"Ahh, Princess Lelena, please, let go of me—I'm going to suffocate!"
"Haha, you are such a nice human, Lord Airu. Thank you very much. Let me thank you even more~"
Julius's mouth was pressed between Lelena's breasts, and he was genuinely struggling to breathe while Lelena hugged him tightly as a gesture of gratitude.
Nearby, Saya and Serena were both blushing furiously.
Both of them were thinking at the same time:
I wish we were in our master's place…
Finally, Lelena released Julius's face, and he sucked in several deep breaths of air.
"You were going to kill me…"
"Haha, sorry~"
Then Lelena added, "But truly, thank you all so, so much for saving me."
"It's okay, Princess Lelena," Julius replied, trying to compose himself.
"To thank you for rescuing me, I would like to give you something. Here, please take this."
In Lelena's hand was the Ring of the Dragon Scales. It was golden, with a large ruby set in the center. It looked absolutely beautiful.
Julius accepted it gladly and slid it onto the index finger of his right hand. It fit perfectly. He could feel immediately that his power had increased significantly.
"Lord Airu, please, allow me to do you a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
Lelena stepped closer, placing her right hand gently in the center of Julius's chest. A warm, green energy flowed from her palm into his body. Gradually, every wound he had began to close, and his mana was completely restored.
"Wait…you can use healing magic?"
"Yes, but I can't use it on myself."
"Woah. By the way, could you please heal Saya, Serena, and Solvarin too? They were the main reason I was able to save you."
"Of course, Lord Airu. If that's what you wish, I will gladly do it."
Lelena's cheeks turned a delicate pink.
She walked over to all three of them and healed them one by one. Even Solvarin stood up again, fully recovered.
Then Lelena returned to Julius's side and said softly, "Lord Airu…please come and visit my kingdom with me."
"I would love to, Princess Lelena…but I have some unfinished business to take care of first."
Saya looked confused, because she had never heard of any such business before.
"Oh, I see," Lelena said. "But then…someday, please come and visit me in my kingdom in the north. I will have something waiting for you."
"Sure, Lelena."
Suddenly, Lelena grabbed Julius's head again and pressed his face right back into her chest.
This time, Saya and Serena shouted in unison:
"Not fair! We also want to feel them!"
"Lelena—it's okay—let me go—I can't breathe…"
Lelena giggled and finally released him. They all said their farewells as Lelena shifted back into her dragon form and soared away into the sky.
Saya turned to Julius, tilting her head.
"Master, what unfinished business were you talking about?"
Julius took a slow breath.
"Solvarin, Saya, Serena…I want all three of you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
Then Julius began to tell them everything about himself—everything he had seen, everything about Aurora Vermillion 1.
Serena's eyes widened.
"Then…this means…you are our god?"
"No," Julius said firmly. "I never created Maiden Gacha V2, nor did I create you. I don't know how you truly came into existence."
Solvarin was able to understand his language, because they had programmed all creatures to do so.
It bowed his head deeply before Julius.
Julius said, "Saya, Serena—if you both don't wish to follow me anymore…it's okay. I won't say anything."
Saya quickly replied, "No, master. It's not like that."
Serena added, "You are our master. We will follow you to the end of the world."
Then Julius turned to Solvarin.
"And you?"
KIYAHHH!
From the dragon's piercing cry, it was clear he was saying yes.
"Well then…it's about time we return to Marcus Valley."
He continued, "Serena, Saya—since the three of us can't all ride Solvarin at once, I'm sending you both back into the Maiden Inventory for now, okay?"
Both girls nodded.
"Sure, master."
"Cancel Maiden Summon: All."
He dismissed them back to the inventory. Then he climbed onto Solvarin's back and set off toward Marcus Valley.
In just two or three seconds, he arrived.
The town looked completely transformed.
Dark stone houses rose like warehouses, and in the center stood a massive structure—almost like a palace—built from the same ominous dark stone.
When they came out of the barrier, it was still just evening here, even though inside the barrier it had already turned to night.
Julius landed in Marcus Valley with Solvarin, but almost immediately, dozens of NPCs surrounded him, weapons drawn.
Some wielded golden spears, others held swords, staves, or grimoires that shimmered with arcane symbols.
Julius dismounted carefully, scanning the tense faces, when one NPC stepped out from the crowd.
He had long, silver hair tied neatly behind his back.
He asked, his voice polite but edged with caution, "May I ask your business here?"
Julius answered calmly, "Aurora Vermillion 1…she ordered me to return here."
The moment the name left his lips, the man's eyes went wide. Cold sweat beaded on his brow.
In a trembling, almost reverent voice, he whispered, "Finally…finally, the time has come."
He looked young—no more than his mid-twenties. He wore a refined butler's uniform and crisp white gloves. His hands were folded neatly behind his back.
He bowed low and declared, "Welcome, Programmer."
All the other NPCs who had been pointing their weapons at Julius began dropping to one knee, bowing in solemn respect.
Julius stared around in disbelief.
"What…what is all this?" he muttered. He genuinely had no idea what was happening.
The NPC straightened and said calmly, "You will understand everything soon enough, Programmer. Now…please, follow me."