and, surprisingly, cozy.

But what caught Auriel’s attention the most was the presence of a human woman inside.

The woman stood near the corner of the room, head bowed, her hands neatly folded in front of her.

A thick, rune-inscribed collar encircled her neck, glowing faintly under the candlelight. She remained still, unmoving, almost as if she were waiting for something.

Auriel turned to Seraphina, her golden eyes narrowing.

"Only one human?"

Seraphina gave a casual shrug.

"I don’t need more."

Auriel crossed her arms.

"So, she’s your personal servant?"

Seraphina smirked.

"You could say that."

Auriel didn’t like this. It was one thing to see humans walking around the village with collars—it was another to see one living under the same roof as a demon.

There was an unspoken power dynamic here, one that didn’t sit right with her.

She stepped closer to the human woman, studying her carefully. Her eyes were downcast, avoiding Auriel’s gaze.

"What’s your name?"

Auriel asked gently.

The woman hesitated before answering, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Lina."

Auriel frowned.

"Lina, are you here of your own free will?"

Seraphina sighed dramatically.

"Oh, don’t start that again."

"I wasn’t asking you."

Lina flinched at Auriel’s firm tone but eventually nodded.

"Yes... I am here willingly."

Auriel studied her expression, the way her shoulders were tense, how she wouldn’t meet Auriel’s gaze directly. She was lying.

Or, at the very least, she was saying what she had been conditioned to say.

She turned back to Seraphina.

"I don’t trust this arrangement."

Seraphina rolled her eyes.

"And I don’t care. She’s my servant. She chose to be here. End of discussion."

Auriel exhaled slowly, forcing herself to remain calm.

"You and I both know that ’choice’ is a fragile thing."

Seraphina’s smile faltered for just a moment before she waved Auriel off.

"You’re exhausted from the trip. Get some rest, and we’ll check on the dungeon tomorrow."

Auriel didn’t argue. She wasn’t going to win this battle tonight.

But she wasn’t going to ignore it either.

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