A few minutes earlier.

Following the clanging and clashing of battle echoing through the forest, Cang Xiaoxi arrived at the battlefield where the Dragonkin clashed with imperial soldiers.

He watched every shift unfold from start to finish.

A thrill buzzed through him—finally seeing otherworldly races, truly confirming his arrival in another world—but shock over Tracy’s betrayal lingered too.

“Heh, what a pitiful Dragon Sovereign,” he muttered. “But it’s her own fault for messing up my name. I’ve said it *countless* times—it’s Cuihua, pfft, I mean *Tracy*! Seriously, what’s wired in that head of hers?”

Without realizing it, the boy had even slipped into Jikuhir’s habit and misspoke.

Truth was, “Cuihua” *did* roll off the tongue easier than “Tracy.” On that alone, Cang Xiaoxi had to admit she had a point.

“But still… so *this* is the Dragonkin—the race with the highest magical affinity in this world? …Not quite the powerhouse I imagined.”

According to Cang Xiaoxi’s knowledge: this world housed Humans, Dragonkin, and Sub-humans—Elves, Beastkin, and the Oni Clan among them.

Dragonkin stood apart purely for their overwhelming strength.

Though few in number, each individual wielded top-tier power.

The strongest race. The aloof sovereigns. Some were pure-blooded heirs of ancient true dragons. A rare few even possessed a special magic called [Dragon’s Eye]—just like his own.

A cheat-tier race. Even a summoned [Sage] would pale beside them.

Yet here lay their Dragon Sovereign—reduced to this pitiful state. Hard to believe.

“That [Arcane Cannon] must be insane. Wonder if I can snag one…”

Cang Xiaoxi’s [Dragon’s Eye] existed solely to craft [Arcane Artifacts].

His enchantments alone surpassed anything native to this world.

Still, studying local [Arcane Artifacts] and adapting them? Better than nothing.

As the saying goes: absorb knowledge from all sources. Even trash holds lessons.

And knowing the local standard? Selling [Arcane Artifacts] later wasn’t a bad plan.

“Alright. I’ll get one.”

Purely self-serving scheming.

Even facing a lovely girl in mortal danger, Cang Xiaoxi stayed unmoved.

Not ignorance of tropes. Not cold-heartedness.

Simply—he genuinely wanted nothing to do with women again.

A legacy wound. Not fixed overnight.

So, with his clumsy, half-mastered [Dragon’s Eye], he hastily cobbled together jet boots.

Then, in chaos even *he* hadn’t foreseen—

after unintended slaughter—the scene landed exactly here.

“Never thought such a tiny thing was this world’s strongest race. If true… I’m worried for this world’s power level. Hey~ Still alive~? Make a sound if you are~.”

He poked the motionless, defenseless Jikuhir with a twig.

Just checking.

“Mmm… uh… uh-huh…”

“Ah. Alive.”

Their Dragon Sovereign had a stubbornly tough constitution.

To most—especially certain “gentlemen”—a beautiful, vulnerable girl lying there…

Claiming zero reaction? Total bullshit.

The righteous path? Rescue the damsel. Win her heart. That’s what a proper male lead—a true overpowered isekai protagonist—*should* do.

But…

“Damn. Still alive. Gotta loot gear *fast*.”

Yes. You heard right.

Faced with an unguarded, delectable “delicacy,” the boy only thought of loot?

Ignoring the prey—was he even human? A man? A *qualified* isekai transmigrator?

Well. He was. He just hated entanglements with women.

So, before Jikuhir woke, he reached out with grabby hands.

“Oh, these greaves look decent—taking ’em! Heh, this tiny dagger’s cute—mine! This chainmail… nah. Even fallen, I won’t strip her clothes.”

Holding onto basic decency, he stopped after looting outer gear.

Packed with spoils, Cang Xiaoxi turned to leave.

Then paused.

“…Since I took her stuff, might as well help a little.”

No telling when she’d wake. If a monster attacked her while unconscious? No joke.

He avoided women—but wouldn’t ignore a life he *could* save.

He gathered leaves to cover her.

Dropping his loot, he dragged Jikuhir into the woods—zero tenderness.

Partly his child-sized body lacked strength. Partly her clothes were shredded by the [Arcane Cannon]’s backlash.

Leaving Cang Xiaoxi genuinely unsure where to look.

Even petite, *certain areas* were… surprisingly plump~.

With thoughts any normal boy his age would have, his gaze snagged—briefly—on *that spot*.

Small. Yet full.

No wonder they say the late Bayi Laoye was a gentleman.

“Mmm… where…?”

“Huh?! Could it be—?!”

Before he could appreciate further, Jikuhir woke.

*Shit.* Cang Xiaoxi’s mind raced—activate the jet boots, *now*—

“A child? Why’s a child here? And… you’re *Human*…”

He’d moved too slow.

Locking eyes, her confusion over a child here was drowned by pure disgust for Humans.

Age meant nothing. Jikuhir simply hated Humans.

Proclaiming themselves gods’ chosen while rejecting all others—that’s why Dragonkin loathed them.

Even hesitating to harm a child, she’d still teach this brat a lesson.

Show him the Dragon Sovereign wasn’t to be touched lightly.

Then she saw his gaze drift downward. Followed it herself—

“Huh?! You little pervert! You don’t *want* those eyes anymore?!”

No magic needed—Dragonkin nails sharpened in an instant.

A silver flash sliced past his eyes like a legendary martial arts move.

“Heh. A real ‘Dragon Claw’—though kinda small.”

Effortlessly channeling magic to boost his body, Cang Xiaoxi leaped back. Dodged clean.

“What?! He *dodged*?!”

Jikuhir froze.

Even weakened—her strike dodged by a prepubescent Human brat?

Humans: numerous, mediocre in magic and strength.

No wonder she trembled.

“Hey, hey, hey—which eye saw me *dodge*? My clothes are *torn*! Damn it, no spares! Rip ’em more and how do I wear ’em?!”

Sleeves, pant legs, now chest—shredded.

Even performance art has limits.

“To think… only tore clothes… Mmm… The *strongest* Dragon Sovereign’s strike… only ruined *clothes*… Mmm… Shame…”

“Hah?! What’re you muttering, little dragon girl?”

Cang Xiaoxi looked up—

and saw puffed cheeks like tiny balloons, huffing furiously.

Heh. Admittedly cute.

Especially with her fluffy tail swishing in anger. Cuteness level: upgraded.

Well. She’s awake. And treated me to a view. Torn clothes? *Barely* forgiven.

Heh. Such a kind soul. Plus… loot.

“Hey! You little brat! Where do you think you’re going?!”

Seeing him ignore her, grab his pack, and leave—Jikuhir’s temper flared.

“Where? Believe me if I say I’m just running an errand?”

He waved a half-full water bottle in her face.

“Huh?! Oh no—that’s—!”

Silent, she leaped back. Eyes wide with caution.

Her bizarre reaction left Cang Xiaoxi baffled.

“What’s wrong? New enemy?” He glanced around, clueless.

“A child carrying a costly [Arcane Artifact]… Tch. Of course—a normal kid wouldn’t just *appear* here.”

Muttering, avoiding the question.

But Cang Xiaoxi pieced it together.

“Scared of *half a water bottle*? Mmm… Pfft! Not funny.”

Amused, he recalled her earlier name mix-ups. This petite Dragon Sovereign? Actually kinda fun.

Sketch comedy potential, even.

“Well, well. Truly—another world holds *all* kinds of people.”

He sipped the water, throat refreshed.

And Cang Xiaoxi began to look forward to life in this strange new world.