“Ah! Your Majesty, why are you here?” The words fluttered like startled sparrows, quick and bright.

Asasya and Aisha bowed in haste, like wheat bending under a sudden wind.

He stepped in wearing a purple-gold imperial robe, face straight and handsome, hair slicked back like flame. A jeweled crown gleamed on his brow, and a mountain’s authority pressed the room flat.

Three guards flowed at his sides like shadows. Each one carried the weight of a mid-tier Sacred Realm, steady as stone.

His identity was clear as dawn breaking over the Eastern Moon Empire—Eastern Moon Aotian, the Emperor.

“No need to panic.” His gaze skimmed the room like a hawk over fields. “I know about the Kage Family and the Dark Magic Guild. I’ll ask once—are you sure you want to oppose a dragon at the Holy Peak?”

“Your Majesty, I know what you fear.” Asasya’s tone sank like a low tide. “But they crippled Larr’s arm, wiped out Intela and the Fifth Mage Corps. If we don’t act…”

He shook his head, helpless as mist in morning sun.

“I can’t dictate the Kage Family’s choices.” Eastern Moon Aotian sighed, breath thin as autumn rain. “But once you fight that dragon, all Proudmoon City—and the Eastern Moon Empire—will be dragged into the storm.”

“Please rest easy, Your Majesty.” Aisha’s voice was calm, like ice over a lake. “Before the battle, our Dark Magic Guild will lure them out of the Eastern Moon Empire. We won’t let your realm take even a scratch.”

“You… fine.” His shoulders eased and fell, like a wave collapsing. “Don’t make it a wildfire.”

He turned, cloak whispering like dusk, and left with his three guards, footsteps receding like drums in fog.

Silence pooled after him, heavy as snow. No one spoke; the air held its breath.

After I wiped out the Kage Family’s entire mage corps, I checked into the best inn in Proudmoon City with Xinuo and the others, like birds seeking quiet branches.

In the room, I sighed, a thread of steam after a bath. “Why’s the Eastern Moon Continent this annoying? Latvis Empire was like this; now the Eastern Moon Empire too.” My shoulder ached like a dull ember, and I rubbed it, grumbling like a kettle set to boil.

“When misfortune comes, it comes in waves,” Xinuo said, voice smooth as jade. “Still, I didn’t expect the Servant to awaken Shattered Light.” She set her book down, pages falling shut like leaves. Then she walked to me, steps light as rain. “Servant, you’re hurt, right? Let me heal you.”

She lifted a white, delicate hand. It rested on my head like a cool moon. A gentle white glow flowed from her palm, wrapping me in soft light like fresh snow.

Inside that glow, my fatigue melted like frost at sunrise. My wounds knit in an instant, like silk woven in one breath. My whole body went light, easy as a drifting cloud.

A minute later, the light faded, like the last petal in twilight. Xinuo lowered her hand, calm returning like a still pond.

“After these battles, Servant, your strength has grown a lot.” Her words were simple, like stones laid in a path.

“Really?” Joy bubbled up, warm as tea. Every sour thought vanished like smoke.

“Mm.” She sat back on the bed, the mattress sighing like grass. Her book opened again, pages flashing like fish scales. “Last time, beating that S-rank magic Sword Wielder was already pushing it. This time, you beat an SS-rank archmage and broke the All-Extinguishing Killing Array. Isn’t that proof enough?”

“Yeah, yeah! Boss is seriously strong this time! Way cooler than before!” Hill sprang from the bed like a squirrel and dove into my arms, bright eyes shining like stars.

“Thanks for the praise, Hill.” I laughed and pinched her soft cheek, springy as a peach.

“Servant, it’s almost noon.” Xinuo snapped her book shut again, a crisp note like bamboo. She traced the air, and a seam opened—a space rift like silk parting. “The kitchen’s inside. Servant, go make lunch.”

I stared at the rift, speechless as a stone. It’s just a kitchen, and she tore space for it.

“What’s wrong? Servant, why aren’t you going?” Xinuo’s look was cool as shade.

“No, I’m going.” I shook my head, clearing it like fog lifting. I set Hill down. “Hill, I’ll start cooking.”

“Mm-hmm! Boss, make lots of tasty stuff!” Her anticipation sparkled like dew.

“Of course.” I ruffled her cute head, soft as down, then stepped toward the rift—no, toward the kitchen—like crossing a bridge of light.

“Wow, that’s… extravagant.” The kitchen opened wide like a hidden valley. Space stretched huge, and every tool and ingredient stood ready, top-tier and gleaming like fresh steel and ripe fruit.

“Since Xiao Nuo made such a great kitchen, I can’t slack off.” I rolled my sleeves like riverbanks and tied on the apron, then set to cooking, flames dancing like golden carp.

Half an hour later, lunch was ready, steam curling upward like incense.

I carried the dishes out, aromas rising like a warm tide.

“Wow! Smells amazing!” Hill was first to dash in, eyes glowing like twin moons fixed on the plates.

“Hill, quit staring. If you want to eat sooner, help me carry the rest. There’s more in the kitchen.” Her cuteness made me chuckle, laughter light as windbells.

“Okay, okay! Got it!” Hill bobbed her head, then raced back through the rift, quick as a fox.

“And no stealing!” My warning snapped like a twig.

“Mm!” came her answer, small and crisp as a seed.

One minute later, every dish was on the table, colors and textures laid out like a painted scroll.

I didn’t start. I stared, silence tightening like a knot.

“Hmm? Servant, why haven’t we started?” Xinuo’s brow eased, cool as mist.

“Yeah! Boss, I’m hungry. Let’s eat!” Hill’s plea bounced like a pebble in water.

“Hill, didn’t I tell you not to steal?” I fixed her with a glare, sharp as a knife.

“No, no! I didn’t steal…” Hill lowered her head, pouty as a wilted flower, and I saw the act at a glance.

“Didn’t? Really?” I lifted the plate of roast wings, glaze shining like amber. “There were ten wings. Now there are eight. And what’s that oil at your mouth?”

“My mouth has no oil.” She rubbed at her lips with her hand, messy as a cat grooming. Then she looked back up at me.

“Your lips are clean.” I sighed, helpless as a drifting reed. “But there’s oil on your face.”

I took out a handkerchief, soft as cloud, and gently wiped her cheeks, the shine disappearing like rain absorbed by earth.

“Uu… Boss, I did steal. I’m sorry!” The confession trembled like a leaf.

“I’ll forgive you this time.” My tone softened, warm as sunlight. “But don’t do it again.”

“Yay! Thanks, Boss!” Hill leaped at me, rubbing her little face against my chest like a kitten nuzzling.

Hey, hey! The oil’s not fully cleaned! My clothes will get stained like rain on paper.

I held Hill, helpless as a tide, then let the moment stand—she was too cute, and my annoyance blew away like dust.