The Encounter

Volume Two

Chapter 95: The Encounter

“Don’t move.”

In the darkness, Ewan felt a soft, fragrant warmth.

Through the thin fabric, Ewan could discern a warm, exquisite sensation—two magnificent, rounded forms. They enveloped him like a surging tide, making it difficult to breathe.

A faint, familiar fragrance, one he couldn’t quite place, drifted into his nostrils, stirring his mind. Two slender hands pressed firmly against his head, concealing him within a voluminous black robe.

In such close proximity, Ewan’s hands had nowhere to rest, so he instinctively braced them beneath him. His fingers then brushed against smooth skin, feeling a softness akin to silk.

‘Though I couldn’t see, the mere touch confirmed it: This must be black stockings!’

‘While I don’t know who this person is, if they’re wearing black stockings… they must be a good person, right?’

Ewan slightly lowered his guard, suppressing the urge to draw his blade. He curled his body inward a little, making their cramped position less uncomfortable.

****

The monster’s footsteps were drawing near.

“So unappetizing…”

Closer and closer.

Ewan felt the very ground tremble faintly with each of its approaching steps.

“Huh?”

The monster stopped.

It stood at the alley’s mouth, peering around.

“Strange, strange, strange…”

As if having lost its target, the monster paced restlessly at the intersection.

“Not tasty, not tasty, not tasty…”

Though he couldn’t see it, Ewan’s heart hammered in his chest.

Even if the monster had momentarily lost track of their location, it would surely stumble upon them if it entered their alley.

This meant…

It was a one-in-three chance.

“Little rooster, point to who, that’s who. This way, tasty.”

Ultimately, good fortune seemed to favor Ewan for once. The monster chose the opposite path, continuing its wobbly departure.

It vanished into the darkness.

Once certain the monster had truly left, Ewan abruptly lifted his head from the surging ‘waves,’ gasping for fresh air.

While the sensation had been delightful, he had to admit that if the monster had lingered any longer, he might have succumbed to a ‘chest murder.’

“Thank… thank you.”

Ewan breathed heavily, offering his sincere gratitude.

Regardless, for a girl to make such a sacrifice to save him was an immense kindness.

“No need to thank me.”

The figure, whose alluring curves were barely concealed by the voluminous black robe, tugged at her slightly disheveled attire and spoke casually.

She seemed utterly unconcerned.

However, upon hearing her voice, Ewan froze.

Though the voice was clearly altered, he remembered it vividly.

He snapped his head up, and sure enough, the familiar black-robed figure came into view.

“You unscrupulous merchant, it’s you!”

The humiliation of being repeatedly deceived flooded his mind, momentarily stunning him. He then snarled in a low, indignant tone, “How dare you show your face before me again!”

“Merchant?”

At Ewan’s exclamation, the figure beneath the black robe seemed to pause as well. The gaze from beneath the hood meticulously scrutinized Ewan, as if recalling something. Then, her eyes became deeply meaningful.

“Oh my, that person… it was you after all.”

“Ye… yes, it’s me!”

Ewan finally remembered that he was no longer in disguise, but he immediately straightened his back. Confronting such a deceitful merchant, he absolutely couldn’t back down. He needed to cut through the chaos swiftly and seize the initiative, or he’d be led by the nose!

“You unscrupulous merchant, since you’re here, why don’t we settle our accounts?”

“Oh my, what accounts?”

“Still playing dumb.”

Ewan chuckled angrily. “Deceiving me again and again, treating me like a fool—if you don’t settle this, don’t even think about leaving!”

“Oh, you mean you want to settle *all* accounts with me, down to the last detail?”

“Exactly!”

“Then…”

The Shop Owner suddenly leaned closer, whispering, “I saved you. How should we account for that?”

Ewan’s expression instantly stiffened.

‘Right, she saved me.’

‘How could I have forgotten that so quickly? If we’re truly settling accounts, then this one…’

“And you touched me earlier, didn’t you?”

The Shop Owner pressed closer. Though she emitted neither magic nor battle qi, Ewan felt an immense pressure.

It was like a small white rabbit cowering on a desolate island, surrounded by a towering tsunami.

“But… wasn’t that your initiative?”

“Oh my? So, you secretly touching my thigh was also my initiative?”

“That was an accident, an accident! My hands had nowhere to go…”

“Waaah, you’ve touched my body, now I’ll never get married. What am I going to do…?”

The Shop Owner advanced step by step, and Ewan retreated step by step.

Until… he could retreat no further. Ewan felt his back hit the corner of the wall.

The Shop Owner leaned in, one hand braced against the wall behind Ewan, much like a hooligan teasing an innocent maiden.

“Tell me, since we’re settling accounts, how should these two accounts be balanced?”

“I… I have money. I can give you money. Just say how much you want.”

Ewan trembled. After much thought, money was the only thing he could offer.

“Money isn’t everything, you know. While I am quite short on cash lately, I don’t want it.”

“Then… then what do you want?”

Ewan’s eyes widened in terror. He noticed the Shop Owner’s gaze lingering on him. She looked like a big bad wolf drooling over a little white rabbit!

‘She can’t possibly be coveting my body, can she?’

‘What if she demands repayment in flesh?’

‘Could it be that I, the esteemed Ewan Campbell, must sacrifice my pure body today?’

‘Such a thing is simply…’

“What… what exactly do you want?”

“I want…”

The Shop Owner lowered her head, and that familiar scent enveloped Ewan once more. Moreover, due to their angle, Ewan could clearly see the smooth curve of her chin peeking out from beneath her hood.

Her soft, pink lips glistened, curving into a mischievous smile.

It was a mischievous smile Ewan knew all too well.

“Senior?”

In that instant, without a moment’s thought, those two words flowed naturally from Ewan’s mouth, like clear spring water falling from a height.

The air fell silent for a moment.

“Oh my, was I exposed? I wanted to tease my junior a little longer.”

The Shop Owner sighed regretfully, straightened up, and pushed back her hood.

Though the light was dim, Ewan could still clearly see her familiar, pretty face.

Her hair, unusually, was not tied up but cascaded loosely behind her head. Her eyes remained as clear as crystal, curving delightfully, more captivating than the bright moon in the sky.

The tear mole at the corner of her eye exuded an undeniable charm, yet it wasn’t overtly seductive; it simply drew one in, unconsciously enchanting them.

Her lips curved into that mischievous smile, like a little demon capable of stealing souls.

“We meet again, junior. How have you been?”

“We meet again, junior. How have you been?” Anna greeted him with a light laugh. She hadn’t changed at all; her eyes curved into gentle, warm smiles.

After all, by his reckoning, they had only been apart for barely a day.

Yet, looking at her, Ewan felt as though an eternity had passed.

The shocking revelation that his senior was the owner of the mysterious small shop was momentarily cast aside. He simply stared, dumbfounded, at Senior Anna.

“Is something wrong?”

Anna looked at Ewan’s current gaze with some confusion. But then she grew serious, pressing a hand to the coin purse at her waist with a tense expression. “Junior, no matter what you ask, I won’t return your money.”

“I…”

Ewan was somewhat exasperated, surprised that his senior would suddenly utter such a miserly remark.

But his smile, which had just begun to form, quickly faded again.

Meeting his senior should have been a joyous occasion, yet at this moment, Ewan felt a suffocating pang of sorrow and weariness surge within him.

These were emotions he had suppressed all along, only bursting forth now, in the comfort of seeing his senior.

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“May I hug you?”

“Oh my, in the middle of the night, is my junior’s playboy soul getting restless again, trying to harass me? Junior is quite the pervert, isn’t he?”

“No, I just…”

Ewan’s shoulders and brows drooped, as if something heavy weighed upon him.

“Never mind, Senior. Just pretend I…”

Before he could finish, Ewan felt two cool hands cup his cheeks.

In his surprise, Anna lifted Ewan’s head, standing on tiptoe to carefully examine his eyes.

As if she’d discovered something, Anna’s eyes filled with pity. She gently rested Ewan’s head on her shoulder, stroking his hair tenderly.

“Junior, you must have been through something extraordinary tonight.”

“…”

“Although I don’t know what happened, junior, don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s not something to be hated.”

“…”

“Junior really likes to act spoiled, doesn’t he? It’s alright to cry, you know.”

“…I won’t cry.”

Ewan quietly absorbed the girl’s warmth, murmuring softly.

“I won’t cry.”

“Is that so?”

Anna tilted her head, glancing at Ewan’s resolute profile, noting that he truly wasn’t crying. She sighed with even more pity. “Junior, you’ve grown stronger.”

****

After a brief moment of warmth, Ewan and Anna sat side-by-side against the wall, awaiting the passing of the lingering danger.

Anna tugged at Ewan’s sleeve, signaling him to move closer.

Then she pointed to the sky. “Look up.”

“Up?”

Ewan looked up in surprise.

The clouds had dispersed at some point, revealing a clear sky with a bright moon suspended overhead.

Devoid of stars, the moon appeared even more luminous, yet it emitted a faint, eerie blue halo, making it seem utterly desolate.

“This is…”

Ewan suddenly understood.

“That monster earlier, was it a worshipper of the moon?”

No wonder he had been able to pinpoint their location; bathed in the eerie blue moonlight, escape from its pursuit would have been impossible.

“Strange.”

Ewan, however, felt a flicker of doubt.

‘I shouldn’t have provoked the Silent Moon, so why would its worshipper try to kill me?’

‘Could it have detected the King of Decay’s power on me?’

‘No, that can’t be right. Didn’t they say alchemy could mask auras?’

Ewan was bewildered but didn’t dwell on it. He was accustomed to his ‘evil god magnet’ constitution anyway. More lice, less worry. Even the God of Love hadn’t said anything, so the Silent Moon would have to take a number if it wanted to kill him.

‘Besides, shouldn’t its primary concern now be a certain radiant muscular man who’s about to visit its home to bring some warmth?’

Ewan shook his head, inching closer to his senior.

It wasn’t because his senior’s shoulder was soft and she smelled good; it was simply because the moon-shadowed spot was only so large.

“Senior, do you know that monster from earlier?”

“No, I’ve only heard rumors about him.”

“Rumors?”

“One of the urban legends of the Lower City: the Shadow Butcher.”

Anna paid no mind to Ewan’s subtle thoughts. She casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke softly. “His appearance is that of a man in a black raincoat, wearing a strange mask, and wielding a blood-stained cleaver. It is said he has the ability to attack others’ shadows and even snatch and devour them. Those whose shadows he consumes also lose all their flesh and blood.”

“…It seems that was him.”

Ewan couldn’t help but shiver.

Lorenzo’s image, as if he had been devoured alive, still lingered in his mind, and recalling it now made his stomach churn with nausea.

“Speaking of which, I never would have guessed that you, Senior, were the owner of that mysterious little shop.”

Ewan suddenly remarked with a sigh.

Thinking about it this way, his connection with his senior wasn’t just forged at the academy; it had begun much earlier.

‘This truly must be fate, indicating that my destiny with Senior is intertwined as firmly as tree roots.’

Ewan’s mood, rarely so cheerful, brightened at this thought. As for earlier thoughts of revenge or spanking the Shop Owner, they had long been forgotten.

‘Just kidding, if I tried to spank Senior, I’d definitely be spanked back.’

“I also never expected that Junior was that customer.”

As she spoke, Anna’s lips curved again. She looked at Ewan beside her and asked meaningfully, “There’s something I’m very curious about, Junior.”

“What is it?”

“Junior, what were you planning to do with that medicine you bought earlier?”

Ewan’s smile instantly froze, and fine cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

‘What was I planning to do? Of course, to drug a certain princess!’

‘But can I say that? Absolutely not!’

“It couldn’t be… that you were really going to drug an elephant, could it?”

Seeing Ewan’s panicked expression, Anna’s smile deepened. However, observing her mischievous look, Ewan immediately understood that she didn’t genuinely want an answer; she merely wished to continue teasing him.

Yet, the more she did this, the more helpless he felt.

What could one do against a senior who, though seemingly mischievous, harbored no ill intentions?

So, Ewan could only resort to his ultimate weapon: changing the subject.

“Senior, I have something for you.”

“Something for me?”

His senior tilted her head, confused. “Is today a special day?”

“Today?”

Ewan thought for a moment. “It’s the fifty-seventh day since we met in the library?”

“Hehe, you’re making things up.”

His senior giggled sweetly, but Ewan tried to keep a straight face. “It really is fifty-seven days! If you don’t believe me, Senior, count it yourself!”

“Alright, then for this fifty-seventh-day anniversary, what will Junior give me?”

“I will give you… this.”

Ewan produced the red jewel box.

As the familiar jewel box appeared in her sight, Anna immediately knew what was inside and fell into a daze.

“This… this is?”

“That’s right, the Tear of True Love.”

Ewan smiled and opened the jewel box.

In the center of the luxurious red velvet lay a tear-shaped pink gem. Even in the darkness, it shone with dazzling brilliance.

“Why is it in Junior’s hands?”

Anna was only confused for two seconds before she suddenly realized. “So, number eighty-eight was Junior? And the one who called the guard team tonight was also Junior?”

“Mm.”

Ewan nodded, still smiling.

However, from the fleeting hint of loss in his eyes, Anna vaguely guessed something.

She didn’t press further, instead looking at the exquisite gem.

“Junior, I can’t accept this gem…”

“Senior doesn’t want it?”

“…I do want it, but if you just give it to me for free, I’d feel…”

“It’s not free.”

Ewan looked into Anna’s slightly startled eyes and said seriously, “Didn’t I say before? This is a reward for your help, Senior. You’ve helped me so much, but you’ve never said what you want in return. If this continues, I’ll be uneasy. So, please accept it as my thanks, alright?”

Anna was silent for a moment, then also smiled. “Since that’s the case, then I won’t refuse your kind offer.”

She reached out, intending to take the gem from Ewan’s hand, but Ewan’s hand gently blocked her.

“Let me.”

Ewan took the Tear of True Love from the jewel box. It was then that Anna was surprised to discover two delicate “little tails” hanging from the gem.

They were crystal-carved chains, sparkling and translucent, exquisite even on their own. Strung with the Tear of True Love, they made the gem look like an angel with wings.

“I was surprised when I first saw them too. Later, I read the auction description and learned that this gem had already been transformed into a necklace, but they only displayed the gem to avoid devaluing it.”

“Although it’s a bit deceptive, I actually quite like it.”

Ewan held up the two ends of the ‘angel wings,’ gently lifting the gem. It trembled slightly in the air, like a tear about to fall from a maiden’s eye.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is very beautiful.”

Logically, any woman seeing such a beautiful necklace should be delighted. Yet, at this moment, Ewan read a hint of sorrow in Senior Anna’s eyes.

“What’s wrong? Senior doesn’t like it?”

“No, I love it very much. But precisely because I love it… I feel a little reluctant.”

“Hmm?”

Ewan was bewildered, but Anna didn’t elaborate. She swept her long, dark hair aside and smiled. “Junior, help me put it on.”

“Ah, this…”

Ewan was somewhat stunned.

He had picked up the necklace merely to display it before his senior. He hadn’t expected her to want him to put it on her himself.

Looking at his senior’s neck, as fair as a swan’s, Ewan suddenly felt his throat go dry.

Seemingly noticing Ewan’s hesitation, his senior tilted her head and asked, “What’s wrong, Junior? Are you unwilling?”

“No, I’m willing! How could I not be willing!”

Ewan immediately straightened his back. What kind of man would falter at such an important moment?

He took a deep breath, holding both ends of the necklace, and gently draped it around Anna’s neck.

Her soft hair brushed against him, making Ewan’s heart tingle. From this angle, his senior, with her eyes cast down and eyelashes fluttering, looked even more captivating.

‘Slower, a little slower.’

Ewan murmured to himself.

So, his movements were slow, so slow that time itself seemed to stand still.

‘If only this moment could last forever. At least now, he could forget all his troubles and quietly appreciate the girl’s beauty.’

But at that moment, Anna suddenly looked up, her eyes revealing intense solemnity… and disgust.

“I’m sorry, Senior, I’ll immediately…”

Ewan thought his slow movements had displeased his senior and was about to speed up. But suddenly, his senior slapped his chest.

It wasn’t an attack. A gentle force spread from her palm, forcing Ewan to stumble back a few steps. Anna, with a swift hand, caught the Tear of True Love as it fell from the air and quickly put it away.

It was then that Ewan felt the sudden death warning in his mind, and a sharp, cold glint tore through the air, piercing the wall between Ewan and his senior.

It was a curved blade, like a crescent moon, glinting with cold light under the moonlight.

“Oh dear, what an unpleasant sight to behold.”

A seductive voice drifted over. Ewan turned in surprise and saw a seductively dressed woman standing on the nearby wall.

The woman wore a tight leather outfit, with a low V-neck plunging to her navel, almost revealing half of her ample bosom.

She wore heels at least ten centimeters high, her face was heavily made up, and her figure was so stunning it would make any man’s nose heat up.

But the moment Ewan saw her, he felt a bone-chilling cold, as if he had been targeted by a venomous snake.

“Who are you?”

Ewan asked guardedly.

The Seductive Beauty also looked at him, her gaze scanning him up and down as if she had spotted… an interesting toy.

But for some reason, despite the woman’s appearance not matching anyone in his memory, Ewan still felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

‘This damn intuition is getting more and more skewed.’

“A first meeting, oh no, perhaps a first meeting in this guise. Hello, Ewan Campbell, you may call me Miss Siren.”

Miss Siren gracefully picked up the hem of an imaginary skirt, performing an alluring noble’s curtsy to Ewan.

“A first meeting in this guise?”

Ewan chewed on the intriguing phrase, but before he could ponder it further, a soft voice whispered in his ear.

“How did you find me?”

His senior’s expression was incredibly grave. “I thought I had completely eliminated the moon’s influence.”

“Well…”

Miss Siren raised a hand to her nose, taking a deep sniff, her face flushed. “A secret.”

‘Scent?’

‘But when did I leak my scent?’

‘I should have changed the scent-masking potions several times along the way.’

“Get ready to run, Junior.”

His senior’s voice simultaneously rang in Ewan’s ear.

“She’s very dangerous.”

“I know.”

Ewan took a deep breath.

Even with half a street separating them, Ewan could already feel the perilous aura emanating from the woman who called herself Miss Siren, making his eyelids twitch.

‘What in the world is happening today? Are monsters appearing in pairs now?’

‘And from my senior’s conversation with her, she’s also an evil cultist worshipping the Silent Moon?’

“Do you think you two can get away?” Miss Siren looked at Ewan, giggling.

“I think my escape ability is quite strong.”

“Is that so? Then I look forward to seeing it.”

Miss Siren smiled enchantingly, even winking at Ewan, seemingly unconcerned by their little plan to slip away. Yet, despite her captivating smile, Ewan felt a chilling sensation creep up his spine.

Ewan looked to his side, subtly reaching out to his senior.

“Senior, grab my hand.”

That mysterious Miss Siren had made a mistake; she hadn’t blocked the alley entrance. And at this distance, if he continuously used Shadow Step, he should be able to escape.

After an exchange of glances, Senior Anna seemed to agree with the idea, extending her soft hand toward Ewan’s.

But Ewan did not get to grasp his senior’s hand as he wished.

In that instant, Ewan’s death premonition, honed countless times to extreme sharpness, flared again. A sickening sense of danger enveloped him like a deep sea.

But this time, the threat wasn’t from Miss Siren in front of them, but from… behind!

“Tasty!”

With a thunderous crash, the wall behind them suddenly cracked open. Countless bricks and dust scattered, and the tall, thin figure clad in a heavy raincoat swung its cleaver, bursting through the wall. From beneath its flesh-stitched mask, an utterly crazed fury erupted!

And at that moment, the drum-like pounding of Ewan’s heart finally resumed!

‘Damn it, when did he sneak up!’

The thought flashed through his mind, but in his haste, Ewan had no time to react. He could only instinctively cross his twin blades before him, protecting his vital points.

This, of course, wouldn’t stop the cleaver. Ewan had braced himself to endure the blow, relying on his thick health bar.

However, the expected scene of gushing blood did not occur.

In his stunned gaze, another delicate figure shielded him.

“Senior!”

Ewan’s mind buzzed, his eyes instantly splitting with rage as he watched his senior raise a hand to block the cleaver.

‘What is she doing?’

‘Why is she blocking for me?’

‘I won’t die!’

‘I have the divine favor of the King of Decay; as long as my head isn’t directly severed, I won’t die!’

‘Ah, right, Senior doesn’t know that.’

In that moment, Ewan’s thoughts accelerated as never before. His instinctive defensive movements completely changed. He became like a crazed beast, lunging frantically at the Shadow Butcher.

But ultimately, he was too slow.

The cleaver made contact with Anna’s arm, instantly tearing through her sleeve.

Ewan felt as though he could already see Senior Anna’s entire arm being severed by the cleaver.

However, that scene did not transpire. Instead… metal clashed!

The cleaver meeting Anna’s arm produced a resonant clang of metal, and bright sparks actually flew forth!

Ewan’s mind reeled for a moment; this scene felt strangely familiar from his memories.

The tall wall that had provided cover was smashed open by the Butcher, allowing the cold moonlight to pour in unobstructed. In his peripheral vision, Ewan vaguely saw his senior’s arm reflecting a sharp, cold glint. Even her crystal-clear, pale red eyes instantly constricted, transforming into vertical pupils.

Her other hand pointed at the Shadow Butcher, her cherry lips parting to utter a strange, unfamiliar language.

Half of the Shadow Butcher’s skin instantly erupted with a deathly gray decay, and his movements stiffened at that moment.

Petrification!

“Junior!”

The clear, cold voice echoed in Ewan’s ear once more.

Ewan snapped awake. Disregarding his senior’s strange condition, he seized the opportunity of the Shadow Butcher’s impaired movement, closing in abruptly and plunging his pure white blade into the monster’s body.

“Elizabeth!”

Ewan roared.

The living spirit hummed.

As a weapon forged from a holy sword, Elizabeth naturally retained some of its characteristics.

Now, endless holy light surged from the blade, pouring furiously into the Shadow Butcher’s body.

“Not—tasty!”

The Shadow Butcher immediately let out a pained roar. A sound like scorching flames emanated from within its body. It wildly swung its other hand, attacking Ewan.

Ewan nimbly dodged, simultaneously wielding his short blade to cut open the Shadow Butcher’s raincoat, revealing its shriveled chest, seemingly devoid of any flesh, and…

The grotesque black heart beating within its chest.

“Eat, eat, eat! Still eating even with a brain sickness. Try my bloodletting therapy!”

Ewan roared, thrusting his short blade towards the Shadow Butcher’s heart. But just as he was about to kill the creature, his blade suddenly reversed, cutting through the swirling dust, and colliding with a flickering shadow.

“Oh dear, did my sneak attack fail?”

Miss Siren’s tongue licked her alluring red lips, making her even more captivating. At such close range, she gave Ewan another seductive wink, giggling softly. “Big brother, want to play something fun with your little sister?”

“Get lost! I only like big sisters in black stockings!”

Thunderbolt – Modified!

Ewan blasted Miss Siren away.

Seemingly enraged by Ewan’s words, Miss Siren’s eyes grew cold.

However, her seductive smile remained.

“I truly dislike this feeling of being rejected by you.”

“What a coincidence, my favorite thing to do is say no to self-righteous women like you!”

Seizing the moment while Miss Siren stumbled backward, Ewan lunged again.

‘The Shadow Butcher is temporarily incapacitated; I’ll deal with her first!’

Wielding his twin blades, his offensive was like a torrential storm, relentlessly pressing on Miss Siren’s space.

Yet, facing Ewan’s onslaught, Miss Siren showed no panic whatsoever. The two crescent-moon-like curved blades in her hands were wielded with a ferocity that was in no way inferior to Ewan’s.

‘So strong.’

Ewan was secretly astonished.

He felt that Miss Siren’s cultivation level wasn’t much higher than his own. However, in both speed and reaction, she utterly suppressed him.

Only with the techniques honed relentlessly in the Black Book could he gain a slight edge over her.

But this wasn’t enough to secure victory.

‘Since that’s the case…’

Ewan suddenly charged forward, completely abandoning his defense, allowing Miss Siren’s crescent blades to strike him. Simultaneously, Elizabeth lunged at Miss Siren’s vital points from an unexpected angle.

“This is…”

Miss Siren raised an eyebrow slightly. Her body suddenly twisted in an eerie, unnatural way, and she abruptly withdrew her attack with an utterly illogical motion.

She pulled back, avoiding Ewan’s desperate, life-risking strike.

“Oh my, this suicidal fighting style, are you truly the Duke’s son, Ewan Campbell?” Miss Siren asked with a light laugh.

“Heh, so cowardly, are you truly an evil cultist?” Ewan retorted.

“I can’t help it. For now, I don’t want to leave my bloodstains here.”

“What do you mean?” Ewan frowned.

“Oh dear—”

Miss Siren suddenly tilted her head, listening intently.

As if she heard something, she retracted her curved blades and said, “Well then, that’s enough for tonight, Ewan Campbell?”

“Huh?”

Ewan was slightly startled.

‘What the hell?’

‘That’s it for tonight?’

‘Is this some kind of friendly gathering? With a next round?’

“What’s your scheme?”

“There will be plenty of time in the future; our connection isn’t just limited to this.”

“I don’t want any connection with you.”

“Heh, who knows?”

Miss Siren then looked at Anna.

Anna was currently clutching one arm, fine beads of sweat constantly seeping from her forehead, as if enduring some pain.

‘The objective has been achieved, even exceeding expectations.’

“I look forward to meeting you again, Anna Campbell.”

Miss Siren said softly.

“By then, you should have a different answer, won’t you?”

The Shadow Butcher had appeared behind her at some point, its furious gaze peering through the blood-stitched mask at Ewan and Anna.

However, in front of Miss Siren, this terrifying monster was as docile as a good child.

Miss Siren once again picked up the hem of her imaginary skirt, performing an alluring curtsy toward Ewan and Anna.

“Now, the actors and the stage are ready. Unfortunately, my identity prevents me from sitting in the audience and fully enjoying this grand spectacle, Ewan Campbell. As my chosen spectator, you must appreciate it carefully from this special seat.”

“Farewell, you two.”

“Wait!”

Ewan, bewildered by Miss Siren’s words, tried to stop her, but just as he raised his hand, the space rippled, and their figures vanished instantly.

In the desolate alley, only Ewan and Anna remained once more.

The moon seemed to have returned to normal, casting down its pure, bright light.

“What the hell…”

The departure of the two formidable enemies did little to ease Ewan’s tension.

On the contrary, this anticlimactic attack left him feeling as if a dark cloud hung over his heart.

Even if evil cultists were insane, they wouldn’t engage in such childish games; they surely had a scheme.

But there was no time to think about that now.

“Senior, are you alright?”

Ewan quickly went to Anna’s side. After taking that blow from the Shadow Butcher and unleashing some kind of curse-like attack, her condition had been very unsettling.

The vertical pupils seemed to have been Ewan’s imagination; her eyes were still as clear as crystal. Yet, she seemed to be enduring some pain, sitting against the wall, breathing slightly heavily, with cold sweat continually beading on her forehead.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Anna hid her injured arm within the voluminous black robe, forcing a smile.

“It’s just a small scratch.”

“But…”

Ewan clenched his fist. If only his reactions had been a little sharper…

“There are no ‘buts.’ I deliberately rushed forward to mislead the opponent; it has nothing to do with Junior. Besides, Junior, aren’t you underestimating me a little?”

Anna winked playfully and pulled out a crystal-clear potion with her other hand.

She drank the potion in one gulp, and her complexion visibly brightened.

“See, Junior, my potions are omnipotent, you know,” Anna said, shaking the potion bottle as if showing off.

“Is… that so?”

Ewan’s gaze flickered to Anna’s other hand. If the injury was healed, why was that hand still hidden?

And the reflective object he saw at that moment, no matter how he looked at it, strongly resembled…

“Alright, Junior.”

Anna suddenly interrupted Ewan’s thoughts, extending her hand towards him, like a princess awaiting a hand-kiss.

“Help me up.”

“This is…” Ewan was startled, then his expression grew tense. “Senior, have you lost even the strength to stand?”

“Oh, Junior, you’re usually so clever, why are you being foolish now?”

Anna tilted her head, playfully chiding him with a smile. “Aren’t I giving you a chance to show off? You don’t want it? If you don’t, I’ll take it back, you know?”

“I want it, how could I not want it!”

Ewan immediately grasped Anna’s slender, pale hand without hesitation.

Her hand was softer, colder, and even smaller than Ewan had imagined.

Yet, it miraculously brought an immediate calm to Ewan’s heart.

At this moment, the moon shyly retreated behind the clouds once more.

But in Ewan’s eyes, the entire world brightened.

Like a new sun, finally rising to illuminate the girl’s rosy cheeks.

So beautiful.

The gloom in his heart seemed to be completely dispelled. Evil cultists, conspiracies, the moon—nothing mattered anymore. Ewan gazed at the exquisitely beautiful girl before him, meeting her gentle eyes.

“What’s wrong?” the girl chuckled, a sun seemingly rising in her eyes as well.

Time seemed to halt once more. Ewan’s heart felt utterly captivated, and he couldn’t help but stammer, “Senior, I…”

“Target detected!”

“Evil god aura detected!”

“Fifth squad, secure the scene! First and third squads, suppress the target! Knight Order, stand by!”

Sharp voices tore through everything.

The previously silent street was instantly engulfed in clamor.

In the stunned and terrified expressions of the boy and girl, a sun truly rose.

An infinitely scorching light poured into the dim, narrow alley, driving out all darkness, all shadows.

The ground trembled, and humble dust and stones uncontrollably danced a comical jig.

As their gaze moved to the end of the road, they saw thick silver plate armor, massive shields covered in golden patterns, and spears radiating sharp, cold glints.

‘The Knight Order?’

‘Why would the Knight Order be in the Lower City?’

But what suffocated Ewan even more than the renowned Knight Order were the other figures dressed in black trench coats.

They appeared from nowhere, their faces pale from prolonged absence from sunlight, looking inconspicuous. Yet, the badges on their chests stung the eyes more than the sun itself.

It was a finger, sharp as a dagger, placed before black lips, signifying absolute silence.

‘The Silent Ones?’

‘Why are they here?’

‘Are they here to catch those two guys from earlier? That would be too…’

Before that flicker of joy could fully surface, Ewan turned back abruptly and saw Senior Anna’s previously rosy face instantly drain of all color, becoming utterly pale.

‘Huh?’

“Suppression operation, commence!”

The cold command echoed throughout the area.

Blinding golden light descended from the sky, forming an unbreakable barrier that forcibly separated Ewan and Anna.

‘What?’

“Attention, Ewan Campbell is a level-one protected target! He must not be harmed!”

Several figures in black trench coats lunged forward, forcefully shielding Ewan behind them. One of them swept an instrument, pulsating with magical energy, past Ewan. Glancing at the readings, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

“Ewan Campbell shows no signs of contamination!”

‘What are you doing?’

Anna staggered to her feet, turning as if to flee. But the golden light suddenly pressed down, and Anna’s delicate body buckled under the overwhelming pressure, forcing her to her knees.

‘What are you doing?’

“What are you doing?!”

The scene before Ewan instantly ignited a furious rage in his heart. He pushed away the people in front of him, wanting to reach his senior.

“Ewan Campbell, don’t be alarmed; you are safe now.”

The man who had used the instrument earlier blocked his path, forcing out a stiff smile. “We will complete the suppression of this evil cultist immediately. You are very fortunate; such close contact, and yet you haven’t been…”

“You’re the damn evil cultist!”

Before the man could finish speaking, Ewan, his eyes bloodshot, punched him squarely in his ugly face.

‘Evil cultist?’

‘Senior?’

‘In broad daylight, what kind of nonsensical dreams are you spouting?’

The man screamed and flew backward.

Ewan seized this opportunity to activate Shadow Step.

But a terrifying pressure instantly descended, forcing Ewan directly out of his moving state.

“Grab him, don’t let him interfere.”

Ewan heard the cold command again.

The surrounding figures instantly erupted into chaos. Several figures lunged, pinning Ewan firmly to the ground.

“What are you doing?”

“What in the world are you doing?”

“Evil cultists? Shouldn’t the evil cultists be those two from earlier? You should be catching them! What are you doing to Senior?”

Ewan roared in fury, but no one heeded him.

Several Silent Ones held him down tightly, rendering him immobile.

He watched helplessly as the middle-aged man giving orders advanced step by step toward his senior. The golden light grew even more brilliant, and under his manipulation, several cold chains, as if sentient, wrapped around and bound his senior’s body.

Then, with a hand clad in a mithril glove, he seized the hand his senior had desperately tried to hide.

His senior’s delicate body trembled. For the first time, Ewan saw such a helpless expression on her face.

“Bastard! Take your filthy hands off Senior!”

An infinite rage drowned Ewan’s reason. In his eyes, boiling like lava, it seemed as if flames were about to ignite.

But then, he heard a clear, soft sigh. In his peripheral vision, he seemed to glimpse a silver-white figure.

“Let him rest,” a familiar voice said.

Then, a sweet, cloying fragrance filled his nostrils, and Ewan’s consciousness instantly blurred.

In the last moments before his awareness faded, Ewan saw his senior cast a poignant glance at him. The arm she was forced to reveal to everyone was not, as he had imagined, slender and fair, but covered in grotesque, fine black scales.

‘Those were…’

“Confirmed as stage three of Ophiasis. No signs of mental influence by an evil god for now.”

The middle-aged man released her hand, speaking with pity. “Danger level provisionally set at A. Take her into custody for now.”