"By the way, why do you look like this now?"

Silva frowned, pouting as she watched Noah’s blissful face lost in sweet reminiscence.

"I got curious after you left and looked it up. It really is you—Noah, the Human Healing Saintess. I’d never mistake those... *impressive* proportions."

"But how did you become Dragonkind? And when did you turn into a princess of the Royal Court?"

"Do you really want to know~?"

Noah sidestepped the question, smiling warmly. Yet beneath that gentleness lurked a hint of warning.

"...Never mind. If you’re here for tea, follow me. I’ve set a spot in the garden."

Sensing the shift, Silva turned away, leading Noah to the garden seats.

Noah gathered her skirts, tucking her fluffy white tail against her slender calf. Her plump thighs pressed together as her soft hips settled onto the chair. She straightened her spine, waist subtly drawn in, her full curves defying gravity with regal poise. Delicate hands rested on her knees—a princess’s dignified posture that left onlookers spellbound.

She placed a tiered pastry stand and teapot from her basket on the table, pouring fragrant black tea for them both. The mingled scents of baked goods and bergamot made mouths water.

Silva took a small sip. Her eyes widened in approval. *No surprise—this is Demon King’s Castle stock. The finest the Demon Race has to offer.*

Morning sun warmed the air gently. A breeze rustled fragrant blossoms. Peace settled over the garden.

"Speaking of which, little Silva," Noah asked casually, as if chatting with a friend, "do you have ties to the Abyssal Church?"

"Most Demon Lords do, one way or another. It’s only natural." Silva answered openly, like stating the obvious. "But we’d never trade our people to them as sacrificial offerings. That’d make us unfit rulers."

"They keep to small numbers. As long as we don’t provoke them, they won’t expand territory. Sometimes they buy ritual supplies from us in bulk—business partners, really."

*Is she asking for herself or the Demon King?* Silva kept her explanation broad, sticking to what she knew.

Noah had no urgent need for details. She simply wished to ease the Demon Lord’s burdens—to be a reliable partner, freeing her to... *indulge* more often. Yet Silva’s words carried unintended weight to Noah’s politically trained ear.

*So little Silva... no, most Demon Lords don’t realize how deeply the Abyssal Church has infiltrated them.*

But Noah had already given the "Abyssal Wedge" to Ledyah. No rash moves now—no tipping off snakes in the grass. She merely nodded.

"Mm. Understood."

*Let the Demon Lord handle the rest.*

At the thought of Ledyah, Noah’s clear gaze turned hazy. Her slender fingers traced the emblem on her chest. She licked her lips slowly, dreamily.

"You didn’t come just for this, did you?"

Left ignored again, Silva’s cheeks flushed. She pouted, irritation sharpening her voice.

"Oh?~" Noah leaned halfway across the table, her creamy swell swaying slightly like a tempting dish. A sweet, fox-like smile curved her lips. "Feeling lonely because I’m ignoring you, little Silva~?"

*This opponent is child’s play.*

"N-no! Don’t flatter yourself, idiot!"

Silva’s eyes darted away from the exposed swell of flesh. Her reconstructed body seemed to have regressed her spirit too—now she was just an ordinary tsundere loli.

"Hehe~ Kidding~" Noah chuckled softly, her ample curves compressing between her arms, showcasing impossible softness. She lifted the White Dragon Blood Ring, its surface shimmering strangely in the sunlight. "I came to check on your health. You’re my prized creation, after all. Seeing you so lively puts my heart at ease~."

"And... I have something to show you."

After the ritual, Noah had reclaimed her player status. She could now access the player list and system inventory. Though the Healing Saintess was originally an NPC from *Light of Mystery*, Noah had never been able to open NPC windows before. Now, straddling both worlds—native and transmigrator—she sought Silva for intel.

Demon King’s Castle had no interactable NPCs, much like the Grand Cathedral in Goodes. Both were "restricted zones" in the system. Even the Demon King Ledyah, like the High Pope, could see adventurers and speak to them—but never assign quests or trade directly.

Silva was different. As a regional lord, she was an interactable NPC. Her dialogue window could open. Player side quests tied to the Abyssal Church might even trigger through her. That’s why Noah came.

She needed to test how player skills would manifest in her current form.

A silver flash erupted from the White Dragon Blood Ring. A spirit coalesced on the grass beside the table—a slender, exquisitely beautiful miniature dragon. Three meters long, its body was covered in white fluff instead of scales, denser only at its chest and joints. It sat sphinx-like, forepaws folded neatly.

Pale blue eyes opened, gleaming with ancient wisdom.

"Took you long enough to summon me, Old Snow. I thought you’d forgotten—"

Its voice died as it recognized Noah. Its draconic jaw nearly hit the ground.

"O-old Snow?! Since when did you turn into such an adorable young lady?!"