Books say time flies when newlyweds are together.

Hmm… just like me now. It didn’t feel long cuddling with Aefina, yet when I noticed the time, it was already night.

"Luo Sa, if you’re sleepy, go rest," Aefina finally said after my third yawn.

"Oh… it’s this late already?" Gazing at the starry sky and the high-hanging moon, I realized how late it was. Leaning against Aefina’s tail on the ground, I glanced at the night beyond the cave mouth and waved a hand. "I’ll just sleep here."

I’d insisted Aefina revert to her true form—though holding her human shape was comfortable, maintaining it strained her scale-shedding cycle. Now she coiled in a circle, me seated against her tail like a giant cushion.

"Go back. Sleeping here won’t be comfortable," Aefina insisted. The cave had nothing; comfort was out of the question. But I didn’t want to leave her.

"Then I’ll accompany you to the house."

"No… fine, I’ll go."

Faced with Aefina’s calm smile, I surrendered to the Silver Dragon faction.

"Let’s go. I’ll take you." Aefina coiled her tail around my waist, lifted me onto her head, and stood.

The cave to the house wasn’t far—thirty minutes on foot, including downhill. To Aefina, it was nothing. In a few breaths, she’d flown me to the doorstep. Landing, she lowered me gently with her tail. *Such a long, flexible tail is truly convenient.*

"Luo Sa, goodnight." Aefina spread her wings slightly, a trace of reluctance in her voice.

"Goodnight. I’ll visit tomorrow… afternoon? Morning’s training with Mira." I patted her claw.

"Mm. See you tomorrow." With that, Aefina flapped away.

I didn’t linger at the door. Once she vanished from sight, I pushed inside.

In the hall, a tiny figure curled on the sofa watched me—Loli. Her violet eyes held lingering confusion and panic. A red mark on her right cheek looked like a sleep crease. *Probably startled awake by the door.*

"Loli? Why sleep here?" I checked the clock—nearly 1 AM. She usually slept by 10.

"...I wasn’t sleeping. Reading." She waved a book at me.

Only then did I spot it—hidden by angle earlier. *Wait, isn’t that upside down?*

Loli seemed to notice too. She hopped off the chair, smoothly hiding the book behind her back, hands clasped. Then, casually glancing at the wall clock, she covered her mouth with one hand and yawned. "Ah… so late already? I’ll sleep now. Goodnight~ Luo Sa should rest early too~"

"Mm… goodnight." Something felt off, but I couldn’t fathom why.

"Hehe…" She skipped away. If she wouldn’t talk, I wouldn’t pry.

Diary-writing pushed my bedtime to 1:30 AM—over an hour later than usual. Yet I woke before 6 AM, an hour early. Despite barely four hours’ sleep, I felt surprisingly refreshed.

Without phones or computers stealing sleep, everyone here retired early. At Nia’s, most were asleep by 10 or 11 PM. Breakfast with Mira was sharp at 7. If I made pudding, timing varied—I lacked her precision.

Life here had regimented my schedule.

"Mira, morning." I found her in the kitchen as expected.

*[Good morning, Master Luo Sa. Your spirits are excellent. Congratulations on reconciling with Lady Aefina.]* Mira bowed.

"Mm… thank Nia for me." Without her hint, I might never have realized the problem.

*[Master should tell Lady Nia himself later.]* Mira shook her head gently.

"Let me help. I’m in a good mood—don’t refuse?" I smiled.

*[Of course, Master.]* She relented.

I’d expected Loli to sleep in—she’d stayed up late and was still healing. Yet she appeared punctually at breakfast.

"Morning~!" She bounced to me, head tilted up, eyes crinkled in a smile.

"Morning." I ruffled her hair and led her to the table.

After breakfast, I followed Mira to the training ground—Loli tagging along. Feeling sharp today, I slipped into combat simulation instantly. I didn’t notice Loli, seated nearby as usual, dozing off after a while.

*[Master Luo Sa’s performance was exceptional today.]* Post-training, Mira remarked.

"Mm… I felt it too." During one one-sided beatdown, I’d lasted six seconds against her—a huge leap from my previous record of four.

After lunch, I rushed straight to Aefina’s, skipping my usual banter with Nia. Minutes into the mountain path, Aefina soared from the rear peak toward me—she’d clearly been watching.

"Luo Sa." She landed before me, nuzzling my body affectionately.

"Good morning, Aefina." I kissed her head.

"It’s noon…"

"Eh, same difference. Before midnight still counts as morning."

"……"

We lingered on the lawn, shamelessly throwing flashbangs in broad daylight.

"Eh… are they really this blatant about being third wheels in public?" Nia muttered, watching through a window. She usually invited Aefina out in the afternoons, but *definitely* wouldn’t interrupt now.

"Luo Sa, walk through the forest with me?" Aefina invited.

"Sure." I’d been curious—Nia often dragged Aefina here lately.

As Sky Sovereigns, Great Dragons needed no praise for speed. Riding Aefina’s back, I felt her wingbeats slow. Without a search mission, she hadn’t held back. Wind stung my eyes—I could only guess we’d arrived.

"We’re here." Aefina landed just as I opened my mouth to ask.

Before us stretched an endless sea of flowers—dozens of vibrant species blooming wildly. A quick scan revealed at least thirty distinct varieties.

While I admired the view, Aefina suddenly called toward the blossoms: "Lydia—"

Three seconds later, a palm-sized figure emerged from the flowers—similar in size to Mo Mo.

Her hair and eyes were emerald green. She wore a simple dress: white bodice, green skirt flaring like an inverted bloom.

"Aefina, where’s Nia today?" Lydia stood atop a flower.

"She had matters. But I brought Luo Sa." Aefina’s tone was warm—they were clearly close.

"Hello~ I’m Lydia. You must be Luo Sa~ Aefina mentions you often." Her voice was soothing, her appearance instantly likable.

"Hello… *mentions* me?" I glanced up at Aefina.

"……" She tilted her head away, avoiding my gaze. *So shy! Adorable!*

"Hehe…" Lydia covered her mouth, giggling cutely. "Aefina’s been eager to introduce you to everyone here."

"Everyone?" I looked between them, puzzled.

"Let me explain…" Lydia began.

Human maps of Rajeno Forest were flawed—or incomplete. Beyond the periphery and depths lay a core zone: where we stood now. Shielded by a barrier, it remained hidden. Humans rarely detected it, and the dangerous depths deterred exploration.

Only one rule governed entry: discover and cross the barrier. It demanded not just strength, but sharp intellect. Thus, only highly intelligent Monstrous Beasts dwelled here—smarter than most humans. They formed a harmonious village, more advanced than Aefina’s birthplace forest.

No killing was permitted. The origin of this law was lost, but peace held. The barrier soothed minds, tempering tempers. Though wary of humans, residents never attacked unprovoked. *Like a high-level neutral NPC camp in games.*

Nia was a resident too—but her wanderlust and frequent visits to Lilith in the Dark Scar made her famous. Unsurprisingly, the transmigrator was also the strongest Monstrous Beast here—a universal consensus.

No resident was weak. Even gentle-looking Lydia could effortlessly defeat a Sword Saint-level warrior. In her flower field? She could duel three seasoned Sword Saints.

That afternoon, Aefina and Lydia toured me through the core zone, introducing its inhabitants.

At dusk, as Aefina and I prepared to leave, we met a crimson wolf the size of a horse. Astride its back sat a girl of fifteen or sixteen.

All the Monstrous Beasts here remain in their true forms. For any Monstrous Beast, shifting into a human shape isn't as comfortable or natural as staying in their original form. So no Monstrous Beast would bother wandering around as a human just for fun. Then, this girl right before us, with no other racial traits—could she actually be human?

"Uncle White, I was just wondering why I hadn't seen you these past few days. How come you brought Sophia along?" Lydia asked, gazing at the wolf.

"Oranda's been chaotic lately, with internal strife. I didn't think it was safe there, so I brought her over to stay awhile," White explained without breaking stride. As he passed us, he gave me a nod in greeting, and I nodded back.

From their demeanor, it was clear this wasn't Sophia's first visit. Lydia's reaction also showed the Monstrous Beasts here all seemed to know the girl. Watching their retreating figures, I could clearly sense the deep bond between humans and Monstrous Beasts—a bond that transcended species. Here, it felt as if racial differences simply didn't exist.

"If I ever need to settle down somewhere in the future, this place would be perfect," I suddenly thought, watching White and Sophia walk away.