First Demonic Dragon - Chapter 1038: We Shouldn’t Leave Anymore

Chapter 1038: We Shouldn’t Leave Anymore

“What did you make of the samples you collected from the flowerbeds?”

“…Dangerously creative. For one, I’m glad that we didn’t just burn them like we were originally planning to do. The carcinogens would have tainted the upper atmosphere and created an acidic rain that-”

“Causes everyone to lose their free will and bodies as they know them… bastards.”

Lailah tapped the back of a pen against her temple to stimulate her thoughts.

“Alright… did you look over my notes for synthesizing an antidote?”

Sei analyzed her daughter carefully out of the corner of her eye before answering.

“…I did, yes. I have everything prepared already; all I need is to add a sample from the Black Goat, and we’ll have everything we need to get Isabelle back.”

Lailah slowly nodded in relief as she sank further into her seat.

“Good, that’s… good. I don’t think it’ll be too long before Audrina starts going crazy without her sister…. You brought her body home, yes?”

Lailah waited, but silence persisted for so long that she began to get worried.

“…Ma?”

“Ah, sorry, dear. Yes, Hakon brought her back not long after you left.”

Lailah nodded and closed her eyes again, pretending that she couldn’t feel her mother staring at her.

“Lailah… why are you here?” Sei sighed.

“It’s my lab?”

“You’ve just been through what I surmise was a very unpleasant experience. You should be resting and recovering your strength. Especially before something strenuous like the party Satan’s planning.”

’Satan’ and ’party planning’ were words so unnatural that they made Lailah shiver.

“I’m fine like this, Ma. I’m getting some important work done.”

Sei stared at Lailah’s dreadful posture and closed eyelids.

“…Uh-huh. You’re a real working machine.”

“I’m not so tired that I don’t sense sarcasm, Mama.”

“Oh? Surprise, surprise.”

Sei suddenly stood up and pulled her daughter out of her seat.

“Hey, what’re you doing!?”

“Being a mother. I didn’t think I’d still be putting you to bed when you were over two billion years old, but…”

“Are you going to lock me in a closet again, too?”

“I-I said I was sorry about all that!”

Lailah chuckled. She hardly felt bothered by her mother’s past behavior anymore, but it was always nice to be able to traumatize her mother back just a bit.

It was also good to see how much a person could change.

“I’m going, I’m going…” Lailah yawned. “But don’t think I don’t know that you’re just trying to get rid of me because I’m making you feel uncomfortable.”

“Yes, well, you’re making jokes about my past behavior, which does have a tendency to do that.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.” Lailah dismissed. “You’re acting like you’ve got something you want to tell me, but won’t.”

Sei paused just as her hand settled on the doorknob. She looked back at her daughter with a troubled smile.

“My girl always was too smart for her own good, wasn’t she?”

“Believe me.” Lailah sighed. “There are still plenty of things I can miss…”

She wrapped her mother in a tight hug and even deigned to place a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you later, Ma. You can tell me everything then.”

“…Of course, sweetheart. I’m glad to have you home.”

When the two separated, Sei opened the door for her daughter and escorted her out.

Neither of them expected to see Eris standing outside the door waiting for them with a small smile on her face.

So as not to put too much shock onto her family, Eris had reverted to her old appearance.

However, she was planning to come clean to everyone later today and tell them the truth of her origins as well as what her truest appearance would look like.

“A-All done..?”

Lailah nodded tentatively.

Sei swapped her gaze back and forth between the two women and furrowed her brow.

The air almost seemed awkward between the two. But that was impossible. Sei didn’t think she’d ever observed Lailah and Eris when they weren’t at their lovey-doviest.

’Maybe I’m just ruining the mood…?’

*Ahem* “Have fun, girls! But not too much fun, because we’d all still like to see you at 3 o’clock, so-”

“W-We get it, ma, we’ll get going now!”

Flustered for reasons she didn’t understand, Lailah shut her mother inside of her lab and sped away from the door with Eris on her heels.

They didn’t stop speed walking until they had left Sei’s wing of the house entirely.

It wasn’t until they slowed down that Eris tried to take Lailah’s hand.

The witch jolted accidentally, causing Eris to pull her hand away with a bitter look.

“S-Sorry..”

“N-No, it’s…you just surprised me, is all.” Lailah insisted.

Eris didn’t know if she believed that.

“Are you still upset with me?” She asked plainly.

“No. Maybe… I don’t know.”

“I appreciate the honesty.”

“Yeah, well… I never really could lie to you.”

An awkward silence settled around them. Lailah hoped that her words just now hadn’t seemed loaded.

“I-I really didn’t mean anything by that.”

“I know.” Eris said softly.

She reached for Lailah’s hand again. Relief rushed through her when her love didn’t pull away.

“I can’t tell you or the others just how sorry I am for lying to you. And even if it takes all of my immortality, I will spend every second trying to make it up to you.”

As the girls turned the corner together, Lailah was still conflicted.

Perhaps the part of Eris’ betrayal that affected her the most was the fact that she had been manipulated.

If Eris could manipulate them into ignoring one large hole in their memory, then could she do something similar? Would she do it now?

Those thoughts kept her constantly on her toes.

Lailah had been spoiled by the crest.

She, who didn’t trust easily, got to know an absolute infatuation and security that she probably never would have acquired on her own.

She didn’t know how to let go and not be vigilant once again.

As they started to go up a flight of stairs, Eris stopped and held Lailah’s hand back.

“What are you doing..?”

“I can hear all of your thoughts, you know..? We’re still linked and holding hands.”

Lailah’s cheeks were immediately flushed with red.

“I-I didn’t mean..”

“No… don’t apologize.” Eris smiled. “You have a right to have those doubts, and I must admit… I’m a little bit excited.”

“Excited..? Why?”

“Because..” Eris stepped forward. “I get to earn your heart and confidence all over again. It’s almost like we’re just starting out, isn’t it?”

Lailah felt like she had been hit by a bus.

This was the most dangerous part of being around love deities. They naturally slipped past one’s erected borders and made you want them.

Lailah may have had more trouble staying mad than she initially thought.

She took a step down from the staircase so that she and Eris were on equal level.

“This doesn’t mean that I have completely forgiven you…”

“?” Eris tilted her head.

Lailah stole her lips instantly without waiting for another moment to pass.

After months spent inside the nightmare realm, the sensation of an embrace was electrifying.

The group had little idea just how much sensation they were losing behind enemy lines. But now, Lailah could feel it clearly.

She had been dying of thirst before their lips touched. And now, her vessel was overflowing with the waters of life.

Lailah felt like she had been floating on a cloud.

They hadn’t noticed when they fell back onto the staircase. Eris was only aware of Lailah’s slender hands slipping past her waistband and into her panties.

Expectation and longing had already made Eris slick. She spread her legs wider in the hopes that Lailah would ravage her without restraint or care.

Lailah was as fueled by nostalgia as she was lust. She wanted desperately to hear Eris whimper underneath her. To look up at her with eyes filled with torturous desire.

It seemed that both had forgotten they were still quite far from their room…

“I tell you what, father, you may not be fat anymore, but you damn sure aren’t light either…”

Lailah and Eris practically catapulted themselves away from each other.

Huffing, they endeavored to straighten their clothes and their hair as Bash’s voice came closer.

Lailah stuck her fingers in her mouth, and Eris almost had a heart attack.

“W-What are you doing with our son right around the corner..?” She hissed.

Lailah only shrugged. It was the most satisfying way to get rid of the evidence.

Soon enough, Bashenga turned the corner and came face to face with both of his mothers. Abaddon was slung over his shoulder, unconscious.

“Mothers! You’ve returned! Though I suppose that should have been obvious since father is here as well.” Bashenga chuckled.

“…What the fuck?”

Lailah didn’t even mean to say that. It just slipped out because her brain had no other way to contend with the shock of what she was seeing.

Meanwhile, Eris was unsure of what she should ask her son about first.

“Umm… my son, have you been drinking..?”

Bashenga nodded drunkenly. “Yes, but just thisss much.” He made a small gesture with his thumb and forefinger.

Somehow, his mothers doubted that it was just that little.

“Umm… Why were you drinking? I thought you didn’t care much for alcohol.” Lailah said, barely hiding her concern.

“Yes, well, it seemed fitting. I needed some way to celebrate my engagement to Gaia after all.”

Eris heard a loud thunk out of nowhere.

She looked to her side and found that Lailah had fainted without so much as a warning.

Bashenga rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“You know, father had a very similar reaction when I told him that I was getting married. Quite strange.”

Eris had no idea which part of this situation she was supposed to deal with first.

–

A couple of minutes later, Eris was sitting against a thick tree in her private divine realm.

The cool grass welcomed her back after such a long absence, and she took a moment to enjoy the feeling of being at peace.

In her lap, the head of her husband rested comfortably as he slept. She occasionally played with a stray hair or his lips like a maiden in love.

Lailah rested on her shoulder in an equally comfortable position. The only way Eris could be more comfortable is if everyone were here with them.

“So… marriage, huh?” She began.

Bashenga nodded as he lay on his back.

“I figured that it was time.”

“I wasn’t aware that your feelings for Gaia were of that nature.”

Bashenga shrugged nonchalantly- still enjoying the feeling of his alcoholic buzz.

“She has been good to me. Stood by me when others would not. She’s never tried to control me or disdained me for what I am. I believe I should reward that.”

“Interesting outlook.” Eris mused as she grazed her fingers over Abaddon’s chest. “But what I didn’t hear you say was that you loved her.”

“I’m sure it will blossom over time.”

Bashenga looked at the flower directly next to his head and let out a joyful cackle. “Ah, I believe I almost made a joke! Y’know, love blossoming because you’re… well, never mind.”

In the past, Eris would have given her wedding ring just for this. Seeing her son laugh freely without a care.

But now that the moment was here and she was seeing her wish right before her eyes, she couldn’t help but wish for her son to return to normal.

It truly begged the question… just what had happened in this house while they were away?