Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Finnian… after what took him almost a day… searching relentlessly around the Main temple, asking Helena (who oddly seemed to be following him after that), interrogating other servants, even questioning the carriage man who had taken the Archpriestess….. He finally found the Archpriestess—and the man who had stayed inside her room.

His face was thunderous with fury… a storm behind his eyes… when he heard his beloved Archpriestess had been forced by a filthy man!!

Finnian stormed forward, his footsteps heavy and echoing with rage as he approached Aether and the Archpriestess…. and then he saw it—Aether still holding the Archpriestess as though she meant nothing, as if her sacred presence didn’t even matter… and that… that ignited something far deeper and darker in Finnian’s heart.

‘Fucking bastard! How dare he touch her!! My Goddess!!’ Finnian screamed inwardly, his rage boiling just beneath the surface. But he didn’t let his anger explode—not yet.

No, not in front of her.

Not before his beloved Archpriestess. He had to stay composed, had to be the image of calm faith and devoted love.

Aether slowly began to let go of Sera, but… Sera held onto him, not intending to let him escape or back away just yet.

Finnian stepped forward, placing himself firmly before Aether like a wall of righteous fury and said in a stern voice, “Let the Archpriestess go from your filthy hands.”

Aether blinked, frowning, clearly confused. “I wasn’t holding her though.”

Finnian’s brows furrowed deeply as he looked down and noticed something shocking—it was the Archpriestess who seemed to be holding Aether. But still, he barked, “She wouldn’t do such things!!” His eyes shot daggers at Aether, growing even more furious by the second.

‘Is this fucker blind or what?’ Aether frowned in irritation.

Sera’s calm started to slip. She furrowed her brows and asked, “What are you doing, Finnian?”

Finnian’s expression softened instantly. “Don’t worry, My Archpriestess,” he said, voice tender, nearly trembling with concern and love, as he knelt before her like a knight before his queen. “I know I arrived late… But as they say… A hero always comes at the right time. I too have come at the right moment, and I’ve witnessed this man trying to take advantage of you… so do not worry. I will protect you with all that I have, My Archpriestess.”

Sera blinked slowly, her mind catching up to the absurdity, ‘Did he misunderstand something?’ she wondered, completely baffled.

Aether stared at him. Then at Sera. Then again at him… then again at her…. And again. ‘Don’t tell me… this guy…’ His eyes narrowed, his mind piecing together something bizarre and ridiculous.

He honestly thought Finnian was only obsessed with Helena, but… he was wrong. He was also after Sera.

Talk about Harem!

‘Tsk… I hate these kinds of guys,’ Aether thought with visible irritation and disappointment.

[…. Should I say something now?🤨]

Aether completely ignored his Log.

Sera, meanwhile, shook her head slowly, trying to untangle the foolishness with patience, “I think you mistook something here…” she said with a composed expression, trying her best not to burst out laughing or screaming, “This man here is actually my–“

“Need not worry, My Archpriestess… I will take care of this man. This filth! This impurity that dares to touch your divine self! This filthy being!!” Finnian interrupted with a fiery outburst, his expression twisted in unfiltered rage and misplaced devotion.

“…” Sera’s eyes went completely blank, her expression froze in dead seriousness. An eerie silence spread across her face, and then—without a word—her hand flew toward Finnian, packed with raw killing intent.

BOOOMMMMMM!!!!!

A sudden shockwave burst out before Sera could land her hit. Finnian stood there, flabbergasted, taken aback by what just happened… and then he looked down and realised—Aether was standing between them, gripping Sera’s punch in his bare hand.

Sera blinked, her fury fading into concern as her expression returned to normal. She stepped forward, worried, “W-Why did you do that?… Your hand–” Before she could fully voice her worry over his injury, Aether stepped forward, his expression grim and serious.

He knew Finnian. He knew his type. And he also knew—if he didn’t deal with this right now, it would become a constant annoyance in the near future.

The kind of fly that never dies.

Finnian still looked stunned, trembling slightly at the thought that his beloved Archpriestess had just tried to strike him with brutal force. ‘W-Was she trying to kill me?’ he thought with a gulp. But then he shook his head, gritting his teeth as he stared directly at Aether, furious and confused. “What have you done to her?!!”

Aether nodded silently, watching the idiocy play out. He understood—men like Finnian, so focused, so obsessed, couldn’t accept reality quickly.

“Fin… You need to stay put,” Sera said firmly, her voice sharp and cold like the edge of a blade.

Finnian shook his head violently, refusing to hear reason. “Archpriestess… you don’t understand how wicked this man is… he not only corrupted my little sister Helena, but he was doing it to you too… and soon… he will corrupt this entire Empire! We cannot allow such a man near you as I, an Apostle of the Mother Goddess!” He stepped forward and pointed at Aether. “I shall duel this servant who doesn’t even know his place!! And if I win… You will never, ever step into this ground again—or even speak to the Archpriestess or Helena ever again!!”

With that final vow, he dramatically threw his white glove at Aether’s foot—a challenge made not of reason, but blind faith and idiotic pride.

“Servant? Never?” Sera’s breath hitched, and she began to pant furiously, her composure trembling on the edge of collapse. Her eyes narrowed with disbelief and a growing sense of insult.

Still, Aether remained calm, his face unreadable, his voice even as a placid lake.

“That’s an interesting duel you’ve proposed… but tell me,” he asked with subtle curiosity, “what if I win?”

“A-Aether… what are you doing? This isn’t necessary,” Sera whispered desperately into his ear, her fingers lightly tugging at his sleeve. “I’ll just talk to him. I’ll clear the misunderstanding.”

Aether turned slightly, his head dipping toward hers,

“There’s no need. Words won’t reach him. He’ll only learn if he gets knocked back a little.”

And with that, he bent down slowly and picked up the glove that had been thrown at his feet, turning once again to face Finnian.

“So… what if I win?” he repeated with a calm but assertive tone.

Finnian, already furious from seeing how close the Archpriestess was standing to Aether, nearly exploded. His blood boiled like lava surging in his veins.

That closeness—so casual, so natural—it was unbearable.

“You? Win? Dream on, Slave!” he spat with venom. “Just because you can perform some miracles doesn’t mean you can repeat them every time!”

“…” Sera’s expression darkened. Her serious gaze grew colder, her lips tightening into a near snarl, ‘Slave? Did he just call my Aether… a slave?’ Her mind burned with disbelief, ‘How dare he… I was the one who fed him, guided him through the tough life…. And this fool dares to call my Aether… a slave?’

The air around her seemed to vibrate as a flicker of killing intent leaked out from her very soul.

Meanwhile, Aether chuckled lightly, cooling her off, brushing off the insult with a slow breath,

“Indeed, miracles don’t happen every time… but I believe the outcome often rests in one’s own hands.”

His eyes gleamed as he stepped forward, the glove held casually in his grasp.

“Anyway… tell me again. What if I win?”

Finnian clenched his fists, refusing to show weakness. “You win?” he mocked, scoffing with disbelief. “Let’s say… even by some divine joke, if you win by one in a million chance… then fine, you can come here.”

Aether tilted his head slightly, the smile vanishing from his lips. “Boy… I think you’re misunderstanding something.”He stepped closer, his voice now firm, carrying weight.”I don’t need your permission to be here. This land… is mine now.”

Finnian flinched hard. His eyes twitched, voice trembling. “Y-Your land?”

“Indeed,” Aether confirmed, smiling faintly as he gazed down at Finnian like a child throwing a tantrum in the middle of a holy ritual.

Finnian’s face contorted in disbelief. “T-That’s impossible!” he growled, eyes darting toward Sera as if seeking answers.

It must be her.

Aether must have manipulated her.

That’s the only explanation… right?

As if confirming the madness brewing inside, Finnian’s voice grew louder and more desperate,

“Fine then! If I win, you’ll give up everything you own here, leave the temple, leave this land, and never—never—speak to the Archpriestess or my sister Helena ever again!”

Aether nodded slowly, no hesitation in his tone. “And as I’ve asked before… if I win?”

Finnian scoffed with exaggerated bravado. “If you win… then I’ll never set foot here again.”

Aether’s smirk returned, darker this time. “Not just that. You’ll never speak to the Archpriestess or Helena again… Not even seeing them.”

“…” Finnian’s face turned pale. His throat dried, and he took an involuntary step back.

“What now? Are you afraid?” Aether teased, voice low and mocking. “Scared of losing to a mere ‘slave’? Hm?”

He held out the glove toward Finnian, a wicked grin on his face. The tension in the air was palpable.

Finnian gritted his teeth so hard it sounded like they might crack. His fists trembled with emotion, but… he didn’t take the glove immediately.

He hesitated…. His pride screamed, but his instincts warned him. Betting on people, on relationships… it was a dangerous move.

“It’s unruly to bet on a person!” he barked. “You pathetic… one!!”

Aether blinked slowly, lips curling in disbelief, “Did you even hear yourself, man?” he muttered, clearly amused. “You seriously fucked that up.”Aether couldn’t help but stare at Finnian as if he were watching an overly dramatic stage play.

‘Honestly… this guy reminds me of Kai. The two of them would probably become best friends with how dramatic they both are.’

Aether stifled a laugh.

Then he leaned in slightly, voice lowering into a sharper taunt.

“I thought Apostles were supposed to stand by their words. But clearly… not every man is worthy of the Archpriestess’s grace… or her love.”

That one struck deep.

Finnian’s face flushed red—pure, blazing embarrassment bleeding through his furious pride. He jerked forward, eyes burning with resentment.

“F-Fine!! Let’s fight then! But don’t come crawling back crying when you lose, you filthy bastard!”He snatched the glove from Aether’s hand with a snap.

Aether’s lips twisted into a smirk that spelled chaos, “Heh…”

Meanwhile, Sera stood there in stunned silence, blinking at the two men like they were wild animals bashing heads over territory., Just what is going on here…?’ she thought as her head slowly dropped into her hands.

She sighed heavily, her thoughts trailing off as she glared at Aether from the corner of her eye, ‘I definitely need to teach Aether something important after this… something called violence is not always the answer.’

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