Chang Long took a leisurely stroll along the deserted streets of the town at night, where the dim light from the lamps cast an eerie atmosphere, deterring other players from coming too close. Enjoying solitude without anyone's gaze upon her, Chang Long walked alone. Kitsune and Davy-chan had drunk themselves into a stupor with honey liquor, giving her some much-needed alone time.

Siegfried of the Pendragon Guild wandered the same streets, though on the opposite side from Chang Long. He was somewhat stressed from the guild meeting. Opinions within the guild varied widely, leading to a longer meeting than he had anticipated. In the end, all they could do was to continue the investigation into the location of the Pirate King's Tomb and the identity of the person who discovered the first tomb. Each unit was assigned with different tasks.

Chang Long, curiously ventured into an abandoned building through a crumbling wall section. Inside, it was dark and foreboding, but her curiosity outweighed her fear. She stepped in without hesitation, not realizing the floor inside was five meters below. She stepped into thin air and fell uncontrollably.

"Ouch, that hurts... Why is it so dark in here?"

Chang Long complained softly. She looked around the pitch-black interior, then despairingly at the hole she had fallen through.

"My leg hurt... I won't be able to jump up there, even with mystic gust," she said hopelessly to herself, just as she noticed a shadow passing by the hole above.

"Help... please help me, I'm down here!!"

Chang Long shouted as loud as she could. The young man paused, tilting his head to listen to the echoing plea. Fortunately, he was not the type to panic and run away.

"Who's there... Is someone inside?" Siegfried leaned into the hole in the wall, calling out.

"Yes, I'm stuck here! Can you come in and help me?"

Chang Long called out joyously, glad someone was there to help.

"...Just a moment, I'm coming to help right now!"

Siegfried hesitated briefly, weighing whether it was a real plea for help or a trap. He then decided to assist.

"Wait, nooo!!"

Chang Long screamed as she saw Siegfried stepping in, but it was too late. His body plummeted down, crashing onto Chang Long, who could not move away in time due to her sprained leg.

Thud!!

Their lips met in the darkness, and Siegfried's hands ended up on Chang Long's chest. Fortunately, Chang Long passed out before she could deliver a deadly slap like the heroines in other novels might have.

Siegfried, realizing he was on top of a woman and his lips were still pressed against hers, blushed furiously in the dark. He hurriedly got up, only to realize his hands were firmly on her chest, causing his face to burn even hotter. It was the first time in his life he had kissed a woman and touched her chest.

"I'm sorry! I... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I had no idea the floor was so much lower!"

Siegfried quickly backed away and bowed deeply, apologizing profusely with a trembling voice and body, but there was no response from her.

"Miss... Miss...?"

When Chang Long did not respond, he could not help but worry she might be severely injured, so he scrambled to find a flashlight in his bag. The light revealed Chang Long's face, stunning Siegfried as if he were enchanted. The sight of the peacefully sleeping woman before him made the stalwart heart within him tremble. He gazed at her face for a long while, until Chang Long began to stir.

"Mmm... Ouch, my whole body hurts."

Chang Long murmured softly, trying to sit up.

"Uh... how are you feeling?"

Siegfried asked, his face flushing red again, grateful for the concealing darkness.

"Who are you?"

Chang Long asked, seeing Siegfried sitting a short distance away.

"Uh... I... am..."

Siegfried struggled to explain but found himself speechless under Chang Long's gaze. Chang Long frowned, looking around without paying Siegfried any more attention, and what she saw made her eyes widen in shock, nearly forgetting all her pain.

"Night roses!"

Chang Long exclaimed joyfully. She stood up to collect the night roses, essential for making black rose tea, but quickly collapsed due to the pain from her injuries caused by Siegfried falling on her.

"Are these the night roses!?"

Siegfried asked, looking at the black roses that were as big as a hand that surrounded them.

"Yes, exactly!! Could you help me gather them? Use this to cut near the flower, but make sure not to bruise the petals. Then place them in this box,"

Chang Long requested Siegfried's help, handing him a jade leaf blade and a small storage box, ignoring the fact that they were still strangers to each other just moments ago.

"Me?!"

"I'm hurt, you know. My leg is also sprained. Please, help me out."

"Al...alright, I'll help you. Just sit back and relax,"

Siegfried reassured her, immediately taking the storage box and the jade leaf blade from Chang Long. He comforted himself, thinking it was the least he could do since he was the one who caused her injuries. He was not losing himself over this; it was simply an act of assistance for the injured woman.

Siegfried expertly went about the task. He admired the jade leaf blade, shaped like a green leaf with sharp edges on both sides and a red string threaded through a small hole at one pointed end. It looked both beautiful and adorable. Gently, he scooped up a night rose, cut it cleanly, and placed it in the ingredient box until he had neatly arranged ten roses.

"Thank you,"

Chang Long said with a grateful smile, feeling much relieved after having some rest.

"It's nothing. But what are you going to do with these night roses?"

Siegfried asked, his cheeks flushing once again.

"I'm going to make tea. It helps with internal injuries,"

Chang Long cheerfully replied, taking back her blade and sharing her knowledge without reservation.

"Really? That's news!?"

The young man exclaimed, astonished. He looked at Chang Long's attire, which did not resemble that of a potion maker at all.

"Exactly! But let's keep the location of these night roses between us, okay? I don't want too many people to know. Can we keep it just between the two of us?"

Chang Long looked into Siegfried's eyes, her gaze as clear and compelling as a spring, making the young man's face heat up once more.

"Just... between... the two of us?"

Siegfried whispered softly, feeling the air around them grow inexplicably warmer, especially on his blushing cheeks.

"Yes! Just between the two of us, okay? You promise, right?"

Chang Long sweetly pleaded, gently shaking Siegfried a little, thinking it would not hurt to use her feminine charm once in a while, especially since the person in front of her seemed pretty honest.

"Of course!"

Siegfried eagerly agreed.

"Really?"

Chang Long asked again, her joy evident. She continued to lock eyes with him, awaiting his confirmation.

"Absolutely! A man's word is his bond,"

Siegfried replied, with a muffled voice, as he was holding his face in his hands, fearing the woman before him might notice his bashfulness and the redness on his cheeks.

"Where are you staying? I'll take you there,"

the young man quickly stood up, offering his slightly trembling hand to the woman in front of him.

"I'm not going back yet,"

Chang Long replied with a smile, brushing off his hand lightly.

"Why? You've got what you wanted. Plus, if you can't walk, I could carry you on my back,"

Siegfried almost shouted, his heart bouncing so hard it felt like it could leap out of his mouth. It took all his willpower to calm himself down to ask her, feeling slightly embarrassed that a mere touch from her could excite him to such an extent.

"I need another ingredient from here, but it can only be collected at dawn. So, I'm going to stay here tonight! You can go ahead. Thanks a lot for your help,"

Chang Long replied, pulling out a cloth to prepare for sleep since she could not set up a tent due to space constraints.

"Sleep here!? ...Um, then... I... um..."

Siegfried stammered, his cheeks turning red once again.

"What is it?!"

Chang Long tilted her head, curious about what he wanted to say.

"I'll accompany you then!!"

He took a deep breath and blurted out all at once, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.

"Thanks... I'll share my blanket then,"

Chang Long smiled at his gesture. She rummaged through her bag for another blanket and handed it to him.

"Thank... thank you!"

Siegfried accepted the blanket from Chang Long, his heart racing. Aside from his mother and sister, this was the first time he was with a woman in such a close setting, and it seemed like he had a special feeling for her.

After laying down, Chang Long fell asleep almost immediately. However, despite his drowsiness, Siegfried could not force himself to sleep. The excitement of having a woman sleeping next to him, especially one he felt a special connection with, kept him awake until dawn.

The first light of dawn woke Chang Long. She organized and took out several empty honey liquor bottles from her bag, which she had cleaned. Siegfried watched her actions with interest.

"What are you going to do?" He inquired, seeing Chang Long stand up and head towards the nearest night rose bush with an empty bottle in hand.

"Catching dew. Do you want to help?"

Chang Long turned to answer, nodding towards the four empty bottles laid out on the ground.

"Absolutely!"

The young man cheerfully agreed, despite being worn out from a sleepless night.

Chang Long and Siegfried spent nearly two hours collecting dew from the night roses, managing to fill a little more than four bottles. Once Chang Long packed the dew-filled bottles into her bag, they immediately left the dilapidated building.

When Kitsune woke up and did not find Chang Long, he frantically searched the entire room and then the hotel but could not find his master anywhere. The young fox hurried back into the room, calling out to Davy-chan, who was snoring loudly on Chang Long's bed.

"Davy-chan! This is bad, master has disappeared. I can't find her anywhere in the hotel!"

Kitsune announced to a comfortably snoring Davy-chan.

"What's all the fuss about, you little mutt? I was having a sweet dream!"

Davy-chan grumbled as he sluggishly got up, glaring at Kitsune.

"Can Spirits sleep and dream too? But that's not the point! Master has vanished; I've searched the entire hotel and still can't find her. What should we do!?"

Kitsune asked anxiously, having never been separated from Chang Long for this long since hatching.

"...How would I know?"

Davy-chan replied indifferently.

"Harsh! Cold-hearted! Master is missing, and you don't feel a thing?!"

Kitsune complained about Davy-chan's lack of concern.

"Enough yapping! Even if we don't know where she is, she's definitely safe. We aren't sealed, right? Why don't you try contacting her directly instead of whining at me?"

Davy-chan retorted, then floated towards the bathroom.

"...Right! I should try contacting my master through telepathy,"

Kitsune realized, calmed by Davy-chan's suggestion. He sat down on the soft bed, closed his eyes, and focused his mind on reaching his beloved master.

'Master... Master, can you hear me?'

Kitsune tried calling out, sensing the consciousness of Chang Long. Chang Long froze in her tracks, rigid, upon hearing a whispering voice as if someone were whispering right beside her ear. 

"What's the matter? Are you still hurt anywhere?"

Siegfried asked, seeing Chang Long suddenly stop walking. 

"Uh... Did you hear something?"

Chang Long gave the young man a faint smile and then asked him if he had heard the whispering sound she did. 

"No, hear what?"

Siegfried replied, puzzled. It was early in the morning, and most players were still asleep, making their path quite silent. 

'Master, can you hear me? It's me, Kitsune, I'm communicating with you telepathically, Master,'

Kitsune explained, growing impatient as his master did not respond. 

'Kitsune, is that you? You scared me!'

Chang Long mentally responded after realizing she was not being haunted by a ghost. 

"It's nothing. Let's keep going,"

Chang Long turned to Siegfried, who looked puzzled, and immediately started walking ahead. 

'Master, where are you now?' Kitsune asked back, overjoyed to finally contact his master. 

'I'm about to head back to the hotel. Don't worry. If you're hungry, just order some food. I've left the Cone of Abundance in the room. I'm currently with a friend,'

Chang Long replied. 

'Yes, Master! Knowing you're safe puts my mind at ease.' 

'Don't forget to offer food to Davy-chan too.' 

'Don't worry, Master. I'll take care of it.' 

"We're here. Let's have breakfast first. My treat,"

Siegfried said as they arrived at the hotel where Chang Long was staying. 

"Thank you,"

Chang Long replied. Siegfried led Chang Long into the hotel's dining room, where the head waiter immediately came to serve them personally. They were taken to a VIP room, separated from other customers, featuring a luxurious dining set for four on the wooden table in the center of the room. The room was adorned with framed pictures, potted plants, and one wall almost entirely made of glass, offering a variety of natural views. 

"Oh... it's really beautiful in here,"

Chang Long remarked, looking around the room. 

"I'm glad you like it. I often dine in this VIP room with close friends and my sister, especially for the view from that window,"

Siegfried said, noticing Chang Long's interest in the window.

As the two chatted idly, the waiter brought in their meal. Chang Long found the man before her to be quite polite. He would not pry into her personal matters at all. Instead, he casually talked about general topics, like when she started playing the game, which islands in the game she wanted to visit, which profession she was interested in, and finally, he invited her to join his guild.

"I'd rather not. I like freedom. If I join a guild, I'd have to follow the guild's rules and couldn't just go wherever I want whenever I want,"

Chang Long declined Siegfried's invitation to join the guild with grace.

"That's true. Initially, I only thought about starting a small guild with just close friends. But somehow, now we have too many members, and I can't even find any time for myself,"

Siegfried said understandingly. As a guild leader, he had to command and solve almost every issue, leaving him with hardly any time for himself.

"That's unfortunate..."

Chang Long sympathized.

"But I'm a bit free today. How about I show you our guild in the starting town? Maybe you'll want to join my guild, or it might give you an idea if you decide to create your own guild in the future,"

Siegfried suggested, knowing that today was Chang Long's last day online.

"Are you serious? I can really visit your guild?"

Chang Long asked excitedly.

"Of course, shall we go now?"

"Hold on, there's someone else I'd like to bring along. Give me a moment to tell them,"

Chang Long hurriedly said upon seeing Siegfried stand up. The young man nodded and sat back down, waiting for Chang Long to contact her friend.

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