Friends should give each other gifts

Back on the Hodyr without incident.

It wasn’t too late yet—most cabins aboard the ship still glowed with lamplight.

Just as Black was about to return to his room,he happened to run into Irena in the corridor.

Judging by the direction she was walking,the only destination down that hall was his own room.

Black crept up quietly from behind,planning to tease her a little.

“You looking for me?”

He spoke suddenly, even reaching out to ruffle the little bunny’s head.

“Ah!”

Irena jumped in fright,

instinctively grabbing Black’s hand and biting down hard.

“Yowch! Are you a rabbit or a dog?!”

Black yelped in pain.

Once she realized it was him,

Irena finally relaxed—but the moment she noticed he’d been petting her head,her cheeks flushed crimson.

“Don’t touch my head! If you keep doing that, I’ll never grow taller!”

She huffed, flustered.

Even though being pet by Black felt nice,she absolutely hated anyone touching her head—it was a matter of dignity… and height!

“Alright, alright,” Black chuckled, reluctantly pulling his hand back.

“What do you need, then?”

Irena bit her lip, then carefully pulled a small cloth pouch from her chestand held it out to him.

“For… for you.”

Her voice was soft, but her eyes were unusually earnest.

Black took the pouch,tore open a corner, and peeked inside—several faintly glowing arcane scrolls nestled within.

Their tier wasn’t high, but the quantity was impressive:Frostbolt, Fireball, Wind Shield, Vine Bind…mostly elemental spells—her specialty.

There were even a few Ice Prison scrolls—a mid-tier spell she’d used against the summoner last time.

The effort required to inscribe so many scrolls was staggering.

“This is…”

He looked up, astonished.

“I made them myself,”

Irena mumbled shyly, fiddling with her fingers.

“They’re not as good as what high-tier mages produce,but they’re useful in a pinch.”

“Your level’s a bit low… these should help you out.”

Ah.

Black’s heart warmed.

She must have been worried about him getting into trouble during the Dragon Tide.

That’s why she went through all this trouble.

These scrolls could fetch a fair amount of gold on the market.

“Is this a thank-you gift? For saving you last time?”

He smiled.

But Irena shook her head.

Her violet eyes shimmered brightly in the dim corridor light.

“It’s not a thank-you.”

She spoke with quiet conviction.

“Mom says… real friends give each other gifts.”

“You gave me Obsidian Nectar,so I have to give you something too.”

Her tone carried a stubborn certainty—as if her mother’s words were divine law.

Black paused, touched.

So in her mind, friendship was this pure.

No wonder readers called the novel’s heroine “sweet and naive.”

“Well then,” he grinned, tucking the scrolls away carefully,

“since it’s a gift from my little bunny, I won’t refuse!”

“But next time, don’t push yourself so hard.

Inscribing scrolls drains a lot of mental energy, right?”

Irena’s ears turned pink.

“It’s… it’s not hard at all!”

In truth, she’d stayed up for three straight nights after the Su Lan Three Fights,her fingertips burned raw from handling volatile spell components.

But she’d never admit it.

After a few more lighthearted exchanges,just before parting, Black suddenly placed a hand on Irena’s shoulder—his expression uncharacteristically serious.

“Listen,” he said quietly,“the final battle with Jörmungandr is probably happening in a few days.

If you run into danger, don’t be reckless.”

“Don’t be reckless,” he repeated.

“The Dragon Tide isn’t a joke.

Hide if you have to. If you can’t win, run—fast.”

“And if you absolutely must fight… be careful.

Worst case… just wait for me… or someone else to help you.”

Irena blinked, then suddenly giggled, her face adorably bright.

“But you’re lower level than me—how can you say that?”

Black’s eye twitched.

Alice had said the same thing. Now Irena too?

What’s wrong with being low-level? Did I eat your rice or something?

“Hey! I’m serious!”

“I know, I know~”

She waved him off, skipping a few steps away—then turned back and stuck out her tongue playfully.

“I’ll remember what my friend said!”

Her figure vanished down the corridor.

Black stood in place, fingers gently tracing the pouch of scrolls,a soft smile tugging at his lips.

This kid… was actually pretty cute.

Not long after saying goodbye to Irena,

Black had barely taken a few steps toward his roomwhen he stopped short.

Huh?

Was he seeing things?

That slender, elegant figure standing right outside his door—was that Alice?

Why was she waiting outside his room so late?

Was she looking for him too?

What was with today? Everyone showing up one after another?

He walked closer, and under the corridor’s lamplight,he confirmed it was indeed her.

Arms crossed, leaning casually against his door—

Alice stood tall and poised.

Tonight, unusually, she wasn’t wearing her signature red dress.

Instead, she wore sleek black light armor.

Her sword hung at her waist, its blade glinting coldly in the moonlight—and she’d even brought Crimson Soul, her prized weapon.

Her usually loose hair was tied into a high ponytail,giving her a strikingly gallant air.

Hearing his footsteps, she turned her head slightly,crimson eyes sweeping over him.

“Y-Your Highness?”

Black blinked.

“What’s this about?”

“Just passing by.”

Alice’s voice was cool, her fingers tapping impatiently against her sword hilt.

“You’re lying.”

Black was speechless.

Since when did “passing by” mean loitering outside someone’s door like a stalker?

And that tone—colder than usual—she was probably still mad at him.

Just then, a patrol of Dragon-Slaying Guards passed by.

Spotting the two of them, they bowed respectfully to Alice—though their eyes sparkled with unmistakable gossip-hungry curiosity.

Alice gave them a slight nod in return.

Black glanced between Alice and the guards,then pieced it together after a moment of thought.

Ah.

Now he understood why this tsundere princess was standing guard outside his room at midnight.

For the past few days, Dragon-Slaying Guards had been stationed near his door—on Alice’s orders—to protect him from Seth’s retaliation.

But after today’s Dragon Tide,the fleet’s alert level had been raised,and all available guards were reassigned to patrol duty.

No one was left to watch over him.

So… she came herself.

Black was genuinely flattered—and stunned.

And he was absolutely right.

Alice had indeed come because she knew the guards were too busy.

During the battle with the Dragon Tide,she’d kept glancing over at Black between clashes, checking on his condition.

She’d noticed how, while Black was rampaging with the Overlord Spear,

Seth on the other side radiated murderous intent—his face blacker than soot.

If given the choice, Alice was certain

Seth would rather kill Black than slay sea dragons.

Even in these extraordinary times,

Seth was still a battle-crazed lunatic.

Who knew if he’d storm over in the dead of night,

fueled by rage, to settle the score with Black?