“Just hit 5 points total in 5 throws and you’ll win a prize.”

Xenon looked at the dart target with interest as the barker shouted enthusiastically.

Rudis shook her head and whispered quietly, “That’s a scam.”

“A scam?”

“I’ve tried it before and you absolutely can’t hit it. I don’t know what trick they’re using, but it’s definitely rigged.”

The bullseye at the center of the dart board was worth 5 points. Though it looked easy—you could win a prize by hitting just 1 point each time for all five throws—even hitting the 1-point section was difficult. This was knowledge gained from throwing away money for six whole years.

“I’ll try it anyway. I feel like I can do anything when I’m with you, Rudis.”

“Ugh… suit yourself.”

When she waved her hand dismissively, Xenon approached the barker.

“How much for one game?”

“Y-you want to play?” the barker asked, breaking into a cold sweat.

When Xenon nodded, the man reluctantly answered, “…50Z.”

Xenon paid and picked up a dart. The moment he threw the first arrow, there was a sound like a whip cracking, and the dart embedded itself deeply in the exact center of the target.

THWACK! So forcefully that the dart board nearly split in half.

“AHHH!”

The barker collapsed, covering his face as though the dart board were his own face.

“Where’s my prize?” Xenon calmly asked as he helped the barker up and even dusted him off.

“Yes, yes! Here it is. Take it, please!”

The barker hurriedly handed the prize to Xenon.

“Good work.”

Unless he had spare dart boards, it seemed the man wouldn’t be doing much more work today…

Xenon waved casually as he turned away. Following him as he cheerfully left behind the nearly tearful man, Rudis chattered excitedly.

“Wow! How did you do that? I could never make it work. I always thought it was rigged. I even practiced at home, but I couldn’t do it.”

“You practiced?”

When Xenon suddenly stopped and asked, Rudis became a bit embarrassed.

It wasn’t just ordinary practice. At home, she had trained intensively for nearly three years until she could hit the bullseye blindfolded from an even greater distance. But she still failed at the carnival. Eventually, Rudis concluded that the dart board must be rigged.

But revealing all that felt like exposing an embarrassing past, so Rudis downplayed her efforts.

“I was just curious about the prize, so I threw a few darts at home. The carnival comes every year, so…”

Xenon would surely seize this opportunity to tease her. Feeling awkward, she fidgeted with her fingers.

“Then would you like to have this?” Xenon held out the still-wrapped prize.

“This? Why?”

It was the first time she’d received a gift when it wasn’t for a quest or her birthday. Rudis’s eyes widened.

“Just because. Thanks for spending time with me today.”

“Really? No take-backs?!”

Rudis’s sparkling eyes gleamed under the lanterns stretching across the night sky. Xenon nodded with a slight smile.

“Of course. I’d give anything to Rudis.”

“Thank you so much.”

Normally she would have recoiled at such words from Xenon, but Rudis eagerly accepted the box and hugged it preciously to her chest.

“You’re cute.”

Even when Xenon gently stroked her hair, Rudis didn’t notice, her attention completely focused on the prize.

‘From now on, today is my birthday.’

Rudis gazed carefully at the box in her hands. Though she wondered if it was really okay to accept it, she was genuinely curious about the prize. It wasn’t uncommon for rare items to appear unexpectedly from seemingly worthless carnival games. Especially since this was something she’d been eyeing for eight years, believing she could never win it.

‘Should I open it now?’

The momentary impulse crossed her mind, but she quickly shook her head.

‘No, better not. Just in case.’

Though she’d received confirmation, if she opened it now and it turned out to be something good, there was still a possibility he might ask for it back. Xenon didn’t seem like that kind of person, but you never know. Rudis carefully caressed the box.

‘I’m lucky this year. Two Prosperity Scarecrows and now this.’

Just as she was thinking this…

“Look out!”

When she looked up at someone’s urgent cry, a massive object was already falling toward Rudis’s head.

CRASH!

The impact shook the ground beneath her feet. As people’s screams erupted, the lively plaza instantly froze.

“Rudis!”

Xenon’s voice rang in her ears. He quickly grabbed her and pulled her away from danger. Dazed by the close call, Rudis stared blankly at the box in her hands before turning her head.

‘What the… what just happened?’

It took her a moment to notice the shattered flowerpot beside her.

‘I could have died.’

Rudis instinctively knew that if she’d taken a direct hit, she would have died instantly. This was entirely different from facing monsters in hunting grounds. Strangely, she felt certain that if she’d suffered such an accident, she wouldn’t have peacefully awakened at Noah’s house.

In that dangerous moment, it was none other than Xenon who saved her. If he hadn’t pulled her away forcefully in that brief instant, it wouldn’t have been just the flowerpot that was shattered.

“I-I’m fine. Thank you.”

Rudis stammered, finally coming to her senses. Xenon growled lowly, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes.

“What crazy bastard…”

His voice and sharp expression triggered memories she had tried to bury. That night. The rough breathing, the tightly contracted muscles, and…

Ahhh!

Suddenly her face burned like fire. At the same time, she belatedly realized she was still in Xenon’s arms.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

When she hastily pulled away, Xenon steadied her with one hand and began examining her.

“I’m really fine. Stop now.”

Though his actions were meant to check for injuries, once she became conscious of it, everything felt strange. Heat rose wherever his touch landed.

“Let me check carefully. If any fragments hit you…”

“I said I’m not hurt!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Rudis shouted loudly. The bustling street instantly fell silent. Even Xenon, who had been kneeling to examine her, froze in place.

“I’m sorry. I was worried about—”

“Sorry. I was just so worried—”

Their hurried apologies came at mismatched timing, making things even more awkward.

“Um… I should go home—”

“Rudis, today—”

Like misaligned gears, their timing kept slipping, creating a suffocating atmosphere. Xenon was the one who finally broke the awkward air.

“…Would you stay with me?”

Rudis froze at his words, whispered so softly near her ear. As his meaning slowly sank in, her face grew increasingly red.

‘What? This isn’t a joke…’

Xenon’s expression was different too. It wasn’t his usual playful smile and casual tone. He looked serious, yet somehow shy. His flushed face seemed strangely unfamiliar.

‘We’re both adults… so it should be okay, right?’

Just as she was about to nod, entranced…

[It’s getting late. You will be forced to sleep at 2 AM.]

The message, looking particularly annoying today, appeared in Rudis’s field of vision.

* * *

In a secret passage unknown to anyone in the noisy tavern, Jackson fumbled through the darkness down to the basement. He had long since discarded the ridiculous fake beard and costume that had concealed his identity. His hands trembled, and his heart pounded as if it might leap out of his mouth. Standing before the innermost door, Jackson struggled to catch his breath.

The Master would be waiting behind that door. And in a very angry state.

Guild members believed the Master was a good person. He never assigned difficult tasks and paid generously. But Jackson knew better. He alone, having served Xenon for three generations, knew how the seemingly generous and merciful Xenon reacted when plans went awry.

To execute a plan that had been scrapped…

He needed to beg for forgiveness before Xenon exploded. Jackson wiped his sweaty hands on his clothes and slowly knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Xenon’s low, cold voice came from beyond the door. Jackson took another deep breath and entered. Xenon was sitting casually on the edge of the desk. There was no trace of his usual playful gaze. That alone made Jackson’s knees weak. As soon as he entered the room, Jackson knelt on the floor and bowed his head.