Cyrene

"I just like you this way."

Cyrene's voice was as gentle as ever, but there was a hint of love in her tone.

Sera suppressed his curiosity. He could sense that only one final key was missing, but the moment to reveal the answer had yet to come.

"Mm... I like you too, Cyrene."

Sera paused.

"Or perhaps I should put it this way: I love you, Cyrene. Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes, I will."

Those simple words stirred the heart of a genius.

Even though the genius already knew the answer, who could explain the power of emotion?

The power of love was sometimes omnipotent in this broken world.

"Hello, Miss Remembrance. I'm your boyfriend."

"Hehe, hello, Mr. Corrosion. I'm your girlfriend. I look forward to getting along with you~"

Sera cupped Cyrene's face and gently pressed his lips to hers.

His movements were awkward and stiff, and Cyrene clumsily returned his kiss.

Sera stopped and tilted his head back slightly, meeting Cyrene's eyes.

"Cyrene, there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it?" For the first time, Cyrene, who had always seemed to know everything, looked bewildered.

"In the future... you might not be my only girlfriend."

Sera sounded a little guilty, but he still explained about Ruan Mei and Herta.

Cyrene's expression didn't change. She was still smiling.

"I know. I won't be your only girlfriend. I've known that from the very beginning.

I don't mind, but I'm a girl, you know! I get jealous too."

With that, Cyrene leaned forward and kissed Sera.

Sera froze for a moment, then came to his senses and wrapped his arms around her.

Her kiss was passionate, yet inexperienced.

After kissing him for a while, Cyrene pulled away and led Sera to the bed.

Cyrene pinned Sera beneath her and whispered softly in his ear.

"I told you, little Sera's birthday present was me."

Sera had just started to get up when Cyrene gently pushed him back down. He didn't resist-or rather, he couldn't.

Why was Cyrene stronger than him? Sera began to doubt himself. Even if he had focused on developing his authority and neglected close combat, surely he shouldn't have been weaker than Cyrene.

Sera didn't have time to dwell on it, because Cyrene began undoing his clothes. But awkwardly enough, the clothes had come into being alongside his authority. Without Sera's permission, Cyrene couldn't undo them.

Unable to undo them, Cyrene stared at Sera.

"Sigh..." Sera helplessly lifted the restriction on his clothes for Cyrene, then used two of his wings to cover his dazzling golden eyes.

As he covered his eyes, Sera silently used his authority to enclose the room and block out any prying eyes.

Cyrene resumed what she had been doing and undid Sera's clothes.

After freeing Sera from his clothes, she looked at his covered face and reached out to pull his wings aside.

"Keep your eyes on me, okay~" Cyrene's tone was light, but her meaning was unmistakable.

Sera did as Cyrene said and watched as she undid her own clothes.

At last, Cyrene took off the final piece of clothing and tossed it aside.

"From here on, leave everything to me, okay?"

Sera was just about to speak when Cyrene pressed a finger to his lips, so he could only nod.

Cyrene gently lowered herself.

A golden needle pierced the peach blossom's heart; afraid to cry aloud, she secretly furrowed her brow.

A jade brazier, an icy mat, a mandarin-duck brocade; fragrant sweat mingled with melting powder and ran onto the mountain-shaped pillow.

She would devote her whole life to it, indulging all his pleasure today.

Cyrene gradually lost her strength, and Sera pulled her down to lie on the bed.

"No, I still have strength." Cyrene struggled to get up, but Sera held her down on the bed.

"Shouldn't it be my turn to take the lead now?"

"Mmh..." Tears filled Cyrene's eyes as she looked at Sera, shy and timid.

"What's wrong? Weren't you being so bold just now, Cyrene~?"

"That's... that's because... ah!"

Cyrene covered her mouth, her mind going a little blank.

"All right, the night is still long."

Sera smiled at Cyrene, then leaned down and kissed her.

"Mmh..." Cyrene opened her eyes, feeling a little discomfort in her body.

"You're awake?" Sera looked at Cyrene as she rolled over beside him.

"I ordered breakfast. It just arrived. Want some?"

Cyrene said nothing and opened her arms to Sera.

Sera naturally picked Cyrene up and set her in a chair.

"Feed me."

Cyrene raised her hands slightly, pretending she had no strength.

Sera picked up a sandwich and held it to Cyrene's mouth.

Cyrene obediently took a bite.

Sera put the sandwich on the plate, inserted a straw into the drink, and held it to Cyrene's mouth.

"It's a peach-flavored drink. I saw it and brought it for you."

"Okay~" Cyrene braced her hands on the chair and swung her feet.

"How many days will the Phantasmoon Games last?"

Cyrene took the peach-flavored drink and set it on the table.

"Hmm... I don't know."

Sera shook his head.

"The Phantasmoon Games will end when the person in first place accumulates enough wish power. That's how I remember it.

"Though I am curious what would happen to the Phantasmoon Games if all seven heralds were eliminated before enough wish power was gathered.

"But the Phantasmoon Games are, in essence, a ritual Aha uses to suppress Voracity. For the safety of the galaxy, I won't try that.

"Dr. Primitive has already been eliminated, and Busitu, who is a herald, is also an ally. That leaves only three heralds of unknown identity, as well as Finality and Shuhu, who may come back to life."

Sera couldn't be sure whether Himeko had obtained the mask after it was lost and Phantasmoon issued it in its place.

But Sera was determined to save Himeko and Suzi.

If his guess was correct, after winning the Phantasmoon Games, he could use Aha to alter Himeko's status within one minute.

"Please be careful," Cyrene said, looking a little worried.

"I will." Sera ruffled Cyrene's hair.

"Stay in the room and get some rest today."

"Mm." Cyrene made a muffled sound around her sandwich and nodded.

"I'm heading out."

With that, Sera looked at Cyrene and walked out the door.

"Time to visit the Phantasmoon Secret Court."

Sera thought for a moment. He needed to find out what was going on.

Sera took out his mask and carefully sensed the flow of wish power. Following it, he arrived at the Phantasmoon Secret Court.

Sera looked around, then turned to the World-Subduing Divine Tree and smiled before examining the mask.

White Cat Mask (Seraphis): three points.

Monkey Mask (Dr. Primitive): eliminated.

Mask of Ten Thousand Forms (Finality): not called out.

Wolf Mask (La Mancha): not called out.

Oh?

Sera raised an eyebrow.

Fox Mask (Feiying): not called out.

The referee had joined the game after all.

Octopus Mask (Shuhu?): not called out.

Red Cat Mask?

It was probably Himeko. Sera smiled.

But why had the owner of the eighth mask still not put it on?

Never mind. What he needed to do now was...

"Come out. How much longer are you going to watch, Miss Referee?"