Under the expectant gazes of the adepti, the light surrounding Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver finally faded.
A pair of stockings and a serving of exquisitely prepared venison appeared in their hands.
"Th-this… what is this?"
Both of them froze on the spot, then simultaneously turned to look at Boss Han, hoping for an explanation.
"Mountain Shaper, the reward in your hand comes from the Divine Realm in the manga—
it's a pair of stockings belonging to a certain goddess."
Han Feng explained solemnly.
"Yes. The kind of clothing women wear on their legs."
"…A goddess? Stockings?"
After hearing the explanation, Mountain Shaper completely short-circuited.
No—
I'm a dignified adeptus!
What am I supposed to do with something like this?!
Even if they belong to a goddess, it's still not okay!
"Hahaha! Old friend, just accept it!"
Seeing Mountain Shaper's mortified expression, Moon Carver laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
To be honest, Moon Carver had been a bit disappointed with his own reward at first.
After all, he had just boasted loudly—only to be slapped in the face by reality.
But now that he saw his friend's reward…
Suddenly, his heart felt much lighter.
As expected, happiness comes from comparison.
"We understand, Mountain Shaper."
Even Xiao couldn't help but crack a rare joke.
Although it wasn't something that could revive the Geo Archon, being able to witness an old friend this flustered was entertainment in its own right.
"Y-you're all talking nonsense! How can you slander my innocence like this?!"
Mountain Shaper widened his eyes, his voice stuttering slightly.
"What innocence? Then why didn't you throw the stockings away?
Why did you put them away instead?
Planning to secretly collect them when you get back?"
Madame Ping smiled and teased him mercilessly.
"It's not what you think! Boss Han said they're from a goddess, so naturally I want to research them!
To study how gods from another world differ from us!
Besides—when an adeptus does something, can it be called 'secret'?
This is completely open and aboveboard!"
Mountain Shaper's face flushed red, veins popping on his forehead as he argued with his friends.
"Hahahaha!"
Watching his awkward, panicked reaction, the manga shop was suddenly filled with cheerful laughter.
"Enough teasing—let me treat you all to some fine food!"
Moon Carver spoke up with a laugh.
Although his reward was only a single dish, its appearance was exquisite, and it gave off an incredibly rich aroma.
Even the other adepti couldn't help but feel tempted.
"By the way, Boss Han—what exactly is this dish?"
Madame Ping looked at Han Feng curiously.
He had explained Mountain Shaper's reward earlier, but not this one.
"Yeah, Boss Han, what kind of delicacy is this?
Is it some rare delicacy from that world?"
Moon Carver also became interested.
If the ingredients were precious and cooked by a master chef, then even a mere dish would be some consolation.
"This is a serving of exquisite venison."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Han Feng's mouth.
"Oh, so it's venison. No wonder it smells so—
…Huh? Venison?!"
Moon Carver finally reacted—and instantly froze.
He was an adeptus deer.
And his reward… was deer meat?
What kind of joke was this?!
"Yes. High-quality venison, prepared with superior culinary techniques.
That's why it smells so delicious."
Han Feng kindly added another explanation.
Upon hearing the confirmed answer, Moon Carver went completely blank.
His mind emptied, and for a long moment he didn't know what to say.
Looking down at the dish in his hands, it suddenly felt unbearably hot.
"…Do you want to eat it?"
After a long silence, Moon Carver forced out an ugly smile as he looked at his friends.
"N-no, no, we're good!"
Madame Ping and Xiao immediately took several steps back.
Knowing it was venison, who would dare eat it?!
Especially when Moon Carver looked this depressed.
"Thank goodness… compared to that, my reward is actually a bit better."
Mountain Shaper secretly felt relieved.
Goddess stockings sounded strange, sure— but they were still better than food you couldn't eat and that made everyone uncomfortable just by existing.
Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Just then—
A hopping figure bounced over.
"Oh? What's that? It smells amazing!"
Cloud Retainer sniffed the air, her face full of surprise.
"Moon Carver, is this your reward?
Can you share some with me?"
She smiled as she looked at the dish in his hands.
"If you want it, you can have all of it."
Moon Carver immediately handed it over.
After learning it was venison, there was no way he'd eat it— even if it smelled incredible.
"Oh? So generous. I'll remember this!"
The Cloud Retainer smiled brightly.
After a long battle, she really was hungry, and she had just finished reading a manga.
Being able to enjoy a good meal now was perfect.
She was just about to dig in—
When Madame Ping couldn't take it anymore and spoke up.
"That's venison."
The moment those words landed,
Cloud Retainer's hands froze in midair.
(⊙_⊙)
"Deer… venison?"
She slowly raised her head, disbelief written all over her face.
That was—
"Yes. Boss Han said so."
Madame Ping let out a bitter smile.
Even she hadn't expected the reward to be like this.
"Uh… then never mind.
Moon Carver, you should take it back."
Cloud Retainer hurriedly stopped and returned the dish.
Moon Carver could only accept it helplessly, planning to deal with it after returning home.
"Whew! That was close—I almost ate it!"
Cloud Retainer let out a sigh of relief.
Really—this old friend of hers.
If it was venison, he could've said so earlier!
If she had eaten it, it would've felt incredibly strange afterward.
Shaking her head, she cast those thoughts aside and turned to the topic of rewards.
"So—did any of you get something that can revive the Geo Archon?"
"No. Other than my Dao De Jing, everyone else just got ordinary items."
Xiao shook his head and added,
"So now… all our hopes are on you."
"Relax. What kind of luck do I have?"
Cloud Retainer said confidently.
"I'll definitely draw a Peace Star."
"Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver said the exact same thing earlier— and look how their rewards turned out…"
Madame Ping smiled as she recalled the scene.
"What did Mountain Shaper get?"
Cloud Retainer asked curiously.
She knew one of them got venison, but not the other.
"Ahem… nothing important.
In any case, it's better to stay humble."
Mountain Shaper coughed awkwardly.
Clearly, their misfortune had come from boasting too much earlier.
Cloud Retainer, however, didn't care at all.
"Saving the Geo Archon is our sacred duty!"
She snorted proudly.
"I'll say it right here and now—
If I can draw a Peace Star, I'm willing to be a slime for the rest of my life!"
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