"Daddy, I can't walk anymore! Carry me!"

A silver-haired pretty boy whined nonstop at a giant while a black-clad loli clung to his arm, half-asleep as they trudged along.

The giant kept his eyes lowered, breathing steady—like a meditating monk.

Apsen’s mind still echoed with their pre-departure talk:

*"Listen up, old man. That girl suspects me. To slip into Kempfer through her, I might act... unusually. If you react to my ‘unusual’ behavior even once? I’ll hammer you into a horse post."*

Apsen sighed inwardly. *I shouldn’t have sold my youth for a roasted pork leg... Wait. Did I even have youth left to sell?*

"Miss! Wait for me! Watch the stones on the path!"

The elderly butler dragged a magnificent steed named ‘Thousand Mile Snow’—loaded with luggage but no rider.

At his shout, Cecile quickened her pace. A corner of an envelope peeked from her sleeve pocket, stamped with the Crimson Mercenary Corps’ seal.

*So embarrassing!* She glanced around. *Thank goodness no one’s here. Why did I let these weirdos escort me? Especially that silver-haired pretty boy—he used to bark ‘this大爷’ all the time! Now he’s acting like a purring kitten in front of elders? Was his mysterious vibe back in the Ashen Forest just my imagination?*

A tiny pebble snagged Cecile’s boot. She stumbled in her travel leathers.

"Miss! I *told* you to watch for stones!"

Cecile shot him a glare. The butler instantly turned away, stroking ‘Thousand Mile Snow’s’ mane with theatrical tenderness.

"Good girl, Xiao Xue! Once we reach Kempfer, I’ll feed you the finest greens!"

The horse responded with an indignant snort—and nearly kicked him into the afterlife. *Grass-eater, you clueless old weirdo!*

*...Wait. Do I eat greens too?*

Cecile’s head throbbed. She suddenly missed her subordinate knight #208. *Wasn’t it his birthday that day?*

*Ugh. What am I even thinking?*

A wolf’s howl shattered her thoughts.

—they’d circled back to the Ashen Forest.

"You! Yes, you, pretty boy! Front and center!"

Cecile planted a hand on her hip, pointing imperiously.

Ryosuke blinked innocently—until the words ‘pretty boy’ slapped him awake.

*

*

With theatrical reluctance, he released Apsen’s arm. The giant’s muscles unclenched; a faint smile touched his lips.

"Meow~ meow~!" Alpha instantly glued herself to Ryosuke’s side.

"Getting clingier, huh?" Ryosuke ruffled Alpha’s silky black hair. She purred, eyes closed, still half-asleep.

*Ah, the curse of beauty.*

Whether loli or mature beauty, women wielded magic that made reckless men attempt the impossible.

...Usually. For a man who *was* the impossible?

Such truths were mere dinner-table jokes.

Ryosuke led Alpha past Cecile without a glance, striding fearlessly into the Ashen Forest.

Watching them, Cecile’s heart churned. A red-haired knight’s shadow flickered in her mind.

*"Third Brother—no! Focus, Cecile!"*

She raked her fingers through her hair. "Full speed ahead! We cross the Ashen Forest and reach Kempfer Royal Academy before nightfall!"

"Yes..." came the weary chorus.

***

Meanwhile, in the famed ancient city of Istan—where the Evil Dragon and Storm Dragon once clashed—a young woman slipped out the back gate of the governor’s mansion. Her skin was reddish-brown.

It only deepened her allure.

She scanned the alley. Seeing no pursuers, she eased the gate shut.

*Phew.*

She patted her chest, exhaling.

Suddenly—hands snaked around her waist from behind!

"Ah!" She stifled her scream, whirling to face a mischievous, almond-faced girl.

"Noble Lady Saori," the girl grinned, fingers already attacking Saori’s ribs. "Sunbathing at noon? How... diligent."

"Xier! Stop—!"

Xier’s assault intensified, her breath hot against Saori’s ear. "As city governor, you’d risk this precious time... for what?"

"Ghh—Xier, please—"

"Confess. You got the Third Princess’s letter yesterday."

Saori’s teeth clenched, cheeks flushed.

"I—I’m going to Kempfer!"

"Oh? For what?"

"*Obviously* for the Radiant Ten Stars selection tournament! What else?"

"Hmm~ *nothing* else...?"

Tickles breached her limits. Saori blurted:

"THERE’S A STRANGE SILVER-HAIRED BOY I WANT TO SEE, OKAY?!"

"And... the Third Princess suggested this too?"

"...Yes."

"Should’ve said so sooner!"

Xier finally released her. Saori spun around, wary—then froze.

"Xier... why are you carrying all that luggage?"

Xier beamed, leading forward two saddled ‘Thousand Mile Snow’ steeds. "I’m your maid! Protecting you is my duty. Let me be your knight for this journey to Kempfer Royal Academy!"

"You little..."

"Your Highness," Xier bowed dramatically, "your steed awaits."

Saori’s smile turned wicked. She tilted Xier’s chin up. "Shouldn’t my knight kneel... so I can step onto your thigh to mount?"

"Eh?! No way! Mercy, my lady!"

"Get back here!"

Under the blazing sun, two stunning figures chased each other on horseback—

bound for the same destination as a certain silver-haired brat.

*Kempfer Royal Academy.*

But wait—the story wasn’t over yet!

Another girl was also traveling from Istan to Kempfer...

***

Halfway up Dragon Fang Mountain stood a quaint cottage.

"Granny," a golden-haired loli murmured, clinging to an old woman’s knees, "I won’t visit for a while..."

The grandmother stroked her hair. "Alice is all grown up now..."

"Mm." Alice nodded obediently.

Outside, she wiped her eyes. A silver-haired man’s face flashed in her mind—her teeth gritted.

*"That jerk! Ruined the secret tunnel my knights dug! If not for Siliphus, I couldn’t have visited Granny!"*

She stomped her foot. The mountain was scarred from the dragon battle, jagged rocks everywhere. *Thank goodness Granny’s cottage survived. Or that purple-haired idiot would be in trouble.*

Alice shook her wrist—a black jade bracelet chimed with purple bells.

"Siliphus! Appear!"

A magic circle flared on the limestone. With a burst of azure light, a colossal black dragon materialized.

Siliphus, the newly crowned Storm Dragon King—

known in the Demon Kind realm as *Raging Wings, the Tempest Dragon*.

Alice vaulted onto his back, regal and fierce.

"To my brother’s place, Siliphus."

Her human name was Alice.

In the Demon Kind world, she was called—

*Sashi—daughter of Demon King Lucifer.*

***

At that moment, in Kempfer Royal Academy’s third cafeteria, a purple-haired man sneezed violently.

"President Dilu, catching a cold?"

"Yanji, back off! Your perfume’s choking me!" Dilu sighed at the scantily clad woman beside him.

*Where’s Alice? I’ve already secured her enrollment... Please don’t stand me up...*

He winced, picturing the academy’s vampire admissions officers. Then, as always, a silver-haired woman’s face haunted his thoughts...

*"My love... where are you..."*

***

—Ashen Forest.

"AH-CHOOOOO!!!"

Ryosuke wiped his nose with his hand, then picked it. Cecile shot him a look of pure disgust from nearby.

"Meow?" Alpha tilted her head.

Ryosuke patted her head, chuckling darkly.

"Seriously? This大爷’s catching a cold?"