Chapter 50: The Divine Tree’s Embrace and a Sister’s Betrayal

Unexpectedly, as Ila was pulled by Leila into the Tree Temple, the two Dark Demon Princesses from the Abyss were openly exposed to the tree’s essence.

Yet, Ila felt no discomfort. Even the previous weakness and lethargy caused by Leila’s overly aggressive actions instantly vanished.

She felt utterly refreshed, as if joyous laughter echoed around her. There was no repulsion as she had anticipated; this reaction was just like ten years ago, when she was still a Magical Girl.

Ila’s eyes glowed faintly red, and the scene before her shifted slightly. Verdant energy surged from the central house of the Tree Temple, permeating the entire courtyard.

This energy was actually pollen dispersed into the Tree Temple when the tree’s branches bloomed. Whenever the Divine Tree sensed Magical Girls approaching the temple, it would cause its branches to flower and release this pollen. It was meant to nourish the body, soothe the mind, and enhance adaptability, thereby comforting the girls who fought valiantly for the surface world.

Normally, only Magical Girls could absorb this pollen. Even the temple priestesses could only absorb it and improve their bodies, extending their lifespans, through years of gradual nourishment from the tree’s essence.

It was certainly not something that creatures born from the Black Mud of the Abyss could absorb.

But…

Ila watched in astonishment as the pollen slowly enveloped her and Leila, tentatively beginning to merge with their bodies. In fact, the pollen congregating around them was even more abundant, and its absorption more efficient, than that around the two upright Magical Girls ahead of them.

Even without transforming into the Blood Demon Princess, her current body was undeniably that of a Dark Demon Princess, reshaped by Black Mud. Not only was it not repelled, but it felt even more intimately connected than when she was a Magical Girl.

She could perhaps rationalize her own situation by thinking that the Divine Tree’s essence recognized her past as Magical Girl White Rose, pitying her hardships over the years and overlooking her transgression of invading the surface world five years ago.

‘The Divine Tree hasn’t abandoned me!’

This thought injected a powerful dose of hope into Ila. As long as she could be recognized by the Divine Tree’s essence again, there was still hope of transforming back into a Magical Girl.

But then, who could explain why that old hag Leila could also absorb the pollen? The pollen swirling around her was even more plentiful than around Ila.

Ila could use her past as a Magical Girl as an excuse, but Leila was a true Dark Demon Princess, born from the Abyss. Didn’t the pollen sense that the body it was entering was terribly wrong?

‘What’s up with the Divine Tree’s essence?’

Ila, her worldview shattering, couldn’t help but disrespectfully question the Divine Tree.

Leila, sensing Ila’s inner turmoil, chuckled mischievously and patted Ila’s shoulder, speaking with an air of nonchalance.

“Oh, I never thought my disguise would perfectly fool the Divine Tree Lord. I wonder why little Ila hesitated at the temple entrance earlier. So cautious, aren’t we?”

The implication was clear:

‘The strongest Magical Girl, White Rose herself, was more conflicted about entering the Tree Temple than I, a Dark Demon Princess. What a weakling.’

Pfft…

That was a cruel blow.

Ila clutched her chest, a touch of sadness in her eyes, as Leila half-dragged her to the entrance of the largest room within the temple.

“Welcome, esteemed Magical Girls, to our Qingling Town Tree Temple for this grand worship ceremony. I represent the Tree Temple in welcoming all of you.”

Just then, a woman bearing a ninety percent resemblance to Ling Ling pushed open the door and bowed respectfully to the five individuals below.

There was no way a mother should bow to her daughter. A shy Ling Ling immediately ran onto the platform, adorably pulling on her mother Hualin’s arm, swaying back and forth to stop her respectful words.

“Mom, you’re making me so embarrassed!”

“Ling’er, you’re a Magical Girl now. Don’t act like a child. You should learn from Lingling and follow your teachers to become a qualified Magical Girl, so you can inherit the Tree Temple and serve the Divine Tree Lord in the future.”

“Mom, I know, but please don’t say these things in front of everyone. Give me some face…”

Hualin had served as a priestess in the Tree Temple for over thirty years. Her skin, nourished by the tree’s essence, still appeared like that of a vibrant young woman in her twenties, showing no trace of age. Standing beside Ling Ling, those who knew would recognize them as mother and daughter, but others might mistake them for sisters.

Ila watched the mother and daughter conversing softly. She overheard their conversation and, for some reason, Ila thought she saw a hint of familiar stiffness in the smiles on Ling Ling’s and Hualin’s faces.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Leila, as the team leader, stated their purpose. The three young Magical Girls then, guided by the priestesses and following the worship rules Ila had provided, each proceeded to a private chamber. There, they were to fast and refrain from drinking while establishing a connection with the tree’s essence, undergoing a half-day retreat.

Worshiping the Divine Tree’s essence was one of the most direct ways for Magical Girls to feel the Divine Tree Lord’s presence. Each worship ritual brought a new level of enhancement for Magical Girls, whether in power, spirit, or combat techniques.

“So, why is Sister, a Dark Demon Princess, coming into the same room as me?”

Ila had initially thought Mona and the others would need at least half a day for their worship. Since the Divine Tree’s essence not only didn’t repel her but unexpectedly showed affection, Ila decided there was no time like the present to join the worship.

She intended to communicate with the Divine Tree after a long time, to ask how to restore her body from a Dark Demon Princess back to a human, and if possible, to have that ‘thing’ regrow. (A disclaimer: it will never grow back ♥).

Even though her life as a woman had become far more profound and lengthy than her life as a man, Ila would never forget her original male self.

After all, only by restoring her male human body could she officially return to Mona’s side as her brother.

Regardless, Ila, even as a defeated Magical Girl, would never completely succumb to the darkness and become a Dark Demon Princess. The hesitation she felt about her identity in despair had gradually faded with the emergence of hope, especially after Leila revealed her exploitable weakness.

But… why was that old hag Leila haunting her by following her in?

Leila immediately embraced Ila, their two beautiful bodies intertwining. In the dim light, Leila pinned her ‘sister’ onto the soft mat, her tongue sensuously licking her upper lip.

Across from them, a branch from the Divine Tree’s essence bloomed with vibrant pink flowers.

“Hey, hey, hey, Sister, don’t mess around! This is the Tree Temple, and the Divine Tree Lord, the bane of your Abyss, is here!”

Ila’s flushed face showed a hint of panic, and she stammered, trying to stop Leila’s renewed assault.

“At least, at least wait until night, okay? Can’t we go somewhere else tonight, Sister?”

She desperately didn’t want to be wantonly trampled and played with by an Abyss Dark Demon Princess right under the nose of the Divine Tree’s essence, especially herself, the once proud Magical Girl White Rose, who held it in the highest esteem.

If that happened, how would the Divine Tree Lord, who had just managed to forgive her sins, view her—someone who had betrayed and fallen, body and soul?

This was no different from a ‘yellow-haired’ man semi-coercing a daughter in front of her old father!

But Leila snatched Ila’s defenseless fists, pinning both arms above her head with one hand. She used her legs to press down on Ila’s slender legs, shifting them left and right.

Leila’s finger pressed against Ila’s lips, silencing her desperate cries. A wicked smile flickered on her face, and her voice, thick with desire, whispered in Ila’s ear.

“Do you really think I don’t know what answers you’re hoping to get from worshiping the Divine Tree?”

With two fingers, Leila pinched Ila’s mouth shut, rendering her speechless and immobile. Ila strained to lift her head, looking towards the tree’s branch before them.

‘Divine Tree Lord!

Divine Tree Lord, help me!

Your most beloved Magical Girl is about to be toyed with by an Abyss Dark Demon Princess right before your eyes!

The Abyssal fiend has reached your doorstep, and the enemy’s leader is so arrogant! Old Ancestor, quickly strike her down!’

“How could you, whose soul has been corrupted by Black Mud, so easily communicate with the Divine Tree? This is blatant betrayal.”

Ila’s athletic shorts, unable to protect their owner, sprouted wings and flew away.

“But what can I say? I’m a good person, and I can’t stand to see little Ila crying and throwing a tantrum.”

‘Divine Tree Lord! Why are you just watching…’

Ila’s eyes were vacant as she looked at the unresponsive tree branch, choosing to give up resistance, tears welling up but unable to fall.

“So, let me, your Sister, help you communicate with the Divine Tree~”

Ah!!!!

The pink flowers on the tree branch glowed with exceptional vibrancy.

The fountain’s water jet in the center of the Tree Temple surged exceptionally high.

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