After delivering a flurry of strikes with every ounce of strength he had left, Long's arms finally gave out. His fingers loosened, the hoe slipped from his numb grasp, and he collapsed backward. His chest heaved violently as he fought to pull air into his burning lungs.
In that moment, a figure burst from the maw of the dead serpent and threw itself into his arms.
Long felt a solid, heavy weight press against him. He snapped his eyes open in shock. The tiny, palm-sized fairy was gone. In her place was a young woman of human proportions, clinging tightly to him. Warmth seeped through his clothes, the softness of her body separated from his only by a thin layer of fabric. A faint herbal scent drifted into his nostrils, calming his frantic mind like a sip of fine tea after a violent storm.
"Uh… sis, this size is…?"
Without realizing it, Long had already wrapped his protective arms around her. But the moment his hand brushed her slender back, his heart skipped a beat. He jolted, blurting out:
"Wait, where did your wings go?!"
"Blegh!"
Before he could get an answer, Lia suddenly vomited all over him. The warm, sticky sensation spread rapidly, leaving Long frozen in helpless disbelief. Only then did he notice that her entire body was coated in the snake's yellowish, acidic stomach fluids.
Despite his only set of clothes being utterly ruined, Long did not push her away. He let out a quiet, weary sigh and gently patted her back, soothing her like a frightened child.
"Go ahead, let it all out. It's fine. You're safe now."
Reassured by his kindness, Lia heaved even harder. She clutched his shoulder with trembling hands, her body racked with exhaustion.
"Ughhh! Damn it, I really thought I was a goner! Where did a massive black serpent like that even come from? What the hell happened to the dungeon while I was asleep?!"
She sniffled, muttering to herself before slowly looking up at Long with tear-brimmed eyes. Her voice was weak but sincere.
"Thank you for saving me, kid. I'm really glad you were there."
Long offered a gentle smile at her pitiful, disheveled state. "You saved me too. If you hadn't pushed me away back then, I'd be the one dead right now."
He paused, glancing at the two of them. They were in a miserable condition—covered in slime, vomit, and an overwhelming stench. Scratching his head, he said:
"I feel like we have a lot to talk about, but first… we really need a bath. I'll take you to the bathroom."
Long helped Lia out of the dark underground chamber. When the first rays of morning sunlight touched his skin, the warmth eased the tension that had been gripping his soul. Still covered in filth, Lia looked around with wide-eyed curiosity, examining the large wooden house and its unfamiliar objects.
She pouted, whispering, "Huh? Why is Alex living in such a shabby place? He was one of the greatest heroes, after all…"
Long nearly tripped. He stared at her in disbelief. Shabby? In the modern world, owning a spacious, well-designed house built entirely of high-quality wood like this was a dream. It had been his grandfather's pride, a masterpiece the old man had refused to sell even to wealthy businessmen offering absurd prices. Yet, in Lia's eyes, it was little more than a rundown hut.
Long could only laugh awkwardly, but what truly bothered him was her calling his grandfather a "hero."
This is getting more complicated than I thought, he mused.
They stopped in front of the bathroom. Long carefully explained how to use the shower. Watching the cool water pour from the head, Lia's eyes widened in amazement.
"Oh? Is this some kind of magic device? Are you a water mage?"
Long had expected this. Drawing from the countless novels and movies he had seen, he patiently explained the concept of plumbing. Lia nodded along, though it was unclear how much she actually understood.
"That's it. There are towels on the rack. Take your time. I'll go find you some clothes."
Just as he was about to leave, Long froze under Lia's teasing gaze. She leaned against the doorframe, her tone turning sweet and playful.
"Why don't you bathe with me?"
Bang!
Long's face flushed a violent crimson. He grabbed the doorknob and slammed the door shut in a panic.
"No way! I'm still young! Just hurry up and wash before you catch a cold!"
Lia's mischievous laughter echoed from behind the wood, clearly enjoying his reaction. "Still young? How old are you, then?"
"Sixteen," Long replied, his voice trembling slightly.
Her tone turned even more sultry. "Sixteen and already this shy? For humans, sixteen is old enough to be an adult—even to start a family, you know."
Long was stunned. "That's in your world. In mine, it's twenty!"
Lia clicked her tongue in mock disappointment. "Oh…"
The sound of running water soon filled the bathroom, easing Long's nerves. At least while she was occupied, that mischievous fairy princess couldn't tease him. For now.
Long returned to his room and rummaged through his wardrobe. While he rarely bought clothes for himself, his grandfather had been the opposite, quietly buying him new outfits over the years. Some still had their tags attached.
After careful consideration, Long chose a simple white T-shirt and a pair of loose black sweatpants. The soft fabric would likely be more comfortable for her. Then, a new problem hit him like a lightning bolt.
Wait… what about underwear?
Long froze. Having a girl wear men's boxers was unacceptable, but letting her go without any was even worse.
Fine. I'll bike to the supermarket tomorrow morning.
The mental image of himself, a teenage boy, standing in the women's lingerie section under judgmental glares made him want to crawl into a hole and die. Blushing furiously, he knocked softly on the bathroom door.
"Um… I'm leaving the clothes here."
The door opened just a crack. A fair, slender arm reached out, snatched the bundle, and vanished back inside.
A while later, Lia stepped out. She wore the white T-shirt and pants Long had provided. The clothes were far too large for her petite height of five feet, but they only served to highlight her damp, flowing black hair. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, and even beneath the baggy fabric, her curves were undeniable.
"Well? How do I look?" she asked shyly, fiddling with the hem of the oversized shirt.
Long stared, paralyzed for a few seconds, before answering honestly:
"So beautiful... I can't look away."
Lia quickly turned her head, a quiet, satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Good boy," she whispered.
Long grabbed his own change of clothes and headed for the door, reminding her:
"There's a hair dryer inside. I showed you how to use it, remember? I'm going to bathe now."
Just as the door was about to close, Long poked his head back out and eyed her suspiciously.
"No peeking, okay? I locked the door!"
His excessive caution after her earlier teasing left Lia both shocked and deeply embarrassed. Her face flared bright red as she shouted:
"LIKE I WOULD EVER PEEK AT YOU!"
Her sharp voice echoed through the quiet wooden house. That night felt unusually long, and Long knew that from this moment on, the lonely life he had once known was gone forever.