* * *

Chaeyi, caught off guard by the direct question, stammered.

“Well… back then we weren’t.”

“Weren’t?”

“It’s complicated, but… we ended up together. You figured it out, huh?”

“It was hard not to. Leonard made it so obvious. I knew he liked you for a while now, but I only realized you two were dating just now.”

Silviet’s mood soured quickly, and he slumped down next to Chaeyi with a pout.

“I don’t like Leonard.”

“Do you hate him that much?”

“It’s not really like that…”

Looking back, even as hatchlings, the two never got along well.

‘It’d be nice if they could get along.’

But he didn’t worry too much.

He figured they’d eventually warm up to each other if they spent enough time together.

After all, it wasn’t like they had a real grudge—just a clash of personalities.

Spending more time together would probably improve their relationship.

“If Leonard ever gives you a hard time, just let me know! I’ll give him a good scolding.”

“Sure, sure.”

Chaeyi laughed softly and patted Silviet’s head.

He knew Silviet wasn’t trying to interfere but genuinely cared for him like family, and it warmed his heart.

They continued chatting about everything they hadn’t been able to share, right up until dinner.

They ate, washed up, then returned to Silviet’s room and talked until they eventually fell asleep together.

They spent a wholesome night, and the next morning, as Chaeyi came outside after packing up, he found Leonard glaring at Silviet with a piercing look.

If he hadn’t heard Leonard confess his jealousy yesterday, Chaeyi might not have understood the reason behind that glare.

But this time, he knew.

‘How cute.’

Though the look was anything but cute, Chaeyi’s rose-tinted view made it seem that way.

After hesitating a bit, Chaeyi walked over to Leonard and gently took his hand, a small gesture meant to soothe him.

It was his way of showing affection, and for Leonard, it was more than enough to soften his expression.

“Nothing happened, right?”

Just as Chaeyi was about to assure him, Silviet, who had been watching the two with a dissatisfied look, couldn’t help but interrupt.

“Yesterday’s events are a secret between us.”

There wasn’t anything to hide, but suddenly it felt like there was.

Leonard’s face darkened as Silviet teasingly stuck out his tongue.

Before another argument could start, Chaeyi quickly intervened.

“Don’t say things that’ll cause misunderstandings, Silviet. Didn’t I teach you as a kid that lying is bad?”

“Aw, fine…”

Sulking after being scolded by Chaeyi, Silviet pouted, and Leonard seemed to lighten up a bit.

At times like this, Leonard still seemed like a child too.

Suddenly, Chaeyi and Leonard’s eyes met. Leonard’s deep blue gaze was so intense it made Chaeyi’s heart race.

Chaeyi looked away, feeling embarrassed.

It was silly for a grown man like him to be acting like a teenager experiencing his first love.

Enoch soon appeared in the living room, followed by Lemuel and Ramud, who joined them outside the lair to see Chaeyi and the others off.

Silviet had offered to escort them to the mansion, so he was planning to stay with the group a bit longer.

“Travel safely, Silviet.”

“Got it!”

After releasing his polymorph form and reverting to his true appearance, Silviet opened the door of the carriage.

Because they had a long flight ahead, they decided it was safer to ride inside the carriage.

Leaving behind Lemuel and Ramud, who waved them off, Silviet soared into the sky, piercing through the clouds and starting his ascent.

Chaeyi, watching this from inside the carriage, saw Silviet grinning mischievously before taunting Leonard again.

“Should I just drop Leonard off right here?”

Though Leonard had clearly not forgotten the scolding he’d received from Chaeyi earlier, he only glared back.

“You haven’t learned your lesson after getting scolded. Go ahead if you want to get scolded again.”

“Ugh! Leonard, you’re so annoying.”

“Right back at you.”

Such childish banter.

Sigh.

Chaeyi let out a small sigh.

---

After safely returning to the Lancaster mansion, Chaeyi and his group immediately met with Delion to start the next phase of their preparations.

First, they would head toward the Blessed Land.

Second, they would join forces with the dwarves.

Since there was a treacherous canyon filled with dangerous monsters along the route, a large number of knights had been mobilized.

Apart from Leonard and Delion, the other members of Lancaster decided to stay behind to guard the lord’s place in his absence.

It took about 10 days to complete all the preparations before they were ready to depart.

The key members of this mission gathered in front of the procession heading to the Blessed Land.

“Chaeyi, are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Chaeyi nodded as he hung the Resonance Flute around his neck.

This flute, carved from what looked like a large tooth, would emit a sound only Silviet could hear when played.

It was the most crucial item for this mission, as it allowed them to call Silviet at any time.

Despite being a key member of the operation, Silviet was not present with them at the moment because of this ability.

“So that’s the fabled flute that calls the dragon? I’ve only heard about it, but now I get to see it for real.”

An unfamiliar male voice cut into the conversation.

Chaeyi turned to see a man with a tanned complexion grinning as he casually wrapped an arm around Chaeyi’s shoulder.

He quickly withdrew when Leonard shooed him away like he was swatting a bug.

“Don’t touch him.”

“Oh dear, how scary.”

Leonard’s intense glare made the man flash a cheeky smile as he raised his hands in mock surrender.

This shameless man was Clemant Rolaise, an Alpha from the far southern region of Dozemant, who had come as a reinforcement.

And then—

“Keep that up, and you’ll actually lose that hand.”

The warning came from another Alpha, Selion Stefon, who had come from the southern estate of Gavrio.

Clemant and Selion’s families were close, similar to the relationship between Lancaster and Clancras, but the two didn’t seem particularly friendly with each other.

While Clemant behaved in a boisterous and over-familiar way, Selion coldly glared at him before turning to Chaeyi and Leonard, offering a polite bow.

“My apologies, Lord Leonard, Sir Chaeyi. Should I just cut off this troublesome fool’s head? I doubt we’d miss one Alpha, even without the dragon’s help.”

“C’mon, Selion. You just want to behead me yourself, don’t you?”

“Good that you realized it now. Die already.”

“How cruel!”

Despite Clemant’s shameless antics, Selion exuded an intimidating pheromone that seemed to say he would really take his head off.

But Chaeyi, used to their antics, merely gave a small, amused smile.

Since their arrival at the Lancaster mansion a few days ago, the two had been bickering nonstop.

They never seemed to get tired of it.

Leonard, looking weary, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

Just then, Lawrence, the leader of the knights, signaled the start of their departure and climbed into the front carriage. It seemed they were finally ready to go.

“Let’s go, Chaeyi.”

Chaeyi boarded the designated carriage with Leonard.

It was the largest one, located in the middle of the procession, and they were joined by Delion, Kukuf, Leonard, Chaeyi, Enoch, as well as Clemant and Selion.

They planned to hold a strategy meeting during the journey.

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

The carriage procession slowly began to move forward, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Suddenly, Clemant, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up.

“I’ve heard elves are incredibly beautiful.”

“…….”

“I wonder how beautiful they actually are. I’m curious.”

“…….”

“Selion, aren’t you curious too?”

Unable to stand his nonsense any longer, Selion fired back, his words sharp and rapid.

“I told you, say one more stupid thing like that and I’ll kill you. Do I need to crack open your skull and hammer it in myself?”

“Ah, so scary! Clemant is frightened.”

As Selion drew his sword, Enoch intervened, asking him to restrain himself in the cramped space.

Delion shook his head, while Kukuf chuckled, commenting that the two seemed to get along well, adding fuel to the fire.

Clemant just kept smiling, seemingly enjoying Selion’s reactions.

It looked like he was teasing himon purpose, finding it entertaining.

Despite their bickering, the mood lightened up a bit.

After leaving the mansion and crossing the rugged terrain beyond the estate’s borders, the sun started to set.

Kukuf checked the situation outside and spread a map on the small table in the carriage.

“Now, before we enter the Monster’s Canyon, let me go over some precautions once more.”

* * *