Spent from their countless lovemaking sessions, Jett realized he was ravenous. A reminder that even the Warden Master needed both food and rest. Mia, by contrast, could go days without a meal, sustained solely by the world's ambient mana.
Blessed by nature and the moon, she had once served as the elf protector of the World Tree. Now she was the Warden Master's head maid, drawing on all her experience to serve him.
"Your breakfast is ready, Master Jett," Mia said, entering the dining hall with a tray.
He'd requested an elven breakfast, and the steam rising from forest mushroom omelets, fresh dandelion, and aromatic cheese made his stomach rumble. To the right of the main dish sat a jar of spring morning dew, cold and clear; on the left, a tiered stack of thin elven bread drizzled with honey.
"That's today's menu," Mia said, fingers clasped in front of her, offering a radiant smile before taking her place behind him, statue‑still.
"Thanks, Mia—seriously," Jett said, his response delayed by sheer awe.
Mia simply chuckled and dipped into a graceful bow.
He dove into the meal, his cheeks bulging as he devoured it—anyone with misophonia would have wanted to throttle him.
With his mouth still full, he mumbled, "Have you trapped those monsters?"
"Yes, Master Jett," Mia replied. "With your permission, I extended the Rose Garden's flowers to ensnare any intruders. They can't move."
"Perfect," Jett said, nodding.
He had suggested dealing with the monsters first, but Mia insisted she could handle them without jeopardizing his quest.
"I want to see your skills in combat later," Jett added.
"As you wish, Master Jett," Mia replied with a gentle bow.
He finished breakfast, and Mia whisked the empty plates away. He leaned back, thinking about the upcoming battle.
I'm no stranger to monster hunting. I've seen the news and heard the stories, but I've never done it outside VR.
On Parallel Earth, supernatural abilities had become commonplace. Monsters roamed every continent, even the world's biggest cities.
Born without mana and shunned, Jett had discovered his combat talents through VR—a once‑militarized program now open to all, letting people awaken abilities and forge careers as adventurers. His talent was so extraordinary that even heroes and villains lamented how mana‑starved he was.
It feels real. It feels new, and I'm excited, not afraid.
Mia reentered the dining hall, now dressed in a more modest maid uniform. Her skirt brushed her ankles, and her bodice left nothing exposed except a simple black choker. Her hair was in a long ponytail.
"Outside attire?" Jett asked.
"Yes, Master Jett," Mia said, spinning gracefully.
Jett grinned. "Looks like this dress is meant to tone down your sex appeal, but your curves still fill it out nicely. I bet your legs look amazing under that skirt."
Mia's cheeks flushed. "Is that so, Master Jett? Or is it meant so only you can see everything I have to offer?"
He laughed softly. "I'd say both."
Despite having seen every kind of revealing outfit in the modern world on celebrities, heroes, and even villains—nothing compared to Mia's subtle tease. He wanted to stay focused, though.
"Take me to the monsters," he said, standing.
"Would you like to try on some clothes first?" Mia asked. "The maids have contributed many intriguing outfits as part of their dowries, and the Warden Mansion has picked out a few so that Master Jett has garments for his first appearance as Warden Master."
Jett shook his head. "Just a shirt and pants for now. I want to test myself."
"Very well, Master Jett," Mia replied, gesturing the way out.
They stepped into the sprawling gardens, each section protected by towering hedges. Fountains whispered, marble pathways gleamed, and statue heads peeked out—yet Jett's eyes narrowed at the labyrinthine layout.
"Like a basement, this place is a maze," he said.
Mia smiled serenely. "It's different here."
With a gentle wave, she wove the hedges overhead into a marble tunnel. Their dark arch glowed with hedge‑flowers like sunset lanterns.
"Wow," Jett said. "Is this elven magic... or inspired by it?"
"Yes! It is true elven magic, Master Jett!" Mia exclaimed.
He placed a finger on her lips to hush her. Mia pressed her lips together like an obedient kitten and fell into his shadow as he strode ahead.
The tunnel's fragrant air turned sour as they neared the Rose Garden. Jett's nostrils flared at the stench of rot and decay, and his fists clenched.
The Specters of Madness loitered before him.
"Yeah, disgusting pricks, I'm killing every last one of you," he snarled.
Those creatures looked like a grotesque mix of soil and the decaying remnants of corpses, their flesh hanging in tatters and bones jutting out at odd angles—the air heavy with the tang of rot, and their every movement crackling like breaking bone.
At Jett's silent command, Mia drew back her floral bonds and set them free.
Jett flipped his palm upward. "Cerven."
A red spark ignited on his palm, multiplying into a crimson lightning bolt that absorbed surrounding color. Stepping forward, he hurled it with a thunderous boom.
Worldly hues vanished as the bolt sliced a specter in two, its head exploding in silent, crimson arcs that crackled toward the sky as clouds rumbled.
[You have killed one of ten Specters of Madness.]
[1/10]
The sonic boom faded, and the bolt returned to his palm. Jett gripped it mid‑shaft and advanced. The remaining specters quivered under his scarlet glare.
"She didn't set you free just so you could stand there, idiots," he muttered.
Behind him, Mia clasped her hands, her cheeks aglow.
Oh, such prodigious might for a Level One! I cannot fathom Master Jett's boundless potential! Perhaps only the World Tree or the Chronicler could divine its depths!
...
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