Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 1609: Vesperine meets her Mother-in-law

Cream Pie?

What was that supposed to be?

Was it some new form of pie that Vesperine had never even heard of before?

Vesperine, walking beside Victor through the dim corridor lit by cold, flickering lights, couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer.

Her brows knitted slightly as she tilted her head, twin tails swaying with the motion, "What is this ’cream pie’ you are talking about? Is it some kind of dragon thing? Or something else?"

Victor turned his head just enough to glance at her, amusement faintly curling at the corner of his lips,

"Hmm? You don’t know? I thought you were getting cream pies all day with that busy little harem of yours~ How precious."

Vesperine blinked, genuinely puzzled, her expression soft and innocent as she shook her head lightly, strands of her hair brushing against her cheeks.

"I don’t know... This is my first time hearing it.

Can you give some to me too?"

She asked as she tilted her head from side to side, her twin tails swaying in a rhythmic, almost teasing motion.

Victor stopped for a fraction of a second, staring at her in silence, before speaking in a tone that felt deliberately detached.

"Where are your husbands?"

Vesperine’s lips curled into a slight pout, her expression shifting with mild annoyance as she noticed the abrupt change in topic, her arms instinctively drawing closer to her chest.

"I don’t think they would like it if I came here... especially Leon."

Victor let out a soft breath, nodding once, a smirk slowly forming as though the name itself amused him.

"Indeed... especially when there are only two years left in our agreement."

"... Pardon?" Vesperine’s brows furrowed deeper.

What agreement was he talking about?

Victor tilted his head slightly, almost surprised, "Oh? Didn’t your beloved husband tell you about the agreement he made with me? After three years, he said he would reclaim his rightful throne."

He lifted his hand, resting a finger against his chin as if thoughtfully recalling the details, his eyes drifting upward for a brief moment before settling back on her.

"So, one year has already passed. In the next two years... we become enemies."

"..." Vesperine’s eyes widened, blinking once, then again, as if her thoughts lagged behind reality.

Her lips parted slowly before the word finally escaped.

"What?"

Victor only shrugged as he stepped toward a large metallic door at the end of the corridor.

He entered the pin code, before the door released a low mechanical hiss and slid open.

Vesperine’s body tensed as unease crept into her chest. She stepped forward quickly, trying to process everything at once,

"W-Wait! What do you mean we will become enemies in—"

Her words cut off abruptly.

"Kai’s Mother?"

"Oh?... Ugh!"

Xara, who had been working inside the lab, froze mid-motion at the sudden voice.

Her head snapped toward the entrance, surprise flashing across her face for a brief second before it twisted sharply into pure disgust, her expression tightening as though something foul had just been dragged into her presence.

"What is she doing here? Wait... this place..." Vesperine murmured under her breath as she stepped inside, her eyes moving across the room.

The lab stretched wide, filled with strange metallic structures, glass containers, and dimly glowing panels. Tubes carried dark, viscous fluids through the walls, faint pulses of light running along them like veins.

She moved closer, her gaze drawn to a table nearby where deep red liquid pooled.

"Oh my goodness... what is this place? And what are those blood-like things lying on the table..."

Xara didn’t spare her another glance.

Her eyes locked onto Victor instead, irritation burning openly as she folded her arms beneath her chest.

"You cannot possibly..."

Victor raised his hand calmly, as if surrendering before the accusation could even fully form.

"I would never do that..."

Going after her son’s wife?

That would be crossing a line even he had no intention of touching.

"Then?" Xara’s frown deepened as it flicked briefly toward Vesperine before returning to him.

"Why did you bring this bitch into my lab?"

Her nose wrinkled slightly as if the very presence of Vesperine had tainted the air.

"I can already smell the filth she carries."

She would need to use highly corrosive acid to clean the lab after today.

Victor parted his lips, ready to explain the details, when—

"KYAA!!!"

Splash!

Both of them flinched sharply, their heads snapping toward the source of the noise.

A bloody, headless, skinless body jerked upright from the blood-soaked table, thick crimson sliding off raw muscle and exposed tissue, dripping onto the floor in slow, sickening drops.

Vesperine stumbled back and fell, her breath breaking into frantic gasps as terror clawed through her chest.

Her eyes locked onto the grotesque figure, unable to look away.

"W-What the fuck is that?"

Victor stepped forward and extended his hand toward her.

Vesperine, still trembling and staring at the horrific sight, flinched when she noticed his hand near hers.

A faint blush crept onto her face despite the situation as she hesitantly placed her hand into his.

He pulled her up with steady ease.

"T-Thank you."

[+4000 AP]

Victor turned his gaze back to the raw, twitching flesh and began explaining the details of how they had captured the metallic figure.

As she listened, Vesperine’s expression slowly shifted from shock to disbelief.

"T-That’s impossible."

She stepped forward, though each step carried hesitation. The closer she got, the stronger the metallic scent of blood filled her lungs.

Her face twisted with disgust and unease as her voice dropped into a tense murmur.

"We tried to capture one alive before, but it always escapes through the portal, no matter what we did. Even if we knocked them unconscious, they still escape... so I am confused how you managed to capture one... wait... is this even alive?"

Her eyes drifted over the headless corpse again. No matter how she looked at it, it was undeniably dead.

Yet—

"Yes, dear~"

A slithering, almost serpentine voice echoed right behind her.

Vesperine’s throat tightened instantly, a dry gulp forcing its way down. Her body stiffened, but she forced herself to maintain composure.

Slowly, she straightened, lifting her chin with the same arrogance.

"I-It’s been a while, Mother-in-law~"

"Ugh!! I wanna puke. Don’t call me that, bitch!!"

Xara’s face twisted in raw disgust, her expression contorting as if something revolting had just crawled into her mouth.

A vein throbbed visibly on Vesperine’s forehead, "Bitch? Me? Your son’s wife?" She let out a sharp, humourless laugh, "Look who is talking. Cheating bitch."

"At least I didn’t hide what I am doing... unlike someone who hides their illicit son behind everyone’s back.

That’s a fucking bitch, bitch!!"

Xara’s eyes darkened, chilling smile spread across her lips.

"Haha... looks like that bastard son of mine didn’t put a leash on his sex toy," she said softly,

"Maybe I should train your bitchy mouth first~"

She lifted a syringe filled with an ominous, swirling liquid.

Vesperine smirked,

"Always violence behind that innocent face... how fitting," she said, her voice edged with mockery.

"At least both mother and illicit son share something in common."

The air thickened as if a single spark could ignite everything.

Victor stepped in between them, "We didn’t come here for this, did we?"

Vesperine, who had been burning with anger just seconds ago, shifted instantly. Her entire demeanour softened, her expression melting into admiration as she clasped her hands to her cheeks, swaying slightly.

"Of course. I am so sorry, Dragon Emperor!" she said, her voice bright and adoring as she tilted her head cutely.

"Ugh."

Xara gagged lightly, visibly disturbed, before throwing a sharp side glance at Victor, who could only let out a quiet sigh.

"Anyway," he said, regaining focus, his tone returning to seriousness,

"Vesperine, do your magic."

Vesperine nodded with a bright, almost eager smile as she stepped toward the blood-soaked body.

She lifted her hand, summoning her Origin Card, its faint glow flickering against the grotesque sheen of exposed flesh and pooling crimson.

"What is she doing?" Xara asked, curiosity threading through her tone as her sharp gaze tracked every movement Vesperine made.

One second later.

"Hmm..." Vesperine frowned. The other party’s card should have appeared by now... it always did... so why didn’t it?

One minute later...

"Huh... huh... well... hmm..." A bead of sweat rolled down her temple, then another, until it felt like her skin had turned into a leaking faucet.

Her hands moved again and again, pressing the card onto the slick, blood-warm chest, the surface shifting slightly beneath her touch as if something inside still pulsed.

The faint squelch of raw flesh made her fingers twitch.

Five minutes later...

"..."

Her hands stopped mid-motion, fingers trembling before slowly lowering. The faint glow of her card dimmed as her confidence drained with it.

She turned back, her movements almost mechanical, her eyes shimmering with threatening tears as she met Victor’s gaze.

His expression had changed. Subtle... but unmistakably disappointed.

She didn’t have a choice but to say, "I-it’s not w-working."

"Pufff—Hahahah!!"

Xara’s laughter exploded through the lab. It echoed off the metallic walls, slicing straight into Vesperine’s already crumbling pride.

"I-I am sorry, Mr. Victor... I... it worked before b-but now... I... I..." her voice cracked apart, shame and panic tangling until neither could be separated.

Victor exhaled slowly, stepping closer before placing his hand gently on her head.

??

Vesperine blinked, frozen in place, her breath hitching as her tears clung stubbornly to her lashes.

Victor spoke quietly, "Don’t worry. If it worked before, that means the method isn’t wrong. You just need to figure out what changed."

That composure... that quiet authority... the Dragon Emperor himself standing there, offering reassurance instead of anger.

It sent a strange, dizzying warmth through her chest.

"Mr. Victor!!"

She lunged forward, throwing herself toward him, arms reaching to cling onto him... only to be abruptly stopped.

Xara appeared in front of Victor in an instant.

Her arm shot out, blocking Vesperine completely.

"Hands off, thieving bitch!"

"Tsk!"

Vesperine clicked her tongue, irritation flashing openly across her face before she turned back toward the grotesque body, forcing her thoughts into order.

"Hmm... after killing the mech-suits, their cards appear automatically, and I use mine to collect their points. That’s how it always worked," she muttered, pacing a step around the table, her eyes scanning every inch of the mutilated form.

The body twitched faintly.

"Maybe because it’s been too long?—wait... didn’t you say it’s still alive?"

Xara folded her arms, a mocking smile curling on her lips.

"Did you not hear earlier? Did your ears go dumb too, bitch?"

"Argh!"

Vesperine’s teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached. Her standing in front of Victor was slipping, and this woman... this infuriating woman... was clearly enjoying every second of it.

How was she supposed to know?

A headless, skinless corpse... still alive?

What kind of twisted logic was that?

She shot a quick glance at Victor, seeking confirmation through gritted frustration.

He nodded once.

Vesperine’s frown deepened, "Then we need to kill it first to—"

"!@@#$%%$#!!!"

The familiar yet incomprehensible sound ripped through the room.

All of them flinched, turning to the source.

A bloody, skinless head rose into view from behind the table, raw muscle fibres glistening wetly under the lab lights.

No skin. No eyelids. Just exposed tissue twitching faintly.

The upper skull was partially split open, revealing a pulsing brain where two metallic rods were embedded deep inside, faint sparks flickering along them with each erratic twitch.

Its jaw moved unnaturally, tendons stretching and recoiling like strained wires.

"@@!@#$%%%!!!"

"OH MY GODDDDD!!!"

Vesperine’s scream tore out of her throat, filled with pure horror. Her vision blurred violently as her mind failed to process the nightmare in front of her.

Her body collapsed.

Yet Victor, near her, didn’t even raise his hand to catch her.

Thud!

"Ouch!"

Vesperine groaned, eyes snapping open as pain shot through her. She lay sprawled on the cold, glaring upward.

"You were supposed to catch me!!"

"And you were supposed to faint? Right?"

"..." Vesperine quickly turned her head away, embarrassment creeping in.

"Haha... just joking."

Xara gave her a long, deadpan stare before completely losing interest in her.

Her attention snapped back to the grotesque creation, her eyes lighting up with a wild, almost childlike excitement.

"Fuck... it really worked at last!"

She stepped closer, completely absorbed, staring at the head as it twitched and attempted to form sound again.

Even Victor showed a flicker of genuine surprise as he observed the head functioning without a body.

Honestly, it wasn’t that he doubted Xara’s talent.

It was more that he had believed something like this should not have been possible, not with their current knowledge, not with the limits of power they understood.

And yet...

Xara had stepped beyond those limits without power, without magic.

Just knowledge.

Victor’s lips curved faintly, a quiet, dangerous amusement settling in his gaze.

’She is a dangerous one,’ he thought, watching the pulsing brain glisten under the dim light,

’bloody brilliant... and completely insane~’