A Call, a Confrontation, and a Confession

“Alezno, why don’t we go for a walk in the park?”

Li Yue pondered where it would be suitable to take Alezno, ultimately settling on this idea.

“Although the weather has been a bit warm lately, it’s usually cooler in the park. More importantly, I thought it might appeal to your tastes there.”

“Moon, Su Luoli’s knowledge is still in my head,” Alezno grumbled softly. “I know what a park looks like, and honestly, I’m not interested. Those few green plants can’t possibly compare to the Elf Forest.”

‘Well, there’s no helping that, I suppose.’

Li Yue shrugged helplessly, then asked, “So, is there anything you actually want to do?”

“I was thinking, maybe we shouldn’t go out today?”

Alezno replied, and Li Yue’s gaze drifted to Alezno’s flat chest.

‘There’s no need to go out; staying by Moon’s side like this is perfectly fine.’

‘Still, with only three months to find other people’s souls, there isn’t much time for enjoyment.’

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll help you and the Demon Lord search for them.”

The elven race had always been content with little, being a long-lived species. Too many desires would only lead to trouble, and their emotional fluctuations tended to be calm and measured.

Even though Su Luoli was human, her thought patterns from her previous life seemed difficult to shake.

Li Yue put her hands on her hips, a wry, helpless smile gracing her lips.

“Alright, we won’t go out for now, but we’re still going out for dinner. This is a welcome meal for you, and you’re not allowed to refuse.”

Alezno simply nodded.

“Mm, I’ll listen to you.”

‘So well-behaved. How wonderful if she were my own sister.’

Alas, that troublesome brat Su Luoli was hardly endearing, and both the Demon Lord and Alezno believed her body should be returned to her. Li Yue’s emotions were quite complex.

‘If only there were a way for the two selves to merge.’

‘Like the Demon Lord…’

Just then, a burst of loud music erupted.

Su Luoli’s phone was ringing.

“Ah, damn it.”

Alezno possessed knowledge about “mobile phones,” yet she was clumsy in operating one. Crucially, she lacked Su Luoli’s memories, leaving her utterly unaware of the caller’s identity.

Li Yue glanced at the caller’s name.

“Gongliang Kuixi… Hmm, what a strange name. And a compound surname like that?”

However, upon seeing the name, Alezno’s entire body trembled.

“Huh?”

Even she was surprised by her own sudden reaction.

“Wait, why did I…”

‘Even without Su Luoli’s memories, has an instinctive fear been left behind?’

‘Who on earth is this person? Her mother?’

‘No, if it were her parents, they wouldn’t likely save their names under their full given names in the contacts.’

Li Yue considered this, then said, “You can’t handle it like this. Let me take the call for you.”

Whenever Alezno saw or heard something, corresponding knowledge would surface in her mind.

Yet, she was, after all, a soul from another world, unfamiliar with this one and lacking comprehension. Even if she attempted to impersonate Su Luoli, it was clear she couldn’t pull it off convincingly.

If she were to answer the phone, she might very well spin a lie with a distinctly otherworldly flair, perhaps something like, “I’m off to slay monsters outside the city! Won’t be home tonight!”

“Th-then I’ll leave it to you.”

Alezno handed over the phone.

Seeing her trembling demeanor, it seemed this Gongliang Kuixi was no simple person.

“Uh, hello?”

Li Yue answered the phone.

From the other end of the line came a stern, boisterous female voice.

“Who are you? Give the phone to Luoli; she’s with you, isn’t she?”

Although Li Yue suspected it might be the mother, the voice didn’t sound like an elderly woman. However, judging age purely by voice was often misleading, so Li Yue couldn’t confirm the caller’s identity based on that alone.

“I’m her friend, but she’s not available to take the call right now…”

“Friend? What’s your name? And what’s your relation to her?”

The stern questioning felt like an official interrogation.

However, the last thing Li Yue wanted was an official inquiry, and she was hardly one to suffer slights silently. Being questioned so sharply, her tone immediately turned unfriendly.

“Ha? I was about to ask who *you* are! What do you want with Luoli?”

“Don’t question me! *I* am asking the questions here!”

Li Yue grinned, then declared, “Luoli’s playing at my place right now! She won’t be coming home tonight! Goodbye!”

She then hung up and immediately dragged Gongliang Kuixi’s contact into the blacklist.

“Lunatic.”

After hanging up, Li Yue continued to mutter curses under her breath.

Recalling how the Demon Lord had been traced recently, she prudently removed the SIM card and powered off the phone, completely severing any possibility of the caller tracking them down.

Alezno asked, “Moon, isn’t that a bit… improper?”

Alezno was certainly aware of the Hero’s fiery temper.

Still, she found it difficult to fully accept such an approach.

“What do you plan to do? Actually go see her? Don’t be ridiculous; without any memories, how could you possibly impersonate Su Luoli convincingly? We need to figure out a way for her to regain her memories… naturally, while preserving yours.”

Li Yue walked into the kitchen, wrapped Su Luoli’s phone and SIM card in aluminum foil, then placed them inside a sealed plastic bag before finally handing them to Alezno.

“Keep this safe.”

“Mm.”

Alezno nodded obediently, as always.

“It’s past four already?”

Li Yue glanced at the time and said, “Alright, let’s get ready to head out for dinner! In this world, even vegetarian dishes can be made incredibly delicious.”

“W-wait a moment.”

But Alezno suddenly called out to Li Yue, an unnatural blush creeping across her face.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Alezno’s expression tightened, and she remained silent, prompting Li Yue to look towards her chest.

‘What should I do? I need to use the restroom.’

“Huh? Then just go! The restroom is right over there…”

Li Yue pointed towards the bathroom, raising an eyebrow as she added, “You’re stammering just to ask to use the toilet? You’re being far too formal! We’re companions who’ve adventured together!”

“No…”

After a moment of internal struggle, Alezno whispered, “Moon, I’m not quite sure how girls… you know. And this is Miss Su Luoli’s body, after all. Could you perhaps… help me?”

Alezno’s voice was barely a whisper, thin as a mosquito’s hum, yet clear enough for Li Yue to hear.

“…Huh?”

This question completely stumped Li Yue.

“Wait, no, hold on. Weren’t you a woman in your previous life?”

Alezno was an exquisitely beautiful golden-haired elf.

“Huh? Moon, I was a male in my previous life… Are you mistaken?”

As she said this, she pressed her legs together, fidgeting awkwardly.

“What?”

Li Yue had adventured with Alezno for over half a year, and throughout that time, she had always perceived Alezno as female.

She had even believed her adventuring party consisted of three men and two women (TL Note: Li Yue did not consider herself a woman).

Even when Alezno had been bitten in half by the Four Heavenly Kings’ Wolfman, Li Yue had remained oblivious to her companion’s true gender… Elves, regardless of gender, were all handsome, but Alezno had always looked utterly feminine!

‘So, my crucial companion was actually a femboy?!’

‘Uh oh, it feels like… something’s about to leak out.’

At this point, Alezno had begun to nervously tap her feet in place.

“Then just get in there already!”

Li Yue practically forced her into the bathroom.

“Huh? Wait!”

Of course, Li Yue didn’t go in herself; she stood bracing the bathroom door, preventing Alezno from escaping.

“You’ll know how to use the toilet just by looking at it, won’t you? Besides, this body is yours in this life! Don’t be shy, feel free to use it!”