410,

In the crowd, a figure is shuttling back and forth.

Wrapped in a simple cloak of mud color, only the legs as white as snow are exposed, and the entire body including the head is concealed.

Arriving in Kakarl for the first time, after parting ways with the newly acquainted travel companion, the mysterious girl begins to walk.

Although there is no clear path ahead, the girl moves freely among the crowd as if released from constraints.

"There are so many people~but..."

Even without a home to return to, she can only move forward.

But the girl never feels any fear, because she knows that the unknown path must be better than the old one.

Unbound by etiquette, free from familial restraints, this is true liberation for the girl after eighteen years.

Fate, the girl believes that fate will surely guide her forward.

Her body trembles, instinct telling her that this reaction comes from someone giving her a feeling.

The stimulation her body feels can only mean one thing.

That person must be nearby!

With a firm belief in her heart, the girl continues to move forward.

"Little Dragon‧Theodore!!"

Suddenly, a loud shout catches the girl's attention.

The few words that reach her instantaneously evoke the deepest reaction within her.

"This might be the dark horse of this competition~ Little Dragon‧Theodore!! Congratulations! You have won this match!!"

Some words in the following sentence keep echoing in the girl's mind.

"Little Dragon‧Theodore...Theodore..."

In her memory, this surname holds a special significance.

"This is it..."

The girl stands still, looking up at the sky.

Risking everything, the girl has come this far for this surname.

With countless people moving around her, influenced by the Dragon Festival, the street where the girl stands seems like the center of an ant nest.

After standing for a few seconds, her face hidden under the hood is accidentally pushed open by the crowd.

Even though only a small part of her bright golden hair is revealed, her beautiful face is also exposed.

"That lady is so beautiful..."

"Who is that?"

"Hey hey hey! What are you looking at!"

Instantly, several people are drawn to the girl's beauty.

Dubbed the most beautiful woman on the continent, the princess of the City of Dusk, Elyse, ignores all the gazes.

"Theodore...Cyclone‧Theodore..."

"Hey? Hey beautiful lady, do you want to-"

A man approaches and unexpectedly puts his hand on Elyse's shoulder.

But what he receives is a cry of pain.

Instinctively retaliating, Elyse quickly twists the man's hand, causing tons of damage even though the contact is blocked by clothing.

"You...you stinky...woman..."

In an instant, the man kneels beside Elyse, passing out.

"Your sword is too weak, don't let me catch you here again."

With that, Elyse realizes she has attracted attention and immediately covers her hood.

After looking around, she runs forward once more.

"Hmm?!"

Standing on the rooftop, after the competition concludes and the group is about to leave, Cyclone suddenly feels a chill.

"What's going on?"

Ignoring Yuna's worries, Cyclone looked at the crowd below, where a figure in a cloak was trying to run through the people.

However, the crowd was too dense, and the person couldn't move very far despite their efforts. Cyclone didn't think much of it at first.

But this mysterious person happened to be a beautiful woman.

Even though her appearance was concealed, Cyclone's eyes, sharp as those of a deity, could still discern that she had a stunning figure.

Of course, this sharp vision only applied to beautiful women.

"Hmm..."

Cyclone took another glance, quite taken with the type of figure he favored.

However, Yuna suddenly grabbed Cyclone's hand.

"Honey?"

"...It's nothing, let's go back~"

Hand in hand, the two flew back to their skyscraper.

Although the competition had just ended, Cyclone had many pressing matters to attend to.

***