The forest gradually thinned as Black Cross Lightning continued its steady gallop along the riverbank.
Its hooves barely seemed to touch the ground.
Although the horse appeared no different from an ordinary black stallion, every stride covered an astonishing distance. Trees blurred past Mays as the cool morning air rushed against his face.
For more than four hours, neither rider nor mount slowed.
The peaceful journey, however, wasn't completely uneventful.
A low growl echoed from the bushes ahead.
Several pairs of emerald eyes appeared between the trees.
Gray wolves.
Five of them.
The beasts emerged cautiously, their bodies lean with hunger as they surrounded the narrow trail. Saliva dripped from their exposed fangs while their hackles rose aggressively.
Had this been Earth, encountering a pack of wolves would have been enough to terrify anyone.
Mays merely glanced at them.
"Looks like they're looking for breakfast."
He made no attempt to draw his sword.
There was no need.
Black Cross Lightning lifted its head proudly.
Its crimson eyes flashed once.
Crack!
Without warning, a pillar of black lightning descended from the clear sky.
The first wolf never had time to howl.
Its body instantly turned into a charred corpse.
Another bolt followed.
Then another.
Within the span of two breaths, every wolf lay motionless upon the forest floor.
Thin streams of smoke rose from their blackened remains.
"...Still works."
Mays smiled faintly.
Back in HeavensTale, Black Cross Lightning possessed a unique passive ability known as Black Lightning Wrath.
Unlike active skills, this effect activated automatically whenever lower-ranked monsters displayed hostility toward its master.
Its only limitation was level.
Creatures below Level Fifty stood absolutely no chance.
Once they entered the mount's domain...
Judgment descended from the sky.
Even after arriving in this mysterious world, that ability remained unchanged.
Mays looked at the smoking corpses before nudging the reins lightly.
"Let's keep moving."
The horse resumed its pace without hesitation.
As they continued along the river, Mays silently revised another habit.
Back in the game, every monster had been categorized as a Phantom Beast.
That terminology had made perfect sense while everything existed inside a fantasy MMORPG.
Now...
Those wolves had breathed.
They had hunted.
They had died.
Whatever this place truly was, those creatures felt far too alive to continue thinking of them as game monsters.
"Just beasts..."
he murmured.
"...That's what I'll call them from now on."
Hours passed.
The river gradually widened.
Signs of civilization finally began appearing.
Fresh footprints.
Broken wagon tracks.
A crude wooden fishing spear abandoned beside the water.
Eventually, smoke drifted lazily into the sky beyond the trees.
A village.
At last.
Black Cross Lightning slowed naturally as the forest opened into a broad riverside clearing.
Several women knelt beside the flowing water, washing clothes upon smooth stones while children chased one another nearby.
The cheerful atmosphere froze the instant they noticed the newcomer.
Everyone stopped moving.
Wooden buckets slipped from trembling hands.
One elderly woman nearly dropped an entire basket of laundry into the river.
Their eyes weren't fixed on Mays.
They were staring at the horse.
"...Interesting."
He frowned slightly.
The villagers looked genuinely terrified.
Some instinctively stepped backward.
Others hurriedly pulled their children behind them.
It wasn't the reaction someone would normally have upon seeing an armed traveler.
It resembled the reaction of people witnessing something completely foreign.
Almost mythical.
Have they... never seen a horse?
That possibility sounded absurd.
Yet their expressions suggested otherwise.
No one approached.
No one greeted him.
No one even spoke.
They simply watched as he rode past.
Mays chose not to stop.
Questions could wait.
Information gathered from a larger crowd would prove more reliable than asking frightened villagers washing clothes by the river.
He gently urged Black Cross Lightning onward.
The village itself wasn't particularly large.
Most houses were built from rough timber reinforced with dried clay.
Their straw roofs had clearly weathered countless seasons.
The narrow streets remained unpaved, little more than hardened dirt marked by years of foot traffic.
Simple.
Poor.
Peaceful.
Children peeked from behind fences.
Old men paused midway through repairing fishing nets.
Women carrying baskets whispered among themselves while stealing cautious glances at the black stallion.
Mays calmly observed everything.
Architecture.
Clothing.
Tools.
Their way of life.
Each small detail became another piece of information.
From what he could tell, this settlement resembled a medieval village from Earth rather than anything remotely modern.
No paved roads.
No machinery.
No visible technology.
Everything matched the aesthetic HeavensTale had portrayed.
Eventually, one building caught his attention.
Unlike the surrounding houses, this structure buzzed with activity.
Laughter drifted through its open doorway.
Wooden barrels rested outside beneath a faded sign depicting a frothing mug.
"A tavern..."
Mays smiled.
Perfect.
If novels and manga had taught him anything, taverns served as gathering points for travelers, mercenaries, merchants, and gossip alike.
If information existed...
It usually flowed together with alcohol.
Besides...
His stomach had begun protesting after hours of uninterrupted riding.
"A proper meal sounds nice."
He dismounted gracefully before tying Black Cross Lightning to a sturdy hitching post outside.
The moment he stepped away, villagers cautiously began gathering around the horse.
Nobody dared touch it.
They simply circled at a respectful distance, whispering excitedly among themselves.
Some pointed toward its muscular frame.
Others stared at its flowing mane with childlike fascination.
One little boy looked ready to reach out before his mother hurriedly pulled him back.
Mays found the scene oddly amusing.
"They really have never seen one..."
Leaving the curious crowd behind, he pushed open the tavern door.
The lively conversations inside died immediately.
Every head turned.
The room wasn't large.
Several weathered wooden tables occupied the center, most already filled with local patrons enjoying their midday drinks.
A fireplace crackled softly despite the warm weather, filling the room with the comforting aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread.
Normally, such a place should have felt welcoming.
Instead...
Silence greeted him.
Dozens of unfamiliar eyes carefully examined the stranger standing in their midst.
Fortunately, Mays had prepared for exactly this.
The Illusion Cape concealed every trace of his legendary equipment.
To everyone else, he appeared to be nothing more than a lone traveler wearing faded clothes beneath an old gray cloak.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing remarkable.
Even so...
Outsiders clearly weren't welcomed here.
Ignoring the suspicious stares, Mays calmly walked toward the counter.
Behind it stood an elderly bald man busy polishing a wooden mug.
The bartender didn't smile.
He didn't even pretend to.
"What do you want, lad?"
His voice carried obvious displeasure.
Apparently, business etiquette hadn't reached this isolated settlement.
Mays simply pulled out a chair and sat down.
No point taking offense.
People living in remote villages naturally distrusted strangers.
"I'll have a mug of beer."
He pointed toward several freshly baked pies resting beside the open kitchen.
"And one of those pies."
The bartender grunted.
Without another word, he disappeared briefly into the kitchen before returning with a steaming meat pie placed neatly upon a wooden plate.
Moments later, a large mug of amber-colored beer landed beside it.
The aroma alone was enough to make Mays realize how hungry he'd become.
He reached toward the pie.
A rough hand suddenly stopped him.
"You pay first."
The bartender crossed his arms.
"That's common sense."
Around the tavern, several patrons exchanged amused looks.
A few even struggled to suppress their laughter.
Mays understood immediately.
He was being tested.
Or perhaps...
Simply bullied because he was an outsider.
Normally, meals were paid for after dining.
Serving the food first only to demand immediate payment made little practical sense.
Still...
He wasn't interested in causing trouble over something so trivial.
"My mistake."
He withdrew his hand politely.
"How much?"
The bartender's lips curled into a sly grin.
"Twenty copper coins."
Soft murmurs immediately spread throughout the tavern.
Even without understanding the local currency, Mays recognized those reactions.
That price wasn't normal.
He was being overcharged.
Significantly.
The bartender expected outrage.
Perhaps bargaining.
Maybe even an argument.
Instead...
Mays merely nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
His expression became troubled.
Not because the price felt expensive.
Because...
Copper coins?
He didn't have any.
Back in HeavensTale, copper currency simply didn't exist.
The smallest denomination players ever handled was silver.
That realization left him momentarily speechless.
The bartender misunderstood entirely.
His grin widened.
"So?"
"No money?"
"I can always throw you out before you finish staring at the food."
Mays sighed inwardly.
This misunderstanding was becoming troublesome.
After a brief pause, he reached into his Infinite Space Belt.
Naturally, everyone assumed he was simply searching through an ordinary pouch.
A moment later...
Several polished silver coins rested in his palm.
"...Will these do?"
The tavern froze.
Complete silence engulfed the room.
Even the bartender forgot to breathe.
Silver.
Not one coin.
Several.
Casually held as though they possessed little value.
Everyone present instinctively understood what that meant.
The beer and pie together weren't even worth ten copper.
One silver coin alone could purchase enough meals to feed an entire family for quite some time.
Yet this young traveler had produced several without the slightest hesitation.
No one could understand why.
Was he wealthy?
Ignorant?
Or simply unconcerned with money?
The bartender stared blankly at the glittering coins.
His previous confidence disappeared completely.
Just as he struggled to respond—
A cheerful feminine voice echoed from the corner of the tavern.
"One silver is more than enough."
Every head turned.
"So the old man really was trying to swindle you."
The voice carried unmistakable amusement.
"I have to admit..."
"...your response was the last thing I expected."
A cloaked figure rose from a secluded table and began walking toward Mays.
Like him, the newcomer wore a full traveling cloak that concealed nearly every distinguishing feature.
The figure stopped beside him.
"That meal costs less than ten copper."
She chuckled softly.
"Charging twenty?"
"You're practically robbing travelers in broad daylight."
The bartender's face instantly darkened.
Veins bulged visibly across his forehead.
He clearly wanted to explode in anger.
Instead, he forced himself to remain composed.
"And who might you be?"
Without answering immediately, the mysterious traveler reached up...
...and slowly lowered the hood covering her face.
The hood slid back.
Golden twin tails cascaded over the stranger's shoulders, catching the light spilling through the tavern windows.
A young woman stood before everyone with an easy smile on her face.
She looked no older than her late teens or perhaps her early twenties. A fitted yellow striped leather jacket hugged her athletic figure, while a pair of rugged black trousers allowed unrestricted movement. Twin daggers rested comfortably at both sides of her waist, polished from frequent use rather than decoration.
The most eye-catching feature, however, was the crimson dragon tattoo winding across her exposed left shoulder.
She carried herself with complete confidence.
Not arrogance.
The quiet confidence of someone who had never needed to prove her status.
The bartender's face drained of color.
"L-L-Lady Miur...?"
His voice trembled so badly that the words barely came out.
Every patron inside the tavern immediately stood from their seats.
Some lowered their heads.
Others instinctively took a step backward.
The cheerful atmosphere from moments earlier vanished completely.
Mays observed the sudden change with interest.
Lady?
Apparently, this troublesome girl possessed a far higher status than he had initially assumed.
The bartender hurriedly bowed.
"My deepest apologies, Lady Miur! I didn't realize it was you."
Miur merely waved dismissively.
"I'm not the one you should apologize to."
Her eyes shifted toward Mays.
"The traveler is."
The old bartender stiffened.
Cold sweat formed across his bald head.
This village belonged to RiverMug, one of many settlements controlled by the Blue Bear Brigands.
More specifically...
It belonged to Lord Leoki.
And everyone knew one thing.
Lord Leoki adored his only daughter beyond reason.
If anyone dared offend Lady Miur...
They wouldn't simply disappear.
Their entire family might vanish with them.
The bartender secretly thanked every god he knew for controlling his temper moments earlier.
Had he actually shouted at her...
The consequences would've been unimaginable.
Seeing the old man's pale face, Miur simply chuckled.
"You don't have to look like you're about to faint."
"I was only teasing."
The bartender forced an awkward smile.
Nobody else seemed capable of laughing.
Meanwhile, Mays remained completely indifferent.
Whether she was the daughter of a lord or the princess of an empire mattered little to him.
She was still the same girl who had interrupted his lunch.
He picked up the silver coin still resting in his hand before casually tossing it toward the bartender.
"I really don't have smaller change."
The bartender barely managed to catch it.
"If that's the case..."
Mays shrugged.
"...then use the rest to pay for everyone here."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Even Miur blinked.
"...What?"
Several villagers stared blankly, convinced they had misheard him.
Mays calmly picked up his pie.
"I said..."
He took a bite before continuing.
"...everyone can eat on me."
The tavern exploded.
"Thank you, sir!"
"What incredible generosity!"
"Bless you, traveler!"
"I'll have another mug!"
Laughter immediately filled the room.
The previous hostility directed toward Mays disappeared as though it had never existed.
Villagers crowded around the counter, eagerly placing new orders while the bartender scrambled to keep up.
He still couldn't believe someone had casually spent an entire silver coin buying drinks for complete strangers.
Mays, meanwhile, ignored the commotion entirely.
The pie was surprisingly delicious.
The flaky crust crumbled gently with every bite, while the rich meat filling remained wonderfully juicy.
He washed it down with a sip of beer.
Not bad.
Primitive by modern standards.
Yet somehow...
More satisfying than many expensive meals he'd eaten on Earth.
Across from him, Miur watched curiously.
Most nobles she knew spent lavishly only to display their wealth.
This man...
Didn't seem interested in impressing anyone.
He hadn't even looked around after making such a generous gesture.
Almost as though spending that silver coin genuinely meant nothing to him.
She slid onto the empty stool beside him.
"I'm becoming more interested in you."
Mays sighed inwardly.
Here we go again.
"So..."
She rested her chin on one hand.
"Can you at least tell me your name?"
"And where you're from?"
Mays swallowed another mouthful before answering.
"My name is Mays."
"As for where I come from..."
He smiled politely.
"...I'm afraid it wouldn't mean much to you."
Miur pouted.
"What a mysterious answer."
Then she laughed.
"At least you know how to compliment a lady."
She extended her hand cheerfully.
"I'm Miur."
"Nice to meet you."
"Mays."
He accepted the handshake.
"Likewise."
He returned his attention to the pie.
Unfortunately...
Miur clearly had no intention of ending the conversation.
"So where are you heading?"
No response.
"That black creature outside..."
"...it's called a horse, right?"
Mays nodded while eating.
"I've only read about horses in old books."
"They've supposedly been extinct around here for generations."
She leaned forward excitedly.
"Where did you find one?"
"It looks amazing."
Mays took another bite.
Silence.
Miur simply kept waiting.
Then another question.
"Can horses really run faster than carriages?"
"Does it eat meat?"
"Can anyone ride one?"
"How intelligent is it?"
Question after question poured out without pause.
Mays slowly lowered his mug.
This girl...
Talked too much.
He had originally entered this tavern hoping to quietly gather information.
Instead...
He'd become the one being interrogated.
Perhaps...
If he answered honestly, she'd finally lose interest.
"The Scorching Earth Valley."
Miur blinked.
"There are plenty of horses there."
"If you want one..."
He shrugged casually.
"...you can simply go catch one."
The mug slipped from Miur's fingers.
Crash!
Fragments scattered across the tavern floor.
"S-Scorching Earth Valley?!"
Her voice echoed throughout the building.
Every conversation stopped.
The tavern fell silent once again.
Nearby villagers exchanged puzzled glances.
"What's that?"
"Never heard of it."
"Is it somewhere nearby?"
Being isolated villagers, none of them recognized the name.
Miur did.
Her expression had completely changed.
"...That's impossible."
She stared directly into Mays' eyes.
"Scorching Earth Valley..."
"...is located on the Demon Continent."
Mays looked genuinely confused.
"Yeah."
"So?"
"I've passed through there several times."
"...Why?"
Miur's mouth opened.
No words came out.
The surrounding villagers stared at Mays with newfound awe.
Traveling between neighboring villages already seemed like a great adventure to them.
Another kingdom?
Unimaginable.
Another continent?
Pure fantasy.
Yet this young man casually spoke of crossing the Demon Continent as though discussing a stroll through the countryside.
Mays, completely unaware of the impact his words carried, continued eating.
Since she seemed interested...
He elaborated.
"The monsters there are considerably stronger."
"There are volcanic regions where even breathing becomes difficult."
"Flying beasts patrol the skies."
"You'll also want to avoid traveling at night."
He spoke matter-of-factly.
Merely sharing ordinary travel advice.
The villagers listening nearby turned increasingly pale.
Some nearly dropped their drinks.
Travel advice?
That sounded less like traveling...
...and more like surviving hell itself.
Mays only continued because he hoped the terrifying descriptions would finally discourage Miur from pestering him.
Unfortunately...
The opposite happened.
Rather than becoming frightened...
Miur's emerald eyes sparkled brighter with every sentence.
Interesting.
Far too interesting.
By the time Mays finished his meal, she'd already made up her mind.
This mysterious traveler...
Was no ordinary adventurer.
He might even be exactly the person she'd been searching for.
Mays finished the last bite of his pie before standing.
"Thanks for the meal."
He placed the empty mug upon the counter.
"I'm leaving."
Without waiting for another barrage of questions, he walked toward the exit.
Behind him—
Miur smiled knowingly.
"...Found you."
Mays, completely unaware of the dangerous conclusion she'd reached, simply pushed open the tavern doors and stepped outside into the afternoon sunlight.
The peaceful lunch he had hoped for...
Was apparently far from over.