"New Moon Priestess's butt… New Moon Priestess's butt…"
After standing up, Kurose Akira muttered under his breath, preparing to carry out the task assigned to him by the Moonlight Witch's avatar.
Even if the contents of that task were… utterly outrageous.
"What are you going to do?" Roxia noticed him suddenly getting up and asked with quiet concern.
"I'm going to see the New Moon Priestess. There's something I want to clarify," Akira replied vaguely.
There was no way he could tell her he was about to ambush the New Moon Priestess's rear.
Roxia didn't press further. She simply closed her eyes again and sank back into meditation.
Meanwhile, Akira strode quickly toward the room where the New Moon Priestess was.
It was a side chamber deeper inside, the door left half-open. Leaning in slightly, Akira peeked through the gap.
Inside, the New Moon Priestess had her back to him, crouched on the floor.
She seemed to be rummaging through a large wooden chest, pulling out ritual items one after another.
"Strange… it should be here…"
She searched with intense focus, but something appeared to be missing.
At that very moment, she leaned deeper into the chest, her hips raised as she dug through its contents.
"!"
Akira's eyes sharpened.
Wasn't this… the perfect opportunity?
If he rushed in now and struck—
Just one quick stab to the New Moon Priestess's rear—
The Moonlight Witch's task would be complete!
Before he knew it, a small dagger was already in his hand.
He crept forward silently, eyes locked onto her back, careful not to make even the slightest sound.
As if cooperating with him, the New Moon Priestess remained fully absorbed in her search.
Now!
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 presence.
"An ambush!?"
Her leopard-spotted tail bristled instantly. In a flash, she spun around and moved faster than his eyes could track, pinning him down in an instant.
"So fast!" Akira frowned.
Her speed had completely surpassed both his reaction time and even his ability to follow with his eyes.
Before he could process what happened, her hands—no, claws—had already locked his body in place.
"Brat! What are you trying to do!?" she snapped coldly, slamming him hard onto the ground.
Strangely, despite the impact, there was no sound at all—naturally, it didn't alert Roxia and the others outside.
"Relax," Akira said calmly despite being restrained. "I'm just following the instructions of the Moonlight Witch's avatar."
"The Moonlight Witch's… avatar?"
The New Moon Priestess froze for a moment—then quickly understood.
And then—
"Damn it! That stupid white tiger again! Every time she uses possession magic, she pulls something ridiculous! What is even going on in that brain of hers? Is it tofu!?"
She gritted her teeth, clearly harboring no small amount of hostility toward the avatar.
But despite her irritation, she immediately released Akira.
After all, as a follower, she couldn't defy the Moonlight Witch's will.
Though Akira didn't fully understand the conflict between them, one thing was clear—the New Moon Priestess really would obey.
If he'd known that earlier, he wouldn't have bothered sneaking around!
"If it's her will…" she sighed. "Fine. What does she want me to do?"
"I need…" Akira explained the instructions.
The moment she heard that she had to "offer" her rear, the New Moon Priestess's fur practically stood on end. Even her white crescent mask seemed to flush red.
"That bastard! Nyaaa—!"
She let out an involuntary catlike cry, lowering her head as her eyes darted left and right, thinking desperately.
Akira raised an eyebrow.
…Yeah. Definitely a cat.
Maybe a leopard cat?
After a brief internal struggle, she finally resigned herself.
"Fine! Fine!"
She tucked her hands into her sleeves and lifted her head. Behind the mask, her brown eyes gleamed with a trace of killing intent.
"We'll do it her way. But once this is over, I will settle the score with her!"
"Phew…" Akira let out a quiet breath.
Good. The anger was redirected. He was safe.
"Hang in there. It'll be over quick."
He raised the dagger, its blade gleaming coldly.
"…."
The New Moon Priestess said nothing. She simply turned around, quietly waiting.
"Sorry about this!"
Shk!
Akira moved cleanly, leaving a neat cut across her rear.
"Hiss—!" She clenched her teeth from the pain.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"What do you think?" she shot him a glare.
Even so, she didn't dare touch the wound. Fresh blood slowly seeped through the fabric.
Then—
A faint blue glow began to bloom from the wound.
"This is…?"
Akira stared, fascinated.
Why… was it glowing?
But in a corner he didn't notice, the New Moon Priestess's right eye shifted to a deep blue.
Her two eyes now looked like they belonged to entirely different beings.
"Hey, human doll. What are you staring at?"
The voice came from her mouth—but it wasn't hers.
Akira froze for a second. "White tiger…?"
"Of course not!"
Her own voice snapped back—then added, "She's temporarily possessing my body. We're sharing it right now."
"I see…" Akira finally understood.
"Enough. We need to prepare some things. Leave for now," the New Moon Priestess said.
But immediately, her tone shifted.
"Human doll, bring me a bottle of wine later."
"You idiot! I'm allergic to alcohol!"
"So what?"
"You—!"
"Useless!"
"!"
"…."
The two voices argued within the same body.
Akira decided not to get involved and simply left.
Noisy as it was, having the white tiger involved would at least increase their chances of success.
"Wine, huh…"
He checked his inventory—none.
Turning to Roxia, he asked, "Do you have any?"
"Why?" she asked, opening her eyes slightly.
"The New Moon Priestess… needs it for the ritual," he said casually.
"…I do."
Roxia produced a bottle of blue liquor, intricately decorated like a work of art, and handed it over.
"What's this?" Akira examined it.
[Azure Fantasy (Epic): A special item that greatly boosts attack power temporarily and reduces pain perception.]
"A tribute from a coastal nation. I intended to let you try it, but since it's needed now, use it."
"Then I'll take a sip first."
He pulled the cork and took a gulp.
His face immediately twisted.
It tasted like salty soda… with alcohol.
Not exactly terrible—but definitely questionable.
"…Thanks."
He returned to the room.
The New Moon Priestess had already laid out the ritual items.
"Did you bring it?"
"Here."
He tossed her the bottle.
"I'll remember this favor," she said, smiling—then grimacing. "Idiot! I told you I'm allergic!"
"Not my problem!"
"Don't drink it!"
Gulp gulp gulp!
She couldn't stop the white tiger's stubbornness. The entire bottle went down.
"Ahh—!"
"Delicious~!"
Akira blinked.
…Seriously?
Or maybe the white tiger's sense of taste had dulled.
"Burp~"
A blue bubble floated out of her mouth.
"…?" Akira poked it.
Pop!
A burst of wine aroma.
Then—
Foam began to spill from her mouth.
Her body trembled.
"I… I…"
She staggered, losing strength.
"…So she really is allergic?"
Akira finally realized.
Even at her level, she actually couldn't handle alcohol.
"What a useless body! Can't even handle this much!"
The white tiger scoffed. "Human doll, help her."
"What do I do?"
"Flip her upside down."
"…I'll try."
He grabbed her ankles and lifted.
Her robe fell with gravity, revealing long, pale legs—
And more.
"Wait—there's nothing underneath!?"
"Y-you idiot!" she cried weakly. "Why would I wear clothes in my own house!?"
"…Fair point."
"Next?" he asked.
"Grab her tail."
"…Her tail?"
He hesitated—then grasped the fluffy, spotted tail.
The moment he did—
Her entire body shuddered violently, collapsing limp in his grip.
"Whoa…"
Her skin flushed red, like fruit ripening instantly.
"…Same weakness as Ivsha?" he muttered.
"L-let go…" she mumbled weakly.
But her voice slurred—drunkenness overtaking her.
"Wait!"
Akira panicked.
She had to conduct the ritual!
"Stay awake! Hey!"
He shook her.
"D-don't shake me!"
Furious, she bit his leg.
"Ow—!"
He let go.
She immediately pounced on him, growling like a feline.
"Human… don't touch my—"
Before she could finish—
He grabbed her tail again.
Instantly, she lost all strength, her body trembling uncontrollably.
A faint, intoxicating scent drifted from her lips.
"…Exactly the same reaction…" Akira muttered.
Could they be related?
Without thinking, he reached up and stroked her ears.
Soft… but not quite as good as the white tiger's.
"Enjoying yourself?"
A cold voice cut in from behind.
Akira turned—
Roxia stood at the doorway, Ivsha and Petiko beside her, silently watching everything.