"What's wrong with you?"

Davy-chan who followed behind, asked upon seeing the two young men's faces flushing to their ears. They did not respond but pointed their trembling fingers towards the sweet scene between Kitsune and Chang Long instead.

"Surprised by just that? A dog is just licking his master's mouth, no need to get so excited!"

Davy-chan snorted dismissively and walked closer to examine Chang Long.

"Let's move, this place isn't very safe. ...What's wrong with you two?"

After feeding Chang Long the black rose tea and wiping the blood from her face, Kitsune turned to the two men, who seemed reluctant to meet his gaze for some reason.

The group set off to find a safer location to set up camp, with Wet Trash Can taking the responsibility of carrying the unconscious Chang Long since Kitsune was leading the way. Meanwhile, Davy-chan, who the two men were still hesitant to question about his identity, went on patrol. Wet Trash Can stared in amazement at Chang Long's beautiful face, recalling her pale appearance from their last encounter due to the Reaper title, but now her skin and face looked vibrant and alive, almost like a different person.

"Hey Wet Trash Can, it's rude to stare,"

Oliang chided his friend while draping his own cloak over Chang Long, who was still the focus of Wet Trash Can's unblinking gaze.

"Sorry, I was just amazed by how suddenly beautiful Chang Long has become. Got a bit lost in the view,"

Wet Trash Can admitted, blushing slightly.

"Right, almost like how she was at the party in Eldar City. Siegfried would totally freak out if he sees her now!"

Oliang agreed.

"I'm worried he might freak out over the other thing..."

Wet Trash Can whispered softly, fearing Kitsune might hear him.

"Yeah... it's distressing just to think about it. I don't even want to imagine what would happen if that guy found out that Kitsune is Chang Long's lover, plus that steamy scene we just witnessed. He'd probably be shocked to death,"

Oliang massaged his forehead while fixated on Chang Long's lightly tinted lips, unable to blink.

"You chided me, yet here you are drooling, staring at Chang Long!!"

Wet Trash Can teased his friend, prompting Oliang to hurriedly wipe his mouth. Only when he saw his friend laughing did he realize he had been tricked.

"Right here!!"

After a while, Kitsune signaled to the two men trailing behind. Wet Trash Can laid the unconscious Chang Long against a tree and then helped Kitsune and Oliang to set up a camp nearby.

The players hunting on the lower ground of Royal Cliff faced a major catastrophe as a horde of beasts, fleeing from the beast king's battle, stampeded down from the sixth floor. The players, who had been leisurely feasting on beast meat, all ran away in rows, except for the curious journalists who aimed to capture the panic of the beasts on the Royal Cliff. They sneakily climbed up, using their unique abilities.

"Phew, I'm tired. I've climbed all the way to the sixth floor and still haven't found any clues. Seems like it might have been a wasted effort," one player complained, continuing his aimless walk on the floor.

"There's a player over there. Let's ask him,"

he muttered upon spotting someone resting under a tree, hurrying over with the intent to inquire about the commotion caused by the frightened beasts.

The young man halted abruptly when he saw that the player was asleep, his eyes riveted on her face as if enchanted. Slowly raising his camera, he meticulously pressed the shutter multiple times. Once satisfied with his photos, he glanced around and noticed another player approaching.

"Hey! Need any help?"

Wet Trash Can asked when he saw the unfamiliar player standing near Chang Long.

"Uh... yes, I came up here looking for clues about why the beasts were fleeing downwards, but I found her asleep and just..."

The male player stuttered, his face flushing.

"We might have a clue to why they're panicked. If you don't mind, please join us at our camp. We just cleared the area and set up the tent,"

Wet Trash Can invited, lifting Chang Long's still-slumbering form and leading the way to the tent area.

Upon reaching the camp, the young journalist was awestruck again, this time by Kitsune's flawless beauty. Although Kitsune was already handsome as a 15–16-year-old teen boy before evolving, after the second evolution he appeared a couple years older, rendering him strikingly more mature and attractive.

After Wet Trash Can had settled Chang Long inside her tent prepared by Kitsune, he joined Kitsune, who was starting a fire. Secretly, Kitsune blew a flame onto a dry branch, then added it to the rest of the pile. With higher level and second evolution, Kitsune demonstrated even greater control over fire.

"Wow, that's some impressive fire-starting skills! I can't do it nearly as fast," the young player complimented, watching the fire Kitsune had easily ignited.

"Thank you. May I ask who you are?"

Kitsune turned to the complimenting player, expressing surprise because he was certain they had not met before.

"Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Kimhant, a journalist from the Journalist Association. Sorry for the late introduction,"

the young male player introduced himself.

"I am Kitsune. Nice to meet you,"

Kitsune introduced himself in return.

"I am Can. We have two other friends who went out to hunt beasts for our lunch. They should be back soon,"

Wet Trash Can did not reveal his full name to avoid having it published in the newspaper under the headline

"The Player with the Most Ridiculous and Laughable Name in the Game."

Not long after, Oliang and Davy-chan returned with a deer slung over Oliang's shoulders. They began to prepare the venison, skewering and grilling it, filling Chang Long's tent with its savory aroma, which eventually woke her up due to her growling stomach.

Chang Long floated out of the tent, looking dazed. Kitsune, knowing his duty, quickly handed her a water bottle with black rose tea. She took a big gulp and sat next to Kitsune, then scanned the group and noticed Oliang, Wet Trash Can, and an unfamiliar young man staring at her intently.

"Awake already, Chang Long?"

Oliang asked upon seeing her bleary-eyed look around.

"How did you end up here, Oliang?"

Chang Long asked weakly.

"It happened that I ran into Kitsune, who told us that you were captured by a beast king. So, we all teamed up to look for you,"

Oliang explained, causing Kimhant's eyes to widen and ears to perk up upon overhearing this exciting piece of news.

"Oh..."

Chang Long responded in a disinterested tone, her main concern being when the grilled meat would be ready as she had not eaten anything since this morning and had to endure an intense battle with the airborne viper beast king, followed by muscle pain.

"How did you end up unconscious there? That part of the forest was turned into almost a 5-football-field-sized clearing. What happened!?"

Wet Trash Can asked curiously. Kimhant quickly asked for permission to record the details, and Chang Long did not object since she was not planning to disclose the entire truth anyway.

"Well... the beast king that took me encountered its archenemy, so they fought fiercely, resulting in what you see,"

Chang Long summarized the event, which could fill three A4 pages, into just a couple of lines, leaving Kimhant in disbelief.

"Uh... isn't that too short, Chang Long?"

Kimhant asked, astonished.

"Is it?"

Chang Long shrugged indifferently.

"Yeah, give us something more details, like what beasts were fighting to cause such a massive fright for other beasts,"

Oliang urged, eager to know as well.

"Uh-huh... The sky hawk beast king fought with the airborne viper beast king. The viper was killed, and the hawk flew away, so I survived,"

Chang Long elaborated, which, combined with the original explanation, became four lines. Kimhant took several pages of notes enthusiastically, astonishing Wet Trash Can and Oliang that he could expand four lines into several pages. After eating the grilled venison for lunch, Kimhant excused himself to return to town immediately.

About three hours after parting with Chang Long's group, Kimhant's exclusive photo was published at the souvenir shop run by the Journalist Association. Both male and female players crowded the shop to buy the image. It sold out in less than half an hour, prompting the seller to name the photo for easier ordering.

"Step right in! Get your new lot of Sleeping Beauty photos, fresh and hot off the press!"

The souvenir shop vendor called out, attracting customers to flock and nearly overwhelm the store.

Eventually, almost every player in the starting town had a Sleeping Beauty photo except the leading members of Pendragon Guild, who were busy showing off to their eggs outside town and remained unaware.

"He's so handsome..."

A female player admired the Sleeping Beauty photo, speaking to her friend who also held a copy.

"Yeah, very handsome indeed. I think he's even slightly more handsome than Sir Siegfried,"

her friend replied, equally mesmerized.

"So beautiful! I wonder if she has a boyfriend yet,"

a male player seated not far from the two women commented to his friend, also holding a Sleeping Beauty photo.

"If I could have her as my girlfriend, I'd willingly dedicate my life to her,"

his friend responded earnestly.

"Ha, that's going to be tough, buddy!"

the first player chuckled.

"Why? Does she already have a boyfriend?!"

The young man asked in surprise.

"Hehe, yes!"

"How do you know!"

"Because she's my girlfriend, hahaha,"

the friend of the male player, determined to find the beauty in the picture and ask her out, declared loudly.

"Ridiculous, someone like you? She wouldn't bother. Maybe if you were as handsome as Seigfried of Pendragon, you might stand a chance."

They debated, attracting nearby female players who overheard them mentioning the handsome Seigfried of Pendragon.

"Who are you saying is Siegfried of Pendragon's girlfriend?"

the two women approached, curious.

"This one right here,"

the first male player showed the Sleeping Beauty picture to the two women, who were stunned to see their dream man introduced as Seigfried's girlfriend.

"That can't be true. He's such a handsome young man, and I'm sure he's straight. No way he's Siegfried's boyfriend!"

One female player contested immediately.

"What? Who told you she's a man? Look how beautiful she is. She's totally a woman!"

The second male player countered.

"No way! What woman would drool like that? Look, he had to be a handsome, rugged man to drool like this!"

The women argued, pointing at a mark that looked like drool at the corner of Sleeping Beauty's mouth.

"That's not drool at all, but a smear from the sloppy film washing by the Journalist Association!"

The first male player refused to concede, despite the evidence.

"Are you crazy? We're in a game, how could there be such a mistake!?"

The first woman exclaimed, looking triumphantly convinced of her victory.

"Then let's go ask the Journalist Association directly to find out if Sleeping Beauty is actually a woman or a man,"

the second male player suggested.

"Okay, let's go now!"

The women agreed. They all headed back to the souvenir shop to find out the truth about their Sleeping Beauty's gender.

Meanwhile, Chang Long was rummaging through her bag by the campfire, under the watchful eyes of the two young men eager to ask who the man who was wearing an outfit similar to her was and whether Kitsune was indeed her lover. As Oliang was about to inquire, Chang Long suddenly exclaimed, interrupting him.

"I found it!"

Chang Long exclaimed happily, finding what she had been looking for.

"What have you been looking for all this time, Chang Long?"

Wet Trash Can asked with interest. Chang Long triumphantly showed something to the two young men instead of answering, causing their eyes to widen in astonishment.

"Isn't that a raptor talon, Chang Long?!"

Oliang exclaimed in astonishment because the item Chang Long held was an A-class knuckle weapon.

"Uh huh... Wet Trash Can is so good at close combat that even boxers would be envious, so I kept it for him,"

Chang Long replied, indifferent to the astonishment of the two young men.

"But isn't the raptor talon only dropped from avian humanoid beast king?"

Wet Trash Can asked, gazing in disbelief at the talon in Chang Long's hand.

"Oh, really? ... do you want it or not, Wet Trash Can? You ask too many questions; I might just decide not to give it to you,"

Chang Long said, cutting him off. Wet Trash Can's face turned pale as he hastily nodded in agreement. Chang Long smiled and tossed the raptor talon to him across the campfire.

Crack!

The raptor talon flew and struck a metallic-colored egg with a spiral pattern resting on Wet Trash Can's lap, making a ringing sound. The owner of the egg quickly bent down to check on his dearly treasured egg.

"Yikes! Chang Long, what have you done? My egg is cracked!"

Wet Trash Can cried out when he saw the beloved egg was cracked from the impact.

"Hehe... cracked egg,"

Oliang murmured with a smirk.

"Oops, sorry..."

Chang Long said with a slight tone of guilt. Wet Trash Can could only look at his cherished egg with regret. But then something unexpected happened – the egg absorbed the raptor talon through the crack and emitted a brilliant light.

"Hey!"

Wet Trash Can shouted louder than before, astonished, watching the egg emit a faint silver glow with the spiral pattern slowly spinning, then speeding up, causing anyone staring at it for too long to feel dizzy and nauseous.

"Wet Trash Can's egg is about to hatch for sure!"

Oliang commented, equally excited as Wet Trash Can, watching the egg levitate above the campfire along with its owner. Chang Long, Kitsune, and Davy-chan were also thrilled to witness the hatching of the quest egg for the first time.

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