“Good m,” I said through a yawn as Catheriepped out of her room, stretg as she rubbed her eyes. Her red hair was slightly messy, and she looked half-awake.I had tried my hardest to fall asleep earlier but had no success. The restless energy left me wandering outside instead, where I ended up gazing at the stars uhe open sky. The cool night breeze brushed against my skin, refreshing but carrying a hint of loneliness. Now, baside, the early rays of dawn peeked through the windows, casting a soft glow over the house.“Good m, my apprentice,” Catherine greeted, her voice soft and groggy as she stepped out of her room. She was still in her pajamas, her red hair slightly disheveled, giving her an unusually rexed appearance.

  She yawned lightly before adding, “I’ll take a bath first.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the bathroom, leavianding there, still caught between the lingering night and the start of a new day.I simply smiled and gave her a small wave as she disappeared down the hallway. This world ran on magic teology and ented crystals, seamlessly blending the fantastical with the mu was fasating to see how everyday ies—like heating water, lighting a room, or even running a bath—were powered by the soft glow of those magical crystals.But I still didn’t uand much about how it all worked. The glow of the crystals, the ruched into devices, and the way magic seemed to flow through everything—it was still a mystery to me. Hopefully, Catherine would teach me more about it. If I was going to survive here, uanding this world’s magic teology felt like an essential step.Having already taken a bath earlier, I decided to step outside. As I opehe door, the breeze greeted me, brushing against my skin and ruffling my hair. It was refreshing, carrying the faint st of dew and blooming flowers. I took a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill my lungs, and stepped out to soak in the peaceful stillness of the early m.Suddenly, a small figure appeared in the sky, desding gracefully toward the hill. As it drew closer, I could make out its strikiures: two sharp, curved horns, crimson wings that shimmered faintly in the m light, and a long, scaly tail that swayed zily with each step. The figure nded softly on the grass, her movements deliberate as she began walking toward the house—and toward me. Her pierg eyes locked onto mine, and an air of quiet iy surrounded her."You must be... Miss Mashirht?" the horned girl said, her gaze sing me from head to toe. There was a slight tilt to her head, as if she were sizing me up. "Did you use a Perception Block skill, by any ce?"I bliilting my head in fusion. "Um... no?" I replied, shaking my head.Her crimson eyes narrowed for a moment before she sighed, pg a cwed hand on her hip. "My apologies. I didn’t expect that the Witch of the Hill would actually take on a level 1 apprentice." Her tone carried a faint hint of disbelief, b on mockery.I felt my tail twitch at her words, but I held my tongue, unsure whether her ent was meant as an insult or merely an observation."Who are you?" I asked, my voice cautious yet curiousThe girl gave a polite bow, her short red hair swaying gracefully as she grasped the edges of her maid uniform. A faint smile pyed on her lips."Greetings," she said warmly. "I’m Sophia. I’ve retly been hired as the babysitter for the newborn dragons across the forest."I blinked, momentarily stunned by her introdu. Babysitter? Fons? The absurdity of the idea almost made me ugh, but the seriousness ione and posture kept me quiet. Instead, I just stared at her, unsure of how to respond.The mention of a babysitter fons immediately brought to mind the a dragon's words. "I fot to hire a babysitter," it had said, its voice grumbling with cute frustration.Sophia didn't seem to mind my silence. She straightened up and gave me another polite smile, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.

  "Yes, I know it sounds unusual," she tinued, her voice calm, "but dragons are delicate creatures when they’re young. They need proper care and attention—especially the rare ones like the ones in this forest. It's my job to make sure they grow up strong ahy."I nodded slowly, trying to process her words. “I see… but what brings you here, exactly?”Just before Sophia could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from ihe house. The door creaked open, and there stood Catherine, her usual bright, charming presence filling the air. Her long red hair peeked out from beh her signature witch hat, and she held her magical staff with grace as she stepped into view.“Sophie…? Why are you here?” Catherine sighed, tightening her grip oaff as her nerves seemed to get the best of her. “Ugh, I’m already retired. Why do I still o be visited by an S-rank adventurer...?”“Hey! I’m retired too,” Sophia chuckled, her voice light. “I’ve got a proper job now. But that doesn’t ge the fact that Thalradia is in total chaht now.” She smiled knowingly, leaning toward Catherih a familiarity that spoke of their past.Sophia leaned closer to Catherine as she whispered something. Hearing that, Catherine’s eyes sank even further, and she let out a heavy sigh. She g Sophia, exhaustioched on her face, before her gaze shifted to me, a hint of pity flickering in her expression.“I’m sorry, Mashiro. I ’t be with you today.” Catherine’s voice was soft, the words ced with an undeniable sadness. She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. I felt a knot tighten in my chest at her words, though I couldn’t bring myself to respond immediately. The air felt heavier suddenly, the warmth of the m sun not quite reag me. Catherine seemed so distant in that moment, her usual fiery energy dampened by whatever it was she was dealing with.“Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, betraying the fusion and uhat were swirling inside me.Catheriated, her fiightening arouaff. “There’s something I o take care of,” she said, her tone more serious than I had ever heard it. “Something I’ve been avoiding for far too long.”Sophia, standing a few paces away, observed the exge with quiet uanding, but said nothing. She didn’t o.For a brief moment, I almost wished I could pry into Catherihoughts, to know what was going on behind that wall of calm she always seemed to maintain. But I didn’t. Instead, I nodded slowly, f a smile even though I didn’t feel like it.“Okay,” I murmured, “I uand.”Before I could eve, a sudden pressure ed around me, pulling me off my feet. I gasped as I felt myself being lifted into the air. My mind barely had time tister what was happening before I realized Sophia’s wings had fred out, and she was huggiightly against her chest.“e on, don’t be sad! Sih me and you have nothing to do, let’s go on a date!” she excimed, her voice bright and carefree as she lifted us higher into the sky.I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could get a word out, I was already far from the ground. The wind rushed past us, whipping my hair and clothes around. My heart raced in panic as I instinctively clutched at Sophia’s arm, trying to steady myself, though her grip on me was strong."Wait! What are you doing?!" I screamed, my voice high-pitched with fear as I struggled to break free of her hold.Sophia only ughed, the sound carefree and light. “What does it look like I’m doing? We’re going to have some fun today!” Her red wings beat powerfully as we rose higher, the ndscape below shrinking with each passing sed.I tried to look down, but the dizzyi made my stomach . The ground below now seemed miles away, a distant blur. I couldn’t uand what had just happened — one moment, I was standing on the ground, talking to Catherine, and the , I was being whisked away by someone who arently in the mood for an impromptu advewisted in her grip, trying to free myself, but Sophia held me securely, her wings beating rhythmically as we soared higher. "S-Sophia, please!" I yelled again, feeling the wind tear at my skin and whip past my face. "This is crazy!"But Sophia just giggled again, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She didn’t seem bothered at all by the fact that I anig. "It’ll be fine, don’t worry!" she said, her voice cheerful and teasing. "We’re just going on a little outing! Don’t you want to see the world from up here?"I barely had time to respond when I heard a faint voice from below — Catherine’s voice. "Take care," she mouthed, waving from the ground below.