Primordial Villain with a Slave Harem

Chapter 1418  Deal

"None."

"Come on… You're a goddess yourself. You must cultivate your ill-begotten power of Purity. Tell me how you do it."

"First, you better take that back... Second, I won't tell you. Asking a god for their cultivation method is incredibly rude; you'd be smitten down if I weren't so magnanimous. Be grateful. Third, you can't expect to use my method to cultivate corruption. Even if I were to tell you, it'd be a setback at best and potentially ruin your chances altogether."

"So I'm alone in this."

"I'm afraid so. You'll have to find your own path. But don't do it right away. You must first focus on leveling up."

"What if she invades me again?"

The Goddess's smile receded. "That… I don't know. I'll try to help you. I banished her the first time, but couldn't enter the second time, fearing it'd tear your soul apart. Your best bet is to grow in strength, find your own path, and slowly assimilate the Concept of Corruption into your power, all the while relying on those two unfairly adorable little girls to stall for time against Sel'Ashra."

"I see…"

Lilyanna's expression softened just a fraction, then she straightened and lifted a hand in a lazy wave. "It's time for you to go, Evil Boy. Don't forget to speak nicely of me to your mothers, or it'll be the end of both of us."

He stared at her dryly.

Then, after a moment's pause, the words came out faster than he intended. "I still have questions. A lot of them. What is the Heavenly Restriction? How do I escape the sealed continent of Iskaris? What happened to the primordials? Why were they banished from Thalorind? What's outside Iskaris?"

He didn't stop there. He barely took a breath.

Lilyanna listened without interrupting. When he finally paused, she smiled.

"I can't answer those."

"…"

"I answered your questions about the gods because that lies outside my administrative realm," she said lightly. "What happens inside Thalorind is restricted. I am not permitted to reveal those answers. You'll have to think, observe, and make your own discoveries."

Quinlan stared at her in disbelief. "At least give me some hints, Useless Goddess."

Her smile deepened. It wasn't friendly.

"You know that I can't do that. But I'll do something better."

She turned and sat down on her cosmic construct, crossing one long leg over the other. The motion was deliberate, theatrical. She leaned back and flicked her wrist.

A book appeared in her hand.

It was massive. Thick covers of pale, glowing material sealed with celestial script along the spine. It landed with a weighty thud that echoed through the space.

"I've written over fifteen thousand complaints about you. If you listen to them all and have a fruitful debate with me where you recognize the error of your ways and repent, I might consider giving you a hint," she said with a sweet voice.

"…What the fuck," Quinlan breathed.

"No cursing in my home, Evil Boy," Lilyanna chided, then began reading. "Complaint number one. Did not help the merchant family upon his arrival. Watched the goblins kill the men and take the innocent women."

She looked up.

Her smile had no warmth in it. "Now I'll hear your defense."

Quinlan blinked. "There are fifteen thousand more?"

"No, only fourteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine," she said calmly. "You're a very, very bad boy."

He let out a short laugh that didn't reach his eyes. "Seriously? How big a hypocrite can you be? I literally just arrived in Thalorind back then. I was wearing a hoodie and sneakers. I was level one. No weapons. No training. Nothing. What was I supposed to do, glare the goblins to death? I survived. And because I survived, I later saved those women. They're my maids now and living better than they ever did because of my decision."

"Yes, but," Lilyanna replied without needing to think, clearly having prepared mentally for this exact response. Then, she flipped the page and explained, "A brave man would have at least tried, and a hero would've found a way. You could have tracked the goblins. Struck at night. Created an opportunity instead of accepting the outcome and moving on without remorse."

She glanced down again.

"Instead, what did you do again, Evil Boy?" She flipped the page with immense theatrics. "Complaint number two. He looted the corpses and the abandoned carriage with utmost calm. His first thought upon entering the city of Aldoria was to acquire a slave."

Quinlan dragged a hand down his face. "Okay. Fuck this."

He straightened. "Send me back."

"Are you sure?" Lilyanna asked sweetly. "We have plenty of time."

"Send me back."

"Hm. But-"

"No buts!" Quinlan snapped, voice rising. "Send me back. Right now. Send me back! If I listen to your nonsense hypocrisy, I'll literally go mad."

Lilyanna closed the notepad with a satisfied snap and stood.

Her grin was wide. Triumphant.

"So be it," she said. "Don't forget our deal, Evil Boy."

She waved. "Bye-bye."

Quinlan gave her the middle finger. Her smile deepened even further.

The light swallowed him, cutting off whatever rude thing he was about to say.

Left alone, Lilyanna remained looking at the spot where he had vanished.

The radiance dimmed back into its usual calm rhythm. The cosmic construct beneath her settled, its surface smoothing as if nothing disruptive had happened at all. The massive notepad dissolved into light and faded from existence, complaint after complaint returning to wherever she stored such records.

She lifted a hand and summoned her mirror.

The surface formed from layered starlight, polished to a flawless sheen. Lilyanna leaned closer and studied her reflection. The stain of corruption still clung to her cheek, a darkened smear that refused to fade.

She raised her fingers and brushed at it out of habit.

Then she froze.

Despite being defiled in such a horrible manner…

Her reflection smiled back at her. Broad. Unrestrained. The corners of her lips pulled high enough that it softened her eyes.

Lilyanna frowned slightly and pressed her fingertips against her mouth, checking if the expression was real.

"Huh…" she murmured.

She straightened and looked at herself again, head tilting as she took in the sight. The smile stayed.

"I just had my beauty defiled, yet… When was the last time I had so much fun?" she asked the empty space, her voice quieter than before.

Her hand slid from her lips to her cheek, resting there as she spoke his name.

"Quinlan Elysiar…"

The mirror rippled faintly, reflecting her thoughtful gaze.

"Live your life to the fullest. Focus on your growth among mortals. Forget these cosmic worries of yours. I'll protect you."

The mirror faded away.

Lilyanna turned her gaze toward the point where he had disappeared, the smile still lingering as the corruption on her face pulsed once, then settled.

"This, I vow."