Winter, Year 722, Day 301.

Foo...

"Achoo! C-Cold..."

Sara repeatedly exhaled as she embraced herself and shivered.

"I told you, auntie, to wear thick clothes."

This coldness would not be gone until the afternoon, so Ryu offered his winter coat.

"Here, take this."

"W-W-W-What a-a b-bout y-you? A-A-Achoo!"

"I have magic to warm myself."

Sara quickly took the coat and covered herself like a cocoon.

"I-Isn't that c-cheating? Brrrr."

"Didn't you say magic is too hard to learn?"

"But none of your parents is also well versed in magic...! Maybe, maybe you're adopted?"

With contemplating eyes, Sara sneered.

Sighing with her logic, Ryu looked at her straight and pointed his fingers toward his eyes.

"Can't you see these blue eyes of mine?"

"...Then, then does it mean life is just unfair?"

"No, aren't you gifted in other things?"

"Like what?"

"Like um... with beauty?"

"Did you just momentarily pause?"

"Of course not! It's the truth!

Sara's face flushed. White smokes gushed out from her ears.

"What? Hehehe. Oh Ryu, I-I already k-know that."

Some people back on earth stated one should never argue with a lady reaching adulthood if one wants to have a peaceful life. Ryu guessed this was what they meant.

Fortunately, it's super effective.

"Look, guys, there's a cave. Let's camp there for today."

"Let me scout first, my Lord."

Kaori stepped up and scouted the cave, checking for danger.

***

"Afiste to xylo na kaei."

A pile of wood burned as Ryu cast fire magic.

Sizzle... Sizzle... Sizzle...

"Kyaaa! Bonfire! Oh~ this is so cozy."

Sara immediately sat beside the bonfire without hesitation, sticking her hands and feet to be warmed.

"I'll put the remaining firewood here, Master."

"Thank you, Kaori."

Meanwhile, Ryu opened his backpack and took out the camping equipment. Kaori went over and helped him set up the camp.

"Zzzzzz..."

Laying beside the fire, Sara fell asleep.

"Kaori, can you carry auntie to the tent?"

"With your permission, my Lord."

Kaori carefully placed her arms under Sara and carried her gently.

Even though Kaori didn't communicate much, Ryu observed how tender she treated them with actions instead.

The night was long, and the surrounding was quiet. Kaori and Ryu pondered in front of the fire. They could hear the sound of woods breaking from the bonfire and the occasional howls of wild animals and monsters.

Sizzle... Sizzle... Sizzle...

On this mellow night, Ryu had a chance to glance at Kaori's long beautiful crimson hair illuminated by the fire. Captivating eyes that sparkle elegantly. It was breathtaking.

"Kaori?"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Your tribe lived in the south, right?"

"...Yes, my Lord."

"Are all Ischyros have beautiful hair and eyes like you?"

"Sorry?"

The strong and airhead crimson lady got flustered. It seemed she had no awareness of her appearance. Though, she understood that Ryu was complimenting her.

'No wonder every male would break their neck to follow her sight.'

Although Kaori always had messy hair and somewhat male-like clothes, the fact that insignificant things were not enough to cover her unworldly beauty.

She was gorgeous, but not enough reason to make Ryu's heart skip. Though he admired her, it was something more like respect. Cherishing someone like family.

"Do you ever think about going back?"

"Go back where my Lord?"

"To your tribe."

"...Tribe."

Kaori paused. Her sparkling eyes started to fade. Ryu made a mistake that might have made her remember something.

"My Lord, are you abandoning me?"

"No! Did I say something? I'm sorry."

Though slaves couldn't go against their masters, they were still humans to begin with, who have feelings and memories.

"It's just... I will gladly set you free if you ever want to return to your family."

Kaori glanced at Ryu straightly in the eyes. He wondered what she was thinking. There was a few seconds of hesitation before she answered, lowering her head.

"I... I can't go back anymore."

"..."

'Did I poke a needle in her past?'

Ryu thought maybe something had happened to her family.

'Should I ask and inquire about it?'

Kaori wouldn't be able to deny his request if Ryu forcefully demanded.

'But as a master who respects his subordinates, should I?'

Ryu thought for a few seconds before deciding.

"If you don't want to talk about it, then don't."

"Thank you, my Lord."

She might have been bought by them and freed from that prison-like environment. But it doesn't mean that her heart would be completely open.

"Just remember that we're always here to help."

"Mm..."

She nodded. It might seem like a simple reply, but this was the first time she talked to Ryu without the barrier of honorifics—a positive result.

"Go to sleep, Kaori; I'll keep watch tonight."

"But—"

"And no buts."

"Pfft!"

"Did, did this lady just... Go to sleep!"

Ryu turned around and smiled without her noticing.

Kaori walked towards the tent, laid down, and covered herself with a blanket. She mumbled something before sleeping.

"Thank you."

***

Slash!

"Ryu, these Goblin Champions were like a joke now. I can even kill them with my eyes closed—"

"Don't be reckless, auntie."

"Gosh, I'm just kidding!"

Sara stuck out her tongue to taunt Ryu.

"We are more than a hundred miles away from Southbourne Town, yet we haven't found a trace of our target."

"Kaori, do you have any idea?"

"Hmm... How about that tallest mountain, Master."

Kaori pointed far away at a mountain covered with a dark purplish aura.

Sara gasped in worry.

"Can we even reach that?"

"Let's check the map."

Ryu pulled out the piece of cloth from his bag.

The three of them checked the location of that mountain and were amazed.

"That is... too far."

"Yes."

"It's around 200 miles from Southbourne City, my Lord."

"Twice farther?!"

"Yes. We need to gather our team and prepare before going. It might be dangerous."

Ryu suggested, folding the map and returning it to the bag.

Sara and Kaori nodded.

He was preparing to cast a magic flare to notify the other teams of Shadow Intelligence Group when the sky abruptly turned dark.

Sara, who noticed first, asked.

"Is it gonna rain? Why is it so dark?"

Ryu also thought the same, but he realized he was wrong when he saw Kaori, always indifferent, trembling in fear.

"Kaori, is there something wrong?"

Kaori did not hear him. Her eyes were glued to the sky; He could tell something was wrong.

Ryu walked to Kaori and grabbed her hand. She got startled, shrugged him off, and stumbled to the ground, screaming.

"Ah!!!"

"Kaori!"

Sara ran towards Kaori. Even Ryu didn't realize what was happening until it was too late.

The one hovering in the sky was a monster!

The thing completely covered the sky and cast a shadow on the ground, big enough for Ryu and Sara not to notice something dangerous was already above.

Roar!

A dragon. Legendary creatures that were only a myth back on earth. It was actually in front of him. Long mouth with large white teeth. An eye that looked like a predator cat but much more extensive.

When Ryu looked directly at its eyes, he saw an abyss, like a trap asking him to voluntarily come and get swallowed.

"...yu!"

Sara, who was holding up Kaori, tried to tell Ryu something. Over and over again. But his hearing was paralyzed to the point he couldn't fathom even the gestures she tried to express.

A little bit of reality came back when Sara pointed somewhere behind his back. Looking behind, Ryu saw it standing.

Around 30 meters tall, luminous black, six-winged monster. Even Ryu, proud of his strength and achievements, went numb at sight.

Smirk!

"Did, did this huge serpent-looking creature just laugh?"

Ryu got scared.

'If this dragon really could mock humans, it meant that it had intelligence.'

Ryu was thinking of a solution to escape this situation when this abomination suddenly opened its mouth.

"A dragon breath!"

"Afiste to edafos na mas prostatefsei."

Earth wall! A meter-thick barrier was created from the ground, tall enough to use as protection. When the dragon unleashed its burning breath, it provided cover.

Fizzle!

Their bodies sweated from the heat that bounced off the wall, but at least it prevented them from being scorched directly.

At this time, Ryu thought that they were already safe when the fire breath stopped. But then, the wall he built suddenly cracked.

Bang!

Without warning, the dragon slammed the wall with its body, making it collapse after the second attack.

Kaori was still mentally weakened from her trauma, while Sara was busy tending to her. Ryu was the only one capable of retaliating at this moment.

The dragon saw Ryu eye to eye but laughed before it lunged towards the ladies, ignoring him.

"Stop!"

'This was not time to hesitate.'

The dragon seemed to target Kaori specifically.

'Was there a reason?'

Ryu grabbed the handle of the Gravity Rune Sword on his back while he rushed toward the dragon.

"Ha!"

Bam!

Ryu made a direct hit on the dragon's face!

But to his surprise, it plummeted its head to the ground instead of cutting through. The dragon scale was too tough!

The dragon went up without any damage; still, Ryu could see it was threatened by its expression. Yet again, it ignored him and lunged quicker than before, attempting to grab Kaori.

Sara, holding Kaori, suddenly looked at Ryu as she pushed Kaori toward him, sacrificing herself.

Clasp!

The dragon successfully grabbed Sara instead. Then it flew away swiftly that all Ryu could do was watch helplessly.

"—Auntie!"