What Is This Feeling? "Lu... Luna is... the Prettiest in the World...!!"

"What... on earth... is this feeling? 'Lu... Luna is... the prettiest... in the world...!!'"

Fists clenched tight, Victoria sobbed uncontrollably.

"Alright, that's ten. Done."

"Eeeeek! You, you wanna go another round?!"

—Thwack!

"Your words seem a bit short there, lo-ser?"

"One more round... yo..."

"Um, Si-hyun? Couldn't you forgive my sister now? I'm begging you like this."

"If Elissa's asking that much... guess I have no choice. You're forgiven, Victoria."

"Ughhh... th-thanks... yo."

'She kinda looks cute up close... haha.'

Si-hyun slung the wooden sword over his shoulder and chuckled softly.

"Yoon-seok. Even so, going all out against another guild's master? Come on."

"It wasn't even an official spar. Anyway, why'd you call me to the training grounds?"

"Nothing major... here, take this."

Do-jin handed Si-hyun a small folded note.

"Do-jin, I appreciate the thought, but I'm into girls."

"Cut the jokes. I didn't write it—Ga-eun asked me to pass it on."

"Ga-eun? She left for that long-term overseas guild dispatch yesterday."

"Looks like she wrote it before heading out. Why ask me to deliver something she could've given you herself? Tsk."

"She's never been good at goodbyes since she was little. Still childish in that way."

'With Luna around, I can't even bring other people home, let alone girls.'

Si-hyun folded the note back up and slipped it into his pocket.

"I'll text her later that I got it."

"Good. Make sure you read it and reply. Otherwise, I'll catch hell again."

"I'm heading to the office now—wanna come?"

"Nah, I've got some business with Victoria while she's here."

"Alright, I'll head in first then. See you later, Elissa. And Victoria, you too."

"Talk soon, Si-hyun."

"Eek! Why casual with just me... yo...!"

—After Si-hyun left.

Victoria was still fuming, stomping her feet.

"No powers allowed, sure... but losing to a normal guy? Ughhh..."

"Sister, come here. You'll bring the building down."

—Poof.

Elissa pulled Victoria into a hug and patted her back.

"...I told you not to baby me... And Elissa, your boobs are stupidly huge—it just pisses me off more..."

True to her classic beauty, Elissa had breasts about the size of Victoria's head.

"Oh my. You always say how comfy my hugs are. Keep it up, and I won't hug you anymore, okay?"

"Tch... You're all womanly like this. Why am I built like... this..."

Victoria hated her own body. Even as Elissa's boss and older sister, everyone treated her like a kid.

"Like I said before... it's all because of that 'special reason.' Don't be too down about it. And some guys like that look. 'Lolicon' or whatever."

"I don't want pervs like that eyeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me!"

As Victoria squirmed in her arms, Elissa hugged her tighter.

"There, there, calm down, sis. Didn't you have something to tell Master Do-jin?"

"Oh right. Thanks for reminding me."

"I don't get it yet... but you seem to have figured it out already."

"Of course. I'm Eden's master!"

Still nestled in Elissa's arms, Victoria turned her head toward Do-jin. Her blue eyes blazed like azure flames.

"Master Do-jin, after reviewing the Phantom data, videos, and witness accounts you shared... I'm certain he has a specific condition: he can only appear at night. Not just a condition—more like a 'compulsion.'"

"Compulsion... Yeah, all sightings are at night. And you found something else?"

"Just a hunch... but the Countermeasure HQ or Dawn's Light Guild—probably the guild—has someone directly tied to Phantom. No more than three people."

Victoria Crawford hadn't earned her knighthood through swordsmanship alone. It was her unparalleled insight.

That alone had made her Britain's first female knight.

"That's my take. We'll discuss further demands for Dawn's Light later. See you then, Master Do-jin."

"Got it. I'll head out too."

Do-jin left the training grounds behind them.

"Alright, let's go home. I'm wiped from sparring that Si-hyun guy—carry me."

"Fine... sis... please stop groping my boobs... it's embarrassing while you're holding on..."

"Tch, you offer hugs then complain. Your boobs are huge, but so soft and nice."

Squish—

"Sis, please... yoo~..."

"Do guys know? How soft Elissa's boobs are, and that she makes these cute sounds. Probably not."

'If Si-hyun knew he'd buried his face in them... it'd be chaos. Gotta keep that secret...'

Having wrapped up the day's work smoothly, Si-hyun was heading home with Luna's favorite salt bread.

"Oof. Haven't swung a sword in ages—got a little scrape on my finger."

He'd worried Victoria might pull rank for payback.

"But a 'knight' wouldn't stoop that low. Next time, I'll just suggest we drop the formalities."

—Click.

"Luna, I'm ho—huh???"

The door swung open to reveal a silver-haired girl curled up on the floor. Luna, dozing off while waiting for him.

"Luna... waiting here again, huh."

He'd told her a million times to crash on the couch or bed, but she always waited right here.

Her way of making sure she was the first face he saw coming home.

"How could I look at any other girl when such a cute, pretty Luna's waiting for me?"

Si-hyun carefully scooped up the softly snoring girl.

Tiny and light. A sweet, sugary scent.

'Driving me crazy. How's she so pretty and smells amazing? World's so unfair.'

Then, small hands wrapped around his neck.

"Si... hyun?"

"Luna, you awake? Tried to be gentle, but maybe jostled you?"

"No... the smell..."

"Did a bit of training today. Sweaty?"

"Different smell... Si-hyun... met another... girl...?"

—Thud.

His heart started racing.

'Shit. Elissa today, plus Victoria way too long? Busted.'

Not cheating, but he felt guilty anyway.

'And Luna better not use her powers unconsciously again.'

But against his fears, the girl wasn't channeling anything—just gazing at him with sad eyes.

"Si-hyun... hate... me...?"

"What're you saying, Luna? Why would I hate you?"

"Then why... other girl..."

Short sentences, clumsy speech—but Si-hyun read the jealousy and anxiety beneath.

She thought he met others because he hated her now.

'Sigh, guess I deserve a smack today.'

—Slap!

Si-hyun smacked his own cheek hard with his left hand.

'Talked big about cherishing Luna, then worry her again? Get it together, Si-hyun!!'

"Si-hyun... okay...?"

"Yeah, no biggie. Just punishing myself."

"...?"

"And Luna—I'd never hate you. If anything, I like you more every day."

"Really...?"

"Swear it. Even if the world split in two, I'd never hate Luna!"

"Tru... ly...?"

Today she kept repeating, still anxious.

'Hmm, no choice. Time for the ultimate Si-hyun comfort technique!'

Fancy name, but it was just over-the-top reassurances.

"Luna."

"...?"

"Hypothetically—I'd never hate you, even if you hurt me and I died from it."

"Ah...?"

For a split second, Luna imagined it: Si-hyun dying, vomiting blood, but smiling.

"Si-hyun... dying...?"

Suddenly, her golden eyes trembled violently.

—Rumble.

Mengmang-grade aura seeped from around her.

"Si-hyun... because of me...?"

'Fuck, too extreme?!'

His "comfort" had backfired hard.

"Luna! I wouldn't actually die!"

Without hesitation, Si-hyun hugged the girl amid the crimson-black energy.

"I won't die! I've got this super special power—won't stay dead even if killed(?)"

"Si-hyun... won't die...?"

'Beginner package, notification window—yeah, special powers. Immortal? Who knows, just bluff!'

"Yeees! Even if that happened, poof! I'd revive and come back to you. 'Cause I'm under a spell that won't let me die without you!"

"..."

—Fwhoosh.

The destructive aura faded bit by bit.

'See? "Stay still and you'll make it" ain't wrong. No more overkill.'

"Really... come back...?"

"Yup, yup. I never lie to Luna."

"..."

But her golden eyes still shook with worry, fearing it might really happen someday.

Si-hyun offered his pinky.

"Here, pinky promise. I'll always return to you."

"Promise...?"

She just tilted her head at his finger, confused.

'Right, Luna doesn't know pinky swears.'

"Si-hyun...?"

"Luna, hook pinkies to promise something—it casts a magic spell that makes it come true."

"Ma... gic?"

Her innocent eyes drank in his words, making Si-hyun want to tease her.

"Heh heh heh... And breaking a magic promise? Huge penalty."

"Penalty...?"

"Like getting hit by a meteor or whatever."

"..."

The girl was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fascinated by this guy casually binding himself to such "magic" constraints.

A man who wouldn't hate her even if she hurt or killed him.

A man spelled to never die without her.

His words felt like a confession of her fated role in his life.

'Again... here...'

Thump.

Luna felt that strange sensation in her chest again.

'Does Si-hyun... know what this is...?'

Fluffy and warm. Unfamiliar, but nice.

"Si-hyun... promise... just pinkies...?"

"Yeah. Old days they mixed blood, but now—"

"Si-hyun... blood from finger..."

—Prick.

Blood trickled from Si-hyun's fingertip.

'Scrape from morning spar reopened.'

"Haha, Luna, this is from earli—"

Then Luna brought his bleeding finger to her rosy lips.

"Lu, Lu, Lu, Lu, Lu, Lu, Luna...?!?"

Slurp...

Half-lidded golden eyes gleaming, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠licked his wound.

"Hah...!"

Like a kid savoring candy—clumsy at first, then her tongue moved gently.

With his finger in her warm mouth, Si-hyun couldn't process reality.

'Luna, what the actual fu&%#×>;&#'

As Si-hyun blanked out, Luna calmly released his finger.

"Si-hyun... this... promise done...?"

"Uh, y-yeah, seems like it?"

"I see..."

Satisfied, she snuggled back into his arms and dozed off.

Thump. Thump-thump.

"Haa... gonna lose my mind. Why am I like this..."

Unlike Luna, Si-hyun couldn't sleep.

The silver-haired girl's warmth lingered on his finger.