The atmosphere around the small border town felt calmer and far more genuine than the capital city of Valdoria.
Warm lantern lights illuminated the stone roads while travelers slowly entered through the city gates before they closed for the night.
Unlike the capital—
Nobody here looked arrogant.
Nobody wore extravagant noble clothing or walked around with servants following behind them.
Most people simply looked tired from work, travel, or monster hunting.
And honestly—
Ren preferred this far more.
Beside him, Lyra quietly walked beneath her dark cloak while staying unusually close to him.
Close enough that her shoulder occasionally brushed against his arm naturally.
And every time it happened—
Her silver tail moved slightly behind her unconsciously.
Even if she tried hiding it.
Ren noticed.
But this time—
He chose not to tease her.
At least not yet.
The two slowly moved forward with the line of travelers waiting for inspection at the gate.
Several guards wearing chainmail armor stood nearby while checking carts and questioning suspicious people.
Compared to the drunken guards inside Valdoria—
These ones actually looked disciplined.
Ren quietly observed:
patrol routes
weapon condition
wall structure
reaction speed
Old military habits never disappeared.
Meanwhile—
Inside the capital city of Valdoria—
Princess Seraphina stood silently near the large academy window while moonlight reflected across her elegant silver-white academy uniform.
A spy knelt before her respectfully.
"It's confirmed now, Princess."
"They never entered any dungeon."
Seraphina slowly narrowed her eyes.
"So they truly escaped…"
The spy lowered his head further.
"We already began searching every possible route outside the capital."
Seraphina quietly folded her arms.
To ordinary nobles and commoners—
She was merely a princess sent away to study magic and knighthood at the Royal Academy.
But reality was completely different.
She had been politically exiled.
Her stepmother—the current queen—wanted her own son to inherit the throne instead.
And over the years—
Every rival queen and concubine standing in her way had mysteriously disappeared.
Poison.
False accusations.
Silent executions.
The palace was far more dangerous than any battlefield.
Seraphina's expression slowly darkened.
"If I fail to secure powerful allies…"
"…eventually I'll disappear too."
The room became silent afterward.
Then Seraphina calmly spoke again.
"Expand the search."
"Yes, Princess."
"They're intelligent."
"Which means they won't choose predictable routes."
The spy hesitated briefly.
"You still believe the adventurer is worth this much effort?"
Seraphina slowly looked toward the dark night outside.
"A man capable of clearing a dungeon boss immediately after arriving in the capital…"
"…while using weapons nobody understands?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"He's either dangerous enough to destroy kingdoms…"
"…or valuable enough to change them."
Meanwhile—
Inside the royal palace—
Prince Cedric lazily sat against a luxurious bed while expensive wine bottles remained scattered carelessly across the room.
Beside him—
A frightened cat beastwoman quietly sat wearing thin silk clothing.
Fear remained visible in her eyes despite her forced obedience.
A knight knelt before the prince while reporting nervously.
"The adventurer has still not been found, Your Highness."
Cedric clicked his tongue irritably.
"Then search harder."
"We suspect they already fled the capital."
"Then search the entire kingdom if necessary."
Cedric's expression slowly twisted with frustration.
Ever since hearing about Lyra—
A beautiful Silver Wolf noble—
His obsession had only continued growing.
And the fact another man possessed her instead made his pride burn painfully.
The prince coldly spoke again.
"When you find him…"
"…kill him immediately."
"And bring the wolf girl back alive."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Then Cedric suddenly asked—
"And what progress has been made regarding my succession?"
The knight hesitated.
"Several nobles still support Princess Seraphina because of public opinion."
Cedric's expression immediately darkened.
"Worthless."
"No proper plan."
"No proper results."
"Get out."
The knight quickly lowered his head before leaving.
The moment the door closed—
Cedric grabbed the nearby wine bottle and drank directly from it before throwing it aside carelessly.
The frightened cat beastwoman beside him immediately flinched.
Cedric slowly turned toward her.
"To think some nobody adventurer got his hands on a Silver Wolf noble before royalty…"
His expression twisted darkly.
"…disgusting."
The beastgirl lowered her head fearfully.
She already knew what kind of mood the prince was in tonight.
And unfortunately—
That usually ended painfully for servants.
Cedric suddenly grabbed her chin roughly.
"You beastwomen should feel honored serving royalty."
The girl forced a weak smile despite the discomfort visible on her face.
Moments later—
Cedric carelessly pushed her down onto the luxurious bed.
The room slowly filled with:
heavy breathing
expensive wine smell
trembling sounds from the frightened servant
Outside—
Several maids silently lowered their heads further.
Nobody inside the palace dared interfere with the prince anymore.
Especially after the queen began protecting nearly everything he did.
Hours later—
After satisfying his frustrations and desires—
Cedric eventually fell asleep drunkenly across the large bed.
Meanwhile—
The exhausted cat beastwoman quietly stared toward the ceiling silently.
Emotionless.
Like someone who had already stopped hoping long ago.
Back at the border town gates—
Ren and Lyra finally reached the front of the inspection line.
A middle-aged knight wearing chainmail armor stepped forward.
Unlike the lazy guards from Valdoria—
His eyes remained alert and observant.
"Names?"
Ren answered calmly.
"Ner."
The knight looked toward Lyra next.
"And her?"
Lyra's wolf ears twitched slightly beneath the hood before she answered softly.
"Arly."
The knight carefully observed both.
"What business do you have here?"
Ren kept his expression natural.
"I'm a farmer from a nearby village."
"Came here to become an adventurer."
The knight narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And her?"
"My friend."
Lyra quietly lowered her gaze while staying close beside Ren.
The knight immediately noticed their lack of identification.
"No papers?"
Ren calmly shook his head.
"Lost during travel."
The knight silently stared at them for several seconds.
Lyra unconsciously grabbed Ren's sleeve slightly beneath the cloak.
Ren noticed immediately.
But outwardly—
His expression never changed.
Finally—
The knight sighed.
"Temporary entry fee."
"Four silver each."
Ren handed over eight silver coins calmly.
After inspecting them—
The knight stepped aside.
"You may enter."
The moment they crossed the gates—
Lyra quietly released a breath.
"…That was stressful."
Ren smirked faintly.
"You handled it well."
Her ears twitched slightly at the praise.
"…You were completely calm."
"Panic attracts attention."
Lyra glanced toward him briefly.
"…Sometimes I forget you used to be a soldier."
Ren quietly laughed.
"I wish I could forget too."
The town itself felt peaceful despite remaining lively.
Lanterns illuminated the streets warmly.
Market stalls still sold food near the central road.
Adventurers walked between shops loudly discussing monster hunts.
And unlike Valdoria—
Nobody seemed obsessed with status.
Nearby—
The adventurer guild building stood beside the marketplace.
After entering—
Ren and Lyra quickly registered themselves using their fake names.
Thankfully—
Lower-rank adventurers required almost no verification.
Once finished—
The receptionist politely smiled.
"If you need lodging, there's a decent inn near the western market street."
Ren nodded.
"Thanks."
The receptionist's eyes briefly drifted toward Lyra curiously.
Even partially hidden—
Her silver hair naturally attracted attention.
Thankfully—
Nobody recognized her.
Not yet.
Later—
The two sat quietly inside the inn dining area.
Compared to the capital—
Everything here felt incredibly cheap.
Warm meat stew.
Fresh bread.
Soup.
Only six copper coins total.
Even the room itself cost merely one silver coin.
Lyra looked genuinely surprised while eating.
"…This place is much cheaper."
Ren nodded.
"Capital cities overcharge everything."
Lyra quietly smiled faintly.
"…Still."
"This place feels nicer somehow."
Ren looked around the inn.
Wooden walls.
Laughing adventurers.
Warm food smell.
No nobles.
No palace politics.
"…Yeah."
"It does."
For the first time in days—
The atmosphere almost felt peaceful.
Eventually—
The two entered their rented room upstairs.
The room itself wasn't luxurious.
But it was clean.
Warm.
Simple.
One double bed.
A small table.
One lantern.
The moment the door closed behind them—
The atmosphere immediately became awkward.
Very awkward.
Especially after:
the kiss
accepting each other as partners
holding hands during travel
Lyra quietly sat near the edge of the bed while avoiding eye contact.
Her silver tail moved nervously behind her.
Meanwhile Ren rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
"…So."
Lyra's ears twitched instantly.
"…So?"
Ren looked toward the single double bed.
"…Guess the innkeeper assumed we were already a couple."
The moment he said that—
Lyra's face instantly heated up.
"…W-We technically are…"
Her voice became quieter near the end.
Ren blinked briefly before laughing softly.
"…Fair point."
Lyra quietly looked down while lightly playing with the blanket.
Silence slowly filled the room afterward.
Only the lantern flame flickered gently nearby.
Then quietly—
Lyra looked toward him again.
"…Are humans always this nervous after accepting a partner?"
Ren smirked faintly.
"Only when the girl is beautiful."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Lyra completely froze.
Her silver eyes widened instantly.
Even her wolf ears stood upright from shock.
"…Y-You…"
Ren quietly laughed seeing her reaction.
"…Your ears are easy to read."
Lyra immediately covered them with both hands.
"They are not!"
"They definitely are."
"…Stop looking at them."
The embarrassed panic in her voice only made Ren smile more softly.
Then slowly—
Lyra moved closer toward him on the bed.
Natural.
Comfortable.
Without hesitation.
Her shoulder gently leaned against his arm.
Ren could feel the warmth of her body clearly now.
Lyra quietly spoke while avoiding eye contact.
"…Silver wolves stay close to their partners."
Ren glanced toward her slightly.
"…Convenient tradition."
Lyra lightly hit his shoulder.
"…Idiot."
But despite saying that—
A small smile appeared on her lips.
Then carefully—
She rested her head lightly against his shoulder.
Ren became silent afterward.
Not because he disliked it.
But because the peaceful feeling honestly felt unfamiliar.
After war.
After death.
After losing his old world.
This warmth beside him almost felt unreal.
Then softly—
Lyra looked up toward him.
"…Ren?"
"Hmm?"
"…Can I kiss you again?"
Her voice sounded careful.
But sincere.
Ren quietly looked into her silver eyes for several seconds.
Then gently placed one hand against her cheek.
"You don't need permission every time."
Lyra's face immediately became red again.
Then slowly—
The two leaned closer once more.
Their lips met softly beneath the warm lantern light.
Gentle.
Slow.
Comfortable.
Unlike lust—
The atmosphere between them felt emotionally warm.
Safe.
Lyra softly trembled against him before relaxing completely into his embrace.
Her tail slowly wrapped around Ren's waist happily while her fingers lightly held his shirt.
Several moments later—
The two separated slowly.
Both still remained close enough to feel each other's breathing.
Lyra quietly smiled afterward while resting against his chest.
"…I like this."
Ren softly exhaled while looking toward the lantern above.
"…Yeah."
Then slowly—
He wrapped one arm around her naturally.
And for the rest of the night—
Neither of them slept alone anymore.
Outside—
Night peacefully covered the small border town.
And inside the quiet inn room—
Two people from completely different worlds slowly found comfort beside each other.