"The Crescent Priestess's butt… the Crescent Priestess's butt…"
Kurose Akira rose to his feet, muttering under his breath as he prepared to carry out the task assigned to him by the Moonlight Witch's avatar.
Even if the content of that task was completely insane.
"What are you going to do?" Lucia noticed him suddenly stand and asked with quiet concern.
"I'm going to find the Crescent Priestess. There's something I need to clarify with her," Akira replied vaguely.
There was no way he could tell Lucia that he was about to ambush the Crescent Priestess's backside.
Lucia didn't press further. She simply closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.
Meanwhile, Akira quickly made his way toward the Crescent Priestess's room.
It was a side chamber located deeper inside, the door left slightly ajar. Leaning forward, he peered through the narrow gap.
Inside, the Crescent Priestess had her back to him, crouched on the floor.
She seemed to be rummaging through a large wooden chest, pulling out items needed for the ritual.
"Strange… it should be here…"
She searched with intense focus, but something seemed to be missing—she couldn't find what she needed.
At that moment, she practically climbed halfway into the chest, her hips raised as she continued searching.
"!"
Akira's eyes sharpened.
Wasn't this… the perfect opportunity?
If he rushed in now with a blade and struck—
Wouldn't the Moonlight Witch's task be completed instantly?
Before he realized it, a small dagger had already appeared in his hand.
He crept into the room, silent as a shadow, eyes locked onto her back, careful not to make the slightest sound.
As if cooperating with him, the Crescent Priestess remained completely focused on the chest.
Perfect timing!
Akira seized the moment, raised the dagger—
—and thrust it toward her.
But what he didn't know was that she had already sensed his approach.
"A sneak attack!?"
Her leopard-patterned tail bristled instantly. In a flash, she spun around, moving so fast it exceeded Akira's ability to track.
"Too fast!"
Before he could react, her hands—no, her claws—had already seized him completely, locking his body in place.
"What are you trying to do, brat!?"
She slammed him to the ground, her voice icy.
Strangely, despite the impact, there was no sound at all—no disturbance that might alert Lucia and the others.
"Relax," Akira said calmly despite being pinned. "I'm just following the orders of the Moonlight Witch's avatar."
"The Moonlight Witch…'s avatar?"
The Crescent Priestess froze for a moment, then quickly understood.
And then—
"Damn it! That white tiger again! Honestly! Every time it uses possession magic, it has to pull something weird like this! What the hell is going on in that thing's head? Tofu!?"
She gritted her teeth, clearly irritated—no, outright hostile—toward the Moonlight Witch's avatar.
Yet despite her displeasure, she released Akira.
After all, as a follower, she couldn't disobey the Moonlight Witch's will.
Akira didn't fully understand their relationship, but at least one thing was clear—the white tiger hadn't been lying.
If he'd known, he wouldn't have needed to sneak attack!
"Sigh… if it's that thing's command…"
The Crescent Priestess let out a long breath. "Fine. Tell me—what does it want me to do?"
"I need…"
Akira relayed the instructions exactly as given.
The moment she heard she needed to "offer up" her backside—
her fur practically stood on end, and even her white crescent mask flushed red.
"That bastard! Mrrrow!"
She let out an involuntary feline sound, lowering her head as her eyes darted side to side, trying to think of a solution.
Akira raised a brow.
Yep… definitely a cat.
Or maybe a leopard cat?
After a moment of internal struggle, the Crescent Priestess finally gave in.
"Fine! Fine!"
She tucked her hands into her sleeves, lifting her head. Behind the mask, her brown eyes gleamed with a trace of… killing intent?
"We'll do it your way. But once this is over, I'm settling the score with her!"
"Phew…"
Akira let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like all the blame had been redirected to the Moonlight Witch's avatar.
That meant he was safe.
"Just bear with it. It'll be quick."
He raised the dagger, its cold edge glinting faintly.
"..."
The Crescent Priestess didn't reply. She simply turned around and stood still, silently waiting.
"No hard feelings!"
Slash!
Akira moved decisively, leaving a clean cut.
"Hiss—!"
She clenched her teeth in pain.
"Does it hurt?" he asked out of reflex.
"What do you think?" she shot back, glaring at him.
Even as blood seeped through her robes, she didn't dare touch the wound.
At that moment, however, a faint blue glow began to emanate from the injury, catching Akira's attention.
"What…?"
He stared, intrigued.
Why was it glowing?
But what he didn't notice—
was that one of her eyes had turned a deep blue.
Her gaze now seemed split—like two different beings inhabiting the same body.
"Hey, human doll. What are you staring at?"
The voice that came out was different.
Akira froze for a second.
"…White tiger?"
"Not exactly!"
The Crescent Priestess's original voice snapped back in, before she quickly clarified, "It's just temporarily possessing me. We're sharing a body right now."
"I see…"
Akira finally understood.
"So that's why…"
"Enough. We need to prepare some things. Leave for now," she said.
Then, in the next instant, her tone shifted—
"Human doll, bring me a bottle of wine later."
"You idiot! I'm allergic to alcohol!"
"So what?"
"You—!"
"Pathetic!"
"!"
"..."
She began arguing with herself.
Akira couldn't be bothered. He simply turned and left the room.
Though chaotic, having the white tiger involved would definitely increase their chances of protecting the ritual.
"Wine…"
He checked his inventory—nothing.
So he turned to Lucia.
"Do you have any alcohol?"
"Why?" Lucia slowly opened her eyes.
"The Crescent Priestess… needs it for the ritual," Akira said casually.
"I do."
Lucia produced a blue bottle from her sleeve, intricately designed like a work of art, and handed it to him.
"What is this?"
Akira examined it, and the system prompt appeared:
[Azure Fantasy (Epic): A special item that greatly increases attack power and reduces pain perception temporarily.]
"This was tribute from a small coastal nation. I planned to let you try it. Since it's needed now, use it," Lucia said calmly.
"Then I'll try a sip first."
He pulled the cork and took a gulp.
His face immediately twisted.
It tasted like salty soda… with a hint of alcohol.
Not terrible—but definitely questionable craftsmanship.
"Thanks."
With the bottle in hand, he returned to the Crescent Priestess's room.
She had already arranged the ritual items neatly.
"Did you bring it?"
"Here."
He tossed her the bottle.
"I'll remember this favor." She caught it, a smile forming—only to immediately grimace. "Idiot! I told you I'm allergic!"
"Not my problem."
"Don't drink it!"
Glug glug glug!
She couldn't stop the white tiger's stubbornness.
The entire bottle was emptied in one go.
"Ahh~"
"Delicious~"
She sighed in satisfaction.
Akira blinked.
She… liked it?
Or maybe the white tiger's taste buds were broken.
"Burp—"
A blue bubble floated out of her mouth.
"…?"
Akira poked it.
Pop.
A faint aroma of alcohol spread into the air.
And then—
Foam began to spill from her lips.
Her body trembled violently.
"I… I…"
She staggered, barely able to stand.
"Wait… is she actually allergic!?"
Akira suddenly remembered.
He had assumed it was a joke.
At her level—nearly demigod—how could alcohol affect her?
But clearly…
it was real.
"Useless! You can't even handle this much!"
The white tiger mocked through her voice. "Human doll, help her."
"What do I do?"
"Turn her upside down. Head facing down."
"…Alright."
Akira grabbed her ankles and lifted.
She flipped easily.
As gravity pulled her robes down, her long, pale legs were revealed.
And more…
"Wait—there's nothing underneath!?"
Akira froze in shock.
"Y-You idiot!" she managed weakly. "I'm in my own home—why would I wear anything!?"
"Fair point…"
"Now what?"
"Grab her tail."
"…Her tail?"
Akira looked at the swaying leopard-patterned tail.
After a moment, he reached out and grabbed it.
The instant he did—
Her entire body jolted.
Then went limp.
"Hey—?"
He shook her slightly.
But her pale skin flushed red instantly, like fruit ripening in a second.
"…Is her weak point the same as Ivsha's? Her tail?"
"L-Let go…" she mumbled weakly, her voice slurred.
"Wait!"
Akira suddenly realized—
She still had to perform the ritual!
How could she be drunk now!?
"Stay awake! Hey!"
He shook her urgently.
"Stop—shaking—!"
Enraged, she bit down on his leg.
"Ow—!"
He let go.
The moment she was free, she pounced him, letting out a low, feline growl.
"Human… don't you ever touch my—"
Before she could finish—
he grabbed her tail again.
Instant shutdown.
Her body arched back, trembling uncontrollably.
A thin strand of saliva slipped from her lips, carrying a strange, intoxicating scent.
"…That reaction again…"
Akira muttered.
It was exactly like the white tiger.
Could they be related?
Without thinking, he reached up and rubbed her ears.
Soft.
But still not as good as the white tiger's.
"Having fun?"
A cold voice suddenly came from behind.
Akira froze and turned.
Lucia stood at the doorway.
Behind her were Ivsha… and Petite.
All three of them watching.
Every. Single. Moment.