Chapter 38: Chapter 38: What Else?
No matter how you looked at it, Lloyd had reaped a bountiful harvest this time. Beyond the gains on his panel, there was the lucrative future post of ’Executioner’ and a considerable bonus. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction and couldn’t help but murmur with a sigh:
"My life is living proof of that old saying: ’Hard work always pays off!’"
With that, he figured he’d rested enough. It was time to take Weiya somewhere she could get some proper rest.
Lloyd looked down at Weiya, who was still cradled in his arms.
The situation had been too dire earlier for him to think about anything else. But now that things had calmed down, he noticed that Weiya’s delicate body wasn’t as cold and rigid as her appearance suggested. She was warm and soft, her curves rising and falling like waves. She had a pleasant plumpness to her that felt wonderful to hold.
Her condition had stabilized, though she was still unconscious. Her beautiful eyes were closed, her face peaceful in sleep, showing a tranquility and fragility rarely seen in her on a normal day.
Her legs, exposed above her thigh-high boots, were tightly encased in fine black stockings. Under the surrounding lights, they had an intoxicating sheen, subtly revealing a hint of the skin beneath, which only made them look all the more appetizing.
’She’s so beautiful. Just as pretty as any of the waifus on my phone...’
Lloyd mused silently, a wicked thought uncontrollably bubbling up in his mind.
’She’s out cold, anyway. An opportunity this good is hard to come by. I should take this chance to...’
The more Lloyd thought about it, the more the itch became unbearable. He decisively freed one hand and reached for Weiya’s lovely face...
...and gave it a firm pinch.
’So soft, so smooth. So pinchable!’
But that was as far as his liberties went.
What else was he going to do? ’Can’t just stick it in whenever there’s an opening, right?’
Lloyd then swept Weiya’s delicate form up into a princess carry. Inevitably, this position meant one of his hands ended up wrapped around her stocking-clad thigh, giving him a direct feel for her fine, firm, and supple skin.
Still, Lloyd properly carried Weiya into the elevator without any further ideas.
What else was he going to do? ’Can’t just take advantage of her while she’s vulnerable, can I?’
Weiya had saved his life. She had thought of protecting him even at a critical moment, and she was someone he would fight alongside in the future.
Lloyd took Weiya to the prayer room on the 6th floor, laid her on a medical bed, took off her boots, and wrapped her up tightly in a blanket like a little cocoon.
The Priest there hurried over, immediately pulling out a penlight and shining it in Weiya’s eyes.
"Her condition is fine. It’s nothing serious. She should wake up after a little rest."
As he spoke, he tried to shine the light in Lloyd’s eyes, but Lloyd quickly stepped back and dodged it.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I’m fine, but I won’t be if you keep shining that thing at me."
"What on earth did you encounter? Why did Judge Weiya fall unconscious?"
The Priest asked.
Lloyd gave him a rough summary of what had happened. He mostly stuck to the truth, only embellishing the details slightly. He said that in the midst of the crisis, he and Weiya had fought side-by-side to barely defeat the high-risk Demon.
That should be enough of an explanation. Weiya could fill in the rest when she woke up. Besides, given the state she was in—half-delirious, half-conscious—she probably couldn’t provide a very detailed account anyway.
As for any other details, Lloyd just said he had been so tense that his head was spinning and he couldn’t remember clearly.
’If he didn’t say that, he couldn’t think of any other way to explain it. How could a rookie who’d been with the Holy Judgment Court for less than a month single-handedly defeat a high-risk Demon after the Orbit had failed?’
’He couldn’t just say he was a diligent, hardworking, and ambitious young man who defeated his enemy through the power of guts, courage, friendship, bonds, love, hope, and possibility, could he?’
After hearing Lloyd’s story, the Priest didn’t even bother with questions or doubts. He nearly jumped to his feet and said urgently:
"There was a problem with the Orbit? And you still pushed yourselves? This is... this is... Unacceptable! I must report to the Chief Judge at once!"
With that, he scurried out of the room.
Lloyd wasn’t in a hurry. He simply lay down on an empty bed nearby and continued to rest, recovering the Spiritual Power he had expended.
............
Half an hour later, that ghastly, inhuman Chief Judge floated into the prayer room, escorted by several Priests.
Just like last time, he first floated to Weiya’s bedside, spread his fingers over her to check her condition, then came to Lloyd’s side without a word and did the same to him.
Then, a voice spoke directly in Lloyd’s mind.
"You have done very well, Executioner Lloyd."
Lloyd froze, looking up to stare at the Chief Judge’s numb, cold, human-like mask.
"Do not be afraid. This is how I communicate. You may converse with me in your mind, or you may speak aloud."
The Chief Judge ’spoke’ again.
To be fair, his voice ’sounded’ quite normal. It was like that of a gentle and refined teacher, unhurried, with a strong sense of warmth that was completely at odds with his bizarre appearance.
But Lloyd played it safe and chose to speak aloud:
"Er... it’s an honor to meet you, Lord Chief Judge."
The voice returned to his mind:
"I have already been to Floor -6 to inspect the site. The Orbit there was indeed damaged. It may have been natural decay, or it may have been sabotage. I have already assigned other Judges to investigate the matter thoroughly.
That you and Judge Weiya were able to slay this high-risk Demon under such circumstances is both gratifying and surprising. Your talent, in particular, is astounding. Even among the Qualified, you are in the highest echelon.
Therefore, I have decided to adjust my previous plan. Originally, I intended to wait until you completed your Enlightenment before formally bestowing upon you the great responsibility of ’Executioner’. However, your performance today has thoroughly convinced me. I must accelerate the process, lest you be snatched up by someone else."
The Chief Judge went on at length, his admiration for Lloyd ’overflowing’ in his words.
Lloyd quickly replied with false modesty:
"Thank you. I also hope to bring my talents to the Holy Judgment Court as soon as possible."
The Chief Judge seemed to pause for a good while before a laugh echoed in Lloyd’s mind:
"Hahaha! Very good. Full of spirit. I like young people like you who have drive."
Lloyd didn’t press the matter of his promotion and raise. Instead, he turned his concern to Weiya’s condition and asked about her.
The Chief Judge gave a rather strange reply:
"Do not worry. You protected her very well."
With that, he ended the conversation, reminded Lloyd to get some rest, and floated away with the Priests.
