"Invitation cards?" Selina frowned. "What is this?"
Nanoe shook her head, then pressed the button on the walkie-talkie and asked softly, "What are those invitation cards?"
Dark Lord laughed. "Have you ever played games? If defending your room is the main quest, then these invitation cards are side quests."
"However, if you can complete these side quests, you can reap many Fortuitous Encounters, helping you become stronger and more easily clear the main quest."
"But... side quests... What I mean is... those invitation cards are not simple at all. Even though they're side quests, their difficulty is very high, and the mortality rate is extremely high. Of course, if you clear them, the gains will be enormous."
Nanoe and Selina nodded lightly, as if they understood what Dark Lord had just said.
Side quests, high difficulty, but high rewards too. Using them could increase their strength and make it easier to clear the main quest.
And what was the main quest? It was the current rounds of the game.
Nanoe said firmly, "Dark Lord, can you give me 2 invitation cards? I can use something to trade."
"Hahaha..." Dark Lord laughed loudly. "It's fine. This thing is useless to me anyway, so giving it to you isn't a problem. But you should ask Rover's opinion first."
"I understand!" Nanoe replied.
Dark Lord continued, "Also, every day at 12 noon, on frequency 47Hz, there will be a meeting of the 'Chosen Ones'. If Rover can't attend, then you should attend in his place."
"Thank you."
After Nanoe replied, Dark Lord cut the connection.
Nanoe then received 2 invitation cards from Dark Lord through the trade interface.
Holding the invitation cards like two small cards in her hand, Nanoe and Selina looked at each other. In their hearts, they naturally understood that this was their chance to become stronger.
...
Four hours later, Rover woke up, his face filled with exhaustion and despair.
He covered his face, feeling like he wanted to cry. "Fuck! Thousand-Faced Wraith..."
Rover clenched his teeth. Even though he was furious, there was nothing he could do.
At that moment, a scent drew close, the clean smell of soap mixed with a woman's breath and the faint saltiness of sweat after a tense day. Rover had just managed to open his eyes when a figure blocked the dim bedside lamp.
"Nanoe?!"
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, back straight, yet her shoulders softened as if she had finally let something go. Her hair fell down, brushing his collar. In the pale light, her eyes looked brighter than usual, gentle, yet as if there was a flame inside.
"You finally woke up..." Nanoe's voice was hoarse, as if she had been crying.
Rover wanted to say, "I'm fine," but the words caught in his throat before he could get them out.
Nanoe didn't give him the chance. She lowered her head, placed both hands on the pillow beside his head, and kissed him.
The kiss wasn't rushed, not rough. It was like a confirmation: you're still here, and so am I.
Her lips were soft, warm, trembling slightly. Rover could feel her broken breaths, like she was trying to hold back emotions she'd been suppressing all day.
"Mm..." Nanoe let out a very small sound against his lips, then kissed him deeper.
Rover closed his eyes on instinct. His hand lifted, brushing through her hair. The fine strands slid between his fingers, snapping him awake. He pulled her closer, returned the kiss, letting their breaths blend together.
Nanoe gave a soft laugh, brief, vibrating against his lips.
"You... you're always like this," Nanoe said as if scolding him, but her gaze was as soft as water.
"Like what?" Rover asked, his voice rough.
"When it's dangerous, you risk your life." Nanoe leaned in, her forehead touching his. "And when you wake up... you let me do whatever I want."
Rover opened his eyes and looked at her. At a distance so close that one more tilt would bring their lips together, he saw the faint dark circles under her eyes, traces of worry.
But those eyes no longer held despair. They were clinging to a single anchor.
"Nanoe..." he called softly.
Nanoe placed a finger on his lips, stopping him from speaking. "Don't talk about serious things right now."
Then she shifted her body, gently climbing onto the bed. The mattress sank slightly beneath her knees.
Nanoe sat up, facing Rover, her dress disheveled from haste, but that appearance only made the air in the room heat up inexplicably.
She looked at him as if he were something precious, an object that could be lost the moment she looked away.
"I'm scared..." Nanoe said very softly, as if confessing to herself more than to him. "Scared you'll disappear from me."
Rover raised his hand, wrapping it around her waist. "I'm still here."
Nanoe inhaled, as if those words alone were enough to make her break. She leaned down, kissing his cheek, then the corner of his mouth. The kisses fell slowly, like early season rain.
"Here..." She whispered. "Right now. With me."
Rover pulled her into his arms, letting her body rest against his chest. He heard her breathing quicken, as if she was trying to stay calm.
Nanoe's hand glided over his shoulder, pausing at his collar, then slowly pulling down, as if removing an invisible barrier.
"You make me feel... safe." Nanoe said, her lips still close to his skin. "In this crazy world, I just need to touch you... to believe I'm not dead yet."
Rover patted her back gently, saying: "I don't want you to be afraid."
"Then..." Nanoe looked up, her eyes glistening, the corners of her mouth curving slightly. "Let me remember that I'm yours."
The words barely finished, she kissed him again, this time harder. The kiss was hot and deep, drawing out a soft moan that she swallowed between their lips.
Nanoe seemed unable to bear restraining herself anymore, gradually pouring all her worries, all her anxiety into this intimacy.
Rover turned over, slowly changing positions so as not to startle her. He looked straight into Nanoe's eyes, holding her face with both hands.
"I can stop at any time," He said hoarsely, each word firm. "Just say the word."
Nanoe looked at him for a long moment, then nodded very gently. "I don't want to stop."
She bit her lip, her voice trembling. "I want you."
Rover kissed that bite mark, like a reassurance. His hand moved down, grasping hers, intertwining tightly. Warmth spread through their fingers, pulling her even closer. Nanoe tensed slightly, then gradually relaxed, like a flower blooming in the darkness.
"Rover..." she called his name, this time longer, softer, like a breath.
"Mm."
Nanoe wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down, kissing more, kissing endlessly. Small sounds of "mm...", "ah..." fell out between breaths, like rippling water.๐ณ๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐จ๐๐๐น.๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ
At times she turned her face away slightly, as if embarrassed by her own honesty, but Rover caught her chin, pulling her back, kissing her wet eyes.
"Look at me." he said.
Nanoe looked. And in that gaze was something both fragile and fierce, a woman who had lost too much, and thus desperately grasped what remained with both hands.
Outside in the corridor, distant sounds seemed like they were from another world. But in this room, there were only two people, and breathing that gradually synchronized.
Nanoe trembled slightly as Rover kissed along the line of her jaw, then stopped at her ear, whispering: "If it hurts... if you're not comfortable... tell me."
She responded by gripping his shoulders tightly, her nails digging in lightly like saying "It's fine, you can be bolder."
Rover pulled the blanket up, blocking out the excess light. Nanoe nestled into him, her lips finding his again.
Their breathing quickened gradually, then broke into vague, fragmented sounds. She called his name once more, as if each time was a confirmation: 'You're still here.'
At some point, all words became unnecessary. Only warmth remained, heartbeats, and the feeling of touching each other like clinging to life itself.
Outside, Selina heard the lustful and arousing sounds of Nanoe and Rover, unable to restrain herself, she immediately opened the door to the room.
"Ah! Nanoe, aren't you waiting for me?" Selina pouted, her face full of sulking.
Desire had reached its peak, Nanoe exhaled, her body trembling, softly saying to Selina: "Help me a bit, I... can't take it anymore."
Hearing this, Selina immediately joined this frenzied battle.
When everything settled down, Nanoe and Selina lay in Rover's arms, their bodies going limp as if they had just escaped a storm.
Nanoe curled up, pressing her cheek against his chest, listening to his heartbeat steady and even. Rover kissed her hair lightly.
Selina hugged him tightly, resting her head on his arm, her face showing a satisfied and happy smile.
Nanoe laughed softly, her voice tired but satisfied: "You really are... impossible to hate."
Rover exhaled a long breath, as if releasing all burdens. "Sleep."
Nanoe hummed very softly, then added, as if afraid to miss it: "Tomorrow... you'll still be here, right?"
Rover held her tighter, certain enough that no oath was needed. "Still."
Nanoe closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curving up. In a world without rules, without certainty, at least tonight, she had her answer.