"White bend grass? No, wait… white vine grass?"
Elara frowned, staring at the animal skin spread open across the table. Her voice grew quieter with each uncertain correction. "No… that's not right either.
Her silver head drooped lower and lower until her hair brushed the table. Finally, she groaned softly, dragging the edge of the fur blanket over her face to hide her embarrassment.
Luciel watched her for a moment, then gave a deliberately dramatic sigh. "Ah, it seems our scholar doesn't actually know how to read."
"I—I do!" she blurted out, cheeks reddening. "I just haven't practiced reading hieroglyphs in a while. I forgot a few words, that's all. Give me a little time and I'll remember."
Luciel rested his chin lazily on his hand, eyes glinting with teasing amusement. "Oh, of course. I completely believe you."
The tone made her forehead twitch. "You—!" Elara's hands clenched into fists. She snatched up the animal skin, slapped it back onto the table with a soft thump, and turned her face away with a pout. "Forget it. You're impossible."
Before Luciel could tease her again, Mino's gentle voice cut through the tension. "Breakfast is ready!"
The bunny-eared girl appeared, carrying a steaming iron pot. The scent of broth filled the room.
"I'll get the tableware," Elara muttered quickly, seizing the excuse to flee the conversation.
Breakfast was simple, as always—thick broth and roasted meat, hot enough to drive away the chill of morning. They gathered around the table, but Luciel barely touched his food. His eyes wandered toward the scattered animal skins beside him, each one covered in the same strange symbols.
He couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated. Two girls, both from this world, and neither can properly read its writing.
Elara, at least, recognized some of the symbols—she was half literate. Mino, on the other hand, probably couldn't read a single line of hieroglyphs.
Luciel sighed inwardly. If I'm going to survive here… I'll have to learn their language myself. Properly.
To build a life in this world, he needed to understand it—not just its monsters and tribes, but its history, culture, and knowledge.
That means books, he thought, and someone to teach me how to read them.
He was lost in thought when Elara suddenly spoke. "Even if I forgot a few hieroglyphs," she said with a quiet confidence, "I still understand what's written on that animal skin."
Luciel raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then enlighten me."
Her tone became serious. "It's a formula—a secret medicine for strengthening the human body."
Luciel straightened, interest immediately rekindled. "A secret medicine? You mean something that enhances physical strength?"
"Yes." Elara reached for another piece of roasted meat but seemed to forget it halfway. Her eyes were already scanning the other hides. "Show me the rest. I need to see all of them to tell what level they are."
Luciel passed the entire bundle over without hesitation.
She began sorting through them, her gaze sharp and analytical now. "These three are first-tier recipes," she murmured. "Simple ingredients. Nothing too rare."
Her slender fingers flipped through another group. "This set—seven materials. That makes it second-tier."
Luciel leaned forward slightly. "And?"
"Hmm." Elara's expression shifted, genuine surprise flashing in her eyes. "There's even a third-tier formula here."
She glanced up briefly, meeting his gaze. "Where did you even find these?"
Luciel only smiled, the same infuriatingly calm expression he always wore. "You don't want to know."
Elara ignored the answer and continued working. One by one, she spread the parchments across the table. As the pile grew, her movements slowed.
Her voice trembled faintly when she finally looked up. "There are also fourth-tier formulas. Twenty-four ingredients in total."
She pushed aside the sorted stacks and stared at what remained—another dozen pieces of hide. "Don't tell me these are fifth-tier…"
Luciel said nothing.
Elara counted carefully, then exhaled in disbelief. "Thirty-six sheets in total. The last group—fifth-tier. Incredible."
She turned to him, her expression caught between awe and frustration. "Do you even understand what this means? The Bloodbeard Bandit Group wasn't just a gang of thieves. They had resources—real power. A treasure like this shouldn't exist outside royal vaults."
Luciel's eyes narrowed slightly. "You mean it's valuable?"
"Valuable?" She gave a short, humorless laugh. "Each of these formulas is worth a fortune. Together, they rival the worth of that crystal fish. This is a complete series of body-strengthening elixirs, from beginner to master level."
Luciel absorbed her words silently, fingers tapping the table.
He hadn't expected to get his hands on something so extraordinary—at least not so soon. The Bloodbeard's hidden stash was far beyond what he imagined.
No wonder they dared challenge the Moon Tribe, he thought. They were sitting on treasures the whole time.
His mind flicked briefly to the bandit leader himself. By now, he's probably walked right into the bait I left behind. If he's lucky, he'll crawl out alive. If not… well, he chose that road himself.
Elara, meanwhile, was still staring down at the parchments as though they might vanish. "This isn't just about physical strength," she said quietly. "The higher-tier medicines can awaken latent potential—dormant abilities buried in the human body. That's what makes them priceless."
Luciel looked up. "You sound like you know this firsthand."
Her lips pressed together. "My strength doesn't come from these formulas," she admitted after a pause. "It comes from something else… something I wish I could undo."
She didn't elaborate, but he knew what she meant—the infection of the virtual ghost, a parasitic force that had twisted her life and granted her power at a terrible cost.
"So these secret medicines," Luciel mused aloud, "could enhance someone safely? No side effects?"
"If refined properly, yes."
Luciel's gaze shifted toward Mino, who was quietly eating beside them, her long ears twitching at every sound. "Then I'll start with her."
"Me?" The girl blinked, startled.
"Of course," Luciel said with a small grin. "You'll be my first test subject—and later, my mighty general."
Mino tilted her head, clearly puzzled. "General?"
He chuckled. "It means someone strong who leads others into battle."
Her ears perked up, and she nodded earnestly. "Then I'll become a strong general!"
Elara couldn't help but smile despite herself. "And you'll still cook for us, won't you, General?"
"Of course!" Mino said without hesitation. "If being strong means eating more, I'll eat twice as much."
Luciel laughed. "That's the spirit."
Behind her calm expression, Elara felt a twinge of envy she couldn't quite explain. If only I had been born with her kind of talent…
Bunnyfolk were naturally gifted in perception and agility. With the right medicine, Mino's potential could easily surpass that of most mutant warriors.
Mutants like her relied on innate traits—enhanced senses, faster reflexes, keener instincts. But for ordinary humans, even strengthened ones, reaching that level was nearly impossible without some kind of external boost.
"Don't look so sour," Luciel teased gently. "You'll be next."
"Me?" Elara blinked, caught off guard.
He nodded. "You don't look very sturdy to me."
Her lips parted as if to protest, but then she hesitated. The truth was, he wasn't entirely wrong. Her body's power came from corruption, not natural strength. The infection had forced her evolution, shortening her lifespan in return.
"You're wondering why I'd bother strengthening you," Luciel said quietly, reading her expression with ease.
She looked away, pretending to study the parchments again. "You're a strange man, Luciel."
He smiled faintly. "Maybe. But you seem to know someone who can make these medicines, don't you?"
Her head jerked slightly. "How—how did you know that?"
"You handled those parchments like a professional," he replied. "No hesitation, no confusion. You didn't just read them—you understood them."
Elara bit her lip. After a long silence, she admitted, "I do know someone. A woman who can refine secret medicines."
Luciel's curiosity sharpened. "Is she trustworthy?"
The memory of a tall, golden-haired woman flashed across Elara's mind—Ariel, her old companion. Big-hearted, reckless, and far too beautiful for her own good.
"I don't know if she's still alive," Elara said quietly. "But she was in the Moon Lake Tribe the last time I saw her."
Luciel leaned back in his chair. "So we'll find her there."
"I can't promise she's still there," Elara warned. "It's been more than ten days since we separated. She might have gone out searching for Angel's Tears."
Luciel nodded thoughtfully. "Then we'll check when we arrive. It's not like we have many options."
He sighed, glancing toward the window where sunlight spilled across the floor. "A pity there's no way to send messages in this world. Everything has to be arranged in person—meetings, allies, even warnings."
Elara smiled faintly. "It's not so bad. You learn patience that way."
Luciel chuckled. "Patience isn't my strong suit."
The three of them fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds the gentle splash of water from the tub where the crystal fish swam and the faint hum of morning insects outside.
For now, the world was still and calm—a brief peace before the storm that awaited them at the Moon Lake Tribe.
And as Luciel's gaze drifted once more to the table covered in priceless secrets, he knew one thing for certain:
whatever came next, he was ready.