CHAPTER 133: TAKE THE LEAD

"Adorable!"

It was already the sixth dress Luna had Ava try on, and her reaction never changed.

They were inside a clothing shop, and for the past thirty minutes, Luna hadn’t picked a single thing for herself—only for Peri and Ava. She was acting just like an older sister who loved spoiling her younger ones.

Standing in front of the mirror, all dressed up, Peri finally asked, "You do remember that we’re both older than you, right?"

Luna giggled. "Why does that matter? Now, please try this one—"

"No, that’s enough. Hades is getting bored out there," Peri cut her off, her brows knitting together.

Luna froze, then quickly apologized, "Ah, right. Sorry about that."

Peri sighed. "You really are a shopping enthusiast."

Ava smiled awkwardly. "Can I change now?"

Luna tilted her head. "But you look great in this too. You could keep it on. And since we’re going hunting, this outfit is way better than a skirt, don’t you think?"

She wasn’t wrong. Ava’s current outfit was far more practical—brown pants paired with a simple white shirt that wasn’t too tight. Instead of her usual sandals, she now wore boots that gave her a wilder, more adventurous charm.

Ava glanced down. "But... this is so expensive."

Luna chuckled. "You don’t really think we’d make you pay, do you?" She gave Ava a gentle pat on the back. "Go on and wait outside. We’ll finish up here and join you."

With no choice, Ava nodded and stepped out of the shop.

The moment she did, people’s eyes followed her.

Ava naturally drew attention—her droopy eyes and fox ears gave her an innocent charm. But this outfit made her stand out even more. The shirt brought out her bust, while the pants showed off her curves.

Unfortunately, the stares she received were less admiring and more lecherous.

An older man even stepped forward and asked, "All alone, missy? Want me to take you somewhere nice?"

Ava’s eyes turned sharp, but before she could reply, a calm, firm voice cut in:

"Who said she’s alone?"

The man stiffened and turned, only to see a tall figure glaring down at him.

Grumbling under his breath, he quickly backed away and left.

Ava hadn’t felt threatened by the man—she had dealt with plenty of fools like him before—but the fact that her master had stepped in to protect her touched her heart.

"Thank you, young master. Ava was saved by the young master," she said with a warm smile.

Hades sighed. "You probably could’ve handled that yourself... but I just can’t stand guys like that. The words slipped out before I realized."

Ava giggled. "That was very manly of you, young master."

Hades rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.

"That’s quite bold of you, flirting with your maid while your mates are right here."

Peri’s flat voice made Hades freeze.

He glanced over and saw Luna’s eyes curve into crescents as she softly called, "Hades~"

The redhead sighed heavily. "Alright, we should go."

Hades couldn’t help but grumble inside. Why is helping someone suddenly called flirting? That’s unfair...

Since they had several bags to carry, Ava contacted someone from the castle to pick up the luggage.

"How did you call them?" Peri asked curiously, half-wondering if Ava had a mate.

"Ah, through Lunar magic," Ava explained with a small smile. "I told my mother I was in the market and needed help, so she’ll send someone."

Hades blinked, surprised. "Lunar magic? Isn’t that... one of the most sacred forms of magic, directly tied to the Goddess of the Moon?"

Ava nodded proudly. "Yes. Our tribe was blessed by the deity long ago, and each generation is born with Lunar magic."

Luna raised her brows in interest. "Hey, Hades... is Lunar magic really strong?"

Hades hummed, thinking aloud. "From what I know, those blessed with it are practically immortal under the moonlight."

Luna gasped. That sounded like an unbelievably broken ability.

Peri, who had more knowledge in such things, added calmly, "Lunar magic also grants the perfect physique for martial arts. I’ve heard the beast tribes even developed unique fighting techniques around it."

Ava nodded again, this time with quiet pride. "That’s right. I’ve trained in martial arts for more than ten years. And... I’ve mastered a certain style, thanks to this Celestial Body."

"Celestial body, eh? Isn’t that one of the three strongest physiques?" Peri asked, a wry smile on her face, "With such talent and blessings, why are you serving as a maid?"

She wasn’t judging any job, but considering how peculiar and rare her blessings have been, she could have easily been a strong hunter or even a Hero of her tribe.

And also, considering how strong her mana control was, Peri could see hours of training behind that innocent smile.

Ava lowered her gaze as she said, "Supreme Lady stood by us when no one else did. Even our own tribe had turned against us. We were at the edge, and behind us... there was only death."

Though she looked calm, the weight of those memories was clear.

Hades glanced at Luna, and the silver-haired girl spoke softly, "But isn’t it a blessing? Because my mother-in-law saved your family, we got to meet."

Ava gave a small smile and nodded.

Not long after, a man from the castle came and took their luggage. With their hands free, they started walking toward the forest.

The Death Well lay to the north of the castle, while the market stretched to the south. The Queen’s castle stood between them, shielding the people from the dangers of the wild.

Hades remembered his mother’s warning—to always respect the wards.

In the forest, wards were placed depending on how dangerous each part was.

In the outer section, only Civilian-ranked beasts could be found. The scenery here was calm and almost peaceful, so Hades chose to hunt only in this area.

"You’ve been staying here these past few days?" Luna asked, her brows lifting.

"Are you alright?" Hades asked in return.

Luna gave a small nod. "Yeah... it’s just that, compared to the forest I grew up in, this place feels a little gloomy."

"And crawling with terrifying beasts," Peri added, leaning back against a tree. "Sometimes being sensitive to mana is more of a curse than a gift."

Not here in the outer section, but deep within the forest, Peri could sense something far stronger. In those depths lurked monsters that could only be described as disastrous.

Just then—

Crunch

Something burst through the bush and lunged at Luna.

Hades dashed forward, but stopped as a barrier flared to life around her.

THWANK

The three-eyed stag slammed its antlers against the shield.

A foul stench filled the air, so strong that Ava—sensitive to scents—had to cover her nose.

"That’s a Soldier-ranked monster," Hades muttered, stepping forward, ready to finish it off.

But Peri’s voice cut him off. "Sometimes you should rely on us too."

She picked up a small branch. A golden light wrapped around it, and before long it had stretched and curved into the shape of a bow.

"We’ve got this, Hades!" Luna said firmly. Her barrier suddenly expanded, shoving the stag back.

She rose into the air, mana chains bursting from the ground, coiling and ready to strike.

Seeing both girls prepared for battle, Hades eased back and let them take the lead.