Free Web NovelChapter 410: Chapter 33: I Will Make You an Offer You Cannot Refuse
Westheid shrugged. "A demon slayer has arrived in your territory. Aren’t you the least bit worried or wary, Lady Anise? I suppose I’ve come uninvited."
"Oh, it’s quite all right. I’ve long found that ugly and crude Bone Demon to be an eyesore. He only knew how to flaunt his barbaric, primitive bloodlust and violence. Even when he gorged himself, devouring flesh and drinking blood, he had no elegance to speak of. You don’t actually think we were on good terms, do you?"
Anise clapped her hands and circled Westheid, sizing him up and down as the look of admiration in her eyes deepened.
"Besides... for a human, you’re almost unbelievably beautiful. If someone like you were to join my banquet, you would surely add to its splendor. How could I possibly refuse? Unless... you harbor malicious intent. But it doesn’t look like you hate me, right?"
Westheid looked the silver-purple-haired Demon straight in the eye. "Why would I have any reason to hate you? I’m not a follower of Emperor Qianlu."
Anise nodded in satisfaction.
"Yes, but some people always see me as a Celestial God’s Shadow, a thing of filth, and tirelessly slander and smear my name. What laughable, ignorant fools. Fortunately, the children under my protection are all able to cast aside such pointless discrimination and enjoy the one true pleasure in life."
The Demon Maiden spun around in her tall boots, winding her wide, flared sleeves around her wrists again and again. Only then did she turn slightly to the side, curtsy, and wink.
"During the long years I was imprisoned, your contracts with me were of great benefit. I drew comfort from them in that sunless darkness, like a desert traveler licking dew drop by drop. Thinking back on it now, it’s a past I’d rather not recall."
"But that is all in the past. While I no longer have a reason or the motivation to enter into new contracts with you, in return for the enjoyment you bring to my banquet, I sincerely hope you will all participate in any I host and share in the festivities with me."
As Anise finished speaking, attendants approached with trays, presenting an array of expensive drinks and fine wines for the Witches to choose from.
It was an offer too gracious to refuse. Once all the Witches had taken a glass, Anise swirled her own stemware and said:
"From the pleasure you bring to my banquet, I can sense you aren’t truly fond of this. That’s not good. In all the world, what is worth doing other than indulging in pleasure? Hatred, anger, obsession—it’s all just passing smoke. Only the happiness of the present moment is real."
"Come! Let us toast to our long-lasting friendship! To this beautiful world! And to the never-ending celebration!"
A captivating smile graced the silver-purple-haired girl’s pretty face, and her voice once again roused the entire hall to cheers.
’She’s laying it on a bit thick.’
This Master of Greedy Banquet had a completely different personality than what Elaine and the other Witches had imagined. She was overly familiar from the moment they met and kept trying to sell them on her personal philosophy.
But as Demon Practitioners, they knew full well that this was the nature of a Demon. If they didn’t embody their extreme traits to the fullest, could they even be called a Celestial God’s Shadow?
Besides, they had only come to the banquet to accompany Westheid. The important one here was their Monarch; they might as well go along with everything else.
Seeing that Westheid hadn’t said anything and was just smiling and drinking, the Witches also took a delicate sip of the Serralis vintage.
Anise’s smile grew even sweeter at the sight.
"Please, make yourselves at home," she said. "I’d like to say you can stay for as long as you wish, but I imagine that’s not possible. At the very least, I hope you’ll indulge in as much pleasure as you can while you’re still in my kingdom."
With that, the Demon Maiden returned to the center of the banquet. She spread her arms, conducting the orchestra... no, it wasn’t an orchestra at all. Rather, she was directing a node of the Serralis Grand Ensemble to change the melody, and the melodious music swelled, growing more impassioned.
Seeing this, Luyetan couldn’t help but ask:
"So, she can feed like this, without having to enter people’s dreams?"
The Demon was clearly absorbing the joyous emotions from the entire city. As an Enchanter, she naturally drew sustenance from the pleasure of others. Most Enchanters did so by entering dreams to forcefully extract that pleasure.
The Enchanter half-blood from Yuanxi Palace was no different. But seeing Anise’s elegant method of feeding, she couldn’t help but be captivated.
"For an Enchanter who has gone from Extraordinary to Saint, it shouldn’t be a problem. Why not just ask her yourself?"
Westheid said with a smile. The two of them waited for Anise to open her eyes again before they approached.
Anise had apparently heard their conversation. Or rather, within her Domain, there were no sounds she couldn’t hear. The silver-purple-haired girl looked directly at Luyetan.
"Ah, I sensed it earlier," she said. "You have the Enchanter Bloodline within you, don’t you?"
Luyetan nodded. Just as she was about to bow and answer, Anise interrupted her, suddenly leaning in close. "Don’t answer yet! Let me guess."
The Demon Maiden leaned close to Luyetan, her delicate nose twitching. After taking a sniff, she said:
"Mm-hmm... Passed down from the Void Law Holy Spirit. Father really did spread his bloodline everywhere, even though he never even cared for his own kind."
Luyetan touched her cheek. "The Enchanter Bloodline was forced upon my ancestors. It has troubled our lineage for several thousand years. I was wondering if you, Lady Anise, could help me cleanse this trace of impure blood."
"Do you also see being an Enchanter as a vile and despicable curse?"
Anise’s eyelids lowered at her words. She shook her head and said:
"Ah, don’t misunderstand. I’m not blaming you or expressing my displeasure. Because... Father thought so, too. He loathed his own race, loathed his origins, and couldn’t wait to cast off the brand and shackles he bore. He became that great figure who ascended to the Supreme Heaven, so that no one would remember his past, and no one would ever again call him a lowly Enchanter."
The Demon Maiden took a few light, graceful steps and spread her arms wide, gesturing to Westheid and Luyetan at the crowd immersed in revelry. She smiled and said:
"But I am very grateful for my bloodline. If not for my Talent as an Enchanter, how could I layer the pleasure of these thousands of people onto myself? Humans are truly interesting. Their elation, their joy—I feel it all as if it were my own!"
Anise turned back to Luyetan and shook her head.
"Unfortunately, I don’t have the power to cleanse a bloodline. That is a restriction put in place by my father. And how could someone of the Mortal World refuse a ’gift’ from a supreme being?"
"It is."
Westheid lifted his chin. "It can be done with the Thousand Laws Ceremony. Never mind cleansing an impure bloodline; it’s not even difficult to bestow the Enchanter Bloodline upon someone. You, of all people, should understand that."
The moment he finished speaking, the music from the Grand Ensemble node seemed to hit a dissonant chord. Anise’s pink eyes widened as she stared blankly at Westheid. After a long moment, realization dawned, and she clapped her hands with a slight smile.
"I see, I see... You want to control the Thousand Laws Ceremony, is that it? Oh, you audacious mortal. What brings you to this?"
Anise shook her head repeatedly. "Such powerful ambition and desire are not always rewarded in the end."
"You needn’t worry on my account. I am aware of all the consequences. That is why I’ve come to seek your cooperation. I will make you an offer you cannot refuse."
As he spoke, Westheid took a step forward and extended his hand to Anise.
"Is that so? Then let’s talk. Will the duration of a single dance be enough?"
Understanding his intent, she immediately took the man’s hand. They fell into step, twirling gently across the banquet hall.
’Since she’s an Enchanter, she must be extremely sensitive to the Charm Attribute. Naturally, I won’t forget to make good use of my advantages. Still, even for me, meeting Anise’s pink eyes is an incredibly stressful experience.’
