The meat in the bowl was a pale golden color, crystal-clear and translucent, resembling a chicken leg in shape yet nearly the size of a golden lobster Tyler had once eaten in his previous world. Light passed through its surface as if through amber, revealing delicate fibers beneath the skin. It looked unreal— too clean, too refined— like something that did not belong on a battlefield but on an altar.

The soup itself was clear and radiant, almost glowing faintly under the lantern light. A thin layer of shimmering oil floated on the surface, moisturizing to the lips without being greasy. It carried a gentle aroma that calmed the senses the moment it reached the nose. Mushrooms sliced thinly rested near the edges of the bowl, accompanied by carefully prepared side ingredients, while small chunks of vibrant green herbs drifted slowly in the liquid, releasing subtle waves of fragrance.

Tyler lifted the bowl slightly, inspecting it with genuine surprise.

"Wow... I didn’t know that a Princess knew how to cook. It’s my honor to taste this," he said, half-joking but fully sincere.

Kaeya reacted instantly, her hand moving to hush him before anyone nearby could overhear. "Stop," she whispered sharply. "Don’t call me that. Just call me Kaeya."

"Hehehe... well, it’s not wrong to call your fiancée a princess," Tyler replied with a grin as he finally drank the soup.

Warmth spread through his body the moment the liquid touched his tongue. It wasn’t just delicious— it was comforting, as if it carried a quiet reassurance within it. He took another mouthful without hesitation.

"This is great..." Tyler nodded, speaking honestly.

Kaeya, still in disguise, watched him closely as he ate. Her expression softened just a little, the tension in her shoulders easing for a brief moment. She said nothing, but the faint smile on her lips was answer enough.

Soon after, the two of them sat side by side on a wooden cart, moving steadily along a worn road. Both were disguised as ordinary adventurers joining the war effort, their identities carefully buried beneath armor, cloaks, and forged documents. The wheels creaked rhythmically beneath them as the cart rolled toward the east.

The front line lay at the eastern border of the human country.

According to the intelligence reports, the Spider Demon General had established his presence there— an overwhelming force commanding endless waves of spiders, poisoning the land and slaughtering anything that stood in his way.

"So the plan is this," Tyler said quietly as the wind brushed past them. "We sneak in. I confront the Spider General directly, while you use the divine artifact to locate the alpha spider hiding among his army. Once it’s found, you kill it."

"That is the plan..." Kaeya answered, letting out a slow sigh.

Tyler glanced at her. "You’re uneasy because we don’t know if we’ll find the antidote— even if we bring back the Demon General’s corpse and his poison."

Kaeya didn’t deny it. She stared ahead at the road stretching endlessly before them. "This is war," she said after a pause. "So I should be ready for anything. Anything can happen."

She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, as if steadying her resolve.

"Well," Tyler said calmly, "after all this ends, I only need you to keep the promise you made."

Kaeya turned to him, her eyes unreadable beneath her disguise. "I promise," she replied.

In truth, she hated that promise. She despised the condition tied to it. But she had no choice. The fate of the world rested on Tyler’s shoulders— and if this was the price required to protect it, then she would bear it, no matter how heavy it became.

The cart continued forward, carrying them closer to the battlefield.

---

The cart creaked along the forest road, its wooden frame crowded with adventurers heading toward the same destination. Armor clinked softly with each bump, and the smell of oil, leather, and damp earth hung in the air.

Near the center of the cart sat a young woman in a healer’s robe. Pale green fabric wrapped neatly around her frame, embroidered with faint sigils of restoration. She was surrounded by several male adventurers, all leaning just a little too close, laughing a little too loudly, eager to show off scars or recount exaggerated tales of past battles.

Tyler watched the scene with mild amusement.

This feels like one of those reverse harem stories, he thought dryly.

The healer was undeniably attractive. Her movements were gentle, practiced, and confident, the kind that naturally drew attention. As Tyler glanced at her, her eyes briefly met his. She blinked, then tilted her head slightly, giving him a look that seemed to say, Oh great, another one.

She shook her head faintly, as if mentally crossing him off some invisible list.

Tyler stiffened. "Hey, I wasn’t planning to join," he muttered under his breath, baffled by the silent judgment.

He turned his attention away and finished the soup Kaeya had prepared for him before departure. It was warm and nourishing, carrying a subtle herbal flavor that lingered pleasantly. Whatever else was happening, at least the princess could cook.

The moment of calm shattered when something fell into the road ahead.

The driver yanked the reins hard, the horses snorting in alarm as the cart lurched to a halt.

A man lay sprawled on the dirt before them.

"Stop... help..." the stranger croaked.

Blood ran down his temple and stained his sleeve. One arm hung uselessly at his side, and his leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. He tried to rise, failed, and collapsed again.

Everyone in the cart leaned forward.

"Who are you?" the driver demanded, one hand already reaching for his weapon.

The injured man’s eyes were unfocused, panic swimming within them. "Run... demons..." he gasped before his body went slack.

The word hit like a spark in dry grass.

Weapons were drawn in an instant. Steel flashed as adventurers jumped down from the cart, forming a loose defensive circle.

From the trees, movement rippled.

Long-legged spiders burst from the undergrowth, their bodies pale and glossy, eyes glittering with predatory hunger. Web strands shot through the air, aimed straight at the fallen man.

The men who had been hovering around the healer reacted instantly. Blades swung, slicing through the webs mid-flight. Steel met silk with sharp snaps, the strands falling uselessly to the ground.

The healer dropped to her knees beside the injured man without hesitation. Green light bloomed around her hands as she activated her skill, warmth spreading into torn flesh and broken bone. As she worked, her gaze lingered on his face.

He’s handsome, she realized, momentarily distracted even as magic flowed.

Tyler crouched beside her, helping lift the man carefully so she could reposition him. Together, they maneuvered him onto the cart, laying him flat.

The healer cast her spell again, breathing steadily as color slowly returned to the man’s face.

Outside, the fight ended quickly. The spiders were dangerous, but poorly coordinated. A few precise strikes ended them, their bodies collapsing into twitching heaps before dissolving into ash.

As the adventurers climbed back aboard, Tyler studied the unconscious man more closely.

"I’ve seen him before?" Tyler murmured, frowning.

He just couldn’t yet remember where.

The journey resumed soon after the brief skirmish, the cart rolling forward once more as the forest swallowed the road behind them. The tension slowly eased, though the memory of the spiders lingered like an unpleasant aftertaste.

A few minutes later, the injured man stirred.

He groaned softly, eyelids fluttering before opening. Seeing the faces gathered around him, he pushed himself up slightly, then winced and relaxed back against the cart.

"Thank you... all of you," he said hoarsely. "If you hadn’t stopped, I’d be dead for sure."

The healer leaned closer, relief evident on her face. "You’re lucky. Another few minutes and the poison would’ve spread."

The man nodded gratefully before continuing, his voice steady now. "Spiders slipped into the country from the frontline. They ambushed a small village settlement. I barely managed to draw them away before they slaughtered everyone."

"That’s so brave!" the healer exclaimed, her cheeks flushing as she clasped her hands together.

The men who had been hovering around her moments ago stiffened almost in unison. Several exchanged dark looks, irritation written plainly across their faces. One of them clicked his tongue, while another crossed his arms, scowling.

The injured man, oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, smiled warmly at the healer and continued speaking with her, thanking her again for saving his life. The blush on her face deepened.

Tyler watched the scene unfold with open amusement.

This really is a traveling drama troupe, he thought. He was half-tempted to pull out snacks from his storage ring just to complete the image.

Before he could, Kaeya leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

"There is no village nearby," she said calmly.

Tyler’s expression froze.

He turned his eyes back to the injured man, studying him with renewed sharpness. Either the man was lying with impressive composure... or Kaeya, who knew the region’s geography by heart, was wrong.

And Tyler was very sure which of the two was more likely.