Chapter 4: Squatting in the Sanctuary’s Cell
The next day.
The two continued their journey. Finally, George stopped in front of a narrow canyon wall.
Jima vaguely guessed something and looked at George. He pulled out a parchment from his pack, filled with arcane runes. As he softly recited an incantation, the light green runes transformed into glowing points that rose up and gradually formed an elliptical door.
Teleportation spells cannot be directly sent to the Demon Realm; only a few designated locations are allowed for teleportation. These locations are guarded by demon lords, and if anyone teleports there, a flying unit will rush in to destroy the portal. This place should fall under another demon lord’s jurisdiction.
Jima couldn’t help but look up at the sky.
Half an hour later, the teleportation portal formed, during which a single raven flew by.
Ah, no wonder I said the hero suddenly came knocking at the door; it turns out someone “abandoned the dark for the light,” what a small-minded person! … Jima quietly noted a name of someone who lacked loyalty in her mental notebook.
George grabbed her wrist, gently tugged, and walked towards the portal.
Jima couldn’t help but look back one last time at the familiar black earth and light gray sky before stepping into the portal with George, followed by a wave of dizziness.
When Jima regained her vision, she was nearly blinded by the overwhelming silver light.
Upon closer inspection, she saw the area packed with silver-armored spear-wielding warriors surrounding them. They all wore matching bucket helmets, identical to George’s.
Hundreds of identical bucket helmets. Jima couldn’t help but wonder if the Sanctuary was running low on water.
“Stay still, please undergo inspection,” a team leader said.
The Sanctuary guards had relaxed expressions, completely treating it like a routine task.
Some complained internally about the rigid rules. The hero is powerful and upright; there’s no need for any inspection, and it’s excessive to have to support the scene every time a teleportation portal is opened.
They stood with their long spears, anxiously hoping the inspection would end soon.
“Beginning moral assessment.”
With a cold female voice, a faint white light descended. George emitted a gentle white glow, while Jima radiated a red spiritual light symbolizing evil.
After a very brief silence, the Sanctuary guards hurriedly raised their long spears, pointing them at Jima in the center. The sound of the spears clashing against armor echoed around them.
George calmly dropped his holy sword and said, “Brothers, this is a forbidden prize I rescued from the demon lord.”
With that, he lowered the hood from Jima’s head, revealing the girl’s cute and delicate features along with her shocking little horns.
George continued, “I will guide her onto the path of righteousness.”
The team leader in charge of the inspection took two quick steps back and turned to command, “Quick, inform Bishop and Commander Kaidon! The hero may have been enchanted by the succubus!”
He then turned back, “Hero, please raise your hands, place them behind your head, and squat still.”
George forced a smile, obediently squatting with his hands on his head, now the same height as Jima.
Jima nearly laughed out loud; she stole a glance at George’s face. It was not the resentment she imagined but only a hint of grievance.
What a good child.
After a while, a white-haired bishop in a red robe approached. His face was thin, sporting a goatee, and his eyes shimmered with silvery wisdom, giving off a sense of being a life mentor.
He wore a red robe lined with gold, with two silk sashes embroidered with golden holy admonitions hanging down from his chest.
As he drew near, Jima felt as if a mountain was pressing down on her.
The red-robed bishop glanced at her with a look full of disdain, as if looking directly at a pile of environmental pollution.
Jima immediately felt as though she was standing on a pyre, the flames licking her skin. She couldn’t help but let go of George’s hand, taking a step back, and the burning sensation dissipated.
The red-robed bishop began a divine technique inspection to ensure George’s mind was intact.
He asked, “George, what’s going on?”
“I want to redeem her,” George replied. “She is merely a poor victim.”
“Do you remember what you know about succubi?”
“I do.”
“This is deception.”
“I cannot abandon her; that is my oath.” George said sternly.
The red-robed bishop took a deep breath, and Jima could see his expression, as if his own son was caught in a pyramid scheme.
It seems the people in the Sanctuary aren’t all fools.
“You have violated the code… forget it, you’ve already sworn.”
The red-robed bishop thought for a moment and decided not to say harsh words. George is a rare genius, still young and impulsive; it’s understandable for him to be bewitched by a girl.
Young people always make mistakes. What he needs is guidance; merely pressuring him could push him down a wrong path, so it’s better to be lenient and let him realize it himself.
“For violating the code, you know what to do,” the red-robed bishop said coolly.
“Bishop…” George stammered, “there… is one more thing.”
Jima inexplicably felt her face heating up.
What could possibly make the brave and forthright hero suddenly hesitant and timid? Everyone’s gossiping instinct was ignited, listening intently.
Suddenly, the entire hall fell silent enough to hear a mosquito buzzing.
The red-robed bishop glanced at the color on George’s face and the suspicious pink tinge on Jima’s cheeks, and an ominous premonition gripped him.
As a bishop who had taken the “Oath of Honesty,” he unconsciously blurted out his thoughts:
“You’re not saying that this succubus has taken your virginity, are you?”
A wave of uncontrollable gasps erupted throughout the hall.
The illustrious hero, idol of the Sanctuary’s younger generation, viewed as a flawless child of divine favor, could it be…?
“No, no, I haven’t, I didn’t do anything,” George hurriedly denied.
The red-robed bishop sighed with relief. He felt he had overthought it; this child had always had a good affinity with women since he was young. What girl he had adventured with had a scandalous background? They all possessed innocent appearances that would make even the goddess of love envious.
Thus, George remained a virgin and devout. It’s impossible for him to be easily seduced by a minor succubus.
He asked, “Then what is it?”
George’s face turned red as he fell silent.
This question piqued everyone’s curiosity.
Red-robed Bishop Gregory couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly is going on?”
“I… I just wanted to say it when there were fewer people around.”
Just as Gregory was about to nod, a faint female voice interjected, “It’s just that we accidentally signed a slave contract.”
The low voice resonated clearly throughout the silent hall, reaching everyone’s ears. It gently landed like a storm stirring up waves in all their hearts.
“Wow!”
A Sanctuary guard couldn’t help but exclaim. The team leader immediately turned around, giving him a look to silence him. The guard quickly quieted down, but then a whole group of people to his left spontaneously gasped in surprise.
“Wow!”
“A slave contract!”
The solemn hall instantly turned lively, resembling a bustling marketplace.
The Sanctuary had always promoted frugality and opposed the extravagant lifestyles of the nobility. The slave contract symbolized lust and was one of the magics the Sanctuary vehemently condemned; they claimed that everyone who signed a slave contract would surely descend into hell.
Sometimes, they didn’t mind helping those who signed slave contracts reach hell a bit faster.
Since a certain demon lord was sent to hell by the Sanctuary, the nobility had collectively begun to keep their lives clean.
Countless wide-open eyes turned towards George.
George felt as if he could hear the sound of his glorious image shattering. He couldn’t help but cover his face, unable to face the crowd.
Red-robed Bishop Gregory looked at George, his expression exceedingly complex. He thought of the story about “the warrior slaying the dragon only to become the dragon” and realized that this news, once leaked, would be a significant stain on the Sanctuary, second only to the scandal of a saintess eloping with a demon lord a thousand years ago.
This child was pure at heart, his faith sincere…
Should we just burn it all down and be done with it?
Headache-ridden, Gregory suddenly had such a dreadful thought.
The root cause of all this, Jima, watched this unfold, her tail flicking with delight. Hurting the hero greatly pleased her, and her previous humiliation, bowing to the hero, melted away.
At that moment, Bishop Gregory’s piercing gaze turned toward Jima. He resembled a swirling torrent of scarlet holy fire, as if he would tie Jima up and burn her on the execution stake at any moment.
Jima suddenly felt enveloped in holy fire, her proud tail drooping instantly and hiding behind George.
“Hmph.” Gregory huffed heavily, speaking sternly to George: “You will be judged soon.”
This was essentially a declaration of guilt.
“I accept,” George lowered his head, “but she is innocent now.”
Upon hearing this, Jima’s heart sank; wasn’t that just adding fuel to the fire?
Sure enough, Gregory cast another glance at her, his eyes filled with death.
It’s as if I were the one who abducted the hero… Jima remained silent.
“Let’s discuss this in the trial.” Gregory said, giving the order: “Detain George.”
“Yes!”
The Sanctuary guards’ expressions were complicated as they removed George’s armor and shackled him.
Jima imitated George, obediently extending her hand and waiting to be cuffed.
A tall Sanctuary guard, holding heavy cold black shackles, approached Jima. His eyes behind the mask were filled with vigilance and disgust, looking as if he wished he could strangle the succubus who caused the hero’s downfall with the very shackles in his hands.
George glanced at Jima with guilt, feeling a kind of awkwardness of saying nice things but not backing them up. Gregory noticed the expression and raised his hand, stopping the guard, saying:
“A newly born succubus can be watched over by someone.”
George sighed with relief.
Noticing all this, Jima silently labeled Gregory as an old fox in her heart.
Whether or not to wear shackles had no impact on her impending fate.
But the bishop’s order not to shackle her would ironically do George a favor. It seemed that the people in the Sanctuary were not as naive as rumored.
Fifteen minutes later.
Jima was led into a single cell. The iron bars on the window were nearly four fingers thick, and the rusty rails faintly gave off a holy aura from the spells inscribed upon them. Inside were a stone table, a stone bed, a toilet, and a plain quilt.
In front of the cell stood two stout, gray-haired women keeping watch.
The heavy cell door slammed shut behind her.
“This place could easily hold a dragon,” Jima said, “I feel truly honored; this suits my stature perfectly.”
Next, it all depended on George.
Jima believed that, given George’s reputation and the Sanctuary’s regard for him, they could spare a succubus. But success depended on how determined he was.
She sat on the stone bed, her mind filled with worries, as the sun gradually set in the sky outside.
