Moon Lotus City glowed with morning warmth. The soft clinking of stalls opening, the drifting scent of lotus buns and jasmine tea, and the laughter of early-rising children filled the air with life.
Lana, dressed in modest yet elegant robes, walked down the main street with a gentle smile. Her eyes lingered on every blooming tree, but her heart was restless her son, Jin, hadn't returned yet.
As she turned a corner near a silk merchant's stand, her shoulder brushed against another figure.
"Oh—! I'm terribly sorry," Lana said, bowing politely.
The young lady she'd bumped into blinked, then offered a graceful smile that didn't match the usual arrogance of nobility.
"No harm done, madam. It was my fault, really," the girl replied softly, helping stabilize Lana with a gloved hand. "Are you alright?"
She was radiant clear eyes like moonlight over still water, and her hair done up with silver pins. Her clothes were finely embroidered but lacked any ostentation.
Lana felt a strange warmth in her heart. This one… she reminds me of a younger me. So gentle. So poised.
"You're very kind," Lana said sincerely. "May I ask your name?"
"Of course. I am Arielle Yvonne Mercantile, daughter of Lucian Mercantile, owner of the Eastern Gold Auction House."
Lana blinked. A merchant's daughter? And from one of the most powerful auction houses in the city no less?
"It's an honor to meet you, Lady Arielle."
"Oh, please," Arielle said with a soft laugh. "Just Arielle is fine. If you're free, would you join me for a meal? I know a place just nearby that serves the best jasmine fish soup in all of Moon Lotus."
Lana smiled, pleasantly surprised.
"I would love that."
They walked together, Arielle's two guards trailing behind silently, their eyes watchful but calm. They reached a quaint restaurant nestled near a lake, its walls carved with elegant lotus motifs. The food was fragrant, and the company even warmer.
The two women chatted for nearly an hour about cities, culture, children, and life.
Before they parted, Arielle handed Lana a gold-trimmed scroll.
"An invitation to our next auction. My father will be there personally. I hope you'll attend there may be something you'll find… valuable."
Lana took it, her fingers trembling slightly. She gave one last glance at the girl who, in another life, might very well have been her daughter-in-law.
But… would Jin accept someone like her?
She smiled and let the thought pass. Let fate decide.
Meanwhile, deep in the cavern…
The air was still heavy with blood. Faint dripping echoed across the stone.
Jin lay motionless, his body slowly knitting itself together as soft pulses of energy circled him.
[System Notification: Recovery Process – 82% Complete]
[Wolf King Corpse Transferred to System Inventory – Secured]
As time passed, one by one, the others stirred.
"Ugh… my head…" Sarah groaned, reaching into her pouch and swallowing a pale blue pill. Warm light spread through her limbs.
"That damn wolf… is it dead?" the leader muttered as he sat up, wincing. He looked around, frowning. "Where… where's the body?"
Rodney, kneeling by a corpse, growled,
"It must've run off after we passed out… stupid mutt probably crawled away to die."
[System: Incorrect. Host's actions erased all trace. Wolf King corpse secured.]
A smug tone seemed to linger in the silent message.
They began collecting the spoils.
Sarah tended the wounds. The leader directed the looting. Rodney stripped the claws, fangs, and essence stones from the wolves, muttering the whole time. When Jin stirred at last, the sharp metallic scent of blood assaulted his senses.
"You finally awake, slug?" Rodney barked. "Get your weak limbs over here and pack all this!"
He shoved a heavy bundle toward Jin.
Jin reached for it… and blinked. It was heavy, but not overwhelming. The weight settled on his shoulders like resistance, not punishment.
Tyrant Body… It's working.
What once might have crushed him now merely strengthened him.
As they exited the dungeon, their injuries still fresh and spirit cores drained, they began the long walk back to Moon Lotus. They would need days to recover before attempting another delve.
Sarah walked beside Jin in silence. At first, he said nothing. But he could feel her eyes on him.
When he glanced over, she quickly looked away.
Strange, he thought, she's been watching me since we left the cave.
Then—
[System Notification: New Trait Detected – Bloodline Scan Complete]
[Target: Sarah Elise Rainhart]
[Bloodline: Saint Maiden (Unawakened)]
[Memory Trace Indicates: Partial Witness to Host's Battle Form]
She saw me...
And then—
[System Notification: Emotional Tracker Unlocked – New Metric Available: Love Percentage]
[Target: Sarah Elise Rainhart – Love Percentage: 15%]
Jin blinked.
"What the hell is this system even doing…"
He turned slightly. Sarah met his eyes for a brief moment and then quickly turned her gaze to the trees.
Chills crawled up his spine.
"This… is going to be awkward."
They arrived at the town hall before dusk. After turning in their quest proof and materials, each member received their due.
Jin stood alone at the side.
[Quest Complete – Dungeon Threat: Cleared]
[Reward: 10 Gold Coins Received]
He watched the others Rodney, the leader, even Sarah chattering amongst themselves. There were stares. Disgust. Suspicion. Nobody had seen what he had done. No one cared.
He bid a cold farewell, their indifference already dulling the sting.
Carrying his heavy pack, he made his way to the inn.
It was time to return to the only person who mattered.
Time to tell his mother… everything
Everything except the System, of course.