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The room fell into a hushed silence. Yaeger and Irene each retreated to opposite sides of the bed. Yaeger remained nonchalant, while Irene, her face flushed with a deep red hue, exuded a heat that could rival boiling water. Her embarrassment was palpable. In that moment, overwhelmed by her emotions, Irene wished she could just disappear under her bed, her heart echoing with silent sobs.

Yaeger refrained from pressing Irene about purifying the Holy Spirit Shard, understanding her need for a moment to compose herself. Observing Irene’s quivering form, she couldn’t help but think, ‘This girl’s mind is a labyrinth of scandalous thoughts.’ A wry smile crossed her lips as she pondered this.

Remarkably, the day’s events had unexpectedly boosted Yaeger’s Favorability with Irene. She mused that it was no small feat, especially given the challenge of earning the favor of such high-level NPCs. Recalling her previous life, she realized interactions with Irene were nearly unattainable. ‘That female player’s revelation was a stroke of luck,’ she thought gratefully, aware that the exposure of Irene’s secrets had tipped the scales in her favor.

After a tense ten minutes, Irene’s demeanor seemed to settle, a mask of composure thinly veiling her inner turmoil. “Give it here,” she requested, extending her hand with a feigned indifference. In that moment, she reduced herself to an emotionless instrument, void of any potential embarrassment.

Yet, the moment Yaeger’s fingertips brushed her skin as she passed the shard, a blush erupted across Irene’s face, and her heartbeat quickened noticeably.

Yaeger couldn’t help but purse her lips at this unforeseen notification.

Yaeger mused to herself, ‘Irene shares a peculiar trait with Kastina.’ Indeed, both held unique switches that, when activated, led to a rapid increase in Favorability. Kastina, a princess with m̲a̲s̲o̲c̲h̲i̲s̲t̲i̲c̲ tendencies, responded to physical dominance, while Irene, a Saintess with more sensual leanings, reacted to intimate contact.

‘Her reaction to just a touch was so intense. Perhaps a bit too sensitive,’ Yaeger contemplated.

In the meantime, Irene began her work on the shard. A radiant golden light blossomed from her palm, and the sinister dark energy clinging to the shard evaporated instantly, leaving it aglow with purity.

‘The Saintess’s abilities are truly remarkable,’ Yaeger thought, impressed by the swift purification, a task that would have taken a standard bishop considerably longer.

Irene’s gaze lingered on the shard, now radiating a divine aura. She recognized its immense potential and the power it could bestow upon her. The desire to possess it flickered in her eyes, yet her inherent integrity quelled this temptation instantly.

‘That’s not who I am,’ she reminded herself sternly before handing it over to Yaeger.

As Yaeger examined the shard, its detailed attributes appeared:

After reading the item description, Yaeger’s eyes widened in shock. ‘This item can be recharged!’ A rechargeable item meant limitless potential. Moreover, this single Holy Spirit Shard possessed two special effects!

“Is something wrong?” Irene asked, noticing Yaeger’s intense expression but silence.

“No,” Yaeger replied, shaking her head. “Irene, can you try infusing your holy energy into the Holy Spirit Shard?” Currently, the shard contained only 5% energy. If there was no way to recharge it, it would be practically useless, akin to a mobile phone without a charger. ‘The power within seems akin to Irene’s holy energy. It’s worth an attempt.’

“Me?” Irene responded, her eyes blinking in confusion.

“Yes,” Yaeger affirmed.

“I’m not certain it will work,” Irene expressed doubtfully.

“Just give it a try,” Yaeger encouraged, handing her the shard.

“Okay, I’ll try,” Irene agreed, gently grasping the shard. As she attempted to transfer her holy energy, it seemed to be absorbed like water in quicksand. “It’s working! I can transfer my energy into it!” she exclaimed in surprise.

Yaeger, maintaining her composure, felt a surge of excitement internally. ‘A living powerbank!’ She eyed Irene with a newfound interest.

“Try to transfer more energy into it,” Yaeger urged, masking her anticipation.

Oblivious to Yaeger’s thoughts, Irene focused intently on channeling her energy into the shard. As time passed, Yaeger’s surprise grew; Irene’s holy energy continuously flowed into the shard. ‘This is a game-changer!’ Yaeger thought, realizing she had acquired a potent new asset.

“Why does this shard seem bottomless?” Irene remarked, her brow furrowed in perplexity. Yet soon, her dissatisfaction gave way to curiosity. ‘What’s this sensation?’ she wondered, feeling a faint but remarkable energy reciprocating from the shard as she infused her power into it. ‘Is this an opportunity for me?’ Her expression shifted subtly, her heart racing with an uncharacteristic excitement.

Yaeger observed Irene’s change in demeanor with mild confusion but soon guessed the reason. ‘Seems like she’s gaining something from this exchange. That works in my favor… I mean, it’s a way to reciprocate her help!’ she thought, quickly correcting her initial, more exploitative thought.

If Irene knew what was going through Yaeger’s mind, she might have been filled with trepidation.

Ten minutes later, Irene lay on the bed, looking pale and exhausted, gazing blankly at the ceiling, her body trembling slightly. To an outsider, it might appear that Yaeger had utterly drained her.

“Well done, Irene. I’m really looking forward to our friendship!” Yaeger declared, holding the now-glowing Holy Spirit Shard. She looked at the shard’s details on her interface, her smile radiant and full of satisfaction.