Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

The following morning, after emerging from the forest, they finally reached the top of a hill where Dion’s domain came into view below.

”Aaah... finally, home sweet home,” Dion said, stretching his arms wide and breathing in the fresh air.

”Kyuuu!” Gina, who had been resting on Dion’s shoulder, flew in joyful circles around him.

Standing beside Dion, Luna and Mei could see the ruins of an old, destroyed village with a river running through its center. Farther down at the end of the village sat a small, palace-like mansion that looked completely abandoned from this vantage point. Taking in the surrounding landscape, they saw a vast, dark forest stretching across the south, while a sweeping grassland spread out to the north with the faint silhouettes of distant mountain ranges toward the east.

Mei glanced eastward at the sprawling forest and the mountains behind it, her expression darkening instantly. Luna noticed the sudden shift on her face.

”Do you want to go back to your kingdom?” Luna asked.

”No... I’m certain I’m considered a traitor to the crown right now for the third prince’s death. Even though Dion saved me and took the blame on himself... the Shadow Hand knows better. They definitely know the truth,” Mei answered bitterly.

”Forget about them. They’ll move on eventually anyway. Besides, that third prince was always looking for trouble with everyone. Getting his head chopped off in an inn was a long time coming,” Dion remarked casually.

”Yeah... you’re right, Dion,” Mei replied, her demeanor softening.

”Your domain is completely hemmed in by that dark forest and the mountains. It really is a dangerous, no-man’s-land,” Luna noted, turning to Dion.

”Haven’t you been here before?” Dion asked, looking over at her.

”I have, but for some reason, even though this is only my second time here, something feels a bit off. I don’t get a bad vibe, exactly... I just can’t put my finger on it,” Luna replied thoughtfully.

”Hmm... it’s not just you, Luna. Even though it’s my first time here, I feel something too. Nothing sinister, though,” Mei added, scanning their surroundings.

”Hey... are you two trying to say my land is haunted or full of weird mysteries?” Dion asked.

”Not at all, I’m just voicing what I feel, that’s all,” Luna answered.

”Look, I think Gina feels it too,” Mei noted, pointing up at Gina hovering above Dion.

Dion and Luna looked up at the tiny dragon overhead. Gina hovered motionless, staring intently at the village ruins in the distance.

”Hey... what is it, Gina?” Dion asked.

”Kyuuu?”

”Huh... you’re saying... there are people down there?” Dion asked, immediately turning his gaze toward the ruined village.

”Kyuuu... kyuuu!”

Gina pointed down toward an open stretch of grassland. Naturally, Dion, Luna, and Mei followed the direction of her little claw. All three of their eyes widened as they spotted someone riding a horse at a desperate gallop. But what truly shocked them was charging right behind the rider, a monstrous, giant boar sprinting at terrifying speed, its sheer size obvious even from high up the hill.

”Huh... a Giant Tusk Boar? What is a monster like that doing out of the forest?” Luna asked.

”That rider definitely dragged it out,” Mei replied.

”And it’s heading straight for... no way... my village and mansion! Quick, Gina... transform!” Dion shouted.

”Kyuuu... graooor!”

In an instant, Gina morphed into a colossal, fully-grown dragon. Dion leaped onto her back, followed closely by Luna and Mei behind him. Gina shot forward in pursuit of the Giant Tusk Boar—an A-rank monster whose meat was considered a rare delicacy among royal families. She flew low, skimming just above the terrain. As they drew close above the beast, the horse rider glanced back, caught sight of Gina’s massive shadow, and spurred the mount to go even faster.

”Huh... a barbarian?” Luna asked, catching a brief glimpse of the rider.

”We’ll find out soon enough. Faster, Gina!” Dion said, patting her neck.

”Graooor!”

Gina surged past the rider and descended in front of the ruined village, touching down right before the entrance. Once Dion, Luna, and Mei dismounted, she shrank back to her tiny form. They waited by the bridge spanning the river, which served as the main gateway into the settlement.

”Recall.”

A red holographic interface snapped into view before Dion’s eyes as he checked his persona menu.

*******************************************

Change Soul Persona:

1. Dion von Oswald [current]

2. Black Knight rank SSSS [activate?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 1 day)

3. Shadow Assassin rank SSSS [activate?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 1 day)

4. Berserk Monk rank SSSS [activate?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 1 day)

5. Mechanical Crafter and Gunner rank SSSS [activate?] [yes] [no] (cooldown 3 day)

6. Ancient One rank SSSS (cooldown 95:20:19)

7. ???

8. ???

*******************************************

”Look out!”

Dion shifted his focus forward. A masked barbarian girl on horseback was charging straight toward him, as well as toward Luna and Mei right behind him.

”This is bad... how do we stop it?” Luna asked nervously.

”Kyuu!” Gina chirped from behind Luna.

”We’ll block it together,” Mei added, drawing into a stance.

”All of you, stand back... including you, Gina,” Dion commanded.

Before they could react, a swirling vortex of red and black energy erupted from beneath Dion, cloaking his body. In the blink of an eye, he was donned in full-body pitch-black armor, a sleek dark helmet covering his entire face, and a massive greatsword wider than his own torso strapped to his back. Seeing Dion fully prepared, Luna scooped up Gina and retreated across the bridge with Mei, standing guard by the gate.

”Watch out!”

The barbarian girl sprinted her horse past Dion, shouting a warning as she passed. The thunderous stamping behind her grew deafening. Dion raised his hand calmly.

”Griaaaaah!”

Spotting Dion standing in its path, the monster lowered its head, brandishing its massive tusks to crush him and steamroll into the ruined village beyond. The barbarian rider pulled her horse around and yanked off her war mask, revealing a striking face filled with worry. She dismounted and grabbed her massive battleaxe, brushing her crimson hair away from her eyes before snapping her war mask back into place.

”Hey... don’t face it alone!”

Dion didn’t hear her shout, as the Giant Tusk Boar was already upon him. Then, blam! Dion threw a single punch straight into its snout. The impact sent the beast plowing snout-first into the dirt, its massive body flipping up into the air and tumbling forward toward him. Tap. Dion casually caught the falling carcass with one hand and bam! slammed the giant beast to the side.

The sight left Luna, Mei, the barbarian girl, and even little Gina standing there with their jaws hanging wide open.

Still clad in his Black Knight gear, Dion casually turned to face the three girls and the tiny dragon behind him. He flashed a quick thumb toward the giant boar collapsed beside him, then deactivated his persona.

”Looks like we’re eating good tonight,” Dion thought with a wide grin.

”Dion... is that really you, Dion?”

”Huh?”

Dion, Luna, and Mei all turned to look at the barbarian girl standing in the middle of the path, who had just removed her war mask once more. The moment Dion saw her face, a wave of mixed emotions washed over him. Mei gasped in shock, while Luna stared intently at the girl, clearly digging through her memory.

”Sheila?” Mei asked.

”Mei?! What are you doing here?” Sheila asked, turning to her in surprise.

”I came back with Dion and Luna,” Mei explained.

”Oh, right! I remember now, you’re Sheila! The barbarian princess who’s friends with Mei!” Luna chimed in, pointing happily at Sheila’s face.

”Good grief... did you seriously forget me, Luna?” Sheila asked, exasperated.

”Sorry... I see barbarians all the time back in Minatheras, you all look the same to me,” Luna replied cheerfully.

Sheila’s eyes then drifted to Gina, who was hovering right above Mei. Gina tilted her head, staring back at Sheila.

”A tiny dragon?” Sheila asked, bewildered.

”Long story. Ask Dion later,” Mei answered.

”Oh, right!”

Sheila turned on her heel, sprinting across the bridge toward Dion, who was currently kicking the motionless tusk boar to check on it.

”Diooooon!”

Dion turned around just in time for, swoosh! Sheila to tackle him into a tight hug. Unlike Luna or Mei, Sheila lifted Dion completely off the ground, her muscular arms wrapping tightly around his waist as if trying to crush his ribs.

”Aaah... okay... okay... put me down, Sheila... aaagh... my spine!” Dion yelled in agony, gasping for air.

As he was held high in the air, Dion caught sight of several people in ragged clothes from various kingdoms peeking out from the abandoned houses of the ruined village.

”Wait... who are... all these people?... Agh... forget that, my spine’s gonna snap at this rate!” Dion thought in his head.