Two strange potions. Pina looked at them and said they were the potions of the sun and moon.
One was a scarlet potion that made you frown just by looking at it, and the other was an icy potion that sent chills down your spine.
“I heard about it from my father before. Licht.”
Under the sweltering heat, Pina wore her masterpiece and held the potion.
“One gives you strength like biting into the sun.”
Obviously, Pina was pointing at the sun potion.
Splash! The liquid, shimmering like melted sunlight, splashed against the glass wall and swayed.
“The other one is said to grant power like engulfing the moon.”
The blue liquid looked so radiant it was as if it captured the night sky.
“They said it’s a potion that only exists in mythology.”
Pina balanced the bottle placed on the opposite side. The heat and chill clashed and neutralized each other.
In the pristine white room, I gulped while staring at the potions.
‘Rewards in the depths of the shrine.’
It couldn’t be bad. If I drink that, wouldn’t it be more effective than the swordsmanship potion?
Pina might have left it as a last resort when she became the Nameless Saintess.
Without Rock Emperor’s strength and Queen Bellin’s innate magic, we might not be able to catch the Demon Kings.
Then both types must be ones that increase magic or strength. Great.
“Let’s drink together.”
I proposed while looking at the people around.
Strategic decision. After all, even when Pina and I aren’t around, the hero couple should be able to handle it.
Dennis and the Celestial Demon might be of help, but there’s likely a reason I forced them out during the final battle of [Black Heart].
“How about Kainel drinking the sun potion and me drinking the moon potion?”
The Light Hero and the Fire Mage. These guys could be my last hope.
If things go on like this, Pina might end up as the Nameless Saintess.
I’ve already confirmed the flag and foresight. I have to create as many variables as possible.
“Licht, we can drink it, right?”
Kainel used ice magic and grabbed the potion. He had a face that clearly said he thought it looked like poison.
“Helmet dude… I don’t think this is something Kai should drink…”
Even Ariel was finding it cute how he made that face with his good-looking face.
Isn’t it obvious that an item ending with ‘potion’ is a consumable? It should be usable, right?
“…Then I’ll drink it first.”
Taking a deep breath, I picked up the blue potion.
A chill pierced down to my bones. My fingers stuck to it like holding an icicle.
“C-cold….”
I couldn’t even use polite speech. My body trembled violently, and my teeth rattled.
‘How should I drink this…?’
My thoughts froze. Can I survive after pouring this down my throat?
Should I just close my eyes and drink it? Won’t I die? I already met my favorite character, so it would be a good death.
I poured the liquid inside. The potion, shimmering blue, touched my tongue.
“..Ugh.”
Cough, it’s way too cold. I can’t drink this. This is not something made for humans to consume.
Feels like I’d get a cryogenic burn, I shivered and stopped.
There’s definitely a way to drink it safely.
“Pina, is there anything written on that…?”
I decided to look for clues first.
The space where we emerged after unraveling the secret of the statues. Having passed the shrine’s test, the reward couldn’t be useless.
“Nothing. Licht.”
Unfortunately, there was nothing. All I got was that the two wolf statues kissed before entering here.
Wait, could it be…?
The statues I saw earlier were definitely paired. That means…
“Pina, is it possible that we need two people to drink this together?”
I couldn’t believe what I was saying myself.
It’s questionable how Kainel and Ariel even got in here. Is it because they became a couple?
“..What?”
There was also a party condition to go in as four, so it wasn’t impossible.
“Wait, are we supposed to drink this mouth to mouth…?”
“Ariel, I don’t think that’s it. Licht couldn’t even hold it in his mouth.”
The moon potion is extremely cold. If we tried to hold it in our mouths, we’d freeze to death.
If it were something that simple, it wouldn’t be the shrine of will. But if it’s the shrine of emotion, maybe.
“Pina, would you like to hug me and drink…?”
“Ah, drink… huh?”
I had no more strategies left. My mind only brought up Pina’s tail for warming the cold body.
“W-what did you just say…? Licht?”
The soft white tail that had helped me endure the harsh northern cold.
“I was suggesting a hug. Pina. If you wrap me up with your tail… it might not be so cold.”
Saying those words made me feel embarrassed. My face cringed for no reason.
My heart wouldn’t listen. Please calm down. It’s just a hug. Lee Soo-hyun.
“..Aaaah.”
Pina blushed and covered her cheeks. Her golden wolf eyes wobbled with anxiety.
“Pina, you don’t have to be scared. I won’t do anything inappropriate.”
“A-ah… It’s not that… I just know you won’t do anything…”
Now she’s waving her hands defensively. Is she okay with it when she’s doing it, but not when I am?
At this point, it seems severe. It’s probably because she has no experience with men. The once Saintess Pina didn’t act this way.
I didn’t want to think any longer. Just imagining losing Pina was terrifying.
“Pina, I’m sorry.”
…I guess I’ll just have to hug her.
I gently wrapped my arms around Pina. Not too tightly, not too lightly. I left enough space for her to feel comfortable.
“Ugh. Hehe.”
Pina began to hiccup, her whole body shaking. Was she really that surprised?
“I’m sorry. It reminded me of the wolf statue acting like this back then…”
I started making excuses. Apologizing with unnecessary embellishments.
What if this method fails? My body moved before I could think again.
“Really, Soo-hyun is… a perverted dog…”
Her voice shrank. Pina was being a little brat in my arms.
Seeing her use my real name in her attack made me wonder if she was mad. Immediately, I ruffled her head.
“Sniff. Y-you won’t let it go just because I did this…”
Gently stroking her soft white hair made her lie down. Her words didn’t match her actions.
She wasn’t asking for it, and her ears that were originally stiff lowered as if on reflex.
Is it because her mental guardrail came down? Or is my touch simply comfortable for her?
“…You really won’t let it go? Pina? I’m feeling a bit hurt.”
I threw in a joke I had heard in the past. Only then did her expression melt like ice.
“Fufu, okay. I’ll let it go… Knight.”
Pina responded brightly with a smile. Before I knew it, she released her masterpiece and wrapped me with her thick tail.
“…What are they doing?”
“I don’t know either. Ariel.”
Ariel rubbed her eyes as she watched us. She looked like she couldn’t believe what her eyes were seeing.
What? You two just kissed. A hug is hardly embarrassing, right? Well, it is a bit though.
“Licht…”
Pina pressed closer. If I hugged her tight, it sounded like a plushie making noise.
Her soft skin kept brushing against me, and a sweet scent wafted enticingly.
I needed to stay strong. I was starting to crumble. I didn’t want to fall over and do nothing.
“I’ll drink it now, Pina.”
The chill in the potion was significantly reduced compared to before. This seemed promising.
I started consuming the moon potion while sharing body heat with Pina. A chilling blade-like sensation flowed down my throat.
“It tastes good…?”
What? Why does it taste good? It had a flavor similar to a mix of soda and lemon.
Just like those energy drinks I often had before being transported into the game world.
Then it happened. The flask suddenly wouldn’t dispense any more liquid.
Tap, tap, No matter how much I shook, the moon potion showed no sign of movement. It was evenly divided like a cut cake.
“…Why can’t I drink more?”
I lamented over the potion that displayed odd behavior.
*
Kainel similarly drank the sun potion.
“What is this, only half…?”
He made a sound like someone forcing down something spicy, groaning.
But indeed it seemed the quantity one could drink was set, as he only managed half.
“Let me have it! Kai!”
Ariel quickly snatched the potion like a thieving cat and chugged down the remaining liquid without hesitation.
“More is coming…? Hiiiyah. It’s spicy…”
Clink. The sun potion was thoroughly emptied. Just like Kainel, Ariel wiped her mouth.
It seemed they could only share the potion between the two of them.
“Oh, Kai. I feel like a hot dragon is rampaging in my body…?”
“I feel it too. Wait, could it be…?”
New power was awakening in the bodies of the hero couple that met the conditions.
Noticing something, the Fire Mage extended his palm to cast magic.
Next to him, the Light Hero was happily swinging his Holy Sword.
‘Do they need to drink together, side by side…?’
Pina Granthia pondered while watching them. Her white hair swayed gently.
Pina held the moon potion as if it were precious. Indeed, only half remained.
‘If I drink this… Licht would…’
The Black Knight donned his helmet and busied himself practicing swordsmanship to test the potion’s effect.
If I want to drink it in secret, now’s the chance.
Pina swallowed hard. The potion touched by the lips of someone important to her.
If she took it, everything she said about Licht being a perverted dog would be irrelevant. It would be something even worse.
An indirect kiss. Even the peck on the cheek she gave in the north made her face feel extremely flushed.
Just hearing the word kiss makes her embarrassed. Why is this happening? She hated how she was being overly sensitive compared to before.
Earlier, when Licht hugged her suddenly, her tail bristled in surprise.
‘…Even so.’
While examining the remaining potion, Pina made a decision.
‘I want to be by Licht’s side and give him strength.’
Pina downed the moon potion.
The slightly moist rim of the bottle threatened to plunge her pure self into all sorts of ugly thoughts.
“Sniff… Huff…”
Pina Granthia was always honest about her feelings.
