Myron flew above the clouds, far from the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Mountain.

“Princess Fio is such an idiot. If nobody looks after her, she’ll die, won’t she?”

Myron hovered in the air and looked back at the Frost Sanctuary.

Looking back, he couldn’t feel at ease no matter what. He’d said he was going to leave that useless Dragon King behind, but he also knew the clan had forced the job of Dragon King onto Fio.

There’d been no other choice. The previous Ice Dragon King had mysteriously disappeared, so the role could only be handed to her successor, Fio.

It wasn’t right to pin all the blame for the Ice Dragon Clan’s decline on Fio.

“Sigh… I really can’t leave her alone. I should go back and at least teach Princess Fio how to do laundry and cook before I leave.”

The cold wind blew away Myron’s anger. He changed course and flew back to the Frost Sanctuary.

As he drew near, Myron spotted something out of the ordinary. A huge hole had been smashed through the sanctuary wall. Outside it, on the snowy ground, a young man stood in front of Fio in her human form.

Fio’s little face was covered in tears, while the black-haired young man gave off a dangerous air. Myron immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Princess Fio!!”

Myron dove down and charged straight at the black-haired young man.

The young man started, then quickly put some distance between himself and Fio, drawing Myron off in another direction.

To Myron’s surprise, the young man was strong enough to face a member of the Dragon Clan head-on. He crossed his arms over his chest, lowered his center of gravity, and took the full force of the impact.

“Aaaaaaaah—!!”

Myron roared and put every ounce of strength he had into it, forcibly carrying the young man with him beyond the cliff. Together, they plunged toward the foot of the snowy peak.

Myron adjusted himself midair and held his flying posture, while the young man hit the flat ground a hundred meters below first, sending a vast spray of snow into the air.

“Human, you dared insult the Ice Dragon King. Die!”

Myron dove again, swinging his dragon claw to pound the man into a bloody pulp. But the black-haired young man got back to his feet.

“Please wait, Ice Dragon.”

The young man remained calm. He raised both hands to show he was surrendering, making no attempt to defend himself.

“…”

Myron halted his attack.

“I have no intention of fighting you. I believe there’s been a misunderstanding between us, and I’d like to talk things through calmly.”

Myron calmed down. He wasn’t an impulsive man, either. If this man had managed to put Fio—who was even stronger than Myron—in such a predicament all by himself, then he must have been remarkably capable. Myron might not be able to beat him.

“Speak, human.”

“Thank you for hearing me out. I’m Leon, the Sword Saint from the Donghui Kingdom,” Leon said. “I came here today to protect Fio. She’s in grave danger now—the rulers of the Donghui Kingdom have set their sights on her.”

……

“Myron, don’t die!”

Fio leaned over the edge of the cliff. The clouds below blocked her view, and she was frantic with worry.

She was in terrible shape and couldn’t transform. Leon was absurdly strong, so what chance did an old man like Myron have?

“Waaah… Myron, I’m sorry! I should’ve listened to you and learned more spells and skills. You died so horribly!”

Fio thought back to Myron’s familiar face and voice, overcome with grief. She couldn’t help shedding tears for the nagging butler.

“Princess Fio, this old man isn’t so easy to kill.”

Myron, still in dragon form, flapped his wings and flew up from below. He landed in front of Fio, then changed back into his butler form.

“Myron!!”

“Oof! These old bones, Princess Fio—gently!”

Fio threw herself into Myron’s arms, nearly breaking his back with the impact.

“Did you kill that bastard Sword Saint?”

“Of course. You have to learn to keep something in reserve when you’re out in the world, Princess Fio. Remember that.”

“Myron, you’re amazing!”

Fio believed him and bounced around happily.

“Come along, Princess Fio. Let’s go home.”

“You’re not leaving anymore, Myron?”

“Princess Fio, I only said that in the heat of the moment. Actually, I went down the mountain to buy supplies for you.”

Myron and Fio walked side by side, chatting happily.

“What did you buy?”

“I ordered the snacks, toys, and novels you wanted last time. We just need to pick them up later.”

“Really? Did you get *Everyone—Human or Ghost—is Showing Off, While Only the Little Sister Gets…* too?”

“I did. A few days ago, someone showed up at the author’s door demanding an update. They locked him in a basement, and he spent three days and three nights writing to finish the latest volume.”

“Awesome! That good-for-nothing author finally stopped ghosting us. Leon’s dead too, so I can go back to living the good life—doing nothing and waiting for meals!”

Fio giggled to herself, looking as silly as a husky.

A strange glint flashed in Myron’s eyes for an instant, then his expression returned to its earlier calm.

“Princess Fio, please sign this purchase list.”

“Mhm, mhm, mhm!”

Myron handed her a list of snacks and a pen. Fio glanced over it and scribbled down her name.

“There’s another one.”

Myron handed her another sheet of paper, and Fio wrote her name on that one too.

“One more, Princess Fio.”

“…Myron, you could’ve handed them to me all at once.”

Fio couldn’t be bothered to check it carefully. She signed out of habit.

“My apologies, Princess Fio. This old man’s getting forgetful. There’s just one last sheet.”

“Hmph! Are you messing with me?”

Fio furrowed her brow and glared at Myron, then signed without even looking.

But Myron’s expression suddenly changed. His face turned cold.

“Princess Fio, you’re still as stupid as ever.”

“Huh?”

“Take a look at what you signed.”

This wasn’t a purchase order. The contents were so strange that Fio wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Her hands trembling and sweat covering her forehead, she read the words aloud.

“Slave Contract

Party A: Leon Alex. Party B: Fio Esdragon.

From this day forward, Party B shall become Party A’s slave. The terms are as follows…”

Fio read out all the terrifying, unfair terms. Her scalp prickled again and again.

At the bottom, Party A’s signature belonged to Leon. Party B’s signature was hers.

……

The collar around her neck began to glow and resonate with the contract. Fio realized the slave magic had been activated.

“Myron, Leon—you two set me up!!”