As Mixarnt and the girls stepped out of the colosseum and into the bustling city, Mixarnt couldn’t help but notice the whispers and stares directed his way. People were talking about his match with Former General Lancelot, and it seemed like the entire city was buzzing with excitement. "Heehee, someone is popular~" Nessa teased, noticing Mixarnt’s red face.

"Ugh, shut up. It was just pure luck," Mixarnt muttered, his cheeks burning. In his mind, he knew how close he had been to losing. Using 100% of his Enigma Enhancement, he had managed to catch Lancelot off guard with a sudden burst of speed, grazing the general’s cheek. But if Lancelot had been even a fraction of a second faster, Mixarnt would have been cut down. It was a risky move, and he knew he had been lucky.

"They said luck is a skill. And a win is still a win," Kara said with a reassuring smile, trying to lift his spirits.

When they reached the Adventurers Guild, the atmosphere was electric. The adventurers, though few in number, were a tight-knit group, and they erupted into cheers when they saw Mixarnt. They lifted him up, celebrating his victory over Lancelot. Orion, the Guild Master, laughed heartily. "Hahaha! I always knew Mixarnt would win!"

Elara giggled, teasing Orion. "Oh? remind me who was the one who fainted and was on edge watching the fight?"

Mixarnt looked around, enjoying the celebration but noticed someone was missing. "Where’s Moon?" he asked, his expression falling slightly.

Elara smiled gently. "Moonlight said she had something to do, but she watched your match. She’ll be back tomorrow, though."

Mixarnt’s shoulders slumped. He had wanted to brag about his victory to Moonlight, whose calm and graceful presence always put him at ease. If she wasn’t coming back until tomorrow, they wouldn’t see each other for a while, as the next trial was starting early the next day.

Kara, Misa, Jenna, Nessa, and Poppy exchanged curious glances, wondering who this "Moon" was. They felt a twinge of something they couldn’t quite place—was it jealousy?—as they realized how important she seemed to Mixarnt.

Orion, noticing the girls behind Mixarnt, raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, who are these pretty girls behind you, Mixarnt? They look young, around 14 to 16, I suppose?"

Mixarnt’s face lit up again, momentarily forgetting his disappointment. "Hehe, Guild Master, they’re my new recruits! Now we have five more staff members for the guild!" he announced proudly.

The male adventurers erupted into cheers, thrilled to see new faces in the guild. The women adventurers sighed, one of them muttering, "No wonder we’re branded as perverts because of these guys."

Elara stepped forward with a warm smile. "Welcome to the guild. I’ll show you around and to your rooms."

Mixarnt, ever the whirlwind of energy, quickly added, "Ah, right, Guild Master, please create a school in their village and set up an Adventurers Guild branch there. I wanted to ask Moon about jobs and opportunities for their village, but since she’s not here, just give them what’s necessary. Don’t worry about the money—take another 10 million from my account. See yah!" With that, he dashed out of the guild before Orion could respond.

Orion sighed, shaking his head. "That boy left before we could even discuss things. Honestly, the first 10 million he gave to create orphanages and schools for homeless kids was more than enough to cover all the expenses. Even including your village, the cost would only reach up to 5 million. That brat is too generous for his own good."

Misa’s eyes widened in shock. "Wait, what? Mixarnt asked to create orphanages and schools for homeless kids!?" The other girls were equally stunned. They had no idea Mixarnt was such a philanthropist.

Elara giggled, her tone fond. "No need to be shocked. He just doesn’t care about money. For him, he can always earn more, so he doesn’t mind helping and giving. That’s just who he is—an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t shy away from helping others."

Misa blushed deeply, her heart swelling with admiration as she remembered how Mixarnt had saved her from Alarac. The girls exchanged glances, their respect for Mixarnt growing even more. He wasn’t just a talented fighter—he was a kind and selfless person who genuinely cared about others. And for them, that made him even more extraordinary.

Mixarnt sighed as he wandered through the city, his thoughts drifting to Moonlight. "I wanted to invite Moon to have dinner with me after I won... I was expecting her to pamper me like always too," he muttered, pouting slightly.

"Oh, so you wanted to be pampered by Moonlight, huh?" a familiar voice chimed in.

"Yeah, she’s kind and gentle, unlike that Sunshine woman who’s always stern and scary. Although she’s really beautiful, she’s like a dragon ready to eat me," Mixarnt said without thinking, his words spilling out before he realized who he was talking to.

"Oh really~? Wanna say that to my face again, punk!?" The voice was unmistakably Sunshine’s. Mixarnt froze, his eyes widening as he turned to see her standing right behind him, her smile sharp and her eyes gleaming with annoyance.

"S-Sun!? Ow ow ow!" Mixarnt yelped as Sunshine pinched his ear, her grip firm but not enough to hurt him seriously.

"It’s General Sunshine to you," she corrected, her tone icy as she let go of his ear only to pinch both of his cheeks instead. Her smile was still there, but it was clear she wasn’t amused.

Mixarnt squirmed, trying to free himself. "I-I was just joking! You’re not scary at all! You’re... uh... really nice and... uh... not dragon-like at all!"

Sunshine raised an eyebrow, her grip tightening slightly. "Oh? So now I’m ‘nice,’ am I? How generous of you to say so."

Mixarnt winced, his cheeks turning red from both embarrassment and the pinching. "I-I mean it! You’re amazing! Strong, beautiful, and... uh... not terrifying in the slightest!"

Sunshine finally let go of his cheeks, crossing her arms and giving him a stern look. "You’re lucky I’m in a good mood today, kid. But if I hear you comparing me to a dragon again, you’ll regret it."

Mixarnt rubbed his sore cheeks, nodding quickly. "Got it, General Sunshine! No more dragon comparisons. Ever."

Sunshine smirked, her expression softening just a little. "Good. Now, what’s this about you wanting to be pampered by Moonlight? You know she’s not your personal caretaker, right?"

Mixarnt scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "I know. It’s just... she’s always so kind to me, and I thought it’d be nice to celebrate with her after the match."

Sunshine sighed, shaking her head. "You’re such a kid sometimes. But fine, I’ll let it slide this time. Just remember, Moonlight has her own responsibilities, and so do you. Focus on the next trial instead of daydreaming about being pampered."

Mixarnt nodded, his usual grin returning. "Yes, General Sunshine! I’ll do my best!"

Sunshine rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "You’d better. Now get going before I change my mind and decide to teach you another lesson."

Mixarnt saluted playfully before darting off, his spirits lifted despite the ear-pinching and cheek-squeezing. Sunshine watched him go, shaking her head but feeling a strange sense of fondness for the reckless, kind-hearted boy.

"Honestly, that kid..." she muttered to herself, a small smile lingering as she turned to head back to her duties.

"Thought you wanted to pamper him? You said this was your chance because Eclipse is busy having dinner with her family." Althea said popping behind Sunshine who was startled by her.

Sunshine’s cheeks flushed a deep red at Althea’s words. She crossed her arms and looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I... I never said anything about pampering him," she muttered, though her tone lacked conviction.

Althea raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, really? Because I distinctly remember you saying something along the lines of, ‘This is my chance to finally get close to him since Eclipse is busy.’ You even had that smug grin on your face when Eclipse was forced to attend that family dinner."

Sunshine’s blush deepened, and she glared at Althea, though there was no real heat behind it. "I don’t grin smugly. And even if I did, it’s not like I was planning anything... special."

Althea chuckled, clearly enjoying Sunshine’s flustered state. "Sure, sure. So, what happened? You had the perfect opportunity to pamper him, and instead, you pinched his ears and cheeks? That’s your idea of pampering?"

Sunshine groaned, running a hand through her hair. "It’s not that simple, okay? I’m not like Eclipse. I don’t know how to... do that kind of thing. I’ve always been stern and serious. I don’t even know how to ask him to join me for dinner without it sounding like an order."

Althea’s smirk softened into a more sympathetic smile. "You know, Sun, you don’t have to change who you are to show someone you care. Mixarnt likes you for who you are—stern, strong, and all. Just be yourself. If you want to spend time with him, just ask. He’s not going to say no."

Sunshine sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It’s not that easy. I don’t want him to think I’m being... weird or something. And what if he says no? What if he’d rather spend time with Eclipse?"

Althea placed a reassuring hand on Sunshine’s shoulder. "You’re overthinking this. Mixarnt isn’t the type to judge you for wanting to spend time with him. And honestly, I think he’d be thrilled if you just asked him outright. You’re the General Sunshine he looks up to, after all."

Sunshine hesitated, her mind racing. She wanted to pamper Mixarnt, to show him that she cared in her own way. She wanted him to see her as more than just a stern general—someone he could rely on, someone he’d want to be with. But the thought of being vulnerable, of putting herself out there, was terrifying.

Finally, she took a deep breath and nodded. "You’re right. I’ll... I’ll try. But if this backfires, I’m blaming you."

Althea laughed, patting Sunshine’s shoulder. "Deal. Now go find him before he gets himself into more trouble. And remember, just be yourself. That’s all he needs to see."

Sunshine straightened her posture, her usual confidence returning. "Alright. I’ll do it. But if he makes fun of me, I’m pinching his cheeks again."

Althea grinned. "Fair enough. Good luck, General."

As Sunshine run off, her determination renewed, Althea couldn’t help but smile. It was rare to see Sunshine so flustered, but it was also a reminder that even the strongest and most stoic people had their softer sides. And maybe Mixarnt would be the one to bring that side out of her.

As Mixarnt explored the city, grinning as he checked the stalls, a familiar voice called out, "Mixarnt, come here!" It was General Sunshine.

His heart pounded as he darted through the streets, glancing back to see Sunshine closing in. "W-what did I do now!?" he shouted in a mix of panic and confusion. He had no idea why she was after him, but her serious expression was enough to make him run for his life.

"Hey Brat! Stop right there!" Sunshine called out, her voice sharp but tinged with a hint of amusement.

"No way I'm stopping, you beautiful sexy general with large jugs and perfect hips!" Mixarnt blurted out nervously, his words slipping out before he could think. He instantly regretted it, but it was too late. He activated his Enigma Enhancement to 100%, his body becoming a blur as he sped through the city, hoping to outrun her.

Sunshine’s cheeks flushed a deep red at Mixarnt’s words. She was flustered, insulted, and oddly complimented all at once. "You damn brat! I’ll teach you a lesson if I catch you!" she shouted, her voice a mix of anger and embarrassment. Her Golden Flame eyes activated, her blue irises transforming into a sea of golden flames, her eyelashes turning into elegant, fiery wisps, and her pupils glowing like the sun. With her enhanced speed, she closed the gap between them in an instant.

Mixarnt’s eyes widened as he realized Sunshine was catching up. "Holy cow! She’s fast!" he muttered, pushing himself to run even faster. But no matter how much he pushed his Enigma Enhancement, Sunshine was right on his tail.

The chase continued through the city, drawing the attention of passersby. People stopped to watch the spectacle, some laughing, others cheering. It wasn’t every day you saw the General Sunshine chasing after a kid like a scene out of an action-packed drama.

Finally, Sunshine managed to grab the back of Mixarnt’s collar, yanking him to a stop. "Got you!" she said, her voice triumphant and not breathless.

Mixarnt froze, his arms raised in surrender. "I-I give up! Please don’t hurt me!" he pleaded, his eyes wide with mock fear as he smiled.

Sunshine glared at him, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You’ve got some nerve, brat. First, you call me a dragon, then you run away from me, and now you’re shouting nonsense about my... my... appearance in the middle of the city!"

Mixarnt scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly. "I-I didn’t mean it in a bad way! You’re just... really intimidating, okay? And, uh, I panicked!"

Sunshine sighed, releasing his collar and crossing her arms. "You’re annoying, you know that? I wasn’t even going to scold you. I just wanted to... uh..." She trailed off, her cheeks turning pink again as she cancel out her Golden Flame Eyes.

Mixarnt tilted his head, curious. "Wanted to what?"

Sunshine hesitated, her usual confidence wavering. "I wanted to... ask if you’d like to have dinner with me. At the Heroic Tavern. To celebrate your win."

Mixarnt’s eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, really? You’re not mad at me?"

Sunshine huffed, looking away. "I was mad. But then I realized you’re just a clueless brat who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. So, what do you say? Dinner?"

Mixarnt’s grin returned, brighter than ever. "I’d love to! But... uh, no pinching my cheeks this time, okay?"

Sunshine laughs and a smile crept onto her face. "No promises, brat. Now come on, let’s go before I change my mind."

As the two walked off toward the Heroic Tavern, the onlookers chuckled and went about their day. Sunshine, despite her stern exterior, couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. She thought that maybe, just maybe, she could show Mixarnt a different side of herself—one that wasn’t just about being a fierce and stern general. And Mixarnt, for his part, was just happy to have survived the chase... and maybe even gained a new dinner companion.