The deep indigo sky gradually gave way to pale white on the eastern horizon—
Dawn had come, announcing the beginning of a new day.
At the Hostess of Fertility, in the spacious inner courtyard enclosed by wooden fences.
This area had originally been set aside for additional construction,
But now, it resembled an empty lot, part of the ground paved with flat stones.
The tavern's warehouse had been built right in the center of the courtyard.
A slender elven woman was tirelessly swinging her short sword.
With every motion, her soft, mint-green hair fluttered in the air.
Her attire—short-sleeved shirt and shorts—was made for ease of movement.
Her porcelain skin stood out starkly under the dim early sky.
Ryuu Lion, who had made training a daily habit, always woke up early to practice.
At this moment—
Ryuu had just completed her morning routine. Her slim arms were no longer sweating.
She narrowed her eyes, gazing at the great city wall beyond.
A wave of guilt surged within her chest, and from her lips came a soft murmur:
"Lady Astraea…"
"It's been five years."
She let the cool morning air chill her slightly damp, glistening body.
Moments later…
Ryuu shook her head, clearing her thoughts,
Then turned toward the private room she had been assigned in the inn's main building.
She needed to wash up, then head toward the southwestern district to find Raven.
The Hostess of Fertility was a three-story building made of solid stone.
From the outside, it looked like a luxury hotel, complete with a spacious rear yard.
Its clientele during the day consisted mostly of ordinary female citizens.
After noon, it catered to adventurers returning from the Dungeon.
With this time-based strategy targeting different groups—
It had become wildly popular.
Menus and prices changed between day and night.
As time flowed on...
The sunlight that would brighten the city began peeking over the walls,
Illuminating Orario in golden light.
Meanwhile—
Gentle rays of morning light slipped through a gap in the curtains of a room in the Hearth Mansion.
A soft breeze drifted in through the open window.
Raven Eltharion opened his eyes in bed and rubbed his face lightly.
But very quickly…
He frowned.
Anna Claes emerged from under the covers, her flaxen hair cascading down like silk.
"Good morning, Lord Raven~~"
"Morning."
Raven blinked, a bit surprised.
Still...
This was quite the special kind of wake-up call—and hard not to enjoy.
"You liked it?"
Anna playfully blinked her deep blue eyes at him.
She wiped her glistening lips, where a small crystal-clear trace remained.
"Yeah. I really did."
Raven couldn't deny it.
"Mmm~~"
Anna let out a soft, drawn-out hum, then spoke slowly:
"Then how about… I wake you up like this every day from now on?"
At those words—
Her pretty cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.
"Sure."
After answering,
Raven silently activated his [True Eye of Data].
Anna Claes
Level: 1
Strength: I2 → G202
Endurance: I2 → G202
Dexterity: I9 → G209
Agility: I8 → G208
Magic: I0
Development Abilities:
(empty)
Magic:
[][][]
Skill:
[Dear Bloom]
This was the latest stat update, displayed through the True Eye of Data.
After her first real battle, perhaps due to being a beginner—
She gained a whopping 800 stat points in just one go.
As for Raven…
He still earned 400 points, as usual.
"Excluding magic, you gained a total of 800 growth points."
"Eeeeehhhhh?!"
"Th-the effect… is that strong?!"
Anna was visibly shocked.
"Of course."
"This is a rare cheat-tier skill."
Raven chuckled,
Then reached out and patted the head of the clingy kitten-like girl.
"Alright, I'm getting up now."
"I won't be in Orario for the next two days."
"If something comes up that you can't handle, wait for me to return."
"And don't go into the Dungeon for now. Head to a weapon shop and get some new gear."
"Okay."
Anna nodded in understanding.
After getting dressed—
Raven walked to the large window facing east and pulled open the curtain.
The soft morning light bathed his figure.
Since arriving in this world—
He had already spent nearly a month in Orario,
But hadn't yet visited any other cities.
To the north was the Beor Mountain Range.
Beyond its perilous valleys—
Lay a rare, magnificent lake that rivaled even the Dungeon in grandeur.
To the west, a brackish lake led to the open sea.
During this season, a sky-high waterfall might even be visible.
To the east, land stretched toward the center of the continent.
The southern borderlands remained largely unexplored.
And to the southeast,
Lay a vast desert that stretched endlessly along the horizon—
The Chaos Desert.
A massive yellow-brown sea of sand—
A true counterpart to the vast ocean.
Worth noting...
The Labyrinth City Orario was located on the western edge of the continent.
A place once called "the End of the World."
And now, Raven—
Was about to take Ryuu somewhere far away…
To the home of the Goddess of Justice, Astraea.
That place was located in the distant east of Orario—
The Swordsmithing City of Zollingen.
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Author's Note:
After we wrap things up with Ryuu,
War Game Arc begins!
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