The Lizardman market wasn't large—walking from one end to the other wouldn't take more than two kilometers.
But since it was built into exposed mountain terrain, it was difficult to see the surroundings once inside.
The Lizardman caravans passing through the market all knew that underground tunnels were built within it to avoid natural disasters.
When they sensed the arrival of hot winds, their first instinct was to hide in these tunnels.
Thus, Garde and Surtr found themselves witnessing the impressive sight of thousands of Lizardman rushing toward the market at once.
They hadn't realized earlier, but there were at least two to three thousand Lizardman in the market, a species that had evolved into an intelligent, communal society and was slowly developing toward human civilization.
The Lizardman in the market were mostly large in size.
Even if they weren't as big as Garde, they still towered over the smaller Surtr.
So, if Garde and Surtr wanted to leave the market, they had to withstand the oncoming rush of Lizardman.
With a natural disaster looming, the panicked Lizardman charged forward, desperate to save their lives.
They might have avoided Garde, but Surtr? They simply ran over her.
"Get out of the way!"
A nearly two-meter-tall Lizardman rushed over.
Seeing the short and slender Surtr blocking his path, he immediately tried to shove her aside without hesitation.
But when he reached out, his hand missed.
Just as Surtr was about to be run over, Garde quickly grabbed her, wrapping his arm around her waist and lifting her onto his shoulder.
The Lizardman who had tried to push Surtr away looked up and met Garde's gaze.
"Move!"
The large Lizardman initially looked like he was about to snap back, but after seeing Garde's size, he thought better of it.
He merely flicked his tongue out with a threatening "hiss" and then ran off.
One of the biggest differences between Lizardman and crocodile man might just be their tongues.
Lizardman had long, snake-like tongues they could extend quite far, while crocodile man's tongues were much shorter, barely leaving their mouths.
This had long frustrated Garde—if he couldn't stick his tongue out, how could he French kiss?
Was he supposed to open his mouth and let Gavial or Laurentina stick their heads in to suck on his tongue?
Hmm, maybe that wasn't so bad…
Standing at over two meters tall, Garde was taller than most of the Lizardman, and his body, weighing several hundred pounds, was like a defensive tower in the middle of the road.
Surtr could stand on his shoulders and launch attacks, and together they could be the strongest offense-defense duo.
"Hey, weren't you looking for someone? Why aren't you moving?"
Surtr had been somewhat annoyed at Garde for picking her up without asking, but once seated on his shoulder, she found her field of view had dramatically expanded.
The scolding she had prepared turned into an impatient push to move forward.
If not for the danger of falling amidst the surrounding Lizardman, Surtr would have stood up on Garde's shoulder.
The view was so high!
Thanks to Laevatain absorbing the heat in the air, the hot wind felt cool on Surtr's face.
Laevatain, humming behind her, seemed somewhat displeased, but Surtr paid no mind.
She let Garde's hand rest on her thigh to keep her from falling.
The Lizardman were charging inward, while Garde moved outward.
Soon, they encountered Saria and her group, who were heading into the market.
"Saria!"
Upon seeing her, Garde immediately called out loudly.
The surrounding Lizardman spoke the language of the Hotlands, but Garde shouted in Columbian, instantly grabbing Saria's attention.
"Garde—"
Saria's face lit up with a brief smile when she saw Garde, but that smile vanished the moment she noticed Surtr sitting on his shoulder.
The red-haired Sarkaz girl's gaze made the smile on Saria's face disappear, replaced with a discomfort she couldn't quite understand.
Still, she forced a smile and walked over to Garde.
"Garde, we heard a natural disaster is coming to the Hotlands. What are your thoughts?"
Saria stopped, and the other Rhine Lab operatives followed suit.
Though Garde had mentioned the terror of Hotlands disasters before, and the sight of fleeing Lizardman made it clear that hiding was the best option, seeing Garde so calm made them feel reassured.
If Garde wasn't panicking, why should they?
"My thoughts? I think we should quickly find a place to hide." Garde spread his hands. "I remember we have oxygen tanks in the sand vehicles. We should take them with us because the tunnels might not be big enough. If too many people enter, there might not be enough oxygen."
To escape the hot winds, they needed a completely sealed underground space, but if too many people crammed into such a space, the real issue could become lack of breathable air.
Garde could hold his breath for an hour or two in an oxygen-deprived environment, but could the others? Especially since the hot winds would last far longer than that.
It was only then that Saria understood why Garde had insisted on bringing oxygen tanks earlier.
There were simply too many unknowns in the Hotlands for Garde to plan for everything in advance.
If he were that meticulous, his tactics would be above standard, even exceptional.
"I get it. We'll go back and get them right away," Saria replied, but Garde shook his head.
"No, Surtr and I can go get the oxygen tanks. We're both resistant to the hot winds, and even if they arrive early, we can withstand them."
As he said this, Garde glanced up at Surtr, who was still perched on his shoulder, as if asking, "Surtr, can you handle it?"
"Hmph!"
Surtr crossed her arms, unwilling to admit she couldn't do it.
If this crocodile man could handle it, so could she.
"Alright then, Surtr and I will grab the oxygen tanks. You guys keep heading into the market—Wait, the descendant of the Nightzmora. How's your family's cellar? Is it big enough?"
Garde had been planning to send Saria and the others to the Lizardman's common shelter, but after seeing a cloaked Lizardman struggling through the crowd, he changed his mind and asked.
The cloaked Lizardman hesitated as he looked at the group from Rhine Lab, then gritted his teeth and nodded.
"It is."
"Great. Saria, follow this Lizardman to his home. He has a safe place underground. Mark the entrance, and I'll find you."
"But—"
"We're running out of time. You go ahead; Surtr and I will catch up soon."
Saria watched Garde and Surtr walk away, wanting to say something but holding back.
She clenched her fists, trying several times to voice her thoughts but hesitating.
"Garde!"
But this was Saria.
It was Garde who had awakened her from her dreams, it's him who had chosen to stay by her side for years in the dream world.
And in exchange for awakening her and choosing her...
Garde turned around, seeing Saria staring at him with unprecedented seriousness.
"Garde, would you like to have another wife?"
Garde, still carrying Surtr, nearly stumbled, almost dropping her.
Surtr shot him a displeased look as Garde gawked at Saria, stammering, "Sa-Saria, what are you saying?"
They aren't in a dream!
As someone who's not one to mince words, Saria felt a wave of relief after saying it.
She didn't think about the consequences.
She simply followed her heart.
Whether Garde accepted or refused, she had already spoken her mind.
Under the astonished gazes of the Rhine Lab operatives around them, Saria smiled.
"What I'm saying," she said, her voice firm as she looked at Garde, "is how about marrying me?"
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Tn: Hello~ Translator here, just want to give a friendly note regarding how Saria said that Garde had spent years together with her.
We witnessed the dream chapter from Garde point of view, which are merely clips and are about a few minutes at most.
But from Saria's point of view, she lives a second life there, a life where Garde is her childhood friend who is with her for years.
Although she knows that the life she had is just a dream, the years of experience and the feeling that she had doesn't just simply fade away.
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