When the plot-skips players into the game world

After happily mooching a meal, the Lord of Scalefeather vanished without a trace again.

It is said he always does this.

As the founder of the two extraordinary professions, Hunter and assassin, the Lord of Scalefeather is the world's most skilled in Stealth. At least in the Dream Realm, he can appear at any time in any location, just as silently as a moth appearing in an absolutely sealed space—not by passing through a door, but by "having been inside all along."

Unfortunately, those warriors have already forgotten the Lord of Scalefeather ever came.

When the Lord of Scalefeather left, he casually stole their "memory of himself." In their recollection, the feast never included the Lord of Scalefeather from start to finish.

After eating and drinking to her fill, the Shadowy Celestial Marshal then selected tonight's lucky warriors.

Amidst cheers and congratulations, the three warriors who dined with her were understandably chosen as tonight's lucky ones.

However, before enjoying tonight, the Shadowy Celestial Marshal first escorted Aiwass and Arsene outside the castle.

She stood under a tree and placed both Aiwass and Arsene on its branches. That way, their heads were nearly level.

Vinesse changed back to her travel form, turning into a raven perched on the antlers above Aiwass's head. Those antlers now had grown large enough to look like tree branches, just perfect for a raven to rest on.

While waiting for Yue Lu, Arsene curiously asked Aiwass and the Shadowy Celestial Marshal, "What... exactly is Yue Lu?"

This seemed to be some form of common knowledge within the Dream Realm.

At least when Aiwass and the Shadowy Celestial Marshal spoke to each other, they appeared quite natural, with no questions or explanations. This compelled Arsene to swallow back his curiosity.

This self-conscious Phantom Thief could not stand showcasing his ignorance in front of a crowd.

Now, with only divine and familiar figures present, in an environment where heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know, he finally asked earnestly, "Is it some kind of... Dream Realm public transportation?"

"Well, sort of."

The Shadowy Celestial Marshal laughed heartily, "You'll understand after riding it once."

And Aiwass simply summarized, "A kind of mad deer."

"Mad...?"

"That's right."

Aiwass glanced back at Arsene, patiently explaining to the not-well-educated Mr. Strange Thief, "In the Elvish Language, the root of the word 'mad' is moon, the original meaning of 'madman' was 'moonward traveler', which simultaneously denotes a sleepwalker. For in older times, people would want to go to the moon when driven mad.

"If one bathes in moonlight while sleeping, upon awakening, madness easily befalls them. Additionally, the brighter the moonlight, the more easily it instigates human restlessness and awakens beastly desires within. This is why covering oneself during sleep began, much like a werewolf transforms into a giant wolf under the moonlight."

"... Why is that?"

Arsene's expression grew serious, as if he had thought of something.

"Because of the 'Beast's' remnants."

The unexpected answer came from the Shadowy Celestial Marshal.

She chuckled lightly, tidying her long dark red hair behind her.

Aiwass further explained, "The Moon God and Beast God are two sides of the same coin, the reverse of the Path of Love is the Beast's Path. And the beast once tamed by love was never completely transformed... because 'love' gradually fades and deteriorates.

"Apart from driving people mad, the full moon prompts lovers to fall in love and makes conception more likely. This stems from the Path of Love's influence."

"... Would the Sons of the Moon also hunt during the full moon for similar reasons?"

With comprehension emerging on Arsene's face, "I see..."

"Not only," Aiwass shook his head, "In Alchemy, the metal representing the moon is silver. Therefore, silver is the 'disenchantment of the moon,' hence, silver weapons can effectively harm Sons of the Moon and werewolves. This isn't solely because silver has purification properties but also because they were born of the moon, yet silver represents the moon, signifying the moon's power approaching balance. It smooths out the 'excess of the moon'...

"And Yue Lu is a 'Beast' related to 'silver.' Only those sufficiently understanding the moon's secrets, practitioners of the Path of Love, can summon them. It's one of the most useful modes of transportation in the Dream Realm... you could even omit 'one of.'

While Aiwass spoke, an intensely brilliant moonbeam suddenly struck before them—

The Shadow Nation is supposed to be a land without sun, moon, or light.

The sheer purity of the descending moonlight compelled Arsene to cover his eyes.

And when he lowered his hand, what he saw was a terrifying giant object—

It was a giant deer, its perch exceeding three meters in height from the ground.

Its whole body shone with bright white moonlight, suppressed to a thin layer in the Shadow Nation, making its jade-like body nearly transparent.

——Yet it seemed not entirely a deer.

More than a deer, its body was fuller and bulkier, its limbs overly slender, with ears like those of a deer but a face more like a wolf—it bore very prominent, somewhat fierce canine and jagged teeth, along with hunter-like vertical pupils.

Arsene felt it resembled more some enormous muntjac.

It bore crescent-shaped curved antlers atop its head.

Those antlers, however, were of very special material—shining like mirror-like silver.

Rather than growing two curved horns, it seemed more akin to two silver daggers plunged into its brain. Considering its size, it's more like some kind of great sword.

Upon landing, it lowered its head slightly, allowing Aiwass and Arsene to climb more easily.

"Honorable Son of Si Z Hu, where shall we travel?"

Yue Lu suddenly spoke, its sharp piercing voice resonating.

The voice was akin to a clown, or perhaps a jester.

"I..."

Arsene instinctively started speaking but abruptly realized something, seeking help with his gaze from Aiwass.

"To the Mirror Hall."

Aiwass answered without hesitation.

That's where the Gemini Mirror and the Playful Sky Department, Song Celestial Marshal are located.

Hence Aiwass didn't ask the proprietor, "If Sherlock is within the realm of the Path of Beauty, where precisely would he be?"—because apart from the not-so-sociable, adapting both Path of Adaptation and Path of Love, Butterfly Celestial Marshal, the other two Celestial Marshals live with the Gemini Mirror.

So, in essence, there's only one realm within the Path of Beauty—that's the Mirror Hall.

But despite hearing the destination, Yue Lu didn't start moving.

It remained still, head lowered.

Then Aiwass gently nudged Arsene, seated behind him, with his elbow.

"... What is this?"

Arsene was momentarily puzzled.

"Pay the fare," Aiwass said with a sly grin, "tell a secret of yours. The more detailed, the less you would wish others to hear it... the more hidden, the more shameful, the more sinful the secret, the better."

"... What? Why?"

Stunned, Arsene widened his eyes, soon realizing, "That's the fare? Tell a secret?"

"Of course."

Aiwass said matter-of-factly, "You wouldn't want to hear my secret, Arsene. Especially if that secret can make me feel embarrassed... I believe you'd rather not hear it."

... Indeed.

Arsene inwardly nodded in agreement.

A simple matter resolved by a little shame didn't require a desperate struggle—even though Aiwass was no longer the Pope, he still vanquished the Fallen Celestial Marshal's powerful Transcendent. Judging by earlier words, he's set to defeat the Blood Celestial Marshal!

Should he unintentionally learn such formidable figures' closely-held, shame-inducing secrets...

Arsene involuntarily shivered.