Chapter 2: Hope and Awakening_2
But the bizarre scenery can't compare to the miraculous master of the place.
The oak throne exudes the natural scent of burning incense, with pure white flowers blooming on the twisted wooden tentacles. Atop the throne built of flowers and oak lies a pristine Sacred Beast.
The three tails below the throne sway freely, with the snake heads in between enjoying the fruit platter offerings. The enormous beast's body is faintly imbued with flashes of lightning, yet upon closer inspection, it can be seen that it and the wooden throne beneath are one and the same.
Part of its flesh has turned to wood, with the tendrils of the sacred oak wrapped around its skin. The twisted deer-like horns are both sacred and natural, and the tiger-patterned markings on its body carry the sheen of oak bark.
A living tree or, one may say, a living beast, appears before the mortals in a mythical form that humans cannot comprehend. This quasi-god has appeared in the mortal realm - this place was once her Secret Realm and her world.
She is Kerdalais, the Sacred Beast of Life, the mighty Quasi-God.
At the same time, she was also Lu Ping'an's greatest harvest during that Secret Realm adventure.
However, the quasi-god's situation is a bit strange, and her expression looks as if she's eaten something wrong.
"Yo, Kerdalais, your work efficiency is quite low. Be careful, I might dock your pay… Oh, you don't have any wages. Is this related to the debt you owe me?"
She is wearing a large blue and red cleaning uniform, a white apron, a cleaning cap on her head, and carrying a broom and dustpan in her hands. One of her three tails holds a rag, another carries a bucket of water, and the last hangs a toilet plunger.
The entire beast is dressed like a cleaning lady... Actually, she is indeed doing the cleaning work.
At this moment, the huge creature leans on the wall, holding a mop larger than a utility pole in its giant claws, busily scrubbing the floor to remove traces of blood and climbing vines... Because the new master of this place loves cleanliness!
Seeing Lu Ping'an's arrival, even the illusory flesh cannot stop the World Rules from exercising their Decrees on the beast. However, her beastly pupils still overflow with murderous intent.
"... Bondage is not permanent, and rules always have flaws. No contract lasts forever, and no one can remain vigilant forever. As a mortal and a weaker creature, you dare to humiliate and enslave deities. Boy, I admire your courage, but one day, I will taste the deliciousness of your soul, taking hundreds of years to savor it..."
The "Sacred Beast" discards its disguise, revealing a naked resentment, curse, and threat beneath its bared teeth and grinning maw... however, dressed as a cleaning beast mother, the curse is somewhat unimpactful when spoken in-between cleaning sessions.
But the content of these words are one hundred percent sincere.
Bondage always has gaps, and as a quasi-god, Kerdalais has a high chance of ignoring any Curse below Decree level.
Wise people always leave some leeway when they act.
When a weaker creature binds a strong one, it is like a lamb binding a jackal. It would suffice to take advantage of the situation to gather intelligence and resources. Offending them consistently through to the end would most likely result in retribution.
Seeing the Sacred Beast's undisguised malice and threats, Lu Ping'an laughed.
If he doesn't deal with the damned system, he will have a maximum of six months left to live, without considering any "future".
"Hehe, I look forward to that day's arrival, the sooner, the better... However…"
After pondering for a while, he suddenly realizes where his misgivings lay.
"As an otaku, keeping a cleaning lady in my secret base is a bit shameful... Right, Kerdalais, can you transform into human form?"
As an accompanying gift of the Secret Realm "Hidden World Courtyard", "Tower Spirit" Kerdalais cannot refuse the "reasonable request" of the "Master of This World", like cleaning the local environment or changing into a more aesthetically pleasing form for the master.
"Oh, oh, oh, blonde beast-eared curly-haired blue-eyed nun-style beauty, not bad, not bad. This human form is excellent. These clothes don't suit you much, come, let's change into a maid outfit. It's strange, I feel like I've seen you before...never mind, if I can't remember, it doesn't matter."
"Uh, it's still missing something. Right, let's call Kerdalais 'Chris' for short. Come on, Miss Chris, give me a smile and sweetly say 'what's up, master'..."
"Great, that's fantastic! Now, let me take a few pictures and post them online…Don't lift your skirt, I can't see your underwear! I vouch for it with my personality. What, I don't have a personality? I'm not a person... Fine, since I'm not even human, please take off your underwear and let me take a couple more pictures. Yes, yes, that's the kind of expression, filled with shyness, contempt, and anger, yet unable to speak! Yes, that's it!"
"You don't want to wear a maid outfit? Of course, you can. Hehe, after all, I'm not some kind of demon. Taking off the maid outfit and wearing just an apron and white stockings is even better. Wearing only a doctor's coat is also nice… No need? Ha, such a disappointment. My camera was all ready."
Today, after leaving the Watcher's gaze, Lu Ping'an is, as usual, racing at breakneck speed… on the path of courting death.
In some sense, he must thank the other party's gift.
That day, when he emerged from the "Hidden World Courtyard," he received this grand gift.
[Abnormal Ability Life Bank Awakening, system analyzing, understanding and reconstructing World Rules...]
[Analysis complete, analyzing and explaining the current situation: Kerdalais' ascension ceremony failed, with the victor of the ceremony being Lu Ping'an.]
[As the first time completing a Secret Realm and bearing the cost of the test, Lu Ping'an's overall evaluation is 'SS'. According to his wish for a 'happy life,' he receives the Mother Goddess' gift, granting him the decree-level (quasi-divine) special ability - The Gift and Reciprocity of Life.]