"Iv… Ivsha… what exactly did you do?"
Xu Feiyan asked in a fluster, her voice trembling with confusion and shock.
"Me~?"
A faint smile curved Ivsha's lips, but she didn't answer right away.
After a brief pause, her voice drifted out slowly, almost teasingly.
"Don't be so nervous. I simply… cleaned up the scene a little~"
"…!"
Xu Feiyan's expression turned complicated. After a moment, she asked, "It's… over now, right? Can I let go of him?"
"Not yet~ It's not finished just yet!" Ivsha shook her head lightly. There was no way she was going to let Xu Feiyan slip away that easily.
Xu Feiyan's expression grew even more serious, her amber eyes flickering with an unfamiliar light.
Ten minutes later, everything finally approached its conclusion.
Ivsha licked her fingertips, a sultry smile playing at the corner of her lips.
"It's done~ President Xu Feiyan. I've already transferred my power to Mr. Akira."
"Finally… it's over!"
Xu Feiyan let out a long breath of relief, her whole body relaxing at once.
She immediately stood up and hurried toward the bathroom.
Stepping inside, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her delicate face now carried a trace of exhaustion—and dishevelment.
And…
Her skin was still glowing.
"…This must be something unique to the game, right? Otherwise… why would it glow…"
She muttered under her breath, then quickly splashed water onto her face, trying to cool the lingering heat on her skin.
The residual "holy light" was surprisingly easy to wash off—and its texture felt oddly similar to some kind of skincare lotion.
The moment her fingertips touched it, it spread evenly across every inch of her skin.
[You have received the Blessing of Holy Light. Appearance +10!]
"…?"
Xu Feiyan froze as the notification popped up before her eyes.
She had never expected…
That it would actually have "nutritional value"!?
And not just that—it increased appearance?
If simply applying it to her face could grant +10 appearance, then…
Xu Feiyan fell into deep thought.
In that instant, it felt like she had uncovered the secret behind the Soufflé Fantasy Guild.
"No wonder all of Akira's guild members are so stunning…"
…
Meanwhile, inside the Moonlit Dream.
"Why are there so many… human sculptures here?"
The centaur Azikman trotted forward, hooves clopping against the ground as she scanned the surroundings, utterly puzzled.
The others shared the same confusion.
Why was this Moon Palace filled with so many statues of women?
"They're not sculptures."
Kurose Akira walked up to one of the Moonlight Witches and extended his hand, his fingers brushing across her pale skin.
It was soft.
Supple.
Nothing like the rigid texture of stone.
There was even a faint fragrance lingering in the air.
"She is the Moonlight Witch," Akira explained calmly.
"She's… the legendary Moonlight Witch?"
"She's… beautiful."
"But why would she create so many copies of herself and store them here?"
The group stared in astonishment at the identical figures.
Akira nodded.
Although he didn't fully understand how these tens of thousands of bodies were preserved, one thing was clear—
They weren't clones.
He couldn't sense any life within them.
Not even a trace of a soul.
Rather than clones…
They resembled alchemical creations.
Perfect, one-to-one replicas of her body, stored here for some unknown purpose.
"I've never seen the Moonlight Witch myself," Lucia said as she stepped forward to Akira's side.
Her golden-red eyes studied the figure before her.
"But I've heard the legends. They say she rivals the Frost Witch… perhaps even surpasses her in true strength. But seeing this today… my impression has changed."
"Changed?" Akira asked, glancing at her.
Lucia merely cast him a sidelong look.
Then, with a faint hint of mischief, she said,
"I won't tell you."
"…?"
Akira stared at her, speechless.
Since when had Lucia started acting like a teasing girl?
"Roar~!"
Just as everyone was focused on the Moonlight Witches, the large white tiger let out a call, signaling them to follow.
"Where is it taking us?"
The group exchanged confused glances.
Akira didn't know either—but he followed anyway.
For some reason, he had a strong feeling…
The real "boss" was still ahead.
The others quickly followed.
Led by the white tiger, they ventured deeper into the Moon Palace.
Unlike the previous hall, there were no countless bodies here.
Instead—
A single statue stood at the center.
A towering, hundred-meter-tall sculpture carved from sapphire.
The Moonlight Witch.
She stood at the deepest part of the palace, both hands raised high, as if guiding those who beheld her.
"Meow~"
The white tiger leapt lightly to the base of the statue, rubbing its head against it with a look of almost… devotion.
"This statue…"
Akira stepped forward, reaching out to touch it—
But the moment his hand approached, he felt a restriction, forcing him to pull back.
At that exact instant—
A brilliant light erupted between the statue's raised hands.
The white tiger sprang upward, leaping onto the statue. It grabbed the glowing object in its mouth before returning to Akira's side.
It set the object down.
Akira crouched and picked it up.
It was a key—with a crescent-shaped end.
"So this is the Key of Moonlight Truth…"
The moment he touched it, the radiant glow faded, leaving behind what looked like an ordinary artifact.
[Key of Moonlight Truth: A key forged personally by the Moon Goddess. Said to open the Moon God's hidden treasury, it also contains the truth of the moon.]
"To truly complete the mission, we need to deliver this to the New Moon Priest."
Akira stored the item in his inventory.
"Let's go."
But just as he turned—
The white tiger suddenly blocked his path.
"Grrr!"
It bared its fangs, as if warning him of something.
Akira raised an eyebrow, then asked after a brief pause,
"If I remember correctly… you can speak, can't you?"
His words made the tiger bristle.
After a long silence, it finally spoke.
"Human… who are you? Why do you know the spell of my true body?"
"I'm the guild master of an adventurer guild," Akira replied calmly. "I accepted the Moonlight Witch's request to resolve the situation here. As for the spell—it was taught to me by your original body."
"…I see."
The white tiger fell into thought, then lifted its head.
"If that's the case… then there's no helping it."
It fixed him with a steady gaze.
"Deliver that item to the New Moon Priest. When the time comes, I will be waiting for you at the summit of Moonlight Mountain."
"…Alright."
Akira nodded, not thinking too deeply about it.
But just as he turned to leave—
"Wait!"
The tiger stopped him again.
"Before that, you must remember one thing!"
"What is it?"
"Remember this—no matter what—do not respond to any personal requests from the New Moon Priest!" The tiger's tone carried unmistakable warning. "Your only purpose for going to Moonlight Mountain is to deliver the key. Nothing more. Do you understand?"
"…Got it."
Akira nodded, though confusion lingered in his mind.
Still, since the tiger had warned him so seriously, he committed it to memory.
"Let's go."
He led Lucia and the others, along with the members of the Xianfei Guild, out of the Moon Palace.
But the moment they stepped outside—
Something strange happened.
Inside the palace, all the Moonlight Witches seemed to turn their gaze toward Akira's departing figure.
That eerie sensation of being watched made him instinctively turn back—
But the hall remained silent.
Only the white tiger stood there, staring at him with its deep blue eyes.
"…Ugh."
Akira shivered slightly.
Being stared at by a tiger was… unsettling.
After leaving the palace, he addressed the group.
"Mission's complete. Prepare to exit the dream."
"Got it~!"
Everyone responded in unison.
A flash of blue light filled his vision—
And slowly, Akira opened his eyes.
The moment his consciousness returned—
The first thing he saw was a glaring message:
Mission Failed.
"…?"
And the second thing—
Ivsha, sprawled across his body, gently teasing that radiant "holy light" with her fingertips.
"Ivsha!?"
Akira jolted upright in shock.
He had never expected that while he was in the Moonlit Dream…
She would take the opportunity to "feed."
"Wait—"
Before he could stop her, his gaze darted around the room, searching for Xu Feiyan.
Once he confirmed she wasn't there, he immediately asked,
"Where's President Xu Feiyan?"
"She~ is in the bathroom right now," Ivsha replied with a smile.
"The bathroom?"
Akira blinked, confused.
Why would she be in there at a time like this?
He stood and walked toward the bathroom door.
Knocking lightly, he called out, "President Xu? Are you inside?"
"Ah—Akira? You…"
Xu Feiyan's voice came from within, flustered.
After a brief pause, she added, "Wait—just a moment, I'll be done soon!"
"No rush. I just wanted to let you know—the mission's complete."
"…That's good. Thank you, Akira."
This time, her voice sounded much steadier.
"Alright. Take your time."
Akira left after saying that.
Inside the bathroom—
Xu Feiyan leaned against the sink, her hands braced on its edge, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
Only after she heard his footsteps fade did she finally let out a long breath.
Her eyes drifted back to the mirror.
Her mind was a chaotic mess—
Fragments of what she had just witnessed replayed over and over.
Ivsha…
The "holy light"…
Her body trembled faintly, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
"What is wrong with me…!?"
She quickly splashed water onto her face, trying to wash those images away.
But the more she tried to erase them—
The clearer they became.
Worse still…
They began stirring something deep within her.
A hidden desire.
Hormones surged uncontrollably.
She was nearly thirty—
And had never experienced a real relationship.
Meanwhile, Akira had just come of age…
And was already involved with a succubus…
Cough—!
Calm down. Calm down.
This is just a game.
Xu Feiyan steadied her breathing, forcing herself back to composure.
After tidying herself up, she slowly stepped out of the bathroom.
By the time she returned to the bedroom, all the members of the Xianfei Guild had already awakened.
"Guild Master!"
"The mission was a success!"
Honglian and the others gathered around her, reporting eagerly.
"Good work, everyone~"
Xu Feiyan smiled in praise.
But her gaze… unconsciously drifted toward Akira.
He was speaking with Lucia and the others—apparently about the failed mission.
But Xu Feiyan wasn't interested in that.
Her thoughts lingered on something else.
What Ivsha had said earlier.
Lucia and Akira were also… lovers.
So then…
Had they also—
"…!"
Lucia's gaze snapped toward her instantly.
Those golden-red eyes locked onto Xu Feiyan.
Startled, Xu Feiyan trembled slightly and quickly looked away.
But Lucia had already noticed—
That subtle fluctuation in her emotions.
"Lucia?"
Akira's voice pulled her back.
"Yes, I'm listening."
She returned her attention to him.
"Then it's settled," Akira said. "When the time comes, Lucia, Ivsha, Mare Rhein, and I will head to Moonlight Mountain."
This mission only required delivering the key—there was no need for a full deployment.
"Understood."
Lucia nodded briefly.
But her thoughts lingered on Xu Feiyan.
It felt as though…
She had learned something she shouldn't have.
"Akira."
At that moment, Xu Feiyan approached him.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Thank you for this," she said with a smile. "Without you, this mission would've been quite troublesome."
"It was nothing," Akira replied with a faint smile.
Though in truth, the mission would have been quite difficult for her alone.
Still—not impossible.
After all, the Moonlight Witch's clone had been stronger than expected.
It even seemed capable of forcibly expelling enemies from the dream.
"Once we log out, how about a drink?" Xu Feiyan suggested. "We can also discuss what kind of reward you want."
"Sounds good!"
Akira agreed readily.
After moving into her villa, he hadn't gone out even once.
Might as well experience the nightlife of a big city.
"Alright. See you in ten minutes—I'll take them back to the guild first."
"Mm."