The Price of Trespass

“Come to think of it… how exactly do you use this magic artifact that’s meant to break dragon barriers?”

Under the night sky where tree shadows overlapped and starlight shimmered, deep into the late hours—

The scout Katie finally led her Adventurer team—Luke the heavily armored warrior, Jim the lean swordsman, Edward the old mage, and Bremen the archer captain—through the dense forest, following traces, until they reached their destination.

The five of them now stood before the invisible barrier Viola had set around the cave—only visible as a faint glowing line on the ground.

Earlier, they had encountered the two-headed “three-headed hound,” and through Katie’s magical detection, they had confirmed faint traces of dragon magic lingering on its mouth.

After that, they followed its trail through the forest with difficulty, entering the range where Viola usually hunted.

Along the way, they confirmed more traces of dragon activity.

And by following those traces—visible only to Katie—they had, partly by luck, found their way here.

“I’ve been an Adventurer for years, and this is only the second time I’ve seen dragon magic traces!”

“At first, I thought I might’ve been mistaken, but there really is a dragon here!”

“This is a huge discovery! Even top-tier scouts rarely get the chance to step into a dragon’s lair!”

“Thank the gods… my family is finally saved!”

Katie was brimming with excitement at their success being within reach.

But her teammates—Luke, Jim, and Bremen—had all turned serious.

They ignored her.

Instead, they gathered around the old mage Edward, frowning as they examined the stone spike-shaped artifact issued by the guild.

“That loud, gullible brat is annoying… what if she alerts the dragon inside?”

Luke muttered in a low voice, his rough gaze carrying a hint of concealed malice.

“Why not just kill her now? We’ve already used her.”

“Annoying personality, sure—but that body of hers…”

“We could have some fun before silencing her for good…”

“Don’t rush.”

Bremen spoke in a low, calculating voice.

He picked up a small stone and tossed it toward the glowing boundary.

Psssh—

The stone instantly turned into smoke and vanished.

Completely annihilated by the invisible magic.

“Besides, we never planned to let her live and split the treasure anyway.”

“On the way back, do whatever you want.”

“Edward, hurry up already! We’ve been waiting forever!”

Jim shouted impatiently, urging the old mage.

“Careful work yields fine results. Magic can’t be rushed.”

Edward calmly studied the artifact.

“It’s inscribed with ancient runes… no external casting structure…”

“No special activation condition, it seems…”

“Should just need magic infusion… then stab it into the barrier.”

“Then DO IT already! What if the dragon comes?!”

“Yes, yes… young people these days are so impatient…”

To avoid being caught in the barrier’s backlash, Luke, Jim, and Bremen retreated.

Only Edward remained in front of the barrier.

This time, he didn’t leisurely draw spell circles.

He focused.

His wrinkled hands channeled magic into the stone spike.

It began to glow brightly.

Then—

With force—

He drove it into the invisible barrier.

ZZZZZZT—!

A piercing noise erupted.

The barrier flashed violently with blinding white light.

Flames of magic scattered wildly.

The four others watched intently.

Katie—hopeful.

The others—greedy.

The light and noise continued—

Then—

“AH—!”

Edward screamed.

A short, sharp scream filled with terror.

Gone was his calm demeanor.

Just raw fear.

Then—

Silence.

The light vanished.

The noise stopped.

Edward collapsed.

Like a withered leaf.

Dead.

“Mr. Edward!”

Katie rushed forward in panic.

“What about the barrier?!”

Behind her, Luke shouted, rushing forward with the others.

They didn’t even glance at Edward’s body.

They only checked—

The barrier was gone.

The glowing line had disappeared.

Edward lay beside it.

His arm—burnt black.

His body—shrivelled.

A dried corpse.

The stone spike remained intact.

Its runes glowed ominously.

“H-how…?! Mr. Edward… he…”

Katie’s voice trembled.

She understood enough.

His arm—burned by the barrier.

But his whole body…

Drained.

Magic.

Life.

Consumed.

By the artifact.

This was no ordinary tool.

It required the user’s life.

And the guild—

Had given it to them.

“Dead, huh?”

Luke glanced casually.

“Useless old man anyway.”

“Too slow with magic. Good riddance—more treasure for us.”

“How can you say that?! He was your teammate!”

Katie snapped.

“Shut up!”

Luke barked.

“You still want to feed your useless family or not?!”

“Don’t interfere!”

“…!”

Katie clenched her fists.

But she stayed silent.

She stood—

And walked forward.

Crossing where the barrier once stood.

Luke and Bremen watched carefully.

She wasn’t disintegrated.

Only then did they follow.

Behind them—

Jim casually crushed Edward’s burnt hand.

Took the artifact.

Pocketed it.

Something’s coming… not Viola… who is it?!

Inside the cave—

Daisy woke up in the dark.

Viola was gone.

No light.

No warmth.

Just silence.

She wrapped herself tighter in her fur blanket.

Almost moved to hide—

But stopped.

No.

She wouldn’t run again.

Not this time.

Footsteps approached.

More than one.

They paused at the entrance.

Then—

A face peeked in.

A blonde girl.

Blue glowing eyes.

It was Katie.

“The dragon isn’t inside.”

She said softly.

Then lit a magic lantern.

“Really?! Perfect timing!”

“Treasure! Where’s the treasure?!”

“Move aside—lemme check—any dragon loli? Just kidding—wait, THERE IS ONE?!”

Luke pushed forward.

And saw her.

Daisy.

Small.

White-haired.

Red horns.

Golden-red eyes.

“Hey! Look! A little girl—with horns!”

“Is that a baby dragon?!”

“HAHAHAHA!”

“Shut up!”

Katie snapped.

“Look around!”

They froze.

The cave—

Was empty.

No gold.

No treasure.

Nothing.

“…Where’s the treasure?!”

Luke panicked.

“Where is it?!”

Jim dropped to the ground, digging frantically.

“Where’s my gold?!”

Katie staggered.

“How… no treasure…?”

“My family… what do I do…”

Daisy watched.

Confused.

Who are these people?

What do they want?

“Ah—right.”

Bremen smiled.

Drew his bow.

“That child… horns… a dragon hatchling.”

“We can sell her.”

“High price.”

“WAIT!”

Katie stepped forward.

“We’re Adventurers, not traffickers!”

“SHUT UP!”

Bremen snapped.

“You want your family to starve?!”

Katie froze.

He aimed.

“I’ll shoot her legs first.”

“Then we capture her.”

TWANG—!

The arrow shot—

Missed.

Daisy had dodged.

“You… what are you doing here?”

Daisy tried to speak.

But—

“SELL HER!”

“KILL!”

Luke and Jim charged.

Jim struck first—

Fast.

Precise.

Missed.

Daisy dodged.

Then—

Luke charged.

Shield glowing with magic.

“THIS IS—!”

Daisy stepped forward.

Punch—

“OUR HOME!!!”

BOOM!

The shield shattered.

Luke was blown back.

Everyone froze.

“She… fought back…?!”

Daisy stood firm.

“This is my home with Viola…”

“You can’t come in…”

Then—

Another arrow.

Bremen fired—

Full force.

But—

Blood sprayed.

Not Daisy’s.

A head—

In Viola’s hand.

Bremen’s.

His body fell moments later.

Viola stood there.

Cold.

Deadly.

Silver eyes filled with killing intent.

Daisy blinked.

“…Viola… you’re back… and wearing clothes.”