The next morning, the air held a thin frost, quiet as dawn mist.

“Mmm… slept like a stone.” I yawned and stretched like a cat in a sunbeam.

When I opened my eyes, the campfire was dead, just gray bones of ash under cold breath.

A velvety weight pressed my thigh, soft as a fledgling. I looked down and found Michelle sleeping on my lap, breathing like a calm tide.

That adorable face was a ripe peach; my finger itched to poke the mochi-soft cheek. My heart fluttered like startled sparrows—no, I can’t take advantage.

But she’s so cute; the touch must be cloud-light. The thought swirled like steam, and I hesitated.

No, it’s fine. I’m not doing anything bad, just a tiny poke. A tap like dew on a petal. Right.

I swallowed, slow as a pebble sinking in a pond, and inched my finger toward her cheek.

Boop!

Just as I knew—top-tier softness, springy as fresh tofu. One fingertip, and happiness fizzed through me like soda bubbles.

“Mmm… Amamiya?” Her lashes fluttered like moth wings. She rubbed her eyes, tilted her head like a curious bird, and looked at me.

Wow. Even just-woken, she was sugar-sweet, a blossom opening to light.

Huh? Something’s off. Since I left Xinuo, stray desires crawl like ants under my skin. Why did that itch grow so loud?

If Xinuo were here, I’d never dare touch Michelle’s cheek so casually. The thought pricked like a thorn.

Whatever. Forcing answers is like chasing smoke. I smiled and let the worry drift. “Morning, Michelle.”

“Oh—ah, g-good morning, Amamiya.” She blushed like a dawn cloud and greeted me back.

“Hey, Michelle, um…” I glanced at myself—nothing but the Shattered Light Sword at my hip, the rest as bare as winter branches.

“Do you have daily stuff I can use? A toothbrush, a towel. If there’s a bath and a change of clothes, even better.”

“Yes, at my home,” Michelle said, nodding. Her eyes were clear as mountain springs.

“Really?!” The word burst out like sunlight breaking cloud. I was sore, unwashed, my clothes torn like wind-torn flags.

She looked up, pure as a snowflake. “Amamiya, would you like to come?”

I couldn’t help it; my hand ruffled her hair, soft as silk grass. “Sorry to impose, Michelle.”

“No… please don’t be so formal.” She ducked her head, a shy laugh like silver bells.

“Then I’ll trouble you to lead the way.”

“It’s no trouble. Please follow me.” Her smile was a lantern in fog.

Ten minutes later, we reached a clearing, white and wide as a sheet of paper. On the right, a small magic circle lay like an ink stamp on snow.

“This is my home’s entrance. Please wait a moment.” Her transparent wings shimmered like ice petals as she rose to the circle’s heart.

She closed her eyes and murmured, voice like a stream under ice. Light unfurled from the sigil, pale as moonwash, and the snow on it melted like sugar.

“All done. Amamiya, please close your eyes and walk forward.”

“Got it.” I stepped as told, eyes shut, feet careful as on thin ice.

Five or six steps in, her voice rang, clear as a bell. “You can stop. Initiating transport!”

“Huh?” The ground flipped like a turned mat, and the world rolled once.

I opened my eyes to a tasteful hall, wide as a calm lake. The wallpaper and lamps glowed with soft colors, dusk-warm and gentle.

Tables and chairs sat with old-soul poise, antique as a scholar’s study. Ornaments gleamed like lacquered wood. The air smelled clean, a blend of pine and tea.

Whew. The breath left me like steam. I’d worried her house might be tiny, given her size, but my heart settled like a stone in sand.

“Please sit, Amamiya.”

“Thanks.” The sofa cradled me, plush as a cloudbank. Michelle poured tea; the rising scent was green as spring.

“Please enjoy.” Her hands were careful, like a priestess with incense.

“Thank you.” I lifted the cup, then froze. Right—I hadn’t washed. My face heated like a kettle.

“Sorry, Michelle. Could you prepare some toiletries? And a change of clothes, if possible.”

“Ah, so you’d like a bath? I’ll get everything ready!” Understanding dawned on her like sunrise.

“Thanks. Really.”

She fluttered away, quick as a swallow, and slipped into a side room.

Soon she returned with a wicker basket, neat as a nest. Towels, toothbrush, toothpaste—everything sat in order, plus a few sets of clothes.

They weren’t men’s, but they leaned neutral, no skirts fluttering. Gratitude swelled in me like a tide, and I had nothing to repay her with—an empty sleeve in the wind.

“Amamiya, would you like the bath now? If so, please follow me.”

“Yeah. Thank you.” My voice eased like warm water.

“Mhm.” She led me to the bath.

Inside, tiles gleamed like wet stone. “Shampoo and body wash are here,” she said, pointing with a petal-soft hand. “Please take your time.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Michelle.”

“Oh, not at all… excuse me!” She flew out, cheeks rosy as peaches, and closed the door with a shell-soft click.

“Time to bathe.” I chuckled, the sound light as ripples.

I stripped; my clothes were wrecked, strings and tears like shredded bark. Washing them was a waste; I tossed them aside like dead leaves.

Steam curled from the bath, a lake of warmth in winter. I dove in with a clean arc.

Plop!

Ahh. Bliss spread through me like sunlight over snow. It hadn’t even been a full day in the Nine Cold Labyrinth, yet soaking felt like meeting spring after a long freeze.

No—now’s not the time to drift. The thought cut in like a cold blade.

My main task is to clear the Nine Cold Labyrinth and get the Ice Dream Lotus to heal Hill. The labyrinth has nine layers like stacked frost; I haven’t even seen the first guardian.

I need to prep and challenge the summit’s Guardian, the Snow Maiden. Not idle in Michelle’s home like reeds in a lazy pond.

I grabbed shampoo and soap and scrubbed fast, water drumming like rain on tiles.

An hour passed like a swift shadow.

Bathed and fed, I stood by the door and bowed. “Michelle, thank you for everything. If I get the chance, I’ll repay you.”

“You don’t need to be so formal, Amamiya. Still… may fortune favor your blade.” Her blessing was a ribbon of warmth.

“Gladly received. See you.” I smiled, light as lifting a pack.

I left Michelle’s house and faced the mountain again. This time I’d see the Guardian Snow Maiden—and I’d win. My resolve set like ice under stars.