[✦ Player Profile ✦]

Name: Aestrea Moon (20)

Identity: The Moon’s Darling [NEW!!!], Number One Student [NEW], The Hero’s True Rival [NEW], Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student, The One Loved By Dangerous Beings, Baron

Affinities: Ice, ✯Time✯

⤬ Aura: S++ (↑UP)

⤬ Mana: A+ (↑UP)

⤬ Strength: A- (↑UP)

⤬ Vitality: A- (↑UP)

⤬ Agility: S+ (↑UP)

⤬ Spirit: SS (↑UP)

✦ [Skills & Talents] ✦

[1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art Variants [S???] ➤ Active Self-Created Skill

[2] Judgement Eye [S+] ➤ Active Self-Created Skill

[3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ➤ Passive Talent

[4] Extreme Combat Instinct [SS-] (↑UP) ➤ Passive Talent

[5] Proficient Sword & Gun Mastery [S-] (↑UP) ➤ Passive Skill

[6] Calm Mind [A-] (↑UP) ➤ Passive Talent

[7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ➤ Your eyes ominously glow red.

[8] Blood Contract [???] ➤ You can use Lumi’s Abilities.

[9] ??? [???] ➤ You can use the ????’s ?????????.

——+——+——+——

Ahh…

The profile panel finally works.

And it looks like it’s even more cursed than before.

…

Just now, I’m busy preparing to leave the royal capital.

I already said my goodbyes to everyone—even Lucas and his group. I mean, I’ll probably run into them again someday anyway.

I also took the opportunity to have a small talk with Ethan.

His talent was quite unusual, and he might be worth recruiting for the organization that I’ll need to build soon.

At the moment, I was checking over my things and fixing my clothes, with Alaine helping me, of course.

“Master, please rest a bit. I can handle the rest,” Alaine said softly as she carefully folded a shirt and placed it into my bag.

“…Thanks,” I replied with a tired smile.

I let out a small sigh and sat on the edge of the bed. It was soft and warm, and I didn’t hesitate to lie down and relax just for a moment.

While I was lying there, I opened up my status window.

My stats had gone way up.

It honestly made me pretty happy to see the results.

And I also received three new titles, two of which I can easily decipher the reason why I received them…

But the first one…

[The Moon’s Darling]

I have no fucking idea how I got this title.

Sure, my swordsmanship has always been moon-related, and my red eyes sometimes glow with a moon symbol, too.

There’s even this black moon tattoo on the palm of my hand…

… Never mind…

Those are enough of a reason, no?

But still—”Darling”?

Why that word?

Ugh…

Now I really need to figure out what kind of connection this body has with the Moon Goddess.

Also, about the ancient magic library…

I had a small talk with Eleonora, and she told me the ancient magic library only opens during certain seasons, and even she doesn’t have full control of it.

So, we decided to postpone my entrance to the library until it finally opens.

That aside…

There’s still one last person I haven’t said goodbye to.

And that’s none other than…

“Christina.”

I sat up from the bed, stood, and then headed for the door.

“I’ll be going out for a bit,” I said to Alaine as I pulled my coat on.

She nodded quietly, not even pausing from her folding.

Lumi and Chaerin were fast asleep, curled up on the couch like a pair of kittens, so I didn’t make any noise.

I gently opened the door… and stepped outside the dormitory.

Then, I quickly headed straight for the cathedral.

It was the only place she could be right now.

Even though Christina was technically called an “exchange student,” I don’t think she ever went to a single class.

She was always busy doing work for the church… doing her duties as the Saintess.

Well… calling her an exchange student is honestly kind of a joke.

They’re just using her like some kind of holy tool.

It always made me a little mad, seeing her being used like that. But then again… if things hadn’t happened that way, I probably would’ve never met her.

So maybe I should be grateful in a weird way.

Still, I know I won’t be seeing her again for a while.

Silverleaf getting picked again for another exchange like this? Yeah… that’s nearly impossible.

Anyway, no point thinking too much about it now.

After walking for a few minutes, I reached the big cathedral.

It was quiet—just like the first time I came here.

I slowly pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.

And right away…

“Yo! Glad to see you again!”

A warm, friendly voice greeted me.

I blinked, a little surprised.

Standing near the entrance was a tall man with messy brown hair and kind eyes. He wore the white-and-gold uniform of a Holy Knight, and he held his hand out with a grin.

“Ah! John! It’s also nice to see you.”

I smiled back.

“You finally back from that mission?” I asked in surprise.

He groaned and scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah… finally. Ugh, it was rough. Had to live like a caveman for almost a whole month! And don’t even get me started on those damn Dark Order creeps. They just kept popping up everywhere!”

His hands balled into fists, and a warm golden light flared around him for a second.

I could tell—he’d gotten stronger.

“The second I catch one of them, I swear—” he muttered, letting out a breath.

Then his eyes moved over to me… and widened.

“Wait a second…”

He leaned forward.

“What kind of drugs did you take?”

“Excuse me?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“No, seriously! What the hell happened to you? You got crazy strong outta nowhere! I think you might even be stronger than me now!” He smacked my shoulder playfully.

I caught his hand before it landed fully.

“Heh. Getting cocky, huh?” He grinned.

“Naturally.”

I said with a small shrug.

“Gods, you and that calm face. It’s so annoying!” he laughed.

“Also… when did you get so obsessed with the moon?” He suddenly asked, catching me off guard.

“What do you mean?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You seriously don’t know? You’ve got a whole moon tattoo going down your neck.”

“…My neck?”

I blinked, confused.

Then, without a word, I grabbed his sword and angled the shiny blade like a mirror.

“Ah…”

Right there, just under my hairline, was a black and blue tattoo—showing all the phases of the moon in a perfect line down the back of my neck.

What the hell is this…?

I already had moon symbols in my eyes, on my palm… and now this?

Fucking hell…

Seeing John still staring, I quickly made something up.

“Oh—right. That thing? I totally forgot. It’s just to celebrate getting my first title, that’s all.” I said with a small smile.

“Ohhh!” John’s eyes lit up.

He slapped my shoulder twice, grinning.

“Congratulations on becoming a Baron, Mr. Moonlight Swordsman!”

I rolled my eyes.

It was time to change the subject.

“By the way, where’s Christina? I need to say goodbye to her before I get back to Silverleaf.” I asked curiously.

John’s expression softened a little, and he nodded toward a familiar hallway.

“She’s in the same room as always. Go on.”

“Thanks.”

I said, walking past him.

But just as I reached the door—

“Use protection!” he called out with a smirk.

“Shut it.”

I groaned.

“Hehehe!”

His laugh echoed behind me as I pushed the door open.

And stepped inside.

And there she was.

It hadn’t been that long since I last saw her…

But somehow, she looked a little different now.

Her blonde hair had grown longer—it flowed all the way down to her waist in soft waves. It looked silky and neat, like she brushed it every morning with care.

Her clothes were different too.

They looked special, like they were made just for her. There was even her name sewn in fancy letters near the chest.

Something about it made her seem more… official.

Like a real Saintess.

But her face…

That hadn’t changed at all.

Those soft pink lips, those gentle pink eyes.

Her cheekbones were soft and delicate, but her jaw still had that sharp shape that made her look strong and elegant at the same time.

“Oh my.”

Her calm, sweet voice broke the silence.

“You finally made time to visit me?”

She raised an eyebrow as she looked me up and down.

I didn’t blame her for saying that.

After all, I had been avoiding her lately. Especially when she asked if we should make our relationship public…

I never gave her a real answer.

So I just ignored the question now, and softly called her name.

“Christina.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“I came to say goodbye.”

I didn’t want to drag it out.

I said it straight.

She paused for a second, then gave a small nod.

“Ah, that.”

Her voice was calm.

“Alright then, you can leave.”

She even waved her hand a little, as if she was really telling me to go.

Now… if this were the old me…

I probably would’ve just listened, turned around, and waited for her to stop me.

But not this time.

I didn’t say anything.

Instead, I walked up behind her and gently wrapped my arms around her waist.

“Ah!” she let out a soft sound, surprised.

Her face turned a little pink as I sat down in one of the chairs and carefully pulled her onto my lap—facing me, so I could see her clearly.

She looked straight into my eyes, stunned, not saying a word yet.

But I could tell… she wasn’t mad.

Just surprised.

And maybe a little flustered.

I smiled gently, keeping my arms around her.

She didn’t move away.

Not even a little.

She stayed still in my arms for a moment, just looking at me.

Then slowly, she relaxed.

Her hands reached up and rested lightly on my shoulders.

“You’re really leaving, huh?” she whispered.

I nodded, brushing a strand of her golden hair behind her ear.

“Yeah… I don’t know when we will be able to meet again.”

She looked down for a second, her lashes low like little golden fans. Then, she leaned her forehead gently against mine.

“You always disappear like the moon behind clouds,” she said softly, her voice almost like a breath.

I smiled a little at that.

“Then you should know… the moon always comes back.”

She let out a small laugh.

It was quiet, but warm.

Then her hands cupped my face, and she looked me in the eyes.

“Promise me something, Aestrea.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t lose yourself. I know how heavy the world can feel. Just… stay you. Even if it hurts.”

I leaned in and kissed her forehead gently.

“I promise.”

She smiled softly, then leaned forward and rested her head on my chest. I held her close, one hand stroking her back slowly.

Neither of us said anything for a while.

The cathedral was quiet.

Only the sound of the wind brushing through the tall windows could be heard.

It felt like time had slowed down just for us.

Finally, she spoke again.

“Will you write to me?”

“I will,” I nodded.

“Even if I don’t know what to say… I’ll still write.”

She pulled back just enough to look at me again, then reached into her pocket.

She handed me a small silver pin, shaped like a cross wrapped in vines.

“This is mine. You keep it. If you ever feel lost, hold it close.”

I took it gently, brushing my thumb over the smooth metal.

“Thank you, Christina.”

And just like that, I knew it was time.

I stood up, helping her back onto her feet.

She didn’t try to stop me.

Instead, she walked with me to the cathedral doors.

Before stepping out, I turned to look at her one last time.

The wind picked up, making her hair dance in the sunlight streaming through the stained glass.

“Take care of yourself, Saintess.”

“You too, Moonlight Swordsman.”

Our eyes met, and then…

I walked out.

I didn’t look back.

If I did, I wouldn’t be able to leave.

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