Dawn broke over the frontier town of Greenvale. As the sun crested the horizon, its golden rays caught the lingering morning mist, a mist that glowed with a faint, iridescent hue due to the rich, ambient mana fields native to this world. Glimmering particles of light penetrated the leaded glass window of Rael’s room, dancing softly across the enchanted wooden floorboards.
Rael stood before a full-length mirror, running a hand through his hair as he changed into a set of ordinary, low-profile clothes. He examined his reflection. His skin was flawlessly smooth, yet beneath that human illusion lay the dense, indestructible bone structure and world-crushing musculature of immense strength.
"Yeah... I'm still getting used to this body," he muttered to himself, missing the days when he was just a clumsy, overworked salaryman.
Sticking his hands in his pockets, Rael opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Sure enough, standing right there like a towering, impeccably sculpted statue was Vhal’Zar. The ancient Lich, disguised as a handsome man, gave a sharp, formal bow.
"Good morning, Master. I trust your slumber was as profound and restful as always?" Vhal'Zar greeted him in a low, reverent tone.
Rael let out a heavy, defeated sigh. "Vhal... can you please stop doing this? If you want to wait for me, just wait downstairs in the tavern."
Vhal’Zar straightened his posture, his expression shifting into one of respectful defiance. "I deeply apologize, Master, but I cannot. A vanguard's duty is to stand guard at his lord's threshold."
Rael glanced around the empty corridor. "Luckily, the hallway is quiet right now. Yesterday was such an embarrassing hassle. You stood outside my door like an ominous, princely knight waiting for me to wake up, making a massive fuss. The maids and the guests couldn't stop staring at us when I finally walked out. It’s exhausting being watched like that, haaaah..."
Vhal’Zar glanced around as well, nodding slightly. "At the very least, there is no one here to witness us this morning, thankfully."
Rael placed his hands on his hips, his lips twitching. "Yeah... I wonder about that."
The moment they began walking down the grand wooden staircase and rounded the corner into the main inn lobby, Rael's hopes were instantly crushed. A massive crowd of adventurers, mercenaries, and local merchants had gathered in the center of the room, packed tightly together like sardines.
Standing right in the middle of the circle, radiating a soft, naturally divine glow, was Saint Solenne. Hearing the heavy footsteps on the stairs, she turned her head and locked eyes with them.
"Ah! You two are finally awake!" Solenne called out with a bright, joyful smile.
In an instant, the massive crowd snapped their heads around, burning with curiosity to see exactly who the Radiant Saint was addressing. The moment their eyes landed on Rael's basic E-rank plate and Vhal'Zar's imposing armor, the atmosphere in the room turned fiercely judgmental.
A barrage of harsh, quiet whispers immediately rippled through the crowd.
"Hmph. Look at those arrogant bastards. The poor Saint has been waiting down here for hours..." "They should know their place! When a literal Saint is waiting for you, you should be waking up at the crack of dawn and begging for her grace!" "Who do they think they are? Some low-tier rookies making Her Highness stand in a common tavern?"
Feeling the immense weight of hundreds of glaring eyes, Rael could only offer a thoroughly awkward, guilty smile. "He... he... he..."
Stepping through the parting crowd, Rael approached the Saint and whispered under his breath, "Ah, Solenne... why didn't you just have your Royal Guards call for us if you were already here?"
Solenne tilted her head, her face shifting into an expression of absolute, flawless innocence. She replied in a remarkably clear, carrying voice that echoed across the entire tavern, "Oh, but I absolutely did not want to disturb your wonderful sleep, Mister Rael!"
The crowd collectively gasped, their hearts melting at the Saint’s pure, angelic kindness, while their collective rage toward Rael instantly plummeted into the negatives. Heavy, murderous glares locked onto Rael’s back.
A massive vein throbbed on Rael’s forehead. 'Ugh... did this girl broadcast that out loud on purpose?! She's completely throwing me under the bus!'
"Ha... ha ha... I am incredibly sorry for the delay," Rael started, trying to salvage the situation.
But beside him, Vhal’Zar had completely reached his limit. Hearing a bunch of insignificant, low-level mortals dare to hurl insults toward his supreme master, his eyes burned with anger. He stepped forward, his baritone voice bursting with unbridled fury.
"You arrogant, microscopic insec-!"
Before the word 'insects' could leave Vhal'Zar's mouth and trigger a town-ending catastrophe, Rael shot his hand out with lightning speed, clamping his palm firmly over Vhal’Zar’s mouth.
Forcing a loud, boisterous laugh to drown out the muffled roars of his servant, Rael dragged the giant back. "HA HA HA HA! See?! Vhal’Zar here really can't control his emotions when he's hungry! He gets so grumpy in the morning! Hahaha!"
Rael swallowed hard under the intense glare of the crowd, quickly attempting to change the topic. "Right... rather than just standing around here, how about we leave immediately? Hmm?"
Solenne's lips curled into a subtle, playful smirk. "Oh? You don't wish to have breakfast first, Mister Rael?"
Knowing that staying in the main hall any longer would only make the local adventurers hate him even more, Rael laughed forcefully. "Hahaha! No need, no need! I’m already completely full. Let’s just get going!"
Solenne placed a delicate hand over her stomach, looking up at him with a soft sigh. "But... I am quite famished."
A giant tick mark exploded on Rael’s temple. Internally, his mind screamed in sheer annoyance. 'Then why didn't you just order something while you were waiting for us, you little...!'
Forcing his facial muscles to maintain a polite smile, he gestured toward a vacant table. "Then, please, order whatever your heart desires, My Lady."
"Do not mind if I do," Solenne replied kindly, her eyes sparkling with victory.
They took a seat at a corner table. Solenne gracefully ordered a light, creamy milk soup. Rael and Vhal’Zar, on the other hand, ordered thick steaks and fresh juice. Rael deliberately skipped ordering any alcohol; it was far too early for beer, and he was actively trying to break the unhealthy habits of his past life as a stressed salaryman.
With half the tavern still burning holes into their backs with envious stares, enjoying the food proved to be an awkward challenge. For a long while, no one said a word.
Breaking the heavy silence, Solenne elegantly took a spoonful of her soup, blowing on it softly before looking at Rael. "Mister Rael... you are a remarkably kind person, aren't you?"
Rael nearly choked on his steak, caught entirely off guard. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, despite the whispers, you clearly go out of your way to avoid causing a scene. Your patience is on an entirely different level," Solenne noted softly.
Rael forced out another dry laugh, sweating inside. 'Well, of course my patience is top-tier! I’m actively trying to avoid triggering a continental war over a breakfast dispute! It's exhausting...'
However, as he looked back up at the Saint, Rael couldn't help but admire her appearance. Her beauty was truly incomparable, easily eclipsing the top celebrities and artists of Earth. She possessed long, cascading snow-white hair, silky smooth skin, and captivating golden-yellow eyes. Because she wore a strictly formal, modest Holy uniform that revealed absolutely no skin, she radiated an aura of pure, untouched divinity.
Suddenly, Solenne looked up, and her golden eyes locked directly onto Rael's gaze.
Caught staring, Rael's face instantly flushed a bright crimson. "Ah! S-Sorry! I didn't mean to stare rudely!"
Solenne merely chuckled, thoroughly amused by his panic. "Ah, it is quite alright. I am well-accustomed to people freezing in awe when they look at me."
"Haha, of course," Rael blurted out completely unconsciously, his mind slipping. "Just looking at your face brings a sort of peaceful serenity to the mind. Ah! Not in a weird, sexual way, of course! It's more like"
Rael froze, mentally slapping himself into oblivion. 'What the hell am I doing?! My clueless virgin mode just kicked in! I sound like a total loser trying to flatter his crush. Shit!'
Before Rael could drown in his own embarrassment, Vhal’Zar suddenly cut into the conversation, his handsome brow furrowing in deep irritation as he glared at the Saint. "Master, if that is the specific type of aesthetic you prefer, you would undoubtedly find Vels infinitely more beautiful than her."
Even while frowning in annoyance, Vhal'Zar's human disguise was so breathtakingly handsome that several female adventurers at nearby tables swooned just watching him. Vhal'Zar was completely oblivious to the fact that he had become an instant heartthrob in Greenvale. Even yesterday, countless women had tried to flirt with him, and a few had even followed them to their rooms. But because his resurrected heart didn't comprehend human romance or emotions yet, he had bluntly rejected them all. Ironically, his cold rejections only made him more popular.
Glad for the sudden lifeline to escape his embarrassment, Rael leaned forward, playing along. "Ah, is that so, Vhal? Is Vels really that beautiful?"
Vels was one of Rael's legendary Primordial Summons. Originally a mythical Harpy, Rael had painstakingly raised and evolved her until she achieved her max-tier evolution: a High-Tier Seraphim Angel. Because her skill set was purely focused on absolute cosmic support, she was technically the weakest in raw offensive power among his six primordials, but her divine appearance was absolute perfection.
Vhal’Zar nodded firmly. "Without a doubt, Master."
Rael tapped his chin thoughtfully. 'Hmm, Vhal’s probably right. Back in the game, she just looked like a gorgeous bunch of 3D pixels on my monitor. But if she exists in real life now... she must look staggering. Though, of course, I’d never cross that line. My summons are basically my creations... I'm not touching my own children.'
"Hahaha, I see," Rael smiled warmly.
Solenne set her spoon down, her eyes shifting between the two men with a sharp, calculating look. "Your dynamic... it truly resembles that of a master and a fiercely loyal servant, doesn't it?"
Hearing her acknowledgment, Vhal’Zar proudly straightened his back. Standing up from his chair, he placed a hand over his heart and delivered a flawless, graceful noble salute. "Of course. To serve the inestimable, supreme grace of my lord is the greatest honor of my existence."
Rael’s face burned with intense embarrassment. "Okay, okay, sit down! Everyone is watching us!"
At this point, Rael entirely gave up trying to hide their relationship dynamic from the Saint. Between Vhal’Zar’s unyielding pride and Solenne’s sharp instincts, it was too exhausting to keep covering it up.
"Yeah... we are sort of like that," Rael admitted lamely, scratching his neck.
Solenne tilted her head, looking intently at the knight. "But if I may ask, Sir Vhal'Zar... why do you serve him so absolutely? According to his official guild identification plate, Mister Rael is merely an E-rank."
Hearing the dangerous probe, Rael instantly channeled his mana, firing a localized telepathic warning straight into his servant's mind.
[Sound Transmission]
'Vhal! Do not expose my true strength under any circumstances!'
Receiving the order, Vhal’Zar gave a microscopic nod. He looked directly into Solenne’s eyes, his voice carrying the absolute, unshakeable weight of a mountain. "Because he is the only entity in existence worthy of my life. My devotion to him is absolute, unquestionable, and eternal. His rank means nothing to me."
Solenne stared at him, deeply shaken by the raw, terrifying sincerity in the knight's voice. She slowly nodded, accepting the explanation. "I... I understand."
Clearing her throat, the Saint smiled gracefully as she finished her soup. "Right, then. I am fully satisfied. Shall we conclude this breakfast and begin our journey to the next destination?"
A short while later, they officially checked out of the inn and walked out to the town's main gates.
Even with his vast, veteran gamer knowledge, Rael found himself staring in awe at the transport Solenne had prepared. A waiting royal carriage was hitched to four magnificent, Pegasus-bred steeds. The carriage itself was intricately carved from enchanted white-tree timber. It didn't touch the ground; instead, it hovered gracefully six inches above the dirt road, held aloft by glowing blue levitation runes etched along its chassis. A full platoon of heavily armored Royal Guards mounted on horseback surrounded the transport.
For a brief second, Rael forgot that Solenne was a high-ranking political deity of this empire, feeling a bit self-conscious about how casually he had been talking to her.
Beside him, Vhal’Zar let out a highly arrogant, quiet scoff. "Hmph. I could easily provide a far superior transport than this garbage, Master. If you give the command, I will happily summon the Abyssal Serpent of the Slayer God to serve as your personal ride."
Rael shot a thoroughly irritated glare at his servant. 'Are you insane?! Riding a world-ending colossal undead serpent down the public highway would trigger an instant continental apocalypse! You only bring chaos!'
"Just shut up and enjoy the luxurious ride, Vhal," Rael whispered through his teeth.
Standing a few paces away, Solenne caught the hushed bickering. Assuming Vhal'Zar was merely making a playful, hyperbolic joke to show off, she offered a polite chuckle. She had absolutely no idea that the knight was completely, lethally serious.
"Please, step inside," Solenne invited gracefully.
With a soft rumble of levitation magic, the grand carriage began to move, smoothly rolling past the stone archways of Greenvale and onto the sprawling northern highway. Rael leaned against the velvet cushions, looking out the window as the town faded into the distance.
At that moment, none of them knew that in the middle of their journey, chaos was already lying in wait for them.