Chapter 186: The Feelings of a Moon Elf

When Nolan woke up again, it was already morning. The curtains in the bedroom were drawn tightly shut, with only a mischievous ray of sunlight squeezing through a gap and stretching into a long strip across the floor. Still groggy, his head heavy like he had woken from a hangover, he instinctively shifted his body. Then he realized his right hand was resting on something warm and smooth—round, soft, and strangely pleasant to touch.

What is this?

Still half-asleep, he unconsciously squeezed it twice.

“Mmh…”

A soft, nasal moan came from beside him, carrying a faint trace of charm that instantly jolted Nolan awake. His eyes snapped open, most of his drowsiness vanishing on the spot.

Only then did he realize that although he was indeed lying in his own bed… there was someone else beside him.

More precisely, an elf.

Ailindel…

At this moment, she was nothing like the distant and untouchable “Heavenly Judgment Knight” from the legends. She was lying right beside him, the breathtaking face of the Moon Elf beauty only inches away. No matter the angle, she was stunningly beautiful, her long eyelashes trembling lightly with her steady breathing. She still seemed to be asleep.

The truly fatal part was that she was completely naked. And the even more fatal part was that his disobedient hand happened to be resting directly on—

Nolan nearly jumped out of his skin. If she discovered this, would this embarrassed Moon Elf hero kill him on the spot? Would the “Spear of Certain Death,” Heavenly Judgment, come straight for his face?

He wanted to pull his hand away immediately, but if he moved, wouldn’t that wake her up?

Retreat, or stay still? It was a question tied directly to survival.

Just as Nolan was trapped in a desperate internal struggle, Ailindel suddenly let out a soft murmur and turned over in his direction.

A chance!

Heart pounding wildly, Nolan hurriedly withdrew his hand and hid it beneath the blanket, hardly daring to breathe. He lay stiffly in place, pretending to still be asleep while carefully listening to every movement beside him. His ears were practically standing upright, as if he were about to mutate into an elf himself.

Ailindel seemed to have only changed sleeping positions, and before long her breathing became deep and even once more.

Only then did Nolan let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as though he had just returned from the gates of death. Carefully, he lifted a corner of the blanket, preparing to sneak out of bed and flee the “crime scene” as quietly as possible.

But the moment he moved, the shifting blanket woke Ailindel.

“Ah… Nolan, you’re awake?” Her voice was soft and lazy, still carrying the husky warmth of someone who had just woken up.

Nolan froze.

Well, I’m screwed. This is way too awkward.

Forcing himself to remain calm, he quickly sat upright to hide his physical reaction while frantically trying to think of an explanation. Poor Nolan had never thought this hard even while fighting Fenrir.

How was he supposed to explain why he was in her bed?

Wait, no, this was his bed.

Then how was he supposed to explain why she was in his bed?

“You suddenly fainted last night. Are you alright?” Ailindel also sat up, looking at him with concern.

…Part of the reason I fainted was because of you, you know? Nolan silently stared upward again. 

Hugging and kissing him while completely naked… who could possibly withstand that?!

He grabbed the blanket and instinctively pulled it tighter around himself, desperately trying to hide his near-explosive embarrassment. “Ah, yeah, I’m fine. Totally fine.” Nolan coughed twice, pretending to stay composed. “Maybe… maybe I was just too tired after the battle, and transferring power to you drained too much mental energy. I lost control for a moment.”

“That’s good.”

Hearing that, Ailindel finally relaxed, a dazzling smile blooming across her face. It was a pure and radiant smile without the slightest impurity, enough to make the morning sunlight seem dull in comparison.

How many years had it been? Ever since becoming a war spirit and taking on the duty of eternal guardianship, she had never slept as peacefully or soundly as she had last night.

Perhaps only by this man’s side could she truly cast off the heavy burden of being the “Heavenly Judgment Knight” and return to being an ordinary Moon Elf girl without worries. There were no endless demons from beyond the realms here, nor the cold prison of eternity. There was only the partner she herself had acknowledged.

With a contented expression, she stretched lazily, displaying her graceful figure.

Then she suddenly realized that she had not made such a relaxed, defenseless gesture in a very, very long time.

Beside Nolan, she felt as though she had finally been allowed to act spoiled again.

Ailindel may have relaxed, but Nolan was suffering terribly. 

The moment she stretched, the silk blanket that had only loosely covered her body slid straight down, fully exposing the beautiful scenery beneath. Rolling peaks and deep valleys. She herself did not seem to notice, but Nolan was still a vigorous young man full of blood and fire—how could he possibly endure such visual stimulation?

This is deadly. Absolutely deadly.

Should he directly remind her?

Too awkward. He simply could not say it out loud.

Nolan felt heat surging through his nose. He immediately began coughing violently while desperately restraining the urge to look closer, forcing himself to stare rigidly at one corner of the four-poster bed.

“Cough—cough cough!” He coughed so hard it sounded like his lungs were tearing apart, his whole body curling up.

Seeing this, Ailindel hurried closer in concern and nervously asked, “Nolan, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Is this a side effect from last night?”

Nolan had no way to explain. He could only wave his hand while coughing. “I’m fine… cough… fine. I think I accidentally choked just now.” After catching his breath, he forcibly tore his gaze away from that dazzling pale skin and said with complete seriousness, “Well… the weather’s getting colder lately, Ailin. You should also take care of yourself and stay warm.”

Stay warm? A war spirit body that did not even fear the passage of time—what need did it have for warmth?

Ailindel was briefly stunned, but she was far too perceptive not to understand. Following Nolan’s wandering gaze, she instantly grasped his meaning.

The tips of her ears flushed with an alluring shade of red once more. She pulled the blanket tightly around herself, yet softly protested, “You… don’t need to mind that, Nolan. You are the one who granted me my ‘Second Naming,’ and you’re also my savior.” She raised her head and looked at him seriously. “More importantly, you are my partner. I… acknowledge you.”

In Moon Elf culture, “acknowledgment” between the opposite sex was practically equivalent to “liking” or “loving” in human terms. Moon Elves were simply more indirect and reserved in the way they expressed such feelings.

If Nolan claimed he did not like beautiful women, that would definitely be a lie. Just those few accidental glances earlier had already thrown his thoughts into chaos, and his body had reacted with complete honesty.

Now, hearing Ailindel speak so sincerely, Nolan—dense as a block of wood—became completely flustered and waved his hands repeatedly. “It’s not that serious, Ailin. You’re also a very important companion to me. I acknowledge you too!”

As he spoke, however, it was obvious that he had misunderstood the meaning of “acknowledge.”

Hearing that Nolan also “acknowledged” her, Ailindel’s face grew even redder, but her eyes overflowed with uncontrollable joy.

He acknowledges me too!

A tidal wave of happiness swallowed her whole.

As the last survivor of her race stranded alone in the future, deep down she longed for acceptance and someone to rely on—even the “Heavenly Judgment Knight” was no exception.

Unable to restrain herself, Ailindel braced her hands against the soft bed and leaned forward. Under Nolan’s stunned gaze, she took the initiative and gently kissed his forehead. Her soft lips carried a trace of coolness, yet felt like a blazing flame that instantly ignited every drop of blood in Nolan’s body.

Before his eyes was a blur of dazzling white, while a faint, refreshing fragrance of sacred dewenwood drifted into his nose. He had once smelled that soothing scent in the Holy Green Forests of the Holy Osu Empire.

Nolan felt like he was about to faint again.

Weren’t Moon Elves supposed to be famously reserved and restrained? Could this actually be a succubus from the fourth layer of the Sulfur Abyss disguised as one after sneaking in while he slept? Nolan’s mind was already spiraling into nonsense.

“It’s morning now, Lord Nolan.”

Turning around, she blinked at him from the bedside, her gentle smile so radiant it was utterly intoxicating.

“There are still many things waiting to be done today, aren’t there?”