---o---
In the holy church, vibrant flowers bloomed, and the light was brilliant and dazzling.
Elysia stood gracefully, clad in a pure white wedding dress. The long train of her skirt trailed across the red carpet, and her pair of fair, jade-like legs were perfectly round and slender.
Her jade feet were wrapped in white silk and tucked into exquisite high heels.
Her soft, pink hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and the face that could topple nations now wore an expression of immense complexity.
Elysia looked at Aponia. The nun, who clearly possessed the most compassionate heart, remained unmoved upon seeing her dear friend trapped in such a predicament.
Hmm, how heartbreaking.
But Elysia also seemed to understand what Aponia had always meant by "her own sins."
Putting that aside for the moment.
The problem now was…
Elysia's gaze shifted back to Ye Feng. The question from the [Vow] just now was definitely from one of the popular wedding ceremonies of the Current Era, wasn't it?
To say yes would go against her heart.
To say no… a cooked duck would fly away, and she felt a little unwilling to let it go.
Elysia was deeply conflicted.
Although it only lasted for a moment, this fleeting expression brought Ye Feng great joy.
The mere fact that she was weighing these two options meant Ye Feng had already won.
"Does Elysia feel troubled?"
"I do."
Elysia's beautiful eyes met Ye Feng's as she answered honestly, "After all, a wedding is a precious ceremony that a girl only gets once in her life… It represents two people in love staying together for a lifetime. I think it's a very romantic thing."
"Only once in a lifetime?"
"Is it not?" Elysia replied as if it were a matter of course.
"Hmm… Elysia, you truly are a good girl."
"Oh? Of course I am. It's delightful that Mr. Ye Feng has discovered this."
Ye Feng said, "Indeed. Since that's the case, I'll take a step back and we can use a different 'ritual' for the contract."
"Eh?"
We can change it?
"As I thought, the wedding-like ceremony just now was just Mr. Ye Feng's way of teasing me, wasn't it? Although I am very popular, you can't be too mischievous, you know."
"No. If the previous vow ritual could achieve one hundred percent effectiveness, then the 'step back' ritual will only have eighty percent."
"Is that so? That's fine. What is it?"
"A kiss will suffice."
Ye Feng said it casually, as if he were talking about the most ordinary thing in the world.
But the church, adorned with flowers and holy light, instantly fell silent.
"..."
"..."
"Eh?"
Elysia took half a step back, her hands covering the front of her low-cut wedding dress. "Mr. Ye Feng, you're just trying to take advantage of me, aren't you?"
"Hah?"
Ye Feng looked at Elysia, confused. "At this point, what is Elysia even talking about? Is there any part of your body that I haven't kissed?"
The pure, pink-haired elf quickly waved her hands. "No, no, no, how can that be the same? Before, it was always Mr. Ye Feng… doing those things to me. But now, you're asking me to actively kiss you, Mr. Ye Feng. There's a qualitative difference between the two."
"Tsk."
Ye Feng pouted. "So my ploy was seen through?"
As expected, Elysia was much smarter than Chong Chong.
He had used the same trick on Kiana.
Although Chong Chong had vaguely sensed that something was off, she was quickly led astray by Ye Feng, actively demanding kisses and calling him 'dear'.
She even reveled in it, believing that "it's this lady who's taking advantage of Ye Feng."
After all, to gain something new and solve a problem immediately "just by paying the same price as before" was an incredible bargain.
Only a fool would refuse.
"Ah? What is there to see through? The difference is quite obvious, isn't it? What girl would fall for such a trick?"
Elysia also felt that no one should fall into such a trap.
Ye Feng smiled gently. "So, Elysia, you don't want to use this method to sign the vow either?"
"Hmm…"
Elysia didn't refuse immediately.
Because they had indeed done it many times, and she had become quite skilled.
Seeing through the trick was one thing, but the thought "this doesn't seem unacceptable" did flash through Elysia's mind.
"Then let's take another step back."
Ye Feng raised his hand and smiled faintly.
"Eh?"
Elysia's eyes widened, her bright gaze fixed on Ye Feng in disbelief.
Since when did Mr. Ye Feng become so reasonable?
Elysia glanced again at Aponia, who stood to the side like a statue of the Holy Mother, unmoving and offering no opinion.
Elysia turned her head back and asked cautiously, "Then what is the ritual this time?"
A ring materialized in Ye Feng's open palm. It was carved with a pink crystal flower and was dazzlingly beautiful.
"I just need to put this ring on you."
"Hmm… just that?"
It seems the Current Era has a similar ritual? But I can't recall it at the moment.
"...Mr. Ye Feng, what is it this time?"
"That's something you'll need to find out for yourself. But, I can tell you this is your last chance."
"..."
Elysia's brow furrowed.
Perhaps it has some hidden meaning.
But regardless, just putting on an "accessory" was much more acceptable than the previous two options.
"Hmph, hmph, I see. Mr. Ye Feng always likes to catch people off guard with these little things. However, the ignorant are not guilty, you know, Mr. Ye Feng. As long as I don't know what it means, then it means nothing."
"Mm, let's just go with that."
Ye Feng looked at Elysia gently, a heartfelt smile on his face.
"Then, come."
Elysia raised her jade-like arm, which was wrapped in a long lace glove.
In the interplay of light and shadow, Elysia's slender fingers were long and elegant, each one like a meticulously carved work of art. They were light and agile, every movement exuding a unique rhythm and beauty.
Ye Feng placed the ring, which shone with a pink luster, onto Elysia's middle finger.
"The vow ritual is complete. But the [Permissions] are only at sixty percent of Snake-Snake's."
Elysia brought her palm before her eyes, spreading her five fingers to examine it closely.
Suddenly, she could feel a… connection to this world.
The world felt like a giant sandbox, and she was a child standing at its edge, able to shape the sand into any form she desired.
She even had the illusion of being able to perform [Genesis].
Elysia lowered her hand. Mobius suddenly appeared in the church.
She was sitting in the front pew, watching Elysia with a smile.
"Hi, Mobius. You seem to be in a good mood today."
Mobius crossed her legs like a queen, her eyes narrowing into crescents.
"I am. Seeing you so happy naturally puts me in a pleasant mood."
"Oh? For Mobius to say such a thing, I'm truly touched."
The corners of Snake-Snake's lips curved even deeper in amusement. "Of course. I'm happy because I know what's going to happen next. But, Elysia, what are you smiling about now?"