Chapter 4: The Underground Witch Church
Diye followed the two witches into the cathedral. From the ground floor, the vastness of the hall was even more apparent.
The witches who had completed the ritual dispersed, some leaving, others attending to their own tasks within the cathedral. Many had already begun preparing for magic and martial arts training in the distance.
“Who is she?”
“So beautiful…” In the dimly lit cathedral, small groups of witches stood by the stone pillars, gazing at Diye.
Although the witches here were mostly young and attractive, Diye’s appearance still drew many admiring glances.
“…” Unaccustomed to being watched by women, and now, being observed as a woman herself, Diye felt a little uneasy. She lowered her head, her hands instinctively crossing her arms, as if a newly pubescent girl, treating her prominent chest as a symbol of shame.
However, a young girl’s development is gradual. For Diye, to suddenly possess such ample proportions, not to mention the other changes, this kind of exposure and shame was likely something even real girls couldn’t fully comprehend.
Diye reluctantly followed them to the foot of the cathedral’s altar.
“Master Diluowei, this is Yalan Diye, the one you asked us to rescue,” the blonde witch reported to the silver-haired witch standing by the altar.
Diluowei looked at Diye. Her fair face, beautiful yet expressionless like a doll, but her light blue eyes, like overly still crystal water, conveyed a different kind of emotion.
“Are you injured? Where is the monster that attacked you?” Asking such questions might evoke shameful memories for a girl, but Diluowei’s voice was exceptionally calm.
“No…” Diye involuntarily clutched her arm. “I don’t know.”
The one who attacked Diye was the Succubus Queen, their so-called Goddess’s Servant of the Night. How could Diye reveal this?
“Miss Diye, is that right? Did the monster cause you any serious harm? Do you need healing or any other special assistance?” Diluowei stepped closer, looking Diye up and down. Her slightly deepened breaths, as if sensing Diye’s aura and emanating scent, conveyed the impression of an unfortunate victim, though still beautiful.
“Master Diluowei…” the blonde witch looked troubled. Asking about the details of an attack in public like this was unbearable for anyone. The brown-haired witch turned her head away, as if empathizing.
“N-no need,” Diye blushed, turning her head away and hugging herself tighter. She could almost feel Diluowei’s gaze tracing the curves of her body.
Her knees pressed together. Originally wanting to hide her feminine appearance, she subconsciously adopted an even more feminine posture.
She didn’t want to say anything about being harmed by the succubus, as it might affect her plan.
Diluowei observed her for a moment and said, “If your body is unharmed, then you are fortunate. Recently, many girls have been attacked by monsters around here, but we’ve driven away most of the monsters near the deeper dungeons.”
“By the way, the deeper dungeons are forbidden. You shouldn’t go there again,” the blonde witch reminded her from the side.
Diye nodded noncommittally.
“Well, Miss Yalan Diye, welcome to the witches’ sanctuary.” Diluowei extended her small, gloved hand.
“Thank you,” Diye also extended her hand, but saw Diluowei offering the back of her hand.
Was this that gentlemanly and ladylike etiquette?
A bit of her former sense of honor welled up in Diye’s chest.
Like a male knight, she half-knelt, taking Diluowei’s small hand and symbolically kissing the back of it, which exuded a faint fragrance of silk gloves. Of course, she didn’t actually make contact; this was how abstinent Temple Knights acted, different from ordinary gentlemen.
But Diye still felt a tingling sensation on her lips. It was probably just psychological.
After the greeting, as Diye rose, Diluowei took Diye’s left hand. Since she only reached Diye’s chest, she could easily bend down and naturally kiss the back of Diye’s hand.
“Eh!?” Diye reflexively withdrew her hand. The cool, slightly damp feeling of lips lingered on the back of her hand. This was quite a shock for a Temple Knight who avoided women.
So this was… the touch of a girl’s lips? And from such a porcelain-doll-like girl… This etiquette certainly wasn’t breaking any vows. However, thinking about her own lips, the touch of her upper and lower lips, wasn’t that a violation against her male soul? Diye’s expression shifted from surprise to dejection, her fingers clutching her sleeve, creating small wrinkles.
“Ah…” Diluowei slightly opened her mouth, seemingly surprised by the change in Diye’s expression.
“Um, Master Diluowei, what are the arrangements for Miss Diye?” the blonde girl quickly interjected. In her view, Diye’s strong reaction to physical contact was understandable, considering she had just been attacked by a monster.
Diluowei looked at Diye’s flushed face again, sensing her feminine aura. Although several girls were standing together, it seemed they could only smell Diye’s fragrance. Some women were just like that.
An aura that attracted attention, this was the succubus’s deeper revenge!
“Miss Diye, what are your skills? Magic, swordsmanship?” Diluowei asked. “Witches who come here for sanctuary, as long as they are not disabled or ill, are required to undergo the Church’s training. Every witch, while receiving protection, must also become a protector of everyone, contributing their strength.”
“So, Miss Diye, if you don’t want to talk about your past, that’s fine. Just tell me your specialties or interests.” Diluowei slightly restrained herself from inhaling Diye’s scent. She wasn’t interested in Diye’s background. In this underground church, not asking about one’s origins was a common practice.
Perhaps too many witches had pasts they didn’t want to mention…
“Um… specialties…” Diye’s eyes flickered slightly. It seemed that witches who came here were obligated to undergo training, in order to select the most outstanding one to carry out that plan!
In that case, she didn’t need to think about how to volunteer.
That is to say, considering she wanted to be included in the selection, she needed to display some strength.
As for what she could still use with her current body…
“Swordsmanship… I know a little,” Diye said with a lack of confidence. After all, she hadn’t tried it since becoming a woman.
“Hmm…” Diluowei nodded, but her tone seemed to question whether this busty and curvy woman really knew swordsmanship. “Then, Miss Diye, we need to test your basic swordsmanship. Is that possible now?”
“Yes,” Diye nodded. Although she wasn’t confident in using a woman’s body, she also wanted to understand her current capabilities.
“Yoleya, Qinna, take her to the testing area. Prioritize Miss Diye’s safety above all else.” Diluowei’s small finger pointed gracefully towards a distant corner of the cathedral.
“Understood, Master Diluowei,” the blonde girl, Yoleya, and the brown-haired witch, Qinna, both nodded in agreement.
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