◇

Time felt like it had stretched for an eternity… yet also vanished in a blink.

Deep in the gloomy ruins, the boy sat casually while the girl curled up with knees hugged, her small tail perked slightly.

They talked for ages—from the moment their magic energies fused and hazy memories flooded in, to childhood tales and growing-up stories each had lived.

Lost in conversation, they barely noticed time slipping away.

At times, they raged together over the boy’s betrayal, cursing the traitor; at others, they sighed over how the girl had been thrust onto the Dragon Sovereign’s throne over a century ago against her will.

Their chat flowed like old friends reuniting.

A strange warmth settled between them—neither could explain why they’d suddenly become so open.

After all, given their identities and positions, both were the quiet type: speak only when necessary.

This uncharacteristic ease quietly narrowed the distance between them…

“I understand. After a betrayal like that, trusting anyone again is hard.” Hugging her knees, Jikuhir offered a faint bitter smile and gazed at the pitch-black ceiling. “I was betrayed recently too… so I know that pain—being stabbed by someone you trusted. No wonder you’ve been so distant with me.”

Her eyes shifted to the boy, face unreadable, lost in thought.

A brief silence. Then she spoke again.

“I don’t know why I feel this way… but in your world’s words: liking someone needs no grand reason. So… become this king’s, Cang Xiaoxi! I will never betray you…”

Every word was sincere. Not a single lie hidden within.

Everyone sensed it—Jikuhir knew it, and Cang Xiaoxi felt it too.

Faced with such raw confession, even a heart of stone would soften.

Yet for the boy, still tangled in unresolved wounds, this tenderness was poison.

“I understand your feelings. But… I’m sorry.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Cang Xiaoxi shattered Jikuhir’s hope.

“Heh… figured as much.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed her face—but she’d expected this. It faded fast. Releasing her arms, Jikuhir sprang up with an innocent grin.

“Well, I guessed it’d go this way! But don’t think this king will give up! Even if you deny it, in my heart, you’re already mine—my husband. So don’t dream I’ll leave you, Xi’er!”

“…”

Silenced by her shameless persistence, Cang Xiaoxi said nothing more.

From their talk, he didn’t see her romantically—but he now trusted her. As his first true connection in this world, he genuinely wanted to keep things civil.

“Whatever.” He stood. “Think what you want, do what you will. Just don’t annoy me. That’s my bare minimum.”

“Don’t worry!” Jikuhir patted her chest confidently. “This king knows her limits. Looking forward to our days ahead, Xi’er.”

“You realize,” Cang Xiaoxi shot her a mock-annoyed glare, “the moment you used that nickname, you already annoyed me?” Seeing her unfazed grin, he sighed. “If you can, just go home. Unlike me—a nobody—you’ve got a kingdom to run.”

“Oh, *that*?” Jikuhir tilted her head as if recalling a forgotten chore. “Let the kingdom be. Cuihua’s probably seized the Dragon Sovereign throne by now. I’m practically homeless… so staying by Xi’er’s side is perfectly fine.”

“I wish you’d take that seriously.”

Cang Xiaoxi frowned, ready to say *even homeless, don’t follow me*—but one look at her shamelessly grinning face told him it was pointless. He fell silent and began preparing to sleep.

“Hm?! Xi’er, what are you—”

“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”

“Mmm… Xiaoxi, what’re you doing?” Jikuhir retorted with a crooked smile after his sharp glare.

“Making a sleeping spot.” Magic swirled as he stacked stones into a simple windbreak. “We’ll surface tomorrow. After all that fighting, our bodies need rest.”

Balance work and rest to achieve greatness. Relentless grinding or lazy slacking—neither builds a legacy. A lesson from his businessman father.

“Heh~ Got it.” Jikuhir nodded.

The shelter finished, the boy leaned against the pillar and closed his eyes.

Seeing his face slightly softened from earlier, Jikuhir yawned cutely, patting her mouth. “Ahhh~ Guess I’ll nap too… sorry for intruding…”

“You can sleep here—but keep your little hands to yourself.”

“Whoa?! You’re not even looking!”

Her hand, reaching to hug him, froze mid-air.

Staring in horror at the seemingly asleep boy, Jikuhir puffed her cheeks in protest… then *tempted fate* and kept moving it.

“Your Majesty.”

“W-What?! My cute, handsome Xi’er?”

Her features jolted at his flat tone. Cold sweat beaded as he slowly opened his eyes. Resigned, she stammered: “W-Well… I said it already! In my heart, you’re my husband! So… a wife hugging her husband to sleep is fine… right? Hey?”

“…Your Majesty. Do you know that in my world, this would be a crime?”

*Child molestation—serious charges mean prison, light ones still ruin lives (just guessing, don’t hit me~ =￣ω￣=).*

True, Cang Xiaoxi was seventeen—legally adult here. But his appearance? A second-grade elementary boy. How could she target such an innocent child? …Wait. She wasn’t human. A dragonkin. So… technically okay?

“C-Crime? What’s that? Edible?” Hand to lips, Jikuhir asked with zero awareness.

“Edible?! Crime means—ugh, forget it.”

Too troublesome to explain. Cang Xiaoxi waved dismissively and fell silent.

Shut down, Jikuhir stayed—separated by the stone slab.

And so, after a whirlwind of events that quietly captured the Dragon Sovereign’s heart, the boy’s first day in this new world drew to a close.

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Ruins. Labyrinths.

Hallmarks of this world—Hestdral.

Places brimming with rare treasures: ancient relics, precious materials, and Arcane Artifacts beyond modern craft. Claim just one, and wealth—or fame—awaits.

But reward walks hand-in-hand with risk.

The sweeter the prize, the more it resembles a rose laced with poison. One misstep… and you fall.

Here dwell monsters—the world’s shared foe. Magical, mindless, driven only to attack. Deadly.

Yet monsters hold value too. Their remains forge armor, weapons, secret potions… invaluable resources.

Thus arose the adventurer: the profession born to face them.

“Small Fireball!”

A palm-sized flame shot from Adventurer A’s hand—a generic-faced rookie—and struck the green-skinned goblin imp.

Watching it writhe and die, he smirked. “Pfft. Too weak! Thought a royal commission’d be tough. This? Trash.”

“Tell me,” rumbled the heavily armored greatsword wielder cleaving through more goblins. “All low-tier grunts. No match for our high-tier squad—Azure Hawk.”

“Heh, royals must be paranoid. Sending elites like us to sweep trash?”

“Ain’t that the truth? Hahahaha!”

Laughter boomed among the four.

Commissioned by royalty—Princess Lisdel and Prince Zhu Bajie—they’d hoped to impress, maybe earn royal guard status someday.

Instead? Princess Lisdel left early. Only Prince Zhu Bajie remained under their watch.

No wonder dissatisfaction simmered in every grin.