“Go have the Evil Dragon’s forces send troops here to help us breach the treasure vault. We’ll slip in while they’re distracted—that’s our only shot…”
“Got it, Hero. You’re actually sending me to meet the Evil Dragon? You better buy me drinks when I get back!”
“Survive this, and forget drinks—I’ll hook you up with two crates of the Elf Kingdom’s finest brews, come hell or high water.”
Even though it felt like a lifetime ago, that farewell lingered vividly in Xuefei’s mind.
The Snake Demon Country’s treasure vault wasn’t under her control, but there was only one key to it. If they could use the Evil Dragon’s army to break through the nation’s defenses, they could swoop in and claim the Endless Treasure.
That was the straightforward plan the Hero had devised.
The Endless Treasure represented boundless energy and wealth.
Xuefei remembered: to defeat the Evil Dragon, the Endless Treasure was an indispensable divine artifact—one that only a god could forge.
If any race got their hands on it, the Evil Dragon’s dominance over the world would be threatened. She would never pass up a chance to seize it.
But the plan came with one prerequisite and two dire consequences.
First, the Hero Party couldn’t reveal their true strength, or the Evil Dragon would stay on high alert.
As for the consequences…
They would stand in direct opposition to the Evil Dragon. And the Snake Demon Princess, bound by her pact, would break it and perish under the Evil Dragon Curse.
Now, it seemed someone else had copied the plan—and twisted it to their own ends…
Who could it be?
~~~
“So, is that why you want to head to the Snake Demon Country, Xuefei?”
The voices of Xuefei and Leia echoed in the chamber set aside for their discussion.
“Yes…” Xuefei nodded gravely. “Even with our forces camped in the Snake Demon Country, they’ll still find a way to steal the treasure.”
“…”
“That’s why we need a few powerhouses to go in person and reclaim the Endless Treasure.”
“You have no idea what dangers lurk there. I won’t allow you to go to the Snake Demon Country, Xuefei.”
“You know, don’t you?” Xuefei’s expression grew even sterner, her large tail drooping limply at her side, devoid of its usual energy. “You have all the memories from the First Playthrough too, so…”
Xuefei dropped to one knee. Leia saw no trace of hesitation in her eyes and fell into deep thought, staring at Xuefei’s face for a long moment.
The gods had their eyes on Leia herself. They knew next to nothing about Xuefei.
But Xuefei’s power was nothing to scoff at.
In truth, during the battle where Leia had corrupted Xuefei, Leia had struggled hard—nearly resorting to the gods’ power.
If she acted personally, it might tip off their enemies.
Thus, Xuefei was the ideal candidate to send.
“Xuefei…”
“Let me settle things with the Hero Party once and for all.” Before Leia could respond, Xuefei cut in. Her scarlet pupils brimmed with unwavering loyalty and affection.
This was different from the Xuefei of old, before her fall to evil corruption…
In the end, Leia relented. She extended two fingers with a smile. “Very well, but I have two conditions.”
“First, when you return, you’re going straight to the Dragon Nest to bear my children. And then…”
Xuefei’s cheeks flushed.
The Holy Sword flashed in her mind, conjuring images too horrific to behold.
Her daughter cracking open the eggshell with tiny horns, revealing a pristine white body, only to part her tender lips and emit the Holy Sword’s mechanical drone!
It was the stuff of drunken nightmares, yet Xuefei had a sinking feeling it would become grim reality.
Damn it…
She’d sooner shove the Holy Sword down her own throat than witness that!
Unaware of Xuefei’s bizarre reverie, Leia pressed on. “And have you forgotten our agreement, Xuefei?”
“No…”
“I figured with how thoroughly I ravished you into oblivion, you’d have no memory of it. Looks like next time, I’ll have to…”
“Stop, stop, stop!” Xuefei frantically waved her hands in a pause gesture. “It’s just the wedding, right? Wuu… Of course I remember. And the ritual too?”
The Dragon Clan’s marriage rite—or wedding, as it were—was unique. Both parties had to leave their mark on one another, making the ceremony profoundly significant for the Evil Dragon.
“Mm-hmm~ So you do remember. That means a lighter punishment!”
Of course there’d still be punishment!
Leia declared that since Xuefei had dared ask to leave her side, some chastisement was in order. She hoped Xuefei could endure the tempest of ecstasy and agony as she always had.
With a beckoning wave, Leia returned to the prior topic. “Second, you’re not going alone. Laer, come out.”
“Yes.”
The Head Maid had been waiting patiently for some time. She carefully opened the door, stepped inside, lifted the hem of her skirt, and performed an elegant curtsy to Leia.
“From the moment we depart, protecting Xuefei will be your duty. I remember that in the past, you were the human who interacted most frequently with the gods, weren’t you?”
“That’s correct. I will definitely accomplish the mission, Dragon King.”
Laer nodded once more, her heart filled with reverence.
Xuefei glanced at Laer, who turned to meet her eyes and gave a knowing smile. It seemed extremely fortunate to have her as a traveling companion.
With Laer along, things would indeed be much more convenient.
Laer’s strength might not match her own or that of Evil Dragon Leia, but she was the most powerful servant under the Evil Dragon. Moreover, in the past, she had dealt with the gods on a regular basis and possessed a certain understanding of those filthy entities. If danger arose, she might be able to steer them clear of it.
Very good. Next up was that hero…
Who exactly was orchestrating all this from the shadows? Or had those gods found her replacement?
She had to get to the bottom of it all.
The journey itself wasn’t far…
But the thought of spending nearly two years upon her return immersed in Leia’s affections made Xuefei’s legs go weak.
She couldn’t tell if it was resistance… or anticipation.
~~~
After lunch, Xuefei and Laer boarded the carriage right on schedule. They set out ahead of the others toward the Snake Demon Country, to open the treasure vault door of the Endless Treasure.
The Evil Dragon’s domain was mostly vast wilderness and dense forests.
The blazing sun hid behind the clouds, offering no relief from the heat. The carriage churned up clouds of flying sand, leaving long, deep wheel ruts in its wake—ruts that were soon buried under more dirt, replaced by countless grotesque and indescribable tracks.
If Xuefei had any impressions to share…
The carriage compartment was custom-built and extraordinarily spacious.
It stood in stark contrast to the rickety old thing she’d shared with the hero back then. The Snake Demon Country might not be a great power, but they had clearly put effort into enhancing the travel experience. Then again, this was a carriage fit for a princess; it would have been odd if it weren’t luxurious.
In the compartment—spanning less than seventy square meters—Laer and Xuefei sat together, while the Snake Demon Princess and the Hero Party’s swordsman, Okate, sat side by side across from them. A table separated the groups, its tea surface reflecting the vast white light of the overcast sky and casting it onto Xuefei’s smiling face.
The Snake Demon Princess clasped her hands together. Hope filled her smile, her lovely eyes curving into crescents, her eyelashes fluttering with every blink—displaying all the seductive allure inherent to her snake demon kind.
“Thank you so much for escorting us~ Oh, right, my name is Celi~”
“I’m Xuefei, and this is Head Maid Laer. It’s truly an honor to meet you, Snake Demon Princess.”
“Oh, no need to be so formal! To be honest, I was pretty scared at first, but you, the Dragon King, and this lovely maid are all surprisingly beautiful! By the way, since we’re all oviparous, could we swap notes and experiences?”
Snakes laid eggs, dragons laid eggs—they were quite similar in that regard.
“Um… maybe we could skip that?” Xuefei wiped the sweat beading on her forehead.
This would be her first time laying eggs; she had hardly any experience to share.
Fortunately, she was still in the early stages of pregnancy. Come the month before laying, she’d grow perpetually drowsy, sleeping the day away. And once the eggs entered their incubation period in the Dragon Nest, her maternal instincts would overwhelm her—she wouldn’t want to leave for even a moment.
“What a shame~,” Celi said with an awkward smile.
“Princess, why come in person to deliver the key? Doesn’t that carry enormous risk?” Laer, seated nearby, posed the question.
Her tone was cooler than Xuefei’s.
Only then did Xuefei remember: Laer hailed from the first playthrough as well. In other words, she understood just how bizarre this whole affair truly was.
“Yes, well… I simply don’t want our serpent demon commoners to suffer through war any longer. It’s humiliating to live under someone else’s roof, but if things continue as they are, the future for us serpent demons will be nothing but a hopeless purgatory.”
