--- On the Grassland, One Hour Later, Daytime---

  Joker was carried on Yong's shoulders in Demon form. He was lying down leisurely, while Yong was running at a speed that made dust clouds rise up after his footsteps were stronger than a horse's hooves and faster than any leopard. Normally, the wolf boy would probably be uncooperative and insist on walking by himself. However, this time, he was used to being carried by someone much taller than him, like Jarek. Both of them, despite being at the bottom of the sea for a long time, were now completely dry and healthy on the way back to Jaci Village.

  "Hah, it feels so satisfying~."

  Yong smiled with a refreshed face, all his burdens had been lifted. From being kidnapped to this place, witnessing the Beastfolk of Jaci Village being tortured, or having to talk politely to the fish that treated humans as livestock.

  “Just curious, but what motivates you to actively deal with them, Jozo?” Yong glanced curiously at his friend who was playing with his smartphone.

  “I’m a simple person, Monsters have to be dealt with.” Joker replied in his usual indifferent tone, his expression unclear behind the mask, but perhaps emotionless or bored.

  “That’s right.” The Chinese guy chuckled lightly and looked forward. “And what about that new fighting and talking style?”

  “Tactics.” Joker replied briefly, still pressing his phone nonstop.

  “I see…” Yong nodded as if he understood. “Making the enemy difficult to concentrate, confusing, chaotic, from there, dealing with the enemy becomes easier.”

  He concluded while continuing to run at the speed of a strong wind. It had been a long time since he felt so free and comfortable. It had been a long time since he had fought side by side with his best friend. A few years ago, he was still struggling to learn how to fight, and Joker was the one who had helped him wholeheartedly, just like how his family had received help from the Sabata family. Because of those favors, Yong could hardly ignore helping his friend.

  After a while, the two boys arrived at Jaci Village. Contrary to their expectations, the Beastfolk were not in a state of excitement, there were no bands or bonfires to celebrate. Many of them were faces that Yong had seen before. Their bellies were no longer bulging, they wore colorful tribal-patterned clothes, and some places on their bodies were wrapped in white bandages. What greeted Joker and Yong now were the villagers gathered together, the atmosphere filled with lamentations.

  “... Did we miss something?”

  Yong glanced at Joker as if to confirm. However, his friend remained silent.

  “Joker, Yong!” Jarek ran out and hugged his two friends. “It’s great, you two are safe.” She stepped back and said apologetically. “Sorry… I should have come back to pick you up sooner…”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it.” Yong waved his hand, and Joker put his feet on the ground. “By the way… what happened?” The Demon lowered his voice.

  “…Among the Jaci villagers we saved.” The female Shapechanger Dragon lowered her head slightly. “There was one person who didn’t make it, even though I tried all kinds of medicine and tools… And that person was the little sister of the Góy?ń village headmaster.”

  “GALILAHI!”

  Góy?ń’s sorrowful cry was the only sound that existed at the moment. Yong immediately flapped his wings to fly over the crowd. Landing in the middle of the circle formed by the Jaci villagers, he saw the village chief Góy?ń there. The young woman was holding the hand of a girl lying on the ground. It was a girl with wolf ears and long brown hair, her face similar to the village chief. Her whole body was haggard, her skin pale, every bone was almost clearly visible under her skin!

  Yong quickly bent down, his hand transformed into a flaming knife and stuck it right next to the young girl. The light was shining like a torch, every part of the girl called Galilahi was starting to plump up again. Her skin was also gradually turning rosy again. Even with the restored Dreamer power, Galilahi's breathing still did not return, her eyes were still tightly closed, the beat in her chest was still quiet. A Sleeping Beauty, but perhaps she would not be able to wake up even if a prince came.

  "Galilahi is a good wolf girl..." The bull horn gatekeeper could not hold back his emotions, he spoke in a choked voice. “When we were at our lowest, she was the first one to come and comfort us.”

  “Even though she was the one who got priority food when the village lost its harvest after the war with the fish.”

  The rabbit-eared woman sobbed, she was also one of the rescued villagers. Her teary eyes looked at Galilahi with regret. She hugged the two children beside her, her hands stroking her hair and short rabbit ears.

  “She shared her rations with my family… my children survived because of her kindness…”

  “Galilahi is still so young…” The cat-eared messenger couldn’t help but shed tears.

  “May the spirits of her ancestors guide her, may the moon gently heal her…” The old woman with dog ears clasped her hands together in prayer.

  “I am so sorry…”

  Jarek placed her hands on her chest, her face filled with sadness as she looked at the motionless Galilahi. She tried to listen to the villagers’ concerns, and tried to share their sorrow. In contrast to the female Shapechanger Dragon, Joker remained silent and tried to squeeze into the crowd.

  “Gāisǐ!” Yong cursed under his breath at the light of the torch from the knife. “If only I had brought my tool bag here…” He squeezed the knife so tightly that it almost broke.

  “Revivify.”

  “Huh!”

  The sound of the Spell reciting rang out, a golden aura surrounding Galilahi’s body. Unable to contain his surprise, Yong looked around and recognized the owner of the Spell. Joker was behind him, his hand holding open the Spell Scroll that was emitting a halo. In an instant, the magic tool paper disintegrated into gray ash particles and was carried away by the wind.

  “Um…” Galilahi made a soft sound from her throat, her eyelids fluttering and then opening. “The sun… the clouds… is this a dream?”

  “Galilahi!” Góy?ń hugged her sister, the pain in her chest replaced by relief. “Thanks to the ancestors and the moon…” She stroked her sister’s brown hair. Her face was still covered in tears but now bore a smile. “I’m glad you’ve returned to Jaci Village.”

  “So… you’ve really been saved!” Galilahi sat up, her wolf ears swaying, her eyes darting around, searching for someone.

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  “Galilahi has returned!”

  The old woman shouted, and the Jaci villagers followed suit. Their cries and joy spread like wildfire. The gloomy atmosphere that had permeated the place was almost gone, replaced by an immeasurable joy.

  “So you have the scroll.”

  Yong chuckled and stood up. His body gradually shrank and returned to his usual Earthling form.

  “Since the last time you gave it to me.” Joker replied.

  “You always carry it with you?”

  “After the Dream, I always wear the Bag of Holding.”

  “Hah… that’s Jozo.”

  Yong slapped his thigh and laughed out loud. As for Joker, he put his hands in his pockets and quietly left the crowd.

  “That’s great…” Jarek sighed in relief, a feeling of euphoria filling her.

  “That’s right,” Góy?ń extended his hand towards Yong and Jarek. “These two guests are the saviors of the village and your benefactors, Galilahi. And there’s one more person…” She looked around because she couldn’t see Joker anywhere.

  “I’m Yong Da, a Hunter from Australia, Earth.” Yong stood up, bowed politely, and shook hands with the other person.

  “…I remember now!” Galilahi happily ran to Jarek and hugged him. Her wolf tail also swayed vigorously in proportion to her smile. “You’re the one who saved me from the see-through ball!”

  “Ah-uhm.” Jarek was a little surprised by the wolf woman’s reaction. “I’m Jarek, a Dreamer, nice to meet you Galilahi.”

  “But…” Galilahi blinked a few times, leaning against the chest and feeling the softness instead of the firmness. “Are you a girl?”

  “Um… whatever.”

  Jarek smiled shyly. Because she was a Shapechanger with a very flexible biological body in many ways. Luckily, Góy?ń pulled his sister out of the way so Jarek wouldn't have to fall into an awkward situation. The villagers then

  --- Nightfall ---

  As the silvery white light shone brightly in the black carpet called the sky, the campfire blazed in the middle of Jaci village. The whole village was filled with the sweet and sour aroma of apple cider, or the rich meaty smell of countless bowls of ramen. The cheerful singing spread throughout the village, accompanied by the melodious sound of the violin - a musical instrument made from a wooden stick with two strings and plucked by a bow. Some sang, some enjoyed wine and food. This was a scene that was very rare to see in an urban area, especially in a densely populated place like Melbourne, Victoria.

  Góy?ń and Galilahi sat watching the warm campfire, which was surrounded by the villagers enjoying the fun. Sitting next to the two sisters, Jarek was telling Yong what he and Joker had missed because they were busy with the Deep Gold Fish. She had helped the Jaci villagers from treating external wounds, to giving injections to help the women lay their eggs early. The female Shapechanger had also burned the eggs, to ensure that no more dangerous creatures were born. The villagers had been thoroughly examined with modern medical equipment, and there were no foreign objects left in their bodies. Thanks to Yong's knife, most of their injuries and vitality had been restored. And obviously, as the Chinese boy recounted, Jarek and the others could not help but be impressed by the two boys' boldness.

  The two sisters Góy?ń and Galilahi also listened attentively to the story, deeply moved by the bravery of these strangers. They even took out their lit ceremonial pipes, each of them inhaled deeply and shared them with the two guests, as a testament to the friendship between Jaci village and the benefactors from another world. In contrast to her elegant sister, Galilahi exuded friendliness, a lovely, dynamic smile. The Beastfolk wore a red ethnic costume with elaborate patterns, braided strings used as jewelry and hair ties that enhanced her wild beauty. In contrast to her previous thin body and ragged clothes, she now had a full, healthy figure and an energetic voice.

  “I would love to be able to give you a healthy child to carry on the family line. It’s just that I lack the ability to do so, and you’re a girl.”

  Galilahi scratched his cheek and smiled shyly. Yong could only smile wryly at the goodwill of the ancient times, especially in an era where the population was small.

  “The gender issue is actually not a big deal. But my companion, he is very sensitive to the issue of polygamy. I don’t want to make him more uncomfortable than he already is.”

  Jarek shrugged and explained. Yong almost choked on his wine while drinking. He knew that Jarek was different from others, but he didn’t know that she was so open-minded - the opposite of Joker.

  “In Jaci Village, the number of wives in a family is not a problem, since the whole village is one big family~.” The female wolf Beastfolk wagged her wolf tail in delight.

  “…What do you mean by impossible?” The female Shapechanger quickly changed the subject.

  “Ah… it’s just…” Galilahi’s wolf ears drooped, her voice slowing. “According to the fish… my body can’t produce offspring…” she shivered slightly before continuing. “That’s why I was locked in a place that absorbs life energy, instead of having to carry their eggs like other women…”

  Jarek and Yong didn’t answer, but they both understood that Galilahi was infertile.

  “Maybe it’s because of the body transformation…” Góy?ń commented, her wolf ears drooping as well.

  “What transformation?” Yong was puzzled by the comment.

  “Probably not, sister!” Galilahi raised her wolf ears and tail. “Maybe I was incapable before!”

  “…That’s right.” Góy?ń handed his sister the ritual pipe, which was still smoking with a strong herbal scent. ”Give it to the other benefactor. He’s on the outskirts of the village preparing food for the village feast. Please pass on the message for me.”

  “Ah, right, I forgot!”

  Galilahi took the pipe and left without hesitation. When the energetic female wolf was no longer in sight, Góy?ń continued the conversation.

  “Ah… if it’s something difficult to say, you don’t have to tell me.” Yong smiled a little awkwardly as he made his suggestion.

  “I’m fine, it’s just…” The female village chief’s eyes looked at the two of them as if pleading. “Please don’t criticize her, Galilahi is a good girl.”

  “…We can understand each other through conversation.” Yong said reassuringly with a slight smile.

  “Everyone has their own Dream, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to achieve it.” Jarek closed his eyes and nodded, his words filled with understanding.

  “You mean when the dream comes true?” Góy?ń placed her hand on her cheek and tilted her head slightly, trying to understand the female Shapechanger Dragon’s ambiguous words.

  “If you find it difficult to understand, you don’t have to try.” Yong offered reassuring advice.

  “I see…” The female wolf chief took a deep breath and slowly spoke. “She was originally a boy… with the wish to become a woman like me… because she admired the beauty of women…” She paused for a moment. “I used herbs and moonstones, to perform a ritual to help her achieve it. As a result, she became a real girl. And then one day… she volunteered to replace me as a sacrifice to the Deep Gold Fish.”

  “You two have worked hard.” Yong replied with a light laugh.

  “What a brave girl.” Jarek smiled, her Dragon tail wagging slightly. “Any guy who gets to be your or Galilahi’s husband will be very happy.”

  “Are you still okay with her?” Góy?ń blinked a few times, her wolf ears perking up again.

  “Yes, in our world, changing biological sex is common. With Magic Tool technology, it’s completely normal for people to choose the body they’re comfortable with. Although there are still groups of people or religions that disagree with that.” Yong smiled brightly and extended both hands towards Jarek.“Lady Jarek here was also a handsome guy when he first met Joker~.”

  “Hearing you say that, I feel more at ease.” A new smile appeared on Góy?ń’s face.

  “Well… you’ll need quite a few things to help restore Jaci Village.”

  Jarek patted the wooden crate behind him, which was stacked up like a five-meter pyramid. Inside were various kinds of rations, herbs, fruit and food seeds, as well as tools and fertilizers. The creator of these items was none other than the female Shapechanger Dragon. As if he had spent a lot of effort on these resources, Jarek began to use his chopsticks to pick up bowls of ramen one by one and eat them. It didn’t take long for the three-tiered ramen bowls to become empty!

  “I hope we can do more. Even if my sisters and I become your wives, as well as return the position of village chief, it would be difficult to repay you all.”

  Góy?ń looked at the precious gifts, which were no different from a gift from heaven. Especially for the village of Jaci, which had just been freed from the shackles of oppression. The men were now guaranteed their lives, and the children were reunited with their sisters and mothers. These changes were nothing short of a dream for the female village chief.

  “You don’t have to do that-” Jarek’s expression changed, her smile suddenly turning into worry. “Come to think of it… Joker is interested in girls with Beastfolk or Dragon features, right? Could he be more friendly with Galilahi…” Jarek suddenly frowned, the steel chopsticks were placed in front of his mouth, his face full of contemplation.

  “Hahah, at most I will help reconcile our wolf friend.” Yong threw his head back and laughed, as if he knew the outcome of the conversation.

  “You guys must be from another world like me?” A pointy-eared girl came to talk to Yong and Jarek.

  Note:

  Gāisǐ: Damn in Chinese.