[Greek Mythology] The Demons Under My Command - Chapter 22

The Eternal Rift

Located in the core frigid depths of the entire Evernight Fortress, it is a place no mortal body can set foot in. The ice shards would instantly freeze a person into an ice block, which would eventually shatter with a “clang.”

“No wonder they sent us. Why do we have to handle all these messy things?”

Winslow held the “Little Yellow Chick” by the hand to prevent her from getting lost.

“But… aren’t I also a mortal? Wouldn’t I turn into an ice lump if I went in?” Li Jia asked, confused.

Actually, Li Jia was quite eager to go in and see what the evil dragon looked like, wondering if it was as mighty and majestic as the dragons in Game of Thrones.

“It’s fine. You can transform into an animal and hide in my clothes.”

Hera said matter-of-factly. Li Jia pouted, knowing she was deliberately trying to tease her.

Sensing her reluctance, Hera waved her hand and said, “If someone is unwilling, so be it. You can just wait outside for us.”

“Who says I’m unwilling? I am willing!”

As soon as she heard Hera didn’t plan to take her into the demonic lair, the “Little Yellow Chick” immediately protested loudly.

Hera smiled, her provocation working.

“Can I decide what animal I turn into? Nothing too ugly.”

Li Jia was a person with her own aesthetic. Even if she transformed into an animal, it had to be a good-looking one.

“Then transform into the same kind of animal you are now.”

Hera recited an incantation. Li Jia felt herself slowly shrinking. Why did Winslow and Dolin both seem to have turned into “giants”?

She could only see their ankles when she looked up. Soon, Li Jia saw her own appearance.

Soft yellow feathers lay smoothly over every inch of her downy body. Her head was round, and her body was plump, resembling a fluffy marshmallow.

Li Jia tried to walk a couple of steps. Her little paws hopped along, and her tail feathers lightly swayed, like she was dragging a small sunflower petal.

She had turned into a Little Yellow Chick.

Li Jia was a bit angry. She didn’t want to turn into a little yellow chick. Since she could turn into an animal, why couldn’t she turn into a mermaid or something else?

“Cheep cheep cheep cheep!” Li Jia flapped her wings, loudly expressing her dissatisfaction. She demanded to be transformed into a mythical creature again. She wanted to be a noble and aloof peacock!

Hera squatted down, poked her little head with a finger, and chuckled, “Isn’t this cute? Other species aren’t quite suitable for you, and they’re not convenient to carry.”

Li Jia “pecked” her once and continued to “cheep cheep cheep” in protest, demanding the restoration of her human or animal rights.

Hera simply cupped her in her hands and stroked Li Jia’s fluffy feathers. The sensation was wonderfully soft, making her unable to stop.

She finally understood why Artemis was so fond of her little penguin, insisting on keeping her close even though she only had twelve hours of human form.

Who wouldn’t love this?

The little yellow chick softly “hmph-ed” under the petting, feeling like she was getting a scalp massage. Seeing Hera looking very comfortable, she didn’t want to continue chirping. This was probably similar to modern-day petting cats and dogs.

It was actually quite comfortable. She didn’t know if Hera had learned a specific technique, but there was a certain method to the stroking. Li Jia didn’t dislike the feeling.

Since she couldn’t resist anyway, she might as well enjoy it.

Slowly, Li Jia realized that being a little yellow chick wasn’t so bad. She didn’t have to walk; she could just be an accessory hanging on a powerful figure.

Winslow also wanted to touch her but was mercilessly refused by Hera.

Outside, it was pitch black, and the biting cold wind howled. Li Jia lay securely in Hera’s warm palm.

The outside world was full of disturbances, but she was just a little yellow chick, free from worldly strife.

The demonic lair was concealed in the center of the Eternal Abyss, surrounded by a deathly silence. A massive black rock stood at the entrance, its surface covered with strange markings, like a seal of some mysterious power.

Above the cave entrance, vines intertwined into grotesque shapes, swaying in the wind, ready to capture any intruder.

A black mist permeated the entrance, emitting a pungent, bloody smell that made one nauseous. Occasionally, wisps of black smoke drifted out of the cave, like ghosts wandering in the air, adding an atmosphere of grim terror to the entire lair.

Li Jia’s eyes sparkled as she watched.

How could there be such a realistic haunted house?

“You like it here?”

Hera could feel the little creature in her palm moving faster and becoming more excited the further they walked inside.

“I do.”

In the modern world, Li Jia had really wanted to go to Happy Valley, but she never had the chance. Only when she worked part-time as an NPC could she experience it with pay. Being a customer here felt different from working.

“Then, should we change to this style?” Hera asked after careful consideration.

Li Jia: “?”

Li Jia: “Boss, we could, but it’s unnecessary. We shouldn’t imitate others just because they look good. That would lack personal character.”

She didn’t want her Hot Spring Stream to be dark and gloomy every day. She liked visiting haunted houses, but that didn’t mean she wanted to live in one.

Hera: “…”

Did she like it or not?

From then on, whenever Hera asked if she liked something, Li Jia chose to reply, “It looks good, but our home still looks better.”

Only then did Hera abandon the idea of needing to change the home décor for a better upbringing environment.

The barrier at the entrance was cleanly dissipated with a wave of Hera’s hand. Pushing aside the mist, the interior of the cave grew brighter and more dazzling.

It seemed there was a world of its own inside.

Li Jia followed Hera into the cave, and she realized how ignorant she was. The world inside the demonic lair was not scary at all. She suddenly recalled the “Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring” she had learned in middle school.

A world outside the mortal realm was real, but instead of an ancient Oriental version, it was a Western one with a garden castle.

Looking into the distance, the fortress in the deepest part of the demonic lair stood like a castle from a dream on the vast land.

Passing through the castle gate, an intoxicating flower garden opened up before them, where roses, tulips, and lavender bloomed in competition. In the center of the flowerbed was a massive fountain, its water jets dancing to the rhythm of music.

Li Jia felt that this place didn’t resemble a demonic lair at all. It was more like a castle built by an evil dragon to house a princess—a Western version of the “Golden House.”

She never expected an evil dragon to be so romantic. Li Jia wanted to see the small goldfish in the fountain, so she pecked Hera’s palm, strongly expressing her desire to be put down.

Hera gave her a look as if she was an idiot: “What’s so good about this? Haven’t you seen enough of the colorful fish and puffers in the reservoir at the Hot Spring Stream?”

Li Jia was unhappy and pecked her palm several times. They were out traveling, so why wouldn’t she let her see the little goldfish? She shouldn’t lose her right to look just because she was a little yellow chick now.

Unable to resist her, Hera used a Shadow Walk to teleport to the fountain’s edge, holding the little yellow chick up to see the small goldfish in the fountain.

The little goldfish liked to swim close to the edge of the fountain pool.

They are a bit like her, Hera thought, always liking to sleep near the corner of the bed.

The orange-red scales of the little goldfish looked like they were studded with a fine shimmer of glaze, and their tails were like translucent gauze, swaying gently as they moved through the water, as if afraid of startling the fragmented light suspended within.

They swam in groups of three to five, back and forth in the water.

After watching for a while, Li Jia felt a little dizzy and bored. She pecked Hera’s thumb, asking her to take her away.

Who knew, with a sweep of her hand, Hera contained two of the little goldfish in a glass bottle she conjured.

Li Jia quickly tried to stop her: “Cheep cheep cheep.”

Li Jia: …

Oh no, she thought, Hera can’t understand what I’m saying now. She could only watch Hera capture the two small goldfish.

Is this the degradation of morality or the annihilation of human nature!

How could she do such a thing? Li Jia started “cheeping cheeping” again. Hera tapped her little head and whispered, “Be quiet. We’ll talk when we get home.”

A good chick doesn’t suffer a momentary loss. The “Little Yellow Chick” immediately shut her mouth.

Hera placed her inside the inner pocket of her dress, where the little chick’s head rested against her thin lining. Li Jia could even hear the thump-thump of her heartbeat.

Inside the castle.

A girl hummed a tune while happily pedaling a sewing machine. The setting sun shone through the curtain, illuminating her tall and slender figure. A thick cascade of light brown hair fell like a waterfall, and beneath her full forehead, there was a pair of gentle, smiling eyes.

Lorelei was making a pair of exquisite sunscreen gloves for Morphelia. The previous pair she had given her was too old, so she was planning to give her a new one.

Morphelia’s hands couldn’t be exposed to the sun, or they would be corroded, so Lorelei used special materials she had bought to make the gloves for her, helping her avoid potential dangers.

Soon, the three people, plus one little yellow chick, appeared before her.

“Princess Lorelei.”

Dolin called her name and bowed with a gentleman’s courtesy.

Seeing them, Lorelei was very calm. She stood up and walked to Hera, kneeling down with a curtsy: “Goddess of Marriage, I sincerely bow to you. May your glory shine forever.”

The little yellow chick peeked out, watching Lorelei bow to Hera. What’s going on? It feels a little satisfying.

Being an accessory to a powerful figure is quite nice, truly nice.

Hearing Lorelei’s respectful address, Hera looked at her and asked, “Do you know why I have come to see you?”

The look of sudden understanding in Lorelei’s eyes showed she already knew. She lowered her head even further: “Goddess of Marriage, I know…”

Hera, the Goddess of Marriage, never appeared before people without reason. Her presence was always related to the fairness and outcome of the marriage scroll.

“Lorelei Baucape, I ask you in the name of the Divine, are you truly willing to marry the evil dragon Morphelia as your wife?”

“If you say no, the marriage scroll will disappear automatically, and your marriage history with the evil dragon Morphelia will be forgotten by the world. You do not need to have any concerns.”

“And I will take you away from here.”

If she said no, the marriage scroll would automatically dissolve. The nature of this case was special: Lorelei was a stolen bride, and combined with the rumors they had heard, Morphelia might not even be male.

As long as she said no, Hera had the power to remove both their names from the marriage history.

“No, Goddess of Marriage. It was my own will. I willingly married Morphelia.”

“Please do not erase the traces on the marriage history.”

Lorelei knelt fully before Hera, clasping her hands and sincerely pleaded.

“She is the most important and best person I have ever known in my life. She is my partner.”

Lorelei seemed to recall something, her thoughts gathering thickly, reminding her of their first meeting a month ago.

The story was recounted by Lorelei herself.

Lorelei Baucape, a lowly bastard born to a mistress. The Queen had more than once grabbed her hair and warned her, “If you weren’t a girl, would you even dare to hope to live until now? Filthy bugs should stay in the sewer.”

In fact, she had slept in that dark, sewer-like corner of the kitchen utility room for sixteen years.

Lorelei thought she would continue to live her quiet, uneventful life until death.

It was only when the Crown Prince of a neighboring country proposed a marriage alliance with the Baucape Dynasty that they remembered they had such a “backup” princess.

The Crown Prince was extremely cruel, and his treatment of his first five wives was inhumane. Lorelei found out through an intermediary that all five of his wives had been tortured to death by him.

Lorelei did not want to marry such a man. She began to resist in every way she could, but crying, shouting, and starving herself did not help.

Baucape II looked down on her coldly and said, “You are a princess of this country. It is your mission to marry into another country and maintain national stability.”

“We have already agreed. The wedding will be next month. Just wait for the day in peace.”

This was the last thing her biological father said to her. The copper door closed mercilessly.

At first, Lorelei held onto hope, praying her father would cancel the marriage, but all she received was tighter security and surveillance outside the door. Lorelei’s tears had completely dried up. She no longer longed for even a shred of pity from her father.

You are enslaved by whoever you anticipate.

Familiarity breeds contempt, and loyalty brings abuse.

Lorelei no longer anticipated the love that would never be reciprocated, even if that love was connected by blood.

After repeated self-confirmation, Lorelei figured it out. She began to eat voluntarily and even politely greeted the maid who brought her fresh clothes.

Everyone relaxed their vigilance, believing that Princess Lorelei had accepted her fate and was peacefully preparing for the wedding.

This was the destiny of a princess.

In the dead of night, Lorelei knocked out the maid who brought her bathwater, changed into her dress, gritted her teeth, and picked up the torch burning brightly in the palace corridor, as if making a resolution. She set fire to the chamber where she lived.

Flames shot into the sky.

Amidst the cries of “Fire! Fire!” Lorelei took advantage of the night to escape the palace.

Lorelei hid under a bridge, shivering. She didn’t know where to go. Baucape II had issued a search warrant; not even a fly could cross the capital city.

She held out for three days, without a drop of water. She really couldn’t bear it anymore.

Lorelei squatted by the riverbank. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her cheeks were pale. She looked at her reflection in the river and, for the first time, felt something called courage.

She recalled the terrifying legend.

She loudly called out the evil dragon’s name, offering her soul and body to become its puppet.

A red-haired beauty appeared before Lorelei. She frowned, clearly disagreeing with what the human in front of her was saying.

“Who told you that an evil dragon likes to eat human flesh? I’m not the King of the Underworld. What would I do with your soul?”

Morphelia really wanted to cut out the tongues of those rumor-mongers, piece by piece. Good news stays close to home, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

“Are you the evil dragon Morphelia?”

The girl asked, sniffing.

“I am.”

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