Chapter 38: Escape plan 3
"Aristarkh." Vale called out, rushing towards me after sweeping through the place with her senses and ensuring taht there was no one in sight.
Seeing as I wasnt injured she breath out a sigh of relief.
"You didnt have to endanger your life just to save me," I complained with a slight frown on my face, feeling a little touched at the succubus’ care towards me.
"Tsk... not even a thank you." Vale complained, folding her hands underneath her arms, seeming pissed off by my behaviour.
Having never seen this side of their mistress, the two succubuses struggled to stiffle their laughter.
The succubus who was injured didnt know whether to laugh or cry as she stared at the exchange between the two.
’I’m the one who’s heavily injured and the two of you are bickering as though you dont have a care in the world.’
"Alright. Thank you." I said casually, then pulled vale closer, "what do you want as a reward? A kiss... or..." my words trailed off but from my wink vale quickly understood what I meant.
She blushed slightly and gave me a brief kiss befoer changing the topic.
"Just a kiss would be enough..." she paused, then added with a wink of her own, "for now."
Noticing the awkwardness apearing on the faces of her surbodinates she finally shifted her attention towards them.
"Here... heal your injuries." She flicked her hand and a potion apeared in her grasp.
Tossing it towards them, shhe shifted her attention back to her surroundings.
The two succubuses proceeded to thank vale, then quickly emptied the contents of the potion.
Instantly, the cursed potion went to work, miraculously healing the injury the first succubus had suffered.
Gradually, her breathing returned to normal, and her facial expression which was prevously squeessed from the pain recained is rosiness.
Later on, I learnt of their names. The one who was injured was called, faevy, while the second succubus was called liv.
After feeling as though she could move, faevy finally stood up and both succubuses turned their attentions towards vale, waiting on her order for what to do next.
Vale took out the compass which she was using to track the queen in the north’s movements.
Finally, she rubbed her chin slightly and muttered under her breath.
"We have to quicken our pace. It seems she has arrived at her location."
Simulteanously faevy and liv’s gazes sharpened at her words.
Nodding, they quickly readied their waepons, set to continue the journey.
With that, we set off.
The path deeper into the cursed gate only grew colder and more windy.
The two succubuses were already finding it hard to walk due to the stiffness of their legs.
On the other hand, perhaps it was due to the cursed nebula physique or the fire cursed ability I possessed, I didnt partifularly get affected by the cold.
Vale was also unharmed due to her rank as a cursed master.
At such rank, one’s physical capabilities would be enhanced to a great extent. Ordinarly cold which could affect humans no longer affected them.
"We’d soon arrive, hold on for a bit." Vale tried to confort the two girls.
On the other hand, waving my hand, a searing wave of heat formed then condensed into the form of a dragon. And floated gently around me.
It brought some warmth to the two girls who quickly stopped shivering under the warmth of my flame.
With that, we were free to continue.
Everyone was silent save for the russle of wind and the cry of distant animals.
Gradually, we drew closer and the vague outline of something akin to a house or a temple apeared in our vision.
Squinting slightly, I tried to make out what I was seeing.
In vale’s hands, a oud whistle resounded from the compass.
"It says she’s inside the temple." Vale said calmly, her eyes calmly settling on the distant temple.
A sword apeared in her hand as her danger perception sharpened considerably.
My sword also apeared in my grasp.
Suddenly, a burst of energy surged through my heart.
My cursed rank increased by two instantly, reaching the tenth stage of cursed warrior intantly, just a step away from being a cursed master.
’This... lydia?’ I muttered internally. But that wasn’t the end of the surprise.
[Congratulations! Your bonded target, lydia, has comprehended the eagle lightning steps technique!]
[you have received 5 times her comprehension!]
[congratulations! You have comprehended the Thunderous Eagle lightning Steps technique.]
’Five times?’ I drew in a sharp breath.
It seemed at some point in time, lydia’s afffininty towards me had actually crossed 50 without me realising.
’Is it because she misses me or soemthing?’ I pondered internally, but kept my thought to myself.
"Is something wrong?" vale raised a brow in my direction.
"No." I replied, "I just had a sudden breakthrough." I explained.
Vale had already sensed the increase in my cursed rank which startled greatly.
’It seems he has more secrets than I thought...’ she muttered to herself thoughtfully deciding to gradually explore them.
After all, Aristarkh was her slave for now and she didnt see him excaping anytime soon.
In fact it was impossible toe scape from her grasp.
"Alright." She changed the topic and shifter her attention back to the temple as they quickened their steps.
Followingbehind her, I studied the technique that had apeared in my mind.
’ A movement technique? It came in handy... I need to reward lydia when I return,’ I thought internally with a smirk on my face.
Gradually, we closed the distance between us and the temple.
As the distance lessoned, whispers drifted to our ears.
And the place sounded slightly deserted.
Gradually, the biting cold seemed to stop. In front of us it was as though there was another world entirely.
Completely in stark contrast to the world of snow surrouning it, there seemed to be a forcefield preventing the snow from entering into the temple.
"This..." Faevy exclaimed, slightly taken aback by this development.
"Your highness... what could be the reason for this?" she asked.
Liv similarly had the same question in mind, "can a treasure truly cause such a unique development?"
Vale glanced down at her compass to ensure she was at the right place.
After taht she rubbed her chin in deep thought.
Unqble to come up with anything she turned to aristarkh.
"What do you think?"
’Me?’ briefly stunned that vale had asked me I didnt know how to reply.
How could I possibly know about this when I barely knew anything about this world?
"Why dont we enter and find out?" I replied with a smile, quickly manuevering my way out.
Vale nodded and said to the two girls, "since sister could enter here and she’s still alive, it shows that there isnt particularly any immense danger here..."
The two girls nodded at her worlds, seemingly agreeing, though not completely.
"Let’s go." Vale said and crossed into the land without snow.
Instantly, a wave of warmness crashed onto our bodies.
In contrast to the snow, the warmness felt extremely soothing.
The two girls couldnt help moaning in extacy at the drastic change to the environment...
Even vale couldnt help lightly touching her skin, feeling that it was becomingwarm at a speed visible to the naked eyes.
Running her hand through her hair she removed all the snow atop it.
Finally, she smiled faintly, "the weather is now perfect."
Suddenly, a sharp sound tore through the air.
"Watch out..." Vale sharply urged upon notcing it was heading In my direction...