At that moment, Hazuki walked in casually, stretching his arms as if nothing unusual had happened.

He stopped mid-step when he spotted Ridan floating in his ridiculous party outfit, confetti still drifting in the air.

"Ridan," Hazuki said flatly, pointing his thumb over his shoulder without even changing expression.

"What~ Lolizuki~?" Ridan chimed, spinning in midair with a grin.

"Who are those two adventurer-looking people outside our house?" Hazuki asked, brow furrowed.

"Ah, those two?" Ridan replied lazily. "Don't know. They're just sleeping there."

Hazuki rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking. Then he sighed and shrugged. "Whatever," he muttered, walking past Ridan.

He stepped up to Ellyna and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her gently against him.

"Oho~" Ridan twirled in a playful spin, circling them both. "Look who's not shy anymore, eh~ Lolizuki~?"

Hazuki didn't even react to Ridan's teasing. Instead, he leaned down, kissed Ellyna's cheek, and took a slow breath beside her neck, making her giggle softly.

"Congratulations, Pinky Promise couple!! Ehehe~" Ridan cheered, spinning in the air like an overexcited mascot.

Hazuki just gave him a flat look. "Go to Syaria. Shoo, shoo."

"Ehehe~ fine, fine! I'll leave you two lovebirds to enjoy your honeymoon~ kekeke~" Ridan cackled, floating away in excitement, then paused mid-flight.

"Ah… Hazuki?"

Hazuki sighed, still holding Ellyna close. "What now, Ridan?"

"Well," Ridan began, tapping his chin with a tiny puff of magic.

"Since you still haven't finished that special herb gathering quest… maybe we should continue it soon. Who knows, it might be important to someone. And it's your fault for taking that quest secretly, remember?"

Hazuki groaned quietly. "Alright. We'll discuss it later. For now…" He turned to Ellyna, his voice softening as he kissed her again. "Me and Ellyna have more important things to do."

"Alright, alright, I'm going~" Ridan laughed, his grin stretching ear to ear as he floated off, muttering under his breath, "Ah, young love… so noisy~" before darting away to find Syaria.

Meanwhile.

Faria and her squad approached the gate of the small dwarven town, their cloaks dusted from days of travel. The dwarven guards standing watch crossed their halberds, blocking the path.

"Oi, hold up there, lass. Identification, if ye please," one of them grunted, his beard twitching as he eyed the group warily.

Faria's expression stayed composed. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a sealed royal scroll marked with the golden crest of the Beastkin Kingdom. Without a word, she handed it over.

The dwarf took one look at the seal and stiffened. "Ah… right, uh…" He scratched his beard, glancing nervously toward his partner. "Oi, Gorrik! Go get the captain, will ye?"

"Aye, aye," the other dwarf muttered, puffing his pipe before trudging toward the guard post. "Cap'n! Got somethin' important here at the gate!"

The first guard shifted awkwardly, glancing between the scroll and Faria's cold, unwavering stare. "Er… ye best wait a moment, miss. Don't wanna make a mess of royal business, aye?"

Faria smiled faintly. "Very well," she said, her tone calm.

She motioned to her knights, and with practiced discipline, they sat down by the roadside near the gate. In moments, they were unpacking rations, eating quietly as they waited.

The dwarven guards watched them curiously. One of them, a stout fellow with a thick, braided beard, scratched his cheek, then grinned.

"Eh, miss, ere's somethin' fer ye," he said, pulling a small flask from his belt. He poured a measure of amber liquor into a short iron cup and held it out toward her. "Proper dwarven brew. Warm ye up a bit after travel."

Faria looked at the glass for a moment, her lips curving slightly. "You know this is too much. I'm on duty," she said softly, her tone polite.

The dwarf froze, then gave a small grunt, muttering in his native tongue under his breath. "Hrmph… refusin' a pour, eh? Bad luck that, spittin' on the hearth's warmth…"

Faria sighed quietly, sensing the weight of his words. She lifted the glass, met the dwarf's eyes, and took a small sip. She know about the dwarven custom, when a dwarf offered a drink, refusing it was like turning down friendship.

The dwarf's face broke into a broad grin. "Aye, that's the way! Good lass!"

The guard's grin widened as Faria lowered the cup. He gave an approving nod, clearly satisfied. Then he turned back toward the guard post and bellowed at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing across the gate.

"OI! WHERE'S THE CAP'N!? THE GUEST'S WAITIN' OUT HERE!"

His shout startled a few birds off the nearby fence. After a brief silence, he huffed and muttered something under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

Then he turned back to Faria with a sheepish smile.

"Heh, beggin' yer pardon, miss. Our captain's an ungrateful son o' a stone-bellied slowpoke. Always takes his sweet time when there's work to be done."

Faria chuckled softly behind her glove. "It's fine. I've dealt with slower."

"Aye, that so?" The dwarf laughed, clearly pleased by her patience. "Still, don't let him hear ye say that, or he'll start movin' slower just to spite us!"

A loud, metallic clank echoed from the guard post as a massive dwarf in full plate armor emerged, his steps heavy enough to rattle the ground. His beard was thick and tangled, his expression clearly showing irritation more than authority.

"Oi, Alrik! What's with the bloody rush!?" the captain barked, his voice gravelly and rough.

"Can't even let a man enjoy a breath after drownin' in paperwork! By the Stonefather, you'd think I'm made o' gears!"

Alrik turned, face scrunching up as he barked right back,

"Paperwork my beard! This is official business, ye lump o' iron! I bet ye still got a hangover from last night's ale, don't ye!?"

The captain snorted, stomping closer, his armor clanking with every step. "A hangover's proof I outdrank the lads again, that's what it is!"

The two dwarves glared at each other, sparks practically flying.

Until Faria cleared her throat softly.

Both of them froze, glancing her way like two children caught misbehaving.

"Ah, pardon my stupid captain here," Alrik said with a wide grin, jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the grumbling armored dwarf behind him.

"What was that, ye beardless rock rat!?" the captain barked.

And just like that, the two dwarves were at it again, shoving, growling, and grumbling like old miners fighting over the last mug of ale. Their armored shoulders clanked together, helmets bumping, boots scraping the dirt as they wrestled without actually landing a real punch.

Faria sighed quietly, watching the "brawl." It wasn't even a fight. More like two dwarven children squabbling over toys. Her knights just exchanged looks, trying to hold back their laughter.

Then, from the side door of the guard post, a voice called out.

"Excuse me for these two idiots."

A young dwarf woman stepped out, slender by dwarven standards, her armor lighter and polished, her hair tied neatly in a braid. She looked barely in her late teens by human measure , though her eyes carried the weary patience of someone who had dealt with this nonsense far too often.

"Please," she said, giving Faria a polite nod. "Come with me to the office. Before those two break the gate again."

( End Of Chapter )

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