A seductive, lazy voice echoed from behind the door. Ye Xingyao steadied himself and walked into the private booth, acting as if nothing were wrong.
Inside the spacious room, only one square wooden dining table remained. It seemed the rest of the furniture had been moved out at the owner’s request.
Sitting at one side of the table was a woman wearing a pale kimono adorned with crimson petals. What caught the eye was her incredibly alluring, partially revealed cleavage and her crossed, slender legs.
She possessed the posture of a mature, charming beauty, and was naturally one of the most influential figures in the Hunters’ Alliance.
“Sister Hongye, it’s been a long time.”
Ye Xingyao strained his voice to sound soft and feminine as he greeted her.
“Come, take a seat. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’m not sure if the food here will suit your taste.”
Ye Xingyao followed her instructions, feeling a bit apprehensive.
“Little Yexin, why so stiff? You should be more natural in front of your dear sister. You’re all grown up now. Don’t tell me I have to recount all your old embarrassing stories before you’ll act close to me?”
“I’m sorry… It has been a long time since we last met, after all.”
Ye Xingyao believed that his “dear sister” was just as troublesome as an enemy — no, far more troublesome than any enemy.
It wasn’t just because she was too seductive.
‘Well, she is still quite the bombshell.’
In any case, ever since he had gained access to secrets that ordinary people had no way of knowing, he had thought about using that information to make money to support his younger sister. Entering the Hunters’ Alliance had seemed like the only choice for a high school student like him at the time.
As luck would have it, when he had first contacted the guide at the Hunters’ Alliance stronghold — dressed in women’s clothing and acting timid — to say he wanted to become a monster hunter, this woman had run over with glowing eyes. She had immediately interrupted the guide and patted her soft chest, guaranteeing that she would be his mentor.
Since then, she had truly taken on the responsibility, successfully leading him down the path of a monster hunter.
However, Ye Xingyao had also come to realize that this woman was completely, utterly, and entirely unreliable. She possessed the strength of at least Midnight-level or higher, yet she spent her free time drinking and forced him to accompany her. Fortunately, despite her libertine image, she knew where to draw the line.
Furthermore, her thoughts were inscrutable. Even the current Ye Xingyao, who was considered experienced in combat and quite knowledgeable, found it difficult to guess what she was thinking. When combined with her status, her network of connections, and her incredibly accurate intuition…
The current Hongye Qiu might not necessarily be his “dear sister.”
“You’ve brought a huge amount of trouble to your sister this time.”
Hongye Qiu’s almond-shaped eyes showed a hint of resentment as she stared fixedly at Ye Xingyao, as if trying to stab him to death with her gaze.
“Uh… Ehehe…”
Ye Xingyao could only offer an awkward laugh.
“Don’t try to act cute. Acting cute won’t help. Give me an honest account of everything. Explain the Star Elf and the Moon Elf situation clearly.”
“We didn’t find the Star Elf. I suspect the Star Elf was just a gimmick from the start. Look, the Human Alliance didn’t even send anyone at Midnight-level, and not a single person from the Magical Girl Society showed up. Maybe they had some inside information?”
Ye Xingyao gracefully picked up his knife and fork, cut one small piece of steak, and slowly placed it into his open mouth, chewing quietly.
“…And what about the Moon Elf? You have to explain that properly, don’t you?”
Hongye Qiu said irritably, picking up a small piece of cake and biting into it fiercely.
“Hmm? The Moon Elf? She gave me a commission. Yexin doesn’t know anything else.”
“Stop pretending, and stop using that voice. Speak properly. Where did such a good girl like you learn those tricks?”
Hongye Qiu reached out and flicked Ye Xingyao’s forehead.
“Ouch! I’ll talk, I’ll talk. Dear sister, you have no idea. That Moon Elf… she’s… uh… how should I describe it…”
“She’s what?”
“Let me think. This is a bit subtle…”
“Why is your face turning red?”
“Is… Is it?!”
‘There is definitely something wrong with this girl’s reaction,’ Hongye Qiu thought.
Hmm… Talking about the other party made her blush, and there was even a bit of pride in her expression?
Hongye Qiu suddenly noticed that her “dear sister” had become much more cheerful at some point, even daring to make harmless jokes with her.
Yexin had a pretty face, a certain aura, and her taste in clothes was decent. Aside from her somewhat flat chest, she had almost no flaws for someone her age…
She figured it out!
“Alright, my dear sister, when did you hook up with the Moon Elf? Are you the top or the bottom? No guys involved, right?”
“Pfft — ! What… what are you talking about?!”
Ye Xingyao looked shocked.
Wasn’t it just a case of a very familiar childhood friend suddenly discovering that he knew nothing about her secret identity, and then his instincts overcoming his reason to save her with a carefully planned strategy when she was in danger? Why would she interpret it this way?!
“Hmm, that’s a good reaction. Bring her over for me to see when you have time. I’ll evaluate her for you. I’d even support it if she wanted to use your romance to break the human stereotypes regarding elves! Of course, the primary prerequisite for all of this is that she loves you enough — even more than she loves her own status.”
‘Wait, haven’t those conditions already been met?’
Ye Xingyao complained silently in his heart.
“Sister Hongye! It’s not what you think!”
“It’s not what I think? Then what else could it be?”
Hongye Qiu opened her mouth in surprise, thought for a moment, and then looked at him with a strange gaze.
“You weren’t played by a wicked woman, were you? That shouldn’t be right. Someone as smart as you… Oh no, don’t tell me you played with the Moon Elf’s feelings?! Then I’ll have to…”
“Sister Hongye!!!!!”
“Ahem, I got a bit excited. Go ahead.”
“There’s nothing between us! We’re just best friends at school. I noticed her suspicious behavior tonight and followed her to check it out, and I just happened to help save her life!”
“That’s it?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“Then why were you stumbling over your words? I thought something even more explosive was happening!”
*Thwack!* Ye Xingyao’s head was hit again.
“Then can you guarantee that this Moon Elf won’t appear again, or at least appear as little as possible in the Human Alliance’s sights?”
Setting aside her playful mood, Hongye Qiu sat upright and looked seriously at Ye Xingyao’s face.
“As long as the Human Alliance doesn’t discover her true identity and she isn’t threatened, I will.”
“Then we’ll let this matter drop. There has been no movement from the Magical Girl Society. Even if they’re a bunch of hot-blooded idiots who only think about saving the world, they should have noticed something by now…”
“I’m not sure… Maybe the Magical Girl Society can’t spare the energy to deal with things here for now? It seems like Qiluo is their only Midnight-level member.”
Ye Xingyao propped up his cheek with his hand and spoke nonchalantly.
“Speaking of Magical Girls, don’t you have any plans regarding them, Little Yexin? Becoming a Magical Girl would be much easier than trying to endure things with an ordinary person’s body. Magic is quite kind to girls. After all, besides superpowers and inheritances, there’s always the path of a Magical Girl.”
“No thank you. I think I’m doing just fine as I am…”
“Really?”
Hongye Qiu clearly didn’t believe his excuse. As Yexin’s guide on the hunter’s path, she naturally knew how much this “ordinary little girl” craved supernatural power.
“Really.”
Ye Xingyao responded decisively.
‘Because I’m a guy!’ he lamented inwardly with a hint of grief.
He couldn’t exactly become a Magical Boy, could he? The Magical Girl gems wouldn’t even recognize him!