"That... Mira... she should be alright, right?" I handed the unconscious Mira over to Mercy, my voice tight with concern.

Mira looked even worse off than Loli had back then. At least Loli hadn’t had broken bones or arrows sticking out of her.

"Are you blind? How could she possibly be fine? Look at the state she’s in!" Mercy shot me a glare, then added, "Though... healing her won’t be a problem. Spirit, you brought the Anti-Magic Scroll, right?"

Spirit nodded, pulling a black scroll from her pack. She tore it open. A flash of violet light erupted from the tear. Instantly, the same purple glow spread across Mira’s body like an infection, finally settling into a shimmering barrier over her skin.

But... could something called "Anti-Magic" really be used for healing?

Sensing my confusion, Spirit explained without prompting: "The Anti-Magic Scroll lowers magical resistance. Mira’s resistance is extremely high—it weakens healing spells. This scroll ensures the magic works properly."

"Ah... Sacrifice, could you use your ability to find Loli?" Seeing Spirit and Mercy so calm, I trusted them with Mira. My worry shifted to Loli. Her injuries weren’t fully healed, and wandering alone in a forest teeming with high-level Monstrous Beasts was dangerous.

"That skill only works once a day... I already used it earlier," Sacrifice admitted awkwardly. He’d deactivated it right after we left—the ability drained mana constantly.

"Luo Sa, let’s go look." Aefina slipped her hand into mine, her voice soft beside me.

Truth was, everyone here cared about Loli. But Mira’s critical condition had pulled all our focus.

As the youngest girl living here, cheerful Loli had always been doted on. How much? Just look at the entire wardrobe Nia had gifted her.

Though whether Nia had... other motives beyond affection remained a secret.

"Loli headed the way you came from," Spirit murmured without looking up. Healing here was easier than on Earth, but it still demanded full concentration—especially with a patient this badly hurt.

I nodded, taking Aefina’s hand toward the forest. Nia watched us go, then sighed at Mira’s still form.

---

Meanwhile, Loli—just about to turn back—collided with a suspicious figure.

She tilted her head, studying the furtive stranger. A high-tier demon. As the Demon Lord, Loli couldn’t mistake that.

High-tier demons appearing here was bizarre enough. But they were also fiercely proud. None would ever skulk around like this.

Loli stayed alert. Alone in the wilderness, caution was wise—especially with a demon, whose kind leaned toward cruelty.

"Why’s a child out here?" The demon spotted her. His eyes narrowed. "Hmph. Beastkin? That explains it. Where are your parents?"

He spoke fluent Oranda, despite being a demon.

*A lost child in the woods, no guardians...* He assumed she was the offspring of a powerful Monstrous Beast. Common here. Rare for beasts to take human form, but a child this young managing it proved her parents’ strength. The imperfect transformation—two small horns peeking through her hair—only confirmed her beast nature.

He didn’t recognize her as a demon because true demons either looked monstrous (like him) or radiated a strong Demon Realm aura in human form. Loli’s near-perfect human guise with zero aura was exceptionally rare. Mira was a special case.

"What are *you* doing here?" Loli snapped back, ignoring his question. Her annoyance came from being mistaken for a beast—not distrust. But to him, it sounded like a beast’s hostility toward a demon.

*And why’s she speaking Bell Land’s tongue?* he wondered. *Must be bloodline memory—only powerful beasts have that.*

"My apologies... I’m merely guarding Aurelia. I meant no trespass." The demon bowed deeply, humble. "Allow me to introduce myself: I am Eurius."

As he’d said, he guarded Aurelia—from the shadows. A clash with this child’s powerful parents would draw attention. Avoiding conflict was essential.

He never suspected Loli was a demon. With the Demon Realm’s gates severed, crossing worlds was near-impossible for a child.

"Aurelia? Where?" Loli scanned the empty forest. A guardian should stay close.

Before Eurius could answer, a thunderous crash echoed behind Loli. In the next heartbeat, a black-haired man and a Silver Dragon materialized beside her.

"Loli! Are you hurt?" I gripped her shoulders, frantically checking for wounds.

Aefina spread her wings, stepping between us and Eurius, claws ready to strike.

"I’m fine! Were you worried?" Loli leaped up, wrapping her arms around my neck. She nuzzled her soft cheek against my face.

"Don’t ever run off again! Your wounds aren’t healed—what if something happened?" I scolded, pinching her cheek. One arm held her tight; the other tried to stay stern. But her relentless cuddling melted my resolve.

*...A Great Dragon.* Eurius’s gaze flicked to Aefina. *But so small? Has she really become a mother before adulthood?* His eyes lingered on me with unsettling curiosity.

After studying us, Eurius bowed again. "My deepest gratitude to you both."

He vanished without explanation, leaving Aefina and me baffled.

"Who *was* that?" Aefina relaxed her stance, watching his retreating figure. No hostility meant no pursuit.

"No idea..." I shrugged, setting Loli down. "Loli, do you know him?"

She bobbed her head yes, then no. I didn’t press. "Let’s head back. Everyone’s worried."

"Hmm..." Loli didn’t answer. Her tiny nose twitched. A puzzled frown creased her brow.

"What is it?" I scanned the trees. If danger lurked, Aefina would’ve sensed it first. What had Loli noticed?

Ignoring me, she darted behind me. I turned to follow her.

"...Luo Sa. Don’t move." After two full spins, Loli stopped, looking up at me exasperated.

I froze. She circled behind me—and—

"Holy crap! What are you doing?!" She yanked up my shirt. I nearly jumped out of my skin. *So this is how girls feel when someone lifts their skirt...*

"This blood... Mira’s?" Loli stared at my unmarked back, then at the large bloodstain soaking my shirt—left from carrying Mira. I hadn’t even noticed. *Maybe because I carried a blood-soaked Loli before... I’m used to it?*

I nodded grimly, taking Aefina’s hand in my left and Loli’s in my right. Worry for Mira gnawed at me.

Loli hadn’t gone far. We soon reached Nia’s group. Nia and Mo Mo sat nearby; Sacrifice perched near the barrier’s edge. A makeshift operating table stood center stage—a large white cloth draped over it, stained crimson. Mira lay facedown, naked. The arrows and knife from her palm were gone. Mercy and Spirit worked on her broken wing.

"...Mira... will she be okay?" Loli crept closer, hovering anxiously. She wanted to see better but feared blocking the healers.

"She’ll be fine. We can fix this," Spirit assured her. Their practiced movements hinted this wasn’t Mira’s first near-fatal injury—just unusually severe this time.

Only now did I see Mira’s face. She’d always hidden it. I’d wondered why—scars? A curse? Extreme beauty or ugliness?

After so much speculation, reality felt... ordinary. Not plain—Mira was stunning, easily a beauty pageant champion on Earth—but after daily exposure to Aefina, Loli, even Mo Mo... my standards had shifted. Her loveliness felt almost mundane.

"Pretty, isn’t she? Want me to betroth her to you?" Nia sidled up, grinning as she caught me staring. "Just convince Aefina first. And... heh heh."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about." I deadpanned. If she was joking, Mira must be stable.

"Still," Mo Mo chimed in, eyeing Loli, "you found her crazy fast. I thought she’d get kidnapped. The rescue arc could’ve dragged out several—"

"Don’t say weird things like that." I cut Nia off sharply, turning to Loli. "About that guy... what was his deal?"

I'm referring to the demon who spoke with Loli when I found her. Since I'd already heard her story back then, and I'd just have to repeat it to Nia and the others here anyway, I figured I might as well say it all at once.

"Well..." Loli paused for a moment, then began explaining. The exchange was only a few sentences long, so she finished quickly.

"Weren't we told demons can't cross over anymore? Why are there so many here?" I couldn't help but blurt out. Loli, Mira, and now this Yulias—in such a tiny area, there were already three demons. Could they really not cross over?

"But... who's Aurelia? Nia, do you know her?" I thought to myself. I didn't recall any Monstrous Beast nearby with that name. Still, I hadn't been here long, so I couldn't claim to know them all.

"Of course I do," Nia nodded. But her next words stunned Loli and me: "Aurelia is Mira."

Aurelia... is Mira?