Noah had just turned the corner when a door creaked open behind him.
Snow stepped out of her room, her voice calm and slightly aloof. "No need to act so surprised. It's a gift—for you."
"A gift? Why?"
Noah froze mid-step, blinking in confusion.
The item in question wasn't some novelty trinket. It was a Link Crystal, and its market value was close to a hundred million credits. More than that, it wasn't something you could buy with money alone. You needed connections—powerful ones.
Where did Snow even get it?
But before he asked, the answer came to him on its own.
He turned his head, just in time to catch Snow walking into the living room. She was still wearing the same outfit from earlier—if it could even be called that. A silk camisole nightdress, smooth as water and as translucent as moonlight, hugged her body.
Her skin, exposed in large stretches, was porcelain-white and glowed softly under the light. Her figure… well, let's just say it wasn't something you'd forget. Everything about her moved with slow, hypnotic elegance.
Very white. Very smooth. Very… large.
"Why?" she asked again, a little amused now, catching his expression. "You questioning your big sister's capabilities?"
Snow's voice was like chilled wine—clear, slightly intoxicating. She walked over, barefoot, the silk fabric shifting gently across her curves. Her chest moved with a mesmerizing rhythm beneath the soft fabric, practically bouncing with each graceful step.
Noah nearly choked on his thoughts.
Good thing I already drank my milk today… otherwise, I'd be dead.
Snow sat down on the couch and crossed her legs. "I traded my university credits for it. Consider it a gift for your eighteenth birthday."
So that's it, Noah thought, nodding. Just as he had guessed.
Every major university released missions periodically. Students who completed those tasks received credit points, which could be exchanged for rare materials, skill scrolls, upgrade tokens, or even precious artifacts like the Link Crystal.
That was one of the biggest reasons Noah was determined to get into college. That system alone made it worth it.
He looked at Snow, genuinely moved. "Thanks, Snow. Really."
There was a burning intensity in his eyes. He had never dreamed he'd get his hands on a Link Crystal—something countless awakened dreamed of but never even touched.
With this crystal, he could now spend an extra 4 hours per day inside the Land of Divine Punishment. That kind of time advantage? It was enough to crush the competition.
Oh, you want to out-grind me? Come on. Let's see who gets burned out first!
—
Later that night, after dinner and a quick shower, Noah locked himself inside his room.
He had spent the entire day grinding in dungeons and was beyond exhausted. The moment his head hit the pillow, he let out a deep sigh. He planned to nap for a few hours before pulling an all-nighter.
The bed felt like heaven. Soft, comforting. He drifted off fast.
But something cold brushed against his face.
Noah's eyelids fluttered open groggily—only to be met with a surreal sight. Snow was sitting on the edge of his bed, her hand gently slapping his cheek like he was a lazy kitten.
"What the hell? Snow?! How did you even get in here?"
Then again, with her strength, picking a lock—or just ripping the door off—probably took less effort than brushing her teeth.
Their faces were inches apart. The room was dark, quiet, and warm. Intimate.
Her long, ink-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, brushing lightly against his cheek. Her chest—which was already eye-catching enough by day—was now right in front of him, straining the straps of her nightdress, close enough to—
Jesus. That's gotta be at least two times bigger than Tang Xia's... Maybe even on par with the Goddess of Dawn.
Noah silently swallowed and yanked the bedsheet up to cover his lower half, praying she wouldn't notice.
Snow, of course, had no idea what kind of chaos she was causing in the brain of an eighteen-year-old boy.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were disappointed and annoyed at the same time. "Noah, your entrance exam's in two months. And you're sleeping? Seriously?"
Noah scratched his head. "Well… it's late. Isn't that what people normally do?"
She stood up, exasperated. Her long hair flared around her shoulders, and the nightdress fluttered down like petals. Her figure was flawless, like a sculpture carved from crystal.
"I gave you that Link Crystal so you could use it to train. You've already fallen behind in terms of talent. If you don't put in extra hours, do you even want to get into university?"
That classic big-sister scolding tone.
Noah immediately sat up and bowed slightly, hands together in mock apology. "You're right, Snow. I totally messed up. I'll jump into the Divine Punishment world right now!"
Honestly, he'd been crushed under her authority since childhood. He had no defense against this woman.
Seeing his obedient attitude, Snow smiled faintly and crossed her arms.
"Not just tonight. From now on, you'll train for four hours after school every single day. I'll be supervising you. Got a problem with that?"
"No ma'am!" he answered with military precision. She seemed satisfied.
"Good. You've got one minute to put on your pants. We're heading to the Wolf King's Valley dungeon."
Her eyes flicked down toward the blanket over his lower half. A subtle blush crept onto her otherwise perfect face.
Noah hesitated. He was tempted—sure—but still found the situation kinda strange.
What's with everyone suddenly wanting to "carry" me these days?
Snow raised an eyebrow. "You hesitating? You know how many people would kill to run a dungeon with me?"
He raised both hands defensively. "Yeah, yeah. But still—maybe I'll pass?"
Not only am I hesitating. I'm also rejecting you. I'm a man of principle.
Snow's eyes narrowed.
He quickly added, "Look, your level's way too high. If we run a dungeon together, I won't get any XP or loot. It'd be a waste."
She looked slightly irritated… then a little amused.
"You think I want to carry your sorry ass?" she said. "No, I'm taking you to observe the Sword Insignia left behind by the Demon-Slayer."
Noah's eyes widened. "You mean the strongest SSS-tier awakened in history? The one with the face of a god and power that shook the universe?"
Snow rolled her eyes but smiled. "That one. I was lucky. I managed to receive an SSS-ranked skill from observing it. My power soared."
"Damn! Congrats!"
Noah's voice was filled with admiration—and envy.
She added casually, "Some people even gained the chance to unlock a second awakening from it. That's literally rewriting your fate."
"And that's why you want to take me?"
She nodded.
He hesitated, thinking it over. "Honestly… better not. From what I've read, the higher your level, the better the reward. I'm only—well, let's just say I won't benefit much if I go in now."
Snow stared at him, studying his expression. After a moment, she gave a slow nod. "Makes sense."
"Get yourself to Level 50 before the college entrance exam. When you're ready, I'll take you to see it."
"You got it."
The two talked for a while longer, and only after Noah repeatedly swore he would not slack off did Snow finally soften her tone.
She gently ruffled his hair. "Our little Noah's growing up~"
She turned toward the door. "I'll leave you to it. See you tomorrow."
Noah blinked, then quickly called after her, "Oh, wait—Snow! I've got this classmate who's… not the brightest. He wants to move to the next zone at Level 12. Got any advice?"