◇

“Sigh… So it really turned out this way.”

Without warning, Jikuhir swung her ice-armored hand straight at Cang Xiaoxi.

Cang Xiaoxi mused—no wonder this little loli kept getting ambushed. There was solid reason behind it.

Her thinking really was *that* naive.

“I already told you clearly,” Cang Xiaoxi said calmly. “Did you seriously think I’d hand you the medicine with zero preparation?”

A half-hearted warning given.

Then—Jikuhir stood smug, utterly convinced her strike would land.

0.1 seconds later—*thwack!*

“OWWWW!!!”

The ice armor vanished from her hands. Clutching her steaming head, tears welled in Jikuhir’s eyes.

“Why?! How did you dodge instantly?! This makes no sense! Are you even human?!”

Tearfully pointing at Cang Xiaoxi, Jikuhir wailed.

She couldn’t grasp it—how had the person right before her vanished and reappeared at her side? In her knowledge, humans possessed no such magic.

After all, humans only had affinity for basic elemental magic.

Unique powers like the Dragonkin’s 【Dragon's Eye】 belonged solely to them and other beastkin.

Jikuhir simply couldn’t decipher Cang Xiaoxi’s movement.

“Why did I dodge so easily? That’s what *I’d* ask *you*,” Cang Xiaoxi shot her a contemptuous glare. “Your movements were sluggish. Are you really one of the world’s strongest Dragon Sovereigns? I only reinforced my body with magic—haven’t even used a proper spell.”

“No way! Seriously?!”

Just body reinforcement this strong? Could she be any more overpowered? How was anyone supposed to fight fairly?

In this world, every living being held magic. With training, anyone could reinforce their body—no limits.

But precisely because it was so common, the boost was negligible.

For Upper Tier mages, maybe a slight edge—but barely.

In high-tier combat, body reinforcement was like slapping tissue paper on yourself. Utterly useless.

Could mere reinforcement really subdue her in one move? Even not at full strength, she was still one of the five Divine Tier experts at the world’s peak.

Impossible to be caught so easily.

Unless… this person was also Divine Tier, or beyond.

Jikuhir dismissed it.

Divine Tier’s supremacy was universally acknowledged. Even Peak of Transcendent Rank stood worlds apart.

And above Divine Tier? In all her long life, she’d heard of none—

save the ancient Dragon Sovereign of her clan from primordial times, who fell mysteriously while residing in the Boundless Realm…

“Better verify this, just to be safe.”

While Cang Xiaoxi pondered how low this world’s standards truly were—given the little loli’s repeated blunders—

unnoticed by her, Jikuhir’s light blue eyes shifted to silvery-green.

Exactly like Cang Xiaoxi’s state when using the 【Dragon's Eye】.

This *was* Dragon Sovereign Jikuhir’s 【Dragon's Eye】.

Beyond the innate ability all 【Dragon's Eye】 pairs shared—to perceive inner magic flow—

hers held 【Attachment】: imbuing ice-element magic onto an 【Arcane Artifact】.

But since Jikuhir lacked crafting skill, and no 【Arcane Artifact】 could withstand her power, the ability was effectively useless.

Not that it mattered now. She only needed the innate perception.

She had to confirm this brat’s true tier.

“No way… Seriously…?”

“Huh?! What’s wrong? Why’d you sit down suddenly?”

The thud of Jikuhir collapsing drew Cang Xiaoxi’s gaze.

There sat Jikuhir, staring at her with sheer terror—as if at a monster.

Well… not entirely wrong.

Just a monster utterly unaware of herself.

“Boundless Realm… Beyond Divine Tier… Why would a child reach that realm? And… why do *you* possess… the 【Dragon's Eye】…?”

“Huh?! How do you know that?!”

Jikuhir’s terrified muttering snapped Cang Xiaoxi alert.

Power exposed. Girl’s panic.

Cang Xiaoxi didn’t understand—until she saw the silvery-green eyes.

“Damn. Really bad luck.”

Never expected to bump into a native Dragonkin with 【Dragon's Eye】 right away.

Though rare, with varying abilities, a handful *did* exist in this world.

She’d thought staying clear of the World Tree would keep encounters slim.

“Rare” meant rare—could they really be popping up everywhere like weeds?

Fate was unpredictable. Of course she’d hit the bullseye.

“Sure enough… anything involving women never ends well.”

Scowling, Cang Xiaoxi turned and strode into the forest without a word.

“Hey?! Stop right there! Don’t you dare leave!”

Snapping out of her daze, Jikuhir leapt up and chased after her.

Dragon Sovereign instinct screamed: this child held secrets. A Dragonkin-exclusive power couldn’t appear on a human child by chance.

Who was she? Why did she wield Dragonkin power?

Duty-bound, Jikuhir resolved to tail this brat who acted nothing like a child.

If she threatened the Dragonkin… she’d eliminate her herself.

Unbeknownst to Jikuhir, in just one day, she’d fall head over heels for this seemingly cold-hearted little brat.

◇

Stars glittered across the endless night sky.

This starlit expanse—so close it felt within reach—was Cang Xiaoxi’s first time seeing such beauty.

Having lived in a metropolis her whole life, trapped in a work-home loop, she rarely enjoyed peace without worry.

“Alright, this should do.”

She eyed the unknown meat stew simmering in the makeshift pot crafted with her ability.

After a full day hungry, her mouth watered.

With no bowl to spare, she picked up twig-chopsticks and began her delayed dinner.

Just before the meat touched her lips—a faint *mmph* echoed through the silent forest.

“Sigh… Your Majesty, how much longer will you linger? If you’re hungry, please go home. Stop following me.”

Cang Xiaoxi set down her chopsticks and looked toward a dark boulder meters away.

There, huddled and shivering, pitifully thin, sat little loli Jikuhir—shooting her a resentful glare.

“None of your business! I’ll stay wherever I want!”

Pouting tsundere-style, she turned her head sharply.

If Cang Xiaoxi had just explained her 【Dragon's Eye】’s origin, Jikuhir wouldn’t be starving here in the dark.

After all, for today’s rescue mission, she’d eaten only one fruit for breakfast.

Her petite frame seemed even flatter now from hunger.

“Is that so.”

Cang Xiaoxi glanced at the suffering Dragon Sovereign, sighed slightly annoyed.

“Fine. Do whatever makes you happy.”

Ignoring her, Cang Xiaoxi resumed her first meal in this new world.

“Mmm… Not tasty. Could really use some salt.”

The tough, dry meat carried only a hint of bitter wild herbs.

Far from delicious.

But what could she do? Even skilled cooking meant nothing without ingredients.

Longing for Earth’s seasoned feasts, Cang Xiaoxi felt—for the first time—that this world had its downsides.

“Guess finding seasonings goes on the to-do list.”

Adding it mentally, she reluctantly lifted a wild root with her chopsticks.

Just as it neared her mouth—a presence and voice appeared inches away.

“Never thought you’d eat *this*. You’re really something.”

“Tch. So what? Why sit here, Your Majesty?”

Unsurprised, Cang Xiaoxi turned. Jikuhir had closed the distance the moment she started eating.

“Y-you think you can tell me where to sit?! Hmph!” Jikuhir pouted, face turned away. “I’m just studying enemy dietary habits! Part of a Dragon Sovereign’s research!”

“Is that so?” Cang Xiaoxi’s eyes flicked to the faint drool trail at Jikuhir’s lip. “Sure you didn’t come over because you’re hungry?”

“W-what nonsense! W-who wants human charity food?!”

A painfully transparent reaction.

Cang Xiaoxi had only asked if she was hungry—but the little loli had already imagined being *forced* fed.

Amused, Cang Xiaoxi considered sharing…

—but before she decided, Jikuhir’s stomach growled loudly in protest.