Poppy: Well? Do I have to repeat myself?

Poppy: Little Ju is such—a big, bad egg.

Seventh Ju: No… that’s not what I meant.

Poppy: Then at least turn around and face me when you reply.

Seventh Ju: …………

I steeled myself and slowly turned.

Poppy greeted me with a familiar, warm smile, like welcoming family home.

Her chestnut-brown hair spilled naturally over her shoulders, radiating an intoxicating charm in the dim light.

She’d shed her outer robe, wearing only a smooth white garment that clung to her curves, its flowing lines almost suffocating.

And below…

A skirt.

I wasn’t mistaken—that narrow, deep-blue garment with neat pleats was unmistakably a short skirt, utterly out of place in this era.

Poppy: Where are you looking? Do you like thighs?

Seventh Ju: That skirt…

Poppy: Ah, my invention.

Seventh Ju: …Your invention?

Poppy: Wearing this makes running much easier. And with my robe over it normally, I won’t catch a chill or show too much skin.

Seventh Ju: Hah. Truly a groundbreaking invention ahead of its time.

Seventh Ju: But…

Seventh Ju: …Poppy.

Poppy: Hmm?

I paused, then spoke earnestly.

Seventh Ju: I don’t think I can accept that "punishment" you mentioned earlier.

Poppy: …………

Her smile dimmed slightly, but she didn’t look ready to give up.

Seventh Ju: Miss Poppy… do you know about the "suspension bridge effect"?

Poppy: Suspension bridge effect?

Seventh Ju: When fear on a swaying bridge makes you cling to someone, creating false dependency.

Seventh Ju: For me, it means getting too close to someone just because of danger.

Seventh Ju: Today, you seem far more affectionate than before—I think it’s the suspension bridge effect.

Seventh Ju: After all, we’re both trapped in this mess.

Seventh Ju: Didn’t you leave the Divine Temple to build a normal, happy family?

Poppy: …Yes.

Seventh Ju: But you’re still being hunted by the Temple, right?

Poppy: Yes.

Seventh Ju: In that case… being with me like this won’t fulfill your wish.

Poppy: Why not?

Seventh Ju: Because… peace of mind matters most.

Seventh Ju: If we weren’t uneasy, we wouldn’t have split up these past days.

Seventh Ju: If we weren’t uneasy, you wouldn’t have wanted to kill someone when you heard I was in trouble.

Seventh Ju: As long as what unsettles us remains, your wish won’t truly come true.

Seventh Ju: Only when every threat to you is gone… can I truly accept—

Poppy: Then… isn’t that just you rejecting me?

Seventh Ju: Eh?

Poppy: Because those threats can’t be erased.

Poppy: The "Divine Temple" is humanity’s rightful authority here. Its system is flawless—no conspiracies or ambitions taint it, as far as I know.

Poppy: Hoping it rots from within? That won’t happen in my lifetime.

Poppy: So… as long as the Temple refuses to forgive my betrayal and escape, I’ll never have the family or happiness I want.

Seventh Ju: Are Divine Officers forbidden to marry?

Poppy: …Outer-circle ones can. But marriage chains them there forever.

Poppy: From the middle circle onward, Officers embody divine will. No personal desires. No marriage. They belong to the gods.

Seventh Ju: I see.

Seventh Ju: Even so, this isn’t rejection.

Seventh Ju: If we just… make the Temple give up on you?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: Impossible. It can’t be done.

Poppy: I’m destined to spend my life running.

Seventh Ju: Then—Poppy, what’s the difference between that and staying in the Temple?

Poppy: …

Seventh Ju: Poppy… this might sound shameless, but… do you… like me?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: I’ll pinch—

Seventh Ju: I get it, I get it—don’t answer with violence!

Seventh Ju: Then… do you believe I like you?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: I’ll take off—

Seventh Ju: Stop! Don’t look at me like you’re planning to cook the rice anyway!

Seventh Ju: Anyw—what I mean is…

Seventh Ju: —Do you believe I can free you from the Temple completely… and make your wish come true?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: …

Seventh Ju: Ah… your eyes look so uncertain.

Poppy: Haha…

Poppy: If such good fortune existed, it’d take Divine Sivi himself falling for me.

Seventh Ju: Uh…

Seventh Ju: If… Sivi saw you now, he might really fall for you… maybe.

Poppy: Hmph… I never knew you were this smooth-tongued.

Seventh Ju: …I never knew you could be this clingy.

Poppy pressed her forehead to mine, nuzzling gently as if agreeing.

Seventh Ju: Actually… these days apart, I’ve encountered things that changed me.

Poppy: Really? I did notice you’re different since we parted.

Seventh Ju: Now… I might truly be able to help you.

Seventh Ju: I’m not joking to comfort you.

Seventh Ju: Poppy, if you really saw my words before… you know I once cursed like a sailor, right?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: From your talk with that Seasonal Wolf, Ink River… I can guess what happened.

Poppy: You… really have a huge amount of Wish Points?

Seventh Ju: …

Seventh Ju: …………

I didn’t answer right away.

I waited.

Last time Poppy asked this, my Wish Power had warned me—

A soft knock against my heart’s door… a danger alert.

But now…

Seventh Ju: ………………

Seventh Ju: Yes.

Seventh Ju: I have so many… enough to fulfill your wish completely.

Poppy: …Is that so?

Poppy: The Temple’s will is the combined desire of ten thousand Officers. Their total Wish Points likely number in the tens of millions.

Poppy: Defying that… you’d really help me?

Seventh Ju: Don’t make it sound like I have to wipe them all out… Just make them stop hunting you. Let them appoint a replacement.

Seventh Ju: I swear by Xiv—I’ll give you the happy family you want.

Seventh Ju: Not… rushing into fleeting warmth here like moths to a flame.

Poppy: …

Poppy: …………

Poppy: Hearing you say that… I suddenly feel so tired…

Seventh Ju: Then relax… and sleep well.

Poppy: Mm…

Poppy: …No. Before I sleep… I want that.

Seventh Ju: What?

Poppy: Little Ju’s tongue.

Seventh Ju: ………………

I couldn’t refuse that request.

Her honeyed scent coated my mouth, lulling me into drowsiness.

I held Poppy close, sharing her hard-won peace as we drifted into dreamless sleep.

I felt the power of trust.

Not just warmth from clinging together—but the strength to believe we’re always connected, no matter the distance.

Poppy must understand this too.

We both already knew.

…………

…………

Next morning.

The first thing I saw upon waking was Poppy’s serene face beside me, dressed lightly in sleep.

Pale dawn light roused me; last night’s words echoed in my head.

Seventh Ju: Hah…

Seventh Ju: Last night…

—What on earth did I say?!

—What embarrassingly cringey things did I blurt out in front of a girl?!

—Could I jump out this fourth-floor window, dig a hole, and bury myself alive?!

No… can’t do that…

…………

Ink River: Morning.

Stepping out with Poppy, I found Ink River leaning against the hallway wall, a book in his paws.

Seventh Ju: Hah… You spent the night here?

Ink River: Mm. No big deal.

He set down his book and looked up.

Ink River: Ju. Did you two do it?

Seventh Ju: Uh… Weren’t you planning to eavesdrop the whole time?

Ink River: My hearing’s not *that* sharp. Only caught your louder complaints.

Seventh Ju: Sorry for subjecting you to my ranting.

Poppy: Don’t guess, Mr. Ink River. The virgin’s still a virgin. The virgin’s still a virgin.

Seventh Ju: …………

*Huh?* Hearing Poppy speak, I couldn’t quite meet her eyes. Last night’s words were too… mortifying!

That moment was a milestone (black history) in my life—a life with zero female experience before meeting Poppy.

Ink River: …The virgin still looks like one. The virgin doesn’t look much like one anymore.

Seventh Ju: Hey! Don’t make it sound like I jerked off in secret!

Ink River: Mind telling me what you talked about?

Seventh Ju: We discussed…

…Couldn’t say it.

Poppy: Nothing much. Just agreed on "no premarital sex."

Ink River: …………

Seventh Ju: In a way… that’s accurate…

Seventh Ju: By the way, Ink River—you read all night?

Ink River: This book explains converting Wish Points to money.

Seventh Ju: Huh?

Ink River: I’ve wondered: if you have so many Wish Points, why can’t you repay a simple debt?

Ink River: After reading this… I think I understand.

Ink River: Wish Points can grant any wish, but material wishes don’t appear from nothing.

Ink River: Wishing for wealth directly would steal it from nearby sources. The Temple forbids that—punishable by sanction.

Ink River: Earning through work and time is the rule.

Poppy: Every sixteen-year-old human knows this, young Seasonal Wolf. Human society isn’t so brutal anymore—especially in Sincere Kingdom.

Ink River: …………

Seventh Ju: Ink River.

Seventh Ju: Since I need to repay debts fast, I should return to work soon.

Seventh Ju: The Pioneer Team won’t pay us for idle days, right?

Ink River: I’ve no issue with you starting early. But your fiancée? Bringing her to the Pioneer Team isn’t allowed.

Poppy: Oh, I’ll keep running until Little Ju earns enough capital.

Poppy: If I escaped once, I can keep escaping.

Seventh Ju: Once my Pioneer Team work wraps up and I get paid, I’ll come for you, Miss Poppy.

Seventh Ju: That’s the plan.

Poppy: Exactly.

Ink River: ............

Ink River: ...

Ink River: I seem to have run into a couple of idiots like husband and wife...

Seventh Ju: Oh right, actually, the fiancé and fiancée setup isn't—

Seventh Ju: —Mmph!

Poppy: Oh dear, Little Ju, really, don't tell such private things to outsiders.

Poppy: Stirring—stirring—

Seventh Ju: Gulp—hiss—

Seventh Ju: ...Pfft—!

Seventh Ju: Hey hey! Covering my mouth is one thing, but don't stick your fingers in and stir around!

Poppy: What's the harm? It's comfortable anyway! Mmm...

Seventh Ju: And don't put them in your own mouth either!

Poppy: Hahahaha————

Poppy ran downstairs laughing, leaving me staring blankly at Ink River beside me, with no target for my snark.

Ink River: ...Ju.

Seventh Ju: Huh?

Ink River: Is this what they call... "graceful outside, airheaded inside"?

Seventh Ju: You mean "women's external disguise is truly terrifying," right?

It seems today will be another restless day.

Poppy and I first went to check on Aibin, at least to make him understand he was no longer in danger—though Poppy was very reluctant during the process...

While Ink River was catching up on sleep at the inn, I used the accident compensation to prepare enough daily necessities.

I kept half the remaining money and gave the other half to Poppy. Her journey would certainly need it too.

Neither Poppy nor I asked uneasy questions about the separation plan anymore.

Because we had already come to trust each other enough.

............

When only half the sunlight remained, outside Bao City's west gate, Poppy gently kissed my cheek.

Poppy: After you finish this job, I'll come to collect my debt, Little Ju.

Seventh Ju: Mm... I know.

Seventh Ju: ...By the way.

Poppy: Hmm?

Seventh Ju: Last time we parted, what exactly did you mean by "contact method"?

Poppy: ............

Poppy: You're really greedy. Didn't I already give it to you?

Seventh Ju: ...?

Poppy: Don't worry, Seventh Ju. Unless Xiv himself comes, I will never break my promise.

Seventh Ju: ............

Seventh Ju: Mm!

Seventh Ju: You can rest assured too, Poppy. No matter what dangers lie on the pioneer path, unless Xiv himself comes, my life will never be taken by anyone.

Poppy: Heh heh—

A light, carefree laugh—a laugh impossible to forget.

This was the first imprint I received in this world.

Poppy: Well then—see you later, Little Ju.

Seventh Ju: Mm, see you!

............

............

The next morning, in Bao City's east district where the Pioneer Team had taken over, Ink River and I boarded the transport convoy, setting off on the road back to work.

At that moment, I couldn't possibly imagine how much the Pioneer Team's front line had changed in just two short days since we left.