Chapter 5 : Escape

In the morning mist that thickly filled the village square, the ashes from yesterday’s campfire still faintly emitted smoke.

The distance between the party members, which usually felt naturally close, felt strangely far today.

“Hehe… Good morning. The weather is so clear and refreshing.”

Aris stirred her black tea with an elegant smile, but her golden eyes sharply scanned the other members of the party, as if she were a dragon hunting for prey.

“Indeed… The spirits also said the same.”

Sylvia replied. Unlike her usual cool tone, her voice was as cold as the air around them, and the leaves around them rustled, reflecting her tense emotions.

At one corner of the table, Seraphine was quietly murmuring a prayer. Dressed in pure white saint’s robes, she maintained a devout posture, though her violet eyes, visible between her white hair, occasionally glinted toward us.

There seemed to be a faint desire hidden within her sacred prayers.

“How did you sleep, Haru? Here’s your breakfast!”

Nia snuck up, handing me a plate. Her black tail wagged energetically from side to side.

We sat around the table in front of the inn, but none of us ate.

The table was piled with freshly baked bread, fragrant soup, and fresh fruit, but everyone silently stared at their own plates.

What would usually have been a warm, cozy breakfast was now tense, as if it were a battlefield before a war.

“By the way… what did everyone do last night?”

Aris broke the silence first. Her voice was as elegant as usual, but there was an edge to it.

Suddenly, the air seemed to freeze.

“Well… the night air was quite pleasant. The spirits showed me many interesting things.”
Silvia’s green eyes gleamed coldly.

“There was quite a lot of holy light shining down from the sky.” Seraphine added in a soft voice. Her eyes sparkled dangerously.

“My nose can’t lie.” Nia’s sharp fangs subtly showed as she spoke.

For a moment, the table fell silent.

“Since we’re talking about it…”

Aris set down her teacup. Her golden eyes slowly scanned the others. Then they turned toward me.

“Haru, have you made plans for after defeating the Demon King?”

At that moment, all eyes were on me.

“My suggestion is to travel from one end of the world to the other. Hehe… It could be called a honeymoon, I suppose.”

Sylvia suddenly jumped up from her seat.

“What do you mean…? Haru is destined to become the king of the forest.”

At Sylvia’s words, the spirits around us flickered uneasily.

Seraphine, clutching her holy book tightly, intervened.

“The goddess’s destiny cannot be defied. The hero and the saintess must—”

Seraphine’s violet eyes darkened ominously.

“Haru is Nia’s!”

Nia’s voice carried the ferocious roar of a wild animal.

This… is bad.

At this rate, we’ll not only be facing the Demon King, but I might end up being divided into four parts!

Memories from the previous night came crashing in like waves.

Aris, appearing as a golden dragon under the moonlight. Her cold smile was still vivid in my mind.

“After defeating the Demon King… I won’t tolerate any more excuses.”

Her golden eyes were as cold as ice under the moonlight.

At that moment, I realized how terrifying a dragon’s obsession could be after living for thousands of years.

I also remembered Sylvia, running away like a rabbit in the forest. The elven queen’s long ears had turned bright red.

“After defeating the Demon King… then… anything goes!”

Her pure confession, after living for hundreds of years as an elf, now sounded like a dangerous vow.

I recalled Seraphine, spreading her pure white wings before the campfire. Her violet eyes glistened with tears.

“After defeating the Demon King… I want to have the best happy ending. With the hero.”

Her pure wish, though, now seemed to hide a deep obsession. She would never give up.

And Nia. Her words mumbled sleepily while curled up like a cat on my chest.

“After defeating the Demon King… Haru and I… the husband and wife bandits… No… the husband and wife adventurers… we’ll live honestly…”

Nia’s heartfelt sleep-talk.

And now, the four pairs of eyes at the table were locked onto each other, their gazes sharp.

The dragon’s greed, the elf’s obsession, the saint’s madness, and the beast’s instinct all stared at each other.

“Well…”

“I’ve been wondering too. After defeating the Demon King… where will the hero go?”

Their innocent question carried heavy meaning.

Would I live forever as a treasure in the dragon’s nest?

Would I become a king in the elf’s forest, living with nature?

Would I have a holy wedding in the goddess’s cathedral?

Would I become the master of a cat in the thief’s hideout?

The desires reflected in each of their eyes were too clear. Each of them was dreaming of their own ending.

Far in the distance, the black spire of the Demon King’s castle awaited us, but at this moment, right now, this was even more terrifying.

It was time to leave, but no one got up from their seat.

As if time had stopped, we were trapped in silence.

‘Once we defeat the Demon King, we’ll return right away.’

That had been the plan all along. A simple and straightforward goal. But now, even that simple goal felt distant.

Suddenly, memories from our past adventures flashed through my mind.

There had been talk of being locked in a dragon’s nest, or hiding in the World Tree where no one could find us.

They joked about having the wedding ceremony in the church’s cathedral, with the Pope officiating… or living off the treasure they had collected for the rest of their lives…

They were just playful, cute remarks back then. But now, looking back, I could already see the shadows of obsession from the start.

‘If I say we’ll return after defeating the Demon King… will they understand?’

I imagined it in my mind.

‘I miss my family. I need to go back to Earth.’

‘Family? I’ll be your new family.’

‘I want to stay as your comrade and friend.’

‘Friend? Sorry, but I can’t be content with just being a comrade anymore.’

It would never work. I could tell just by looking at their eyes.

I couldn’t even bring up the idea of going back to the modern world.

They were too clever, too perceptive, and above all, too strong.

The worst-case scenario flashed through my mind.

‘If no one can have me… maybe it’s better if they share me.’

‘First, I’ll keep them close… and slowly convince them.’

‘Before that, I must prevent the return… at all costs.’

A chill ran down my spine.

‘Am I really going to be divided into four parts?’

Suddenly, I longed for the modern world.

The days when I would turn on the air conditioner, watch Netflix, and drink Pepsi Zero.

The times when I’d watch game streams on YouTube while binge-reading web novels.

The memories of the modern world flashed through my mind.

‘Yes, I have to go back. I must.’

But that thought could never show.

The moment they find out, my life will no longer be my own.

“Everyone…”

At the sound of my voice, all four of their gazes focused on me.

Now, I could recognize the madness hidden beneath their eyes.

We couldn’t go after the Demon King like this.
I needed to buy some time.

If we defeat the Demon King now… it’s all over.
No, it wouldn’t be the end. It would be the beginning.

The worst beginning.

“Aris.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Aris looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Yesterday was really nice.”

“Hehe… It’s an honor to hear you say that.”

A victory-filled joy spread beneath Aris’s smile.

“Did you enjoy your time with me? When you climbed on top of me under the moonlight…”

“W-What did you say?”

Sylvia sharply interrupted. Her long ears trembled with agitation.

“Hehe… You should’ve seen how happy Haru was on top of me. Even the moon seemed jealous.”

Aris smiled elegantly at the other party members.

“Wait! Is that something to be proud of?”

Sylvia’s ears trembled again.

“She, she just let me ride on her dragon form!”

“Hmm? How strange. I wonder how you managed that? Did you perhaps sneak a peek at us soaring beneath the moonlight?”

Aris’s golden eyes glowed coldly.

Her voice rose, losing its usual chill.

“Last night, Haru and I… we became much closer.”

“What are you talking about?”

Aris’s pupils elongated like a serpent’s.

“Haru… Haru fondled and ravished my sensitive parts at will!”

“You…?”

Aris turned to look at me. A chilling coldness replaced her usual graceful tone.

“What is this nonsense?”

“No, I’m talking about my ears!”

Before I could finish my excuse, Seraphine’s voice interrupted.

“Wait a minute. What are you all talking about? It seems everyone’s under the ‘illusion’ that they’re close to the hero.”

Seraphine cautiously interjected.

“Last night, I was discussing with the hero how we’d hold our wedding. And, well, about our first night together…”

“Oh? You’re quite the talker. But desiring a dragon’s treasure… that’s not a very wise choice.”

A cold smile lingered on Aris’s lips.

“Everyone, quiet down! Nia and Haru were hugging and sleeping together last night! So give up already!”

Nia jumped onto the table. Her black tail puffed up like a broom.

Golden magic flared at the tips of Aris’s fingers. The fury of a dragon manifested, shaking the air.

Green spirits swirled around Sylvia. The forest spirits gathered, following the command of the enraged queen.

A holy thunderclap enveloped Seraphine as pure white energy surrounded her.

Nia’s claws scraped across the table, leaving sharp marks. Her cute cat-like appearance was nowhere to be seen; the aura of a wild beast pressed down on the room.

“This doesn’t seem like a place for wild animals to interrupt.”

Sylvia’s icy voice sliced through the air. Her emerald eyes locked onto Nia.

“Meow! Did the ear girl just call me a wild animal?! Nia is Haru’s house cat!”

Nia’s fur bristled. Fury clouded her golden eyes.
Aris slowly stood up.

“The world has changed so much. How dare you raise your voice in front of a dragon?”

“A fat lizard dare to speak so arrogantly!”

“Oh, it seems you’ve entered heat. It’s quite noisy, isn’t it?”

“A lonely old maid who spent thousands of years guarding a library doesn’t know anything!”

“Calm down, everyone. The outcome has already been decided. The hero and the saintess are destined by the goddess.”

“The lecherous saintess should stay out of this! Is having big breasts all that matters to you? You were so obsessed with keeping your purity, now you’re talking about your first night!”

“W-What?! The union of the hero and the saintess is a sacred ritual!”

“Sorry, but Haru has already become mine. From the very first moment I met him, he was my most precious treasure.”

“Where are you hiding the pride of the dragon race? Luring a human into your grasp? Your obsession, no, your madness will only create a prison.”

“Do you want to test the dragon’s patience?”

Aris’s pupils slitted like a snake’s.

“Also, aren’t you the elf who used spirits to spy on Haru? What kind of queen are you if you’re not worried about the future of the forest?”

“The saintess is the one who fits the hero best. After all, I’m the only human here. There won’t be any pain from the difference in lifespans, no strange ears to control spirits, and no wild instincts to fight against.”

“Lifespan? I’ve been researching magic to share lifespans with Haru. There’s no need to live according to a human’s short life. The longer happiness lasts, the better. If it’s eternal, even better.”

“Here we go again, with your so-called research.”

Sylvia interjected coldly.

“Are you planning to trap Haru in that library forever, using your ‘research’ as an excuse?”

“Has your long ears made your words longer too? Hari will want this himself.”

“Haru understands me best! You’re all arrogant and selfish!”

The eyes of everyone locked together. The hostility between them was palpable.

Good, just as planned. Now they’ve started tearing into each other.

“Haru promised Nia! We’ll become adventurers together!”

“That’s a lie! The hero definitely loves me!”

“Haru promised me eternity.”

“No! Haru likes me! My ears…”

I realized it was too late to turn back. But this was my goal. The jealousy and suspicion between them were exploding.

When emotions get heated, gaps appear. I had to find a way to escape amidst this chaos.