Chapter Thirty Eight: New Sword

It’s been three days since Wrok returned from the capital and delivered our payment.
A lot has happened since then. My life in this world feels like one endless adventure—both harsh and strangely youthful.It was around five in the evening when Leila came to see me. By then, Etis had already returned my clothes. Etis, the inn's waitress mistakenly poured soup on me when we collided by the entrance and insisted she washes them. 
Leila looked more exhausted than usual. She had worked herself ragged before coming here.
“Let me rest a little on your bed,” she whispered, lying down without waiting for an answer.
She’d brought me food as always—leftovers from the money made by selling samples. I decided to wait until she woke before telling her about the gold I’d earned from selling the skeletons’ loot.
But Leila didn’t wake quickly. She slept deeply, five hours straight. Watching her chest rise and fall in calm rhythm, I kept praying the noble would return soon. I didn’t want to see her living like this anymore.
When hunger pushed me, I ate some of the food she’d brought, leaving the rest for morning. I wrapped it carefully in the heat-preserving plastic bag.

---
Five hours later, Leila stirred awake. Lantern light filled the room.
“I see… So you’ve made it a hobby to keep going into the forest. It’s okay, I guess. You don’t look hurt. By the way, what happened to your new black clothes? The ones that give me a creepy feeling whenever you wear them?”
I knew it. There had to be side effects from wearing a Demon Lord’s cape disguised as clothing. Grandma must have worked hard to alter them so ordinary people wouldn’t notice.
“They’re fine. I just stopped wearing them because they were drawing too much attention. They’re incredible, though—not even magic can destroy them. They’re exactly what I wanted.”
“Is that so…?” She rose and walked to the desk where the food sat. “Mind if I eat some of this?” she asked, pointing to the wrapped leftovers.
“I don’t… You really want to eat my leftovers?”
“Food is food. As long as it’s not spoiled, it doesn’t matter if someone else has touched it.”
She rinsed her mouth with water, leaned out the window to spit, then sat on the desk’s edge. She picked up the fork I had used earlier.
Even though it was wrapped cleanly, my heart skipped. If she ate with that fork… wasn’t this basically an indirect kiss?
She unwrapped the food, poked a piece of untouched meat, and raised it slowly toward her lips.
Gulp.
“What are you thinking? Something perverted?” she asked, catching my gaze before biting into it.
“Haha… Kinda?”
Leila ate slowly after that. We talked about random things. Whenever I brought up her work, she immediately changed the subject.
Then, after finishing the food, she asked, “Can I sleep here tonight?”
“You can do that? Won’t you get in trouble?”
“Don’t worry about it. Besides, I’m tired of that place…” Her expression dimmed with sadness.
How could I refuse? I wasn’t going to anyway.
We lay together in my small bed, shoulders brushing. It was cramped, but I didn’t mind. Thinking about it, doesn’t this mean we slept together in the mountains too? Even if it was brief, it still counts, right?
Leila fell asleep instantly. Seeing her rest so peacefully made me happy. At least here, she could relax.
But unlike her, I tossed and turned. The frustrations of a young boy are not to be underestimated.
By morning, she was gone. Off again to start another grueling day.
Now, four days had passed since we got the money to buy her freedom. The noble was expected back on the seventh.
“Hang in there, Leila. I swear I’ll save you.”

---
After eating, I saved some of the remaining food for later. Duddul deserved a treat too—I’d get him some red apples.
When I left the inn around eight, I went through the alley behind, where I kept Duddul. The inn’s old owner had seen him before. Instead of panicking, the man only said, “Oh my, a red dragon. You can keep him there all you want.”
Not surprising. Anyone would be intrigued. Duddul wasn’t like the other dragons who defecated openly on the streets. He always disappeared into the woods for his business. A well-mannered beast, unlike the rest.
In this world, dragon droppings weren’t a big deal. Owners just sprinkled magical powder on it, and it vanished. I’d even seen shops in the market selling the stuff.
“Good boy~ Good boy~”
A familiar voice floated from near Duddul.
The sound of bouncing softness made me freeze. Etis. She was petting Duddul, her chest dancing with each movement.
Those were the real breakfast I wanted right now.
She’d even brought him long strands of red hay.
“Rnn!!” Duddul greeted as I approached.
“Good morning,” I said, patting his head.
“Good morning, sleepy head~” Etis replied with a bright smile, both hands stroking Duddul’s back.
She is always eager to ride him any chance she gets. Considering how much she cared for him, I figured it was time.
“Do you want to ride him?” I asked, remembering the way she once teased, I want to ride…~
Her eyes lit up. “Really!? Can I!?” She jumped up and down, chest bouncing wildly.
Just that sight was worth the offer.
I tugged on Duddul’s rope, signaling him to lower his body, but he ignored me.
“What are you doing, silly? It doesn’t work like that,” Etis giggled. “Red dragons only allow their master to ride them. If I’m getting on, it has to be with you—at the back.”
“…Ride him… with you… at the back!?”
Thank you, Duddul. Thank you for this gift. Her melons pressing against my back for the whole ride—perfection.
She assured me she was free that morning, so we mounted together—me in the front, her in the back.
Her chest pressed into my back, molding against me with every step Duddul took.
When she shifted, apologizing shyly, “S-Sorry, it’s cramped,” I almost laughed.
“Don’t worry. I’m having the time of my life here.”
“Really? Then I’m glad.”
We rode into town, but the truth was I just wanted the “date” to last longer.
Passing a fruit vendor, Etis stopped us and bought some strange orange-colored fruits.
“Try this,” she offered one to me.
I went to peel it, but she stopped me. “Not like that. Didn’t you see the straws?”
She leaned forward, pressing against me deliberately this time, guiding my hand as she pierced the fruit with a straw.
“Now, suck.”
I obeyed. “Uhn!” Sweet juice flooded my mouth. I drained it so fast I nearly choked.
“More! I want more!”
“You can’t. Only one Zaki a day. If you eat two, it becomes addictive.”
My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding!”
She laughed at my sulking. “Look, you haven’t finished. Peel the skin—see? Inside’s like coconut meat.”
She helped again, hands brushing mine as her chest enveloped me. 
“It’s so good!”
“Hehe~ I’m glad you liked it.”
We rode through plains and tall grass, the rain season making everything lush. No mountains on this side, just endless greenery. Etis admitted she’d never explored here either.
For two hours, we wandered freely. By the time we returned, it was past ten.
“Thank you very much for today. I needed the fresh air,” she said as I dropped her off.
“Not at all. I had a lot of fun.”
“I’m glad… then, talk to you later~” She disappeared inside with a smile.
On the way back, I bought apples for Duddul. I wanted Zaki fruit badly, but decided to wait—it felt more special eating it with her.

---
When I opened my room door, someone was waiting.
“Where have you been!? I woke up early just to get your sword!”
Badump.
Serila sat cross-legged on my bed, holding a sheathed sword tightly against her chest.
From the size, it looked identical to my old one.
“This… This is my new partner…” My hands trembled as I reached for it.
But she pulled it back, smirking. “I didn’t hear you say thank you~.”
Annoyed, I grabbed the sword as she clutched her arms. 
“Wh-What are you…!” she yelped, ears and tail flicking wildly. Flustered, she released the sword.
I caught it, unsheathed it immediately—
“Wow…”
It was flawless. The polished blade gleamed like a mirror. Its edge was impossibly fine yet strong, lighter than my old sword. Lines of different colors glowed faintly along it, proof it had been forged from countless swords of varying strength.
“This is perfect.”
Grinning like a child, I bolted out of the inn.
“Hey, wait!!” She shouted, chasing me. “I stayed up all night worrying about how it would turn out, and this is how you treat me!?”
“Rnn!” Duddul growled as I mounted him.
“You can sleep in my room. I’m going hunting!” I called back, leaving her behind.

And a few moments later:
“NOOO!!”
I screamed, running out of the nightmare forest, lungs burning. Only when I crossed back into the barrier did I collapse, trembling.
“That was… disastrous!!”
Today’s opponent had been none other than the infamous Winged Freezer.
He never touched the ground, soaring with vast wings and a horned head like a drill. Every attack came from the skies. I couldn’t land a single strike.
Then I saw it—his ability.
His scream split the air, a sound that froze Duddul and me in place. A chilling paralysis seized our bodies.
Before we could recover, light burst from his horn—an enormous wave of freezing energy.
At the last moment, my black gear shielded us with a dark barrier. The blast never touched us, but the pain cut through my body, same as when the prince stabbed me through unbreakable armor. Protected, yet punished.
For three hours, the battle dragged on. I stubbornly tried to use the eagle wings I’d absorbed, desperate to fly—but no matter what, I couldn’t lift off.
Finally, I gave up. I ran with all my might until I was out of the forest.
Just like before, I hadn’t encountered any lesser monsters. The moment I stepped inside, I had entered the Winged Freezer’s territory.
I stayed in the mountains for two more days, but the result was always the same. In the end, I fled. Pointless to keep fighting an enemy who never touched the ground.
Besides… today was the day.
The noble was returning.
And with him, the chance to take Leila back.
On the evening of the seventh day since we met Modnoc, the noble returned to his mansion from the capital.
Now is the time.