Early the next morning, on the western outskirts of the Royal Capital, a young man with a swollen face galloped westward alongside two fully armored soldiers.

This was Jack. After a day’s rest, his facial injuries had slightly improved. Urged by his leader, he raced nonstop back to Cesecity to monitor Alisha.

Though the leader held little hope of finding Kaelxi again, he still handed Jack the bounty money. With solemn encouragement, he made Jack believe his mission was crucial.

Pumped full of adrenaline, Jack swaggered off with the two soldiers.

Beyond watching Alisha, other thoughts churned in his mind.

*"Last time I left in such a hurry—does Cesecity even have casinos?"*

*"If no casinos, surely brothels exist!"*

*"This bounty’s enough for me to live like a king for a while!"*

*"And if I run out of coin? That old hag owes me. After all, I’m her dear ‘little Jack’—she wouldn’t be so heartless as to refuse me money!"*

*"I can’t wait to play with Cesecity’s women! Hahaha!"*

His boastful laughter echoed through the western woodlands. The two soldiers exchanged glances, silently agreeing Jack wasn’t the sharpest blade in the armory.

......................

Meanwhile, as dawn broke over the forest, Witt had already simmered a pot of fragrant rabbit stew.

The ingredients came from an unfortunate rabbit foolish enough to scurry past Witt’s camp. Now plucked and skinned, it bubbled in a pot over the campfire.

Witt’s wilderness survival skills—honed over six months as an adventurer—shone through. He’d even remembered to buy seasonings the day before.

He ladled a bowl of stew. The glistening, oil-slicked rabbit meat swam among wild greens, cutting through the richness.

Inside the tent, Kaelxi still slept. Witt cradled her in his arms, blew gently on a spoonful of broth, tested its warmth with his lips, then brought it to her mouth.

The aroma tickled Kaelxi’s nose. Her nostrils fluttered slightly before her eyes snapped open. She swallowed the spoonful in one gulp.

"So good!"

Kaelxi jolted fully awake, eager for more—only to realize she was nestled against Witt’s chest.

He gazed at her affectionately, blew on another spoonful, and smiled. "You’re awake. Time for breakfast."

"Rabbit stew. Smells amazing."

Kaelxi froze. The delicious broth she’d just savored had been touched by his lips. It wasn’t disgust—just shock that any man would feed her like this.

"What’s wrong, Kaelxi? Don’t like rabbit stew?"

"Too cute to eat?"

Flustered in his embrace, she fidgeted. "No, Witt. It’s just…"

"You’re being too kind to me."

*How can I even think of running away when you treat me like this?*

Witt chuckled. His spoon hand lifted, index finger flicking her smooth forehead lightly.

"Eep! Why’d you do that?" Kaelxi rubbed her forehead, glaring.

"Nonsense," Witt said, feeding her another spoonful. "You’re my girlfriend. Of course I’ll treat you well."

Kaelxi snatched the bowl and spoon. "I can feed myself."

"You haven’t eaten either. Go on."

Witt watched her devour the stew before stepping out of the tent.

*"So much meat…"*

*"Was that rabbit really this plump?"*

Kaelxi peeked through the tent flap.

Witt’s bowl held only watery broth, a greasy film floating atop bone fragments. He gnawed laboriously on a dry biscuit, washing it down with sips of thin soup.

She looked back at her own bowl—neatly deboned meat piled high. Witt had painstakingly stripped every scrap for her. She could almost see him meticulously picking the bones, his heart swelling with joy at feeding the girl he loved.

*"Poor fool…"*

*"I told you not to be this kind."*

Kaelxi admitted it then: Witt was no longer just a good brother to swindle. Her heart had truly stirred.

Fighting the sting in her nose, she called out, "Witt! Come here!"

Witt hastily gulped the last of his watery broth, forcing down the stubborn biscuit. He set his bowl aside and jogged to the tent. "What is it?"

"Is your breakfast rabbit stew too?" Kaelxi’s eyes burned with gratitude and reproach.

Caught off guard, Witt tried to deflect. "Of course! I’m a great hunter. That rabbit didn’t even see me coming—I took it down with a slide tackle—"

"Don’t lie to me, Witt." Kaelxi cut him off.

"...Alright. I wanted you to have the good parts."

"I can’t finish all this. Share it with me?" She held out her bowl.

"Nah, I’m full already." Witt scratched his head, bewildered by her sudden tenderness.

"Witt. Eat with me."

"Didn’t I say last night?"

"Only a full stomach can protect me."

Witt surrendered to Kaelxi’s feeding. Only after he waved his hands frantically—"Really, I’m stuffed!"—did she relent, sipping the remaining broth in small, quiet gulps.

After breakfast, Witt packed the tent while Kaelxi washed his clothes by a nearby stream—he’d complained of a strange smell clinging to his chest.

Once ready, they set off again.

The forest thinned as they traveled. Cracks split the earth, roots clawed bare from the soil, and small animal bones littered the ground.

Witt carried the luggage, map in one hand, Kaelxi’s small hand in the other. He knew they neared the desert border between the Desert Kingdom and Buchert Kingdom.

Desert and oasis—the Desert Kingdom’s heartbeat. Unlike the vast, climate-diverse Buchert Kingdom, its territory spanned less than a fifth of its neighbor’s. Cities clung to oases like lifelines.

In three days, they’d reach the Beastman lands.

*"If I make Witt fall for a beastgirl…"* mused the Elf, her hand still clasped in his after a day’s journey, *"…would my chances of escape improve?"*