Chapter 93 Chapter 92: Letting Go of Oneself
The underground tunnel is simply an underground world. Caverns lead in all directions, with dozens to hundreds of them entangled together, forming a complex maze. It is dark year-round, only illuminated by occasional peculiar mushrooms that emit a faint green light, resembling the phosphorescence of a nighttime graveyard.
Frantic voices break the silence of the underground world.
“Ah ha ha ha, my little beauty, don’t think about escaping.”
The black-haired succubus reveals a pure and beautiful smile while holding onto Eve Frostleaf’s long, hole-ridden silver legs, rubbing her face against Eve’s, saying, “My good treasure.”
George, watching from the side, says, “Should we tie her up?”
They had tried all gentle methods and confirmed that Jima had fallen into an irrational state.
Eve Frostleaf, lying on the blanket, shakes her head, on account of Jima’s half-saving grace. “Let her touch; it’s nothing.”
Jima is now nuzzling with her little nose.
Eve Frostleaf says, “Like a little puppy, so cute.”
Jima excitedly wags her tail and continues to rub against Eve Frostleaf’s thigh.
George averts his gaze with some difficulty, beginning to reminisce about the last gathering.
Jenna leans against the tower shield and says, “Jima’s near uncontrollable behavior is still relatively harmless.”
Before she finishes speaking, Jima suddenly releases Frostleaf and jumps into Jenna’s arms, pushing and rubbing against her freely.
George’s heart races, and he quickly turns his head to look at Eve Frostleaf.
Jenna gently strokes Jima’s head, causing Jima to squint her eyes and show a comfortable expression as she says, “Yes, just like that, I command you to continue serving me.”
This statement makes George think of something, and he asks Jenna, “Generally, soul injuries are caused by significant events in life, right?”
“Yes, they are also called mental demons,” Jenna replies. “Everyone’s is different, usually a consequence of psychological trauma.”
“So can the expressions of rampaging behavior be considered related to trauma?” George asks. “Just like someone about to die of thirst will drink all the water in one go. Someone about to starve will hide bread under their pillow…”
The three look at the black-haired succubus, who is having a great time in Jenna’s generous embrace. The answer is practically written on their faces.
After pondering, Jenna says, “I suspect she lacks maternal love.”
George smacks his hand, “That makes sense. I always thought she was lewd.”
“She has always been lewd,” Eve Frostleaf comments from the side. “But the reasons behind lust differ, Jenna has a point.”
George feels a bit guilty for always thinking of Jima in a bad light; it’s ultimately prejudice.
Jenna speaks gently, “She has no mother and has never experienced maternal love.”
This kind, gentle saint senses the intensity of Jima’s longing for love and says, “She’s a very unloved child.”
“I think I can deduce her ‘dark memories’ to help her,” George says as he pulls out a notebook. “I can now confirm that she has a close relationship with the demon king, Kima, inheriting much of the latter’s memories and knowledge. Her behavior is mature; she doesn’t seem to be under three years old at all…”
Eve Frostleaf nods. Jima’s performance in battle is mature and calm, showing an impressive ability to leverage her strengths. She states, “She is an ideal teammate.”
“We can boldly speculate,” George continues, “that she is definitely not just three years old.”
Jenna nods, “Her thoughts are very mature, her worldview is well-established.”
George sighs softly, “So, I have always been unable to lead her towards goodness. Gregory is right; in a way, her dedication to her own values is even more devout than mine.”
Eve Frostleaf gently asks, “A deception?”
George nods, “I believe she might have been a mature succubus before she hatched.”
“Didn’t she inherit the memories of the demon king?” Frostleaf continues asking. “Maturity would be a given, right?”
“Knowing and having experienced are two different things,” George responds. “Reading doesn’t make one mature; only going through events does.”
George feels the truth is right before his eyes, just lacking a bit more. He recalls the letter of bequest Gregory gave him. Aside from listing historical documents to prove that no succubus hasn’t backstabbed her husband, it also presented a viewpoint.
Why does Jima have such an intense connection with the demon king’s extraordinary matter, even the shattered crown of the demon king?
He looks at Jima, who remains immersed in her own world, showing no reaction to the group’s discussion. This is a normal reaction to being “on the verge of losing control.”
Frostleaf says, “It needs verification.”
George makes up his mind and says, “Let’s talk about the demon king, Kima.”
As soon as the name Kima is mentioned, Jima screams, jumps out of Jenna’s arms, and starts to flee. Jenna quickly grabs her back, only to hear Jima struggling and saying, “No, I’m not, I’m not.”
Jenna gives George a look, strokes Jima’s head several times, and finally calms her down.
Just mentioning the name of the demon king Kima elicits such a strong reaction.
George and Frostleaf exchange glances.
Jima’s relationship with the demon king Kima is likely far closer than they imagined.
A bold idea suddenly arises in George’s mind.
Jenna looks at Jima with a softer gaze, saying, “Poor Jima.”
George looks at her, seeking her opinion.
“It must be the case,” Jenna says as she strokes Jima’s head, “She might have grown up in the demon king’s palace during her childhood, but for some reason, was stuffed into an egg, becoming a pawn of the demon king… you shouldn’t scare her anymore; she’s really pitiful.”
“I have a guess,” George lowers his voice, manipulating light to write in the dark, “She might be the daughter of demon king Kima.”
Frostleaf is slightly taken aback.
Jenna gasps, covering her mouth, feeling even more sorry for Jima.
“I wasn’t wrong; she lacks maternal love because her mother was merely a tool for sexual desire, incapable of loving her.” Jenna looks compassionately at Jima, picturing her childhood filled with disdain.
Jima’s mother surely viewed her as a product of violence, filled with hate and having possibly committed suicide long ago. And her father is an outright devil…
Frostleaf whispers, “That scoundrel must have ill intentions toward his biological daughter.”
Jima is truly pitiful.
Jenna’s heart almost melts, “She was treated as a tool, stuffed into an egg.”
George looks at the trembling Jima, feeling nothing but guilt. He finally understands why Jima inherently resists and fears him, even though he can feel her love for him.
Frostleaf asks, “Should we tell her?”
Jenna shakes her head, “No one would be happy to have their dark past exposed.”
George wholeheartedly agrees with his childhood friend, saying, “Let her come to terms with it one day. As long as we treat her kindly, eventually, she will settle her heart and confess to us.”
Jenna strongly agrees, envisioning a future where Jima confesses her past to everyone, only to find that they already knew, moved to tears…
Jenna feels touched by her own thoughts.
After discussing their thoughts,
The three rest where they are, paying no attention to Jima’s actions of making advances.
After tiring herself out rubbing against Jenna, Jima lastly runs over to George, curls up in his embrace, and falls asleep.
She repeatedly has nightmares from which she cannot escape:
Falling from a great height, landing directly on her chest, reaching out to her cracked phone screen just before dying; a short distance, yet so far away.
In the bedroom, Jima dreams of being stabbed through the chest by George’s sword. The harem collapses with a single blow, and all the maids are taken away.
Sometimes she wakes up in fright, thinking she is awake, but sees George, righteous and stern, his azure eyes glaring fiercely at her, the shining tip of his sword pointed her way.
“George, it’s me, I’m your fiancée—”
“Shut up!” George charges over with his sword, “Kima! You disgusting man makes me sick.”
The sword strikes down.
Jima wakes up again; it was just a nightmare. Before her looms the concrete ground that keeps approaching…
Her chest once again aches with a splitting pain.
Finally managing to open her eyes, through the darkness, she sees George’s face in front of her, his eyes also wide open.
Startled, Jima kicks out, with all her strength, only to kick against steel, which in turn pushes her out of George’s arms.
George asks, “Did you have a nightmare?”
Jima quickly stands up, seeing George’s azure eyes, which are not filled with wrath, and his hands are unarmed. Looking again at her personal system, she sees her magical power restored to forty-six percent, and confirms that she is truly awake, having escaped the painful rampaging state.
Jima asks, “Did I say anything in my sleep?”
As soon as the words leave her mouth, she regrets it, thinking it makes her seem guilty.
George stands up, looks at her, shakes his head, and says, “No, just rest well.”
Frostleaf, who had her eyes closed in relaxation, opens them and says, “I’ve rested enough.”
Jenna gets up and says, “I’m good too.”
The three exchange glances without mentioning yesterday’s events.
Jima notices their exchanged glances and becomes increasingly certain that her rampaging yesterday must have leaked important information, possibly life-threatening. Thinking of this, her back breaks out into a chill.
She cautiously asks, “Did I cause any trouble during my rampage yesterday?”
“No,” George replies, “You decisively blocked the fire horse and seized a good opportunity.”
Jima feels he is hinting at something. After all, as an excellent cavalry tactical commander, seizing the right moment is an essential quality.
“A bit,” Eve Frostleaf says, pointing at her torn silver hair.
“Did I rub against your thigh yesterday?”
Eve Frostleaf nods.
Under everyone’s gaze, Jima feels a bit embarrassed but also slightly relieved.
Eve Frostleaf adds, “And you stuck out your tongue.”
Jima cannot help but cover her face.
Jenna laughs, “She’s just joking, don’t mind it; you performed excellently yesterday. It was very comfortable fighting alongside you.”
Frostleaf nods in agreement.
George pats her shoulder, giving her an encouraging look, and says, “Jima, let’s summarize the battle this time.”
Everyone encourages her.
But Jima can only feel fear; they must know something, right? It’s clear as day.
She forces a smile, pretending to be happy.
Does George plan to use me and then turn against me when I’m no longer valuable? No, he’s not that type. But he must have doubts about me and will definitely pull me back to the church for thorough questioning after this mission; then I’m finished.
While maintaining a pleasant demeanor, she opens the passage to the dream palace and takes out supplies, deep in thought.
She makes a decision in her heart.
How can one always deceive others? But this is something George must never know. Just think of Anya; a mere rumor about “she used to be a man” ended their relationship. They are good people; their suspicion of me is simply based on their good intentions, which also means that once I’m exposed, they won’t let me off easy.
My only advantage is that I am not bound by moral constraints…
Jima hugs George and kisses him on the lips, her eyes suddenly wet with tears.
George, puzzled, asks, “What’s wrong?”
Jima shakes her head, smiling, and says nothing.
———
Since the protagonist team suffered a huge loss under the demon king Marus, subscriptions have been cut multiple times, and as of today, the subscriptions have shrunk by three-fourths. Coupled with real-life complications, it’s resulted in a bit of a breakdown in my writing state. However, I believe that no matter how great the anxiety, a good sleep will fix things. I just couldn’t help but mention it.
