The caravan continued rolling along the dusty road toward Lunestra.After the chaos of taming a wyvern by accident, Ray had forced himself to stay calm.
Which lasted exactly twenty minutes.
Ellie pointed at the horizon."Ray, something shiny is coming toward us!"
Ray squinted."It's probably nothing dangerous… right?"
Amelia tightened her grip on her sword."Ray, things that shine in the wilderness are always dangerous."
Lyria closed her book."Usually they're monsters. Or nobles. Equally terrifying."
A figure on a sand-colored mount approached at high speed, kicking up clouds of dust.
As it got closer, Ray could see:
flowing red scarf
sun-kissed skin
a curved blade at her hip
wild amber eyes
a confident grin that screamed trouble
"Oh no… I can already feel my death approaching," Ray muttered.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
The woman pulled her mount to a halt in front of the caravan and raised her hand dramatically.
Her voice was loud, bold, and not subtle in the slightest:
"HAND OVER ALL YOUR MEN!"
Ray choked on air.
Amelia stepped forward, furious."You mean 'hand over all our valuables,' right?"
"No," the woman repeated proudly. "Give me your men. Specifically—"
She pointed directly at Ray.
"—HIM."
Ray raised his hand weakly."Can… can someone explain why I'm being treated like gold with legs?"
Claire spoke calmly."In a world where only ten percent of the population is male, some groups resort to… unconventional methods."
Ellie added cheerfully,"Kidnapping."
Ray screamed internally.
The Bandit Leader Introduces Herself
The woman jumped off her mount and walked right up to Ray with zero hesitation and zero fear.
"I am Zara Farwind, leader of the Desert Gale Bandits!"
"Bandit," Ray repeated nervously. "Great. Perfect. Wonderful."
"I have traveled across dunes, crossed burning ravines, and fought monsters with my bare hands…" Zara declared proudly, hands on her hips.
Amelia rolled her eyes."Get to the point."
Zara leaned forward, eyes sparkling.
"…because I heard rumors of a rare man who tamed a wyvern by simply existing."
Ray froze."WHY ARE THOSE RUMORS SPREADING SO FAST?!"
Zara grabbed his shoulders.
"Marry me."
"NO."
She blinked."Okay, fair. Court you?"
"No!"
"Kidnap you?"
"PLEASE DON'T."
Zara nodded seriously."Negotiations are going well."
Amelia and Claire drew their weapons in unison.
Ellie gasped dramatically."This woman is even bolder than Amelia!"
Lyria scribbled notes:"Potential new party member: dangerously impulsive. Ray should avoid direct eye contact."
Ray could only whimper.
The Duel for Ownership
Zara lifted her blade.
"I challenge all of you! If I win, I take the treasure—Ray!"
Ray clutched his chest."I am NOT a treasure!"
The others answered simultaneously:
"Yes, you are." — Amelia"Definitely are." — Claire"You're shiny and valuable!" — Ellie"You attract monsters and women equally." — Lyria
Zara pointed her sword at them."Prepare yourselves!"
Maria stepped forward and unsheathed her own sword.
"You will not lay a finger on him."
Zara's grin widened."Oh? A knight protecting him? This is fun!"
A Fight That Went… Unexpectedly
Zara attacked with blazing speed—only to trip over a small rock and face-plant into the ground.
Everyone stared.
Ray blinked."…Are you okay?"
Zara stood up instantly, brushing herself off.
"I meant to do that."
"You absolutely didn't!" Ray cried.
Lyria whispered,"She might be even clumsier than you."
Ray looked horrified."There can't be two of me. The world won't survive."
Despite the stumble, Zara fought fiercely, her movements wild but skilled.Amelia countered her.Claire provided cover.Maria pressed Zara back.Ellie cheered unhelpfully.
Finally, Zara dropped her weapon and raised her hands.
"I surrender! Fine! Fine! I admit defeat!"
Ray sighed in relief.
Zara pointed at him.
"But I still want him."
Ray screamed internally again.
A New Companion Joins
Surprisingly, instead of taking him by force, Zara knelt before the group.
"Please let me travel with you! I swear loyalty, protection… and maybe future marriage negotiations!"
Ray facepalmed.
Amelia crossed her arms."She's insane."
Claire nodded."Dangerous."
Lyria wrote something."Useful."
Ellie clapped."New friend!"
Maria sighed."…At least Ray won't be left alone with her."
The system chimed loudly in Ray's head:
[New Potential Harem Member Detected: Zara Farwind]Beauty Score: 93/100Threat Level: HighRomantic Aggression: Extreme
Ray wanted to cry.
The caravan leader stepped forward."Well, we can't leave her here. She'd probably just kidnap you during the night."
Zara smiled proudly."I absolutely would."
Ray's soul slowly left his body.
And So, the Party Grew Again
Zara hopped onto the back of Ray's wyvern, Nibbler.
Ray panicked."HEY! HEY! GET OFF—!"
Nibbler purred happily.
Zara winked at Ray."Your beast likes me. That means fate approves!"
Ray screamed at the sky.
The girls laughed.
The caravan continued toward Lunestra.
And Ray realized, once again, that this world had absolutely no intention of letting him live a normal life.