The creaking of a wooden carriage echoed through the dusty road as Iryoku sprawled lazily on the floor of the cart, arms behind his head, one leg propped up. The magical rhino pulling them snorted, its thick hide shimmering faintly with runes as it trudged along.

"We got conned," Iryoku muttered dryly, glancing at the three girls sitting upright in the cart with varying levels of frustration on their faces.

"You think we wanted this?" Reika snapped, adjusting her seat as the cart jolted. "Do you think any of us had a choice?"

Yumi nodded fervently, puffing her cheeks in irritation. “Exactly! This isn’t some vacation.”

Alessandra crossed her arms, leaning back against the edge of the cart. “We’re making the best of a bad situation, Iryoku. Don’t act like you’re the only one with complaints.”

Still, Iryoku’s expression remained unimpressed. He stretched lazily. "Sure, Muscle Woman, keep telling yourself that," he said with a sly grin, earning a sharp glare from Alessandra.

The conversation fizzled for a moment as the cart continued bumping along the road. The girls exchanged glances, their thoughts drifting back to the morning.

The sky above the castle was unlike anything they had ever seen. Painted in hues of red and gray, it was oppressive, heavy with a dark aura that seemed to seep into their very bones. A chilling wind swirled through the air, carrying with it an unnatural sense of foreboding.

Yumi rubbed her arms as she looked out one of the castle’s wide stone windows. “This place feels… gloomy .”

Reika stood beside her, her expression calm but her hands clenched tightly. “It’s like the air itself is trying to crush us. No wonder this world is overrun with demons.”

Alessandra entered the room, rolling her shoulders. “Alright, where’s Iryoku?” she asked, scanning the space.

“He’s gone,” Yumi said flatly. “Not that I care or anything, but when I woke up, he wasn’t in his room.”

Reika sighed. “He’s probably off doing whatever he wants, like always.”

Sure enough, Iryoku had woken much earlier. With his usual disregard for rules or decorum, he had wandered through the castle halls, casually exploring the structure. His eyes roved over grand tapestries, ancient suits of armor, and intricate magical artifacts.

“Fancy place,” he muttered to himself, stopping to stare at a balcony that overlooked the castle grounds. Knights and servants scurried about, and in the center of it all stood Joseph and Princess Agnes, their presence commanding.

Agnes was speaking Diligently, gesturing as she gave orders to a group of knights and magicians. Joseph stood beside her, arms crossed, his imposing figure exuding authority. Their faces were tight with stress.

When Iryoku finally arrived at the central hall, the air was thick with tension. Princess Agnes and Joseph were gathered with several other knights around a table strewn with maps and reports.

“Lord Iryoku,” Agnes began, lifting her weary eyes to meet him, “last night’s attack was worse than we anticipated. We’ve sent most of our strongest knights and nearly all of our resources to the front lines. What remains here… isn’t enough to help you the way we had planned.”

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The girls had entered the hall by then, their gazes sweeping over the grim scene. Knights limped through the corridors, their faces pale and fatigued. Beyond the castle walls, the burial of the dead was underway—silent rows of fallen defenders being laid to rest in freshly dug graves.

“We can’t spare anyone to accompany you,” Joseph added, his voice firm despite the strain visible in his posture. “The defenses here would collapse if either of us left.”

Iryoku’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. “So that’s it? You’re sending us out there, unprepared and alone?”

Agnes winced but did not look away. “We’ll provide you with what we can—armor, weapons, provisions—but it is not much. I… I am truly sorry.”

“Sorry doesn’t get us any closer to our home,” Iryoku retorted, his tone sharp. “Fine. I’ll pick the gear.”

The knights brought out the limited selection of equipment, laying it before Iryoku. Without consulting the others, he made his choices.

For himself, he picked leather armor and requested two daggers. For Yumi, he chose a different set of leather armor—making a quiet, sly request for the chest piece to be adjusted larger—and equipped her with a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a small dagger for close combat.

Reika received a robe and a pointy hat reinforced with magical runes, tailored for casting, while Alessandra was handed sturdy plate armor, a mace and a shield. Alessandra’s sharp look at Iryoku didn’t go unnoticed, but he ignored it, focusing instead on inspecting the daggers.

“How thoughtful of you to choose a bigger chest piece for Yumi,” Alessandra muttered, her voice low. Her comment earned a fiery blush from Yumi and a smug grin from Iryoku.

When the preparations were complete, Princess Agnes stepped forward. She reached up to the small stone collar around her neck—a thin band of gold with an emerald stone embedded at its center. It began to glow with a faint green light.

Agnes closed her eyes, her breathing steady as she lifted her hands. With slow, deliberate movements, she swept her arms up and down, leaving behind faint trails of shimmering light in the air.Her lips parted, and she began to utter unknown, arcane words, the sounds twisting and echoing as though the air itself strained to carry their weight.As her movements grew more fluid, the words grew louder, resonating with power. Finally, her voice rose in a commanding tone:

“Come to my aid, Rhogan!”

The ground trembled, and the air around them thickened with magic. From the very earth beneath their feet, the massive form of a rhinoceros began to take shape. Its hide gleamed like polished stone, runes etched into its body glowing faintly. When it was fully formed, it let out a deep, rumbling snort and stomped the ground.

Agnes lowered her hands, her breathing slightly labored. “Rhogan will protect you as well as guide your journey. He is strong and reliable. Trust him, and he will not let you fall.”

The group stood in awe for a moment, watching the spirit beast. “Well, that’s something,” Iryoku finally muttered.

Agnes stepped closer, kneeling before them. “This is not the aid you deserve, but it is all we can give. Please, Lord Iryoku, Lady Yumi, Lady Reika, Lady Alessandra—bring back my master. Without her, we have no hope. With her return, we may find a way back to your world, and she might be able to turn the tide of the war against the demons.”

She handed them a small blue stone. “This will return you here if something terrible happens. It takes a few seconds to activate, and you must channel your life energy into it to use it. Be cautious.”

She also handed them a thick, leather-bound book. “This contains basic magical concepts. Study it—it may help you on your journey.”

Iryoku took the stone and the book, his smirk returning. “Generous. But how about the little… personal payment?”

He stepped closer to Agnes, reaching out toward her. her face turned crimson, frozen in place.

Before he could touch her, the girls sprang into action.

“Enough!” Alessandra growled, grabbing his arm.

Reika and Yumi joined in, hauling Iryoku away from the princess. “We’re leaving!” Reika snapped, dragging him toward the waiting carriage.

“Another day without tits,” Iryoku muttered under his breath as they shoved him into the cart.

Joseph approached as they prepared to leave, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “May the gods guide you,” he said solemnly, his gaze steady.

As the group departed, the weight of their task pressed heavily upon them, and the grim reality of the kingdom’s plight lingered in their minds.