Meeting Vio had been pure luck for Hiro.

  Several days earlier, when he saw Silica fail even the first test of the Starlace Order’s recruitment, he concluded that he stood no chance either.

  Streamers in other regions gained popularity simply from exploration. Meanwhile, all first beta players in Stellar were stuck in Selini for the recruitment tests. Rather than streaming endless training in Selini without knowing how long it would take, Hiro chose to livestream his explorations instead.

  That decision turned out to be the best choice he had ever made.

  Exploration had already spread in other regions, but no one had discovered the wanderer. Hiro became the first player to meet one, and the World Announcement proved it.

  Though his skills did not match his luck, he made the bold decision to sacrifice himself to save the NPC.

  Some time later, Hiro respawned on the road between Selini Town and Merch Village.

  “Gahh! I missed the chance of a lifetime!”

  [cheesebeard]: damn u

  [mimimi]: 5 times rizz NPCs, 5 times failed

  [shrimpgun]: that last one was almost a success though

  [koalacursed]: only if he didn’t die

  “Ugh!”

  In Stelluna territory, Hiro had tried to create romance content by flirting with four NPCs: an innocent waitress, a tough mercenary, a calculating merchant, and even the infamous yandere blacksmith Tilly. He failed miserably each time. Only with Vio had he seen progress, but he died before continuing.

  [bluedust]: but seriously, what was that npc?

  [voidhoney]: she must be a special npc

  [streamsniper420]: there’s even a legendary quest

  [maid_slasher]: and yet this guy just threw it away

  [nekodraws]: the troll king

  “Hey! I didn’t throw it away on purpose! The quest is still there! Didn’t she mention a cave nearby? Maybe I can meet her again.”

  [nekodraws]: yeah, keep dreaming

  [sofasmasher]: where is the cave?

  [lastgooddecision]: how far is ‘nearby’?

  “Alright! I won’t sleep until we find that cave!”

  And so, as the moon rose, Hiro continued his exploration.

  Without any direction, he wasted several hours wandering.

  It did not matter much. The realistic scenery and constant battles kept his viewers entertained, and the World Announcement had drawn even more attention to his stream.

  “It looks like there’s nothing but plains to the east.”

  [ladykiller]: told u it must be west

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  [mod_bob]: no, it’s south

  [viewer683]: wait, the forum said the third test is conquering the village. They’re on the way right now.

  “What? Really?”

  Hiro quickly opened the forum.

  “Alright, let’s return to the village first. Maybe the NPCs there know the cave’s location.”

  —

  Inside the cave, the children rejoiced when Vio and Lavin returned safely.

  But joy did not reach Vio’s eyes.

  A few hours later, when the children fell asleep, Vio sat alone on the cold ground, leaning against the cave wall. Her thoughts drifted to the knight she had met only hours earlier.

  To a woman used to leering gazes, his gaze had been strange. He didn’t look at her with lust. His gaze felt closer to the way she looked at her younger sister.

  But unlike her sister, bound by blood, this knight was a stranger. Yet he looked at her as though she were irreplaceable, more precious than anything in the world. As proof, he had given his life without hesitation, as if her life was worth infinitely more than his own.

  “Lord Hiro…”

  She murmured softly as her eye stared at the cave wall. Even without him asking, she knew she could never forget such a man.

  “Big Sis!”

  Suddenly, Lily’s urgent call broke her thoughts.

  “Monsters attacked while Leon and I were on patrol! He’s fighting them at the entrance!”

  Vio rose instantly. She reached for her staff and dagger… but realized she had left them behind in the village.

  “Big Sis, use mine. Lavin said yours were left behind.”

  Lily handed her a dagger. Vio accepted it with a nod.

  “Wake everyone and get them ready to leave.”

  Without hesitation, she rushed toward the cave entrance.

  There, Leon stood battered, gripping his dagger tightly. Beyond him, wolves snarled from the shadows.

  Clicking her tongue, Vio raised her hand as she ran forward and chanted.

  “O eternal space, from the abyss of stars, vanish into nothing. Dimension Ball!”

  Several violet spheres streaked past Leon and struck the wolves. But without her staff, the spell was smaller and weaker, some shots only grazing their targets.

  “Big Sis!”

  “Good work, Leon.”

  Dozens of wolves circled outside the cave. Their eyes glowed red in the dark, hungry and relentless. Vio tightened her grip on Lily’s dagger as she stood at the entrance. Retreat was not an option, not until the children could escape.

  The first wolf lunged.

  Steel met fang. Sparks flew as Vio deflected its jaws with the flat of her blade, then twisted, slashing its throat in one precise motion. Blood sprayed the stone floor, but another beast immediately took its place.

  “Grrrraaahh!”

  She kicked its snout to stagger it, then spun low, slashing its belly open. Her movements were ragged, not elegant, driven by pure instinct sharpened through weeks of survival.

  Behind her, Leon’s voice rang out.

  “Big Sis, more are coming!”

  “Hold them back for a breath!” Vio ordered.

  Although Vio had fought several battles since the catastrophe, she was undeniably still just a newbie mage. She had only studied one spell on her own before she started her mercenary days, and she didn’t have time to study more after the catastrophe because she had to take care of all the children.

  Still, Vio’s lips moved quickly to chant the incantation as the three wolves charged together.

  “O eternal space, from the abyss of stars, vanish into nothing. Dimension Ball!”

  Violet spheres tore through two of them, erasing flesh into nothingness, but her magic fizzled halfway. Without her staff, her control faltered, the third wolf barreled through.

  At that moment, the children arrived, wide-eyed but ready. Vio’s mind sharpened, because this was their only chance.

  “Follow me! I’ll open the path!”

  She charged forward. Her blade flashed, severing tendons, gouging eyes, striking throats. The wolves clawed her arms and shoulders, but she didn’t slow. Her blood mingled with theirs on the stone floor.

  “Ruuuunn!”

  As her voice fell, the children streamed past, their frightened cries echoing as they spilled into the forest night.

  The pack surged again, blocking their way. Vio summoned all the mana she had left.

  “O eternal space, from the abyss of stars, vanish into nothing. Dimension Ball!”

  A storm of violet orbs blasted a hole in the line of beasts, their bodies unraveling into nothing. The children poured through.

  But then—

  “Aahh!”

  Lavin stumbled, her small foot catching on a broken root.

  “Lavin!”

  A wolf leapt, jaws wide, its fangs glinting in the moonlight as it lunged straight for her neck.

  Without thinking, Vio dashed forward. But her body didn’t move to strike. Instinct guided her arms as they wrapped tightly around Lavin.

  She pulled her sister close, pressing the child against her chest, using her own body as the shield.

  Then, the beast’s jaws opened wide, descending for the fatal bite.

  Vio shut her lone eye, bracing herself to take the blow.

  But suddenly—

  “Absolute Zero.”

  A girl’s voice echoed, soft yet absolute.

  In an instant, the temperature plummeted. Frost raced across the ground, and the air itself turned still.

  The area froze.