“Mmm…”

No idea how long I’d been out. I rose like a bubble from deep water, blinking through the fog.

I tried to roll over, but my arms were caught in a soft, yielding hold, like wrists sunk in warm clouds. I was wedged between them, pinned.

A delicate fragrance pooled around my nose like spring mist. Sleep scattered like sparrows. My eyelids lifted, heavy as stone slabs.

As expected, it was Lingsaki and Lingxiao clinging to me, their breath warm as tea steam. My forearms were buried in their chests, plush as pillows. Comfortable, sure—but was this okay?

I glanced around. Lixue slept beside Lingxiao, her face calm as still water. A weight pressed on my chest like a drowsy cat.

I looked down. Hill—adorable as a tiny sprite—was sprawled over me, sleeping sweetly. A silver thread of drool glimmered like dew. Cute enough to melt ice.

“Mizumi-kun, your recovery is incredible! Three days, and you’re healed.”

The door eased open with a soft creak, and a gentle voice drifted in like a flute through bamboo.

“Uh… and you are?”

She stepped closer—long silver hair like moonlight on snow, features faintly echoing Hill’s, a white gown flowing like foam.

“I’m Celia Maya, Hill’s mother.” She smiled, light as spring rain. “Mizumi-kun, you’re popular. Those girls slipped into your bed while half-asleep, like habit. Even Hill did. After the first night with us, she ran right here.”

“We sleep together a lot. Guess it’s habit.” No alarm in me—just the quiet of a pond.

I took in the unfamiliar room, the pale walls like shells, then pulled up my scattered memories. “Um… Ms. Celia Maya, where is this? And what happened while we were out?”

“This is the Dragon God’s Court, inside the Dragon Realm.” Her words were calm as river stones. “As for these days, nothing unusual. You all slept, ever since I finished your treatment.”

She sketched the story of Hill bringing us to the Dragon Realm—simple as a straight path.

“I see. Thank you for healing us, Ms. Celia Maya.”

With memories neatly combed like wet hair, my mind cleared. I hadn’t expected to lose so miserably, even if Wilsar’s Law Realm power was a hurricane.

“No need. The Dragon Realm draws many resources from the Mizumi Clan.” She sat at the bedside and pinched Hill’s soft cheek, a peach’s bloom. “So, Mizumi-kun, what’s next? Will you tell your family? Two days ago, we Dragon Kin investigated the Basiloth Empire. It’s already fully occupied by the Dark Demon and those from the Inner World.”

She paused—her gentle look tightening like a drawn bow. “The Elven Queen sent a major notice the day before yesterday. The Former Demon King—Molor—has revived. He took over Rangetsu, the Dark Demon’s leader.”

“What?!”

The wars a thousand years past had a spark everyone knows. Molor was the torch that lit the era aflame.

He actually revived—and took Rangetsu’s body. Wait. As the Former Demon King, Molor should be at the Zenith of Law Realm. Revival might blunt the edge, but he should still be at least early Law Realm.

Add Wilsar. That means Basiloth now has two Law Realm powerhouses.

With two such pillars, they count as a first-rate force in today’s world, however barely.

Never thought that clownish Dark Demon would swell to this size. Of course, the true weight sits with Wilsar and Molor. Dark Demon’s just a shield made of straw.

If Wilsar and Molor join hands, the Dark Demon will vanish fast, buried under a pile of sins, scapegoat tossed to the wind.

I rubbed my temple, headache pulsing like rain on rock. “Yeah. This is way beyond me. I should head back and tell Father.”

“For that, rest easy.” Celia’s smile returned, warm as sunlight through leaves. “Saint Cole left last night for the Central Continent. He should be discussing this with your parents right now.”

“Saint Cole?”

“My husband. Hill’s father. The Dragon God.”

“The Dragon God? I didn’t expect Hill’s background to be that vast…”

It rattled me a bit. Who’d guess my clingy, food-loving, adorable Hill was the Dragon God’s daughter?

“Your background is larger still, Mizumi-kun.” She shook her head, eyes rippling with thought. “Before he left, Saint Cole ordered me, Dilosdor, and the elders to treat you with the Dragon Realm’s highest honors.”

“Why?”

Being from the Mizumi Clan is noble, but not enough to make Saint Cole this careful.

“Because you’re Sir Xino’s disciple.” Her tone had weight, like a bell. “By status, across the world, aside from beings of the Primordial Source, no one outranks you—or even stands equal.”

“So that’s it. Seems I barely know Xino at all.”

Easy to guess: if the ancestor could mold someone so heaven-defying, Xino’s true strength must run deep as the sea.

“Mm? Dear brother, who are you talking to…”

“Brother… morning…”

Our voices must’ve nudged the surface of their dreams. Lingsaki and Lingxiao sat up, slow as blossoms opening, rubbing their eyes.

My arms slipped free like ropes from water. I scooped Hill off my chest and sat up too. And then—

“Dear brother…”

“Brother…”

They stared at me, unblinking, stars kindling in their bright eyes.

“Eh? What are you…”

Before I could finish, the sisters hugged me, voices overlapping like twin bells. “Dear brother’s new haircut is so handsome! The long hair was fine, but this is better!”

“New haircut?” My brows lifted, puzzled clouds.

“Mizumi-kun, after I finished your treatment, I was bored and trimmed your hair.” Celia’s lips curved, playful as a breeze. “Hope you don’t mind.”

She guided water into a smooth mirror, a clear lake rising before me.

“…”

My hair was shorter—light as wind on the scalp—and clean. I didn’t look like a girl anymore, and I could see why the sisters were so excited.

Looking at the mirror, the words slipped out on reflex. “Who’s that handsome young man?!”

Yes. The boy in the mirror was very, very handsome.

…