Under Chu Yan's persistent disturbances, the voluptuous knight, Shanaoya, finally stirred from her slumber, her state of mind still clouded and unclear.
As she opened her eyes, a subtle sensation reminiscent of being ensnared by a water vortex enveloped her skin. She lifted her gaze to assess her surroundings...
Am I not yet awake?
"Chu Yan, do you intend to sleep on the floor tonight?"
Seeing her awaken brought both relief and a sheen of sweat to Chu Yan's brow, as her reaction clearly indicated that she had forgotten the drowsiness that had overtaken her.
"You were the one who urged me to do so, claiming that you wouldn't hold it against me!"
Such matters can escalate or diminish in significance, and Chu Yan quickly recounted the events with embellishments, while Shanaoya listened with skepticism, though a vague recollection flickered in her mind.
In her hazy memories, exhaustion crashed over her consciousness like a rising tide.
Chu Yan's voice had been a relentless noise; she seemed to have acted in anger, promptly silencing him with an object at hand.
How embarrassing...
I actually did such a thing in a semi-conscious state!
This startlingly intimate situation felt like a bucket of cold water splashed across Shanaoya's head, rousing her considerably, yet out of pride, she chose to feign her confusion.
"I don't recall; let's consider it an accident. What is the current situation?"
"Take a look at the window."
Chu Yan adopted the most straightforward approach to convey the reality of their predicament.
With a swift motion, he drew back the curtains, much like the opening of a theatrical drapery, allowing a blinding white light to flood the room, revealing a colossal moon that filled the window.
Enormous, glaring, oppressive, pallid...
In her daze, Shanaoya felt as though a beast was perched at the window, its wide eyes scrutinizing the two inhabitants within.
"Is this the omen of the Blood Moon? What has become of Janet and the others?"
"About two hours ago, they were reluctant to rise, much like you. As for now, I cannot say; perhaps they are still asleep."
Shanaoya closed the curtains, sipped her tea, and pondered aloud:
"So, you have been at it for two hours?"
"...Is that what you choose to focus on?"
Chu Yan felt increasingly guilty, unable to meet her scrutinizing gaze.
They both adjusted their attire and descended the stairs to assess the situation.
The second floor remained quiet; after the unusual celestial phenomenon, the few nuns were seemingly oblivious, having locked themselves away in their rooms.
The first floor exhibited some activity; Janet had gotten up, yet she had not fully roused.
She sat on her bed, her eyes half-closed in a languorous squint, but her pupils appeared unfocused, lacking vitality.
This was a classic case of willpower attempting to rise while the body longed for sleep.
Chu Yan called out to her, and Janet managed a half-hearted "Hmm?" in response.
Upon seeing Janet's "zero-defense" attire, Shanaoya swiftly turned to Chu Yan and questioned:
"Did you also silence her?"
"How could that possibly be? Now is not the time for jokes..."
Chu Yan was thoroughly flustered, the corners of his mouth twitching helplessly, yet caught off guard by Shanaoya's unexpectedly serious expression, he paused momentarily.
An unusual current of tension coursed through the silence.
Would the usual Shanaoya pose such a question in this scenario?
Certainly not.
Just days ago, at the barbecue gathering, she had merely misconstrued Janet's playful banter, choosing to retreat into solitude rather than express her feelings.
Even when they had first met, during that period of underestimation, Shanaoya had not wallowed in self-pity but instead slept peacefully under the covers.
The entries in the journal surfaced in Chu Yan's mind— the temperament of the forbidden ones can be greatly affected!
Minor grievances could trigger conflicts among them.
He needed to prevent any encounters that might arise between them.
Gripping her hand, Chu Yan led Shanaoya from the room, his expression exceedingly serious:
"Please forgive my momentary lapse of judgment. I feared that if you suddenly awakened, you would halt my actions, so I remained still, lacking any motive or opportunity to flee to the first floor."
"Your peculiar penchant for treating me as a baby is utterly outrageous..."
Shanaoya's gaze held a mix of disdain and sympathy, yet she chose not to pursue his indiscretion, seeming to grant tacit permission instead.
It seemed he had passed this hurdle... Chu Yan observed her reaction closely.
Currently, Shanaoya appeared to be quite easily entangled in peculiar obsessions, yet shockingly magnanimous in other respects.
Could they still collaborate effectively against elite monsters in this state?
This was not mere overthinking on Chu Yan's part; even Shanaoya's delightful disposition could inexplicably shift to become "critical and calculating," and if a genuine conflict arose...
He dreaded the thought of a sudden manifestation of hostility from a teammate.
Muttering to himself in frustration, he remarked:
"Typically, confronting elite monsters requires the input of two or three forbidden ones, yet the Blood Moon has empowered these beasts, and I am left to venture out with only one companion—Shanaoya."
"...Shanaoya, how do you feel now? Are you ready for battle?"
The knight nodded, exuding confidence as she replied:
"My mind is merely somewhat sluggish, but my magical circuits are remarkably vibrant; my strength is surging. There is no need for concern."
With such a statement, my worries have only intensified!
The term "forbidden power" encompasses various forms of strength, yet they all share a common trait.
Instability, accompanied by the peril of losing control!
Shanaoya's current demeanor unmistakably indicated that her forbidden power was surging autonomously.
Chu Yan suggested Shanaoya take a leisurely stroll around the castle while he ascended to the second floor to knock on the nuns' doors.
"Hello, sisters of the church, I am the temporary lord of this place, Chu Yan of the Dragon Flame family."
He would not venture out alone to confront elite monsters; after much contemplation, he realized that the only potential allies he had were these nuns.
They possessed no forbidden powers and remained unaffected by the Blood Moon.
However, after knocking for some time, he received nothing but responses like "I'm sorry," or "The church has instructed us to focus solely on listening for divine signs."
This left Chu Yan distinctly dissatisfied.
As the lord of the land, a genuine local authority, why did these church representatives require such pomp and circumstance?
Yet, he could not forcibly drag them into battle; allies harboring grievances are of little use, and who knows what negative consequences might arise?
Returning downstairs, he found Shanaoya's gaze upon him; she had heard the knock.
"Have you sought support from the nuns?"
"Yes, but it seems these individuals are nothing more than parasites, occupying their rooms without contributing. However, I have devised a new plan."
In this endeavor against elite monsters, only Shanaoya would join him.
Despite the perilous nature of their circumstances, she displayed no fear or anxiety, merely curiosity regarding Chu Yan's strategy.
"What plan have you conceived?"
"Draw their attention and lead the monster toward the Enforcement Squad; they must take action."
The Enforcement Squad was stationed ten kilometers outside Regalia City, serving as a reluctant sentry against the escape of forbidden ones (provided that the forbidden ones were foolish enough not to evade their gaze), and their combat prowess was considerable.
These individuals would not abandon their posts under the pretext of "assisting with monster control," yet if a monster were to appear before them, they would be left with no choice.
While diverting disaster may be ignoble, if it proves effective, that is what truly matters.
"Once we handle this elite monster, I'll be sure to give those nuns on the upper floor a piece of my mind!"
...
Before long, Chu Yan and Shanaoya arrived together at the coastal wasteland, both mounted on a fine steed.
The tides ebbed and flowed endlessly, the moonlight casting an even deeper darkness over the landscape.
Amid the crashing waves against the rocks, an ethereal and eerie melody lingered, haunting and distant.
From the depths of the sea emerged ordinary monsters, exuding an even more dangerous aura.
Chu Yan, unbothered by dismounting, casually tossed corpses as explosive distractions to clear the area.
After waiting for an extended period, finally, at the juncture of the sea and sky, the water began to swirl violently, forming a towering water vortex.
The siren, a mermaid-like creature, perched atop the whirlpool.
At that moment, Chu Yan became aware of a critical oversight; what if this sea creature chose to follow him ashore...?
What if she merely acted as a spellcasting artillery, remaining in the sea and indiscriminately bombarding the coastal land with magic?
"Shanaoya, what kind of vulgarities must I utter to provoke her ire, ensuring that the siren is compelled to come ashore and confront me?"