「In the resting lounge.」

Amidst the gaps in the flow of people, Enola sat quietly on the bench, her hands crossed and resting on the Knight's Lance across her knees.

Her pale golden hair draped over her shoulders, the tips fluttering with the wind, softly illuminated by the magictech lamp's gentle glow, her exquisite and flawless face resembling a figurine of a girl from some anime.

Many mechanics passed by her, their gazes filled with astonishment. Some brave souls even thought to approach and strike up a conversation, only to be deterred by the ice-like, indifferent aura she exuded.

And so, she kept quietly waiting for someone, seemingly unaware of the passage of time.

After an indeterminable while, the faint sound of a door opening echoed from afar.

What followed was the steady sound of footsteps.

Though faint amidst the loud, clamorous noise of the crowd, Enola easily distinguished those footsteps.

"Are you done?"

As the young man walked up to her, a touch of life finally sparked in Enola's glacier-blue eyes.

"Yes, all sorted," Shiayar nodded earnestly.

"Su Lun went in a moment ago. She didn't do anything to you, did she?"

As she spoke, Enola leaned closer to Shiayar, sniffing carefully at his collar.

No scent of perfume.

After doing this, she scrutinized Shiayar carefully from head to toe.

There were no black hairs caught in his collar, only a few strands of her own pale golden hair.

"Let's go. It's rare that the trio from back then has reunited here. Let's have a familiar barbecue meal."

"Oh." Enola nodded in satisfaction, obediently following behind Shiayar.

Consequently, even her gaze towards Su Lun—who sat beside them with a quiet and compliant expression, seemingly wrapped in her own serenity—softened a few degrees.

Su Lun had such a good opportunity but did nothing. It seemed she had indeed misunderstood her good sister; as long as there were no secret indulgences, they were still best friends.

「...」

I'm sorry, Ennie.

At the same time, a faint guilt crept into Su Lun's heart.

Of course, it was just a fleeting feeling. More than anything, she was filled with joy and pleasure. This round was a grand victory for Su Lun.

To this day, Su Lun had forgotten when she started to fall for Shiayar. Was it the moment he brought her out of the slums and offered her cream soup and grilled meat bread on a clean, plain wooden table? Or was it during those countless nights, under the dim candlelight, as he cobbled together discarded mechanical parts to give her her first lessons as a mechanic? No matter what, Su Lun believed that her fondness for Shiayar was second to none.

However, when she was accepted by Shiayar and Enola and began to genuinely integrate into that humble little family... Su Lun suddenly realized just how great her disadvantage was. Having been born in Lokiya, she knew nothing of the catastrophe in Ceylon. But for Shiayar and Enola, who had lived through that ordeal together, their bond was unshakeably strong. The shared experiences of childhood companionship, the vows and promises made amid the flames of the Ceylon fire, the unspoken understanding between them… these were memories exclusive to Shiayar and Enola, with no room for a third party to intervene. Su Lun envied and even jealously coveted that bond, but found it beyond her reach.

Of course, Shiayar did not mind sharing his warmth with more people… and his dream of writing the "Evaluation Guide to Customs of Exotic Tribes" was a secret well known to both Enola and Su Lun. But Su Lun was not content. She was not content with always being second to the golden-haired girl, forever one step behind. She wanted to be the first in Shiayar's heart. The undeniable first, second to none.

So on that day... Su Lun chose to step back in order to advance. With great reluctance and yearning, she left Shiayar's side. Because Su Lun knew, if she continued to follow Shiayar step by step, she would never have a chance to surpass Enola. Arriving alone in a strange land, heading to the Sacred Court, even bearing the misunderstanding of her best friend… This was undoubtedly the most rugged and arduous path. Loving Shiayar just as much, she might have to pay a tenfold, or even a hundredfold price. But this was also Su Lun's only choice, as Enola's lead was just too great. If she didn't do this, she would never truly be able to overtake her and become the first in Shiayar's heart.

Of course, such a choice was also a huge gamble. Leaving Shiayar's side and letting him be alone with Enola for six years... If, during those six years, the two of them had already taken that final step and made it a done deal... then Su Lun herself would become a joke. And what Su Lun was betting on was Ennie's proud and coy nature. Despite such a great advantage, she still wouldn't turn that advantage into a winning position. It was like having four earth dragons, dragon souls, and the Baron buff, having torn down all the inhibitors, yet stubbornly refusing to attack the Nexus—a great advantage being wasted, only to be turned around by a stolen Elder Dragon buff.

During those six years, every time Su Lun communicated with Shiayar, she was on edge, afraid she would see a wedding ring on Shiayar's left ring finger, or the blonde girl's belly slightly bulging, wearing maternity clothes on the other side of the communication screen. If that were the case, then Su Lun could only weep and admit her status as the loser in love.

Luckily—she had won the bet.

Over the course of six years, Su Lun had successfully transformed from the little girl Shiayar had taken in to the stunningly untouchable Dawn Saintess of today. She went straight from the ugly duckling to the white swan.

And now, at their reunion after six years, Su Lun had successfully capitalized on the shock of this huge contrast in her identity, as well as the freshness of a reunion after a long separation—which often feels more passionate than a honeymoon—to successfully get intimate with Shiayar right under Ennie's nose. The progress, stagnant for six years, had surged forward by seventy percent, thanks to her strategy of tactical retreat and patient accumulation, which had allowed her to make a powerful move after biding her time. Once the affairs of the Sacred Court were settled, and they met again... She could then sound the horn for a full offensive in one fell swoop, conquering cities and seizing territories, to claim the ultimate victory. A hundred cavalry raids on Enola's camp, a feat to astound the heroes of the world! A great victory. A complete and utter triumph.

Thinking thus, the dark-haired Saintess's steps became lighter, and she unconsciously walked in front of Enola.

And so, Enola saw, beneath the cover of Su Lun's black hair, a faint glimpse of her snow-white nape.

And also, the red kiss marks on the back of her neck.

"Su Lun, what are those red marks on your neck?" Enola asked, perplexed.

Upon hearing this, Su Lun's steps stiffened.

Damn, I slipped up.

It wasn't that Su Lun hadn't thought of using an alchemy serum to remove the kiss marks... It was mainly because she still wanted to relish Shiayar's fierce touch from earlier, so she had been reluctant to erase them. They weren't that obvious under the cover of her long hair, but in her moment of triumph, she had carelessly walked in front of Enola, and now her secret was exposed.

However, from the way Ennie spoke, she didn't seem to know what these marks were? That made sense. Given Ennie's awkward nature, even if she wanted to offer some affection, it would probably just be standard things like a lap pillow or kisses; she would never imagine anything this intense.

With that thought, Su Lun's mind raced as she calmly spoke.

"Mosquito bites."

"Spring is more than halfway through, so the mosquitoes are indeed starting to increase... Plus, the furnaces in the mechanics' workshop generate a lot of heat, so insects tend to gather in warmer spots."

"There's nothing I can do. My Mechanical-type Pet Beast only provides spiritual power feedback from the Soul Pact; it doesn't enhance my physical constitution. So, I still have the skin of an ordinary person, vulnerable to mosquito bites."

"Is that so?" Enola shook her head, somewhat confusedly.

She wasn't a mechanic, and she genuinely didn't understand much about a mechanic's physical constitution being no different from an average human's.

Only the seemingly napping, lazy white cat on Shiayar's shoulder was quietly extending her spiritual power to sense everything behind them, feeling somewhat tearfully frustrated.

Although Silvia herself was still inexperienced, as an observer, she could see some things clearly.

'Mosquito bites'? Yeah, right! I just slacked off for a moment, and how did the Dawn Saintess end up with so many 'love bites' from Brother Shiayar? He wasn't even this intense when he was intimate with me in the Spirit Realm. But what can I do? Right now, I'm just a little kitten.

The white cat's tail drooped, and she flicked her fluffy tail against Shiayar's neck.

She was angry, the kind of angry that could only be cured with half an hour of cuddles and strokes from Brother Shiayar.