“W-what?! She’s the team leader for this mission?!”

Tucker found it even harder to accept now.

“It’s one thing for a newcomer to participate in an A-rank mission, but to be made the leader? She has zero experience leading a team. If something goes wrong, who’s taking responsibility?”

Samantha opened her mouth, intending to say that the academy would take responsibility—after all, all directives for the Adult Dragon Division came from the academy, and any accidents during missions ultimately fell under its purview.

But Noa spoke before she could.

“I will.”

Her eyes were lowered, her gaze cold as ice as she slowly looked toward Tucker on the other side of the formation.

“And I won’t let anything happen to anyone. Just like in Magic Moon Forest, I will protect everyone.”

“If it were any other newcomer saying something like that, it would sound like pure arrogance.”

A few of the veteran members couldn’t help but mutter among themselves.

But some of them had heard bits and pieces about Noa’s past exploits and understood her capability.

“Protecting everyone isn’t empty bravado. She really does have the ability.”

“B-but what if...”

Tucker tried to press the issue again, but Noa cut him off coldly.

“If you’re that uncomfortable with me being the team leader, you can choose not to participate in this mission.”

Noa had joined the Adult Dragon Division with a competitive mindset, but that didn’t mean she would endlessly tolerate provocation.

She had already explained herself clearly in response to Tucker’s doubts and challenges.

If he was still unwilling to let it go, then she had no reason to keep accommodating him.

With Noa, there was no such thing as “if he stays, I’ll leave.”

Either Tucker stayed in the team and carried out the mission.

Or, if he couldn’t accept it, he could leave immediately.

There was no third option.

Tucker clenched his teeth silently, let out an unwilling snort, and said nothing more.

That was as good as tacit acceptance of continuing the mission.

“Huh. That little girl’s got some backbone, shutting Tucker up like that.”

“I’m starting to like her.”

“…”

Seeing Noa’s calm confrontation, the other veterans couldn’t help but click their tongues at her nerve.

Samantha clapped her hands.

“Alright. Since there are no more questions, everyone go prepare. We depart in thirty minutes.”

The team members dispersed.

Only Tucker at the front of the group and Noa at the back remained.

Separated by several meters, they still looked toward each other.

Tucker’s eyes burned with undisguised jealousy.

But facing Noa’s frost-bound gaze, even that fire failed to ignite.

Noa withdrew her eyes and turned to leave. She still needed to find Helena and bring her into the mission.

As Tucker watched her retreating figure, he quietly clenched his fist until it cracked.

“Noa… one day, I’ll prove that I’m stronger than you.”

…

…

Leon and Rosvisser arrived at the western entrance of Cold Mist Forest.

Just after landing, Leon received a communication from Claudia.

He took out the recording stone and infused it with magic. Claudia’s voice immediately rang out.

“Don’t tell me you spent the entire morning without carrying the recording stone.”

The couple exchanged awkward glances, then tacitly looked away.

After all, Leon had “overworked” his wife the night before, so they had set out later than planned and hadn’t checked messages.

Naturally, this wasn’t something Leon could explain honestly, so he laughed it off.

“We had something to take care of this morning. What’s wrong, Senior?”

Claudia had no intention of prying into their private lives and went straight to the point.

“Mevis’s bracelet has been stolen. I’ve already dispatched Noa and a team to investigate. Do the two of you want to head over as well?”

Leon and Rosvisser were visibly surprised.

“The bracelet was stolen?… When did this happen?”

“Just this morning. I received a letter from Cold Mist Forest.”

Claudia took the letter from among the papers in her satchel and handed it to them.

“It said the bracelet was stolen and asked for help. We don’t know yet if it’s authentic. Noa and her team are already on the way and should arrive in a few hours.”

“I understand,” Leon said. “My wife and I will start investigating as well.”

“Alright. When do you plan to begin?”

“Now.”

The blue-haired woman paused. “N-now?”

“Yes.”

Leon looked toward the forest shrouded in heavy fog.

“We just arrived at Cold Mist Forest ourselves. We were planning to look for clues about Mevis first, but since the relic was stolen, recovering it takes priority.”

At present, the only thing Leon and the others were certain of was that Mevis was still alive. Beyond that, they had no concrete leads. Coming to Cold Mist Forest had been little more than a gamble.

But a divine relic being stolen was a concrete reality. Even if it wasn’t confirmed to be the work of the Void, they couldn’t risk any instability around the Void Gate.

Finding the relic came first. Investigating Mevis would have to wait.

“Alright. Be careful,” Claudia said. “Or you can wait for Noa’s team and move together.”

Leon chuckled. “So my wife and I are supposed to just sit around doing nothing for a {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} few hours?”

Claudia shot him a sidelong glance. “You can lie down if you want. That place is deserted anyway. You could even lie there and kiss.”

“Senior, you really know how to live.”

“Tsk.”

Rosvisser, slightly embarrassed, elbowed Leon and mouthed silently:

“Focus. On. Business.”

Leon laughed, then grew serious.

“Alright. We’ll head inside to scout first. When Noa arrives, have her contact us with the recording stone.”

“No problem. Stay safe.”

“Mm.”

Leon ended the call, put the recording stone away, and started walking inward.

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

The couple walked side by side into the forest.

The moment they took their first step inside, a wave of cold air rushed over them.

Cold Mist Forest wasn’t just perpetually foggy—it was also extremely cold, which was how it earned its name.

In an environment like this, the only creatures capable of surviving and reproducing were slimes, which had virtually no environmental requirements.

Rosvisser lit a small cluster of dragon flame in her palm, both for warmth and illumination.

The heat dispersed some of the dense fog, greatly improving visibility.

The two moved forward at a steady pace, carving clear marks into tree trunks at intervals to avoid losing their way.

“Tch… even with dragon flame, it’s still a bit cold,” Rosvisser muttered.

Leon heard her.

Like a model husband, he immediately took off his outer coat and draped it over her shoulders.

Rosvisser glanced at the collar, raised an eyebrow, and smiled.

“If you give me your coat and end up getting sick, what then?”

With only a long-sleeved shirt left, Leon shrugged.

“If I end up bedridden, I’ll just have to trouble my virtuous wife to nurse me every day.”

Rosvisser punched his chest lightly.

“In your dreams.”

As she spoke, she quickened her pace.

“If you get sick and collapse, wouldn’t that just leave me to deal with you?”

Leon shuddered.

“If I’m sick, you’d still make me turn in homework? Aren’t you afraid I’ll infect you?”

“Dragons don’t catch colds.”

Leon gave a quiet thumbs-up.

“Then you’re invincible, wife.”

Joking along the way, the two continued for another thirty minutes or so.

Suddenly, Leon sensed something.

He stopped, lifted his foot, and bent down to examine the ground closely.

“What is it?” Rosvisser asked, walking over.

“Slime.”

Leon dipped a finger into the substance, brought it to his nose, and sniffed lightly.

“Slime residue.”

He straightened up, and Rosvisser handed him a cloth.

Taking it, Leon wiped his hand and said:

“Looks like we’ve entered slime activity territory. They’re not aggressive, but they’ve guarded Mevis’s bracelet for years. There’s no telling if something strange has happened to them. We should be careful and avoid provoking them.”

Rosvisser nodded.

“Alright.”

With that settled, they continued onward.

Not long after, Rosvisser pointed ahead.

“Leon, look. Are those people?”

“Hm?”

Leon followed her gaze and indeed saw several figures.

The two hurried over.

Just as Leon was about to call out, he realized the figures weren’t moving at all.

Up close, the sight made both of them freeze.

Some were standing. Others were half-kneeling. Their postures varied, but they all shared one thing in common...

They were completely motionless.

Moving closer, Leon realized they were...

Dragons.

Rosvisser examined their tails and clothing and said:

“They should be Sea Dragon guards stationed here by Poseidon. But… what happened to them? Hey—can you hear me? Wake up.”

She shook one guard’s shoulder.

No response.

Leon tried as well, with the same result.

Frowning slightly, Leon said:

“This doesn’t look like deep sleep. It’s more like they’ve fallen into...”

As he spoke, the couple looked at each other and said in unison:

“Illusion Magic.”