Yue Liuyi sat on the sofa with a book resting across her knees, reading with the quiet intent of falling snow.

The lamp flickered like a river lantern, and as the sky outside sank into ink, its glow only grew brighter.

"Hey? Little Moon, why the long face?"

Feeling the weight in her chest like storm clouds, Dixue slid close and wrapped her up in a warm, quilt-soft hug.

"Whoa! LittleSnow…"

"If there’s something you can’t untangle, tell big sister."

"B-but… this one…"

Yue Liuyi looked at LittleSnow, lost as a leaf in wind. She didn’t know if this was something she should share.

"Little Moon’s troubles are sister’s troubles. You have to tell me."

"Then… LittleSnow, you have to take it seriously. And don’t laugh at me."

"Of course!"

"Then…"

Warmth pressed onto her shoulder like spring sunlight. No matter when, if LittleSnow was beside her, Yue Liuyi’s heart settled like a lake at dawn. "A-actually… I don’t think I’m enough. I want to write a book called The Maiden Disqualified."

"Ehhhh?! Little Moon, why write that?!"

"Because I’m the World Tree Maiden, yet my mindset’s totally boyish. I like you, LittleSnow. And I like other girls too."

"Eh?"

"A World Tree Maiden this driven by private desire—there’s probably not a second one in the world. I’m basically human. And you keep saying I’m so H—so pervy—not pure at all."

She hooked an arm around LittleSnow’s waist, and her small blue head rested against somewhere soft and dangerously comforting.

"Eh? L-Little Moon! Mm…"

The silver-haired girl’s cheeks bloomed pink like peach petals. No one knew Little Moon’s thoughts better than Dixue, and she knew this cute-looking girl was, inside, a mischievous little perv.

"So after we save Dreamwood Star, I plan to put down the title of World Tree Maiden. A revered figure like that shouldn’t be stained by me."

As she spoke, Yue Liuyi leaned closer, relentless as ivy. The faint fragrance on the silver-haired girl, the silk-smooth skin—drawing near was heavenly.

"No, no! Even if Little Moon’s actually very H and very naughty, for a World Tree Maiden… that’s not a bad thing."

Dixue shook her head hard, yet couldn’t bring herself to push away her favorite little cuddle pillow.

"If anything… Little Moon being H is how it should be."

"Eh?"

"For a World Tree Maiden… actually… the most important thing…"

Her blush climbed her neck like sunrise, but she still lifted her phone and said to Yue Liuyi, "For life, the most important thing is continuation."

"C-continua…tion?"

"Mm."

She nodded quickly, eyes skittering like minnows, not meeting Yue Liuyi’s. "So, to carry life forward, the… um… the act is the most important. It’s indispensable!"

"Eh…? The act…"

"That thing! Don’t play dumb, Little Moon!"

"U-ugh!"

At that, Yue Liuyi’s face heated like coals. Her fondness for girls came from some buried instinct—and that instinct was so blushworthy, so not maiden-appropriate.

"B-but love should be noble, right? We should shed fleshly cravings and seek the purest feeling."

"That’s kinship, not romance."

Dixue rubbed Yue Liuyi’s head like petting a silly loli. "Given time, love turns into kinship. Side by side through drought and rain, hand in hand to old age—that’s what it means."

"Mm… is that true?"

"Mm. So Little Moon being H is actually an affirmation of maidens. Liking kind, cute girls is a World Tree Maiden’s instinct."

"Ah…"

The long-tied knot loosened like snow melting along eaves. Maybe liking girls wasn’t shameful at all.

It might not be the lofty image people had of a World Tree Maiden, but it was indeed a necessary thread in the tapestry of life’s passing.

But, in that case…

"Hey! LittleSnow, that makes it weird!"

"How is it weird?"

"If me liking girls is only natural, then me starting a harem is only natural too!"

"Eh?!"

The silver-haired girl froze. Her big green eyes blinked like jade beads, staring at Little Moon, suddenly bright and lively.

"Yeah! If it’s for life’s passing-on, I should try to love more people—topple more girls! Some novels do it like that! When everyone becomes my harem, the world will be at peace! No more wars!"

"Whoa! Little Moon, don’t you dare!"

"Why not? Relax, I’ll still like LittleSnow best! I’ll even make you the main consort."

"It’s not about consorts and titles! Put me aside for a second, the point is…"

Dixue hugged the blue-haired girl, a sting in her voice like salt on a cut. "The point is, if you do that, you’ll end up everyone’s plush ball. They’ll pass you around every day."

"Plush ball?!"

"Yeah, like a stuffed toy you can drag into bed and roll in the sheets with… Right! Remember back in the New Land, when we toured the academy festival?"

"T-the Elven Academy?"

"Mm! Weren’t you super popular with the elf girls? If you try to harem everyone, that’s exactly where you’ll end up."

"Eh? U-uwah!"

The memory still clung to Yue Liuyi like sap. Being hugged by eager girls felt novel the first time, but over time, it turned exhausting.

And as the World Tree Maiden, she wasn’t strong. Facing people who liked her, she couldn’t use magic to fight back… She’d just get pushed down.

"So big sister won’t let Little Moon be that H or that fickle, because I’m protecting you. It’s all for your future~"

"Eh… i-is that so?"

"Of course~ Come here, be good, head pats~~~"

"Mm… I still feel like something’s off."

She obediently nestled into LittleSnow’s arms, but something in her gut still drifted like mist.

She didn’t see the line glowing on LittleSnow’s phone screen.

World Tree Maiden Encyclopedia! — Night Clan Princess Limited Edition

What to do when a World Tree Maiden is in heat?

A few simple tricks to coax her~

First, …