After approximately 20 minutes, the trio arrived in front of an old, worn-out two storey building in the western suburbs.
A man in his 40s opened the door with a calm but sharp gaze.
"Uncle Versalon, we’ve got a new tenant for you," Maki said with a warm smile.
The landlord, Versalon, a refined older man with glasses and an air of strict professionalism, glanced at Ryu’s temporary ID and immediately frowned.
"A refugee? Can he even pay rent on time? And I need six months’ advance if I’m taking in a bachelor."
John rubbed his forehead.
"Come on, Uncle. Don’t make it hard for the kid. And he’s one of us. Trust me, you might want to be a little more respectful."
Versalon blinked. "Oh, is that so?" He cleared his throat, instantly softening his tone. "Well, that changes things then. He can have the second floor. Rent’s 500 silver per month. Can he handle that?"
Before anyone could say another word, Ryu had already vanished from sight.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud.
His footsteps echoed up the staircase like a squirrel on caffeine.
In seconds, he was at the top, yanked the door open, and slammed it shut behind him like he had just won a marathon.
No greetings. No thanks. Not even a glance back.
Versalon stared at the stairs, stunned.
"Did he just move in?"
John laughed. "That kid really needed the bathroom."
"Pfft.... " Maki tried to hold her laugh but failed. "I think he teleported."
Versalon muttered under his breath, "What have I gotten myself into?"
"Haha, have fun with your new guest, Uncle. We’re off to work now. Tell the kid we’ll drop by soon!"
John waved cheerfully, Maki giving a small nod beside him as they disappeared down the street.
Versalon stood at the doorway, arms crossed, watching the pair leave. Then his gaze drifted to the second floor. Something about today’s air felt... heavier than usual.
Maybe it was the strange boy. Or maybe he was just getting old.
He shook his head and muttered under his breath, "Probably just my nerves again."
With a soft grunt, he closed the door and stepped back inside.
A warm aroma of soup drifted through the house. In the modest kitchen, a woman with soft features and a gentle smile peeked out.
"Dear, I heard John’s voice. Why didn’t you call him in?" she asked while stirring a pot.
Versalon gave a tired sigh and loosened his collar.
"He brought me a new tenant. Said the kid’s one of the awakened ones... but something feels off."
The woman chuckled softly. "You always say that. Every time someone new moves in, you act like the world’s ending."
"This one didn’t say a word. Just bolted upstairs like he was being chased by a devil."
"Maybe he just needed the bathroom?"
He paused. "...That’s actually what he said."
They both looked at each other and laughed.
"Well, let’s just hope he doesn’t blow the roof off," Versalon muttered, still not entirely convinced.
"Don’t worry. If he does, you’ll just charge double rent," she teased.
"That’s not a bad idea," he replied.
Upstairs, Ryu hurriedly locked the door.
Then he stumbled inside like a man on the brink of spiritual collapse, slammed the window shut, threw off the leafy makeshift shirt he was wearing, and flopped straight onto the creaky wooden floor.
"Finally!" he gasped. "Mana... save me..."
His body began to flicker faintly with a magical hue. Within seconds, his human form dissolved into a small, snow-white dragon with faint silver scales. He curled up tightly in the corner like a roasted marshmallow ball and groaned dramatically.
"That was too close... If I stayed another five minutes out there, I would’ve poofed back into dragon form in the middle of the street."
He stared blankly at the wall, expression dead.
"And that Maki woman would’ve probably tried to mount me and ride me to war."
His stomach growled next.
Ryu glared at his belly.
"Seriously? Now you’re hungry too?"
He dragged himself with tiny claws to a sack Maki had handed him earlier. It was packed with some emergency rations. He tore it open, sniffed it suspiciously, then immediately recoiled.
"Ugh! It smells like a boot soaked in soup."
Still, without another word, he stuffed the entire dried biscuit into his mouth and munched with the slow misery of someone reconsidering every decision in life.
Then, he found the bed. Or what was supposed to be a bed.
The mattress had one leg shorter than the others, so it tilted like a sinking ship.
Ryu climbed onto it, curled up in a ball again, tail wrapped around himself, and muttered,
"I have a lot to learn. But right now I need a nap."
However, it hadn’t even been two hours when sharp knocks echoed on the door.
Ryu woke up feeling groggy.
"Who is it this time?" he mumbled.
Grumbling, he headed toward the door to open it.
But then he noticed something odd. The world around him felt enormous.
That’s when he realized that he was in his dragon form.
Swallowing hard, Ryu quickly morphed back into his human shape.
Only after hurriedly putting on his pants and shirt did he open the door. Constantly changing clothes again and again was such a drag, but there was nothing he could do about it.
—and instantly froze when he saw the person standing outside.