Chapter 439: Again her?

Luke knew that leaving Grella behind would put her life at risk. Even if he had killed the village chief, who had also been her mate, there were undoubtedly still loyal followers who would be willing to carry out their former leader’s wishes.

He couldn’t very well slaughter every man in the village, could he? Besides, Luke was the reason Grella had found herself in this predicament in the first place. The least he could do was take responsibility for her safety.

"You continue to surprise me." The old man’s voice drew Luke’s attention.

"You tracked me here so easily?"

Jorma shrugged. "Your presence wasn’t particularly difficult to trace."

Luke was about to ask what he meant, but a glance at Grella reminded him that she needed some reassurance first.

"Luke... What is this place?" Grella stared at her surroundings, her expression caught between shock and apprehension.

He couldn’t blame her for reacting that way. Had he not visited some of the most extraordinary places himself, he might have been just as overwhelmed.

The Dragon’s Realm looked like something straight out of an old villain’s lair, the sort of desolate dimension one might encounter in a fantasy movie. Darkness and cold stretched in every direction, while two enormous moons hung ominously overhead. There wasn’t a tree in sight, let alone another person. Every so often, enormous winged creatures could be seen soaring across the distant sky. Calling them birds, however, would have been a considerable understatement.

[Host, bringing beings from one realm to another is prohibited. This is the only exception.]

Luke hummed in surprise before nodding. ’Oh, I see.’

That made sense. If he could freely transport people between realms, what would even be the point of the Ritual?

Not that he had any intention of transporting anyone else between realms. Still, he made a mental note that Grella was the sole exception.

"What do you intend to do with her?" Jorma asked curiously.

Luke sighed. "I was thinking of asking Lady Agatha to take her in."

He turned towards Grella.

"Sorry, Grella, but this will be your new home for the time being."

Grella swallowed nervously at his words.

Jorma, who had been listening to their conversation, told him something he still hadn’t realized. "I don’t believe you’ll find the Queen there at the moment. She’s gone exploring the other side of the realm with her children."

Luke fell silent.

Why had the old man waited until now to mention something so important?

He hummed thoughtfully. Asking the Dragon Lord was hardly an option. After what he had done to the man’s brother, there was little doubt that the Dragon Lord held a grudge against him. Besides, Luke wasn’t particularly inclined to place his trust in anyone other than Agatha.

He didn’t know anyone in the Elven territory well enough to approach them either, which left him with rather limited options.

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

"My Lord."

Luke turned towards the newcomer and hummed. "When did you arrive?"

Astfall was already kneeling before him, his head respectfully lowered.

An idea suddenly occurred to Luke.

"Right. Astfall, is there any work Grella could help with at your residence? Cleaning, cooking, or anything else? In exchange, you could provide her with food and shelter."

Astfall answered without the slightest hesitation. "Anyone who comes under my lord’s protection is my responsibility. I shall ensure the lady is well taken care of."

Luke grinned before turning towards Grella. The woman still looked rather pale, her expression betraying the uncertainty she felt about her unfamiliar surroundings.

He let out a quiet sigh.

"Don’t worry. I trust him. And if you trust me, you can go with him."

Grella took a deep breath before asking, "Are you leaving already?"

Luke nodded. "I came here for some work, but I thought I should stop by and check on you while I was here."

Grella exhaled softly. She knew Luke didn’t have any particularly deep feelings for her, nor had he ever made promises about their future. Yet, despite having no obligation to do so, he hadn’t simply abandoned her to deal with the consequences of her circumstances. Instead, he had brought her somewhere safe and made arrangements to ensure she would be looked after.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Hopefully, you’ll feel the same urge next time and come to check on me again."

Luke smiled. "I certainly enjoy spending time with you."

He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips before whispering, "Wait for me."

With that, he turned towards Astfall.

"Take good care of her. And while I’m away, live your life as you see fit. You understand?"

Astfall bowed his head. "Understood, my lord."

Luke nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

He then turned towards Jorma, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"And you. Don’t follow me."

Before the old man could respond, Luke vanished from sight.

....

"Haah. Finally back."

Luke exhaled deeply as he found himself standing in a familiar place.

It was the very spot where he had first encountered Synthia.

The crimson-haired mermaid had appeared startled and hopeful when they first met, an expression that had left quite an impression on him.

A smile curved his lips.

"Even though it hasn’t been that long, I kind of miss her."

He wondered what she might be doing now. She had sounded rather fond of her mate, so perhaps she was spending her time looking after her family.

Who knew?

"Very well, let’s get started."

Luke wasn’t here to reminisce about the past. As pleasant as the memories were, he had a far more important purpose.

His eyes settled on the grass beneath his feet. A single glance was enough for the system to evaluate its properties.

[Name: Touchmoose]

[Element: Healing]

[A strong base for recovery potions. Adding the right amount alongside other herbs could elevate the rank and recovery rate of a low-tier potion.]

Luke grinned.

Even the grass beneath his feet could help him produce medium-grade potions using the same ingredients required for basic ones. That alone made this place worth exploring.

He shifted his attention to a nearby flower.

[Name: Sworn Lily]

[Element: Fire]

[The essence of this flower can be crushed and dried to produce gunpowder capable of generating an immense explosion with just a pinch.]

Luke nodded in satisfaction.

He could definitely put this to good use. With enough of these flowers, he could manufacture explosives capable of throwing large groups of enemies into complete disarray.

His gaze eventually settled on another small herb growing a short distance away.

[Name: Red Mantis]

[Element: Poison]

[Can be used to produce a delayed-action poison. Its lethality is such that only a high-grade potion can counteract its effects.]

Luke’s eyes lit up. He definitely wanted to get his hands on some of it.

Given the journey ahead, there might be situations where he couldn’t rely on his strength alone. He was about to encounter beings who commanded considerable authority and had entire groups of subordinates at their disposal. He wasn’t actively seeking trouble, but experience had taught him the importance of preparing for the worst.

Besides, there was another reason.

"If I’m going to meet expert potion brewers, I need to come prepared."

Rubbing his hands together, Luke began his exploration in earnest.

....

"Haah... This should be enough."

Twenty pouches lay before Luke, each filled with a different assortment of grasses, herbs, and flowers. He had carefully sorted the ingredients according to their properties, which explained the rather large number of pouches.

"With these, I should be able to prepare several medium-grade potions and still have enough left over for the family."

He wiped the sweat from his forehead before deciding to wash his face in the nearby pond.

Rolling up his sleeves and pulling up his trouser legs, Luke knelt beside the water.

However, the moment he looked down at the pond, his body froze.

A face stared back at him.

But it wasn’t his own.

Those crimson locks, that innocent yet dangerous eyes... There was no mistaking her.

"Averis..." he murmured.

It had been quite some time, but he could still recognize her without the slightest difficulty.

She was looking straight at him, her eyes trembling with fear. Something was terribly wrong. He had never seen her like this before. The expression on her face was so vivid and unmistakable that he couldn’t dismiss it as a mere illusion.

Luke immediately reached towards the water.

But before his fingers could touch its surface, the image disappeared.

"Fuck!"

He cursed under his breath.

She had vanished... once again.

He stayed there for a few more moments...thinking about her expression.

Then, he snickered and said, "Forget it. I am already over her."

He picked his pouches and left the place without glancing even once behind him.

~~~

A/N:- Thanks for reading. The series of arcs would be interesting considering a whole lot of progression is about to happen. I just hope you continue to support the story so I could finish it.