(A few days ago.Location :Unknown)
A man with a jagged scar across his cheek moved silently through the shadows of the narrow alleyways, his heavy winter fur coat brushing lightly against the stone walls. The dim moonlight barely illuminated his features, but his scar was unmistakable—it was the same man who had led the attack on the village.
Trailing behind him was a teenage girl with an eerily playful presence.
"Julia," the man said, his voice low and gravelly. "Your servants haven't returned from the village."
She rolled her eyes dismissively. "That's their fault for being too weak. Why should I care?"
Arthur—her companion—frowned, though his expression remained calm. "It's not just them. My manticores are missing too."
Julia let out a short laugh. "Oh, please. They probably got eaten by something in that stupid forest. You and your ridiculous pets. Just get another one already."
Arthur sighed, but his patience remained intact. "The bigger issue is whether the artifact made it to the boss."
Julia's playful demeanor soured, and she pouted. "Of course it did. But I still don't get why they never let me in on their plans. What's the point of all this if I'm always kept in the dark?"
"You're not ready," Arthur replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Fine," she said, her irritation visible, though she quickly masked it with a sly smile. "But what now? Where do we go next?"
Arthur glanced around the darkened street before responding. "We wait for further instructions."
With that, the two figures vanished into the shadows.
Lancer walked up to the little girl, her sobs cutting through the eerie silence of the clearing. He was surprised she was still conscious considering the severity of her wound. Her entire forearm sizzled, the venomous burn having eaten through the flesh to reveal bone.
Livia hesitated. "Should we take her back to the village? Maybe someone there can help her..." She trailed off, clearly unsure if anyone had the ability to treat such a grievous injury.
The system's voice broke through Lancer's thoughts.
[By using the skills Regeneration and Molecular Reconstruction in tandem, the injury can be healed.]
Lancer didn't waste a moment. Dropping to his knees, he gently took the little girl's trembling hand in his. Her cries softened as she stared at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. Blue energy began to glow faintly from his hands, spreading like a soft current over her arm.
The particles of light danced over the wound, mending flesh and bone in real time. Within seconds, the glow faded, leaving behind an arm that looked completely uninjured. The once-exposed bone was covered with smooth skin, and not even a scar remained.
The girl stared at her arm in astonishment, her sobs fading into silence. Slowly, she turned her gaze to Lancer. That's when he noticed—her eyes.
They were a striking crimson, with slit pupils like those of a reptile. They seemed to glow faintly, catching the light in a way that made him shiver involuntarily.
"Don't worry, you're going to be fine now." he said patting her head.
The girl broke into a smile and thanked him.
He smiled back but curiosity got the better of him.
"What were you doing out here all alone? Where's your family?"
Lancer was about to press the little girl for answers when the sound of footsteps crashed through the forest. A group of figures broke into the clearing, their weapons drawn and glinting ominously in the dim light. Each of them had the same blood-red eyes as the girl, but they also bore dark, curved horns on their heads.
Lancer's stomach tightened. So, that's her family, he thought.
The largest of the group, a man with imposing shoulders and a blade curved wickedly in his hand, spotted Lancer and Livia. His face twisted in a snarl. "Release my sister, human!" he bellowed, pointing his weapon directly at Lancer.
"Whoa, whoa!" Lancer said quickly, raising his hands as he stood. "I'm not hurting her. She's fine, I swear."
The girl stood up, brushing off her dress. "I'm fine! He rescued me from the giant monster!"
Her small voice seemed to cut through the tension. The leader paused, studying the scene. After a moment, he nodded, signaling his group to stand down. One by one, they sheathed their weapons, though they kept their wary gazes on Lancer and Livia.
The leader stepped forward, and the girl ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist. He knelt to hug her back, but his relief quickly turned to exasperation. "What were you thinking, wandering off to a dangerous place like this?" he demanded.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered, tears welling up again. "I won't do it again, I promise!"
He sighed, brushing a hand gently over her hair. "As long as you've learned your lesson," he muttered. Standing, he turned to Lancer and Livia. With a formal bow, he said, "Thank you for saving her. I'm Remus, and I owe you both a great debt."
"It's no big deal," Lancer replied, introducing himself and Livia. As he spoke, he studied Remus curiously. The horns, the eyes—what was he?
The system answered before he could even ask.
[Subject is part of a demon species known as Shades. They are hybrids born of humans and shadow demons.]
Shades? Lancer thought, stunned. A species born of humans and demons? Up until now, this world had felt like some surreal dream, but this... This made it all feel very real. He wasn't on Earth anymore.
Remus extended his hand. "I'm still grateful. If there's ever anything I can do to repay you, just ask."
Remus straightened after the handshake and smiled. "I'd like to show my appreciation for saving my sister. Please, allow me to invite you to our village."
Lancer glanced at Livia. Using Data Transfer, he asked her silently if she thought it was a good idea. She responded in the affirmative, her thoughts calm and steady.
"We'd be honored," Lancer said, nodding.
"Excellent." Remus gestured for his group to move, and they all began walking deeper into the forest.
The path was quiet at first, save for the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot. Remus walked beside Lancer, his sister perched happily on his shoulders. Her laughter rang out as she played with his hair.
Remus broke the silence, glancing toward Livia. "Your companion seems human," he said casually, "but your magic... it doesn't feel quite so. It's like a mix of different things."
Lancer's heart skipped a beat. He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I can assure you I'm definitely human."
Remus raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, but said nothing more.
They continued walking until the trees thinned out, revealing a small clearing nestled within the forest. Scattered around the area were a few modest houses built into or around the trees, their structures blending naturally with the surroundings. Several villagers were busy with various tasks—carrying water, tending to plants, or repairing tools.
One of them looked up and spotted Remus. A bright smile lit her face as she stood and waved eagerly. Her expression froze the moment she noticed Lancer and Livia walking behind him. The color drained from her face, and she let out a piercing scream, "Humans!"
Chaos erupted almost instantly. The villagers scattered, dropping what they were holding as panic spread like wildfire. People shouted warnings, children were rushed indoors, and the once-peaceful clearing descended into chaos.
Remus sighed, handing his sister down to one of the calmer villagers before stepping forward. His voice cut through the noise with authority, commanding everyone to stop and gather. It took a few minutes of effort, but eventually, the crowd calmed enough for him to explain.
"They're not enemies," he said firmly. "They saved my sister, Thalia, from a hydra. They mean us no harm."
The murmurs didn't cease entirely, but the villagers settled enough to listen. A grizzled old man stepped forward, leaning heavily on a cane. His sharp eyes darted from Lancer to Livia before locking onto Remus. "What's the meaning of this, boy?"
Remus repeated his explanation, recounting how Thalia had been saved. Gradually, the tension began to ease, though many still cast wary glances at the strangers.
Once the crowd dispersed, Remus led Lancer and Livia to a modest house tucked under a wide oak tree. Inside, they were greeted by his family—his mother Akhe, his father Nestor, and a younger girl who looked to be in her early teens. Her eyes darted between the strangers before settling on Livia with hesitant curiosity.
"They're the ones who saved Thalia," Remus explained.
Akhe and Daphne still looked a little intimidated, but Nestor stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Thank you. Truly, we are in your debt."
Lancer shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the gratitude. "It's fine, really. I just did what anyone would've done."
Nestor smiled faintly. "Even so, we must offer something in return. At least stay and share a meal with us."
Livia, sensing Lancer's hesitation, quickly chimed in. "We'd be happy to, thank you." She sat beside Daphne, who brightened almost instantly, and the two began chatting as if they were old friends.
Lancer, however, felt the weight of the silence hanging over the room. Nestor and Remus sat across from him, their expressions neutral but intense. He glanced at the doorway where a small crowd had gathered, whispering to each other as they peered in.
Finally, Remus spoke, his voice low. "Are you uncomfortable?"
Lancer shook his head quickly. "No, it's not that. I just... the reaction when we came in—it's hard to ignore."
Nestor let out a soft sigh, his gaze drifting to the floor. "They're afraid of humans," he said, his voice tinged with sadness.