Max woke up just as the sun began to rise.

  There were no screams, no arms, no smell of smoke. Only the gentle silence of a peaceful room.

  He turned his head slightly… and smiled.

  The chest beside the bed was open. Inside, Moonlight slept curled into a small bundle, clumsily wrapped in oversized sheets that spilled out of the chest. Sophie had made them the night before with whatever fabric she could find.

  The cloth was carefully folded around her body, leaving only her nose and one small hand peeking out.

  She looked… far too adorable.

  Max watched her for a few more seconds.

  Then, a notification appeared in front of his eyes.

  [ Main Quest Completed: Train the Dragon Maid ] [ Reward Avaible ] [ Would you like to cim it? ]

  Max blinked once.

  And smiled tiredly.

  “I guess so…”

  He thought the command, and the system responded immediately.

  [ Reward Obtained ] [ Frostfire Sword ]

  The weapon materialized slowly in front of him, floating a few inches above the air.

  Max took it carefully.

  The bde had a strange glow: a blue edge covered in crimson cracks that seemed to pulse, like embers trapped in ice. Cold and heat coexisted without canceling each other out.

  It was… beautiful. But… small.

  [ Frostfire Sword ] [ Type: Magic Weapon ] [ Bonus: +10 Magic (Semi-Draconid) ] [ Effects: Magical Burn Damage / Magical Freeze Damage ]

  Max swallowed.

  His eyes drifted instinctively toward Moon.

  ‘It’s perfect for her…’ he thought.

  But he looked back at her sleeping.

  He carefully adjusted the sheets a bit more, making sure not to make any noise.

  “Later,” he murmured softly. “It’s not worth waking you up now.”

  He stored the sword in his magic bag.

  Moon kept sleeping, unaware of everything.

  ***

  After a little while, Max got up quietly.

  Moon was still sleeping deeply, tangled in the sheets as if she hadn’t slept in weeks—though it was only her second day of life.

  Max closed the curtains slightly, just enough to keep direct light out, and left the room in silence.

  The hallway leading to the workshops was lively at that hour. Voices. The sound of metal striking metal in the distance. And as Max turned a corner, he ran into a very clear scene.

  Sophie stood with her arms crossed, tail stiff, ears perked up.

  Abby, on the other hand, was leaning against a table, staring at the ceiling with a deliberately bored expression.

  And Frida… was clearly uncomfortable.

  “I told you it’s not funny,” Sophie was saying firmly.

  “It was a joke,” Abby replied with a shrug. “An innocent one.”

  “No,” Sophie shot back. “It’s not when you repeat it every day.”

  Frida looked up, a bit nervous.

  “It’s fine,” she said quickly. “Really.”

  Abby looked at her.

  “See? She says it’s fine.”

  Frida’s shoulders slumped slightly.

  “But… you always say the same thing,” she added softly. “And then you keep doing it.”

  An awkward silence followed.

  Abby sighed.

  “…Sorry, Frida.” She scratched her cheek. “I go too far sometimes.”

  Frida smiled—small, sincere.

  “It’s okay.”

  Max decided it was a good moment to step in.

  “Morning.”

  All three turned to look at him.

  “Max!” Abby said instantly. “Did you come to cim your gift?”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes. I didn’t even wait for breakfast,” he admitted. “You got me curious.”

  Sophie smirked slightly.

  “Well, it’s not just Frida,” she said. “After everything you did for the princess… we each decided to make you a gift.”

  Frida stepped forward.

  “Th-this one is mine.”

  She pced a suit of armor on the table.

  It looked heavy at first gnce. Dark gray, almost bluish, with clean lines and a sober design that fit the body perfectly. Pure adamantite.

  Max’s eyes widened.

  “When did you… take my measurements?”

  Frida hesitated for a second.

  “…I have a good eye.”

  Abby covered her mouth, ughing.

  “HA—”

  SPLAT.

  Sophie smacked her sharply on the back of the head.

  “Behave.”

  Max carefully picked up the armor. A notification appeared instantly.

  [ Adamantite Armor ] [ Type: Armor ] [ Defense: +50 ] [ Material Effect: Immunity to Critical Hits ] [ Enhanced Effect: Activates a passive shield that negates a single attack dealing damage above 3. Cooldown: 24 hours ]

  “…This is incredible,” he murmured.

  “And it’s not over yet,” Abby said, pointing to the center of the chest.

  Embedded there was a bright, eye-catching magic gem.

  “That one’s mine,” she expined. “It turns the armor into a magic item.”

  Another notification appeared.

  [ Return Gem ] [ Effect: Reflects damage received back to the attacker ] [ Enhanced Effect: Doubles the damage reflected to the attacker ]

  Max let out a low whistle.

  “My skill makes base defense not very useful to me,” he admitted. “But this…” He looked up. “This is insane.”

  He turned to them.

  “Thank you. Really.”

  Sophie tilted her head.

  “You’re still missing mine.”

  Max blinked.

  “Ah…?”

  “Turn around,” she said. “And lift your shirt.”

  Silence fell instantly.

  “…Is that part of the gift?” Max asked, uneasy.

  Sophie looked at him with a sweet smile.

  Far too sweet.

  “Do it.”

  Max swallowed. Sighed. Turned around and lifted his shirt.

  SCRAAASH.

  “SON OF A—!”

  A cw mark tore across his back.

  Moon appeared like a lightning bolt.

  “GRRRR!”

  “NO!” Frida and Abby said at the same time, grabbing her. “She’s not hurting him!”

  Max was breathing hard.

  “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!”

  But the burning sensation… was fading. The blood pulled back. The skin closed.

  Sophie rested a hand on her hip.

  “A seal.”

  Max blinked.

  “A… what?”

  “You can now use any type of armor, regardless of its weight,” she expined. “You can also hide it visually.”

  One st notification appeared.

  [ Absolute Bearer Seal ] [ Effect: Ignores armor weight restrictions ] [ Enhanced Effect: Equipped items cannot be detected, not even by magic ]

  Max fell silent.

  Then he put on the armor.

  And made it disappear.

  Moon’s eyes went wide.

  “Woah…! I wanna do that too! …But I don’t want the kitty to scratch me.”

  Abby and Frida burst out ughing.

  Max turned toward Sophie.

  “…Sorry.”

  She smiled, satisfied.

  “Forgiven.”

  Moon crossed her arms, pouting.

  Max smiled.

  “I want something like that too,” she muttered, puffing her cheeks slightly. “Everyone gave stuff to Dad.”

  Frida pressed a hand to her chest, touched.

  “Aww…”

  Abby tilted her head, amused.

  “Well, technically… she’s still too little for magic armor,” she commented.

  Moon frowned.

  “I’m not little!” she protested. “I’m a dragon!”

  Max watched her for a moment.

  He saw the way she looked at the armor. The way she looked at the others. It wasn’t anger… it was that strange mix of curiosity and not wanting to be left out.

  Then it hit him.

  He knelt in front of her and took the backpack slung over his shoulder.

  “Moon,” he said softly, but loud enough for the others to hear. “See this backpack?”

  Moon looked down instantly and nodded.

  “Inside, I have a gift for you.”

  Her eyes lit up.

  “F-for me?!”

  “Yes,” Max replied with a smile. “But not yet.”

  Moon tilted her head.

  “Why not?”

  Max raised a finger.

  “If you behave for the rest of the afternoon… I’ll give it to you.”

  Moon froze completely.

  Then she straightened up, serious, one hand on her chest.

  “Moonlight will behave!” she decred. “Very well! Better than everyone!”

  Abby covered her mouth to keep from ughing.

  “I want to see that.”

  Frida smiled softly.

  Sophie crossed her arms, satisfied.

  “Then it’s going to be a calm afternoon,” she said.

  The little dragon stared at the backpack for a few more seconds… then took a step back.

  “I won’t touch it,” she murmured with effort. “Promise.”

  Max ruffled her hair affectionately.

  “Good job.”

  Moon smiled, proud.