"Ah~, so relaxing…" Luka murmured, his entire body subrged beneath the warm water except for his chin.
The tension in his muscles eased as the heat soaked into his bones, washing away the exhaustion from his grueling daily quest.
Leaning back against the smooth marble, he closed his eyes, inhaling the soothing scent of the steam.
It was nice for him, truly a mont of peace.
'After this bath, I need to look at a map…' Luka thought.
First, he needed to confirm exactly where he was in the ga.
Second, he had to locate the Dragon Cave—the place where a certain baby dragon with the potential to beco the strongest creature in the entire ga resided.
Not only would it serve as the ultimate flying mount, but Luka also couldn't allow the main character to claim it.
That baby dragon was his now.
'Knowing my luck, I won't be able to kill the main character early on.'
Luka had considered killing the main character in his ho village before the official ga even began, eliminating the threat before it could grow.
However, he knew that was impossible in his current state.
'The main character is definitely busy doing all the side quests in his village. So, his level must be higher than mine. On top of that, his class is overpowered, so I won't even be able to touch him…'
Sighing, Luka resigned himself to patience.
For now, he had to focus on growing stronger, altering the ga's plot by stealing key opportunities, and striking only when the ti was right.
'I have to do everything in my power to disrupt the main character's path. I can't let him grow any further once the ga officially begins.'
▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
"Here you are, Young Master!" Serene ca out of the kitchen.
The spread consisted of mashed potatoes, corn, turkey, mac and cheese, and more, filling the table with a comforting and rich variety.
She carefully set each dish down, her movents graceful and precise as she made sure everything was arranged perfectly.
Luka briefly lifted his gaze from the map he had found earlier when he left the bathhouse, offering a small nod of appreciation.
"Thank you," he muttered, his voice distant, before returning to the map.
Serene smiled softly at his gratitude but didn't press further. She quietly stepped back, allowing him the space he needed.
After a few minutes, Luka folded the map and tucked it away.
He had absorbed all the information he needed, fully knowing his position within the ga and refreshing his mory on key locations and details.
Currently, he was situated on the Valdoria continent, the heart of humanity, which made sense, given that he was human.
Luka had also figured out he was in a fortified settlent near the border, a region known for its monster infestations, with active dungeons that hadn't been cleared yet.
He lived in the most dangerous part of the entire continent…
However, there was a silver lining—the Dragon Cave wasn't too far.
Though it would take so ti on foot, it wasn't far at all if he had a mount or used transportation.
And so, Luka couldn't help but feel a bit better as he started eating his al, reaching first for the mac & cheese.
"By the way, could you prepare so ans of transportation for in the morning?" Luka asked, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth as he quickly devoured it.
He didn't even bother turning around, too focused on satisfying his hunger, shoveling food down without pause. 'Damn, this is good…'
"Of course, Young Master. How many n would you like to have assist and guard you?" Serene replied respectfully.
Luka took a sip of water, waving his free hand dismissively through the air. "I don't need anybody. I'll go alone."
He didn't want anyone getting in his way, nor did he think it was wise to let humanity discover the Dragon Cave.
A sacred location hidden within the ga, one that remained undiscovered until the player finds it.
Luka also understood the greed of humans all too well.
If they found it, they would undoubtedly seize every gold coin and treasure they could, triggering a penalty.
This penalty would awaken the adult dragons who had been sleeping within the cave for centuries…
Luka wasn't about to risk that now.
"Alone!?" Serene exclaid, her eyes wide with shock. She quickly stepped forward, concern clear in her voice:
"Young Master, that's far too dangerous! The region is crawling with monsters, and bandits roam the area as well. You can't go alone!"
Luka set his fork down and leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "listen, I'll be fine. Just trust ."
"But, Young Master, it would be highly unwise for to let you go outside without proper protection—" Serene began, her voice tinged with concern, but she faltered when he abruptly turned to face her.
"I said I'll go alone," Luka cut in, his voice firm and his eyes locking onto hers with a sharp glare. "I'm not asking for your permission."
Serene's expression tightened, her concern turning to frustration. "Young Master, you know the dangers that lie beyond these walls. I cannot—"
"You will," Luka interrupted coldly once more, "I am going alone, and that is final."
Serene's hands clenched at her sides, struggling between her loyalty and her duty. "Your safety is my responsibility, Young Master," she insisted, her voice softening but no less firm.
Luka's glare softened only slightly as he stood up from his chair and took a couple of steps toward her:
"And I trust you to protect when it matters, but this ti, I do not need you to hold my hand."
Silence…
After a couple of seconds…
Serene nodded quietly, "Alright, I apologize for speaking out of turn. I'll make sure you have everything you need for tomorrow."
With that, she turned to leave.
But Luka's voice stopped her. "It's fine. You did nothing wrong. You were only looking out for my safety, and I appreciate that."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Serene's lips. She remained silent, continuing her walk until her figure vanished around a corner.
She leaned back against a wall; her smile widened, softening.
'He's truly blossod into a better person…'
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