Three weeks since the dungeon.
Time moved strangely there.Hayato's arms had grown longer, his jaw sharper, his frame taller. He looked fourteen now, though only five years had passed since his unfortunate reincarnation. His reflection in the still pond looked nothing like the confused boy from before, more like someone who'd aged through chaos itself.
"Maybe age works differently here…" he muttered, staring at his reflection.
In those three weeks, he'd learned more about pain than living peacefully.Bitten by beasts. Burnt by stray magic. Stabbed by traps. Electrocuted by some cursed vine that called itself a "mana root." Once, he even fell off a cliff because Rai sneezed mid-flight.
Each wound had changed him. His body hardened, healed faster, adapted. And learnt another skill that allowed his soul slip out of his body briefly, hover a few meters away.He also realized that if he is hurt he wouldnt feel the pain until he brings himself back into his body. Without his soul's connection, pain didn't reach him at all.
He discovered this when he tried to stop his bleeding arm once and felt nothing. But the moment he left his soul, the agony disappeard.
Still, Hayato didn't complain much.Every near-death was experience. Every failure was a new adaptation. And as much as he hated to admit it, danger had been a good teacher.
Now, after three weeks of barely surviving, they were only two weeks away from reaching the human territories.
Hayato trudged through a narrow forest path, kicking stones as Rai walked beside him. Behind them was the girl from the dungeon, apparently she's their guide to the human land. And further back, the Elfan followed, silent as shadow, head slightly bowed as if walking behind a god.
Hayato sighed loudly. "He's still following us."
The Elfan raised his gaze. "Please, my lord. Allow me to prove my loyalty. I owe you my existence."
"I never said you could follow me," Hayato replied, annoyed. "You just started walking behind us… and never stopped."
"I can walk beside you then, if that pleases you more."
"It doesn't!"
The girl muttered, "Guess I'm part of this circus now."
Rai chuckled, his tail twitching faintly in disguise. "Indeed."
Hayato muttered, "I just don't want to share profits when I sell Rai, alright?"
Rai froze mid-step. "…Sell?"
"Shh," Hayato hissed, waving him off. "I'm planning here."
Rai blinked. "Right. Of course. Planning…"
They stopped that evening beside a ravine where moonlight filtered through crooked trees. Hayato sat against a fallen log, legs crossed lazily. Rai and Aya went hunting for food while Elfan traced runes into the dirt, muttering words Hayato didn't understand.
"So," Hayato said, turning to Aya before she left, "you said you can cook, right?"
She nodded. "I can, but… I don't have utensils or ingredients."
"I'd send you with Elfan," Hayato muttered, "but I need my guide alive."
Then, louder: "Alright. You can go with the dragon, Rai."
He waved lazily as they left. Elfan remained still, eyes closed, absorbing the mana around him. His face was unreadable, calm… almost saintly.
Minutes passed. The forest whispered.
Then Elfan's eyes opened suddenly. "Movement. Screams… east side."
Hayato barely opened one eye. "Forget it. Probably humans passing by."
A pause.
"Wait… humans?"
He shot up immediately, dusting his pants. "They could lead us to a town! Finally, someone civilized!"
He jogged toward the noise, excitement replacing exhaustion. Elfan followed silently.
The closer they got, the louder the screams became, metal clashing, cries echoing through the night. When they reached a clearing, the sight hit Hayato like a brick to the face.
The girl was on the ground, surrounded by bandits. Blood stained her torn clothes.A few meters away, Rai was cornered, three spears aimed at his chest, his wings flickering weakly.
Hayato frowned. "Rai," he said calmly. "Dispose of them quickly. I'm hungry."
He turned his back and started to walk away.
Then came the sound.A wet, heavy thud.
Hayato stopped midstep. Slowly, his eyes turned.
Rai was lying in the dirt, blood pooling beneath him.
For a moment, nothing existed. Just the quiet crackle of fire and the faint drip of blood.
One of the bandits laughed. "Hurry up! Capture the human and the woman!"
Hayato's heart went hollow.He walked toward Rai's lifeless body, each step heavier than the last. Kneeling down, he placed a trembling hand on Rai's scales.
"Hey… stop pretending," he whispered. "We can't joke around here, you idiot. Get up."
Silence.
He shook Rai's shoulder gently. "Come on. You still owe me, remember? You're suppose to reach the human land with me…"
Still nothing.
His voice broke. "Don't joke like this, damn it…"
The Elfan watched from afar, breath caught. He mourns his servant… even in loss. Such grace. Such compassion…
Inside Hayato's head, chaos spiraled. "All that running, all that bleeding, all those nights I told myself it would be worth it…gone because of a few bandits? Was the dragon always this weak? No, maybe they used magic. Yeah… that's it. Must be magic."
The bandit leader shouted again, "What are you fools waiting for? Capture them!"
Hayato didn't move.
Another bandit lunged, stabbing his back.
The sound of the spear sliding in echoed across the clearing.
The bandit smirked. "Got him!"
Hayato didn't react. Didn't even flinch. He turned his head slightly, eyes dull. Then he looked down at the spear sticking out of him… and pulled it out. Casually. Effortlessly.
The bandit stumbled back, pale. "W-What the hell…"
Elfan froze, pupils dilated. Why did master allow that human to stab him… He must be really holding back!
What Elfan didn't know was that Hayato felt nothing. His body and soul were detached; pain couldn't reach him.
Hayato's voice was calm but sharp enough to cut. "Do you know how much a dead dragon's body sells for?"
The Elfan's eyes widened. He honors the fallen's worth before vengeance… majestic.
Hayato clenched his fists. "It's priceless… because I could've lived in a pile of money."
Then, without another word, he grabbed the bandit who stabbed him and punched.Once.Twice.Over and over until the screams became cracks, and the cracks became silence.
When it ended, he stood amidst blood and bodies, chest heaving. His face was blank, eyes glassy. He looked up at the stars, no words, no tears, just the ache of loss.
The Elfan stared in awe. He shows mercy… allowing some to live after such betrayal. Such divine control.
Hayato turned to Rai's corpse, voice hoarse. "Can you… heal them?"
The Elfan blinked. He knews I was here? Impossible…He lowered his head. "I see… there is nothing hidden from you, my lord."
He began chanting, the air vibrating as crimson runes circled the ground. Blood rose, bodies crumbled to dust. Rai's wounds began to close; Aya's breath returned. But when her eyes opened, they glowed faintly, a hollow light, cold and distant.
Elfan exhaled. "It is done, my lord."
Hayato blinked. "…Wait. You can actually do that?"
He straightened up, adjusting his torn shirt. "Well… of course. Good job."
And as if fate played along, he muttered without thinking, "You did well, Elzan."
The Elfan froze. His chest glowed faint red. "My… name? You have… named me?"
"Master..."
He dropped to one knee immediately. "From this moment, I am yours, eternally. My life, blade, and soul, yours to command!"
Hayato blinked twice. "…I didn't—"He sighed. "Yeah, sure. Just… don't snore near me."
"Master..."
Elzan bowed deeper. "Your humility humbles me further, master!"
Hayato groaned. "I was talking about snoring…"
"Master…" Then the voice echoed again, clearer this time familiar...
To be continued...