Since it’s a place where Lizardmen live, it’s Lizardden.
The very place where Lizardmen, worshipping not a celestial being but a spirit, have lived for countless years – Lizardden.
It was also the destination for Yona and Alex.
“Did you pack everything?”
Just before they stepped out of the inn, leaving the Mage Community behind.
Yona glared at Alex as he entered his room with a frown.
“…Why?”
“Hey, why are you suddenly acting like that, bald head?”
“What do you mean?”
“When did you start looking out for me like this?”
“Ha.”
Alex couldn’t help but chuckle.
Yona’s face, boldly speaking, showed not a hint of embarrassment.
Despite Alex being there for her in every way, from food to other things, Yona had no clue about it.
But if he were to say, You don’t even know how much I’ve taken care of you—then Yona would surely snap back at him, making things complicated.
Indeed, being subtle doesn’t work here.
He needs to make it clear.
That he’s the one who has been looking out for Yona, and that thanks to him, she has been able to survive until now.
Alex made a vow again.
“Starting now, I will. Got it?”
“Geez… okay, I packed everything. Let’s go.”
Yona slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to survey the room.
Though she hadn’t lived there long, a lot had happened in that room, and it had been quite comfortable.
After giving the room a quick glance, Yona patted Alex on the back and grinned.
When they came down to the first floor, Alebians greeted them.
As always, Yona’s face stiffened at the sight of the somewhat spaced-out-eyed fairy, but that expression faded quickly.
“Looks like our pretty one is heading out?”
“Yep. I should go. If I stay any longer, I’ll just waste money for no reason.”
“Well, you should have taken what I offered.”
After scraping together every last one of the 120 gold coins Yona had, now she had only a handful of silver left in her pocket.
Honestly, without Alex, Yona would have had to find a job to gather more money.
That’s why Alebians had proposed giving Yona some gold.
Of course, Yona had refused that.
“It’s fine. I’ve got Alex.”
Yona replied with a nonchalant tone while glancing up at Alex.
Right? I’m right, aren’t I?—her eyes seemed to ask, and Alex chuckled and nodded.
“The bald guy practically hired our pretty girl.”
“Hey, hired? We’re comrades, comrades.”
“Where’s the comrade who shares money? If you’re taking money to spend, it’s an employer-employee relationship.”
“Uh…”
Yona was momentarily at a loss for words at Alebians’ comment.
Thinking it over, it wasn’t exactly wrong.
“Anyway, that’s not why I brought this up. I’ll contact Ceres, so please drop by Lizardden on your way back. By then, I might have a reply from Ceres.”
“Let’s drop by on the way back from Lizardden. By then, we might have a reply from Ceres.”
“I’ll do that. Yona, let’s hurry. If we delay, we’ll have to camp soon.”
Alex interrupted Alebians, gripping Yona’s wrist as if they were truly in a rush.
“Uh, yeah. Let’s go. Alebians, we’ll head out first. See you later.”
“Alright. Got it.”
Alebians waved, and Yona waved back.
Alex did too, but only for a moment before firmly holding Yona’s wrist and hastily striding forward.
*
No clue what kind of magic was at play, but as soon as they turned the corner of the Mage Community’s entrance, it looked just like an ordinary village again.
Looking back after fully exiting, the towering structure was gone, replaced by just a few simple two-story buildings of a modest village.
“That’s really amazing, though.”
“That’s magic for you. Let’s get moving.”
“Hey, why so fast? My arm’s gonna fall off.”
Even so, Yona didn’t shake off Alex’s grip—now just his hand. It felt strangely natural.
Yona looked down at Alex’s hand holding hers.
Isn’t just holding hands okay?
Honestly, what’s the big deal about just hands?
After all, considering he had touched her chest before, hands are just—
Chest.
Thinking about that sent a rush of heat coursing through her.
“…What are you grinning about?”
“Just.”
Alex grinned, showing his teeth.
Yona glared at him with disapproval but huffed and pouted her lips.
“Let’s just hurry. You said there’s no time to waste.”
“Right, let’s go.”
Lizardden wasn’t exactly nearby.
It was at least farther than the distance from the Infura Church Region to the Mage Community, so they really needed to step it up.
“If we walk… wow, it’ll take over five days, huh?”
Yona unfolded a map, measuring the distance with her finger.
From Infura Church Region to the Mage Community, and then from the Mage Community to Lizardden.
Looking at how far it actually was, it seemed they’d have to walk hard again this time.
“We’ll get there as long as we keep moving. There’s a village on the way, so we can take a break there. Besides, we have plenty of time now.”
“What are you talking about? I need to get this tattoo removed fast. After saying I failed because of it, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Alex laughed at Yona’s fierce expression.
Oh, he knew.
How could he not know that?
But Alex was aware of a truth he couldn’t share with Yona.
Time was on his side.
That much, at least, was a fact only Alex knew.
The path to Lizardden wasn’t too complicated.
If you walk along the shores of Lake Kantasia, you’ll come across a small town called Cantatien, and just beyond that lies your destination.
“But we shouldn’t go straight to Lizardden according to the map.”
As they walked along the lakeshore, Yona said to Alex, who was walking ahead. She remembered. Kaiyak had definitely said that his tribe was near the North Kantasia River, and if you looked at the map, Lizardden was located by the South Kantasia River, so there would likely be a difference.
“Still, I think it’s better to head to Lizardden,” she argued.
“Why?”
Alex disagreed. Even though Kaiyak had said that, he thought going to Lizardden might be more beneficial, which contradicted Yona’s opinion.
“With Lake Kantasia being so big, it’s unlikely the North Kantasia River is small. What if we go there and can’t find it? He mentioned his tribe, but we don’t know how large it is. If we blindly go and can’t find it, that would be a problem!”
“Hmm… you do have a point.”
“Really, going to Lizardden and saying we came looking for Kaiyak would be better. He said that if we mention his name, we won’t be treated badly.”
“That’s true.”
Nodding while munching on the jerky she was holding, Yona agreed. Alex’s argument had merit. Since Lizardden was named as such, many Lizardmen should live there, so they would likely direct them if they went to find Kaiyak.
It might indeed be better than chaotically searching the unfamiliar North Kantasia River.
Suddenly glancing back, Lake Kantasia was beautiful.
Not just a lake, the vastness of Lake Kantasia was overwhelming, almost too much to take in at once, encompassing the towns of Cantatien, the Mage Community, Nordmount, and Finple.
The water was a striking blue, so deep that it was hard to see the bottom, making it seem almost like an ocean at first glance.
The sunlight began to set in the west, gleaming off the water’s surface, casting a silky sheen and decorating the water, while the occasional jumping fish became a tasty meal for the nearby waterbirds.
The nameless grasses densely filled the lakeshore, swaying like waves as the wind blew through them, standing tall enough to reach waist-height.
A place where the wind rushes.
A place where the wind and lake meet in harmony.
A lake so beautiful it seemed to touch the sky.
Yona and Alex were walking along that lakeshore.
As Yona moved her feet, she constantly looked around at the enchanting Lake Kantasia.
How wonderful it would be if they came here as tourists.
Rather than living life constantly on the edge, wouldn’t it be nice to leisurely explore the scenery?
‘What would it have been like? It would have been good.’
That’s the nature of unattainable fantasies.
Knowing it can’t happen makes you want to enjoy that feeling even more, which is why it feels so fleeting.
“I hope next time, we can come here to have fun, just the two of us.”
Yona flinched at those words.
She didn’t even think of it as “the two of us,” but when Alex said something similar, she ended up getting startled for no reason.
“Why the surprise?”
Looking into her face, Alex watched as Yona shook her head nonchalantly.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
The path was smooth and quiet.
*
“Wow, you really went all out, huh?”
“Right. I have no intention of letting you go back as you please.”
The Alebians were glaring at the silver-haired beauty, Ceres, peeking from behind the crystal dome.
Whether she knew what was on the Alebians’ mind or not, Ceres didn’t wipe the sly grin off her face.
“Do you think I wouldn’t know your plan? Honestly, not thinking deeply is something that’s never changed.”
“This is my turn to talk, Ceres. I already know your plan. I know that Vervaria is involved. Some tweaks will be needed, but in the end, Yona will go my way.”
“Well, who knows? Whether your plan works or mine does, nobody has the answers. Besides, the Beastfolk nation is bound to start moving soon.”
“…I don’t care.”
“Not caring isn’t the same as saying you can’t respond even if you knew, right?”
The impulse to hurl the crystal dome away was suppressed within Alebians.
It was no good to provoke Ceres’s mood right now.
She really didn’t expect such a tightly woven web.
No matter how Yona ended up pulling such a stunt, the damage was done. They would have to adjust the plan and proceed somehow.
“Go ahead and try. I don’t know how much you can interfere, but I won’t just stand by either. In fact, Yona will end up relying on me even more. Actually, she’s already relying on me more than you think, don’t you agree?”
Alebians couldn’t deny that.
If she weren’t physically tied down here, she could have done something about it, but given the situation, even she had no other answers.
“Should I send Yona or is it better for you to come?”
“Well, I’m busy with Semek, so it’s a bit tough for me to come in person. How about meeting in Infula? It’d be nice to see you again.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Got it. I’ll head to Infula soon. See you later.”
Alebians clenched her fists tightly.
As a result, the star-shaped magic circle spinning on her palm shattered with a loud crash, and the image of Ceres floating in the crystal dome flickered out.
“…Damn it.”
Alebians muttered a curse under her breath.
That was rare.
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