Free Web NovelMuen opened his eyes to an empty sky.
No bright moon, no blazing sun.
Well, there was a huge hole—but it was gradually repairing itself, leaving little trace behind.
Liya was at his side, rustling as she put on her dress. Her pure white panties slid up along her full, slender thighs and, with a soft snap, fit perfectly over that high plain; the gentle sway only made those curves all the more intoxicating.
A small bow adorned the front of the panties—playful and cute, just like their owner—stirring an irresistible urge to reach out and toy with it.
"Muen, you’re awake!"
Noticing he’d come to, Liya forgot about getting dressed. Like a swallow darting to its nest, she threw herself against Muen’s arm.
Bound by her undergarments, her bosom seemed even higher, the cleavage bottomless. Even through fabric, he could feel that springy resilience.
Freshly awakened, Muen quickly felt his blood begin to stir.
"Are you okay?"
Liya’s small hand caressed Muen’s face as she looked him up and down, asking anxiously.
What had just happened was beyond her understanding. She’d done her utmost, yes, but until she confirmed Muen was fine, unease still fluttered in her chest.
"I’m fine."
Muen smiled and shook his head. "Just a small hiccup—no need to worry. In fact, you could say I’ve profited from misfortune."
"Profited... from misfortune?"
Liya blinked her dewy eyes, remembering the perfectly timed Holy Light Baptism.
What had happened to Muen moments ago felt more like the result of a premeditated plan.
"Mm... I got played pretty hard by that old loli, but the outcome’s good. Look at this."
Muen lifted his hand in a casual beckon.
In an instant, a cluster of flame bloomed in his palm.
It was a black fire, its darkness as deep as an abyss, yet a pale corona of flame-cloth flowed over its surface, exuding a sacred aura.
Liya’s eyes widened as she stared at the black blaze.
She sensed a familiar trace upon it, but behind that familiarity lurked a daunting strangeness and eeriness.
It was like the power of an Evil God she had felt before—yet somehow essentially different.
When her gaze fell into the depths of the flame, in that purest black it was as if countless pupils opened, meeting «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» her stare with icy indifference, while muddled whispers buzzed at her ears. A sharp spasm seized her mind.
"Don’t look too long."
Muen immediately dispelled the black flame, his expression grave.
"Th-this... what is it?"
Liya patted her chest, still a little shaken.
"This... counts as my new ability."
Muen thought for a moment and answered:
"Its foundation comes from the previous Crimson Flame; the original attributes are fully inherited. There’s just a lot I still don’t understand—I’ll have to feel it out slowly.
Although it may sound a bit vague, at least..."
Muen glanced at Liya and smiled.
"This power doesn’t belong to any Evil God. No one can accuse me of colluding with them anymore. So you don’t need to worry about me getting lured away by an Evil God and turning into some unfilial cultist."
"Wh-who’s worried about that..." freewebnσvel.cѳm
Liya gave Muen’s chest a light, playful thump, her voice coy.
But the curve of her eyes made it clear—she was very happy to hear it.
"Then... after what just happened, your body hasn’t been left with any hidden issues, has it?"
After a brief moment of joy, Liya asked again, worried.
The power looked mysterious and strong, but having watched the scene up close, she couldn’t help fearing that the savage clash of those forces inside Muen might have left something bad behind.
While the fluctuations were settling and before he woke, she had already checked Muen’s body up and down many times—but with things like this, she wouldn’t feel at ease without confirming again.
"Hidden issues... not really."
Hearing her, Muen carefully looked inward and felt his body. Suddenly his expression turned odd; he rubbed his waist and said,
"It’s just—I don’t know why, but after waking up I feel my kidneys are a bit... weak."
Liya’s little face flushed as she turned away, too shy to meet his eyes.
"Hm?"
Muen, as if discovering a new continent, leaned in curiously, then planted a light kiss on Liya’s burning cheek, grinning wickedly.
"Miss Liya looks like she knows something."
"I-I..."
Liya pouted.
"I don’t know anything..."
"Do you?"
Muen glanced down at his chest, puzzled.
"But why are there so many strawberries on me? They weren’t there before, right? Miss Liya, any idea?"
Liya said nothing.
Smiling, Muen hugged Liya back, stroking her skin as his fingers toyed with that fluttering little bow.
Mortified, Liya tried to push away those roving hands, puffing her cheeks as she glared at him.
"W-what are you doing?"
"Seems like you did something naughty while I was asleep."
Muen chuckled. "Isn’t it only fair I return the favor?"
"I did not do anything bad!"
Liya gave him a push—seeing he didn’t budge, her tone softened.
"B-but you said your, um... your kidneys felt weak... s-so, how...?"
"Heh-heh, just listen."
Muen suddenly pressed Liya’s small head to his chest.
The familiar scent and warmth washed over her, deepening the blush on her face.
As her feelings calmed, she began to hear it—the strong, ringing heartbeats from within Muen’s body.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
As she listened, Liya’s beautiful eyes rounded wider and wider. Her little mouth fell open, unable to close in surprise.
She didn’t hear just one heartbeat—but three!
The other two sounded a bit different, weaker, yet brimming with life.
"Th-this is...?"
"It’s too complicated to explain in detail, but you can think of it like this: because of what just happened, a certain defect in me was completely remedied. Not only that—I took another step forward."
Muen answered.
That defect, of course, was the rejection reaction of the alchemic core.
When he woke, he found the rejection had vanished completely. The alchemic core—originally a dead thing that should never have truly merged with his body—had fully integrated.
It was no longer a mere transitional device embedded to bear the Eternal Clock, but had truly become a new organ of his.
More than that, a second alchemic core had been fully activated, continuously drawing in and expelling vast mana and vital blood within him.
So even if he could guess he’d been ruthlessly squeezed while asleep, Muen still didn’t feel drained dry.
Just as Meladomir had said, an alchemic core that could replenish mana, blood, and stamina—wasn’t that practically a new kidney growing in him!
Thinking of such a wonderful event—and that he had felt none of it—Muen felt both regret and a rekindling heat. Holding the soft, fragrant jade in his arms, he wanted to seize the moment and experience it again, deeply and thoroughly.
"B-but..."
Sensing the blaze igniting in his eyes, Liya twisted slightly, whispering shyly,
"I just... it was my first time... if it’s too intense..."
"Ah..."
Muen’s eager movement stalled as if splashed by a bucket of cold water.
Right—Liya had only just blossomed. She was delicate to the extreme. To demand without restraint would be too much.
"However..."
Seeing Muen’s disappointment, Liya’s heart ached a little. After thinking for a moment, as if steeling herself, she bit her lip and said softly,
"If you really want to... I can use Holy Light Technique."
"Holy Light Technique?"
Muen was taken aback. He truly hadn’t expected Holy Light to be useful... like that.
"Holy Light’s function is to restore injuries and stamina—of course it helps at a time like this."
Liya lowered her head, whispering in embarrassment:
"A-and actually... I used it several times just now. Otherwise, how could I have endured..."
"..."
Muen opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
By then, Liya had risen gracefully. With a green yet sultry glance, she hooked a finger lightly along her hips. As her jade-white foot lifted and fell, the cute panties—still not warmed by body heat—fluttered down again.
The swelling and muddiness had vanished; it was clean there, as if no one had ever explored.
"Um... Miss Liya."
Muen swallowed, then asked tremulously,
"Forgive the impertinence, but... how many times can you cast Holy Light Technique right now?"
"The Holy Light Baptism the Church promised you came early. Thanks to you, I also got quite a few benefits."
With lips quirked, Liya smiled.
"So... I’m basically at full capacity right now."
"..."
Muen’s vision went dark for a second. Suddenly, merely having grown two new kidneys didn’t feel like much to brag about.
...
...
Half an hour later, Muen—now the knight charging at windmills—suddenly paused.
"What’s wrong?"
Liya asked between soft breaths, a little dissatisfied.
"I... suddenly remembered something."
"What is it?"
"About Divine Favor."
"Divine Favor?"
"The Divine Favor bestowed by a deity... it eventually returns to the deity, right?"
"Of course."
Liya gave Muen a strange look, not understanding why he’d ask something everyone knew.
A god’s Divine Favor is still part of that god—an evolution of a portion of their Authority.
So, when the host either dies or reaches the end of their life, the Divine Favor naturally returns to the god.
This was a truth without exceptions. freёweɓnovel.com
But...
"Now that the Crimson Flame has taken on my form... if Brother Wither finds out, he won’t get mad, right?"
Muen thought with a touch of melancholy.
...
Beyond the world.
Somewhere in the void, upon endless red earth, a light that burns all suddenly bloomed.
Countless withered hands unfurled layer upon layer within the shuddering space, revealing at the center a ferocious pupil.
At that moment, the pupil quaked violently, rolling and turning as if trying to lock onto something. A sky-flooding fury—howled in silence—drowned the entire barren expanse.
Because It sensed that the portion of Divine Favor It had sent out... had completely severed contact during Its slumber.
In other words, It—the dignified Evil God, the Withering King, the Lord of the Red Sun...
Its power had actually been stolen away.
