"Is the new console really… that small?"
Kurose Akira stared at the device Xu Feiyan handed him, disbelief written all over his face. Just a few months ago, the old console had weighed over ten kilograms—and now it had been redesigned into something the size of a phone? That was… well beyond anything he had imagined.
Sniff sniff~
Suddenly, Xu Feiyan stepped closer to him, her nose hovering near his.
"You?"
Her expression was perplexed, as if she'd just made some major discovery.
"What is it?" Akira asked awkwardly, noticing how her behavior reminded him of Ivsha guarding her food…
"I feel like there's a new scent about you since the last time we met," Xu Feiyan said, taking a small step back and placing her hands on her shoulders.
"Scent? What scent?"
Akira raised his wrist and sniffed his sleeve—but he didn't smell anything unusual at all.
"I can't really explain it… but it smells… good."
Xu Feiyan shrugged, unable to describe it precisely, yet she found it… pleasing.
"Well, if you like it, then I don't mind," Akira said casually.
Since Xu Feiyan was fine with it, there was no need to make a fuss. Though… honestly, he still couldn't detect any mysterious fragrance at all.
"By the way~ I picked up some useful information on this trip," Xu Feiyan said, walking further into the room.
The first thing she did upon entering was scan the room, then she gracefully sat on the edge of the bed.
"Settling in okay?" she asked, crossing her legs elegantly.
"Yeah, it's fine… just a little empty," Akira replied from the chair nearby.
"Empty?" Xu Feiyan arched an eyebrow, amused. "This house is indeed big. When I lived here alone, it felt lonely too."
"See?"
"So… you want to keep lovers in my villa?"
Akira nearly choked on his own breath. "What? No! Do you really think I'm that kind of guy?"
"You kind of are," Xu Feiyan replied, utterly serious.
Akira's expression stiffened immediately. In her eyes… he was the type of scumbag who kept mistresses?
"Cough… cough," he cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. "Relax, I'm not doing anything reckless."
"Just kidding~" Xu Feiyan smiled and shifted the conversation. "I might stay here for a couple of days. You don't mind, right?"
"This is your villa. Are you seriously asking me if I mind?" Akira asked, puzzled.
The entire villa belonged to her—it seemed a little unnecessary.
"Good," Xu Feiyan said with a glance and a smile. "I thought you'd be some socially awkward anime nerd, scared of living with others."
"You're a little too concerned about my feelings," Akira muttered, throwing up his hands, then continued: "So, the real reason you came here…"
"Of course not!"
Xu Feiyan shook her head, then pulled a piece of paper from the pocket of her blue trench coat and handed it to him.
"This?"
Akira took it, puzzled, and unfolded it.
The contents made his expression tighten instantly, his mind running with complex thoughts.
"Is all this… true?" he asked, looking up at her.
"Yes," Xu Feiyan replied solemnly. "This game company has been confirmed not to exist in any country. We can't get accurate information about them at all."
"They're… like they come from a virtual world, leaving no trace in reality."
"…This…"
Akira's curiosity about the company deepened. While playing the game, he had sensed something off, but without concrete evidence, he had only been suspicious.
Now, Xu Feiyan's explanation made him question the masterminds behind the game even more. Who were they, and what was their ultimate purpose?
Or… was it possible that this game wasn't even made by humans?
Before he could think further, Xu Feiyan continued: "That's all we know for now. But one thing is certain: the guild master isn't limited to just the hundred thousand players in the public test."
"? What do you mean?"
Akira frowned. The guild master wasn't just the test's ten thousand—or was it ten thousand?—players?
"I don't know the full story, but an A-rank guild master mentioned that some guild masters aren't even listed in the official rankings, and they entered the game much earlier than the rest," Xu Feiyan said seriously, worry flickering in her eyes.
"Are there many of them?" Akira asked.
"Not many. Maybe just a few dozen, but they have abilities that other players don't."
"Abilities other players don't have?"
Akira stroked his chin, deep in thought. Could they be like him? Players with unique traits?
For example: Ye Lingxi.
"Let's leave this topic for now. I'm going into the game first," Xu Feiyan interrupted, placing the device in her ear and lying down on his bed.
"?"
Akira's brow furrowed. That was his bed!
But seeing Xu Feiyan had already logged in, he relented and let her occupy the space. Thankfully, her beds were two meters wide—plenty of room.
After washing his face, Akira lay down beside her and entered the game.
Upon entering, he saw a private message:
[Xu Feiyan: Thanks for your help this time.]
"…."
Akira smiled faintly and closed the chat window.
Glancing around, seeing no one else, he fell into silence.
"Where is everyone?"
He immediately searched for Ivsha and the others. Opening the coffin, Kamrutia was still inside, sleeping soundly. Mare Rhine was nowhere to be seen.
"Not here?"
He checked a few more rooms—still nothing.
Finally, he turned toward the recently expanded pool and strode toward it.
Before he could open the door, laughter spilled out from inside.
"So, here you are," he murmured, knocking gently.
"Who's there?"
Alice, nearest to the door, opened it immediately.
"Master!?"
Seeing Akira, her face lit up. "Master! You're here! Come in, quick!"
She grabbed his arm to help him inside. Akira didn't respond, only glancing at Alice—who was now in a pink bikini, arms wrapped around his arm, her skin smooth and creamy.
As he entered the pool area, all eyes immediately fell on him.
"Mr. Kurose?"
Ivsha, leaning on the pool edge, smiled warmly at his arrival.
The dark purple one-piece clung to her pale skin, wet from the pool, making her even more alluring.
"What brings you here?" she asked, stepping out to his side, a playful smile on her lips.
"I didn't see anyone in the main hall, so I came to find you," Akira said, scanning the pool.
Aside from Ivsha and Alice, Luciya lounged on a sun chair, lazily soaking in the sun—unbothered by his arrival.
The others…?
"Where's Loserine and the rest?" he asked, frowning.
"They went back to Sunset City for some matters. Should be back soon," Ivsha explained. "Virola's with Xue'er and Fengdie, and the elf queen and sisters… are changing into swimsuits."
"Oh~"
"Uh… Mr. Kurose, can you help me put on some sunscreen?" Ivsha suddenly grabbed his hand, eyes full of expectation.
"Sure," he replied without hesitation.
"Over here~"
She led him toward Luciya's sun chair area.
There, Luciya wore a golden swimsuit. Slightly more conservative than Ivsha's revealing one-piece, it still exposed a tantalizing half of her side. Who could resist?
"Mr. Kurose~ please help me~" Ivsha lay across the sun chair, half-unbuttoned, waiting for him to apply sunscreen.
Akira picked up the bottle from the ground, noticing the golden light streaming from the liquid—it was a premium product from the Church of Light.
"Alright, let's begin," he said.
He spread the sunscreen across his palms, gently pressing it onto Ivsha's smooth skin, massaging and covering every inch with care.
The scene didn't escape Luciya's notice. Removing her sunglasses, she frowned as she watched him with Ivsha.
"Mr. Kurose~ can you use a little more pressure?" Ivsha teased.
"How's this?"
"Mm~ just like that~"
"Of course~ you can go harder! I can handle it!"
Luciya's heart twisted with jealousy at their playful exchange.
"Hmph~" she huffed, turning away, but the sounds of lotion being rubbed and skin slapping against skin kept echoing in her ears, leaving her agitated. Especially the slap-slap of his hands—she couldn't help but imagine… things she shouldn't.
And it only got worse.
"Master, Alice wants some too!"
"Okay, okay~"
"What are you doing, human? Glurp glurp~"
"Applying sunscreen! Want some?"
"Yes! Human! Hurry, rub it on me!"
The chaos of Alice and Mare Rhine joining only compounded Luciya's internal conflict—two voices waging war in her mind:
"If you ask him, he'll do it for you!"
"You're the Light Pope! How can you stoop to asking for that kind of service?"
In the end, she stayed quiet, continuing to bask in the sun.
Meanwhile, Akira finished Ivsha's sunscreen.
"Thanks~" she said, standing up to make room for the others.
"I'll go next! Me first!" Mare Rhine rushed to the sun chair, calling out, "Human! Hurry!"
"Alright~" Akira sighed, beginning to apply sunscreen to her.
Her minimal, heart-shaped swimsuit made it… unusually easy to cover. Naturally, he couldn't resist exploring a bit.
"Human! What are you doing!?" she shouted, flaring up.
"Shh~ be quiet," he teased, giving her dragon-shaped butt a playful pat. How had this giant beast grown such supple, soft skin? It didn't fit her title of "Destroyer" at all—soft, fragrant, and springy, like a bag of strawberry milk.
"Damn it, human! If not for serving me, I'd eat you whole!"
"Talk too much!"
Clap~
"You dare, human!"
Soon, Akira had finished all three, leaving no spot uncovered.
He glanced at Luciya, asking, "Do you need help?"
"Nope!" she replied, coldly turning away.
"Fine, as you wish~" he shrugged, accustomed to her aloofness.
Then, the voice of the White Elf Queen rang out.
"Lady Luciya, thanks for the swimsuit, but… it seems a bit small~"
With the help of two small elves, the White Elf Queen stepped into view, instantly drawing attention. Even Luciya removed her sunglasses, staring in disbelief.
The Queen wore Luciya's white swimsuit—but her size far exceeded Luciya's. The suit stretched to its absolute limit, threatening to burst.
Snow-white, overwhelming… Kurose Akira's eyes widened in shock.
G-cup pressure!
Too much to handle…