The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness Chapter 360: The First Night

"Night has fallen?"

Muen stared in astonishnt as the firmant was shrouded in darkness.

Stars were scattered, ethereal and far, impossible to see clearly; only that one moon was limpid, shining upon all things.

"If there’s day, there is naturally night. It’s a bit sudden, but that’s normal. Only...... there’s no sun here, so why is there a moon?"

With a single glance, Muen could tell those stars were just like the dayti blue sky and white clouds—false things like a backdrop curtain.

But the moonlight at this mont was bright; as the only light source in this world, it could not be fake.

A real moon?

A false moon?

Or else......

But that moon had already died, and this Lost Land ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) should by all appearances have nothing to do with it; it absolutely shouldn’t......

"Muen......"

Liya’s soft, worried call pulled Muen back from his thoughts to reality:

"What do we do now—keep going?"

She, too, seed to sense how abrupt this full moon was, her clear eyes widening as she gazed out.

"Keep going...... probably won’t do."

Muen took out his pocket watch and checked it. It had been eight marks since the mont they entered Kanteville.

Although they had briefly rested in the deserted village earlier, that had been several hours ago.

And once it was dark, moving would be inconvenient.

"No need to rush. Let’s find a place to rest first."

"Mm, I’ll listen to you."

......

......

"This should be safe."

After entering this abandoned town, Muen found a house that was still fairly intact and used it as a temporary place to rest.

To save effort, he lavishly used Holy Light again to purge the filth, then pulled out expensive blankets to spread on the floor, and also took out the firewood he had prepared in advance to build a fire.

Soon, the aroma of food drifted out, making one’s fingers itch to eat, but it wasn’t the readily found fare of this Lost Land—it was what Muen had brought himself.

Although neither Muen nor Liya had found anything wrong with the food here, to be safe, it was better not to eat it.

Muen poked the fire twice, making it blaze brighter, then angled his gaze to the side.

High-grade steak had been skewered on a casually peeled branch; just simple roasting, and it already looked especially so.

Of course, even more so were the girl’s cheeks under the firelight, laid over with the glow of evening clouds, and those lips made glossy and translucent by grease.

At just one glance, Muen hurriedly drew his eyes back and took a big bite of roasted at.

Though there were no seasonings and the cooking thod was a wasteful affront, Muen still found it extrely delicious, not inferior to a top chef at a high-end restaurant.

"It feels very familiar."

Liya tucked both feet into her skirt and gently wrapped one arm around herself.

"It’s like we did this before."

"Mm."

Muen knew she was talking about that ti in the Forest of Dead Doom, when the two of them had also sat around a campfire like this—warm fire before them, boundless darkness and unknown behind them.

As if it were yesterday.

"Only...... there are a lot of differences too."

Liya put the branch into the flas and let it be devoured, making the firelight even brighter.

It lit up her eyes, shining like crystals.

Muen couldn’t help looking again.

"What’s different?"

"Back then we couldn’t afford such good roasted at."

"There were only wild fruits, and octopus."

"And we couldn’t sit on soft blankets."

"Leaves are actually pretty soft too."

"And......"

Liya’s vermilion lips parted, but the words at the tip of her tongue ultimately didn’t make it out.

Her state of mind,

was different too.

Only—how could she say that out loud?

Who knew whether the firelight was dyeing Liya, or the man beside her; Liya furtively covered her chest, feeling that annoying thump-thump start up again.

It grew quiet all around, and only the sound of tongues of fla licking at firewood could be heard.

"Rest first. Now that most people are converging here, tomorrow the competition may be very intense." Muen swallowed the last piece of roasted at and spoke.

"Mm."

Obediently, Liya hugged her knees, curled up, and lay on her side on the blanket.

She had a small blanket over her as well; with ample preparations, it was indeed much more comfortable than that night had been.

Only this ti, Liya didn’t fall asleep so easily.

She kept secretly opening her eyes to take a peek at the man sitting motionless before the fire like a statue.

One glance, and then another.

Only after who knew how many glances, when drowsiness finally swept in, did Liya slowly close her eyes.

......

Hearing Liya’s breathing grow steady, Muen stood and turned.

However, he didn’t look at the completely defenseless girl at this mont; his line of sight deliberately avoided her and moved to the window.

"Tomorrow will definitely be lively."

In the silence, Muen seed to hear one or two sounds in the distance that didn’t belong.

Probably soone who couldn’t stand the boredom and was still going at it even after dark.

According to the information Ailag had given, he and Liya were already moving slowly, so by tomorrow at the latest, most participants would definitely gather in this town.

It would absolutely not be as quiet as today.

"But...... speaking of which, it’s too quiet."

Muen couldn’t help frowning.

Before they ca in, the Church had said the outer zone of Kanteville, after exploration, wasn’t all that dangerous.

But after these few hours in daylight, Muen felt this wasn’t rely not all that dangerous...... the light was gentle, the breeze pleasant, the scenery beautiful—practically a vacation resort.

"Is it that only after passing that wall and entering the inner area will it reveal its dangerous essence as an ancient ruin......"

Muen looked out over the world under the moonlight, mysterious and serene.

"Or else...... forget it, I’m probably overthinking."

He shook his head, flicked his hand to set the necessary alert devices in place, and then closed his eyes.

......

"Has it begun?"

In the moonlight, a silhouette in a long dress stood still, both hands clasped and pressed to her forehead, as if in prayer.

Then she slowly bent down and placed the swaying flowers in her hands upon the ground...... upon that corpse.

The corpse’s eyes were wide open, as if unwilling to rest in death.

In his hand was half a Space Magic Scroll which had clearly been torn apart, its glow utterly dim.

"What a pity."

The figure sighed in regret and covered the corpse with the flowers.

"It’s not ti yet. We still need to...... wait a while longer."

"But......"

"Soon......"

In her tone, she was so impatient for sothing to arrive.

......

......

"Save ......"

......

"Save us......"

......

"Save......"

"Hah."

Liya’s eyes flew open.

The ceiling, spotless after purification by Holy Light, entered her vision.

The surroundings were extrely unfamiliar, yet they didn’t make her uneasy, because that solid figure was still beside her.

Liya let out a long breath and looked around.

She had clearly heard voices calling for help just now, but the instant she opened her eyes, those voices disappeared.

A dream?

It should be a dream.

But why would she have such a dream with only voices and no images?

Looks like she was still too nervous.

She couldn’t help turning her head to look at Muen, who was sitting against the wall—his lightly drooping eyes, those fine brows, that handso face......

No no no, Liya Angel, what are you doing—peeking like that is just too......

But she just couldn’t help it.

Liya shook her head hard, throwing off those inexplicable thoughts.

Her cheeks were still a little feverish.

Simply getting up, Liya tiptoed to the window, wanting to catch so cold air.

The moon still shone upon everything; all was hushed.

"I wonder how long until dawn."

Liya pushed open the tattered window:

"The moon’s position doesn’t seem to have...... ugh...... it stinks!"

At that mont, when the window had just been pushed open, what rushed in wasn’t refreshing cool air, but......

A nauseating stench.

Like a corpse rotting.