Chapter 172: Breakfast at the Fountain with Moonlight

Max woke up abruptly.

He sat up in bed breathing heavily, completely drenched in sweat.

The sheets clung to his body from the heat.

"...Shit."

He ran a hand down his face while trying to fully wake up.

The dream with Atlas still felt far too fresh in his mind.

Her smile.

The way she spoke.

And even worse... the casual way she had basically admitted she manipulated his upgrades however she found amusing at the moment.

"What a troublesome woman..." he muttered.

He fell back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling.

But the most important part still remained stuck in his head.

Seraphine had gone alone.

And he had let her go.

Max clenched his jaw slightly.

He couldn’t keep delegating everything and expecting everyone else to solve the problem for him.

He had to personally deal with whoever was performing those summoning rituals.

And return every being from another world.

Including Chloe.

Including himself, probably.

That last thought twisted his stomach a little.

KNOCK KNOCK.

Max turned his head toward the door.

"Yeah?"

The door opened slightly and Abby peeked inside.

The demon girl raised an eyebrow the moment she saw him.

"Wow."

Max frowned.

"What?"

"You look like someone who survived a war."

Max glanced down at his current state.

Abby grinned in amusement.

"Moonlight is waiting for you at the fountain for breakfast."

She stepped a little further into the room.

"Elanor is with the king talking about the wedding."

Abby’s smile softened a bit.

"By the way..."

She pointed at him.

"...congratulations."

Max blinked.

"I never thought you’d actually end up marrying the princess."

Max let out a tired little laugh.

"Yeah. Me neither."

Abby studied him for a few more seconds.

Then she narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Now then..."

Her tone turned teasing.

"...what exactly were you doing last night to wake up this sweaty?"

Max looked horrified.

"Don’t get the wrong idea!"

Abby was already laughing.

"I’m just saying."

"I had a nightmare."

Max crossed his arms.

"That’s all."

And honestly, he hoped Atlas hadn’t heard that from wherever she existed.

Because she’d probably tease him about it for centuries.

Abby chuckled softly.

"If you say so..."

Max sighed.

"I’m gonna take a shower and head over there."

"Perfect."

Abby started walking out of the room.

But before closing the door, she peeked back in one last time.

"Oh, and by the way."

Max raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

Abby smiled to the side.

"The princess has been unbearably happy lately."

And she shut the door before Max could answer.

***

A while later, Max finally headed out into the courtyard looking much more presentable, clean, and dressed in fresh clothes.

The morning air felt pleasant.

The central fountain in the courtyard was already occupied.

Moonlight sat on the edge of the stone fountain, lightly swinging her legs while calmly drinking tea.

A small tray full of muffins sat in front of her.

"Hey," Max said as he approached.

Moon looked up and immediately smiled.

"Papa!"

Max smiled faintly as he sat across from her.

"Aren’t you tired after training with Neros for so many hours yesterday?"

Moon widened her eyes as though the very idea was absurd.

"Tired?"

She quickly shook her head.

"It was super fun!"

Max chuckled softly.

"I’m glad."

He pointed at her slightly.

"I noticed you’re pretty good."

Moon smiled with absolute pride.

"I know."

Very humble creature.

Max picked up the teapot and poured himself some tea while Moon pushed the tray toward him.

"Try one."

Max grabbed a muffin.

"Did Bertha make these?"

Moon immediately nodded.

"With silver blueberries."

Max took a bite.

"...My god."

Moon smiled proudly.

"Right?"

Max slowly nodded while continuing to eat.

"Bertha seriously never misses when it comes to cooking."

Moon grabbed another muffin for herself.

Then she looked at him curiously.

"By the way."

Max looked up.

"Hm?"

"Sophie explained properly last night what a wedding is."

Max blinked.

"Oh."

Moon tilted her head slightly.

"I thought you two were already married."

Max nearly choked on his tea.

"What?"

Moon shrugged.

"You live together."

She counted on her fingers.

"You kiss."

Another finger.

"And you look at each other weird."

Max covered part of his face with one hand.

"That does not help."

Moon giggled softly.

"But I’m happy for you two."

Her smile softened slightly.

"I like that you’re my family."

Max felt a small emotional hit directly to the chest.

"...Thanks," he said sincerely.

Moon nodded happily.

Then she raised one finger with absolute seriousness.

"I also learned something else."

Max was already afraid to ask.

"What?"

"Sophie said knights like Neros wear armor at weddings."

Max blinked.

"...Yeah. Some do."

Moon smiled.

"Then I want armor too."

Max stared at her.

"I don’t want to wear a dress," she continued.

"I’m gonna ask Frida to make me armor."

Max widened his eyes slightly.

"That..."

He thought for a few seconds.

"...we’re gonna have to discuss that with your mother."

Moon instantly made the face of someone experiencing absolute tragedy.

"She’s gonna say no."

Max burst out laughing.

"Probably."

Moon crossed her arms in offense.

"Armor is better."

"Definitely safer," Max admitted.

And right then...

A scream echoed through the courtyard.

Max and Moon immediately turned toward the castle entrance.

Guards were running.

Servants were shouting.

And something enormous rushed through the gate at full speed.

Max opened his eyes wide.

"...What the hell?"

The creature let out a sharp screech as it charged across the courtyard.

It was large.

Reptilian.

With huge claws.

A long tail.

And fast, violent movements.

Moon instantly stood up on the fountain.

"A MONSTER!"

But Max couldn’t process anything else.

Because he recognized that silhouette perfectly.

He had watched way too many documentaries and movies to mistake it.

"...No way."

Riding on top of the beast, completely disheveled and with part of her clothes torn—

Was Seraphine.

The mage raised one hand the moment she saw him.

Smiling like someone who was having way too much fun.

"MAX!"

The velociraptor let out another monstrous screech while violently skidding to a stop in front of the fountain.

Max stood frozen, staring at the scene.

His brain stopped functioning again.

Because yes.

That was very clearly a velociraptor.

A GODDAMN VELOCIRAPTOR.

IN A FANTASY WORLD?