130 GRAFTING MAGIC TO AN ALLY
"Alright," Leo said, stepping forward and pulling out his dagger.
He attempted to cut through the web, but to his shock, the blade barely scratched it. "What the hell? What are these webs made of? They're indestructible!"
Yun-Yun crouched beside the web, studying its texture. "The spider was immune to physical attacks," she mused. "Maybe her webs are the same."
"Yeah, great," Petunia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Then cut through them with magic!"
"It's not that simple," Yun-Yun cautioned. "If we cast a spell strong enough to break the web, it might hurt you as well."
"You have to try something!" Petunia shouted, squirming against the sticky threads. "I can't stay stuck in this thing forever!"
Leo scratched his head, then turned to her. "Do you have any body transformation magic that could protect you while we work on breaking the webs?"
Petunia glared at him. "Are you joking? Not everyone is a magical prodigy like you. I couldn't master those advanced techniques yet."
Yun-Yun's eyes lit up with an idea. "Why don't you help her master the Dragon Rakhshasa Body Transformation Sutra?"
Leo's expression turned to shock. "What?" his voice lowered as he gave Yun-Yun a pointed look. "She could be a spy," his expression seemed to say.
"It's fine," Yun-Yun replied, meeting his gaze with a calm resolve. "She won't be able to harm us."
Petunia groaned. "That's not even possible. My magic isn't strong enough to create the connections needed for a body transformation yet."
"Stay still," Leo ordered, determination flashing in his eyes.
He summoned his control panel, scanning her magical codes. In place of the empty nodes, he grafted programs that were magical receptors, carefully superimposing the Dragon Rakhshasa Body Transformation Sutra into her system.
"Try activating it," Yun-Yun encouraged.
Petunia's suspicion was clear, but she followed their instructions. "This won't work," she claimed but she realized something was changing in her body.
To her astonishment, the empty nodes in her system had filled, and the sutra now glowed faintly across her body. A golden dragon shimmered into existence, coiling protectively around her.
"Impossible", Petunia shouted in shock and surprise as she activated her body transformation magic, something that she would never be able to achieve on her own.
"Now, brace yourself," Leo warned, firing magic pellets at her. The webs disintegrated under the force, falling away to reveal Petunia unharmed.
"How did you graft the sutra onto me?" she asked, equal parts amazed and grateful.
"That's a secret," Leo replied with a smirk.
Petunia shot Leo a skeptical look, narrowing her eyes. "Is it the same secret you used to change the username over your head?"
Leo ignored her question, instead turning his attention to Yun-Yun. His expression turned serious. "You better not make me regret this."
Before he could say more, Petunia suddenly lunged at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and, to his utter shock, kissed him.
He froze, stunned.
"What the hell was that for?" Leo asked, pulling back slightly, his voice equal parts confused and alarmed.
"It's for helping me," Petunia replied softly, her voice trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to fall. "Nobody helps me in this world unless they're family.. Sometimes not even family.. I'm just... not used to fucking charity."
Leo stood speechless, watching her struggle with emotions she rarely showed.
Petunia had her own story—one of hardship, survival, and unspoken regrets. In this unforgiving world, she had learned to fend for herself, often at the expense of trust and her own moral judgments.
Her vulnerability caused Leo to soften on her.
"Petunia will be help to us," Yun-Yun said, cutting through the heavy silence. "This realm is too dangerous. We need every help we can get."
Petunia quickly pushed Leo away, her face reddening as she realized the inappropriateness of her actions. "Sorry," she mumbled, glancing at Yun-Yun. "Your wife is right there…"
Leo sighed in frustration, but before Petunia could retreat further, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her back into an embrace. Without hesitation, he kissed her again, this time with intention.
Petunia's eyes widened in surprise before flicking over to Yun-Yun, expecting disapproval.
Instead, Yun-Yun smiled knowingly. "It's fine," she said lightly. "My husband needs all the Lust energy he can gather. I cannot satisfy him by myself."
Petunia blinked, confused. "Wait… your sin is Lust?"
Leo shrugged, his expression softening. "I might have mentioned that before. You better pay up for the sutra."
"I thought you were just kidding?" Petunia muttered, exasperated but also beginning to understand. "So… what, you're charging me for those lust counters you lost while grafting the body transformation sutra on me?"
"Exactly," Leo replied with a mischievous smirk.
Before she could respond, Leo's hands slipped under her blouse. This time, Petunia didn't flinch or resist. Instead, she met his gaze and leaned into the embrace. She was no longer the naive girl bound by old Catholic rules—she was a survivor in a brutal world, ready to embrace her own desires.
"Why do you hate me?" Petunia asked Leo, her voice trembling slightly.
Leo remained silent, his expression unreadable.
It was Yun-Yun who answered. "My husband doesn't hate you, Petunia. He's just cautious. You work for the Assassin Workshop, after all."
Petunia's eyes widened as she instinctively took a step back. "How… how did you know that?" she stammered.
Leo crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "We have our sources. Besides, you tested me back at the Tome Arena, didn't you?"
Petunia was visibly shaken. "Yes… and I'm sorry for that," she admitted, her voice dropping. "The Assassin Workshop gave me a task: to test your magic and determine if you're a demon practitioner."
Yun-Yun tilted her head, her tone curious but firm. "Why do you work for them?"
Petunia hesitated before answering. "I come from the Lotus family—one of the major families in Sodom City. But we're weak compared to the others. We don't raise powerful mages or warriors like they do. Our strength is in business and connections. The Assassin Workshop exploits that, forcing us to provide information and resources. In return, they protect us from the stronger families."