In the upstairs lounge of the Butterfly Tavern, seated on the sofa.
Hearing what Daisy had said, Ranch paused, his hands bracing on either side of Daisy's body, gazing into her captivating eyes, he spoke, "Madam Daisy, you seek me out despite having a husband, and now you want me to help you kill your husband. Isn't that a betrayal of your spouse? Moreover, your husband is a member of the Tribunal, the president of the Mapleleaf Tribunal branch no less!"
Daisy seemed unfazed by the implication, wrapping her arms around Ranch's neck, she scoffed, "Mr. Ranch, are you scared?"
"No, don't get me wrong," Ranch replied with a smile, resuming his movements and saying, "I'm just curious about how you and that Howard Angelio ended up as husband and wife. And one more thing, I visited the Tribunal branch earlier and was informed by Dis that the magi had been stripped of their magical talents."
"If you want to know, I can tell you," Daisy began, narrating slowly, "Since you could detect the Butterfly Mark I left, you must be very clear about my identity."
"You're not human?" Ranch responded.
The statement sounded like an insult, but Daisy just rolled her eyes at Ranch without objection.
She said with a tinge of sorrow, "Correct, I am indeed not human but an advanced spellbeast who envied human life. Howard may be my husband in name, but I never intended to be his wife. He's a despicable man who forced me into a contract while I was transforming."
Daisy candidly confessed her spellbeast identity, which didn't surprise Ranch too much.
The aura sensed that day with the help of the Dragon God Vessel wasn't mistaken; Daisy indeed had a spellbeast aura, a powerful spellbeast transformed into a human form.
Moreover, their recent close contact allowed Ranch to perceive even more details, detecting a bright aura as well as an evil one binding her.
"Could that evil aura be left by Daisy's husband Howard?" Ranch pondered, seeing Daisy's sorrowful eyes, his heart stirred with empathy.
But this time, Ranch quickly snapped out of it, teasingly remarking, "Daisy, it seems you are quite pitiable."
Undoubtedly, this comment earned Ranch a disdainful glare from Daisy.
She lifted her leg, pressing it against Ranch's chest, gently pushing him away, then stood up from the sofa, stating, "I don't find it pitiful in the slightest."
Ranch wrapped his arms around Daisy from behind, whispering, "Is that so? I thought you were seeking my sympathy."
Daisy seemed a mix of startled and surprised, not at his embrace but that he hadn't fallen for her gaze this time, while Ranch felt relieved that the Sacred Purification Potion he had ingested, bestowing upon him The Power of Purification, had worked.
It shielded him from being bewitched by Daisy's eyes, from agreeing to assist her in seizing the Sacrifice table and killing Howard.
This revelation made Ranch realize Daisy's intentions were far from simple.
"What is this woman up to?" he pondered, unable to shake his suspicions.
He struggled to find any reason she might genuinely need him; it surely couldn't be merely to vent her own desires.
Without offering any explanations, Daisy remained silent.
Seizing the moment, Ranch once again entered her.
If clarity eluded him, he might as well indulge in the pleasure at hand.
As the new round of intimacy commenced, Daisy, caught off guard by Ranch's sudden move, could only brace herself against a nearby clothing rack.
With Ranch charging forward once more, he spoke, "Lady Daisy, if you genuinely seek my aid, you'd better show some sincerity. While your body is indeed delightful, it alone is insufficient as a bargaining chip. Neither Dis·Corvette nor your husband are easy foes; you need to offer more."
Amidst Ranch's vigorous thrusts, a wave of pleasure overwhelmed them, invigorating Daisy's spirit.
However, the mention of her husband sparked hatred in her eyes; she spoke through gritted teeth,
"Behind Dis·Corvette lies a fallen magus named Sock, masquerading as a deity, luring others into sacrifices. And Howard, his accomplice, deceived the magus of the Mapleleaf Tribunal branch, leading him to sacrifice all his mana, stripping him of the ability to perceive magical elements."
"Magus?" Ranch recoiled, questioning, "Daisy, do you think I stand a chance against a magus? I have every reason to believe you're sending me to my death. Find someone else for this task."
Hearing this, Daisy let out a cold laugh, "Ranch, do you think you can avoid this?"
Ranch paused again.
Daisy was right; he had unwittingly become entangled in an unknown conspiracy.
As Ranch pondered, Daisy caught her breath, turned to face him, and wrapped her long legs around his waist, her arms encircling his neck, her entire body clinging to him.
Then, caressing that burning rod, she guided it back into herself.
The sensation of being filled reignited Daisy's excitement, her breathing becoming rapid.
She looked earnestly at the contemplative Ranch and said, "Ranch, Dis and Howard have set their sights on you, and your current strength isn't enough to confront them. Only I can help you escape this peril."
Ranch, holding Daisy's thighs, asked, "Why are they after me? And why do you want to help me?"
Something had been off from the start.
Ranch speculated that he had been noticed by some schemer even before he arrived at Mapleleaf, Dis being one of them.
And Daisy, could she be involved too?
Ranch had no answers but hoped, nonetheless, they could be friends.
Daisy didn't hide anything in response to Ranch's questions, "They're after you because your body harbors immense power, your bloodline is so noble and extraordinary. Besides, even though you were exiled by the Muir family, you still have the right to enter the Muir family's Blood Moon Space, and that's what they value most. Mr. Ranch Muir, that's the truth of the matter, and my reason for helping you."
"Blood Moon Space? What's that?" Ranch was genuinely curious.
For the first time, a look of astonishment appeared in Daisy's eyes as she countered, "You, a member of the Muir family, don't know about the Blood Moon Space?"
Ranch countered, "Must I necessarily know about it?"
At that moment, Daisy seemed to realize something and asked, "Didn't you practice magic when you were with the Muir family?"
Ranch chose silence.
Back then, he was considered worthless, devoid of magical talent, and the magical abilities he now possessed weren't due to the so-called Muir family bloodline but were entirely a gift from the Dragon God Vessel.
It was then that Daisy's tone softened immensely, "Now, Mr. Ranch, I've shared so many secrets with you, isn't it time you repay me, make me feel good? Please, just look into my eyes."
Instinctively, Ranch gazed into Daisy's eyes, which suddenly burst into a kaleidoscope of light.
Under the spell of these colorful beams, Ranch seemed frozen, his eyes reflecting nothing but infatuation, while a butterfly-shaped mark faintly emerged on his forehead.
Seeing this, Daisy gathered all her mana, a smile curling her lips.
She whispered, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Ranch. Both that old man and I thought you were expelled from the Muir family after you had learned magic, but it's incredible that you only practiced it later. The Muir family, being a blood moon magus lineage, their detection couldn't have erred. So, it implies there's something miraculous in you that bestowed magical talent where there was none, touching the realm of the divine."
Daisy hadn't anticipated this delightful surprise.
Dis·Corvette and Sock had their eyes on Ranch, and she, too, desired him, but unlike them, she needed not his bloodline or body, just him.
What she had told Ranch was true, albeit incomplete.
Howard Angelio from the Tribunal branch had indeed forced her into an unfair pact, but once she regained her strength, she turned the tables on the contract.
Unfortunately, Howard had fled, seemingly hiding somewhere in the Wolf Fang Mountains.
Being unable to leave Mapleleaf freely, she needed someone to deal with her so-called husband.
And Ranch, from House Blood Moon, suited perfectly.
As the Butterfly Mark on Ranch's forehead became more pronounced, Daisy's smile grew wider, tenderly saying, "Ranch, once the Soul Contract is complete, I will make it up to you, I promise."