Aldric came to their table with a big smile. "I hope the meal was good?"
"Thank you," Lucian said. "It was great."
"Glad to hear that~! You can go to your rooms whenever you want."
"It's on top of the stairs, the first two doors on the right." Aldric gave Lucian two iron keys. "Please don't be afraid to ask if you need anything else."
Lucian asked, "Is there an adventurer's guild in this village?"
Aldric's eyebrows went up. "You want to sign up as real adventurers?"
"Yes, if you can... I thought we could do quests to make more money and gain more experience. And it seems like the right thing to do if we're going to be traveling and fighting monsters."
"Good thinking," Aldric said. "Yes, we do have a small guild branch."
"It's not as big as the ones in the cities, but it's official and part of the main network. Marcus, a retired adventurer, is the guild master."
"The building is close to the village square, which has a sword and shield emblem on it."
"Great, we'll look into it tomorrow," Lucian said as he put the keys in his pocket.
"Master, should we go explore the village tonight?" Glacielle asked. "We have time before bed."
"Yeah, that sounds nice," Lucian said. "After all that food, a walk would be good."
They all left the tavern together and went out into the night. The sky was painted orange and pink as the sun set.
Most of the fires were out, and the villagers were already starting to clean up and fix things.
Lucian had never felt this kind of peace in either of his lives.
They walked through the village without a specific goal in mind. Glacielle looked happy just walking next to him and taking in the sights.
Some villagers waved and showed their gratitude as they passed, but most people were too busy rebuilding to pay attention.
After a while, Lucian said, "This is nice... just walking without any dragons trying to kill us."
"Yes," Glacielle said. "It is nice."
They found a little bridge that went over a stream that ran through the village. Lucian leaned against the railing and watched the water flow below them.
The sound was calming.
"Can I ask you something?" he said.
"Yes, Master."
"Do you remember anything from before you were trapped in the summoning realm? Like... did you have a life before you could be summoned as a bikini warrior?"
For a long time, Glacielle didn't say anything.
"You don't have to answer it if it's private—"
"I have pieces of memories about it," she finally said. "Memories of training and fighting battles."
"I remember the cold mountains and the never-ending snow... but it feels far away, like looking through a frosted window at someone else's life."
"That sounds like...you're alone."
"Yes," Glacielle said. "Being sealed was worse."
"There is life, but it is not for living purposes... there is awareness, but it cannot act..."
"It was like waking up from a nightmare that had lasted for hundreds of years when you called me..."
Lucian felt bad for her. "I'm glad I could get you out of that, even if it was just because I got lucky with a gacha pull."
"Luck or fate, it doesn't matter," Glacielle said as she turned to look at him. "You are a good master, Lucian."
"You kept me safe even when it would have been better to let me fall. You don't see me as a tool, but you see me as a partner."
"With all my heart and loyalty... I... Thank you for that."
Lucian said firmly, "You're not a tool." "You're a person. And yes, the system ties you to me, but I want you to know that I will always treat you with respect!"
Glacielle's face softened a little. "Thank you, Master."
They kept walking and eventually turned around and went back to the tavern. It was fully dark outside, and stars were starting to show up in the sky.
Lucian was really happy, which he hadn't felt in a long time.
Things were going well for him in his second life. He had a strong ally, a safe place to sleep, and a reason to live.
Things were getting better.
As they arrived at the tavern, he suggested, "We should probably get some rest."
"I'm tired, but I'm looking forward to the new adventures tomorrow."
"Yes," Glacielle agreed with a nod. "Rest is crucial for staying prepared for battle."
They went up the stairs to their rooms. Lucian's room was simple but clean. It had a bed that looked comfortable, a small desk, and a window that looked out over the village.
It was like heaven compared to his old apartment.
"Goodnight, Glacielle," he said as he stood in the hallway.
"Goodnight, Master," she said as she went into her own room.
Lucian shut the door and fell onto the bed with a joyful sigh. The mattress was soft, the pillow was fluffy, and he felt like he could finally relax after being reincarnated.
He stared at the ceiling, reflecting on everything that had transpired. Less than a day ago, he had been Ethan Cross, a miserable convenience store worker who lost his life in an accident involving a gacha game.
But now...
He was Lucian Luxfall, the wielder of the SSS Gacha System and a dragon slayer. Everything felt strange.
Yet strange was far better than being bored or having nothing at all. Just as Lucian began to drift off to sleep, he heard a soft knock on his door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Master?" The wood carried Glacielle's voice. "Can I come in?"
"WHAT!?" Lucian was shocked inside his mind when Glacielle said that.
Lucian sat up because he was confused. "Um... y-yeah. Come in!"
Glacielle opened the door and stepped inside when the door opened. She had on the silk nightgown that surprised Lucian right away.
Lucian's brain short-circuited right away. The black silk hugged her body like a second skin, showing off every curve.
The neckline dipped too low, revealing an excessive amount of cleavage. Her long legs were completely bare, and the moonlight coming through the window made her short blue-white hair look like it was glowing.
She looked like something from a website full of sexy natural girls, but not the kind where you find porn in it.
"G-G-Glacielle," Lucian squeaked, and his voice went up two octaves. "Why are you here, especially wearing that outfit?!"
"I wanted to talk to you," Glacielle said as she closed the door behind her.
She walked toward the bed with the same graceful movement that made her look like she was floating. "And to say thank you the right way."
"Thank you...? For what?!"
"For being a good master by keeping me safe during the fight... and also for being nice and respectful to me." She sat down on the edge of the bed, close enough for Lucian to smell the faint smell of frost and flowers.
"I wanted to do something more than thank you today..."
Lucian said, "You really don't need to do that," and moved back a little.
He thought his heart might burst because it was beating so fast. "You already said thank you."
"Words aren't enough," Glacielle said. Her blue eyes were fixed on his, and they looked different now.
Something that is warmer.
"You gave up your life to keep me safe and sent damage through the link that synced..."
"You could have stayed safe and let me fight alone, but you didn't."
"That's just what partners do," Lucian said weakly.
"Maybe," Glacielle said. "But I want to return the favor..."
"Master, you have worked hard today, so... you deserve to take it easy." When she reached out and touched his chest, Lucian's whole body tensed up.
"The system said that close interactions make people feel closer," Glacielle said, her voice calm even though what she was saying was completely crazy. "And stronger bonds make me stronger."
"It makes sense to go after this method, doesn't it?"
"I... uh... that's..." Lucian's mind had gone completely blank.
He struggled to find words, and clarity felt impossible. "Well..."
Lucian recognized that today was a crucial moment. He needed to take a risk, believing it would lead to a definite victory for him. He couldn't afford to waste the opportunity to finally lose his virginity.
"What do you have in mind...?"