A Swift Victory

“Speaking of which, are there even any airships running this late?”

After leaving the item shop, Ren Dao-zhen glanced up at the darkening sky and asked with a hint of doubt.

“It’s already past nine. Can we even leave the city?”

“The city has no curfew, so we can leave whenever we please. Besides, an airship is unnecessary. A round trip would take nearly two days, and Claire can’t manage the café by herself. We should aim to eliminate our target in a single night.”

“Huh? Then how are we getting there?”

“We’ll fly.”

Aliciel’s tone was matter-of-fact. A Star Dragon capable of traversing the sea of stars could certainly soar through the sky.

They first made their way out through the city gate near the Adventurers’ Guild. Then, Aliciel gripped Ren Dao-zhen’s shoulder, her golden eyes erupting in a brilliant, star-violet light. A hazy luminescence enveloped them, lifting them into the air as if held by a pair of invisible hands.

“BOOM—!”

The next moment, they shot off in a single direction, their speed instantly breaking the sound barrier. A deafening boom echoed as the scenery around them blurred into streaks of color, receding at an incredible pace.

A brilliant meteor streaked across the night sky, and down below, those who witnessed its passage couldn’t help but offer up a prayer.

In a mere half hour, the meteor reached the Sunset Mountain Range. The hazy starlight dissipated, and the two landed softly on the ground without stirring so much as a speck of dust.

“Blargh—!”

The moment they landed, Ren Dao-zhen doubled over and threw up. His first experience with flight was far from pleasant. Having never even been on an airplane, he had harbored a certain romantic expectation, but the velocity—faster and more jarring than any roller coaster—had triggered a visceral, nauseating reaction.

“High-speed flight places a considerable strain on the body. It’s perfectly normal to feel unwell your first time.”

Aliciel thoughtfully offered him a flask of water and a handkerchief, patting his back gently as a soft starlight emanated from her hand, easing his fatigue.

“Getting this wrecked before the mission has even started…”

Having recovered slightly, Ren Dao-zhen grumbled weakly.

“Why did we have to come at night, anyway? Isn’t it far more dangerous then?”

“Because the café needs to be run during the day.”

“…”

‘Despite having S-class power, she insists on being a maid. A classic case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You really are the protagonist of this story, aren’t you?’

“Enough complaining. Prepare for battle. Monsters are approaching.”

“Right!”

Ren Dao-zhen took a deep breath and activated the skills he had just learned: Clairvoyance and Enhanced Senses. His pitch-black surroundings instantly sharpened into clear, bright focus. The world, once slightly blurry from his mild nearsightedness, was now so clear he felt he could see for miles.

The novel sensation sent a thrill of excitement through him.

At the same time, however, he could distinctly feel a certain energy draining from within him—what he presumed was his mana.

It was clear that at his current level, he couldn’t sustain a skill like Clairvoyance for long.

“Deactivate everything but night vision for now. Conserve your stamina and mana for the fight ahead.”

Aliciel said coolly. She didn’t require auxiliary skills like Clairvoyance. ‘Wherever starlight shines, all is laid bare before the Dragon King’s eyes.’ While her vision didn’t yet encompass half the planet, she could easily take in the entirety of the Sunset Mountain Range.

In other words, she had a personal minimap of the area, though it couldn’t reveal hidden caves or tunnels underground.

“Hm? Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me?”

“Ah! It’s just… your eyes… they’re beautiful…”

Ren Dao-zhen said, somewhat dazedly. Her eyes, as brilliant as the cosmos, had completely captured his attention. Realizing he’d been staring, he averted his gaze, a flush of embarrassment rising to his cheeks.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Aliciel gave a slight nod. Then, with a flick of her wrist, a throwing knife shot from her sleeve, flying straight toward Ren Dao-zhen.

“Whoa!”

Crying out in alarm, Ren Dao-zhen thought he was about to be killed, but the knife merely grazed his hair before embedding itself deep in the tree trunk behind him.

He looked closer and saw a python, as thick as a man’s thigh, coiled on the tree. The knife had pierced straight through its head, pinning it firmly to the bark.

“Be more careful. This forest is filled with monsters that can take your life.”

Aliciel stepped forward and retrieved her knife. With practiced ease, she skinned the snake, removed its tendons, and extracted its gallbladder. By the time Ren Dao-zhen had processed what was happening, the great python was already dismembered. She buried the useless parts and tossed the valuable materials into her storage bracelet.

Once finished, a flicker of starlight washed over her, and every trace of blood and dirt vanished from her hands and clothes, leaving her immaculate once more.

“You’re amazing, Head Maid. You even know how to field dress an animal.”

“It’s merely a basic skill required for cooking. I’ve only practiced on smaller monsters, never the larger ones.”

“That’s still incredible. You’re far more capable than I am.”

“Don’t be discouraged. You’re young, and there’s still time to learn. Field dressing monsters is an essential skill for any adventurer.”

“Yes, I understand.”

They continued deeper into the Sunset Mountain Range. Guided by her Starry Pupils, Aliciel steered them away from more powerful monsters, seeking out weaker ones for Ren Dao-zhen to use as practice.

Though his initial attempts were clumsy and humiliating—getting his face clawed up by a wild pheasant, nearly being swallowed by a frog that left him covered in a slime that almost dissolved his clothes—things were proceeding smoothly. Or… smoothly enough.

“Hey, since when are pheasants over half a meter tall and capable of knocking your head off with one swipe? And that thing wasn’t a frog, it was a giant toad! Did it wander in from the set of Konosuba or something?”

As he used the newly learned Cleansing Art to wash the slime from his body, Ren Dao-zhen could feel his mana reserves running dangerously low.

“Let’s rest for a moment. There’s a goblin cave up ahead. Prepare yourself. This won’t be a single monster—goblins operate in groups, so be on your guard.”

“Got it.”

Not one to push himself needlessly, Ren Dao-zhen wisely deactivated his skills and sat down to rest and recover his strength.

He took some dried rations and water from his storage bracelet to replenish his energy.

“If you’d prefer a hot meal, we can start a fire. With me here, no monsters will get near.”

Starting a fire in the wilderness was a sure way to attract monsters, which was why most adventurers subsisted on dry rations like jerky and bread.

But Aliciel, of course, was no ordinary person.

With a casual wave of her hand, a wisp of starlight sparked at her fingertip, drifted down to a pile of kindling, and instantly blossomed into a bright, crackling campfire.