I sat in the luxurious carriage, letting my fingers brush the silk-lined interior. It was beautifully adorned with mana stones that softly pulsed with light—each one humming like it contained a trapped breath. The craftsmanship was stunning. The humans of this world… they were something else.
Tina rested peacefully on my lap, her breathing soft, delicate. She looked like a doll sculpted by moonlight. Frida, however, sat directly across from me, her gaze locked onto mine. She hadn't looked away in minutes.
"What are you really… Master?" she asked, the words slipping from her mouth like a thought spoken aloud.
"What am I…"
I echoed it quietly, my eyes drifting toward the window.
Outside, the scenery rolled by in a blur of trees and twilight. But something else stirred within me—an image. Suddenly, I saw two babies. Twins. One had hair as white as untouched snow, the other black as the void itself. For a split second, the cosmos shimmered around them, stars bending to their presence.
Then—another flash.
They were older now, floating high above the world, their faces obscured by blur and light. One's eyes burned with pure slaughter. The other's with unhinged madness.
Then—*crack*.
The vision shattered.
I jerked subtly, pulled back into the present. My heart thudded once. *What was that? Who were they?* And then… that aura. The black-haired twin radiated something I couldn't ignore. It pulled at something buried deep inside me.
Without thinking, I whispered the name:
"Damon."
Frida perked up. "Master… who is Damon?"
But I remained silent. Instead, I buried the memory, engraving it into the deepest reaches of my mind like a carved seal. *Not yet. But I will find the truth.*
---
Night fell like ink spilling across the sky, and we set up camp in a clearing beneath a crescent moon.
Frida stayed close, and two women from the Phantom Twelve joined us. Both were striking in their own ways. One carried herself with mature grace, her body fully bloomed and her presence calm but intoxicating. The other was younger, her chest modest, but her curves made up for it, swaying with quiet confidence.
I studied them briefly, then smiled to myself.
"Are all the women in this world this beautiful?"
A faint flame stirred in my chest.
"Where did that lady come from?" one of the guards whispered, casting a glance at Frida.
Their eyes drifted towards my direction. I could feel it—their confusion, their awe.
"How terrifying are the Godfalls to call this man useless?"
"His mana… it's so refined. Even his breath feels like a dream…"
"Is there something on my face?" I asked casually, turning a spit over the fire.
The meat crackled as its fat dripped onto the coals, releasing a thick, savory aroma that made even the air feel hungry.
Slowly, they took seats beside me.
"Young Master, what kind of meat is this?" one asked, her mouth already watering.
I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I sliced a generous piece for each of them, placing the largest portion gently beside Tina. Even in her sleep, her fingers twitched toward the warmth.
At their first bite, both women lit up.
"This is delicious," the older one said, moving closer to me, lips slick with flavor.
"I love a man who can cook," she purred. "I'm Fiona. And that's Jin."
Her presence was overwhelming, like stepping into a warm bath filled with roses and poison. With a sultry smile, she withdrew thick cuts of meat from her storage ring and offered them.
Without hesitation, I took the slabs, skewered them, and began to roast them over the open flame. From my inventory, I drew a pouch of dried herbs I'd grown on my personal farm.
I ground them by hand using a traditional stone grinder. The scent bloomed in layers—peppery, smoky, sweet. Once the marinade coated the meat, the air turned heavy with its mouthwatering allure.
Eyes locked to the fire. Hunger danced behind every stare.
"What spice did you add to it?" Fiona asked, licking her lips.
"That…" I said with a faint smile, "is my secret."
"Don't be stingy, Dax," she teased, saying my name like we'd known each other forever.
I didn't care how she said it. Her voice, her tone—none of it mattered.
As the meat sizzled, we talked. They spoke of distant lands, broken guilds, and lost lovers. I listened more than I spoke. These moments, quiet and strange, grounded me.
Then I felt it.
A gentle tug at the edge of my robe.
I looked down.
A tiny black kitten stared up at me, its golden eyes wide and blinking.
"…How did you get here, little one?" I murmured, lifting it into my arms.
It hadn't made a sound. Not a single footstep. How had I missed its presence?
The others noticed too.
"Where did you find that cute thing?" Jin blinked.
Fiona's eyes narrowed, curious. "Is this… how he summoned that woman? And the lizard?"
"I just saw it," I said, running a hand down its soft fur. "The smell must've drawn it in."
"Let it go before its mother comes looking for it," Jin said half-jokingly.
I ignored the comment and fed the kitten a bite-sized piece of meat. It purred instantly, curling in my lap.
Beasts… at least I know they won't betray me.
I stroked it gently. My chest warmed.
Jin scoffed. "Is this guy serious? Just because he's a Godfall, he thinks he can ignore everyone?"
Before I could react, Tina stirred.
A wave of jealousy surged through her. Without hesitation, she shrank herself, then leapt into my lap—shoving the kitten aside with her tiny body and claiming her spot with a sharp purr.
"Tina…" I tried to scold her, but she ignored me, purring comfortably.
The kitten cried, landing softly on the ground. Frida picked it up gently and set it in her lap, calming it with a soft hum.
---
A sudden rustle came from the brush.
Then—movement.
A goblin burst through the trees. Then another.
Then dozens.
"We've been surrounded," I muttered without a reaction.
Hobgoblins strode into the clearing, each mounted on a massive wolf. Ten Hob riders, their beasts snarling, blood-soaked. Behind them, more poured out from the trees—scores of them, chittering in foul, raspy tongues.
Above their heads, system notifications flickered:
57 Goblins — Levels 14 to 20.
10 hob Riders — Levels 40+.**
Then came their leader.
A towering hobgoblin with jagged teeth and red eyes. Its aura radiated dread.
**Level 51 — Recognition Realm.**
It carried a staff in one hand and a stolen sword in the other—spoils from a kill, no doubt. Its armor was pieced together from the bones of fallen adventurers.
I didn't move.
But beside me, the black kitten stood on all fours, fur raised like bristles on a spear.
I narrowed my eyes.
"Ladies," I said, calm and cold. "Do not interfere."
Fiona and Jin tensed.
"Tina. Frida. Time to show me what you're made of."
I pointed lazily.
"Frida—take the hob riders. Tina, clean up the mobs."
Without a word, both stepped forward. Calm. Unhurried.
Jin shot up. "Is this boy insane?! They're clearly still in the Mortal Realm and he's sending them to their deaths!"
But Fiona reached over and stopped her. "Just… watch."
I said nothing more.
I simply leaned back… and placed the black kitten gently on my lap.
And the night, once quiet, began to burn with violence.