Hidden under a piece of tattered fabric, Barineer's smooth, bouncy skin glimmered when the light around the room fell upon her feeble silhouette. Excluding the fatigue and confusion on her face, she resembled a delicate maiden longing for affection. Her body, once tainted by scars and wounds, had healed.

Despite not being a Monster Girl, her beauty rivalled one. She shredded her damaged shell and emerged as a new person as if there were a rebirth.

As she looked at her soft hands, unable to process the situation, Ludmint sneaked up behind Iris and grabbed her waist.

"Be thankful, Barineer," Ludmint said, her voice aggravating. "She could have given you poison or requested for a Seed of Corruption. She could have made you her eternal retainer. Nevertheless, she gave you the healing vial of the highest quality, something only we Monster Girls could have."

"Ludmint," Iris said, pinching Ludmint's arms. "Is the heat inside your chest jealousy? Is your racing heart calling out my name?"

"We need to get this problem fixed as soon as possible." Ludmint wanted to separate from Iris, but she could not, would not, slip from Iris's grasp. "I . . . can't handle you like this. Your previous disposition is much cuter."

"You'll get to handle me, but not now." Iris grinned. "Don't you want me to take the initiative? This scent is the push we need. Please don't back out at the last second, or I'll have to force you."

"Your change is too abrupt, too much. I might have to lock you up to do a comprehensive check-up on your body and soul." Ludmint's arms turned illusionary and passed through Iris's body, freeing herself. "You are a dangerous one. I must keep my eyes on you. For the sake of the Court."

"This reaction is unlike you. Why are you drawing the line when I'm the one giving you a chance? Have we switched bodies?" Iris sighed, though her face also steamed pink. "Nevermind. These thoughts are indeed dangerous. I'll have to suppress them along with this scent."

While Ludmint was staring, Iris closed her eyes. Her azure Corruption Power collided with her Faith, fusing inside her body. The Bewitching Mark, the origin of the scent and the gift of Bewitch, emerged on the corner of Iris's lips. It traced her right cheek, moved down her neck, and ended right on her right collarbone.

The Bewitching Mark took the shape of an emerald vine, where flowers bloomed, exuding the bewitching scent. These flowers swayed gently as they spread on Iris's slimy membrane. They encountered the azure Corruption Power and the sacred energy from Faith, but their battle was not epic nor noticeable.

The bewitching scent around Iris thickened for a moment as the petals on her right cheek withered, retracting themselves inside the vine, which hid under Iris's membrane. After a few moments, the seductive fragrance vanished.

Iris's sweet, flowery aroma returned.

"Though I cannot dispel it yet, it also cannot harm me." Iris opened her eyes as she placed her fingertips on the corners of her lips. "You've missed your only chance, Ludmint. I'm not letting it take over me again."

While Ludmint was sulking, Barineer gasped. She knew the Bewitching Mark's origin. Even though the Bewitch who cursed Iris was a mere trace of her true self, the quality of her power was not something mortals could resist.

It was already a miracle for Iris to hold onto her identity, let alone suppressing the unholy power.

"Lady Iris, are you the incarnation of a Saintess?" Barineer said. "Must I address you as Your Holiness?"

Ludmint ceased sulking and turned to Barineer. "Why must you address Iris as such? What do you know about her?"

"Don't misunderstand my identity. I'm not an incarnation of any Saintess." Iris eyed Ludmint. "I'm not Lilith Incarnate either. My identity is complicated, but because of it, I cannot be both of your assumptions."

Still, if I weren’t rebellious, I would have become a Saintess of the Lord; now, it's my little Herrifer who takes my mantle. I'm close to being an incarnation of a Saintess, as well as Lilith Incarnate.

Lord, what do you see in this insignificant me, so much that you granted me a second chance to live in another world, as well as gifting me the knowledge about your godhood?

Iris raised her hands. Though she was free, she could faintly sense a series of invisible chains constraining her body, holding her heart hostage. It wouldn’t have mattered if her heart were the only hostage, but these chains, though restricted only her, could harm her family. Their influence reached outward, enveloping those who remained close to her.

With a light tuck, she, as well as her beloved, would crumble into dust.

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I'm still so weak, yet I have so many wishes. I must be the greediest Slime Girl ever. If only I could trade myself for their safety.

"Iris?" Ludmint said. "You're spacing out. What excuses are you concocting?"

"I was thinking about your unexpected reaction." Iris inched closer to Ludmint. "Is our princess the shy type? Do I need to teach her the forbidden paradise between our legs?"

"If you keep bringing it up, I won't let you sleep tonight." Ludmint stuck out her tongue and licked her long, slender fingers. "I'll make you embrace your lust. Your Slime Girl body has much untapped potential, an amazing experiment ground."

"Don't say that, or I won't let you sleep with me tonight." Iris took a deep breath, then walked to Barineer. "Barineer, you'll have to stay in this room a little longer. The others will come to interrogate you, but if you want, I can remain beside you throughout the process."

"As long as it's your wish, Lady Iris." Barineer lowered her head, admiration flowing out of her manner. "I'll gladly place my loyalty on you, then the Court of Indulgence. However, may I request one condition?"

"I'll make sure you never have to do anything related to Two-Fold Wind Order unless you want it yourself."

"You've done much for me. I'll repay it with this life."

"I don't need your life. Keep it safe so that you can accomplish your dream."

"I've already achieved it. There is only one regret left, and only you can mend that regret for me."

Despite the numerous tries, Iris could not persuade Barineer to drop her pledge. Not only Barineer was being unreasonable, but Ludmint also took advantage of this conflict to tease Iris, making her feel like slapping her housemate.

While the battle of wit raged on, a knock interrupted the flow. A Monster Girl dressed in a sleek officer uniform peeked inside through the barred window. Taking off her cap, she bowed at Ludmint, then Iris, her movement elegant and charming.

"Lady Iris, Lady Ludmint, we've already finished interrogating the captive Assassin," the Monster Girl said, her voice disciplined. "Do you want to hear the report now? It’ll be my honour to report it directly to you."

"No need," Ludmint said. "Compile the document and send it to me later. For now, interrogate the Master Assassin, Barineer. However, don't use any unsavoury method. Our Iris has taken a liking to her. You can consider her as someone related to our dearest."

"May I ask for your advice, Lady Iris?" The Monster Girl opened the door and stepped inside. "As she is yours, she is one of us. Please instruct us with her treatment plan."

"Give her a nice bath and a new set of clothes. She used to be a noble lady. I want to see her elegance once more." Iris snapped her fingers. "Give her a maid, preferably someone with good self-control. Do not, under any circumstance, make love with her. Her body is dangerous for us Monster Girls."

"We dare not taste her before you, Lady Iris."

"Don't misunderstand my words. She is not my girlfriend!"

"That's right," Ludmint said. "Only I am Iris's girlfriend!"

Iris almost snapped at Ludmint, but Ludmint's flirty smile drained her energy. She had a feeling that her outburst would only feed into the cycle. She should break it, but she didn’t want to, did she?

This Bewitching Mark is ruining my composure. My lustful instinct alone was already difficult to deal with, but now I have to deal with two flames inside my chest. I got used to Ludmint's antic, but it seems all my previous immunity is for nought.

"Whatever. I'm running late on my schedule, so I'm going back." Iris instructed a few minor things to the Monster Girl officer and left the interrogation room with Ludmint.

"We got sidetracked because of the artefacts, but what will my reward be?"

"Is my previous promise not enough?"

"I'm not taking your body as my reward. The maintenance cost is too high," Iris said, flushing, "and it is too addictive."

"I used to think you should be more assertive, but I've finally understood that I love this cute, corruptible you much more. Please don't change too much."

"So long as you don't touch me."

"But don't you like that fuzzy feeling in your heart?"

While arguing, Iris and Ludmint left the strict sector of the underground complex and entered the lounge, where Monster Girls and their lovely attendants relaxed, played games, and drowned themselves in pleasures.

"Stop with the tangent. I need to leave soon," Iris said.

Ludmint wiped her nonexistent tears. "You're too mean, Iris. You can't do this to your caring girlfriend."

"You're not sleeping with me tonight."

Ludmint held her breath, returning to her energetic spirit. "The reward for your first mission is, of course, everything!"

"Everything?" Iris's high-pitch voice expressed her surprise. "I can't possibly swallow them all without exploding. I'm just a Transformation Phase Monster Girl, one that joined the Court shortly after her appearance."

"You're our newest senior member, one conferred by the Court Founder herself. You should value yourself more." Ludmint grabbed Iris's hands and kissed them gently. "Your charm blinds me, and your power is exotic even for me. Despite my effort, I still haven't found a way to suppress the bewitching scent of the Order. You did it the moment you got it."

"Still, I can't take everything, for I am now a part of the Court. Greed will lead me to ruin." Iris lightly pulled back her hands. "I'll gift the two artefacts to the Court and the rest of the poison daggers to you."

Ludmint nodded. The two artefacts were valuable for the Court; they could put Iris in danger. "However, giving me the three daggers is my loss. I think my favour is worth much more than that."

"Letting you sleep with me is a loss for me too. My innocence is at stake."

"What? You're still innocent?"

"I still am! You can't bend me!"

"Of course, I can't bend you; you've already done that yourself."

"I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm leaving." Iris was serious. To prevent any suspicion on her, she had to continue her usual schedule.

"Let us meet again when the moon is sky-high and the flowers earth-bound."

"See you tonight." Iris wanted to deny it, but her anticipation for the rose-filled bed and moonlit atmosphere was undeniable.

After bidding farewell, she exited Yellow Dandelion Orphanage and boarded a carriage. She quietly headed out of the bustling city and to the quiet street, where fewer people frequented. The quietude calmed her while she contemplated the strange, many events which transpired.

Compared to the hectic life in the afternoon, I very much prefer the carefree, peaceful life in the evening. I'll take a chance to rest, and while at it, tease Tundra some more. She's quite a cute lady, one worthy of my compliments.

There was no more accident or crisis during the journey. Iris eagerly alighted the carriage and entered the Auburn Leaf Library.