When the plot-skips players into the game world

Miss Beyard, the Son of the Moon, stared at the Shadow Demon for a long time, her gaze occasionally drifting to Aiwass.

"...Forget it."

Finally, Beyard sighed.

It was as if she had let go of something and had come to a realization. While feeling regret, her whole being relaxed.

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

Beyard no longer looked at number 14 and said indifferently, "Speak."

She tidied her somewhat disheveled hair and picked up her glasses from the ground to put them back on.

Just as the Shadow Demon had previously assessed Aiwass—despite being the Son of the Moon on the Path of Love, Beyard possessed an extraordinarily strong reason and humanity.

It was not speculation, nor simply blind confidence in her own personality shaped by her past experiences.

But because the Shadow Demon had already met her in another layer of history.

— At that time, the Shadow Demon might have also encountered "number 14." Perhaps they had engaged in fierce battles or even eventually came to a resolution, and it was even possible they became brief friends or comrades-in-arms. That's why the Shadow Demon understood her so well.

But ultimately, the Shadow Demon devoured her, reclaiming the appearance that once belonged to her and was stripped away by death.

Centuries flew by in an instant, and the Shadow Demon had let go of her hatred. She had completely transcended her past, letting go—or had already resolved—the resentment from when she became a Demon.

If one were to say that as the Son of the Moon, Beyard represented the "past," then the Shadow Demon who had let go of everything was the "future."

As if time was a twin mirror, the two looked at each other, unreachable.

This was a miracle only possible within the Dream Realm.

When Beyard asked her question, the Shadow Demon merely chuckled, collapsing and dissolving into a black snake.

She wound around Aiwass's finger, coiling up his arm, slipping through the sleeve and emerging from the collar.

The Shadow Demon circled Aiwass's neck with a gentle twist—like a collar, yet also like a noose. She reared up from Aiwass's shoulder, her sanguine snake eyes stared at Beyard.

"That you'll have to ask my master. After all, I am but his shadow," responded the Shadow Demon.

And Aiwass simply looked up and asked, "Let me ask one question first... roughly what Energy Level are the Sons of the Moon in charge of guarding the manor?"

"You're planning to take action?"

Beyard was extremely perceptive. With just one sentence from Aiwass, she immediately guessed what they intended to do.

But she was neither panicked nor surprised. She didn't stop the two; instead, she seriously considered the seemingly unreasonable request: "Even if the person you want to kill is in Crescent Moon Manor. I highly advise against making a move now.

"It's not just because they are powerful—there are double digits of Fifth Power Level in Crescent Moon Manor right now, possibly more than inside the palace. And only half of them are Sons of the Moon, the rest are guests they've invited... the upper echelons of the entire empire are seeking pleasure in some corner of this manor. They might even be right next door at this moment."

Beyard crossed her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm: "Some of them are with Blood Slaves, others with Sons of the Moon... it's all part of the service, provided they find each other agreeable. Of course, there are also those who come here on formal business. Either way, once someone discovers something's wrong here, trouble will start immediately. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

"My personal suggestion is to wait until after midnight. It's just gotten dark, and humans can't stay here too long; they might still have their own affairs tomorrow. Most of them will leave before ten o'clock, and those remaining will almost all leave by one or two o'clock. Wait until around four or five in the morning. When this frenzied party is completely over. and you're off to a late-night snack, those Sons of the Moon who came to play will almost all have left. At that time, only a few from Crescent Moon Manor will still be left, at most one or two of the Fifth Power Level, or perhaps none at all. The rest will be newbies below the Fourth Power Level... no matter who you plan to strike at. As long as I occupy the Ritualist Room used for calling for help and sounding the alarm, there won't be any noise."

She glanced at the Shadow Demon: "And the rest of them... you should be able to deal with on your own, right?"

"Then I'll trouble you."

Aiwass revealed a cute smile.

Beyard just snorted.

Cooling down and looking back now, she didn't know why she had lost her composure earlier... It definitely had to do with this little girl who could contract a Shadow Demon at the First Power Level. But now, it seemed that she was just a little girl after all. "I should remind you, no matter who you intend to strike at. It's best to quit while you're ahead.

"Even a Shadow Demon isn't invincible, not to mention you won't be able to use all of its power, and you'll be in trouble if you encounter a Fifth Power Level. I can't protect you forever... unless you're willing to come with me," she added, as if bewitched.

Aiwass played slowly with the black snake in her hand, her posture exuding a mysteriously seductive charm.

She looked up with a mischievous smile, revealing the sly grin akin to a fox.

"—What if I wanted to kill everyone here, big sister?"

"...What?"

"If I wanted to kill everyone here, would you help me?"

Aiwass repeated.

"...Including those Blood Slaves?"

"Of course. I mean everyone— we can wait until daylight to do it, but I want none left alive. Oh, we might keep one or two... but I'll choose slowly when the time comes."

Aiwass spoke with a smiling face, but there was an overwhelming air of chilling bloodlust on her innocent face, making Beyard unconsciously hold her breath.

—Had she gone mad?

This was the first thought in Beyard's mind.@@novelbin@@

...Or was she inherently evil?

But if that were the case...

She hesitated before looking at the Shadow Demon that had transformed into a black serpent.

She doesn't think there's a problem with this...

Beyard muttered to herself.

She didn't know what No. 14 was going to do, but she believed in "herself". The Shadow Demon, possessing the same skills and even a real fragment of a soul, was closer to the true Beyard than she, the "pretender", was. Now, her resonance with all paths except for the Path of Love had been suppressed to the lowest, and even her Ritualist profession had fallen by two whole energy levels.

She had already lost the heart of Transcendence that belonged to Beyard.

And "Beyard" would never make a mad move without reason. So there must be some reason for this.

"...Then what can I get out of this?"

Beyard suppressed the astonishment in her heart and asked the dangerous and strangely charming girl in a cold voice.

In fact, she had already agreed in her heart. It was just a subconscious attempt to see if she could grasp a little bit more benefit.

By now, it had become ingrained in her bones, her instinct.

The girl with black hair and blue eyes, frail as a doll, simply tilted her head and revealed a smile of pure innocence.

She shifted her knees and slowly scooted to the edge of the bed.

She spread her hands generously, as if preparing to give a speech or asking for an embrace.

"Will you be my master?"

Her voice was very light, like some enchanting whisper, "You can have me..."

Beyard felt her heart violently leap once again.

Her pupils turned blood-red in an instant—the Path impulse from the Path of Love nearly robbed Beyard of her reason.

—Be rational, Beyard!

She must not succumb to the impulse of the Path—

Beyard abruptly clenched her right hand, her sharp nails piercing through her palm. Only then did she barely manage to come to her senses.

"Do you find it amusing to mesmerize me into losing control!"

Beyard questioned loudly, her voice trembling slightly, "Are you really human? I think you're nothing but a Succubus!"

Previously, No. 14 wasn't like this—it's because the Shadow Demon was watching her, that she suddenly became so aggressive.

It was deliberate, to make her lose control.

So that the Shadow Demon could mock her!

If no one were watching, Beyard might indulge herself occasionally.

If the Sons of the Moon completely gave in to their desires, they would "fall". With each fall, they drifted further from their "original form", and the remnants of their humanity dwindled. Beyard had always considered falling shameful, but sometimes she really couldn't resist—it was the call from the source of the Path.

However, this time, the one witnessing everything was not "someone else", but the real her—the true "herself", more legitimate and stronger than she was!

She was very concerned about face. She could never disgrace herself in front of "herself".

"Who knows."

Aiwass smiled wryly as she leaned in, stretching out her hands to grasp Beyard's, interlocking their fingers.

With a wicked sense of humor, she whispered in Beyard's ear, "It's still a far cry from five o'clock, big sister... but having such long nails won't do."

Then, drawing back her right hand, she held Beyard's right hand with both of hers. She lightly licked the blood on her palm, then sucked on it gently.

"—The blood of the Son of the Moon tastes no different from that of humans."

Beyard sharply inhaled, as if shocked, she wrenched her hands free from Aiwass's hold.

Not sure if it was an illusion, but she even imagined she saw a mocking, disdainful smile on the face of that black serpent.

"...What else do you wish to do?"

Even Beyard's voice softened somewhat, "Just tell me, you Little Succubus..."

No. 14 spoke as if coquettishly, "Accompany me to find where the secret passage is, my master. I've heard about it, Crescent Moon Manor has a passage that leads directly outside."

"...I do know about that secret passage, but you don't need to leave through the passage, do you? If you want to go, I can simply take you away," Beyard frowned deeply.

"We are just going to exit through the secret passage for a moment to ensure it's passable. Then we will come back and seal it off."

Aiwass had regained her calm, her tone cold and malicious, "When daylight comes, we still have to kill, Miss Beyard. I don't want anyone escaping from inside."

Beyard felt a wave of dizziness.

This girl...full of lies. So young yet a natural bad woman...her emotions and tone changing a thousand times.

She considered herself adept at reading people, but even now, she couldn't tell what No. 14 really wanted to do. She had completely confused Miss Beyard.

—Which of her words were lies? Which were just for show?

What was her true goal?

...And that line of hers... the desire for me to be her master, was it sincere?

Even knowing it was likely just a joke, Miss Beyard's heart couldn't help but entertain the thought.