Chapter 27 : A City Rises, A Beast Falls

The moment between Jin and Lila had grown tense in the most unexpected way.

As she crossed her legs, the slow shift of her body and the damp sheen clinging to her freshly washed skin gave her a glow that made it hard to think. Jin tried. Gods, he tried. But the heat rising to his cheeks wasn't just from embarrassment.

Then, the system chimed again, clear and unrelenting:

[Lila Fern – Affection Level Rising: 66%... 67%... 69%...]

Jin blinked rapidly. "Wait, what?"

The affection meter ticked upward like a countdown in reverse.

[Affection Level: 72%]

He rubbed his temples. "What is happening? I barely said anything!"

He had heard about a skill called [Mind Reader] once—still locked, but it had mocked him for weeks now, just sitting in the skill tree, unavailable.

If I had that, I could at least figure out why every woman I talk to gets flustered... or worse, Jin thought miserably.

Trying to steer the moment toward something more neutral, he cleared his throat. "You can, uh, wear some of my mother's clothes. You two have similar body types."

Lila raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in amusement. "Ohhh? So you noticed my body?"

Jin's breath hitched. "I mean—yes—I mean no! Not like that!"

She giggled and reached out to accept the folded clothes he handed her. With a teasing glance over her shoulder, she walked away, hips swaying with exaggerated grace.

Then she turned the corner—but left the guest room door open.

Jin's gaze was drawn in like a moth to a flame. Towel. Sliding. Skin. Pale, perfect—

He jerked his head away and slammed a hand on the table to regain focus.

"She's doing this on purpose," he muttered through gritted teeth. "Has to be."

But then, quietly, he added, "...Gods bless her."

Just as the inner war waged between his reason and hormones, a cold chill snaked down his spine. The kind of chill only one woman in the world could bring.

He turned slowly.

There she was.

Lana. Arms folded. Brow arched. Eyes like twin blades honed by maternal disappointment.

"Jin," she said slowly, dangerously. "Are you ogling the woman we just rescued from trauma and starvation?"

He coughed violently. "No! I mean—technically she wasn't starving! Just dusty!"

A blur darted into the hallway.

Sarah.

She whispered hurriedly to Lana. "Mom, she's teasing him on purpose. Don't go Dragon Queen on him. And besides... me and Ari can't handle him."

Lana blinked.

Sarah covered her mouth, realizing what she'd said aloud.

Lana turned to her daughter, narrowing her eyes. "You shouldn't know things like that."

Flick.

Sarah yelped as her mother thumped her forehead with a finger.

A moment passed. Then Lana sighed and turned away. "I need tea. Gods help me."

In the dining room, Jin stood slowly, the evidence of his arousal slightly less... blatant now. His face burned with embarrassment, and he muttered, "I survived a dragon trial. Why is this harder?"

The manor's courtyard was filled with survivors by the time Jin stepped outside. Twenty-five strong, battered men and women—exhausted but alert, watching him carefully.

He raised his voice. "I am now the City Lord of Valeria. This token proves it."

He held the engraved sigil high. There were gasps, murmurs.

"But I can't rebuild Valeria alone. I need your help. Wood affinity cultivators, gather lumber. Earth types, dig trenches, find water. Fire mages, help with purifying ruins and forges. Water mages, cleanse and make medicines. Wind types, scout the outskirts."

No one hesitated.

They scattered with purpose, like embers catching wind.

Far beyond the ruins, in the deeper folds of the forest, a man ran.

His armor was torn. Blood poured from cuts on his legs and chest. In his arms, he cradled a young girl—his daughter. Barely eighteen. Barely alive.

Behind him, a beast stalked.

Eight feet tall, crimson-scaled, with curled horns and glowing yellow eyes. Its breath hissed through jagged fangs, the ground cracking beneath each of its clawed feet.

The man burst into a clearing—straight into the path of a wood-gathering party.

"HELP HER!" he roared, tripping and sliding in the grass. "Please! I'll hold it—"

But he collapsed.

His eyes rolled back, the world fading. His last memory...

His daughter braiding his hair while laughing.

Then: silence.

The townsfolk screamed.

In Valeria, Jin felt it before he heard it.

A low rumble. A roar. A ripple of violent qi.

[ALERT: Hostile Beast Presence Detected]

His eyes snapped open.

Wind surged beneath him, launching him skyward.

The clearing was chaos.

The beast roared, swinging its horned head. The survivors ran, dragging the girl and the unconscious man away.

Jin landed between them and the monster.

His body changed in an instant.

[Tyrant Body - Activated]

Muscles hardened. Skin shimmered like forged steel.

Wind wrapped around his limbs as he charged.

The first blow cracked the air.

The beast reeled back. Blood sprayed from its jaw.

Jin twisted, elbow slamming into its ribs, then swept its leg. The beast crashed backward. It snarled, tried to stand—

He unleashed it.

[Dragon Might - Active]

The world went still.

The beast fell to one knee, its body trembling. A soundless scream escaped its throat.

Jin walked forward.

One step. Another.

He drew a short blade, enhanced with wind.

With practiced precision, he slit its throat. Blood gushed, steaming, burning the earth.

The beast spasmed. Then stilled.

Jin exhaled.

The system chimed:

[Beast Core Compatible for Ancient Technique: Beast Weapon Forging]

"What the hell is that?" Jin muttered.

[A lost crafting art. Allows you to forge a personal weapon using beast materials. Core integrity: high. Begin extraction?]

"Take it."

The core glowed, then burst into light.

It dissolved.

Then silence returned.

Back in Valeria, the girls came running. Lana first, blade ready. Arielle and Sarah next, flanking her.

Then Lila, still adjusting the borrowed clothes.

They arrived to a chilling sight.

The beast was gone.

Only blood remained.

Jin stood in the center, knife dripping.

No injuries. No witnesses. No evidence.

Just him. Surrounded by gore.

They all stopped.

He turned, lifting a hand.

"I can explain."

They stared.

He looked at Lana. She wasn't angry. She wasn't confused.

She was... afraid?

Arielle stepped back slightly. Sarah looked down.

Lila's brows drew close.

[WARNING: Suspicion Level Increased – Lana, Arielle, Sarah, Lila]

[They believe you are hiding something]

"Girls... come on."

No response.

He sighed and sheathed the knife. "Fine. Don't believe me. But that thing is dead because I made a choice to protect this place. Not to show off."

He turned and walked back.

Each step echoed like thunder.

He passed the villagers, eyes widening in awe.

"He killed that thing alone?" someone whispered.

A child stared with wide eyes. "Is he... a dragon?"

Jin didn't answer.

He reached the manor. His hand trembled slightly. Whether from anger, pain, or frustration—even he didn't know.

Later, as the sun set, Lana approached him.

He was sitting atop the shattered watchtower, watching the stars emerge.

She climbed silently and sat beside him.

"You changed," she said.

Jin nodded. "I had to."

A pause.

"Did you really fight alone?"

He looked at her.

"Would it matter if I didn't?"

She closed her eyes.

"No. I trust you. Even when I don't understand."

Jin looked down at his hand—faint traces of gold, red, and a flicker of silver ran beneath his skin.

And somewhere on his back, two faint tattoos—one silver dragon, noble and calm. The other, black and fierce—each half of something greater.

They pulsed once. Then faded.

He spoke softly.

"I'll protect this city. With or without your belief. Because it deserves more."

Lana leaned into his shoulder.

"Then let us believe again. Together."

Above them, the stars blinked. And Valeria, broken as it was, dared to hope.