For three days, Chu Xueyue remained unconscious. Every time he soared high into the sky, he’d pass out.

"Xueyue, it’s not that I’m criticizing you," Albert said, "but you’ll fly often in the future. If you faint mid-air again, how will you fight? I’ll train you regularly until you conquer this fear of heights."

"No way~~"

Though arriving in this other world felt like a disaster for Chu Xueyue, Albert spent recent nights teaching him basic world knowledge and how to harness Battle Aura. He still found this place surprisingly fun.

His talent was average. Even after days of training, Chu Xueyue hadn’t cultivated even a trace of Battle Aura. But he wasn’t worried—if he were a genius, he might panic.

The three-day journey passed quickly. They’d reached their destination: the August Kingdom. Chu Xueyue finally remembered the country’s name, though he still struggled to recall the imperial capital’s.

No Swift Wind Express branch was built inside cities—only near gates. So they had to enter from outside.

"Wait, I don’t have any ID documents. Can I even get in?" Chu Xueyue asked after leaving Swift Wind Express. "You said big cities require IDs. It’s fine for you, but what about me?"

Albert slapped his armored chest. "Forgotten who I am? I’m Albert White, the Dragon Slayer Hero who saved this nation’s princess. Every citizen knows me. Taking you in is no trouble."

*Whoa, that armor looks rock-hard. Doesn’t his hand hurt? It looks painful just watching.*

But Albert was right—he was the Dragon Slayer Hero. This country couldn’t possibly not recognize him.

As they neared the city gate, a surging crowd buzzed with excitement.

"No wonder it’s a great nation’s capital," Chu Xueyue exclaimed. "This lively before even entering? Albert, did you grow up here?"

"I did, but on the outskirts," Albert replied. "Today’s crowd is unusually huge. It’s never like this normally."

"Is it a festival? This feels like a big event." Chu Xueyue moved closer. Banners hung everywhere, and people waved cloth strips. Clearly, a major celebration was underway.

*Ugh, I can’t read a single word. So unfair—this world gave me a real-time chat translator but no text system. Does that make me illiterate here?*

Albert frowned, racking his brain. "No major festivals lately... This feels familiar, like welcoming someone important."

"Don’t worry—it’s not for you," Chu Xueyue said. "You’ve been with me without notifying anyone. Probably a foreign dignitary. At least we skip ID checks now." With city-wide festivities, guards were lax. They entered easily.

But something felt off. Many saw Albert before and after entering, yet no one recognized him. Hadn’t he claimed everyone knew him?

"Albert, have you been missing so long that no one remembers you?" Chu Xueyue asked.

"Uh... I don’t know," Albert admitted, puzzled.

"Let’s drop it. Someone will recognize you later," Chu Xueyue consoled weakly. He dove into the festive mood—any celebration meant food, and food meant Albert paid. Being taken care of felt great.

Just as Chu Xueyue eyed street snacks, Albert held him back. "Don’t wander. You might get lost—it’s your first time here, and you can’t read signs."

Chu Xueyue didn’t mind; he understood Albert’s concern.

"Excuse me, sir," Albert asked a passerby. "I just returned today. What’s the occasion? I recall no festival."

"You’ve been gone months, haven’t you?"

"Correct. Left months ago; back today."

"No wonder you don’t know. Our Dragon Slayer Hero, the Demon Slayer Hero, and companions went to vanquish the Dark Lord. Heard of it?"

"Of course—it was huge. Then what?"

"They never returned. A surviving companion reported all Heroes were killed by the Dark Lord."

"Really? Who said that?" *I’m not dead! How did I become a corpse in his story?*

"The Hero’s companion."

"So this is a memorial?" Albert wondered what resurrecting at his own funeral would feel like.

"No," the man continued. "The memorial was long ago. Now we welcome the new Dragon Slayer Hero’s return. See? He’s back with Her Highness the Third Princess."

Following his gesture, a lavish carriage sat center-stage in the procession. A handsome man—no less striking than Albert—sat beside a stunning beauty. Undoubtedly, the new Dragon Slayer Hero and the Third Princess.