Both Frieren and Fern let out a deep sigh of relief after securing an item that could take them back to their own world.
After all, this world had no way to replenish their maryoku (magic power).
For Fern, a magician still in training, this was a serious problem. If she couldn't use magic, her growth would stagnate—and worse, her strength could even decline.
That was completely unacceptable.
As Frieren gazed at the treasure chest before her, a thought crossed her mind. Without hesitation, she pulled out a dark, ominous-looking horn and handed it to Hozuki Nozomi.
"Since this treasure chest is bound to you, Nozomi, maybe you'll get better rewards if you open it. Try one last time."
The moment Nozomi grasped the horn, his entire body trembled violently.
A sudden, unnatural heat surged through his veins, and his vision was flooded with red.
"Oi, what the hell is this?! It feels weird!"
Frieren tilted her head slightly, her expression as calm as ever.
"This is the Norowareta Ryuu no Tsuno (Cursed Dragon Horn), obtained after we defeated that dragon. It's an extremely high-tier material, usually used for crafting weapons or as a summoning catalyst."
Hearing that, Nozomi's hand twitched, and the horn slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the ground.
"Oi, oi, oi! Are you serious, Miss Frieren?! You just handed an ordinary human something cursed like this?! I'm going to get hit with some weird dragon curse!"
Fern, who had been watching silently, facepalmed. She had considered stopping Frieren but was a second too late.
If someone without magic power touched a cursed artifact, the consequences could be severe.
But Frieren simply waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, I already sealed it. You'll be fine."
"...Oh. That's good, then."
Nozomi let out a breath of relief.
That said, he wasn't actually that worried. His Reikigan (Spirit Eyes) had a unique property—if there was a lingering soul inside the horn, it would be instantly purified.
Besides…
He had the damage reflection x2 passive skill. If the curse tried to harm him, it would only end up cursing itself twice over.
With Frieren watching expectantly and Fern eyeing him nervously, Nozomi placed the Norowareta Ryuu no Tsuno into the treasure chest.
The moment it made contact—
A blinding crimson light erupted from the chest.
[Ding! A high-level item has been inserted. Critical reward triggered!]
[Ding! Congratulations, player! Special reward acquired: Baptism of the Dragon!]
The system announcement rang in Nozomi's mind.
At the same time, the treasure chest creaked open by itself.
A monstrous roar echoed through the room.
A massive dragon's shadow, wreathed in blood-red energy, emerged from within the chest and lunged toward them.
"?!?"
Frieren's golden eyes widened in shock.
Fern gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.
"L-Lady Frieren, what is that?!"
"Hmm… It looks like the dragon we defeated, but it doesn't seem like just a mere shadow…"
Nozomi frowned. "Oi, system, what the hell did I just win?"
[Baptism of the Dragon]
A ritual that awakens the Ryuu no Chikara (Power of the Dragon). Strength, endurance, and physical prowess will experience a dramatic increase. In addition, those within the baptism's radius will receive the Dragon's Blessing—doubling their maryoku and unlocking latent magical potential.
Before Nozomi could even process that information—
A wave of searing heat crashed over them.
"Mou… it's so hot…"
"L-Lady Frieren… my body feels strange…"
Fern swayed slightly, gripping Frieren's sleeve.
"It's… a bit warm?" Frieren muttered, fanning herself with one hand.
Then, in an instant—
The crimson dragon shadow exploded into a burst of red light, engulfing the entire room.
A tidal wave of heat surged through Nozomi's body.
His muscles tensed. His already well-defined abs became even more sculpted. Every fiber of his being thrummed with raw power.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears. His eyes burned a deep crimson, the veins in his arms pulsing with the rush of overwhelming strength.
And then—
Without thinking, his arms shot out, pulling both Frieren and Fern close—one in each hand.
"E-Eh?!"
"Wait—Nozomi?!"
Their soft, delicate bodies pressed against his as heat radiated from him like an inferno.
Frieren was completely stunned.
Was… was this really the Baptism of the Dragon?!
She wanted to struggle, to summon her staff and dispel the red light.
But—
"Aaah… Lady Frieren… I-I feel weird…"
Fern's flushed face buried into Frieren's shoulder.
Her normally calm, composed apprentice was trembling.
The intense heat… the strange, intoxicating energy surging through them…
It was overwhelming.
And before Frieren could react any further—
Nozomi's lips met hers.
"Wha—?!"
Her golden eyes widened in shock.
My… My first kiss?!
Just like that?!
Her mind blanked.
In all her long years, never had she even considered something like this happening.
And yet—under the influence of the red light—her body felt… weak. Too weak to push him away.
The Baptism of the Dragon was a ritual of power.
But it was also a ritual of release.
It forcibly awakened the deepest instincts within the human body, pushing them to their limits and beyond.
Nozomi could feel it.
This insane power coursing through his veins.
The moment this was over—
He would fully awaken the Power of the Dragon.
And Frieren and Fern—whether they liked it or not—
Would gain the Dragon's Blessing, doubling their maryoku.
For Fern, still in training, this meant an explosive leap in her magical abilities.
For Frieren, a legendary mage, it meant even greater heights.
Nozomi gritted his teeth, trying to control the raging fire inside him.
=================
One hour later.
Hozuki Nozomi sat on the edge of the bed, watching the two girls with flushed faces, still processing what had just happened.
What now?
Although he had stopped himself before taking the final step—out of respect for their emotions—everything else that a couple could do had already happened.
Frieren's cheeks were still red, her golden eyes unfocused, as if she had yet to recover from the strange sensation of moments ago. Meanwhile, Fern covered her face with both hands, avoiding eye contact with both Nozomi and her master.
"So embarrassing…" she mumbled under her breath. "I… I actually acted like a spoiled child toward Nozomi-san…"
Nozomi sighed, raising his hand to gently brush through Frieren's silver hair before doing the same to Fern's long violet locks. His fingers trembled slightly, but not from regret—rather, it was the realization of how much closer they had become in such a short time.
"…Um, my bad," he muttered. "I'll take responsibility."
Those words shattered the silence in the room.
Frieren, now fully aware of the situation, stood up abruptly, her expression a mix of embarrassment and discomfort.
"T-There's no need," she stammered, quickly turning away. "This… This was because I didn't think things through before letting you use the dragon's horn. That's all."
She turned to Fern, grabbing her wrist. "We need to cool our heads first. Let's go."
Without giving Nozomi a chance to respond, she pulled her apprentice along and swiftly exited the room, practically fleeing to the bathroom.
Nozomi watched them disappear down the hall, a strange mix of emotions swelling within him. His heart pounded.
They were embarrassed, but… they didn't push him away completely. That meant there was still a chance.
He could have gone further tonight. The opportunity had been there.
But in the end, he held back.
Because without an emotional foundation, touching someone in such a way would only lead to awkwardness.
Instead, he had deepened their bond while leaving room for something more.
This is fine.
A long road lay ahead, and he was willing to walk it. There was no rush. He could wait for Frieren and Fern to accept him fully.
And he had plenty of patience.
Clenching his fist, Nozomi suddenly felt an unfamiliar energy coursing through his veins.
Focusing for a moment, he raised his hand, and a small orb of black flame flickered into existence on his palm.
Then—
[Ding! Congratulations, Player! You have received the Baptism of the Dragon and obtained the Flame of the Dragon!]
[Ding! Your Treasure Grabbing Ability has been upgraded!]
[Ding! You have awakened the Body of the Dragon!]
Nozomi's eyes lit up as the notifications flooded his mind.
This… this is insane!
Not only had he strengthened his body beyond that of an ordinary human, but he had also obtained a powerful flame and a unique physique.
Most importantly, he had experienced the softness of Frieren and the warmth of Fern.
Harem flag… upgraded!
Excited, Nozomi began tidying up the room, his mind still buzzing with the events of the night.
===================
Meanwhile, in the bathroom…
Both Frieren and Fern sat in the large bathtub, their faces still tinged red from earlier events. The steam in the room only seemed to intensify their embarrassment.
Fern buried her face in her hands. "L-Lady Frieren… I can't take this… Let's just go back to our world. I don't think I can face Nozomi-san again…"
Frieren, despite feeling just as flustered, let out a soft sigh. Unlike her apprentice, she had lived far too long to let herself be overwhelmed by something like this.
Instead of answering immediately, she calmly leaned back, allowing the warm water to soothe her nerves.
"No need to rush," she said at last. "Didn't Nozomi say he'd take responsibility? If it bothers you that much, just marry him."
Fern's head snapped up, eyes wide in shock. "M-Marry?! Lady Frieren, what about you?!"
Frieren remained composed, her golden eyes reflecting the water's surface.
"I'll continue investigating this world," she said simply. "I'll stay for a while longer… then move on."
Fern's heart ached at those words. "…Because you're an elf?"
"…Yes."
She didn't say more, but she didn't have to. Fern already understood.
Elves lived for thousands of years.
Humans didn't.
Falling in love with a human meant watching them age and die within the blink of an eye.
Frieren had seen it happen countless times before. She wasn't going to let herself experience that pain again.
But the look in her eyes…
She was affected.
Fern, unable to hold back, wrapped her arms around Frieren, pressing their bodies together. "Then I'll follow you forever! Don't forget, I'm still your apprentice! You can't abandon me, Lady Frieren!"
Frieren's breath hitched for a moment before she let out a quiet chuckle. "Fern…"
They sat there in silence, the warm water lapping against their skin, their hearts finally settling.
As for what had happened with Nozomi…
They both silently agreed.
It would not be mentioned again.
For now, at least.
Then, as they soaked in the water, Fern suddenly gasped.
"Lady Frieren… my maryoku… it's increased?!"
Frieren blinked, focusing on her own mana reserves. "…Mine too. Not by much, but enough to cast several extra spells."
The two of them stared at each other before realization struck.
It was the Baptism of the Dragon.
That ritual had increased their magic reserves.
But thinking about why that had happened—
Their faces flushed red once more.
"…There are other ways to replenish maryoku, you know," Frieren muttered.
Fern's eyes widened in horror. "L-Lady Frieren, stop! I don't want to hear it! I'll just conserve my magic from now on! I swear!"
Obviously, the method of replenishing magic power mentioned by Frieren was related to Nozomi...