The mage didn’t seem eager to fight. I could tell from the fact that no one attacked her as she landed. If she’d meant trouble, these pirates wouldn’t have stayed idle.

Only when my feet touched the ground did I get a clear look at her. Unlike the stereotypical mage, the girl surrounded by pirates was just a slender teenager—maybe not even of age.

A simple white dress hugged her delicate frame. Waist-length silver hair flowed behind her, and emerald eyes scanned the room. Her skin glowed porcelain-smooth, her features flawless. Even jaded by anime art styles, I had to admit: her beauty was perfect.

…Okay, fine. I was slightly mesmerized. But compared to these rough pirates, I must’ve been invisible! I wasn’t the only one staring, Mage-sama! Your eyes are gorgeous, but please don’t look at me—I’m sweating bullets here!

“Hand over all the gold coins.” Her voice was lovely, but her words weren’t. Seriously? You flew into a pirate den just to rob pirates?

Judging by the pirates’ blank faces… did they not understand?

When no one reacted, the girl frowned. Then the captain spoke up: “Honored Mage, what did you say?” Yep, they hadn’t caught a word!

From his tone and expression, mages clearly held high status—especially flying ones. Either way, their destructive power was no joke. This girl meant business.

Should I slip away? But everyone stood frozen. If I bolted alone, I’d stick out like a sore thumb.

While I weighed my options, the girl spoke again—in a different language. Same demand.

*Whoosh.* Instantly, every pirate leveled weapons at her. Tension crackled in the air. She arched a brow, utterly unimpressed. Fair enough. Only fools or the supremely confident would say such things in a crowd. And fools don’t become mages, right?

Her emerald gaze locked onto the captain. I stood behind him, so I couldn’t see his face—but his focus was clearly on her. A fight was brewing. No one would notice me now. Perfect escape chance. Oh my god!

*Click.* My foot landed on a loose stone as I stepped back. Every head snapped toward me. Awkward…

But the captain narrowed his eyes and barked, “Luo Sa! Stop gawking. Prepare food for our honored Mage!” Captain! What a clutch assist!

Under his orders, I sprinted toward the kitchen—happier than I’d been since showing off my cooking skills to these pirates.

I pretended not to speak their language, but I understood enough. My occasional Chinese mutterings just sounded like gibberish to them. Faking ignorance wasn’t faking stupidity! As for my name? I’d pointed at myself and enunciated clearly: “Luo! Sa!”

Stir-fried Jet Pig tenderloin with cabbage. Boiled Jumping Fish soup. Roasted Cooing Chicken. Simple stuff—I couldn’t keep the captain waiting.

“Go! Serve it now!” I lifted the fish soup and shouted in Chinese to three nearby pirates.

They didn’t understand a word but nodded eagerly. Each grabbed a plate. The fourth pirate, quick on his feet, snatched an empty plate and utensils to follow.

Halfway to the meeting room, a pirate blocked us. He furtively pulled a small pouch from his coat and dumped white powder into my soup. Poison. No doubt—the captain planned to drug the mage girl.

After he signaled us to proceed, I walked on as if nothing happened. Truthfully, I hated harming such a beautiful stranger. But she meant nothing to me. I lacked the courage to defy the pirate crew for her sake.

Inside, the girl stared intently at the food. As a chef—even a reluctant one—I felt a flicker of pride when my dishes drew attention.

Maybe it was her unreal beauty. Or my sympathy as a fellow transmigrator. Either way, I made a tiny gesture that would change my life.

“…So…” The captain was speaking, but I wasn’t listening. His attention was elsewhere. The girl’s eyes were fixed on me. I dipped my chin slightly and gave the tiniest shake of my head. That was all I could do. If she missed it, I couldn’t help her.

I set the soup before her and retreated.

“Honored Mage,” the captain forced a stiff smile—he wasn’t good at expressions—“please eat. You must be weary from your journey.”

She glanced at him, then at the food, lips pressed thin. Or was it my imagination? She seemed to look at me again.

As she lifted a spoonful of soup, I braced for her grim fate. But I was dead wrong.

She sniffed the broth. Then slammed the spoon down.

*Boom!* The table split cleanly in half under her fist, shattering like a movie stunt. My dishes scattered across the floor. Uh… Mage-sama?

“Poison! Liar!” She shot up, fury blazing in her beautiful face. Understandable—discovering betrayal would anger anyone.

The captain’s fake smile vanished. His usual poker face returned. “Since you noticed… no choice.” He drew his glowing blue water-magic blade. Pirates around him unsheathed hidden weapons. The cozy meal shattered into a standoff.

I bolted immediately. Watching a mage fight indoors? No thanks—I’d rather not get caught in the crossfire. The captain didn’t stop me. Clearly, he didn’t see me as a threat.

More pirates flooded toward the meeting room. A terrible premonition gripped me—the third time in my life. First: before seeing my 19-point midterm exam. Second: right before the truck hit me back home.

I ran faster. Almost on all fours.

*ROAR!* An earth-shattering bellow echoed behind me. No human, orc, or elf made that sound. I didn’t dare look back.

*Whoosh!* A blast wave hurled me into the air. As I spun dizzily, my last thought was oddly calm: “Mages really deliver on destruction…”

“Ah… this is it. Must feel like getting hit by a truck, huh?” I groaned, rubbing my head as I climbed up. I turned toward the meeting room—or where it used to be.

At 26 years old, this was the most jaw-dropping sight I’d ever seen. No Hollywood blockbuster came close.

Wooden buildings lay in ruins. Splintered planks buried unmoving pirates. Others lay bloodied and broken. Even desensitized by movie gore, real carnage made my stomach churn. Thankfully, I was far enough to avoid the stench.

A few lucky ones groaned atop the rubble—still breathing, at least.

In minutes, the thriving West Vira pirate base had become a wasteland. Add fire, and I’d swear I’d transmigrated to hell again.

Above the wreckage, the culprit hovered. Massive wings beat the air. A long tail swayed carelessly. Enormous eyes surveyed the destruction. Even from this distance, its draconic aura pressed down on me.

Yes—a Great Dragon. Specifically, a Silver Dragon. Sunlight glinted off its scales like a dream. So unreal, it felt like a mirage. Even the ever-present Wind Season breeze seemed to pause, bowing silently to the skyborne Silver Dragon.

Wind? Wait—where was the wind?

Silence reigned except for distant moans. Not even the dragon’s wingbeats reached my ears. Too quiet for this distance…

Before I could puzzle it out, movement caught my eye.

“Ahhh! My crew! Dragon! I’ll kill you!” The captain clawed out of the rubble. Madness twisted his face as he stared up at the Silver Dragon. He gripped his blue-glowing blade and leaped toward it.

Pirates had bragged about that magic sword—found in ruins. But “good” wasn’t dragon-standard. The Silver Dragon swatted him like a fly. The blade shattered into three pieces. The captain crashed down like a cannonball, motionless.

The dragon vanished mid-air. Reappeared on the ground—teleporting? Enraged, it began its hunt. Every pirate in sight got a single claw strike. No one survived. The wounded could only await death. The island echoed with screams.

The dragon closed in on me. Running was pointless against that speed. Facing impossible odds, I gave up. I’d died before, after all.

Soon, it stood before me. As death loomed, a strange thought surfaced: “Seeing a dragon this close… worth a lifetime. Dragons really are the best…”

My heart stayed calm. But I didn’t smile.