Chapter 361: The Legendary Trio
The next day, before dawn had even broken, Satella opened her eyes.
This was a habit she had developed over the past decade. Back when she lived in the slums, survival itself was a luxury, so she had to wake up early every day to travel over ten kilometers into the forest to search for food or scavenge through discarded trash for anything that could sustain her.
Hard work had long become Satella's daily routine.
But this time, waking up felt different. The silky sheets draped over her, clinging snugly to her body—soft in a way she had never imagined. Unlike the usual mornings in her crude little hut, where the chill of dawn would seep into her bones, lying beneath these thick blankets, Satella felt only gentleness and warmth.
She nestled under the covers, her smooth silver hair splayed across the pillow. Delicate fingers tugged the sheets up, covering her cherry lips and leaving only half of her breathtakingly beautiful face exposed. Outside, the sky was still dark, with only a faint glimmer of light. In the dimness, she opened her amethyst eyes—gem-like and mesmerizing—and gazed dreamily at Roy, who sat at the bedside with his eyes closed, seemingly meditating.
Seeing his hand resting on the edge of the bed, Satella couldn't resist reaching out and grasping it tightly, as if only this firm grip could convince her this was real.
Roy hadn't been sleeping at all. Though still human, his physical capabilities far surpassed ordinary people. For him, any non-combat situation counted as rest—only after intense battles would his body and mind feel fatigue. Ordinary daily life never left him drowsy.
Noticing Satella's cautious movements, he opened his eyes—which had only been feigning sleep—and turned his head to look at the Witch of Envy lying beside him.
In the darkness, only Satella's snow-white skin and those dazzling eyes emitted a faint glow, accompanied by an intoxicating fragrance.
Meeting Roy's gaze, Satella's heart fluttered, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson.
"Awake?"
"Hmm, can't sleep anymore, Lord Roy."
Satella's muffled voice came from under the blankets.
"Then don't sleep. Wash up and let's go down for breakfast together."
"Okay."
Satella smiled sweetly and climbed out of bed. Her nightgown was loosely draped, and even in the darkness, Roy's vision wasn't hindered. He could see a glimpse of her smooth skin through the wide neckline of her gown.
Feeling Roy's gaze, Satella's heartbeat quickened, but she pretended nothing was happening. She somewhat clumsily used the high-end toiletries to clean herself.
Unlike the grimy people from the slums, Satella was very clean. She washed her clothes daily, which was why they had become so worn and faded. She would even go to a distant forest stream to bathe and used fruit peels to neutralize unpleasant odors. As a result, she didn't smell foul like others from the slums but instead carried a faint fruity fragrance.
After washing up, Satella struggled a bit with putting on the long dress. These ornate European-style garments were troublesome to wear. Watching her fumble, Roy found it amusing and helped her get dressed properly. Then they went downstairs together to order breakfast.
Frugel and Shaula hadn't woken up yet—likely the type of master and disciple who slept in late every day. Roy paid them no mind and sat with Satella at a corner table to finish breakfast. They then ordered some tea and snacks unique to this world to pass the time. It wasn't until the streets outside grew lively that Frugel and Shaula finally descended the stairs, rubbing their eyes.
"Had a good sleep, Frugel?"
Roy gave him and Shaula a suggestive look.
Frugel, who had been yawning sleepily, jolted at Roy's words. When he saw Roy, his expression turned bitter, muttering something like, "So seeing him wasn't a dream after all."
"Shaula and I slept in separate rooms!"
Frugel protested under Roy's odd gaze.
"Hah, typical shut-in behavior."
Roy shook his head. From Shaula's attitude toward Frugel, it was clear the girl had feelings for him. If Frugel were just a bit bolder, he could have had his way. But like many shut-ins, he talked big in normal times but shrank back when things got real—exactly how Frugel was acting.
Still, people like him usually meant no real harm. Even if their personalities were flawed, they were relatively easy to get along with.
"You woke up too late. Let's just head out now. Skip breakfast—you'll be having lunch soon anyway."
Roy checked the sun's position outside to estimate the time. This world also operated on a 24-hour cycle, which was good news.
"Master and I never eat breakfast."
Shaula yawned as she spoke.
"A pair of lazy master and disciple."
Roy couldn't be bothered with them and simply took Satella's hand to leave the inn. The luxurious dragon-drawn carriage he had bought the day before was already waiting outside.
If conditions allowed, Roy never skimped on his own comfort.
...
"Ah, this dragon carriage is so comfortable! Back in the day, I had to traverse the continent on foot—it was exhausting!"
After boarding the dragon carriage, Flügel and Shaula became much more spirited. This was no ordinary merchant's crude vehicle, but a luxury model specifically designed for noble outings. The carriage was crafted from extravagant wood, lined with soft cushions, and provided a perfectly smooth ride without any bumps.
The carriage was pulled by land dragons—unique creatures of this otherworld. Faster and more enduring than horses, they were essentially an enhanced version, capable of traversing forests, grasslands, and hilly terrain with ease. Their only drawback was the costly meat required for their upkeep.
"But why do I have to drive?!" Flügel grumbled from the coachman's seat.
"I paid for the dragon carriage and supplies. Shouldn't you contribute some labor too? Or would you rather have Satella and Shaula—two young women—handle such physically demanding work?" Roy's lazy voice drifted from inside the carriage.
"Um, I've never driven a dragon carriage before, but if someone teaches me, I can manage," Satella's gentle voice interjected softly.
Hearing her delicate and tender tone, Flügel immediately perked up, declaring righteously, "...No need for you to do such work, Satella! Leave it to me!" With a loud shout, he grabbed the reins and set the carriage in motion.
Their group was accompanied by other merchants and travelers in their own dragon carriages—a common sight in this world. It was rare to see a lone carriage on the road, as people typically traveled together for safety.
This world was not only plagued by bandits and thieves but also frequently encountered monsters created by the Witches. Traveling alone was a dangerous affair. Thus, those departing from a city would gather before setting out together, only splitting up at crossroads.
A grand procession of dozens of dragon carriages rumbled out of the city gates. Inside his carriage, Roy frowned as he sensed someone's gaze. He pulled aside the curtain and looked outside.
A few carriages away, a red-haired man in his thirties was driving his own dragon carriage. A sword hung at his waist, and his eyes were fixed in Roy's direction—the source of the gaze Roy had detected.
Upon spotting Roy, the man grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. An aura of faint "sword intent" emanated from him.