Sunlight filtered through the post office window, spilling onto the wooden counter.
Eve stood behind the counter, playing the role of the counter girl.
She skillfully organized the handful of letters.
Occasionally, curious children would lean against the counter to peer over.
Eve would give them a gentle smile.
She would softly remind them not to knock over the nearby ink bottles.
The children laughed and ran away, chasing each other and playing within the post office.
Eve didn't get annoyed; she simply watched them with a smile.
She made sure they didn't crash into anything.
When the children grew tired of playing and ran outside.
Only then did she take a heavy ancient tome from the drawer.
By the light of the sun, she began to read in silence.
It was at that moment.
The door leading to the basement was pushed open.
Theia came up, carrying the unconscious Lin Gui on her back, looking a bit strained.
Hearing the sound, Eve looked up, her gaze falling on the figure bound tightly to the other's back.
She noted the way the two of them were pinned together.
She froze for a moment, an obvious look of confusion crossing her face.
"Theia?"
"Why... did you bring him up?"
"And why is he tied to you like that?"
Theia sighed and shifted Lin Gui higher on her back.
"Don't ask."
"I almost let him slip away just now."
"I thought he would be hungry when he woke up."
"So I went back with the kind intention of giving him some breakfast..."
"But it just so happened that I caught him having broken free of his ropes, holding his staff and trying to run."
A flicker of surprise flashed in Eve's purple eyes.
"He broke free?"
"Ropes like those... he could break out of them?"
Something occurred to her then, and her gaze became somewhat peculiar.
Her eyes shifted between the Lin Gui on Theia's back and Theia's own legs.
"So, bringing him up..."
"Does that mean you've already... 'finished'?"
Her tone carried a subtle, probing nuance.
Theia's face instantly flushed crimson.
"No, that's not it!"
She shook her head hurriedly, her silver hair swaying with the movement.
"It... it hasn't even started yet. I ran into a bit of trouble."
She bit her lip and looked at Eve.
Her expression held a hint of embarrassment and a touch of pleading.
"Eve..."
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
Eve closed the book in her hands, her expression softening.
She walked over to Theia's side and gently patted her shoulder.
"Do we really need to use words like 'ask for a favor' between us?"
"Tell me, what do you need me to do?"
The time Theia and Eve had truly known each other was actually not that long.
However, Eve could clearly feel the meticulous care Theia provided her.
Whenever they crossed dangerous areas, Theia would subconsciously shield Eve behind her.
On the jolting flying vessels, Theia would quietly swap her own softer dry rations for Eve's.
She would always share anything she thought was delicious with her first.
This care wasn't out of politeness; it was a near-instinctive, family-like concern.
It seemed to have started... from that one time.
After Eve had half-jokingly, half-probingly admitted to "admiring Lin Gui."
After that, the last trace of faint wariness in Theia's eyes had vanished.
It was replaced by a warmer, more frank intimacy.
It was as if that declaration.
Far from becoming a barrier, it had instead caused Theia to categorize her as "one of her own."
Not a romantic rival, but family.
Eve was a believer in monogamy.
In her past understanding.
Hardly any girl would willingly share the boy she loved with someone else.
That included Eve herself.
It was just that her destiny had long ago stripped her of the right to love another.
But Theia seemed... completely different.
Far from being repulsed, she seemed faintly... enthusiastic about it?
She even hoped that more girls would like Lin Gui so that they could become "family."
Eve had seen many cases of "polygamy."
In the City-State Era, it was mostly out of helplessness.
Lower-class women depended on the strong to survive.
Noblewomen accepted marriage alliances to serve one husband for the sake of family interests.
There were also unions based purely on ability without any emotion involved, using each other for mutual benefit.
For example, the Cowardly Princess whom Theia had complained about for drugging Lin Gui with her.
Elvia.
But a case like Theia's.
Actively, eagerly, and even with a certain naive expectation.
Wanting to "share" her one and only love.
This was the first time Eve had ever seen it.
However, when Eve recalled Theia's identity as a half-demon.
Recalling her experiences of being rejected by the entire world and wandering alone for all those years...
She seemed to understand it after all.
Someone who had never possessed a "home" and was driven away as an outcast by everyone...
Perhaps craved "connection" more than anyone else.
She craved the warmth and sense of security of being surrounded by "her own people."
To Theia, "love" perhaps wasn't about exclusive possession.
But rather "possessing a world that would not abandon her."
In truth, compared to Theia, Lin Gui was the one person Eve truly couldn't see through.
She could see Lin Gui's care and affection for Theia.
It was a silent guardianship, a subconscious favoritism.
Setting aside the half-demon identity, an elf as beautiful and dazzling as Theia.
Eve believed that no normal man would refuse her.
And yet...
Lin Gui used his actions to reject Theia's nearly naked confession of love.
He had forced Theia to use "brute force," and yet...
He actually still tried to escape?
Most bizarrely, Eve remembered Princess Elvia.
She too had used "brute force" to no avail, failing to even give herself away.
And within those fragmented shards of the future that Eve had seen.
She had glimpsed some blurry images.
In the future, Lin Gui's figure would be entangled with many women of different races.
There was a mysterious fox-girl, an elegant mermaid songstress, and even a proud Vampire...
But without exception.
Almost all of those women were the ones who took the initiative to approach, entangle, and even scheme against him.
As for Lin Gui himself...
It was as if he would forever stand there passively.
Like a silent magnet.
Attracting moths, yet never moving half a step himself.
This contradictory yet unique personality.
While filling Eve with an unspeakable curiosity.
Made her heart... itch slightly.
Eve knew that this was perhaps a long-suppressed vanity at work.
The target of her original admiration and observation turned out to be so "in demand."
A subtle urge to "claim him first" began to quietly sprout.
Then she could demonstrate her superiority as the "winner" to those outstanding women.
Just like the boys at the magic academy.
Who viewed "claiming the Holy Saintess Eve" as a supreme glory.
And now.
"Claiming Lin Gui," this seemingly ordinary little mage.
Seemed to have become a certain hidden "game of conquest" belonging to exceptional women.
Recalling the words Theia had said to her privately a week ago:
"Eve, there might only be this one chance."
"With Lin Gui's personality, he will only become more alert after this."
"To want another chance like this... it will probably be difficult."
Eve's gaze slowly fell on the face of the unconscious Lin Gui on Theia's back.
That curiosity, mixed with a faint competitiveness.
Scratched gently at the bottom of her heart.
Immediately after, that itch was firmly suppressed by her.
No.
She would not have too many entanglements with Mr. Lin Gui.
Even if he truly was the object of her heart's admiration.
That yearning for the "Lin Gui of the possible future."
After witnessing his calmness, strategy, and contradictions with her own eyes during this journey.
It had indeed grown more intense.
So intense that...
Looking at the Theia before her who was about to enter into a physical relationship with Lin Gui.
A trace of extremely minute jealousy truly rose in Eve's heart.
And, more and deeper, helpless blessings.
As long as the "Hall of Heroic Spirits" still existed.
Walking toward her death was her destined future.
She could not possess a "later," and she could not even hope for "companionship."
Therefore, the only thing she could do.
Was to serve as Theia's best friend.
Offer her blessings and provide her help.
After thoroughly smoothing out those ripples in her heart, Eve's smile once again became soft and firm.
She looked at the embarrassed and flustered Theia before her and said softly:
"Theia, no matter what it is, I will help you."
"You can speak without worry."
Theia was visibly relieved, but the flush on her face grew even deeper.
Her eyes flickered, her voice as faint as the buzz of a mosquito:
"Uh, well, cough cough..."
"It's just... teach me how to... um... have babies with Lin Gui?"
The gentle and encouraging smile on Eve's face instantly froze.
She blinked her mysterious purple eyes.
Her long eyelashes trembled.
Her brain seemed to completely stop processing information at that moment.
"This... still needs to be taught?"
In fact, Eve's subsequent actions proved the necessity of a physiology lesson.
Eve took a deep breath, turned around, and carefully closed the windows and doors of the post office.
She hung the wooden sign that said "Closed."
Afterward, she followed Theia back to the basement once more.
Theia carefully placed the unconscious Lin Gui back on the bed.
Then, she tied him firmly with ropes.
Lacking confidence, she thought about it and used adhesive tape to seal Lin Gui's mouth.
Mages required chanting to cast spells.
Even if Lin Gui could cast without chanting, it should still hinder him for a while.
Theia thought to herself without much confidence.
Never mind, I'll have Eve cast a barrier in a bit.
With a barrier in place, the prize in her grasp shouldn't be able to fly away.
After preparing everything.
The two of them stood by the bed, looking at the unconscious man.
The atmosphere was stagnant for a moment.
Theia reached out, her fingertips touching the collar of Lin Gui's mage robe.
Yet she pulled back as if she had been burned.
She turned to look at Eve, her crimson eyes filled with the helplessness of "what do I do next?"
Eve was also silent.
She worked hard to search her memory.
As one who had been chosen as the Holy Saintess since childhood and required to maintain a "pure" body and mind.
She too... seemed to have never encountered specific "knowledge" in this regard.
Most of her physiology knowledge, it seemed, still came from those rogue nobles, deadbeat students, and the wayward sisters who had violated the precepts.
She had inadvertently overheard their... scandalous news from others.
But seeing Theia's pure and expectant gaze...
Eve took a light breath.
She decided to steel herself and go for it.
"First..."
She tried her best to make her voice sound calm and convincing.
"We should... change the clothes to pajamas."
Theia nodded subconsciously: "Mhm."
Then she suddenly reacted: "...Huh???"
She widened her eyes and looked at Eve: "Pajamas?? We still need those?"
Eve struggled to maintain the composure of her expression and thought seriously for a moment.
Then she nodded with great solemnity:
"Yes."
Her tone carried a seriousness akin to an academic discussion:
"Clean and comfortable clothing helps to... um... create an atmosphere."
"After that," Eve continued to recall earnestly, trying her best to piece together those fragmented rumors.
"You... need to lie in Mr. Lin Gui's arms."
Theia tilted her head, her crimson eyes filled with confusion.
"Uh... how do I 'lie'?"
Eve closed her eyes, her brow furrowing slightly, as if she were painstakingly flipping through a blurry memory in her mind.
"I remember... Sister Agatha once snuck out for a date and came back."
"She described to me that in order to... um... 'arouse a man's lust'."
"One needs to use a specific posture for an embrace."
She reached out her hands, gesturing somewhat awkwardly.
"The bodies should be as close as possible, with arms wrapped around the other's neck or back."
"The head can rest on his shoulder, or... be buried in his chest."
"Breathing should be light, but you must let him feel it."
"..."
Her description carried a stiffness as if she were reading from a book, which combined with her gestures, made it seem both serious and hilarious.
The corner of Theia's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"And, and then?"
Eve opened her eyes and nodded with certainty, as if stating an established truth:
"Then, Mr. Lin Gui will be like a hungry wolf and pounce on you."
"The things that follow... will happen naturally."
Theia fell silent.
She slowly raised her hand and pointed to the man on the bed whose cheeks were red and swollen, whose breathing was steady, and who was clearly still in a deep coma.
"But..."
Her voice was filled with helplessness and a sense of absurdity.
"I knocked him out."
The problem lay in... he was unconscious.
Theia did know a few things about "that matter."
But the prerequisite was that both parties had to be awake and responsive.
But Lin Gui had been punched unconscious by her just now.
What she primarily wanted to know was actually this.
How does one proceed while the other party is unconscious?
In 《The Domineering Magic Dragon's Sweet Little Wife》, the princess was also set up, and as a result, she did that to the dragon while it was sound asleep.
But the problem was, how exactly do you do that to a guy who is sound asleep?!
Theia didn't want to do that while Lin Gui was awake.
He would absolutely resist, and then Theia would be very sad.
To be a beautiful and charming maiden yet be despised.
Boohoo.
Looking at Eve, who had become interested, Theia knew in her heart that the Holy Saintess was most likely even worse off than she was.
But seeing Eve's exceptionally serious expression—even carrying a bit of an "academic research" drive...
Theia, for some strange reason, was also becoming a bit "fired up."
Left with no choice, she could only silently comfort herself in her heart:
Maybe... humans just have this kind of special procedure?
I'll just do as she says first.
While the "teaching" in the basement was advancing in a bizarre direction.
On the other side.
The early morning sun had just dispersed the night mist.
Morpheus walked alone through the quiet streets of Avalon.
His footsteps were heavier than usual.
Deep within his blood-red eyes, a layer of gravity so thick it couldn't be dissolved was suppressed.
The unusually frequent fluctuations of the Demon King Pillars last night had struck his heart like a warning bell.
Lord Gusion's situation was likely even worse than expected.
Time was truly running out.
He crossed through the gradually awakening streets and eventually stopped in front of the three-story building hanging the sign of the "7-Copper Post Office."
The wooden door was closed tightly, with a sign hanging on the door that said "Closed."
Morpheus raised his hand, suspending it before the door.
He hesitated for a moment.
In the end, he knocked.
"Knock, knock, knock."
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