The Noble Lord and the Knight Lady

Xu Xi and the Hero’s journey had no fixed destination.

They followed their whims.

They wandered as they pleased.

Across the vast, boundless continent, they traveled on foot, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way and extending a helping hand to those in need.

As time passed,

mysterious tales of the two began to circulate in the territories they passed through.

There was a knight—beautiful and kind, with emerald eyes clearer than a deep pool and platinum hair more radiant than the sun, graceful and gentle.

The loyal knight guarded her beloved.

Their affection was sweet.

Their gestures intimate.

Strolling through the countryside, they reveled in the freedom of their love.

"Shhh—keep your voices down."

"That noble lord and the knight lady must have sneaked away together. We mustn’t ruin their moment."

"Right, right, keep it quiet."

The villagers huddled together, their faces tense as they covered their mouths.

Yet even so,

their weathered faces,

roughened by sun and wind,

still betrayed excitement and curiosity.

For these common folk, the love story of a young noble and a knight was an unprecedented, scandalous secret.

……

……

Xu Xi had heard the rumors, but he paid them no mind.

Instead, he continued traveling the world with Servia.

"Goblins, slimes, underground labyrinths, dungeon bosses…"

"Truly, this is a world of heroes and demon kings. The setting is full of familiar tropes."

Grassen Territory.

Sunlight spilled over the emerald fields.

It pierced through the clouds, filtered through the gaps in the leaves, and gently caressed the earth, illuminating the path ahead for Xu Xi and Servia.

Gazing at the unique creatures along the way,

Xu Xi couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of déjà vu, as if he were truly living a hero’s adventure.

"Still, the core element of a hero’s journey—the Demon King—has already been defeated by Servia."

"Strictly speaking, this isn’t an adventure anymore."

"It’s more like… the hero’s retirement?"

As Xu Xi pondered,

his hero emerged from a bakery, her gauntleted hands cradling a warm baguette.

"Lord Sorcerer, it’s time for lunch."

Servia took out the bread,

sliced it neatly in half, and spread sweet jam over the cut surface.

The golden crust was crisp and inviting, the red jam enhancing its appeal. Though simple, the soft, delicate flavor rivaled that of any grand feast.

"Thank you, Servia."

Xu Xi accepted the bread with a smile.

He sat beside the girl, their backs resting against the sturdy rock at the village entrance, watching the heat waves dance in the air as they savored the quiet of a summer afternoon.

"Lord Sorcerer…"

"If I were better at cooking, I could prepare truly delicious meals for you."

Servia took a small bite of the bread,

her expression downcast.

She knew her culinary skills paled in comparison to Xu Xi’s—even the Witch and the Mechanical Servant surpassed her.

A sense of inadequacy crept into her heart.

"Servia, don’t dwell on such things."

"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. There’s no need to feel guilty about it."

"Besides—"

"I think your cooking is already quite good."

Xu Xi reassured her gently.

It wasn’t a lie—he truly meant it.

Of course, there was one important caveat: as long as Servia didn’t attempt to bake berries.

"Thank you for your faith in me, Lord Sorcerer!"

The hero Servia perked up again.

……

Simulation, Month Two.

Driven by curiosity and a desire to explore,

Xu Xi ventured into an adventurer’s labyrinth, with Servia keeping a vigilant watch by his side.

Inside the maze, stone-brick corridors crisscrossed in intricate patterns, riddled with traps and patrolled by monsters.

Of course,

such dangers were only a threat to ordinary adventurers.

"Run! Everyone, run!!!"

The moment Servia set foot in the labyrinth,

the entire dungeon erupted into chaos. Every monster with a shred of intelligence fled in terror, as if facing an unstoppable predator.

In no time,

the labyrinth was left deserted.

Eerily silent.

"Lord Sorcerer, I…" Servia looked at Xu Xi in confusion, at a loss for words.

"It’s alright, Servia. Even without monsters, there’s still plenty to see here—unique features, hidden treasures. Let’s go deeper."

"Yes, Lord Sorcerer!"

Her emerald eyes shimmered with renewed joy.

The underground labyrinth was cold and damp, droplets of water trickling down the walls, their echoes carrying far in the empty halls.

Vines clung to the stone, torches flickered dimly.

The path twisted and turned, a maze of complexity.

Xu Xi nodded slightly, appreciating the dungeon’s atmosphere.

"Lord Sorcerer, come look!"

Suddenly, Servia—who had been focused on navigating—waved him over excitedly, as if she had discovered something.

"Is this… a dungeon chest?"

Xu Xi leaned in for a closer look.

It was an old, rotting wooden chest.

Its lid was unlatched, resting innocently in the corner—as if placed there solely to tempt someone into opening it.

"According to most hero stories,"

"dungeon chests either contain rare treasures and legendary weapons… or they’re monsters in disguise, waiting to devour the unwary."

"This one is probably real."

"After all, no monster could remain calm in Servia’s presence."

Xu Xi pondered for a moment,

then crouched down, gripping the lid and lifting it gently.

A dazzling golden light burst forth,

revealing the contents inside.

Ten neatly arranged, beautifully crafted blue mana potions.

They were useless to Xu Xi.

Useless to Servia.

Yet the hero’s face lit up with pure delight.

"Lord Sorcerer, I’ve always wanted to do this."

"Adventuring in a labyrinth."

"Discovering hidden chests."

"In all the knightly tales, this is a must-have scene!"

Her fists clenched in excitement, cheeks flushed with happiness.

Her smile was radiant,

as she eagerly shared her childhood dreams of being a hero.

Xu Xi listened patiently, savoring Servia’s joy and the fulfillment of her long-held fantasy.

Gazing at her, his expression softened with warmth.

Remembering Servia’s past as a tormented spirit,

Xu Xi couldn’t help but reflect on the passage of time, the twists of fate—and how precious this moment of unbridled happiness truly was.

"Let’s keep exploring, Servia."

"Deeper in, there should be more chests… and other interesting things this labyrinth has to offer."

He took Servia’s hand,

leading her further into the maze.

He was determined to accompany her,

to fulfill her childhood dream of a hero’s adventure.

Even if this so-called labyrinth held no real benefit for either of them,

some things were beyond the constraints of profit and loss.