That morning, Ila was bouncing her way toward the Adventurers' Guild, a red backpack on her shoulders and a half-melted cream stick in her mouth.
She was humming, hopping, full of energy—like someone who thought "going to dangerous valleys" was just another item on a picnic checklist.
Seated on the guild's front steps was Xien, knees tucked to his chest, nibbling on some bread like a tired office worker who'd just clocked out of life itself.
Blank face. Blank soul. His whole presence said: "Existence is overtime."
Ila's eyes lit up. "Hey, Xien! You're here too~!"
Xien looked up, blinking at the blur of silver pigtails bouncing in front of him.
"I'm heading to Fangbreak Valley to look for kitties. Wanna come?"
Xien stared for two seconds. Then, like a reflex: "Are we talking actual cats… or the kind that talks?"
"Umm… both, I think?"
"…I'll go."
A small, furry ball peeked from a window—Ah Xu, floating overhead with a deadpan face.
"You didn't even ask where she's going. What if she said 'volcano'? You still gonna say yes?"
Xien took another calm bite of his bread. "There's no work today. If a monster bites me, at least I'll know I'm still alive."
Xien was an E-rank adventurer—meaning his tasks usually involved moving monster bits, weeding dungeon entrances, or unclogging dams. Payment: stale food and sore limbs.
"…Are you sure you're an adventurer and not a philosopher?" Ah Xu muttered.
"I also only have two copper coins left," Xien added. "And I think she shares her snacks."
"Ah. So it's about food."
"It's about… cats," he insisted weakly.
And just like that, he joined the party.
Not because of destiny or tactical planning—just because he was used to drifting with no direction.
And then Ila walked by… and gave him one.
Maybe Xien was never really looking for a way to level up.
Maybe he was just looking for a path he could follow.
And the one walking ahead… just happened to be her.
—
Fangbreak Valley.
The name alone sounded like it belonged in the bottom-right corner of a cursed map—the kind of place that hadn't seen blessings or postal service in decades.
They said the rocks there bit people. And the monsters? They apologized after mauling you… and then mauled you again.
To most humans, this was a place you fell into and didn't get out of.
But Ila thought it was scenic.
"Look, that rock looks like a dazed frog!"
She skipped across cracked stone slabs, her red backpack bouncing, silver pigtails swaying like flags in the wind.
Ah Xu clung to her head, expression grim.
"Log: This is the 14th time she's mistaken a deadly rock beast for a toy."
Trailing behind, Xien looked thoroughly out of place in his worn school jacket and hands-in-pocket pose—like someone who forgot what 'danger' was even supposed to feel like.
"So… we're looking for cats?"
"Yup!" Ila nodded.
"You do know that here, 'cats' might mean—"
"Shhh," Ila held up a finger. "I hear one now."
A thunderous growl echoed across the valley: "GUUUUUUUUUU—"
"…Meow," Xien deadpanned.
—
Meanwhile, deep within Fangbreak Valley, two great monster factions—The Felidra (Catfolk) and the Stonebone Clan—were preparing for the 287th "Unofficial Ceasefire Collapse Negotiation."
On the cliff stood Felidra's leader, Frey—her silver-white fur glowing faintly, amber eyes sharp, tail curled like a question mark.
Her voice was calm but radiated lethal intent.
"Your magma line crossed into our side," she said. "According to Article One of the Paw Pact… that's a provocation."
One of the Stonebone's lieutenants was about to object when—
"HELLO—I brought cookies and friends!"
Ila's cheerful voice echoed through the canyon like a misplaced lullaby.
Every monster turned.
A child.
A human child.
A human child who should be memorizing multiplication tables… not entering death zones.
She stood at the valley's mouth, a pack of cream buns at her side, feet planted in the sand, eyes shining like she was watching kittens play.
Across from her, the two factions had been locked in a standoff for three straight days.
Tensions so thick, even Ah Xu was crackling with static.
"…Not very cheerful here," Ila whispered.
"No crap it's not cheerful," Ah Xu hissed. "This place is about to blow! I literally heard Stonebones banging their heads against rock walls last night to raise morale!"
Then—
A white silhouette leapt from the rocks, landing silently before Ila.
Silver tail. Amber eyes. Twitching ears.
It was Frey, leader of the Felidra.
She looked down at Ila, voice cold but not unkind: "Who are you?"
Ila beamed, sticking out a hand. "I'm Ila! I came to make friends~!"
Frey narrowed her eyes, as if trying to decide whether this girl had accidentally inhaled a sugar elemental.
"This isn't a place for children."
Her voice was soft. But laced with such pressure that a nearby cliff lost a bit of its dignity (and sand).
Ila, as if completely missing the tension in the air, pulled out a cloth and plopped down on the ground.
"It's okay! I'll just start getting the snacks ready for our friendship picnic~!"
Ah Xu's face darkened. "Oh great. Here we go. At this point, nothing surprises me anymore."
Frey stared at her for a moment before asking, "Where did you come from?"
"From Greenleaf Town! We even found a singing rock on the way!"
Frey paused, pupils narrowing. "…A singing rock?"
Her expression shifted, a trace of unease flickering across her face.
"That's a resonance crystal from Fangbreak Valley… even we don't touch those."
Ila tilted her head. "Really? It said it liked my laugh. Thought it sounded pretty."
Frey: "…"
A Stonebone scout cautiously approached, seeing Ila's neat display of cream sticks and dried jellies laid out on a cloth.
"What trick is this?"
"It's snacks~! So everyone stops fighting. You can't enjoy your food if you're arguing!"
For a moment, the entire valley fell silent.
Even the wind paused—like the world was waiting to see if this would turn into a war… or a picnic.
Ah Xu crouched behind a rock, hands over his head, trying desperately to ignore the chaos his tiny overlord was brewing through social tactics alone.
—
While Frey and the Stonebone representative silently evaluated whether this "possibly human child" was a threat, Ila stood between both sides, holding out a freshly unwrapped cream stick with genuine warmth.
"If you fight, the cream stick won't taste good~"
No one could tell how much divine magic was hidden in that simple line.
No one had time to stop what came next.
Maybe only Ah Xu could sense the magic buildup—but by now, even he had given up trying to stop her.
She turned—beaming—and offered the stick.
Half to Frey.
Half to the Stonebone deputy.
"It'll taste better if we eat together~"
Ah Xu's eyes went dead as he silently moved aside, knowing the system alert was coming.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
[Blessing Phrase: Activation Conditions Met]
[Dual Bloodline Resonance Detected…]
[Divine Blessing Triggered: Full-Race Chain Reaction]
The next moment, the entire Fangbreak Valley erupted.
A wave of pure white and gold light surged up from beneath Ila's feet, flooding the valley's magical ley lines.
[Magcat Clan Transformations]
The soft, cute cat-eared girls began glowing with lunar tattoos; tails split into dual forms with space-jumping cores forming at the ends. Some acquired abilities like "Nightvision Sparkle" and "Double Fur Armor". Frey herself now wore a glowing gold mantle—her vibe shifting from "princess" to "Queen of Moonlight."
One young Magcat boy stared at his reflection: "I've got an eight-pack now!? And it's reflective!?"
[Stonebone Clan Transformations]
The previously stone-encased warriors sprouted glowing bone spikes, their agility and core combat enchantments skyrocketing. One grew shoulder crystals that blinked red: "Did I just evolve into a walking fortress!?" Another burst into laughter: "I HAVE KNEE JOINTS NOW! I CAN DANCE, GUYS!"
Frey stood stunned. "What… what is this evolution!? I only ate half a snack!?"
The Stonebone deputy trembled, torn between fear and joy: "I can crush rock with my butt now… I used to only dream of a life like this!!"
Back in the middle of it all, Ila stared sadly at her now-empty snack bag.
"Aw… I ran out. Is everyone full…?"
—
Ah Xu drifted down from the sky, utterly exhausted, waving a trembling report sheet in his paw:
[Divine Blessing Diffusion Incident #4]
[Fangbreak Valley: Magcat Clan evolved into "Dawnbeasts"]
[Stonebone Tribe evolved into "Crystalbone Giants"]
[Tribal Mana Vein Awakening Rate: 97.8%]
[Accidental Trigger: World Evolution-Class Event]
[Current Impact Rating: Calamity-Level (Benevolent Alignment)]
"She just said one sentence! And your entire species transcended reality—do you even realize that!?"
—
Every tribe member dropped to their knees in unison.
The valley instantly resembled a holy ritual site.
Even the Stonebone warriors, notorious for not having kneecaps, had somehow figured out how to bow.
"A divine being… the divine being is… a kid who hands out snacks…"
"I—I want to convert… no, wait—I want to become a cream stick!"
Frey stood before Ila, fully evolved into her majestic Moon Queen form… yet still sobbing softly.
"C-Can I… Can I hug you? That cream stick… was just too good…"
Ila nodded cheerfully. "Of course~"
A freshly-mutated Crystalbone warrior dropped to his knees with a crash: "Me too!"
"Hey hey hey! Are you trying to hug her or just get snacks!?"
—
In the end, under a joint decision by the newly evolved Dawnbeasts and Crystalbone Giants, the two tribes officially signed a peace treaty.
But as the applause died down, and both sides looked at one another… there was a brief, awkward silence.
After all, now that the war was over—
What were they supposed to do next?
At that moment, Ah Xu floated down from above, for once speaking in a serious tone:
"You've fought for a hundred years and proven that neither of you can easily wipe the other out.
So… why not come together instead?"
Both tribes' representatives stared in surprise.
Ah Xu continued,
"You're not bad people. You just didn't know what else to do—besides fighting over land, water, and mana cores."
"But now, you've evolved. You're blessed. You resonate with one another.
Build a village—a home that belongs to this land.
One where you can protect your own families.
A place to shelter the wandering beasts of Fangbreak Valley.
A place where no one else has to keep drifting."
"That—"
Everyone's eyes followed Ah Xu's gaze to Ila, who was currently shoving another cookie into her mouth.
"—that's what she really wants for you."
A few seconds of still silence.
Then Frey whispered, "Can we really do that…?"
The Crystalbone lieutenant roared, "We can! We have knees now!!"
—
And just like that, in an atmosphere of tears and fiery resolve, the idea for a new village was born.
"We need a name!" someone shouted.
Ila raised her cream stick high, eyes sparkling:
"Let's call it Shiny-Winy Village!
Everyone glows now, right~?"
Three seconds of dead silence.
Ah Xu: "…Are you naming a night market?"
Ila tilted her head, confused: "What, you don't have a cooler one?"
Ah Xu immediately deflected: "Ask him."
Everyone turned to look at Xien.
He was still mid-clap, cheering, "Yay Ila's amazing—uh, wait what?"
Caught off guard, he paused, then smiled gently.
"…Let's call it Land of Dawnlight."
His voice was soft, but clear.
"Wherever you are… it always feels like morning light finds a way in."
The tribes all chimed in at once:
"Land of Dawnlight!! That sounds so bright!!"
Ila scratched her head, blushing: "Eh… mine wasn't that bad either…"
Ah Xu rolled his eyes:
"No. Yours sounded like a fried snack stall next to a candy shop."
—
That was when Ila raised her cream stick and declared with a bright smile:
"Then let's call this place—Land of Dawnlight!"
Her voice echoed like a song, carrying tremendous divine resonance that rippled across all of Fangbreak Valley——
Moments later, as if the valley itself were responding to her blessing, a powerful gust of wind blasted through the crowd so forcefully that everyone's facial features nearly blew off.
[SYSTEM ALERT!]
Naming completed. Authority authentication in progress… Detected divine tonal resonance. Blessing Echo: Triggered again.
Suddenly, the entire valley burst into radiant light.
The earth's mana veins surged with life, a soft magical aura rose from the ground, and golden-white spirit mist filled the air.
Sealed rare mineral veins awakened underground, while even the dormant plants nearby sprouted fresh green leaves.
At the edge of the valley, once a damp and barren wasteland—flowers began to bloom.
Ah Xu slapped his own jaw shut with both hands, having nearly dropped it from shock.
He stared at the valley—now resembling some kind of mythic paradise—and, with a blank face, pulled out his third status report for the day:
[FORCED SYSTEM UPDATE]
Former location: Unclaimed monster wasteland → Land of Dawnlight (S-Rank Resource Zone) Cross-species fusion: SUCCESS Village establishment: AUTO-UPGRADED to Special Construction Project World Index Update: Region classification re-indexing in progress…
Personal Note (handwritten): I'm not logging quests anymore. I'm recording miracles.
—
As for Xien?
He was still clapping.
Sincerely.
"Ila is really amazing!"
Ila scratched her head, a little embarrassed, showing a tiny tiger tooth:
"Ehehe~ It's probably 'cause I shared my cream stick earlier~"
And so, a village built by two rival monster races was born—entirely thanks to Ila's… spontaneous peace treaty.
Also somehow, Xien got named the village chief.
The power of blessing had taken root in this land.
A picture of Ila holding a cookie in one hand and petting a cat with the other would go on to become the opening illustration of the Dawnlight Village Founding Chronicle.
As for Ila herself, she was still grinning at Frey:
"So… do you cats play jump rope?"
[MISSION COMPLETE]
Village Founded: Land of Dawnlight UNLOCKED World Evaluation:
Status changed from Unregistered Danger Zone → High-Blessing Peace Zone
New Followers:
Magicat Tribe: Entire population Crystalbone Giants: Half (the rest are still stunned)
That night, at the very edge of the southwest badlands—Blackhorn Hollow,
a monster enclave long wreathed in toxic fog and volcanic ash, suddenly sensed a foreign surge of magical energy.
It was radiant.
Powerful.
Pure.
So intense it pulled the region's most sensitive warlocks straight out of meditation.
"…Something happened at Fangbreak Valley."
Standing above a toxic spring, Musha, the serpent-scaled chieftain of Blackhorn, narrowed his eyes at the flickering glow dancing on the horizon.
His eyes were full of doubt.
And greed.
"That valley… It was supposed to be a cursed ruin. How did it become a high-magic zone overnight?"
A scout nervously reported,
"I—I sent out spirit beasts to sense the area. Two tribes have formed an alliance… and there's… there's divine-class mana."
Musha was silent for a moment, then sneered:
"Blessing? Don't make me laugh. Only gods or liars bless."
"We—Blackhorn Hollow—are the true heirs of this cursed land's magic bloodline. If they built a village…"
"…Then we'll make it our second hollow."
He raised a rusted black-fanged staff, voice laced with frost:
"Send spies. Gather intel. That kind of land doesn't belong to the docile."
His grin widened slowly.
"Let them build it up. We'll come and collect it later."
—
That night, for the very first time, the Land of Dawnlight lit a campfire of its own.
The Magicat Tribe and the Crystalbone Folk sat side by side around the flames, laying down their weapons for the first time. They shared freshly roasted skewers and oddly shaped sweet fruits, while a Magicat cub playfully swept its fluffy tail between the joints of a bone-warrior's ribcage like it was some kind of xylophone.
Nearby, Xien was completely surrounded by a pack of tiny bonelings, who danced around him in a wobbly circle, all chanting in unison:
"Chief~ Chief~!"
The scene was a glorious mess—but for once, no one was fighting.
—
Ila squatted by the fire, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of honey milk. She watched as the firelight shimmered on the newly-upgraded bones of the Crystalbone warriors, painting them in a warm orange glow.
She blinked, then murmured softly,
"So… it's not just humans who sit around a fire, singing, dancing, and eating yummy things…"
—
Ah Xu hovered just above her, watching the flames reflected in her eyes.
He was silent for a long moment.
Then, under his breath, he muttered,
"…This kid really doesn't get it yet."
He thought of her—
The one who let Ila "go make friends."
The one who had personally infused divine essence into Ila's soul.
She had once said:
"The world isn't chaotic because there's too little power. It's chaotic because there's too little trust."
Ah Xu couldn't help but silently add:
"…Still, you might've trusted her a bit too much."
But then he turned back and looked at Ila.
The little girl was busy carving an apple with her tiny knife and quietly tucking it into a Crystalbone soldier's backpack when no one was looking.
—
"…Then again…"
"…Maybe She really did see something we couldn't."
His gaze softened.
Because monsters and humans?
They weren't that different, really.
They got cold.
They liked sweet things.
And they all danced like awkward penguins around a fire when they felt safe enough to laugh.
Maybe, just maybe—
this girl could fix the world, not break it and rebuild it.
—
Ah Xu tilted his head, watching her small figure outlined by the firelight, and thought silently to himself:
"I just hope she can keep that look—
that way she stares at a campfire like it's the first star she's ever seen—
for a little while longer… before she learns what true darkness really looks like."
The fire crackled softly.
Just for a moment, it felt like it nodded in quiet agreement.