System's POV

"Sun Wukong's story ends with his redemption and enlightenment in his journey to the West," Thirteen said. "He managed to protect the Monk, Tripitaka from the demons, and he obtained the sacred Buddhist scriptures.

"Although he ascended as an immortal troublemaker who would not hesitate to do anything he pleased, angering Gods and Demons alike, he was still considered a Divine Guardian who protected the weak and powerless from those who used their powers to harm the innocent."

After listening to the story from start to end, Shana smirked.

"So, this means that anyone but the Monkey King is not allowed to bully people, right?" Shana said. "Doesn't this make him a bully as well?"

To her surprise, a chuckle escaped Thirteen's lips, which made her look at Zion in disbelief.

She had seen Zion smile many times, but she always felt like seven out of those ten smiles were fake, and he never laughed out loud in front of her.

Hearing his laughter, which was like the pealing of bells, her heart skipped a beat.

"You're right," Thirteen replied. "No one is safe from Sun Wukong's bullying. It doesn't matter whether they are Gods or Demons. If he feels like it, he would just whack them with his stick and laugh at their misery."

The teenage boy even made an act of whacking someone with his hands, making Shana giggle.

"That is quite an interesting story."

Thirteen and Shana looked behind them and found Erica and the other members of the Hero Party standing behind them.

They had finished bathing an hour ago and went to look for Zion and Shana.

However, when they found the two, they heard the teenage boy telling a story, so they didn't disturb him.

Just like Shana, they, too, found the story quite intriguing, that they even forgot the reason why they went looking for them.

Shana had been immersed in the story and didn't sense her friends' arrival, so she was also caught by surprise.

But before she could even say anything, Erica, who suddenly realized something, spoke up.

"Zion, there is something I would like to clarify," Erica, who had been listening to the story from the very start, raised her hand.

"Clarify what?" Thirteen asked.

The Sorceress' expression became serious as she asked the question that had been nagging in her mind ever since she listened to the teenage boy's story.

"When we fought against the Majin King," Erica said. "That staff…"

Thirteen didn't reply but placed his finger over his lips, confirming Erica's guess.

"Staff?" Shana blinked once then twice. "What staff?"

"Zion's mighty stick, of course," Erica replied with a chuckle. "The kind of stick that you will never forget once you get a taste of it."

Sherry, who was standing beside Erica, immediately blushed and lowered her head.

Fortunately, it was dark enough, and the others were too busy paying attention to Zion to notice the blush that crept on her face.

"Anyway, we're going to sleep now since it's getting late," Erica said before walking toward Shana's side, whispering something in her ear. 'I'll take Zion to the hot spring and leave him there. I will also ask Rocky to keep watch. This will be your last night together, so don't waste it.'

At first, Shana didn't understand what Erica was hinting at.

However, as she watched the Sorceress pick up Zion like a princess before flying high up in the air, she soon realized what Erica was hinting at.

"I'm also tired, so I'll sleep," Derek said. "Fortunately, O1, O2, and the others will keep watch, so we don't need to assign sentries."

The Swordsman then headed to one of the caves Rocky had dug during the day.

A bed was placed there, so he would be able to sleep without worries.

They had been sleeping inside the Mobile Fortress for weeks, and sleeping out in the open was something they would like to experience again.

Diana, Mildred, and Sherry also took their leave, and so did the other teenagers they had rescued from the Slave Traders.

Shana stared at the campfire for nearly two minutes before standing up.

This time, a determined look could be seen in her eyes as she made her way up toward the top of the mountain, asking Pica and Pico for their assistance.

The two Pocopocos were loved by Wind Spirits, so they could use their powers to make someone float in the air if they wished.

With the two Pocopocos helping Shana, they managed to reach the top of the mountain in just a few minutes.

Zion, who was now soaking in the hot springs, looked at the Temple in the distance with a calm expression on his face.

After Erica undressed him, she carried him to the hot spring and left him there to soak.

The Sorceress said she would come back later to pick him up, so he should just enjoy the view as much as possible.
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Suddenly, the sound of footsteps reached his ear.

Thinking it was Erica, Zion didn't turn around and continued to look in the distance.

The sound of clothes rustling spread silently into the night.

A minute later, Thirteen felt someone hug him from behind, making him blink once then twice before moving his head to look behind him.

"Don't look," Shana said, stopping the teenage boy from fully turning his head. "It's me."

Thirteen, who finally understood what was happening, sighed internally.

"Did Erica force you to do this?" Thirteen asked.

"No," Shana replied. "I did this on my own."

"… I see." Thirteen closed his eyes and remained unmoving.

He could feel Shana's bare chest touching his back, and the softness of her body reminded him that she was a young lady, just like Erica, his fiancee.

Just as she was having this thought, he heard a soft thud in front of him, which prompted him to open his eyes.

Pica and Pico landed, carrying a bucket half-filled with ice with a champagne bottle nestled inside it.

Pico then placed two glass cups beside the bucket before he and his sister made their escape as fast as they could.

Seeing her two helpers fly away as if their lives depended on it, Shana couldn't help but smile at their antics.

Zion looked at the bottle of champagne with a calm expression on his face.

However, deep inside, he was cursing Erica, Pica, and Pico for letting the innocent Saintess do something she wouldn't normally do if someone hadn't encouraged her to do it.

But there was something else Thirteen didn't notice.

Behind him and Shana was a wine gourd without its cork.

A fragrance that couldn't be detected normally spread in the air, making the Monkey King, who was watching this scene from the heavens, laugh mischievously.