The farther north we went, the land grew lonelier, like color draining from a frost-bitten plain.

The Holy Dragon Empire’s northern border wasn’t like the others; it stood like a hard ridge against storms.

It was the line where the Human Race held back the Demon Race, a dam against the night.

Because it adjoined the Northern Wilds, towns thinned like scattered islands.

People grew fewer, distances stretched longer, and the wild lay raw and untouched, like scrub under a pale moon.

That meant the main road drew beasts like moths to flame, and ambush grew more likely.

Cerqin stepped down from the carriage, wrapped in star-sprinkled sky and rings of campfire light.

The air carried roasted meat, a warm ribbon of scent that tugged at the appetite.

“So good—” she breathed, voice like a cat catching sun.

“Miss Cerqin?!”

Baili, setting the perimeter, saw her, blinked, then came over in three quick strides, like a hawk dropping to roost.

“Mm…”

Cerqin knew she was one of the knight captains, but Spring Tide hadn’t introduced them yet.

Names were mist at dawn.

“I’m Baili, one of the guard captains for this sacred tour.”

“Ah—! Sister Baili, is dinner ready? I’m starving.”

Her sweetness hit like honey on warm bread, and Baili’s mind tripped for a beat.

Girl, you talk like that and it’s a little scary…

A Holy Maiden’s personal Nun stood above the common sisters in the Sanctuary, at least on paper.

If the Holy Maiden inherited the Archbishop’s seat, that close Nun would be placed in a vital post.

That meant a Divine Officer’s chair was within reach, far higher than a knight squad captain.

And this pink-haired one wasn’t a simple attendant at all.

She was a little sprite who could snare the attention of three girls with clearly high rank.

Look closely, and she was truly adorable.

She spoke easily, her temper was good; that was a thigh worth hugging in any storm.

Pop.

Heat stung across Baili’s eyes, snapping her loose from the wandering fog.

She’d only spaced out for a few seconds when Qianli, cute face puckered, appeared behind her like a blue streak.

“Ah! My eyes—”

“Cerqin is cute, but you’re only allowed to look at me!”

“You—! Back at the tent, you’re done for!”

“…”

Cerqin stared at the two Sixth Rank captains clowning like kittens on a windowsill.

Her stomach chose the moment to protest.

Grrr—

“Sorry to let you see that, Miss Cerqin,” Baili said, prying Qianli’s hands off and shooting her a mournful glance that died quick.

“Dinner’s almost done. Want me to send it over?”

“No need. I’ll eat over there. Spring Tide and the others haven’t woken.”

She could bring three portions back after.

If she ate in the carriage, she’d disturb their rest; and if they woke mid-dream, their morning mood might turn dinner into a cheerful round of bullying Cerqin.

Her heart pinched, but she kept quiet.

Though, that kind of scene… might be fun too.

The campsite sat among scattered boulders and sparse trees, like chess stones tossed on rough ground.

A cool night breeze brushed her body, lifting a strand of pink hair like a ribbon.

At Fifth Rank, even thin clothes shrugged off the creeping chill, like fur under winter stars.

Far off, wolves howled, threadbare silver notes woven through the crackle of the fires.

Old days on the road welled up, like reflections rising in dark water.

Back then, Cerqin crouched at the caravan’s edge, gnawing emergency rations alone, a sparrow in dust.

Now, she tore into precious, delicious beast meat, a bite bright as ember.

The knights’ eyes held respect, not the skewed looks mercenary hires used to throw, and the warmth settled like a cloak.

“Miss Cerqin is amazing, she even tamed the Holy Maiden!”

“You dare say ‘tamed’? One day’s warning from the Law Enforcement Hall!”

“Ah, no, I misspoke! Spare me, don’t tell anyone!”

The girl-knights bickered around the fire like sparrows on a rail.

Cerqin sipped meat broth with one hand, quiet and content, savoring peace like dew on leaves.

Her other hand, the one wearing a storage bracelet, rubbed idly at her chest.

She used the Hand of Space to lift little trophies off the girl-knights, ghost-silent, and tucked them into the bracelet, expanding her collection like shells gathered at dusk.

Night deepened, and Cerqin rubbed her full belly, thought of Spring Tide and the others stirring soon, then packed three servings to take back.

Qianli vanished at some point, then popped up again like a fish breaking water.

She hugged Baili from behind while Baili sat at the fire, blissful with her broth.

“You again?”

“Heh, the sentries spotted beast traces. Wanna go hunting?”

“No. A captain has to sit the camp,” Baili said, firm as a spear set in earth.

“What kind of beast? Do we need to take it out?”

Night was when beasts prowled brightest.

Even camps weren’t safe, especially near the Northern Wilds, where some beasts could trouble a Sixth Rank.

“Don’t know the type yet. We saw gnawed marks on low-rank beasts.

But we’re close to the north, so a strong one might have migrated in from the Wilds.”

Excitement lit Qianli’s face, a fox-tail flick of thrill, not tension.

Inside the Empire, aside from a few hidden realms, high-rank monsters were rare.

Even mid-tier elites were scarce.

A beast that truly threatened the Holy Maiden’s convoy hardly existed.

Bandits and drifting criminals were worse than beasts on these roads.

“If you won’t go, I’ll go alone—heh. Miss Cerqin, want to come?”

“Eh?”

Cerqin paused mid-step, food packed, ready to return to the carriage.

She hadn’t expected her name to be called.

Qianli’s eyes fixed on her, bright with hope, like stars over water.

“You can handle it alone. Why drag someone along?”

“What, are you jealous?”

“…?”

“Mm-hmm. Okay, okay. I wouldn’t dare touch the Holy Maiden’s woman.

It’s just boring to hunt alone. Who’ll see my heroic form if no one’s there?”

“…”

Cerqin almost laughed.

Still, her fingers itched.

When she’d been an adventurer, she’d taken culls and collection jobs now and then.

She knew beasts well enough.

At Second and Third Rank, fighting beasts had been rough; tough ones meant retreat.

Now she was Fifth Rank.

She hadn’t learned heavy attack spells yet, but her body could crush most beasts like dry brush.

If she went, she could test her strength.

“Mm… I’ll go too.”

“Huh?? x2”

“Huh? You’re really coming? I thought you weren’t into this.

You don’t look like you’re good at fighting…”

“Hey! By looks alone, you two don’t look good at it either!”

Cerqin sighed and tossed the complaint at Qianli like a pebble into a pond.

“Heh. I’m very good at fighting, and I used to be an adventurer!”

“But I heard you were Third Rank not long ago…”

“…”

Damn it, picking a fight, huh?

She had to show them a hand, or people would keep calling her the Holy Maiden’s vase.

Also… this blue-haired girl’s temperament was awfully nasty.

“Watch your mouth,” Baili said, brows pinched.

She slapped Qianli’s hands away and glared, sharp as flint.

“Mm… better this way,” Qianli muttered, scratching her head, sheepish as a cat.

“Heh. Let Qianli protect you!”

“…”

Cerqin looked to Baili, speechless.

Baili grimaced, then glared at Qianli again, sparks between them.

“Sister Baili, when we’re back, could you give Sister Qianli’s butt a proper spanking?”

“Of course. I was planning on it.”

“Hey, wait! I don’t agree!”

After a round of teasing, Cerqin changed into combat clothes, light as wind.

Qianli swapped outfits too, skipping her standard armor; for a Sixth Rank, it was more symbol than shield.

They spoke with the vigilant knights, then moved one after the other, following the beast traces like footprints in moon dust.