This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

Rita quietly committed Mistblade's current look and expression to memory—she absolutely had to look this cool next time!

Meanwhile, Nivalis, now transformed into a small snake, clung tightly to her ear, letting out a high-pitched squeal, "Mistblade! It's Mistblade the Lunar Empress! The one with the most followers out of all nine Lunar Empresses! Holy Cup, I think I'm in love!!"

Rita's ear was practically being yanked off. "...And I'm about to die early."

There was no time to think about why Mistblade suddenly made a move against her. Nor did she dare waste a precious opportunity. She immediately activated Wrathful Moon's [Temporal Walk], stepping back to the night of the 14th. At that time, she had been preparing to leave Blue Star, so it was impossible for her to be anywhere near Moonfox City.

Disguising herself again as Wind Scythe, Rita wandered the streets of Polar Day City, but no matter how much she pondered, she couldn't figure out how Mistblade had managed to pinpoint her.

After all, she had sprayed herself with [I Really Don't Have Time to Shower] and was also using Gold-Class Assassin to obscure her presence. Even Nivalis had morphed into a small snake, wearing dragon scales to further confuse her scent.

Now back in her Wind Scythe disguise, Nivalis transformed into a small meerkat and climbed into her arms. "Could it be because of that skill you got—the one that can cut the moon?" Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

Rita shook her head. That didn't make sense. If that skill was truly the issue, Mistblade herself wouldn't have needed to intervene. Moonfox City also had Empty Map and Asking Wind, two other Lunar Empresses who could've acted. Why would Mistblade wait to personally attack her after returning from the battlefield?

Even if all three Lunar Empresses of Moonfox City had been at the World Battlefield, she had spent nearly an entire day in Moonfox City. Surely they could've sent subordinates to apprehend her long before Mistblade returned. It wasn't as if Mistblade had instantly known she had purchased [Who Will Cut the Moonlight], right?

Setting aside the mystery for now, Rita quickly made her way to Lucia's hut. Her plan was to learn Two-Tier Fool as fast as possible and then retreat to Blue Star for some low-profile time. First, she needed to finish brewing [Spring Not Late] to ensure she could sustain herself.

The effects of her previous [Spring Not Late] potion would only last until January 10th, and crafting a single batch of it required at least a month of preparation. That meant there would be a dangerous five-day gap without the potion's benefits.

On her way to Lucia's, Rita casually changed her username to Little Apache.

When she knocked, Lucia opened the door and, seeing Rita holding the small meerkat, hesitated. "Apache's apprentice?"

Rita immediately nodded. "Yes, that's me! Lania Kaia's new rising sun, Little Apache!"

Lucia: "..."

Without saying a word, Lucia pulled her inside the hut. She gestured for silence, then began chanting a small melody, summoning the same jellyfish-like creatures Rita had seen during their first meeting. Layer by layer, Lucia set up barriers and protective wards.

Once she was satisfied, she turned to Rita and said, "That thing I asked for—the three Owlcrow Empresses are all hunting for it. I don't know where you've hidden it, but the fact that you've managed to walk into the city without being captured means you're doing a good job keeping it safe. Don't ever take it out in an Owlcrow city."

Rita and Nivalis, who had just escaped Maple Cang, Maple Burn, and Mistblade, both fell silent. Three Owlcrow Empresses…@@novelbin@@

Nivalis whispered in her mind, "Four Undead Lords… you haven't pissed off any of them, right?"

Rita responded indignantly, "I've been busy! I don't have time for that kind of thing!" She conveniently omitted the fact that she had crossed paths with an undead city lord.

Nivalis replied with a dry tone, "...So what you're saying is, if you had more free time, you'd go out of your way to piss off big shots?"

Rita couldn't argue with that. Reflecting for a moment, she realized that even when busy, she somehow managed to stir up trouble.

The meerkat in her arms suddenly let out loud, exaggerated sobs.

Lucia took pity on the poor creature, assuming it was a frightened pet. She scooped it up and began softly comforting it.

Rita chose not to address Lucia's warning directly. Instead, she said, "I only managed to get a little bit of it through cooperation with other Holy Clans. I was actually hoping to exchange some for alchemy formulas."

Lucia's eyes brightened. "What formulas are you after? I can give them to you first. But don't hand that thing over here—it's not safe. My workshop is under constant surveillance. Leave it with Apache and tell her to cover it with a New Home Gem. She'll understand. I'll visit her to experiment later."

Rita rattled off her prepared list: "Two-Tier Fool, Super Composite Potion, The Fish King's Kingdom, and Socialite's Charm."

Two-Tier Fool was Lucia's signature product. It was in high demand but short supply, so Rita planned to brew and sell it for profit. Super Composite Potion was a versatile concoction that could restore both health and mana in proportional amounts. The Fish King's Kingdom was a potion that could shrink the user to 20% of their original size for one in-game day. The smaller size was excellent for combat, as Wind Scythes were already known for their agility and miniature stature, making them hard to hit. Socialite's Charm was a gem-based alchemy product. When worn, it would heat up slightly if the user discussed a topic the other party was passionate or knowledgeable about. If the other party lied, the gem would turn ice cold. It was a popular tool for merchants and goblins during negotiations. Despite its high cost and short one-month lifespan, the demand for it was even greater than for Two-Tier Fool.

Each of these formulas was unique to Lucia. Rita's Moon Sand would only grant her the right to learn them, as she wasn't an official apprentice. Every time she profited from these products, 20% of her earnings would have to go to Lucia.

In advanced alchemy, this type of royalty system was standard for anything above basic-level formulas. Attempting to cheat the system by hiding profits would be futile, as the world was governed by mysterious rules and powers. Some had tried and lost their alchemy talents entirely as a result.

Even if there were no consequences, Rita wouldn't risk damaging her relationship with Lucia. Maintaining friendly ties with Lucia was worth more than any potential profit—just as maintaining ties with Eclipse Vanguard was.

After finalizing her business with Lucia, Rita didn't dare linger in Polar Day City. She immediately traveled to Dark City. But as soon as she stepped out of the teleportation array, she noticed several teams of Moonfoxes stationed nearby.

The moment her figure appeared, the gemstone in the lead Moonfox's hand lit up.

So, her interactions with Apache and Mistblade had been exposed...

She could leave right now. There was still time. But in that moment, Rita hesitated, her mind racing.

Her next destination was the World Battlefield, a place shrouded in mystery. Even Mistblade, a powerhouse, had returned from it covered in wounds.

She needed information—something to help her decide whether to hunker down in Blue Star for a while longer or press forward into the World Battlefield.