Beneath the hill, the Monster Girl Iris and Parmin sat on a moulded log. They left considerable space between them, large enough for another lady to seat herself comfortably. Despite their silence, their quietude brought them closer than any superficial conversation could.

Instead of words, they conversed through the unceasing splashes of the waterfall and the rustling of the jungle leaves.

The guide stood in front of them, her hands fiddling behind her back. She glanced at the space between them, prepared for her, but she restrained herself; her job was to match them, not get matched by them.

“Please admire the scenery here for a few minutes while I check for any safety hazards,” she said.

Parmin nodded. “You may take a long, good look at the rare plants here. Many of them only grow in the deep jungle, somewhere we can’t easily access.”

The guide forcefully coughed. Her cheeks reddened. “Please don’t tease me, Lady Parmin. I’m doing this for your safety, not my curiosity.”

Parmin said nothing, but the playfulness in her eyes betrayed her thoughts. She merely waved at the departing Iris before turning to the other Iris, whose eyes locked onto the majestic waterfall, observing the chaotically twirling vapours.

“Having fun?” Parmin said. “A long time since I went on an ordinary date.”

“With Morbi?”

“Morbi . . . she’s different. Our date isn’t quite ordinary. It’d be more accurate to say we use each other to heal ourselves.”

“Is it not love, then?” Iris smiled. “Or are you two too shy to admit it?”

“Provoking me will bring about unforeseen consequences. Are you prepared to implicate your twin?”

“I can’t stop you, but I’ll hate you. Is it worth it?”

“Ludmint will kill me. Morbi won’t let me go either. More importantly, you’ll hate me.”

Iris hmphed. “Is this a waste of time?”

“A break from the hectic work is always welcome. However, this little talk is indeed a little boring.” Parmin raised her right hand. “Shall we play Truth or Dare?”

“I’m not about to commit indecency in public.” Iris raised her eyebrows. “Our dear guide has eyes and ears. The jungle, too, is not devoid of life.”

“No inappropriate matter, I promise. Though we are creatures of dark desires, we do not force others. To do so is to soil our nature, for our freedom is only for those who desire them.”

“Is there truly a choice? Our magical charm is irresistible, our odour enchanting. When they give in to our embrace, are they still themselves?”

“I’ll take that as a Truth.” Parmin sighed. “I’d like to believe that they’re still themselves, that I’m still me. At least their current, fallen selves don’t regret their decisions.”

“The corruption of the soul, such a wonderfully terrifying concept. Who is real—who is fake—is there any such distinction at all?”

Parmin lowered her head and contemplated. Her thoughtful expression reminded Iris of the calm ocean, whose ripples generated only the faintest echo before they vanished under the surface, joined with the invisible currents beneath.

On that reflective face, a grin emerged. “This discussion won’t do. I shan’t fall for your trap. I’ll choose Dare for you, Dear Iris.”

Iris clicked her tongue. “Remember: don’t go overboard.”

“Please embrace me.” Parmin raised her arms and leaned forward. “Our date has gone for so long, yet we haven’t once advanced our intimacy.”

“You could have taken me any time you wish, but I’m glad you chose otherwise.”

Iris moved to Parmin’s side, closed her eyes, and tilted her head. Her forehead touched Parmin’s, her arms caressing her beloved’s oriental silk dress. She tightened her hug, and her body pressed ever so gently against her other half, who exhaled a puff of warm air that enveloped their faces.

Chilly winds and glittering waterfall muffled their soft, inaudible breathing. Pale vapours couldn’t hide their entangled silhouettes, though they felt not a hint of shame. Their affection, all for each other, wasn’t something others could change.

It was magical, irresistible, and enchanting.

The guide Iris plucked a colourful five-petal flower and smelt it. A fruity, honey-like scent greeted her. Wishing to share her discovery, she turned and waved at her clients. Her excitement froze upon witnessing their display of affection, and she found herself feeling sticky, her throat dry, her mind restless.

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Something wasn’t right. They were merely embracing each other, something she’d seen before. Yet this time, their risque action, filled with naked emotions, crammed the atmosphere with obscenity.

She slapped her flushed cheeks lightly while turning away. The humidity discomforted her, but the dense layer of leaves and vines reassured her.

No one would see anything; no one would stop anything. Let go of all concern; it wasn’t something you should suppress.

The guide gradually relaxed. She inched toward Iris and Parmin, who, despite the moving world, maintained their postures, indulging in their invisible, inseparable connection. Their pleasant yet lewd silhouettes ignited a spark in the guide’s heart.

A wildfire of desires erupted in her body.

When the guide came so close to touching her clients with her trembling hands, the couple separated. Their connecting gazes flashed a playful gleam, though no one knew for whom those were.

Shuddering, the guide took a few steps back. She tripped on a rock, throwing herself backwards. She cried and braced herself, but a pair of slender and soft hands caught her.

“Be more careful with your delicate body, Iris,” the other Iris said. “We mustn’t sully our appearance and name, for us two depend on them.”

“I was distracted and . . . I’m sorry for looking. It’s a failure of a guide to interrupt our clients’ precious moment.” The guide Iris bowed. “I don’t know what’s gotten to me, but . . . you two are too mesmerising.”

The Monster Girl Iris glanced at Parmin, who shook her head, expressing her confusion. The two didn’t intentionally bewitch the other Iris.

Was it simply her suppressed desires?

“We don’t mind your joining us,” the Monster Girl Iris said. “You’re our guide, our close confidant. Whatever happens in this jungle of ours, we’ll see through it together.”

“But that’s inappropriate. What if . . . I go too far?”

The Monster Girl Iris chuckled. “Shall we play near the waterfall? The currents are weak, and the temperature looks to be warm and comfortable.”

The guide straightened her back. “I shall inspect the area first.”

She walked for a few steps before stopping. “Iris, Lady Parmin, did you bring your spared clothes?”

“No need to worry. You can use mine if you lack one. Our figures are similar.” The Monster Girl Iris licked her lips. “See it for yourself if you don’t believe me.”

The guide took a deep breath but said nothing, though her embarrassment was evident. She escaped to the river below the waterfall, doing her job while wandering about the reality where she set aside her shame.

While working, she would occasionally peek at her clients. The two chatted a lot, but their conversation, muffled by the sounds of nature, couldn’t reach her ears.

“This time will also be Truth,” the Monster Girl Iris said. “I want to know more about you, so tell me your past.”

“Is it time to increase our affection?” Parmin grasped Iris’s hand, which rested on the wooden log. “I used to be a brothel girl on the Snake Cage Island, Yilon Archipelago. I survived by offering my soulless body to the pirates, yet my thin and tall body wasn’t what they desired; I never became popular.”

Parmin looked at herself and laughed. “Ironic, isn’t it?”

“They were blind, but I might never meet you if they weren’t.”

“Indeed, if one of them didn’t try to kill me—if I didn’t run away—if I didn’t meet my saviour, I wouldn’t have met you.”

“Another Monster Girl?”

“I didn’t know at the time. She dressed like a knight; I merely took advantage of her appearance. She—”

“What’s her name? What kind of Monster Girl is she? Where is she right now?” Iris’s agitated voice stunned even herself. She pursed her lips and dropped her head.

“Are you mayhap jealous? Do not worry, for she’s no longer here.”

The air grew stale, and the silence took over. Iris squeezed Parmin’s hand, tilted her head forward, and pushed herself onto Parmin. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s ‘my condolences,’ ” Parmin said. “You did nothing wrong. The memory, although painful, is also joyful. She will always be my saviour, and I know she wouldn’t want me to feel down whenever I think of her.”

“I wish I could have your confidence.” Iris touched her own chest. “You’ve said enough. It’s my turn.”

“Same as what you asked me: I want to know the olden you.”

The leaves on the surrounding trees rustled. They lovingly fell on the ground, twirling in soft, inexplicable drafts. This momentary tranquil stopped time itself, demanding all listen attentively to what would come next.

“In this world, few people know of my origin. You’ll be one of them,” Iris said. Her tone carried a hint of pride and elegance foreign to all known etiquette. “The Court knows me as a visitor from the Central Continent, but, in truth, my origin lies farther.

“I came from a faraway land, a land divided by an infinite ocean and endless sky. I arrived here by chance, though I never regretted it. I miss my home, yet I also treasure my experience here.”

“But Iris, you’re avoiding the question. How did you become a Monster Girl? What were you like before coming here?”

“I was about to tell you.” Iris hmphed. “Back then, I was arrogant, naïve, and rebellious. I disregarded the consequence and attempted to prove myself. My selfishness hurt many people, some of them my precious.”

“You didn’t seem to learn. Arrogance, naivety, and rebellious nature are still within you. The flame of ambition is apparent in your gaze.” Parmin coyly tilted her head. “I love every part of it.”

“Fear them, or, one day, you’ll find yourself betrayed and hurt.”

“My love is in your hands. You can crush, shatter, or cast it away; I’ll accept it wholeheartedly.”

A scream interrupted the conversation. The guide Iris, eager to inspect the waterfall, slipped and fell into the river. Her frightened voice resembled a melodious yet sad tone which invoked pity and sympathy for its owner.

Parmin got up and rushed over, but the Monster Girl Iris merely raised her right hand and waved down. Her Corruption Power flared from her fingertips. The currents surrounding the guide halted their forceful push before congregating below her, elevating her flailing body above the river surface.

Water droplets clung to her clothes, but she couldn’t feel the chill or the sticky dampness. Only her astonishment glowed in her pupils. As she stared at the other Iris, her hands gripped her uniform, her heart palpitating.

“Iris, you’re a . . . Mage?” she said. “I didn’t know. Please don’t blame me for being discourteous. I’m willing to compensate you.”

“It’s your turn, Iris.” The Monster Girl Iris pulled back her fingers.

The guide Iris rigidly stepped out of the river, walking on the water surface. Every step imbued within her soul a spark of feverish excitement. “What . . . can I do for you?”

“We’re playing Truth or Dare. You’ll have a Dare from us: Please keep this little fact a secret.” The Monster Girl Iris winked. “Otherwise, I’ll have to file a complaint about your service. Or worse, I might seal your mouth with mine.”

The guide Iris vigorously nodded.