Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Sera took Aether and led him along the cracked path that weaved through his barren land, the air dry and still.

There was a lot to see… houses, buildings, restaurants, hotels, shops, even some ancient-looking fountains and broken lampposts.

Everything looked grand—almost eerily reminiscent of Valysar City, the famed city that had circled the current Academy.

But something felt… off.

“Wait… why is everything closed?” Aether blinked in disbelief as he looked around. Dust clung to the windows. Doors were boarded. Silence stretched across the entire block. “This place looks like it’s been abandoned for centuries.”

Sera let out a small sigh, folding her arms. “Not closed exactly… just… nothing left to open. There’s no one here now to run anything.”

“Huh?” Aether tilted his head, frowning. “No one here now? Does that mean… people used to live here?”

She nodded slowly. “This place was once full of life. It wasn’t just a city… it was wealthy enough to feed the entire Empire. Bustling streets, endless noise, lights that stayed on all night…”

Aether paused, his brows furrowing as realisation crept in. “…Don’t tell me. This place is—”

“Yes,” Sera said gently. “This land you’re receiving… is the same ground where Once The Sovereign Arcanum Academy stood for over a thousand years. This city was built around it, like a heart pumping life into its body. And when the Academy left…”

Aether went silent. The emptiness made sense now. A kingdom’s worth of space left behind—cold, hollow, lifeless.

Sera’s boots echoed lightly on the deserted pavement as she continued walking. “People left with the Academy. With no reason to stay, everything crumbled. But that’s why we fight for Sovereign position… not out of greed for power, but because we need something—anything—to keep our Empire alive.”

She suddenly glanced back at him with a half-smile, “Anyway, no point dwelling on past. Come on. Let’s meet the stubborn few who never left.”

Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around his and practically dragged him through the dust-covered street like an overly affectionate girlfriend on a shopping spree.

‘She’s hugging me like this on purpose, isn’t she?’ Aether thought, twitching at the closeness. His eyes darted around. “Thank goodness this place is deserted. If anyone saw us like this, the rumours would be unstoppable.”

Sera smirked. “Oh no, I’m counting on the rumours.”

Aether groaned softly.

Eventually, they came across a few scattered individuals sitting outside crumbling homes or near dry wells. These weren’t people who stayed by choice. They were leftovers—descendants of those who once lived in glory, now clinging to the past.

Some were too old to leave. Others were too proud.

When they saw Sera, their eyes widened in disbelief. Slowly, respectfully, they bowed their heads in reverence.

The Archpriestess had come.

One old grandmother stared at Aether as if he were some strange fruit she couldn’t decide to eat or throw away.

Aether tried to ignore her intense gaze, but it wasn’t easy when she started muttering things under her breath.

She stepped forward and addressed the people with authority, her voice ringing out like a hymn.

“Good Morning, everyone. I know this is sudden, and I may seem to have dropped a surprise on your heads today. But allow me to introduce this man here—Mr. Aether. He is to be the new owner of the land where the Academy once stood.”

Murmurs rose at once, like bees in a shaken hive.

“He’s so young!”

“A whole land? Why would the Archpriestess give that to an outsider?”

“What’s happening here?”

“We can’t let a stranger rule this sacred place!”

Aether scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Maybe I should’ve brought cookies or something…”

The tension crackled for a moment longer—until Sera simply smiled. A calm, generous, almost divine smile.

“This is what Mother wished,” she added gently.

The effect was instant.

“OH!! Mother!!”

“If it’s from Mother, then who cares?!”

“Well, that changes everything!”

Aether blinked as the entire crowd’s attitude flipped like a pancake. Just moments ago, he was the villain. Now, they were smiling, clapping his back, and one old man was offering him pickled radish from a jar.

‘That Mother bitch really has these people wrapped around her pinky finger, doesn’t she?’ Aether thought darkly, keeping a straight face. He leaned in and whispered to Sera, “Are you seriously using the Goddess Mother’s name for this?”

Sera tilted her head, whispering back with a sly grin, “It’s just how things work here. Mention Mother once—boom. No complaints, no riots.”

Aether narrowed his eyes. “Wait… is that how you transferred the land to me too?”

Sera didn’t answer. She just winked mischievously.

Turning back to the people, she announced, “Have no fear! Mother always chooses what is best for us… even if that means trusting an outsider.”

‘Like when she abandoned this place and let everyone rot?’ Aether gritted his teeth but held his tongue. He glanced at the crowd—nodding, smiling, even shedding a few tears.

They accepted him now. Just like that.

And honestly?

That was terrifying.

Aether sighed internally, trying to ignore the growing discomfort, but then—he felt it again.

That stare.

His eyes shifted.

The old grandma was still watching him. Not blinking. Not moving. Just… staring too intently, like she was trying to see through his skin and into his soul.

Aether frowned, slightly unnerved. He cleared his throat before asking politely, “Umm… Lady, is there something wrong?”

Sera turned her head toward him with a questioning look, then followed his gaze. Sure enough, the old woman’s eyes were practically glued to Aether’s face, like he was a long-lost lover or a ghost come back from the dead.

A boy—likely her grandson—immediately stepped forward and spoke quickly, “M-My grandma’s just a little odd! Sometimes she gets these weird—”

“Move aside!” the grandma barked, shoving the poor boy out of her way with surprising strength. She began to step forward, one slow foot after another, her eyes never leaving Aether.

Aether blinked, more confused than alarmed now.

“You…” the old woman said, her voice a breathy whisper, “You’ve finally arrived…”

Aether’s breath caught. His eyes widened.

Wait!

Did she… know him?

Did she see something?

Did she know about his iterations?

But how?

Before his mind could spiral further, the grandma continued,

“Our Archpriestess…”

Aether blinked.

The people blinked.

And then, the entire crowd erupted into laughter.

The boy’s face turned crimson as he hurriedly corrected her, “Grandma! That’s not the Archpriestess! She’s over there!” he said in a panic, pointing frantically at Sera. He bowed quickly, almost in shame. “I’m so sorry, please forgive her. Her eyesight isn’t… very reliable anymore.”

Sera just smiled, amused and unbothered.

The old woman turned slowly to look at Sera. “Oh? Archpriestess… you’re here… ah…” she nodded thoughtfully, her expression wise, if not a little foggy.

Then, without warning, she beckoned Sera forward with a crooked finger. “Come here, child. Let me see you properly.”

Sera hesitated. Technically, she wasn’t supposed to lower herself like that. The Archpriestess did not bow… But this was an elder (Even though she was older), and respect had to be shown.

With a reluctant sigh and a graceful motion, she lowered her head.

The grandma reached out slowly, her hand trembling as it landed gently on Sera’s head. Her eyes softened.

“You have chosen what your heart needed most… You have a wonderful husband now,” she said with a warm, raspy tone,

“Blessings upon you both… may you be granted many years of love… and many children.”

Everyone gasped in unison—mouths wide open, eyes stretched.

Even the birds stopped chirping.

Sera, on the other hand, grinned like a cat. “Oh! Thank you, thank you… Yes, he is a wonderful husb—Ouch!”

She yelped mid-sentence as Aether pinched her on the side—right on the softest spot of her hip.

‘Come on, girl… Are you trying to dethrone yourself here?!’ Aether screamed internally, trying not to show the panic on his face.

The boy jumped into action and rushed to pull his grandmother away, bowing repeatedly as he guided her back behind the crowd. “Forgive us, please! She’s old! She doesn’t know what she’s saying!” he whispered urgently. They disappeared quickly behind a few bystanders, hoping the holy flames of scandal wouldn’t catch them.

Sera stood there, rubbing her pinched hip with a pout. She shot Aether a side glare before saying in an icy tone, “Why don’t you go ahead? I need to have a few words with some people who just disrespected their Archpriestess…”

Aether crossed his arms with a smirk. Now that was more like it… That was the Sera he knew.

He nodded with approval and walked away at a leisurely pace, leaving her to handle the aftermath.

Sera slowly turned her gaze to the group.

Her smile faded. Her eyes gleamed with divine fury.

“How dare you?” she said, each word falling like a hammer on their shoulders.

“Please forgive us!”

“She’s just old!”

“We didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Please have mercy, Archpriestess!”

One by one, they bowed, even knelt, trembling under her gaze. They knew what was at stake.

The purity of the Archpriestess was sacred.

One mistake—one scandal—and her entire legitimacy could be questioned.

Some followers would lay down their lives just to preserve her honour.

Sera’s fists clenched as she spoke again—voice trembling,

“How dare you…? My most loyal woman—an old grandmother—has brains! But not you lot? I’m disappointed in all of you!”

There was a long, confused silence.

“…Pardon?” one man finally asked.

The rest of them looked at each other, puzzled.

Wait… was she angry?

Or was she… praising the old lady?

Or was this some divine test of interpretation?

Either way… they didn’t dare ask again.

Because when the Archpriestess looked that intense, the safest answer was always silence.

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