Second Playthrough, The Heroines All Turn Against Me - Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Anno?
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Translation by: Weebsread👹
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Liao Ji had never felt such comfort.
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It was as if his entire body were wrapped in a cocoon of soft cotton, the bitter chill that had seeped into his bones after sinking into the Abyss now soothed away by the warmth pressed against his back. That sensation—something full and supple holding him close—kept his consciousness anchored, preventing him from drifting off.
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It was remarkably effective. Liao Ji’s eyes fluttered open.
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Sensing the change, the radiance behind him—an aura cast by the Elf—gradually faded, returning to its usual glow. She gently released her embrace and moved around to face him.
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The first thing Liao Ji saw upon awakening was a breathtakingly beautiful face. Schiutia’s looks were already considered exceptional among Humans, but compared to the woman before him, even she would pale in comparison.
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Every feature was impossibly exquisite: a tall, graceful nose, perfectly sculpted cherry lips, and brows that arched delicately at the ends, making her amber eyes all the more enchanting. From any angle, there was not a single flaw—her beauty as flawless as a porcelain doll shaped by the hands of a master artisan.
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This, truly, was the embodiment of “Elf”—the race most beloved by Nature itself.
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From beneath her sunlit, wheat-gold hair peeked a pair of pointed ears, now trembling ever so slightly—whether from excitement or something else, he could not tell.
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The Elf’s gaze blazed with intensity as she looked at Liao Ji. Her arms, pale and smooth as lotus roots, rose to gently cradle his cheeks.
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At the same time, her unique, ethereal voice drifted into his ear.
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“Lord Ashen… Anno is late.”
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Every word overflowed with warmth and devotion, her melodious tone so alluring that just hearing it felt like a caress. The sound alone was enough to make him want to melt.
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Liao Ji parted his lips, searching for words, but the Elf seemed unwilling to let him speak—perhaps fearing it would exhaust him. She drew him into her arms again, as though cradling a child, and softly pressed his head down, nestling it deep into the plush fullness of her chest. There could be no pillow softer, no cushion more yielding.
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Liao Ji took a breath—and caught the faint fragrance of milk mingled with the scent of orchids from this living pillow.
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“Cough, cough… cough, cough!”
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As pleasant as it was, the pillow was simply too generous—he could hardly breathe. After a brief struggle and a fit of coughing, he finally managed to wriggle free from the Elf’s embrace.
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He sucked in air as if returning from the dead, looking up to see the Elf, now flustered and apologetic after realizing her mistake. His gaze fell on the pair of “dangerous weapons” on her chest that had nearly suffocated him.
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It was hardly the time, but the first thought that flashed through Liao Ji’s mind was—
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Does Anno really have… this much?
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Tch! What am I thinking?
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He quickly shook his head to clear it, pushing aside the muddled thoughts. Now was not the time. He tore his gaze away from the Elf and glanced around, but saw nothing but endless darkness.
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“Anno, where are we?”
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If he recalled correctly, he had stepped into the Black Water pool at the Altar. Then the polluted black mire had shifted, dragging him down. The next thing he knew, he was here.
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But the Elf’s answer caught him off guard.
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“Lord Ashen, your Soul was devoured by Corruption. I sensed your call, so I followed you into the Corruption’s consciousness. We are now… trapped inside.”
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“Inside the Corruption’s consciousness?”
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“Yes,” the Elf nodded.
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“So, how do we get out?”
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At this, the Elf lowered her head shyly, hands clasped behind her back. Beneath her dark green skirt, her pale legs pressed together.
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“Lord Ashen, everything happened so suddenly that only a part of my Soul managed to follow you in. With my current Soul power, I can’t break us out. But if you help Anno restore her magic, and add your own Strength, I can recover most of my power—then escaping will be easy.”
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Liao Ji: “…”
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He looked at the Elf, whose neck was turning red, her gaze darting everywhere but at him. He asked, tentatively,
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“Anno, what exactly do you mean by restoring magic?”
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“Since we’re in Soul form, we must make our Souls experience joy and pleasure. That’s how we strengthen our Soul’s magic power—how we replenish magic.”
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Soul… joy?
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“Anno, are you saying… we need to do something pleasurable together here?”
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“Y-yes, Lord Ashen…”
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By the end, the Elf’s embarrassment faded. She raised her head, her fiery gaze locking onto the young man before her.
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Compared to Schiutia, the Elf was less naive, with a maturity that was unmistakable. Unlike the Dragon girl, she was gentle and nurturing rather than cold and forceful—the very image of a devoted wife. Anno had always played the “mother” in their group.
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But now, as Anno traced her lips with a rosy tongue, longing flickering across her gentle features, the contrast was almost overwhelming. In that instant, the Elf’s allure reached its peak. Liao Ji found himself swallowing hard, nearly agreeing without a second thought.
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Fortunately, he managed to restrain himself, subtly taking half a step back and trying to change the subject.
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“Since there’s a way out, there’s no need to rush. We haven’t seen each other in five hundred years, Anno. How have you been?”
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“Lord Ashen, Anno has thought of you day and night for all these five hundred years.”
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“Is that so? By the way, Anno, after I disappeared, how is everyone else? I mean, besides you?”
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“Don’t worry, Lord Ashen. Everyone is with Anno. Anno will protect them—we’re all waiting for you, Lord Ashen.”
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She emphasized “waiting for you,” her tone hinting at deeper meaning.
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“I see. That’s a relief. There’s one more thing I want to ask, Anno—do you know anything about the Organization called ‘The Old Pact’?”
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“I do. Of course I do.”
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“Could you tell me more about it?”
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This time, the Elf did not answer immediately. Instead, she fell silent.
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But soon after, she spoke again—not to answer his question, but—
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“Lord Ashen, you’ve asked Anno so many questions—can Anno ask you one too?”
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Her eyes, now brimming with longing, fixed on the young man. A glimmer of moisture gathered at the corner of her lips, trailing down in silvery threads, lending her noble features a hint of something wild and dangerous.
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Her gaze had shifted—from gentle, maternal affection to the predatory hunger of a lioness eyeing her prey.
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With a voice tinged with grievance and frustration, the Elf confronted him, advancing a step for every one he retreated.
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“Since just now, Lord Ashen… why do you keep stepping back?”
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“Why do you keep moving away from Anno?”