Far away, Shia suddenly felt a chill and shivered involuntarily.

'Why does it feel like someone’s plotting something against me?'

The weather hadn’t changed, so why was he feeling this way?

'Am I just run down lately?'

He quickly dismissed the thought. After all, the distilled and extracted wine he had painstakingly crafted was finally complete.

The amber liquid shimmered like a work of art, flowing smoothly in its container. Under the light, it refracted a dazzling brilliance, mesmerizing in its beauty. Its rich aroma filled the room, intoxicating anyone who caught a whiff.

Such perfection required special containers just to preserve it properly.

Despite the intoxicating fragrance and the exhaustive labor that had gone into its creation, there were only five bottles.

Rong gazed at the five bottles on the table, letting out a soft sigh.

“Just five? That feels... so little.”

All the time, effort, and resources poured into this venture seemed disproportionate to the results.

“It’s already plenty,” Shia replied, shaking his head.

He was quite satisfied with the outcome. Five bottles might seem modest, but for this process, the success rate was nothing short of remarkable.

In the game, he could only ever craft two bottles at a time. This was, after all, original liquor infused with the laws of the world!

The reason for the higher yield this time was largely thanks to the female protagonists who had lent their support. Their involvement had doubled the success rate.

This level of original liquor wasn’t meant to be sold directly. When it came time to market it, it would be diluted.

Even a single bottle, once diluted, could revolutionize the entire world of fine spirits. There would be no competition—it would crush everything else in the market.

As for the undiluted portions, Shia already had plans brewing in his mind.

---

“What can these even do?”

Nia leaned forward, her ample chest pressing against the table as she rested her chin atop it, gazing curiously at the five bottles of pristine liquor. Unable to resist, she reached out to touch one of them.

The aroma alone hinted at unparalleled taste.

“Use? You’ll see soon enough,” Shia replied with a faint smile, clapping his hands.

“After all this hard work, let’s have a taste.”

He carefully stored most of the bottles, leaving only one out to dilute for sampling.

Nia’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly fetched wine glasses.

This original liquor, infused with laws, had remarkable effects. In the game, when consumed by female characters, it bestowed unexpected buffs.

But this was reality. Shia wasn’t entirely certain of the effects, so testing was necessary.

As soon as the liquor was poured, its fragrance intensified, filling the room.

The scent was intoxicating. Rong’s cheeks flushed red even before taking a sip.

Before she knew it, she stumbled forward, collapsing into Shia’s arms.

“Pfft~!” A soft sound escaped as Rong’s ears and tail emerged.

She blinked, her watery eyes dazedly looking up at Shia.

'Master’s scent... The wine smells so good...'

For reasons she couldn’t explain, her mouth watered. Instinctively, she stuck out her petite tongue, licking her lips.

Her rosy lips glistened with moisture, her flushed face resembling the blooming peach blossoms of early spring.

The delicate girl leaned against the boy’s chest, her soft hands clutching his shirt. Her world spun, and the only anchor she could find was the warmth of the person in front of her.

Shia caught the pliant girl, her soft body fitting perfectly in his arms. She felt... 'amazing.'

Looking down at her, he couldn’t help but think: 'I suspect your motives aren’t pure!'

Yet he didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled her closer.

Rong met Shia’s gaze, her blush deepening with embarrassment.

She didn’t mean for this to happen! It was the wine—it was too delicious, too intoxicating.

'This isn’t my fault, okay~!'

Peeking to the side, her gaze landed on Nia’s back.

'Oh no.'

Rong immediately began struggling, trying to free herself from Shia’s embrace.

Her senior was right there—how could she...

'So embarrassing~!'

What if Nia saw this? She’d die of shame.

Rong, who had been clutching Shia’s shirt, now pushed against him, attempting to escape. However, she dared not make any large movements for fear of attracting Nia’s attention.

Unfortunately, she lacked the strength to break free.

Meanwhile, Nia, busy pouring wine, remained oblivious to the scene unfolding behind her. The amber liquor shimmered in the crystal wine glasses, casting mesmerizing shadows on the table.

She was thoroughly captivated by the masterpiece Shia had crafted, her curiosity piqued by its aroma. She had no idea she was being outmaneuvered.

Just as the tasting was about to begin, a knock came at the door.

---

Outside, the 'Sword Saintess Sistine' stood calmly, her white gown fluttering in the breeze.

Her delicate hand gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. Outwardly composed, only she knew how nervous she truly felt.

She was hesitating, unsure how to convince Shia to leave voluntarily.

But no matter what, she resolved to maintain a firm stance.

Before she could finalize her words, the door opened.

A dark-haired boy stood in the doorway, his hand on the handle. His refined features were adorned with a polite smile, his tall frame exuding an approachable demeanor.

Sistine took an involuntary step back, startled.

All the mental preparation she had painstakingly built shattered into pieces in an instant, scattering to the wind.

Though she had gone over this encounter in her mind countless times, planning meticulously (or so she thought), the moment she stood before him, a wave of unease washed over her.

Confronting a man face-to-face triggered her deep-seated aversion.

Her eyes held a faint glimmer of fear, her grip on her sword tightening to the point where it seemed she might draw it at any moment.

Shia observed the figure at the door. Her cold, saintly beauty carried an air of detachment.

Of course, he knew who she was.

The Sword Saint’s disciple, the 'Sword Saintess Sistine', and one of the game’s central heroines.

She was the powerhouse protagonist who carried the game’s combat storyline.

Although she faced setbacks along the way, those were merely the CG moments meant for Mary Sue’s conquest arc.

Still, he hadn’t interacted with her before. What brought her here?

With just a brief thought, he understood.

It must be her aversion to men that drove her to confront him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com