The Game Heroine's Cannon Fodder Leopard Cub - Chapter 39

The next morning, a crisp birdcall pierced the silence, jolting Yi’an awake. She instinctively looked out the window, trying to spot the bird, but saw only an empty sky.

Wide awake now, she gently shifted her body, carefully disentangling herself from Nora, who was still sound asleep in her arms. As Yi’an sat up, Nora’s shoulder was exposed to the air, her fair skin marked with faint red marks.

Yi’an turned her head, her gaze lingering on those marks, a ripple of emotion stirring within her.

She couldn’t resist leaning down, quietly pressing her cheek against Nora’s back, her nose brushing against her neck as she inhaled the faint, alluring scent. Her heart quickened.

This life is so good, she thought. If not for the important mission I carry, I would want nothing more than to hold Nora like this, day after day, year after year.

But reality wouldn’t allow her to indulge for long. After savoring a moment of warmth, Yi’an took a deep breath and steeled herself to pull away from Nora’s embrace. She sat up, surveyed the chaotic scene around her, and immediately felt a headache coming on.

Driven by an unknown force, last night’s passion had spilled beyond the bed. The sofa, desk, corners of the room, and even the wardrobe bore traces of their wanton abandon. Nora’s neatly folded clothes lay scattered across the floor, a chaotic jumble of garments strewn haphazardly.

Fortunately, Yi’an’s clothes were made from Little Leopard’s fur, otherwise she might have had to search naked. The thought made her shake her head, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

Yi’an leaped out of bed, grabbed a clean bathrobe from the wardrobe, and gently placed it on the edge of the bed. Then, with brisk efficiency, she gathered the scattered clothes one by one. Once everything was collected, she bundled the dirty laundry in her arms, tiptoed to the door, and dashed downstairs.

After tossing the clothes into the octagonal washing tub, Yi’an hurried back upstairs.

She leaned over the bed, quietly studying Nora’s beautiful sleeping face. Her breathing was steady, and her long lashes fluttered slightly, as if she were dreaming a sweet dream.

Unable to resist, Yi’an leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Nora’s lips before reluctantly leaving the room to prepare breakfast downstairs.

The moment the door closed, Nora slowly opened her eyes.

In truth, she had already awakened when Yi’an had leaned over her back.

Nora hadn’t yet figured out how to face Yi’an, so in a panic, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

But she never expected Yi’an to return, let alone that those burning eyes would gaze so intently at her. Nora knew that if Yi’an looked at her for even a second longer, she might betray her act.

Nora listened quietly to the sounds drifting up from downstairs. Yi’an was clumsily fiddling with the grill, and Nora’s heart softened. She felt an inexplicable sense of peace, as if their lives were meant to be this way—drifting off to sleep in passionate embraces and waking up to the quiet beauty of everyday moments.

It wasn’t until she heard the clang of tongs moving charcoal that Nora’s rationality gradually returned. Suddenly, she noticed something odd—the sounds were too clear, as if they were happening right beside her ear.

Frowning thoughtfully, she rose, casually grabbed the bathrobe Yi’an had prepared, and wrapped it around her marked chest. She walked to the window and gazed out at the courtyard below.

Emerald leaves swayed gently in the breeze, dappled sunlight filtering through the branches. Only a brown beetle remained motionless on the tree trunk, almost blending seamlessly with the bark. If not for her exceptional vision, she might never have spotted the cunning little creature.

A sudden realization struck Nora: this was no ordinary human vision. Her gaze swept across the intricate network of veins crisscrossing the green leaves, and a thought flashed through her mind: Could this be the awakened Green Bloodline?

She turned and opened the cabinet, retrieving the Desert Bow. Standing rooted to the spot, she swiftly nocked an arrow, aimed through the window, and released her fingers without hesitation.

Whoosh!

The wooden arrow shot through the air, piercing the smallest leaf with pinpoint accuracy and pinning the brown beetle firmly to the tree trunk.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Yi’an squeezed in, carrying a tray. Her eyes immediately locked onto Nora, who stood by the cabinet, bow still in hand. For a fleeting moment, the air seemed to freeze between them.

Yi’an’s heart pounded in her chest, nearly causing her to drop the tray. Forgetting to ask why Nora was armed indoors, she stammered, “B-breakfast… is ready.”

“Oh, right. Thanks,” Nora replied, feeling slightly awkward. She stiffly lowered the bow, tightened the collar of her bathrobe, and took the tray, placing it on the coffee table.

Yi’an silently followed Nora and sat on the sofa, her hands resting on her knees. Her gaze darted around the room, and she seemed visibly uneasy.

Though momentarily flustered, Nora found herself surprisingly calm when they finally faced each other. “Yi’an?”

“Here!” Yi’an responded crisply.

Nora chuckled at her earnestness. Taking Yi’an’s hand, she said softly, “You don’t need to be so nervous.”

Yi’an scratched her ear sheepishly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. “I just didn’t expect it.”

“Silly girl,” Nora teased, shooting her a playful glare.

This little exchange lightened the mood considerably.

After breakfast, Nora brought up the changes she’d noticed in herself.

“You’re saying your vision has improved dramatically?” Yi’an asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

Nora nodded. “It’s not just my vision. My hearing seems sharper too.”

“So…” Yi’an sat up abruptly, clenching her left fist and tapping it against her right palm, her voice brimming with excitement. “If this happens a few more times, you’ll be able to shoot an arrow through a target a hundred paces away—ow! That hurts!”

Before she could finish, Nora pinched her waist, making Yi’an yelp in pain.

“Weren’t you mischievous enough last night?” Nora withdrew her hand, her face flushed as she glared at Yi’an.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Yi’an said, pressing her palms together and smiling apologetically. “And I really do feel incredibly energetic right now… Hey, don’t scold me~”

“I’m not scolding you,” Nora sighed helplessly.

She rubbed her aching lower back, then took Yi’an’s hand and asked earnestly, “Are you truly not feeling even a hint of fatigue?”

Seeing Nora’s serious expression, Yi’an dropped her playful demeanor. She focused inward, carefully assessing her condition, then nodded. “Yes, even the old injuries that used to ache are completely painless now.”

“It’s likely you’ve awakened the Sacred Beast Power,” Nora explained. “The Holy Beast embodies the combined power of the Goddess of Life and the Beast God, possessing boundless strength, the ability to communicate with all living things, and the power to revive withered plants and restore bones.”

“So even if…” Nora hesitated, then forced herself to continue, “even if you were exhausted all night, it wouldn’t affect you at all.”

As soon as she finished, she quickly covered Yi’an’s suddenly brightened eyes and steered the conversation back on track.

“Can you sense the location of the soul fragment now?”

Yi’an sighed in resignation and closed her eyes again, attempting to extend her consciousness across the entire island. As Nora had predicted, what had previously felt strained now came effortlessly. Through the island’s flowers, birds, fish, and trees, she could easily “see” into every corner of the seabed.

Even with this enhanced ability, she still couldn’t detect any trace of the soul fragment.

Nora’s expression grew serious. After a moment of contemplation, she said, “I’m afraid we’ll have to go to the real Colson Island to investigate.”

After a brief rest, Yi’an and Nora packed their belongings and headed toward the beach.

The azure sky stretched above them, framed by the vast ocean. Sunlight refracted through the water, scattering shimmering patches of light across the sand. A gentle sea breeze carried the salty, damp scent, brushing against their cheeks.

Yi’an slung her longsword across her back and turned to cast a lingering glance toward the town.

Noticing her hesitation, Nora stepped closer and gently took Yi’an’s hand.

Yi’an took a deep breath, suppressing her lingering reluctance. She intertwined her fingers with Nora’s, palm to palm, and smiled. “Let’s go. It’s time to set out.”

The pair walked side by side to the water’s edge. As soon as they stepped beyond the dome, Yi’an’s fingertips twitched slightly, and an invisible barrier instantly enveloped them. The entire process was so swift it was almost imperceptible. Nora marveled that not even a strand of her hair had been dampened by the seawater.

“Your Sacred Beast Power has truly grown stronger,” Nora couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

Hearing her praise, Yi’an nodded with feigned composure, but a glint of eagerness flashed in her eyes. “Let me show you something even more impressive.”

With a mental command, a faint tremor ran through the ground beneath their feet. Moments later, a colossal whale slowly swam into view.

Nora’s face lit up with delight. “Did you summon it?”

“Hmm~” Yi’an tilted her chin upward.

Nora couldn’t help but laugh at Yi’an’s smug expression. She reached out and gently stroked Yi’an’s twitching ears, her voice as soft as if she were coaxing a child. “You’re amazing!”

Yi’an hadn’t expected Nora’s reaction and suddenly felt a little embarrassed. She puffed out her cheeks, trying to change the subject. “I’ll communicate with it.”

As the whale drew closer, Yi’an reached out and lightly touched its forehead. The whale seemed to understand her intention, slowly opening its massive jaws.

“Come on,” Yi’an said, pulling Nora’s hand as they stepped into the whale’s mouth.

The whale’s oral cavity was spacious and moist, but surprisingly odorless. Protected by the barrier, neither of them felt any discomfort.

Once they were steady, the whale gently closed its mouth and began swimming slowly toward the surface.

As they ascended, sunlight gradually filtered through the gaps between the whale’s teeth. Nora leaned against Yi’an, feeling the slight vibrations from the whale’s movements, both nervous and intrigued.

“This is my first time traveling inside a whale’s mouth,” Nora joked with a smile.

The corners of Yi’an’s lips curved upward, her grip tightening on Nora’s hand, a faint blush coloring the corners of her eyes.

“Who knows? There might be many more firsts to come.”