The journey continued on, the forest gradually morphing into a more mountainous region as Rukiyo pressed forward.
As far as she can tell, the area's completely deserted, with nothing, but trees and rocks for company, however, she's still clearing away some of the dark clouds on the map, so she's not losing much at this wandering of hers.
She continued moving deeper into the forest, following a narrow path through the trees.
Everything seemed oddly peaceful, the only sound coming from the rustle of leaves around her and the soft crunch of her shoes against the earth.
From time to time, she glances up at the map, frowning slightly— the darkened clouds still stubbornly occupying most of the screen, and the fact that it almost looked like an endless forest wasn't exactly encouraging.
But she keeps walking because there has to be something ahead.
There just has to be.
She let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders sagging. "How much farther do I have to walk to find a village?"
After what feels like an age, Rukiyo finally heard something new in the wind.
She stopped in her tracks and strained her ears. Voices, and it was coming in the area just ahead of her.
It was faint yet distinct— human voices, or at least, she's pretty sure they're human, because they certainly don't sound like any demons or, heaven forbid, another dragon or an elf.
Swallowing thickly, she resumed on her path and picked up the pace slightly, her eyes narrowing as she strained further to hear what they're saying.
They're getting louder, which means she's getting closer.
Rukiyo follows along the path, her heart giving a hopeful little flip at the sound of approaching voices, but then she stops dead in her tracks when a new sound reaches her ears.
"Stop! P-Please!"
Whimpering.
Child-like, high-pitched whimpers, accompanied by a woman's panicked shouting.
Rukiyo's shoulders tense and the cheerful flip in her chest gave way to instant worry when the sounds reached her ears.
She cautiously rounded a corner, peering into a clearing up ahead and as she peered into the clearing, her heart sank even further.
A group of about six men and two women, all rough-looking and armed with various weapons, surround a beautiful young woman and a young girl.
"I-If it's money you want, you can have the herbs!"
The woman screamed as she shielded the girl, her stance protective and her voice urgent as she shouted at the group.
Rukiyo can't make out the faces of the men and women, but it's immediately clear that this group isn't friendly— especially at how the men leered down at them cruelly, their weapons held like threats.
The young woman is visibly trembling while holding the girl behind her, obviously terrified.
Rukiyo hovered at the edge of the clearing, her heart felt like it was thumping right against her throat, her palms suddenly turning sweaty and her stomach twisting into a ball of nerves.
She has no idea what to do.
Rukiyo has never been in a situation like this before, has never seen anything quite like it.
Should she step in? Should she keep walking? What if she makes things worse? The uncertainty and anxiety make her tremble even more, but the young woman and the girl..
They look so defenseless.
Rukiyo swallowed nervously as she turned to the system, her voice hushed and her words nearly imperceptible as she whispered.
"Hey." She called the system, voice barely above whisper, not wanting to capture the attention of the hostile group. "If any of those guys manage to stab me or do some damage, will I.."
She paused, unable to finish the question.
The thought of dying again suddenly felt like a danger, not just a vague possibility.
The young woman and the girl are still trapped in the men's grasp, the tension in the clearing so thick, Rukiyo can almost taste it, but at the same time, she felt so terrified to step in.
>> The host is inside the body of a dragon— a mighty and heavenly being that no one can inflict wounds into. A dragon's body cannot be harmed by a mere mortal weapon without demonic or elven enchantment.
Rukiyo's breath hitched when the system interface flickered, its text appearing and causing a sharp exhale to escape her lips— relief and disbelief exploding inside her chest.
"So you're saying.." She muttered under her breath, shoulders sagging slightly, her eyes darting back to the men and women threatening the young woman and little girl before shifting back to the system. ".. That I'm practically unkillable unless some demon or elf gets involved?"
If that's the case, for better or worse.. She might be able to intervene after all.
The system interface flickered once more as new texts appeared, confirming Rukiyo's thoughts and making her feel relieved further.
>> You are correct. As a dragon, even in your current human form, you can only be harmed by strong demonic and elven enchantments— which can only happen if the demon or elf that cast the enchantment is the elder or the demon king and queen themselves.
Rukiyo nodded to herself, determination welling up from within.
She took a deep breath, her hands balling into nervous fists, because she still felt uncertain and scared, but this new awareness heightened her confidence a bit.
Rukiyo stepped forward and opened her mouth, not wasting any more seconds.
"Hey!" She screamed at the group, alarming them. "Didn't you know that acting that way to ladies makes you extra u-unattractive for their eyes?!"
She immediately regretted shouting, because her voice cracked in the middle of her sentence.
She felt her cheeks warm up with embarrassment, especially when the men and women whipped around in surprise, weapons still raised as they stared at this random woman who just shouted at them from out of nowhere.
Not to mention, the sound of her voice cracking sent the two women snorting to themselves.
One of the men— a burly man with a scar across his nose joined the women by snorting and sneering in Rukiyo's direction.
"Who the hell are you to tell us what to do?" He hissed, making Rukiyo feel her throat close up.
A cold sweat broke out along her back as the men's murderous gazes locked onto her, causing her hands to become clammy, shaking at her sides, with her heart pounding so hard she could practically hear it in her ears.
How do heroines and heroes do this?! She thought frantically, her breath hitching.
This isn't fair! They look like they're about to skin me alive just for talking! She cried in her mind, almost tearing up at the pressure the group put her under.
The scarred man that spoke up took a step toward Rukiyo, his grip tightening on the knife in his hand. "You got guts.. Or you're really stupid."
Rukiyo gasped quietly, her heart hammering in her chest as the men and women completely shifted their attention to her, but a relief washed over her despite the fear.
The scarred man stepped even closer, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her, his gaze raking her form from head to toe.
"What's a pretty little thing like you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong? You lookin' to get hurt?" The man purred, a crooked grin emerging in his face.
Rukiyo let out a shuddering breath, her knees feeling like they might give out, but she forced herself to stand straight.
"Y-You think I'm pretty?" She asked, her voice wavering ever so slightly. "Then isn't that reason enough for you to come after me instead of that child and that woman?"
The group exchange glances— confusion, amusement, and something darker flickering across their faces.
One of the women barked out a laugh. "Oh-ho! This one's got spirit."
The other woman stepped forward, stopping beside her friend, his sharp eyes checking her body, especially her breasts.
"Since you offered, I'll have my fun first." She hummed, hands reaching out to Rukiyo's chest.
"O-Okay.. Have your turn first." Rukiyo stuttered out and didn't break eye contact with the woman, but she subtly flicked two fingers toward the woman and child— a silent signal.
RUN NOW.
The young woman noticed it and hesitated for only a second before grabbing the girl's hand, bolting into the trees with surprising speed.
"What— hey!"