"Why are you surprised? As if you didn't know there was a dragon here?"

It said, blinking it's large eyes.

"No......I didn't know that."

"What? I had personally informed the king of Escenia to let all their citizens know that I'll be resting here."

"Escenia? Never heard of it."

"Hmm, what year is it?"

"Umm, it's the 1267th year of the Homer cycle."

"What?"

"Y-yeah."

"Wait, that means......"

The dragon looked up and a small circle formed in the air with different symbols. It looked like a clock. The circle started rotating faster, highlighting the symbols. After a while, it disappeared.

"..........I've been sleeping for almost 10,000 years!! My mother's gonna kill me!" The dragon said, the fear showing in it's voice.

"I-I see. Haha, family, huh. What can you do? Then, if you don't mind, I-I think I'll get going," I tried to slip past. I had no intention of meeting another dragon which will definitely be larger than this one.

The dragon turned to me. I could make out its crooked smile.

"Why are you in a hurry? It's not like I'm going to eat you just because I'm hungry or irritable, having woken up after 10,000 years."

"G-good to know! Wait, you just said, you were hungry!!!"

I needed to get away. The dragon was so stupidly large that it could finish me in a gulp and I felt drained due to the training. I wouldn't be able to put up a fight. Where was Airi when I needed her.

"Anyways, I could feel you manipulating the mana and it woke me up. I had never felt such pure refining of mana. No, maybe a long time ago....."

"I-I see. I'm happy that I was able to entertain you."

The dragon smiled its crooked smile again.

"Why are you stuttering?"

"I-I'm not."

"There! You did it again!" It said, pointing a large claw at me.

I calmed myself down and exhaled.

"So, tell me, how can I help this majestic dragon?"

"Hmph, tell me, what is the country called now?'

"If you're talking about the nearest country, it is called Astrya. I'm from there."

"What's the total population like?"

"I-I don't know. I have only settled down there recently so I wouldn't be privy to such sensitive information," I replied, averting my eyes from its face that revealed its large sharp teeths.

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Let me metamorph first."

The dragon suddenly began to grow smaller with its large body and its wings disappearing. Until, a teenage girl was standing in its place. She had red lustrous hair and a great curvy body that reminded me of Greek goddesses and.......aaand she was naked!!!

My eyes almost fell out of its socket. I tried to avert my eyes.

"Hey, hey, why are you looking away?" She said, running up to me.

"I-I think you need to get some clothes," I said, trying to push her away.

"Clothes, hahaha, I don't need clothes. My skin is tougher than Mithril," she said, posing proudly. I didn't know where to look.

"I-I see, of course. In any case, just for decency, you know."

"Hmph, alright, do you have any human clothes?"

"Yeah, wait a moment."

I bought a pair from the shop along with some shoes and gave them to her. She wore it begrudgingly but it fitted her perfectly.

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"So, tell me what is a ninth circle mage like you doing here?"

I stiffened.

"Ahaha, actually I came to train the circles here. I've only just become a ninth circle." I told her the truth. There was no use hiding it.

"I see...I see. I guess, this is as good a place as any. Due to the interference of the jungle, hardly any mana ever leaks out."

"And what is that window. Can I also have that?"

"Y-you can see this window?"

"Yeah, is that a big deal?"

"I guess. These are typically exclusive to the person so others shouldn't be able to see them."

"Hmm, I see. Anyways, do you have anything to eat?" She asked, quickly losing interest in the window.

"Y-Yeah........wait."

I quickly bought a grill and some coal from the shop and set it up. I also brought some Kobe beef and began to grill them.

"Wow, that smells delicious."

She was drooling.

"What is your name, by the way?" I asked cautiously.

"Oh, right. I'm called Floryn the red dragon."

"I-I see. I'm Rayce."

Pretty soon, the food was done and we began eating.

She began to eat like a madman while also trying to feed me.

"You are too skinny. You need to eat!"

"I-I see."

Only then did I notice my body. I had become much skinnier and my hair had grown. It looks like I was inside the forest much longer than I had anticipated. I looked at my watch and eight days had already passed.

"Eat up, eat up. It's not like I'm trying to fatten you up," She smirked, handing me a piece of steak while she took three.

"Ah...haha...haha."

After she has gulped down at least 50 steaks, she calmed down a little.

"Wow, what was that food?"

"It's food from my hometown."

"I see. But how did you bring it out of the item box?"

"I have a skill that enables me to buy anything from my hometown, so I bought the food using that skill."

"I-I see. I have decided. I'm going to stick with you from now on," she said, punching the air with her fist.

"W-what? Why?!!"

"What do you mean?" She said, waving her hand.

"Don't tell me you're going to deny this majestic dragon?"

"N-no, that wasn't my intention. But you know, I have a busy life. And you know, you were talking about your family and all. You should go meet them."

"It's fine. And moreover ........... stay .......... primordial power."

I couldn't hear the last part of the sentence clearly, so I asked again.

"What?"

"Nothing, I didn't say anything."

She replied, moving closer to me and wrapping her hand around my shoulders. I could feel a soft sensation pressing down on my back.

"Ahem, w-wait," I jumped and moved back.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"Alright, alright. You can come with me."

"Hmph, you should've said so in the first place."

"But where did you come from?"

"Oh, I selected this forest as it was the best place for hibernation and was just lying inside the lake, as our body can grow quite hot during hibernation. I only came out of the lake because I felt a sudden surge of power from its shore," she replied, her red eyes finally resting on me.

"I-I see."

That explains why I couldn't see even one monster approaching the lake. They must have been terrified out of their minds.

"Alright, we'll go back. Please move closer to me."

"Sure," she said, wrapping her hands around my waist.

"I-I'm just going to teleport us. You don't need to get so close!"

"Hahahaha."

Her laugh echoed in the silent forest as two beings turned into particles of light and faded away from that place.

----

Back at the estate, Revati and Elias were having a discussion.

"Master has not yet come back. Do you think something bad happened to him?" Elias asked Revati.

"Hah, that guy won't die so easily. Don't worry."

"But, what with the situation with Lady Ashryn and now this. I'm getting worried."

He had managed the business impeccably and had been waiting for his master to come back and praise him. But, as the days passed by, he grew increasingly worried. There was no news about his Master.

Revati was also worried but she didn't show it. She had faith in Rayce's capabilities. After all, he was the one who woke her up from her situation. And most of all, he had promised to fight together with her. He still had too much work left to do.

As they were talking, a bright light lit up the garden and they could see Rayce and a red haired girl standing there. Rayce had become so thin, he was unrecognisable but it was indeed him. They rushed towards him.

----

As soon as we teleported to the estate, I could see Elias and Revati running towards me.

"Master!!"

Elias was screaming and crying, running towards me, with soot running down his face. As soon as he reached me, he lunged at me and hugged me tightly.

"W-Whats with you?" I tried to push him back but he held on.

"I was so worried, Master!" He said, with tears running down his face.

"I-I see. It's alright. I'm back now." I patted his shoulder.

Revati stayed behind but I could see her eyes sparkle.

"Welcome back," she said. I smiled and nodded at her.

"Ahem, so, anything new happen?" I asked them.

They were about to speak but they stiffened and looked behind me. I forgot to introduce Floryn. I looked back and she was running around in the garden. I sighed.

"Ah, this is Floryn. She will be staying with us for the time being."

"Ah, Master is back!" Elias said, taking out a handkerchief from somewhere and wiping his tears.

"W-What? Who do you think I am?" I didn't like the look of understanding they gave me.

"Anyways, anything new? Has the business been doing well?" I asked Elias.

"Yes, the business is doing great. The washing machine is a hit and we're receiving a steady stream of orders. Bjorv had also bought in a few more dwarves. I gave them the same employment letters as the others."

"That's good. Well done."

"Thank you, Master. But there is something....."

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. I looked between them, but they averted their eyes.

"Lady Ashryn has disappeared..." Elias finally spoke.

"What??!!"

I was shocked.

"When did this happen?"

"It happened two days ago. We searched everywhere but we couldn't find any traces of her."

"I see. Did you find out why Ashryn had been leaving the estate?"

"Yes, it was to meet a group of elves that frequented a shady pub called the 'Darkened Wares'. I tried to follow them but they disappeared as well. I haven't been able to find them since."

This was quite concerning. I thought I still had time to look into Ashryn and find out what she was going through. But this changes things. I guess I'd need to take matters into my own hands. I steeled my resolve to help her.

"Alright, contract some information agencies and tell them to find anything you can about Ashryn. Money isn't a problem." I told Elias.

"Of course, Master."

I looked back and Floryn has already disappeared inside the mansion. Sighing with the worries occupying my mind, I quickened my steps towards the mansion, with Revati and Elias following closely behind me.