Alan subdued Bacas Medi and took her away from Nevernight City. Layne accompanied them. When Layne had entered Nevernight City to party, he walked in. Now, he left lying down.

In the carriage, Alan used magic to tie Bacas Medi up like a tightly wrapped bundle. He then turned to Layne. "Layne, if you go home like this now, won’t your dad think you overindulged? And greet you with an iron rod?"

Layne rolled his eyes. "I look like a patient. How’s that overindulgence? By the way, where’d that fire-wielding girl go? Weren’t you two splitting this female DarkMage?"

Alan shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe she saw me capture this DarkMage alone. Felt too embarrassed to ask for a share. Left."

Layne nodded. Only explanation. "Alan, doesn’t that fiery-tempered fire girl have a figure as hot as her temper?"

The female DarkMage, bound by Alan’s magic, squirmed slightly. Her delicate face showed a trace of displeasure. "Sweetheart, my figure’s far better than that little girl’s. You held me before. Don’t you know how good it is?"

"Your figure’s great, well-endowed. But your heart’s too dark. How could— Holy crap! How are you talking? Where’s the ice pop in your mouth?"

Layne, lying on the carriage floor, stared at Bacas Medi beside him in terror. She wasn’t just a DarkMage. She was a summoner too. He didn’t want summoned beasts biting him to death.

"The ice pop? Melted. What’s wrong?" Bacas Medi blinked her eyes, confused.

"Alan!!! Gag her mouth!"

"Don’t overreact. I sealed her magic. No magic, no summoning."

Alan glanced at Bacas Medi from the carriage seat. He shot Layne a disdainful look. This was Arcane Academy’s top graduate? On adventures, he’d be dead in minutes.

"By the way, heading home or to the guild with me?"

"Going home like this? You want my dad to kill me, bastard? Of course to your place. Wait— why were you in Nevernight City? Sneaking out to party behind Haina’s back?"

"You’re overthinking. I came to find someone. My beast-ear girl’s missing. Searching for her. Didn’t expect to catch their fight."

Alan meant it. He truly sought his beast-ear girl, Emma. That little girl— why wander at night? What if someone caught her?

Anyway, take this "60,000 gold coins" home first. Check if the beast-ear girl returned. If not, search again.

"Beast-ear girl?!" Layne’s voice turned shrill with shock. "You beast! When did you secretly buy one behind my back? Does Haina know? Your dad? Your grandpa? Do I?"

"Word Magic: Seal!"

Alan’s right hand swept across Layne’s lips. Instantly, Layne lost his voice. His mouth opened and closed. Not a word escaped.

Stupid. He should’ve used Word Magic on Bacas Medi earlier. Why an ice pop? Made a mess for nothing.

"Young man, I didn’t expect this. How’s a beast-ear girl’s taste? Better than humans? Is her figure better than mine?"

Bacas Medi licked her red lips. She blinked her bewitching eyes at Alan.

"Not interested in a teddy dog always in heat. Your figure’s excellent. But you don’t seem very clean."

Alan wore a harmless smile. His words hit like an atomic bomb.

"A teddy dog always in heat? Not very clean?"

Bacas Medi’s bewitching eyes clouded with confusion. What Beastmonster was a teddy? Did such a constantly aroused Beastmonster exist? "Not very clean"? Her body?

Her body was clean. She bathed daily. In petal baths. Smelled lovely too.

As they spoke, the carriage reached Cloud Peak Guild. They stepped down. Alan handed ten silver coins to the driver. The driver took them and drove off.

"Cloud Peak Guild! So you’re from Cloud Peak Guild, sweetheart. I came to Newdali City for it. If you’d said you were a member earlier, I’d have followed without fighting."

Bacas Medi saw the "Cloud Peak Guild" sign. Her face lit with genuine joy. No lie. She truly came for the guild.

"For our guild? Wait!" Alan’s expression hardened suddenly. Damn it. Not another trap.

He took a deep breath. His gaze burned into Bacas Medi. "Seen a plump, silver-haired middle-aged man?"

Bacas Medi shook her head. No such man.

Alan didn’t relax. "Seen an old man with a white beard? Carrying a magic staff. Wine flask at his waist. Wearing a white magic robe?"

Bacas Medi shook her head again. She’d seen old men. Not in white robes. If she met one, she’d run. She was a DarkMage. Why wait to be crushed?

"Sure you haven’t seen either?" Alan looked ready for battle. Bacas Medi was puzzled. Still, she nodded solemnly. Wait— she was a DarkMage. Why answer truthfully?

"Good. As long as you don’t know them. Why seek Cloud Peak Guild? A commission? Or to destroy us?"

Bacas Medi shook her head. "Neither. To find Cloud Peak Guild’s president."

"What for?" Alan asked casually.

"He’s my fiancé. I came to seek refuge."

Alan nodded. "Oh, your fiancé. That’s— what?!" He exclaimed. "What did you say? What is the guild president to you? Say it again! I must’ve had cotton in my ears. Didn’t hear. Say it again!"

"Sweetheart, your look’s scary. But Cloud Peak Guild’s president is my fiancé."

*Thud!*

Layne, walking behind, heard her words. He collapsed face-first. Alan stared at Bacas Medi, dumbfounded. His mind went blank.