Eros didn't push the matter further for now. Instead, he stretched and said casually, "I can see the spirituality accumulated in your body. You should have met the requirements for Sequence 7 long ago. Why haven't you advanced? Is it a lack of potions, or are you missing the ritual arrays?"

  As Natalia pulled on her outer skirt, she replied succinctly, "I have the potions and the materials for the supplementary ritual. I’m only missing the materials for the protective arrays against 'Eerie Incursion'."

  "That’s easy!" Eros clapped his hands.

  "You have those materials? And you’re willing to give them to me?" Natalia whipped her head toward him, a flicker of hope in her beautiful eyes. If she successfully advanced, her strength would undoubtedly increase, bringing her one step closer to the Goddess.

  Eros curled his lip. "Look at you. Given our... relationship, how could I not give them to you?"

  "In the future, if you need any materials, just come to me. Even the methods for setting up ritual arrays are fine."

  As for where the materials would come from? He could just ask the Church directly. As a God-Child, I’m only asking for a tiny bit of stuff—you wouldn't say no, would you? Would you? What! You suspect the whereabouts of those materials? How dare you! I am the God-Child personally watched over and audited by the Lord Himself. To doubt me is to doubt the Lord! You blasphemer! You heretic! You should be burned at the stake!

  With the "God of Death and Reincarnation" backing him up, Eros wasn't worried at all. Besides, he had heard that a God-Child received a monthly stipend of high-grade materials. But why use his own salary when he could get the Church to reimburse him?

  Using the Church’s wealth to support my own lover—isn't that exactly what a Remnant of the Night should do?

  Natalia, hearing the phrase "our relationship," clearly looked uncomfortable. However, for the sake of the advancement materials, she didn't voice any objection.

  "How do I contact you?" After a silence, she asked.

  Eros thought for a bit. "Did you keep the leaf I gave you last time?"

  Natalia looked guilty, her eyes darting around. How could she have kept something related to a Remnant of the Night? After returning to Indiles last time, she had found an opportunity to toss that leaf into a sewer right in front of the Temple of Contracts.

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  Seeing her expression, Eros understood immediately. He gestured for her to come closer. "Come here!"

  Natalia walked toward him reluctantly. Eros pulled her back into his embrace, tilted her chin up, and captured her soft lips. Her pupils dilated. In the next second, she felt a surge of power spreading from the man before her into the depths of her soul.

  Fear flashed in her eyes and she tried to struggle, but her strength was far too meager compared to Eros’s. A moment later, Eros released her. Natalia stumbled back several steps. Once she steadied herself, she touched her lips and then her head, her face a mix of confusion and lingering terror.

  "I’ve left a mark on your soul," Eros snorted. "If you want to contact me, just trigger that mark, and I’ll naturally come find you."

  Natalia froze. So this mark doubles as a tracker? Did this mean her movements would be entirely under his control? After a few seconds, she accepted the reality. After all, she was the weaker one.

  Eros continued, indifferent to her thoughts, "Try to contact me at night. A Remnant of the Night should only appear under the cover of darkness. As for those materials, I can gather them for you this weekend."

  Natalia’s eyes lit up. Finally, some good news.

  "Alright, we’re almost done. One more time, and then we can go our separate ways."

  Natalia’s body shuddered. She knew she couldn't refuse, but... she was already fully dressed! "Why didn't you say that earlier?" she thought, her teeth clenched as she suppressed the urge to punch him. After taking several deep breaths, she reached for her collar.

  Eros stepped forward, pulled her into his arms, and whispered into her ear while nibbling her lobe, "No need for all that trouble. Just lift your skirt."

  Natalia’s eyes widened. Wait... that works too?

  Much later, a flushed Natalia looked at Eros and asked tentatively, "Can I see your face?"

  Eros took out a silk handkerchief and handed it to her, then chuckled, "Don't worry. I’m not ugly, I’m not old, and I’m not mutated."

  Natalia felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Seeing this, Eros teased, "If you’re willing to let me carve the 'Brand of Night' on you, I can drop this shadow and let you see the real me."

  Natalia remained silent. Eros smiled and patted her long red hair. "I’m leaving."

  As the words fell, Eros’s body fell backward. With a soft thud, his body hit the ground and dissolved into shadows, disappearing instantly.

  Natalia stood there for several minutes before turning and sprinting in the opposite direction. Everything that happened today felt like a dream. She had somehow become someone’s mistress and lost her body in a blur of events. Thinking of the mark in her mind, she felt a wave of bewilderment. Finally, with a sigh, she decided to take it one step at a time.

  Following the clues intentionally left on the ground, Natalia ran for ten minutes until she saw three long silhouettes under the silver moon. Ayesha, seeing Natalia in the distance, traded her anxious expression for one of pure joy and sprinted toward her.

  Ayesha threw herself into Natalia’s arms, her voice trembling with tears. "Mother! Are you alright? That Evil God remnant... he didn't do anything to you, did he?"

  Natalia coughed lightly, suppressing her internal awkwardness. "I’m fine. He just wanted to get some information from us."

  "Gather information?" Ricci and Onigo, who had followed, wore strange expressions. Did it really take three hours to gather information? Looking at the position of the moon, it was nearly 11:00 PM.