Chapter 94

I slowly shook my head.

Thank God Ninabel didn’t see this.

If she had, she would’ve picked a full-blown fight with Lycian, yelling, “What kind of pervert fox trick are you trying to pull?”

“…What do you want?”

It didn’t look like I could shake him off, so I decided to get this over with quickly.

Lycian smiled slyly.

“You kiss me first.”

“……”

“And hug me. And pat my head.”

I opened my mouth, then snapped back, “That’s two. Pick one.”

“Can’t you do both? I really need it right now.”

I stared at him, a faint crease forming between my brows.

He’d always been like this, but lately he felt even more clingy.

More obsessive, too….

‘Is he really just exhausted from work?’

My resolve softened a little. With a reluctant nod, I cupped Lycian’s cheeks in both hands.

And then—

Smack!

I squeezed my eyes shut and pecked his lips.

The second it was over, I pulled away.

“……”

Lycian stared at me like he was about to devour me.

A dangerous light flickered in his golden irises.

The eyes of a beast chasing its prey.

Alarm bells rang in my head. I hurriedly pulled out my Hidden Shop membership card and blurted out,

“L-let’s take care of the important stuff first! I’ll do the rest when we get back!”

“…All right.”

Thankfully, Lycian agreed without protest. At least he hadn’t completely lost his mind.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief and stared into the air, speaking inwardly.

‘System, summon the door to the Hidden Shop.’

At once—

Fwaaaash!

In a burst of blinding light, a white arched door appeared.

When I lightly pressed the membership card against it, the door slid open without resistance.

“Let’s go.”

Smiling brightly, I took Lycian’s hand and led him forward.

And then….

That message appeared again.

‘Guess this is some kind of verification procedure.’

A Fragment of Time…. I’d been wondering what that even meant.

‘Lycian is a descendant of the Time Dragon.’

If that was the case, then the ‘Fragment of Time’ probably referred to the power he inherited from the dragon.

‘…But why do I have one too? That doesn’t make any sense.’

Oh, come on!

We can’t miss it!

I cut off my thoughts and rushed inside, gripping Lycian’s hand tightly.

A moment later…

The blinding light that had swallowed my vision faded, revealing a dreamlike, hazy landscape.

Maybe because it was his second time, Lycian didn’t look nearly as startled as he had during his first visit.

And I didn’t wander around like a complete newbie this time either.

“Attendant! Summon the attendant!”

True to my impatient Korean nature, I rapidly tapped YES.

Jingle jingle—

The sound of coins pouring out rang through the air, followed by a pop! like a firework bursting.

And then it appeared—a tiny white puppy with adorable little wings.

“Hello, customer! It’s been a while! Have you been well?”

“Eek! So cute!”

“…What?!”

Before I knew it, my hand had already reached out, burying itself in its soft white fur.

‘Ah—’

I came back to my senses in less than ten seconds.

Thankfully, “Milk” didn’t seem offended.

“You must really love small animals like me, customer!”

“I really do…! I love big animals too! In that spirit, can I pet you just a little more?”

“Ahem! As the proud attendant of this shop, I must maintain my dignity… but since you like it so much… pet away, customer!”

“Thank you~!”

Five minutes later, the puppy had completely melted under my dazzling technique.

“Ahhh…. This feeling… it’s just like when Master used to pet me….”

Milk, who had been limp in my arms, suddenly jolted back to awareness.

“Gasp…!”

Startled, Milk scrambled upright.

“Th-this is no time for that! Customer, what brings you here today? Milk will guide you!”

It was a shame to stop petting, but I wanted to finish my business quickly too, so I answered obediently.

“I’m here to buy some items. The ‘Glasir Sapling’ and ‘The Last Drop of Blood Shed by the Savior.’”

“Yes! I’ll check right away! Please wait just a moment!”

Milk was extremely professional. It whipped out a scroll, unfurled it smartly, and scanned it quickly before speaking in a lively tone.

“Found them! Please follow me!”

The little white puppy trotted ahead, and Lycian and I followed hand in hand.

After a short while—

“Right this way! The Glasir Sapling and The Last Drop of Blood Shed by the Savior!”

The puppy’s tiny paw pointed decisively at a marble display.

I examined the suspicious items said to be Elixir ingredients.

First, the Glasir Sapling….

It looked like an ordinary young tree at first glance, except its leaves were golden.

‘So I have to plant this and grow it.’

And harvest its fruit.

Specifically, the ninth fruit—the ‘Golden Apple.’

It didn’t look easy, but… I’d manage somehow. I had a cultivation skill, after all.

‘Next….’

The Last Drop of Blood Shed by the Savior.

It was exactly what it sounded like—a crimson drop of blood.

Except it wasn’t liquid. It was solid… like a blood-red teardrop-shaped gemstone.

‘…There’s no price listed.’

Instead of a tag, there was a small sign that read: [Please inquire.]

The Glasir Sapling had the same sign.

That couldn’t be good.

Was it even within my budget?

“Um, Milk? Could you tell me the prices of these?”

“Of course! Please wait just a moment!”

Milk pulled out another scroll and scanned it quickly.

About a minute later—

“C-customer! For these items… I think you’ll need to meet the Lord!”

“The Lord?”

“Yes! The owner of this shop! We call him the Lord!”

…Figures.

I had a bad feeling, and sure enough, just like the system’s warning.

I let out a deep sigh. Beside me, Lycian looked at me with concern.

I gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Milk.

“Then could you call him? The… Lord.”

“A-actually, he’s been here this whole time…!”

“…What?”

I barely had time to process the unexpected answer.

A chilling presence suddenly brushed against my senses, and my body stiffened instinctively.

Lycian, too, tensed immediately, pulling me protectively into his arms.

Slowly, I turned my head toward where the presence emanated from.

“…!”

In the empty air, black mist began to writhe. Then, gradually, it took the shape of a man.

A man devoid of color from head to toe. His skin was pale, and his long hair trailing across the floor—

‘…Starlight?’

It looked like the night sky itself, cradling the cosmos.

The whites of his eyes were black. His irises shone pure white, and his pupils were nowhere to be seen.

The moment our gazes met, a bone-deep chill seized me.

A cold, suffocating fear swept through me. My heart pounded violently, on the verge of bursting.

The man with the inverted eyes stared at us with an expression of utter boredom, then gave a faint smile as he rose.

He lightly stepped down from a chair woven of pitch-black thorny vines and walked a few steps toward us.

He was barefoot, dressed in thin, flowing garments of indiscernible origin.

The listlessness on his face faded.

In a voice steeped in dark amusement, he spoke.

“It’s been a while since such delicious-looking prey has come to me.”