At this moment, the red glow in the beast’s eyes disappeared, replaced by a gentle black. I couldn’t help but pat its head—thank goodness this guy is friendly, otherwise… Just look at those massive claws; with a light swipe, it could flatten me like a pancake. Do I look like its former boss or something?

The beast squinted its eyes in enjoyment, looking for all the world like an oversized new breed. When I touched its nose, even its tail perked up.

Grace Bennett, Emily Carter, and William Clark stared blankly at this “terrifying” scene.

“Well, I don’t know if you can understand me, but if it’s convenient, why don’t you just go back to where you came from?” Even I felt this line had a certain vibe—kind of like Tang Monk sending Sun Wukong away.

…The main reason is, this guy is just too big, and with its destructive power, a single day would be enough to saddle me with a lifetime of debt!

Maybe the beast understood. It nodded, swished its tail, and even nudged me—whoa, almost sent me flying! Its form gradually faded until it disappeared completely.

I didn’t care about appearances anymore and plopped down on the ground, muddy water splashing all over me. With me setting the example, William Clark was the second to follow. The girls fared a bit better, but using the envoy for so long was still a burden for them. Still, for girls, image is important, so the saintess dragged over a log for them to sit on, and then she too disappeared. The whole field fell quiet again, with only the sound of the wind whistling.

The four of us looked at each other, then suddenly burst out laughing. Everything that happened today was just too thrilling, and in our laughter, we grew much closer. From today on, we were a team—a new human team. Facing an unknown future, we would continue to take on challenges!

“Oh no!” I suddenly shouted, startling the other three into jumping to their feet.

“I just forgot to ask how to summon that big guy again. After all, having such a strong pet is a real comfort!”

Three thuds as people collapsed to the ground.

Was it really necessary to get so worked up just because I stated a fact?

Meanwhile, far away atop a tall building facing the campus, someone was watching the scene through binoculars. When everything was over, he muttered to himself, “Heh, what did I just witness? Interesting… Three-eyed new humans who can make a powerful A-class Thunder Demon submit. If this news got out in the New World, it would cause a huge stir. But this is a good card—I need to use it well!”

“Ah, Dad, you’re back!” a bright voice called out, Sunny drenched like a drowned rat.

“What, can’t a Dad miss you and come home to see you? Now that Son’s grown up, you don’t want your Dad anymore.”

“Don’t be so mushy. The weather’s gone crazy today—felt like the end of the world. Oh, you should go pick up my Mom today. Don’t say I never give you two any alone time, okay?”

“Alright, alright, you always have an excuse.”

“I’m going to shower first.”

Watching Sunny’s disappearing figure, the middle-aged man fell into deep thought. In a few days, it would be Sunny’s eighteenth birthday. What would happen then?

He felt both anticipation and a bit of worry.

Chapter 5: So It’s Still Earth

Everyone has someone they love in life. Whether it’s out of affection or desire, when you finally get what you want, it feels like you’re in heaven… Of course, you still have to come back to reality.

It was a thrilling and steamy night. Honestly, I never imagined my first kiss would be with Emily Carter. I’d pictured it countless times in my dreams, but reality is harsh—the other person is just too outstanding. And sometimes, a girl’s casual gestures of intimacy shouldn’t be mistaken for something more, or else you’ll end up embarrassed, heartbroken, and all sorts of “good things” will follow.

Although Emily Carter and Grace Bennett usually talk to us, I’ve more than once wished for a fairy tale to happen to this “Cinderella guy” of mine. I even tried the whole hero-saving-the-beauty, sacrificing-myself thing. Of course, I didn’t save the beauty—instead, I got saved. So I could only quietly retreat and keep imagining. But from tonight on, everything changed, because I was now one of them. Even though I still didn’t know exactly what I was, I knew one thing: I kissed her, and she didn’t react badly… According to novels, that means she has a pretty good impression of me—at least I’m a candidate she can accept. And a girl’s first impression of her first time is always memorable.

My heart came alive again!

“What happened today is a bit much for my brain to handle. I’m sure you all know more than I do. Let’s find a place—my treat—so the ladies can clear up my confusion.”

“Hey, Boss, what about me?” The moment he heard “my treat,” Walter perked right up, though it seemed the ladies didn’t include him.

“You? Aren’t you going back to play P6? Wait too long and you’ll miss your chance.” My smile looked like a total schemer to Walter, and to Emily Carter, it was the big bad wolf’s wicked grin at Little Red Riding Hood.