Chapter 29: The Girl's Moonlit Kiss in Return

In that moment, the great dragon fully unfurled its body. The phosphorescent moonlight shone on its black skin, reflecting a blended, dualistic appearance. With a wave of its claw, Artoria was tossed directly into the air.

"Eeeek—!"

Before she could finish her cry, she landed securely back on the dragon's back. It wasn't the first time she had seen Ian in this form, so she wasn't particularly panicked. She just couldn't figure out what he was planning to do. According to what he had said before, he couldn't maintain this form for too long. And speaking of which...

Artoria touched her lips. Why did he suddenly kiss me?

These mysteries didn't last long, because the dragon carrying her soon made a new move. Its enormous body was now engaged in a rather incongruous task.

"Are you... hunting?"

Just as Artoria said, although he had returned to his dragon form, what Ian intended to do was hunt the wild beasts near the village. This was something the starving and cold villagers could not possibly do. Of course, it was a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but one had to admit, it was very efficient.

Wherever the great dragon swooped down, startled beasts would run out, only to fall. Then, crimson flames would scorch the area, and a charred, fragrant smell would permeate the surroundings.

Artoria's throat moved slightly. But at the same time, she noticed an undeniable problem.

"Um—Ian, I think you've set the mountain on fire... We're doomed!"

"ROAR—"

The great dragon got busy once again. After an unknown amount of time spent scrambling, the fire was finally extinguished.

But looking at Ian, who had returned to his human form but was now stark naked, Artoria didn't know where to put her eyes. The boy, however, had no such hesitation. He tore off a piece of "freshly baked" food and walked over to her.

"You're hungry, right? Have a bite."

Artoria felt her eyes grow a little misty, but she still nodded. "Mmm, I'll eat it right now!"

The food didn't taste that great. After all, it was something Ian had roasted with a single blast of fire. But for Artoria right now, it was a top-tier delicacy.

"Delicious! Ian, aren't you having some?"

The moment she said it, she felt she had inadvertently forgotten something very important. In Ian's eyes, the so-called "food" actually referred to her. Asking him to have some was tantamount to saying...

Ian stood up. Ian came over. Ian got closer.

"Um, I..." Artoria closed her eyes. Honestly, if Ian wanted to do that kind of thing right now, she would have a hard time refusing. After all, just because she had said "I'm hungry," he had gone and set a nearby hill on fire.

However, it didn't happen—Ian didn't push her to the ground and do shameless things. He just took a symbolic bite of the food in her hand and asked softly, "Are you feeling better? You... shouldn't be so hungry anymore, right?"

"..."

"Is that all you wanted to say?" Artoria asked, looking at him. "Nothing else?"

"..."

"There is," he admitted.

"I knew it..." Artoria's heart began to pound nervously again. But once more, the development was unexpected.

"Artoria, why did you look so sad just now? Did you have a conflict with Morgan? Should I go beat her up?"

"Don't!" Artoria quickly stopped him. She knew that if she didn't, he would immediately take action. "It's not a conflict with her. It's just..." Artoria finished the food in her hand. "I don't know how to help everyone. I said I wouldn't let everyone down, but now I can't think of anything. I don't want to doubt myself. But..."

Artoria drew Caliburn. Under the moonlight, the golden blade emitted a faint white aura. Looking at the blade in her hand, she quietly voiced the thoughts in her heart. "It seems... I really can't achieve my original wish."

"So what?" Ian replied.

"So what...? Isn't this a serious problem?" Artoria looked at him.

"Why is it a serious problem?" Ian took her hand. "Just because you couldn't eat your fill before, does that mean you can't eat your fill now? If you just become a dragon, the problem is solved in an instant. Artoria, why do you think it's so serious?"

The example Ian used was strange, but Artoria found she understood it perfectly.

"You mean... it's not that I can't do it, but that I just haven't found the right method? Just like... eating!"

"Mmm," Ian nodded. "If there's nothing to eat, then go find something to eat. If you want to help someone, then go find a way to really help them. Artoria smells very fragrant—so you can definitely do it."

"What a strange way of judging..." Artoria couldn't help but complain. "But, it does make a lot of sense. My one piece of bread can't save them. But..." The knight-princess looked at the food Ian had hunted (or rather, barbecued). Understanding dawned on her, and her earlier turmoil vanished.

"There must be a way for them to fill their stomachs. My purpose for existing is to find that path. Ian, thank you!"

"Oh, and—"

The embers of the burnt trees were still crackling. But Artoria's gaze fell on him, undisturbed.

"Come over here."

"..."

"Don't look at me like that! Just come here!"

Seeing the boy approach, the girl stood on her tiptoes.

Mwah—

A clean, crisp kiss.

"Don't get the wrong idea!" Artoria clutched her chest. "This is just a gift in return for the one earlier—This way, it's like I've paid you back, which means we haven't kissed, right?! Yes, it's happily decided!"

"I..." Artoria wanted to say more, but she saw the great dragon had once again appeared before her.

"Hey, why did you turn back into a dragon again? Oh, well. We can use you to carry the food back—"

With that, the girl proactively climbed onto his back this time.

Honestly... if this keeps up... I'm definitely not going to be able to leave this idiot dragon, am I?

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