Lalavina: Perish, and I Mean It

In the central square of Broken Gold Town, the wind and snow had not yet ceased, but the air was already thick with the suffocating tension of a battlefield of love.

On the stage, Scarlett, the Grand Magus from the Royal Capital, was casting a playful yet highly aggressive gaze back and forth between Lynch and Felsy, like a haughty cat examining its new toys.

Meanwhile, off the stage, Bishop Lalavina, who had just arrived, felt as if her soul was about to leave her body.

"Oh no... something terrible is going to happen!"

Lalavina screamed frantically in her mind.

She knew her best friend too well.

Scarlett Stuart, the famous social queen of the Royal Capital, was also a typical bad woman.

Her favorites were not the kind of lapdogs who obeyed her every command, but rather men like Lynch, who appeared calm, ignored her, and even carried a hint of mystery.

If the other party were just an ordinary married man, Lalavina might have stood by with a cup of coffee to watch the show, perhaps teasing her with a remark like, "You are ruining a good family man again."

But that was Lynch!

He was a terrifying existence who kept a world-destroying witch at home, treated high-ranking demon world executives as errand boys, and was highly likely an ancient demon god in disguise!

You want to provoke him? And even challenge their marital bond right in front of the Crimson Calamity?

This was not looking for fun; this was practically tap-dancing on the Grim Reaper's scythe!

"No! I must stop her! If only for the sake of my own little life!"

Lalavina took a deep breath. Disregarding any bishop's dignity, she lifted her intricate priestly robes and dashed up the high stage at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint.

"Scarlett!"

Before Scarlett could react, Lalavina had already latched onto her arm tightly like an octopus. With a stiff yet enthusiastic smile on her face, she said loudly:

"Oh my! What a coincidence! I was just looking for Mr. Lynch to have a meal together!"

"Huh?" Scarlett was taken aback by this sudden ambush and tried to pull her hand back with some distaste. "Lalavina? Didn't you say you were going to pray in the church? Why did you come here to join the fun?"

"I finished praying! The oracle told me that today is a good day for a gathering!"

Lalavina held onto her tightly, turning her head to look at Lynch and Felsy off the stage, and said in an almost flattering tone:

"Um... Mr. Lynch, since everyone is here, why don't we have this meal together? It just so happens that I haven't visited you and your esteemed wife in a long time."

Saying that, she turned her head back, deliberately lowered her voice, and hinted through gritted teeth in Scarlett's ear:

"Scarlett, listen to me. These two are the key focus targets of our Buena Diocese! Their family is a model family that I have personally certified! Their family relationship is very harmonious! Very sacred! Inviolable!"

She used almost all her strength to emphasize the words "family" and "inviolable," trying to awaken her best friend's hormone-addled mind.

However.

This overly straightforward hint was translated into another meaning in Scarlett's brain circuit.

"Model family? Inviolable?"

Scarlett looked at her best friend's nervous and even somewhat protective appearance, and slightly raised an eyebrow.

"Heh, Lalavina, are you trying to pressure me with your official status? The more you emphasize 'sacred,' the more it shows there is something fishy going on. It seems you have a strong desire to protect this family... or rather, this man."

Not only did Scarlett not hold back, but she also revealed an even brighter smile.

She patted the back of Lalavina's hand, leaned into her ear, and said flirtatiously in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Don't worry, my dear. Since it's a model family certified by you, then I absolutely must see it for myself."

After saying that, she winked her deep blue, alluring eyes at Lalavina, her gaze clearly saying: "Just wait and watch the good show!"

Lalavina: "..."

Seeing her best friend's stubbornness, Lalavina felt her stomach start to ache.

It really was true... good words could not persuade a doomed ghost!

...

Half an hour later.

The group of five did not go to a restaurant in town. Instead, they arrived at the luxurious reception room in the back hall of the Three Glories Church, which was specially used to host VIPs.

According to Scarlett: "The restaurants in town are too noisy and do not match our conversation today. Besides, I am very picky about food, so coming from the Royal Capital this time, I specifically brought my own exclusive team of chefs."

It had to be said that the female professor's extravagance was truly astonishing.

At this moment, candlelight flickered in the reception room. A pure white tablecloth was spread over the long table, and silver tableware sparkled under the candlelight. The scent of expensive incense floated in the air, making one feel as if they were at a noble banquet in the Royal Capital.

Lynch sat on one side of the long table, watching the attendants in uniform filing in with dining carts, and could not help but click his tongue secretly.

"Good heavens, is this the style of a Grand Magus from the Royal Capital?"

"Bringing her own chefs and waiters on a business trip? How much money must that cost..."

As a thrifty and family-oriented man, Lynch felt it was extravagant, but he was mostly curious.

"I wonder how good the chefs from the Royal Capital are? Do they have some exclusive secret recipes?"

Just as the first appetizer, Chilled Rapid Foie Gras with Pop-Pop Truffle Sauce, was served, Lynch took a bite, and his eyes instantly lit up.

"The processing method for this foie gras... it seems to be instantly locked in freshness using some kind of low-temperature magic? And the juice of Star-Seeing Grass is added to the sauce, neutralizing the greasiness... Brilliant!"

His occupational habit acting up, Lynch instantly threw any thoughts of a trap or a battlefield of love to the back of his mind.

He wiped his mouth, stood up, and smiled apologetically at Scarlett, who was in the seat of honor:

"Um, Professor Scarlett, this dish tastes really good. Can I go to the kitchen to take a look? I want to exchange some insights with your head chef."

Scarlett was stunned for a moment.

She was just about to start a topic, intending to use her profound magical knowledge and unique personality charm to conquer this man, but the other party took one bite and wanted to run to the kitchen?

"...Please do."

Although Scarlett was somewhat speechless, on second thought, this was also a good opportunity to show off her strength, so she nodded elegantly. "My head chef is a disciple of the royal court chef; he should be able to give you a lot of inspiration."

"Thank you very much!"

Lynch felt as if he had been granted amnesty. He eagerly ran toward the kitchen in the back hall, his back looking even more enthusiastic than someone taking an exam.

With Lynch's departure, the atmosphere in the reception room instantly became subtle.

At the long table, only four women remained.

Felsy sat on the left, slowly and methodically cutting the foie gras on her plate. Her movements were impeccably elegant, as if she were the master here. Kuma sat next to her, burying her head in her food, her cheeks bulging like a hamster.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and Lalavina sat opposite them.

Watching Lynch leave, Lalavina knew that the final opportunity had arrived.

She had to defuse this bomb before her best friend did something truly irreversible.

"Ahem."

Lalavina cleared her throat, put down her knife and fork, and shot Scarlett a look. "Scarlett, come with me for a moment. I have some church documents I need to verify with you."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. She glanced at Felsy, the silver-haired woman sitting opposite them who had remained silent all this time, and then at her anxious best friend, before standing up thoughtfully.

"Alright."

The two walked over to a floor-to-ceiling window in the corner of the drawing room. It was a good distance away from the dining table, making it an ideal place to talk.

As soon as they stopped, Lalavina grabbed Scarlett by the shoulders. Her voice was kept extremely low, her tone urgent and stern.

"Scarlett, I don't care how you play around in the Royal Capital, but in Broken Gold Town, you have to listen to me!"

"Don't get any ideas about Lynch. Absolutely! Absolutely not!"

Scarlett looked at her with amusement. "Why? Just because he is at the second tier? Or because he has a pretty wife?"

"Lalavina, since when did you become so conservative? In this world where strength reigns supreme, isn't it only natural for the strong to possess everything? I see extraordinary potential in that Lynch. That woman named Felsy might be pretty, but she has no magic power at all; she is completely unworthy of his future achievements. I am helping him..."

"Shut up!"

Lalavina was so frightened she almost covered Scarlett's mouth. Cold sweat instantly poured down her face.

She looked back at the dining table in terror. Only after confirming that Felsy was still elegantly eating did she turn back, looking at Scarlett with a pleading gaze.

"You have no idea what you're talking about..."

"That Felsy... she is not what you think at all! She..."

Lalavina gritted her teeth, just about to reveal a little bit of the truth, such as "she is very strong" or "her identity is special."

Right at that moment.

An unannounced voice, carrying a hint of laziness and curiosity, suddenly echoed faintly behind them.

"Oh my, what secrets are you two ladies whispering about, hiding over here?"

"Are you talking about... my master?"

!!!

Lalavina felt her heart stop beating in that instant.

She turned around stiffly.

She saw Kuma, the beast-eared girl who usually followed behind Lynch looking completely harmless, standing less than two meters behind them. She had no idea when the girl had gotten there.

Kuma was holding a roasted chicken leg, a bit of sauce still smeared on the corner of her mouth, and an innocent smile on her face.

But in Lalavina's eyes, that smile was far more terrifying than a demon from hell.

"She heard us!"

"This high-ranking executive of the Demon Realm! The Thirteenth Pillar of the Scorched Earth Guard! She actually sneaked up behind two sixth-tier powerhouses without making a sound!"

"And... she's warning me!"

Looking at Kuma's slightly narrowed brown slit pupils, Lalavina's mind instantly conjured up a shocking, dramatic scenario:

Lynch's high-profile participation in the Lucalia enrollment this time clearly had a profound strategic purpose—perhaps he wanted to infiltrate humanity's highest magical academy and dismantle human defense systems from the inside.

This was a top-secret undercover operation!

And just now, she had almost let slip Felsy's true identity.

Kuma appearing at this exact moment to interrupt their conversation was clearly telling her—"Watch your mouth, or be silenced!"

Cold sweat instantly soaked through Lalavina's back.

She looked at Kuma, her lips trembling, and forcefully swallowed back the "truth" that had been on the tip of her tongue.

"N-nothing..."

Lalavina forced a smile that looked worse than crying, her voice trembling. "We were talking about... tonight's dishes! Yes! This foie gras is simply delicious! Haha... haha..."

Kuma blinked and took a bite of her chicken leg.

In reality, she had just finished the food on her plate and wanted to come over to ask if there were any extra servings, while casually listening to some gossip.

But seeing this cowardly bishop scared out of her wits, Kuma figured the woman was overthinking something ridiculous again.

"Oh, so you were talking about the food."

Kuma nodded meaningfully, waving the bone in her hand. "That's good then. I thought... you were talking about some secret that people shouldn't know."

With that, she turned around and hummed a little tune as she walked back to the dining table.

In the corner, only Lalavina, who still hadn't recovered, and a bewildered Scarlett remained.

"Lalavina?"

Scarlett frowned at her best friend. "What on earth is wrong with you? That little beast-eared girl is just a servant, right? Even though it's a bit strange that she walks without making a sound, do you really need to be this scared?"

"Haa... haa..."

Lalavina gasped for breath, not daring to explain at all.

What could she say? Tell her that the little girl gnawing on a chicken leg just now could slap both of them to death with one hand?

"It's nothing... Scarlett, just listen to me and stay away from Lynch."

Lalavina leaned weakly against the wall, deciding to give up explaining and just surrender to the situation. "Just consider it my plea to you."

Scarlett watched her best friend's secretive, almost desperate demeanor, her azure eyes darting about.

Suddenly, as if she had figured out a crucial detail, she clapped her hands together.

"Oh my! I get it now!"

The confusion on Scarlett's face vanished, replaced by a look of sudden realization, along with a teasing and excited grin.

She leaned closer to Lalavina and nudged her waist with an elbow.

"I was wondering why you were reacting so strongly, constantly emphasizing that he's off-limits and telling me to stay away from him..."

"So... you've taken a fancy to that Lynch too, haven't you?"

"Huh?!" Lalavina's eyes widened.

"Stop pretending."

Scarlett wore an expression that said she had seen right through it all, clicking her tongue in wonder. "I never would have guessed that our holy and noble Bishop Lalavina had actually awakened such a... well, special fetish."

"You like married men? Or do you enjoy the forbidden thrill of an underground romance?"

"No wonder you're so afraid of that woman named Felsy, and got scared half to death by that beast-eared maid... Isn't this just the typical guilty conscience of a mistress, terrified of being caught by the legal wife?"

The more Scarlett spoke, the more logical it seemed to her. She even patted Lalavina on the shoulder in a show of loyalty.

"Don't worry, sister! I understand you! This kind of immoral pleasure is indeed addictive."

"Since he's the prey you set your sights on first, as your best friend, I won't steal the main course from you. However... teasing him a bit should be fine, right?"

Lalavina: "..."

She opened her mouth wide, staring at her best friend who thought she had seen through everything, while a deafening roar erupted from the depths of her heart:

You don't understand a damn thing!!!

Who likes married men?! Who's a mistress?!

I am saving your life! Saving the entire Church's life!

You trashy woman with nothing but romance in your head!

However, looking at Scarlett's excited expression, Lalavina sadly realized that this misunderstanding... seemed even harder to explain than the truth.

"...Think whatever you want."

Lalavina closed her eyes in utter resignation.

"As long as you don't actually go and get yourself killed, you can say I like whoever you want..."