Yan Yi and Interle stepped off the carriage. The driver turned the vehicle around—they’d arrived together, but the return journey would be on foot.

Yan Yi gazed at the mountain peak. According to the records he’d read, the upper slopes of Mount Moer were home to Clawstone Drakes—magical beasts, not even true drakes. Their claws made premium weapon material, and their hides were incredibly tough. Perfect targets for Yan Yi.

It wasn’t that he avoided hunting Demon Ascension beasts for materials; they were simply too far. Among nearby options, these drakes were the best. His other target—a mineral that doubled as medicinal ore—also lay in the upper reaches.

Interle, meanwhile, had no real purpose here. She’d come purely for sightseeing. The scenery alone satisfied her.

Clawstone Drakes averaged Class S in strength. Even as a Class B mage, Interle stood no chance against them. But with Yan Yi as her shield, a leisurely stroll to the summit sounded pleasant.

As they ascended, Yan Yi let his aura seep out slightly. Magical beasts near the base didn’t dare approach.

“That trick’s so useful! I feel nothing at all. Can I learn it?” Interle recalled their time in Moonlight Forest. Such targeted intimidation was undeniably convenient.

Yan Yi was speechless. *I wouldn’t dare teach you even if you asked.* Cultivating aura wasn’t inherently difficult—sword training, communing with nature, or… well, killing worked fastest. But encouraging Interle to take lives? Absolutely not. One misstep could doom humanity itself.

“Hm. It’s… complicated. Better not bother.” Yan Yi sighed inwardly. *I’m practically sacrificing myself for this world. History books better record this!*

“Meh. Fine. When I undergo Demon Summoning, I’ll get my own aura anyway.” Interle remembered how Yan Yi trained Juben—brutal, borderline suicidal. Learning this way? Pure self-torture.

Relieved, Yan Yi relaxed—until a sudden unease prickled his senses. His brow furrowed as he glanced backward.

Interle froze. If beasts feared Yan Yi’s presence, only the magically insensitive—or humans—could approach undetected. “Someone’s coming?”

“Six of them. Concealing themselves. Strength? Decent, I suppose.” Not sensing their mana levels was troublesome; Yan Yi couldn’t gauge their true power.

“Class S.” Little Bone’s voice echoed in his mind. Yan Yi blinked. *Long time no see.* He voiced it aloud: “Class S?”

Interle calculated. Six Class S fighters? No common bandits. What was this? Then realization dawned. She nodded sharply at Yan Yi and pointed ahead.

He understood instantly. Exhaling slowly, he closed his eyes. Little Bone’s senses flared.

“One person ahead. Roughly Class A.”

“Class A?” Interle’s suspicion confirmed: some noble family must be guarding their heir. But why deploy six Class S escorts for a Class A scion? The upper slopes of Mount Moer were safe enough for them alone!

“Whatever. Why think when we can fight?” Interle snapped her fingers—a phrase utterly unlike her usual self.

*Snap——*

Green, unstable magic circles flared on nearby trees. They swelled violently—then exploded.

The blast wave spared Interle but sent splinters flying toward Yan Yi. He dodged nimbly, sensing the distant figure ahead halt abruptly. *Let them come to us. Simple.*

“Alright. Let’s go. Feihua should be just ahead.” Interle strode forward as if nothing happened. Yan Yi followed like a shadow.

Sure enough, a figure soon emerged on the path.

Long black hair, crimson eyes, breathtaking beauty—even Interle felt a pang of inadequacy. An aura of rulership clung to them. Interle might miss it, but Yan Yi didn’t: *This is a guy.*

After transmigrating to this world, he’d never encountered a cross-dresser—until now. Early twenties, perhaps, but only his sharp senses caught the truth.

“You two are…?” The voice was androgynous. Seeing Interle’s oblivious expression, Yan Yi whispered urgently in her ear:

“That’s a man!”

Interle’s ever-present smile vanished. Eyes wide, she stared at Yan Yi. He nodded grimly.

Her face twisted in horror as she blurted: “Sister, you’re a guy?!”

Yan Yi’s jaw dropped. *Was that intentional?!* Not only rude—it dripped with unintentional sarcasm.

Interle froze. *Habit. I defaulted to “polite act” at the worst moment!*

The “maiden’s” face darkened instantly. He’d been mistaken before, but this felt like mockery—and he had no grounds to retaliate.

“Ahem. I’m male. Did you two witness the explosion just now?”

“No idea,” Interle replied smoothly, her expression shifting to puzzled concern. “But Yan Yi investigated, right? What did you see?” *Act natural.*

Yan Yi rolled his eyes internally. “Six people capturing a powerful magical beast. Left blast marks behind.” *Lie easy.*

The youth’s gaze sharpened. Something felt off. “What were they wearing?”

Yan Yi shot Interle a panicked look: *Your setup, your mess!*

Her eyes narrowed back: *You dug the hole. You jump.*

Then it hit him—she’d neatly sidestepped blame from the start.

His smile turned strained. “Let me think…”

He vanished.

The prince blinked. Interle facepalmed. *He’s interrogating them.*

Less than five seconds later, Yan Yi reappeared, dragging a bone chain binding six unconscious figures. “Something like this?”

The prince stared, dumbfounded. Interle sighed. *Should’ve known. Chaos is his love language.*

As she scrambled for an excuse, her eyes caught the insignia on their uniforms. Yan Yi might not recognize it, but nobles knew it well.

“ROYAL FAMILY!”

Yan Yi stiffened. The prince paled under their combined stares.

*Hoo—* Part fear, part resignation. The truth was out. “Could you… release my retainers?”

The words hung heavy. Yan Yi froze. *I tied up royalty?*

Intimidated by Yan Yi’s power, the prince surrendered his identity. “I am Ambrose Amos Basil. Crown Prince of this nation.”

*Crown Prince.*

Yan Yi merely raised an eyebrow. *Not a princess. No leverage.*

But Interle’s eyes widened in genuine shock. *Him? My fiancé?!* Her lips twitched. “What a coincidence…”