"Luo Sa, Luo Sa." I was woken at dawn by Aefina nestled in my arms.

The great storm had passed overnight. No more howling winds would keep me awake. But I’d asked Aefina to rouse me at sunrise—I’d promised Norma we’d meet at the west gate by nine.

A day here seemed as long as Earth’s, with the same timekeeping. Felt like a transmigrator’s touch. Annoyingly, I’d seen no clocks—maybe they didn’t exist, or I’d just missed them.

I did a quick wash-up and had Aefina rinse her mouth too. Her hair never needed brushing, always silky smooth. A skill many girls would envy.

"Hmm… since we’ll be traveling soon, I should grab breakfast. Do you want to eat, Aefina?" I asked her beside me.

We hadn’t left the inn during the storm, so I couldn’t cook for her. Borrowing the kitchen might cause a scene—like back in the pirate den.

"No need. You’re in a hurry, Luo Sa," Aefina shook her head.

So I bought bread and juice, eating on the go. The west gate was a bit far, but waking early left plenty of time.

Post-storm streets were spotless. Such fierce winds left little behind. Yet not a single house was destroyed—reliable, trustworthy construction.

Roads here weren’t as smooth as Earth’s asphalt. Even cities had potholes. Puddles lingered after the storm. I hated dampness.

"Hey—over here!" Norma’s voice carried from afar. The cat-eared girl waved wildly once she spotted us.

"We’ll fight together for a while," Viter smiled. The other three in the group greeted us too.

"You two… no armor?" Ilan asked, worry in her eyes.

"…" My mistake.

Since transmigrating, I’d stayed in cities, wearing ordinary clothes. Few adventurers crossed my path, so I’d forgotten. Aefina? Days ago, she’d roamed in just a dress…

Now, Viter’s team all wore leather armor. Aefina and I looked like we were picnicking.

"It’s fine like this." Too late to buy gear now. Time to bluff.

"And Aefina…?" Ilan still seemed uneasy.

"No problem," Aefina lifted her chin, radiating confidence.

Ilan fell silent. Our boldness raised Viter’s team’s opinion. Usually, such confidence meant either a powerhouse or an idiot. Norma sensed danger from Aefina—unlikely she was the latter… unless stupidity was contagious. Never mind.

"Alright, everyone knows each other now," Viter stepped in. "Luo Sa, Aefina, meet Earl Gray Foster—the client for this mission."

Gray didn’t glance at me. His eyes locked onto Aefina.

Damn it. Yeah, Aefina’s beautiful, but who stares like that?! One more look, and I’ll gouge your eyes out!

"Hello, Mr. Gray." I stepped sideways, shielding Aefina, and bowed politely. A forty-something man ogling a girl under twenty? Shameless. I forgot—Aefina wasn’t actually a girl…

"...Hello." Gray looked away, saying nothing else.

"It’s getting late. Let’s discuss the plan," Viter smoothly changed the subject, sensing the tension.

"We’ll take dragon carts to Elu Village. At their speed, we’ll arrive before sunset. Rest there tonight, then enter Rajeno Forest tomorrow morning." Viter pulled out a map.

Dragon carts resembled horse carriages—just pulled by earth dragons. Not true dragons, but giant lizards with a hint of Great Dragon blood. Far tougher and faster than horses, naturally pricier. Gray covered the cost, though. Nobles had money… unlike Aefina.

Outside the city gate, two dragon carts waited, handlers keeping the earth dragons in check. These handlers drove too—earth dragons had foul tempers thanks to their bloodline. Only handlers could ride them easily.

Eight of us total: four per cart. Gray surprised me by sharing a cart with adventurers, no noble airs.

I rode with three girls; the others took the second cart. Viter must’ve noticed Gray’s behavior, separating the girls to avoid trouble. Since Aefina insisted on staying with me, I got the trio.

While Gray talked to handlers, Aefina silently approached an earth dragon. I followed.

Earth dragons were more majestic than lizards—dragons by Earth standards. Standing tall, they reached two or three meters. Still tiny next to Aefina’s true form.

The beast saw us—or rather, Aefina—and obediently lowered itself, head bowed to her. Did earth dragons submit to pure Great Dragons? I watched it turn docile as a dog under Aefina’s touch.

"Whoa, this brute’s usually vicious. How’s it so friendly with you?" Handler One sounded shocked.

Everyone turned to look. Aefina shrank behind me, uneasy under stares.

"Aefina’s father raised earth dragons. She bonds with them easily," I lied smoothly about her past.

"...Liar." Aefina’s voice echoed in my mind. Liar? I’m covering for you! But her upturned lips hinted at boosted affection.

They bought my story anyway, accepting Aefina’s fake background.

"Wow, first time riding a dragon cart!" Norma spun excitedly in the spacious cabin.

The cabin was roomy—eight could squeeze in. Soft cushions reminded me of tourist buses back home.

Aefina sat beside me, then lay down, head on my lap, utterly content. Was this a lap pillow? Shouldn’t she be giving it to me? I stole a glance at her slender legs under her skirt… Stop it!

Aefina’s eyes were half-closed, but she wasn’t asleep. She was incredibly lazy—sitting if she could stand, lying down if she could sit. Like a Great Dragon lounging. Adorable.

Norma pressed against the window, watching scenery. Ilan flipped through a book. Reading on a bumpy cart seemed exhausting.

"By the way, how well do you know Rajeno Forest?" I asked, stroking Aefina’s hair.

Aefina was strong—the pirate leader felt stronger than this whole team, yet she crushed him like a mosquito. But she lacked magic. I worried she’d get hurt. If she’d listen, great. If not, I’d remember for her.

"We know it well. Our guild operated there before returning for the Prayer Festival," Ilan closed her book.

"Yeah! We’re tough!" Norma puffed her chest proudly. Were all beastkin girls this busty?

"The outskirts have mid-tier Monstrous Beasts, plus tricky low-tier ones. Stay quiet, avoid big noises. The border zone is deadliest—mostly mid-tier, but high-tier beasts sometimes appear. Unprepared encounters risk casualties. Dead members weaken us; wounded ones attract beasts with blood."

"Solitary beasts are easiest. Then packs of one species. Mixed-species groups are harder. Worst are swarms of low-tier beasts—flee if you see them. Like bone bees in the inner zone. Each is barely mid-tier, but even high-tier beasts avoid them. Extremely dangerous."

"The core zone differs. Small beast groups are manageable. Lone beasts there can be absurdly strong. Then there’s the Phantom Beast—unknown species, unknown attacks. Few survive seeing it. I don’t know much."

"Some say the Phantom Beast avoids undead from the Scar of Darkness. Far from our route, so we likely won’t meet it," Ilan added.

I caught an unfamiliar term. "What’s the Scar of Darkness?"

"Know the Dead Sea?" Ilan asked. I shook my head.

"The Dead Sea is a sunken sea north of Aegros. Long ago, a Knight of Divine Retribution tried to slaughter the continent. A hero chased him to the eastern edge. Cornered, the knight self-destructed, vaporizing land that became the sea. His necrotic power turned it into undead territory. Beside it lies the Scar of Darkness." Norma showed me a map.

"How did the Scar form? Such a huge rift beside the sea seems unnatural."

"Ah… legend says a powerful lich from the Netherworld tried to tear open a portal using the knight’s power, flooding the continent with undead. But the portal misfired—opening underground. It ripped a massive rift in the surface: the Scar of Darkness."

"It’s too awkwardly placed. Netherworld undead can’t cross through it. And the portal’s too vast to seal without huge cost."

The Dark Scar, linked to the Netherworld, constantly spawned undead creatures nearby. But shielded by Rajeno Forest and showing no signs of invasion, the area was left unattended.

"The Phantom Beast is likely patrolling near the Dark Scar to block undead from entering the forest," Ilan said. "We won't run into it. No worries."

That lich might be a bit dumb, but this flag is planted way too obviously. I doubt we can possibly avoid it...