Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Want to Protect Her

The golden Teleportation Scroll slowly unfurled.

Inside was a complete map depicting the entire Beast World Planet.

The item’s information appeared below—

[Name: Teleportation Scroll (Single Use)]

[Description: Select an unlocked location to teleport there instantly.]

[Note: Teleportation takes ten seconds. Dizziness and nausea during this process are normal side effects.]

[Remark: Some locked locations can be unlocked using points.]

Yu Zhizhi got the gist of how to use the scroll.

She carefully studied the map on the scroll.

Yu Zhizhi found her current location, [Valoran Empire, Imperial City], and clicking on it revealed a more detailed map of the area.

Next to the entry for the Imperial City, a small note was written—

Unlocked Areas: [The K family], [Duke Mansion].

Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment.

The Teleportation Scroll was convenient, but its requirements were very strict.

’"Unlocked" must mean the places I’ve been to.’

She could choose any unlocked location within the K family’s estate or the Duke Mansion as her destination.

All other places were still locked.

If she wanted to travel to them, she would need to use points to unlock them in the shop.

Yu Zhizhi studied it for a while longer.

She found the location of the Cangshan Empire.

It was extremely far from the Valoran Empire.

In the bottom-right corner, an area was marked in purple text—

[Host’s Territory]

Yu Zhizhi recalled a previous reward: a locked plot of land. ’Could this be the place where I can build a home in the future?’ 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Hearing footsteps, she put away the scroll.

The system panel vanished.

A Hamster maid brought over a platter of fruit—grapes, apples, watermelon, and bananas. She set it on the table in the pavilion, beaming. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, you seem very happy."

Yu Zhizhi smiled faintly. "The breeze is lovely today."

"It is, isn’t it? The weather in the Imperial City is always wonderful."

Here, it was like spring all year round.

’What is the world outside like...?’

Yu Zhizhi had yet to see it for herself.

She had only heard that it was not very peaceful. Apparently, many places suffered from Demon invasions, and mutations caused by sources of pollution left many factions fighting enemies on all sides.

With this scroll, Yu Zhizhi now had options.

Although many places were still locked because she hadn’t visited them, the ability to unlock them with points meant the scroll would surely come in handy at a critical moment.

Her thoughts turned to the Wild Dog.

She had received this reward from a side quest for saving his life.

"Let’s go see Ping’an,"

Yu Zhizhi said, picking up an apple.

The Hamster maid replied, "Of course, Ms. Zhi Zhi. Please, follow me."

The Duke’s estate was vast. After they left the courtyard of the study, the maid procured an open-topped carriage.

Yu Zhizhi climbed aboard.

The Wild Dog was currently housed in the estate’s medical ward, a building with vermilion eaves and gray walls located near a lake.

The Hamster maid led the way.

Any doctors and caregivers they passed bowed respectfully.

In their eyes, this noble female of the Rabbit Clan was very likely the future Duchess.

Yu Zhizhi arrived at the room where the Wild Dog was staying.

He was leaning against the bed, a newspaper in his hand.

Hearing footsteps, the fluffy ears on his head twitched. He identified the visitor, and his dark eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Hey there~" Yu Zhizhi greeted him cheerfully.

’I haven’t seen him in days.’

’He’s looking much healthier.’

The Wild Dog glanced up at the girl, then quickly hid the newspaper.

"Here."

A moment later, a deep red apple was held out in front of him.

"Thank you," he accepted, his voice hoarse.

Yu Zhizhi sat in a nearby chair and said softly, "I never got to properly thank you for what happened last time. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be dead."

"It doesn’t matter."

The Wild Dog’s expression was cold.

She remembered what he’d said that night in the storage room: ’My life is worthless. It wouldn’t be a pity if I died.’

Yu Zhizhi pressed her lips together, then said with the utmost seriousness, "But your life... is very important to me."

The Wild Dog gripped the red apple, his canine ears twitching slightly.

He didn’t look up, not wanting the girl to see the emotion in his eyes.

In his entire life, this was the first time anyone had ever said something like that to him.

The Hamster maid smiled admiringly from the side—

’Ms. Zhi Zhi is such a gentle female. No other noble would care whether a slave lived or died.’

’I really hope everything goes well for her, and that she’ll always be safe and happy.’

’It would be even better if she were willing to become the Duchess~’

"So... do you have any wishes?" Yu Zhizhi asked softly.

’He saved my life.’

’Getting him treated was the right thing to do.’

’But beyond that, I want to do something nice for him.’

"If you don’t want to be a slave, I can—"

"That’s not necessary," the Wild Dog interrupted.

’This female from the Rabbit Clan doesn’t seem to understand. Being a slave isn’t a choice. Without a Golden Beast Bone, it’s the only job I can have.’

The hand he had hidden by his side, the one clutching the newspaper, tightened its grip.

On the Beast World Planet, a male with no combat ability was like a female with no Fertility—the lowest of the low.

’In the Duke Mansion, what else can I do besides serve tea, fetch water, and stand watch at the gate all night?’

’I can’t even go on patrol.’

’If I could have awakened dual abilities, I wouldn’t have been so grievously wounded by Count Gray that night.’

’Even a male who usually does nothing but hold a pen could cut me down with a single sword strike. Even if I wanted to be a guard, wanted to protect—’

’I want to protect her...’

’I don’t have the ability.’

Yu Zhizhi watched the Wild Dog, lost in thought.

She nodded. "Well, you eat your apple. I’ll come see you again tomorrow."

Yu Zhizhi left.

The Wild Dog’s gaze followed her until she was out of sight.

Only after she had gone did he take out the hidden newspaper. The front-page headline was written in large, bold letters—

[Knight Alliance in Great Turmoil!]

"Ms. Zhi Zhi, are you thinking about Ping’an?" the Hamster maid asked curiously.

"Mm..."

"If we’re talking about wishes, I’m sure he wants to awaken his spiritual power and a Super Talent."

The Hamster maid sighed. "But that’s incredibly difficult. After all, the Valoran Empire has no one with the Bright Moon Divine Position who has awakened the Evolution Talent. It’s impossible to reconstruct his Golden Beast Bone."

That’s why the Wild Dog didn’t say what he truly wanted.

Deep down, he must feel that it’s an impossible wish to grant.

Yu Zhizhi murmured, "First, I’ll find a way to grant him his freedom. Perhaps an opportunity will arise in the future..."

’If only—’

’If only I could awaken the Evolution Talent.’

She entered the courtyard and returned to the study.

Just as she stepped over the threshold, a powerful arm wrapped around her from behind, holding her fast.

The door swung shut as if blown by a gust of wind.

Yu Zhizhi’s heart leaped in shock. She put her hands on the arm wrapped around her neck as the Duke leaned down from behind, whispering in her ear, "Your life... is very important to me."

"Tell me, how important is that wild dog to you?"

"Hm?"