Moonlight slipped through the narrow gap in the window, casting a pale silver glow across the boy's restless frame.
Everything lay submerged in silence, save for the relentless pounding of Long's heart—beating like a war drum—and the heat flooding his flushed face. Despite the hour, sleep was a stranger. Long buried his face into his pillow, gripping it as if searching for an anchor. His breathing was ragged.
The soft brush of Lia's lips still seemed to linger on his skin, igniting a flame that scorched away the last traces of rational thought. His world had shifted on its axis.
In the room next door, the turmoil was just as fierce. Lia was kicking wildly against her mattress, her body squirming in the throes of a system-wide embarrassment over her own impulse. The poor pillow suffered intense physical abuse from a princess who did not belong to this world, yet was currently nothing more than a girl drowning in the aftertaste of her first kiss.
She collapsed onto the bed, touching her soft, rosy lips with a fingertip. Her violet eyes shimmered with an unexpectedly tender glow.
The crowing of roosters jolted Long awake without the need for an alarm. Dark circles hung beneath his eyes. As he dragged his exhausted body into the hallway, he froze upon meeting the equally sleep-deprived eyes of the bold girl from last night.
Two "pandas" stared at each other in an awkward silence. Lia was about to flee when she suddenly stopped. Resolve flashed in her eyes. She strode straight toward him.
Before Long's brain could process the movement, Lia wrapped her arms around him from behind, hugging him tightly. Long stood paralyzed, hands hovering stiffly in mid-air as his mind went blank. Her warmth seeped through the fabric of his shirt, sending his nerves into a state of shock.
"I'm hungry…" Her voice was a weak, muffled murmur. "Cook something for me."
Long's gaze softened. The confusion faded, replaced by a blossoming warmth. He gently returned the hug, patting her head to reassure her.
"Wait just a little bit, okay? I'll run to the supermarket for some ingredients. I'll make you something special."
The mountain bike sat in front of the house like a loyal steed. Long hopped on and began pedaling, speeding past the familiar farmland with the wind whistling in his ears.
He was startled by how light the pedals felt—the usual resistance was gone. Each push of his legs generated a tremendous, surging force. The bicycle shot forward at an unbelievable speed, the asphalt road seemingly bending beneath his spinning tires.
Thanks to this terrifying new pace, Long was back in less than twenty minutes. Shopping bags were piled onto the bike—fresh groceries and several new sets of women's clothes. He had even mustered every ounce of courage to step into the women's underwear section, fumbling through choices while his face burned a deep, agonizing red.
"Lia, cooking will take a while, so I bought some Banh Mi first. Let's eat while I—"
Long stopped mid-sentence. The house was eerily quiet. A violent sense of unease surged in his chest. Dropping the bags, he rushed inside like an arrow.
"Lia! Where are you? Are you okay?"
"I'm here."
Her calm voice drifted from the basement. Long froze at the entrance, chest heaving, eyes wide with shock. He descended the heavy steps, his gaze drawn to the cold purple light of the gate and the massive, severed head of the serpent. His shoulders tensed; he instinctively stepped back, swallowing hard.
Beside the monster's head stood the petite girl. Lia stared silently into the creature's clouded eyes. Hearing him, she turned and hugged him again.
This time, her posture was strange. She pressed herself close, her gaze sharp and cold as it locked onto the nape of his neck, as if searching for something hidden beneath his skin. A chilling sensation shot up Long's spine, raising goosebumps. His hands trembled before he finally gathered the nerve to hug her back.
"What's wrong… did something happen?" he asked softly.
Lia's breath brushed his skin, sending another shiver through him. She whispered, her voice light as the wind. "Hey… after we eat, can you help me with something?"
Long's throat tightened. All he could do was nod.
Long led Lia back to the kitchen and offered her a still-warm Banh Mi from a paper bag.
Lia picked up the strange object with curiosity. Her eyes widened at the rough texture and the dry crackling of the crust. She took a decisive bite.
Crunch.
The sound exploded. Lia's pupils contracted in surprise. First came the shatter of the crust, followed by the soft, chewy interior soaked in rich sauce. The creamy decadence of liver pâté and butter spread through her mouth, blending with the savory pork roll. But it was the pickled vegetables and cilantro—a collision of freshness, acidity, and chili heat—that set her senses ablaze.
She chewed eagerly, cheeks puffed like a squirrel, before swallowing with deep satisfaction.
"Oh my god, how is this so good?! Compared to this, Leo is always nagging that black bread dipped in soup is enough. Hmph, what a cheapskate!"
"Who is Leo, sis?" Long asked.
"A hero of humanity. Along with heroes of other races, he fought the Demon King." Lia cut him off before he could ask more, her expression turning grave. "I need your help. We're going to clean the snake's body in the basement. We need to skin it, separate the meat, and harvest the bones. You'll do the heavy lifting. I'll assist. Is that okay?"
Long didn't understand her purpose, but he didn't want a rotting monster under his house either.
The labor was grueling. The serpent's scales were impossibly hard. Every strike of his knife sprayed sparks and produced a metallic clang. Long stared at his chipped blade, helpless.
But necessity bred ingenuity. He dragged a long extension cord to the basement and flipped a switch. The motor of an industrial cutter roared to life.
The diamond blade spun at extreme speed, biting into the gaps between the scales. Smoke rose with a putrid stench, but the monster's armor finally gave way. Long made the first cut, peeling away the valuable hide with the force of industrial machinery.
Passing through the gate several times to reach the rest of the body, Long's nausea began to fade. His body was adapting to the rejection of the other world.
With Lia's help, they flipped the beast onto its back. Its belly skin was softer. Long made a clean cut from throat to tail, peeling the hide away from the raw, red flesh.
By sunset, the work was done. Both lay on the floor, gasping for air. Lia slowly pushed herself up, cut a small pink sliver of meat, and returned to Long. Her voice carried an eerie, heavy weight.
"Eat it."
Long stiffened, but Lia was faster, stuffing the meat into his mouth. He tried to resist, but froze when a soft kiss landed gently on his forehead.
The meat wasn't foul. It was sweet, juicy, and melted on his tongue.
Before he could savor it, a terrifying surge of energy exploded within him. Long convulsed violently as every muscle felt torn apart and rebuilt anew. Behind his neck, a brilliant emerald light burst forth, illuminating the dark basement with the power of a waking dragon.