What Do You Mean, Something Kissed You?

Victoria's hand jerked in shock, and she nearly threw the things away.

She looked up in astonishment to find Greg staring fixedly at the two objects beside her hand, his eyes wide and his expression as if he had seen a ghost-or something utterly terrifying.

Victoria: "...?"

She looked down at the two utterly unremarkable, even shabby-looking items, then back up at Greg and his ridiculously exaggerated reaction. Her brow furrowed deeply.

"Did you just call me a damn gray-haired hag?"

Only then did Greg realize he might have put his foot in his mouth.

But he could hardly be blamed. Each of the two items Victoria had suddenly produced had featured in a death CG that had left a lasting impression on him.

The seemingly haphazard patterns on the box's surface were actually a sophisticated mechanical lock.

Forcing it open in the wrong sequence would trigger the poisoned silver needle concealed inside, sending it straight through the opener's forehead.

He still remembered the image in that CG: Greg Sass lying flat on his back, a scarlet dot between his brows.

And that coil of hemp rope was an even more sinister item.

All it took was a trace of magic and a place beneath a pillow. In the dead of night, it would silently come alive, coil around the sleeper's neck like a venomous snake, and hang them in their sleep.

The gruesome sight in the other CG-Greg Sass with his eyes bulging and his long tongue hanging out-was equally unforgettable.

Forcing down the memories surging through his mind, Greg cleared his throat, struggled to compose his expression, and started making things up on the spot.

"Ahem... my apologies, esteemed gray-haired ha-Miss Victoria."

"I overreacted just now."

"You see, as a devout follower of the Goddess of Night, some of the precepts I observe... may be rather unusual. Much like how priests of the Church of Light abstain from certain meats and refuse spirits that haven't been consecrated."

He pointed at the two objects, his tone solemn.

"And those two items in your hands happen to fall under what our teachings call 'unclean, forbidden objects.' To avoid any mishaps, I strongly recommend disposing of them here."

Victoria frowned, weighing the metal box and coil of hemp rope in her hands.

"These? An old box and a coil of... hemp rope? Those count as forbidden objects? Your teachings are downright bizarre."

"Every faith has its own rules and observances."

Without so much as a change in expression, Greg promptly offered examples.

"Just as the Church of Light shuns holy icons carved from ebony, believing it absorbs resentment, or prohibits certain rituals on the night of a new moon, followers of the Goddess of Night naturally have their own... preferences and taboos."

His examples were a mixture of truth and fabrication. As a hero with close ties to the church, Victoria had indeed heard of similar rules.

Her suspicions eased slightly, though she was still not entirely convinced. "Then what should I do with them now?"

"Just release them into the underground river."

Victoria: "?"

Greg immediately corrected himself. "Uh, I mean, running water can wash away sins that should not remain in this world."

In any case, she had only picked the two things up in passing. They looked worthless and were of no use to her.

After a brief hesitation, Victoria followed his advice, walked to the riverbank, and tossed the metal box and coil of hemp rope into the rushing current one after the other.

Watching the pitch-black water swallow them completely, Greg finally felt a little of his anxiety ease.

I nearly got forced into unlocking an old CG...

He inwardly wiped away a cold sweat and added a heavily underlined entry to his mental Dungeon survival guide.

Even in the Dungeon, I must never let my guard down around scripted-death items!

Just then, a faint groan came from beside the fire.

Sylvia's lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She struggled to sit up, and Victoria immediately stepped forward to support her.

"Sylvia! How do you feel? Does anything hurt?"

"Victoria... I-I'm fine..." Sylvia weakly shook her head and looked around in confusion. "Where are we...?"

When her gaze landed on Greg's handsome face, she suddenly leaned backward at a forty-five-degree angle. "Eugh?"

"Hey, isn't a disgusted 'eugh' a little rude for the first thing you say to the person who saved your life?"

That damn development team really had no decency! Why did they have to saddle me with such a weird character trait?!

Greg grumbled inwardly.

Admittedly, he had thought that trait was pretty nice when he played the original game.

But that was then, and this was now.

Now that he had transmigrated into Greg Sass, it was a whole different story.

"S-sorry...! Wait, aren't you that arrogant upperclassman, Greg? Why are you in the Dungeon?"

She pressed a hand to her temple as fragmented memories gradually pieced themselves together.

"I remember... I was dragged into the river... when I could barely breathe anymore... it felt like... something... k-kissed me... and then... I was dragged into deeper, darker water... after that... I don't remember anything..."

"Kissed you?"

Victoria slowly turned her head, her icy gaze resting against Greg's neck like a blade.

Holy crap, she was still conscious even in that state?

Greg instantly broke into a cold sweat.

Of course he knew these two were childhood sweethearts. They only needed to go through a few more events before they would naturally get together. There was no room for him to come between them.

He had genuinely done it only to save Sylvia, but saying that now seemed a little difficult.

After all, Victoria was still somewhat hostile toward him. If she found out he had kissed her dearest childhood friend, who knew what would happen?

Greg's expression remained composed, but his legs began trembling involuntarily.

"You've misunderstood. It was actually one of that octopus's suckers brushing across her lips, making her feel as though she'd been kissed."

"Besides, she said herself that she was dragged into deeper water afterward. If it had been me, I wouldn't have had any reason to do that, would I?"

"Or do you really think I'm the kind of depraved creep who would do something like that?"

Victoria's gaze grew colder and colder, and a faint light was already gathering at her fingertips.

Seeing this, Greg immediately raised his right hand high, his tone utterly sincere and even carrying a hint of sacred solemnity.

"I swear in my capacity as the Goddess of Night's emissary! I, Greg Sass, have done nothing indecent to Miss Sylvia. If I have, may I suffer a truly horrific curse!!"

Perhaps his acting had finally done some good, or perhaps the title of the Goddess of Night's emissary had given Victoria pause. The light at her fingertips dimmed slightly, but her scrutiny did not ease in the slightest.

As Sylvia listened to their exchange, confusion appeared on her pale face. "The Goddess of Night's... emissary?"

Victoria briefly recounted what Greg had told her earlier.

After hearing her out, Sylvia looked timidly at Greg and spoke in a small voice.

"Um... Greg? I-I happen to know a way to verify whether you really are the Goddess of Night's emissary... Would you mind cooperating?"

Victoria sounded a little surprised. "Didn't the Goddess of the Night's Faith disappear into history long ago? There's still a way to verify that?"

"There is."

Sylvia nodded. Her voice was faint from weakness, but clear.

"Because... in ancient records, the Goddess of Light and the Goddess of Night were regarded as twin sister goddesses born of a single being. So the Holy Light Church... preserved certain secret rites for identifying the Goddess of Night's divine power."

What?! They can actually test that?!

Can the results be kept confidential, then?

After all, even married partners aren't allowed to know each other's medical conditions, so it's perfectly reasonable for me to ask for confidentiality, right?