In the five months that he has served as the dao protector of Serene Will, progress has been minimal. The first three months were the worst, she always treated him with insults, despising him. However, Lawrence's prior experience proved beneficial at the end of the day because, although the disdain still exists, the insults have toned down.
"How many women are you taking care of?"
One day, that question came from Serene Will, and Lawrence hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
"Ha? And you still have the audacity to knock on my door every day?"
Lawrence sighs inwardly. 'That's why I didn't want to tell her, if she thinks she has any right over me, she's mistaken. Ha! She thinks she's the only one I dedicate my time to. This woman still doesn't know her place.'
That day, Serene Will got angry with Lawrence simply because she learned how many women he was caring for. But the next day, everything went back to normal, because deep down, she knows she doesn't have the right to do so.
Because she is not the maiden she used to be.
"Good morning."
"Hello."
It's unthinkable that such a woman would change enough to respond to his greeting, but that's all, expecting anything more would just lead to more insults from Serene Will.
"Do you want me to tell you about the Divine Plane?"
Lawrence, sitting on a rock, and she, seated on the wooden floor, Serene Will quietly watches the water fountain in the courtyard and then nods her head.
"In the Divine Plane, there are seven kingdoms, each governed by three sects. The size of each kingdom is as vast as you can imagine. Millennia ago, these were empires, now, all that is forgotten."
Serene Will listens quietly to Lawrence's story.
"These seven kingdoms do not cover the whole world, just a third of it."
"Why?"
"Because of the demonic beasts and the evil sects. Just as a rock can gain wisdom after centuries of listening to monks, demonic beasts can take human form after centuries of existence, known as Greater Demons."
As for the evil sects, he might be one of the most knowledgeable hunters on the subject.
"Many of the evil sects are led by them, the Greater Demons, demons who only desire chaos. As soon as the opportunity arises, the righteous sects unite to annihilate them completely, sparing not even the flowers in the courtyard."
"I don't need redundancy, continue."
"In short, they destroy everything to prevent temptation and the continuation of the evil legacy, but it must not be forgotten that each righteous sect acts out of self-interest. In the past, kingdoms fell to the clutches of the evil sects because no one wanted to waste resources on them."
"Hmph, it's the same everywhere."
"In the distant past, there were civilizations superior to ours, with great wisdom and knowledge, but they all fell. No one knows the cause of their devastation, but traces of their existence still remain. And those are the Archaic Ruins, which contain legacies and treasures that can change the fate of those who possess them."
Lawrence continued to explain about the foundation of the Divine Plane for many hours, but throughout his narrative, he avoided discussing the other side of the coin, making his speech an enjoyable and interesting one.
This is the first time Serene Will has stayed in front of him for so long, completely forgetting that the man in front of her is here for money. No, it would be more accurate to say that she doesn't want to think about it.
"It's about time, I must go."
As soon as she heard those words, Serene Will remained silent. Because she would soon have to return to work.
Lawrence finds this situation very amusing, as he has been waiting for this precise moment for five months. The minutes before a new client arrives.
"Actually, I've been thinking about what you might like, and after giving it some thought, I deduced that this might please you."
From his storage ring, he retrieves a dessert composed of a chocolate mousse with some cookies around it.
"Eh?"
Serene Will sees this with amazement, disbelief.
Unconsciously, she extends her hands and receives the dessert. After tasting the first spoonful, she…
'This flavor is identical to one I once tasted.'
Upon seeing her in that state, Lawrence approaches her.
"Are you okay?"
Outwardly, Lawrence shows concern, but inwardly...
'You're softening up, soon I'll gain your trust.'
He smiles happily.
For the first time, Serene Will allowed herself to be touched by Lawrence, while he only consoles her, occasionally stroking her back. His movements were so perfect that at some point he managed to sit next to her and bring her head to his shoulder.
For a moment, Serene Will returned to her senses, but after feeling Lawrence's considerate act, she allowed him to do as he wished.
Lawrence watches her discreetly and smiles, 'The mole on her chest is fascinating, how long will this woman take to fall for me?'
Expecting consideration from Lawrence? Such a thing does not exist!
"Thank you, I needed to vent to someone."
A few minutes were enough for Serene Will to regain her composure.
"Don't think this will happen again, now go away, don't bother me."
Lawrence stands up and looks at her one last time, "Goodbye."
"…Goodbye."
After saying goodbye to her, Lawrence leaves her residence and laughs joyfully.
"The Omniscient View of that woman doesn't work properly with those who surpass her in level, otherwise, my advances would be useless. I couldn't be more grateful for her low level, she left the path easy for me."
If she were the person she was in the past, would she allow a stranger to get so close to her? Impossible, those hunters born with an extraordinary ability tend to be lone wolves.
She was destined to be at the top of the food chain, that's why she didn't want to get attached to anyone, that's why no one managed to conquer her despite the years it took her to reach level 300, because no one was worthy of her.
+++
"Lawrence, have you heard of any woman who managed to resume her life outside this place?"
Upon hearing Serene Will's words, he pauses for a moment to think.
'I still remember the words of Dark Root, dozens of dao protectors die each year for trusting these bitches.'
And this woman...
"I would be in debt to you for life."
She is trying to seduce him.
'So that's why she let me sit next to her this time. I'll take full advantage of this moment.'
Serene Will uses her charm to elicit a response from Lawrence, unbothered by his openly observing her chest or how his crotch looks lifted. At any other time, she would have hit or insulted him, but not this time.
Lawrence isn't handsome, on the contrary, his dark circles and dead eyes make him look unattractive. But even so, he has a special appeal, to the point where Serene Will is sure there might be women who fall in love with him at first sight.
She never will, of course. She's sure of that.
"What--"
Especially considering how he boldly extends his hand and caresses her chest.
'Are you trying to take advantage? Scoundrel!'
She bites her lips but doesn't dare to stop him. Not until she gets an answer!
'So long wanting to touch this damned chest with that mole, the wait was worth it! This proud woman is accepting my advances!'
Lawrence touches Serene Will's chest over her clothes, knowing what he is doing is risky, but nothing is more thrilling than this. The soft touch of her chest and the look of disdain, the bosom of a woman with great future prospects at the will of his hand.
All this happens in the span of five seconds. The next instant, he withdraws his hand and extends it toward Serene Will's cheek.
She looks at him skeptically, but the next moment she understands his meaning.
"You're becoming what you hate the most."
"Don't touch me..."
"Do you want to talk?"
"Don't touch me!"
Everything changes in just seconds. Serene Will uses everything around her and turns it into sharp weapons seeking to take Lawrence's life, but their difference in levels is vast, for him it's easy to dodge all her attacks without getting hurt.
Later, Serene Will uses all her mana and collapses exhausted on the floor.
"Come, you need to rest."
"Don't come near me."
"Do you really want this to end like this?"
"..."
Serene Will falls silent immediately.
Sighing, Lawrence approaches and carries her, but he doesn't take her to her bed. Belatedly, Serene Will realizes Lawrence's intention.
"Get that thing away from my face."
"I can't do anything about it."
Lawrence lays Serene Will's body on the wooden floor, with her head resting on his thigh. After the fight, his crotch had long since returned to its normal state, so she is exaggerating by saying it touches her face.
After losing mana, the hunter loses much of his mobility, so even if Serene Will wants to resist, it's virtually impossible.
When he begins to stroke her hair, she does nothing nor attempts anything to stop him.
He then says: "I haven't heard of any."
"…"
She tries to calm down after hearing his words, but just closing her eyes makes her remember everything she's lived.
In that moment, Serene Will realizes the truth.
'When did I become so weak?'
Watching her struggle with herself, Lawrence suppresses the urge to laugh, watching this talent is very interesting. Why was she born with such ability if her destiny was to fall in this place?
'Wouldn't it be better to give it to me?'
"This place is known as the underground city of Agares."
Allowing Lawrence to caress her, Serene Will listens quietly.
"Outside this subspace lies Agares City, of the Heavenly Path Kingdom. To enter this place, one must have prior authorization and it must be done through a special alley, there may be other entrances, but this is the only one I know of. Without this authorization, the alley will appear like any other, making it impossible to enter here by coincidence."
She slowly begins to regain her mana, but still remains with her head resting on his thigh.
"Upon entering, there is a defensive barrier that checks the hunter's belongings and confiscates prohibited goods. No matter if they are inside a storage ring, the barrier can see through all these methods."
She frowns, "The weapons..."
"My weapons are confiscated each time I enter this place, but they are returned to me as soon as I cross the barrier intending to leave. Out of curiosity, I tried testing the limits of scrutiny by bringing all my savings, 90% of them were retained, but upon exiting, they were directly returned to me without my noticing."
This information was enough for her to understand.
"The process is automatic."
Lawrence nods, "That was the conclusion I reached."
As Serene Will ponders this, Lawrence extends his hand and caresses her cheek.
"If any of those men promise you something, they must be lying."
"..."
Before, she allowed him to touch her cheek because she was expecting an answer, but this time, with nothing at stake, she lets Lawrence do it without opposing it.
"I've heard that the barrier can only be broken by force by hunters over level 500, but that rumor is false."
Lawrence continued to stroke her face for several minutes, until she silently got up and remained sitting beside him until the time for him to leave arrived.