Meanwhile, on the other side.

Favna glanced at the high moon overhead, then at the time on her phone.

“It’s already ten...”

Autumn had already set in, and the air was a little chilly. Favna shrank into her black robe and pulled it tighter around herself.

The lights around her were growing sparse as well. The surroundings became dimmer and dimmer.

But for Favna, who had night vision magic, that wasn’t really a problem.

To see a little more clearly, she took off her hood and cast a night vision spell on her eyes.

“Rustle...”

When Favna put her hood back on, a sudden sound of movement came from the grass around her.

She looked over warily, but didn’t spot anyone.

Besides, she often took this road. She knew there were plenty of small animals here, so a sound like that wasn’t strange.

“Better get back quickly.”

Favna quickened her pace. But after walking only a short distance, she sharply sensed a gaze full of malice fixed on her.

So there really was someone up to no good...

However, the ones hiding in the dark seemed to realize that Favna had already noticed them. The moment she stepped into a narrow alleyway, they struck first.

An arrow flashing with cold light shot toward Favna’s left leg.

And with how cramped the alley entrance was, there was almost no room to dodge.

But Favna had never planned to dodge in the first place.

A dragon’s tough skin had nothing to fear from an arrow like that.

She could even use this chance to let out a long line and reel in the fish.

Favna pretended to be hit and dropped to one knee.

In reality, the arrow had only scraped open a tiny wound.

“Got her!”

Seeing that Favna looked completely unable to dodge, the hidden attacker grinned and said in delight.

“Another slave. And she’s pretty too. Bet she’ll sell for a nice price.”

“She looks about sixteen. Shame she’s a little underdeveloped, or she’d be worth even more.”

“But plenty of people are into that, hahaha!”

The attacker’s companions laughed just as happily.

But when they came in front of Favna, what they saw wasn’t prey they had caught.

It was a ball of silver-white holy light.

Caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, the attackers fumbled in panic.

“What?!”

They cried out and tried to dodge. But just like Favna, trapped in this narrow alley entrance, they had no room to evade.

The holy light sphere slammed straight into one attacker’s face. He let out a shrill scream, and in less than three seconds, the holy light burned him to ashes.

The only attacker left saw the wound on Favna’s calf and said in disbelief,

“That’s impossible! That dose could paralyze even a mammoth for three whole days! Why can you still move?!”

That much drug, huh...

Favna clicked her tongue inwardly. No wonder her calf felt a little numb.

Still, it didn’t affect her fighting. A dragon’s resistance wasn’t for show. Even if the drug fully kicked in, at worst her leg would just go numb. It was about the same as squatting in the bathroom for too long.

Very soon, another sphere of holy light appeared in Favna’s hand.

The white glow from it made the attacker want to retreat. He now understood he had run into someone dangerous. Naturally, he didn’t dare stay any longer. He hurried backward, trying to escape Favna’s attack range.

But it was already too late.

He had barely taken a few steps when a cavalry lance came from nowhere and pierced through his thigh.

“AAH!!”

After a cry of pain, the attacker fell to the ground. Alte, who had arrived a little late, said to Favna, who was just about to cast another spell,

“Leave one alive!”

“Oh, okay!”

Favna obediently dispersed the light sphere in her hand.

At that moment, Alte blinked to where the lance was, preparing to capture the attacker alive.

But the man was extremely resolute. Seeing that there was no way out, he immediately bit down and crushed the poison hidden in his tooth.

In less than three seconds, foam spilled from his mouth, and all life left him.

“Tch...”

Alte looked irritably at the corpse in front of him. After stripping away the disguise, he saw skin as black as ink, and fangs that had grown past the lips.

“As expected. One of the Abyssal Demonkin.”

Alte tried to get some information from the body, but that was obviously pointless.

After searching through it for a while, he could only give up. He stood and walked toward Favna, who was leaning against the wall.

“You okay?”

“My calf’s a little numb...”

Honestly, the amount of drug that ambush team used was terrifying.

Good thing Favna was a dragon. If it had been anyone else, even a scratch would’ve dropped them on the spot.

“I’ll take you home.”

“N-no, no need... ah!”

Alte didn’t ask for Favna’s opinion. He took her small hand and placed it over his shoulder, trying to support her as they walked.

Favna’s figure was a little lacking, but she wasn’t exactly short. At least it wasn’t awkward enough that, with him supporting her by the shoulder, her feet couldn’t reach the ground.

“I know you don’t like other people touching your body.”

Alte’s voice was firm. When he saw that Favna said nothing, he continued,

“You’ve got two choices right now. First, I help you walk back. Second, I carry you back.”

“Can I choose neither?”

“If you don’t choose, then I’ll carry you on my back.”

Favna’s cheeks turned a little red.

But as the drug slowly took effect, the numbness became more and more uncomfortable. Realizing she wouldn’t be getting back on her own anytime soon, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and say,

“Then just help me walk back. My house isn’t far from here. Turn left up ahead.”

“Mm.”

They walked in silence, and before long, the two of them arrived at Favna’s front door.

That was when Favna suddenly realized something and hurriedly said,

“You can stop here! I can get in by myself.”

“Really?”

Alte didn’t quite believe her, but after thinking about it, it really wasn’t appropriate for a grown man to enter a girl’s room. So he let go and tested the waters with,

“Then I’m leaving.”

“Mhm!”

When Favna saw him turn around, the stone hanging in her heart finally dropped.

No matter what, she absolutely couldn’t let an outsider see her messy dragon nest!

If anyone saw it, she’d definitely die on the spot from embarrassment.

After a lot of effort, Favna finally got the door open. Feeling her calf grow more and more numb, she knew she had to hurry back to bed and rest.

However, the moment her front foot stepped through the door, her numb back foot caught on the threshold. With that, her already unstable balance completely gave out.

Seeing that she was about to fall face-first, Favna shut her eyes and tried to brace herself with her hands.

But the impact she expected never came.

Instead, she felt a large hand catch her around the waist. That was the only reason she didn’t hit the ground head-on and smash her face up.

“Sigh...” Alte wrapped an arm around Favna’s slender waist and let out a helpless sigh. “I knew this would happen.”