Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord

Chapter 87 - Quest In The Burning Dungeon, Part 5

|I believe The Flame Revenant has gotten out of hand, My Goddess. He burned your proteges too, in that cavern.| Dauz muttered, kneeling in the vast golden chamber. The marble floor beneath him shimmered with an otherworldly sheen, its chill biting into his palms. Above him, the towering figure of the Goddess reclined on her throne, her vast golden wings arched behind her like a radiant halo. She rested her chin on her hand, her golden eyes unreadable as they bore into him.

[... And?] Her voice echoed, not through the air but directly into his mind, detached and almost bored. The sound carried an imperceptible weight that made Dauz shift involuntarily.

|And..?| he echoed uncertainly, daring to raise his head slightly. |You already have a plan in motion. An efficient one, I might add, that would break Van Hellix soon... I admit, The Seed accepting him is an oddity, but not unprecedented. There is no need to employ... that wretch.|

[... I understand your concerns,] she began with a sigh, her tone heavy with the weight of millennia. Rising from her throne, she descended the golden steps with a deliberate grace, her every movement precise and unhurried. [But I am growing impatient. I am surrounded by incompetence. Had you stopped your old 'friend' back at the plains—the true Wretch—I wouldn't have had to resort to using a creature like him as my proxy.]

The word "proxy" dripped with venom.

Dauz lowered his gaze, his fists clenching. |I... did not expect Knight to grow so strong. I have been diligent in my training, and—|

[Hush,] she cut him off, her voice sharp but quiet. Standing before him, she tilted his chin up with a single finger, forcing his eyes to meet hers. [You grow uglier every time you speak. Especially when your words are excuses.]

Dauz held his breath, his gaze affixed into hers.

[Do you know what becomes tiresome after a thousand years, Dauz? Mistakes. Repeated mistakes.] Her golden eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a frigid whisper. [Your attempts at justification bore me. Like watching the same play with different actors—none of them impressive.]

She leaned in closer, her breath brushing against his ear. [You are my right hand, Dauz. But let me remind you why you stand there—it is neither because of your strength...] Her hand trailed down his chest, cold yet searing, stopping just above his waist. [... Nor your wisdom.]

Her golden eyes glinted, [You don't need to be reminded of what will happen if you fail to... satisfy your duty, do you?]

Dauz swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as his palms pressed harder against the marble. |I do not mean disrespect... but I am the strongest in your angel corps—|

[Were,] she corrected, her tone like the crack of a whip. [You have long been surpassed. Your strength has peaked, and you know it. The only reason you command is your familiarity with the Wretch.] Her lips curved into a faint grimace. [A familiarity that has yet to yield results. And yet I let you stay out of my infinite patience.]

He bit his lip, her words sinking into his chest like lead.

[As for my proteges in that cavern,] she continued, turning away from him. Her tone was light, dismissive, as if discussing broken tools. [They are irrelevant. There are too many to count across this continent. A few dying changes nothing.] She glanced back at him, her golden eyes narrowing. [So do your duty. That is all that matters to me.]

The Goddess ascended the steps to her throne, her hips swaying with effortless confidence. As she reached the top, she shrugged off her white and gold robes, the silken fabric slipping from her shoulders and pooling at her feet.

Her body was as seamless as white marble: plump, firm breasts, her golden hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, its length reaching gracefully to the delicate curve of her popliteal, a slim waist that gave way to the alluring curve of her hips, and long, toned legs that seemed to stretch endlessly. Her figure, shaped like a violin.