《The World Tales - Twisted Story of a Hero and a Demon Lord》


 Chapter 1 - Prologue

    Alexia thought that she would never forget the very scene which marked the beginning of her messed-up days.


    It was too weird and unbelievable that she''s certain she won''t forget.


    But, now, as she falls into pitch black darkness that threatens to swallow her whole, she isn''t so sure anymore.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    She doesn''t like the feeling of losing control of her body, but she hates it more when the darkness begins to rob her consciousness too.


    It can''t be helped, she can''t do anything.


    Alexia knows that, but while her consciousness starts to fade away, everything that has happened in her life starts replaying itself.


    When it''s over, will I forget everything?


    ~~~

 Chapter 2

    It all began that day.


    Alexia stepped into the demon lord''s castle to end the evil''s reign over the world. She slaughtered every demonic creature which was impending her way, until she reached the topmost chamber where the demon lord resided. Yes, that day, she was really ready to put an end to the evil that was plaguing the world.


    Yet, when she really reached that very door, she was unable to do anything besides stand dumbfounded in front of the opened door. It was a beautifully carved wooden door¡ªvarnished at every nook and cranny with prism-colored gloss¡ªbut it was not the point here.


    Inside the chamber, the demon lord was laying comfortably on the sofa, with a book on one hand, and potato chips on the other. Chip crumbs dirtied his dark clothes as he savored them with a happy look on his face. It actually took him sometime to realize her presence, and when he did, his purple eyes instantly widened in surprise.


    Both froze for a short second, but soon, the demon lord''s surprise swiftly changed into amusement. He happily closed his book with a soft thud sound, and raised his body from the sofa to a sitting position.


    While propping his body onto the sofa''s backrest, he threw the book in his hand casually onto the marbled floor behind him, before he faced Alexia head on.


    He smiled, and opened his mouth while munching the potato chips in his hand, ¡°Oh Great Hero, I''ve been¡ª¡± He stopped, swallowing the chips before resuming, ¡°¡ªwaiting for you.¡± He casually raised a bag of potato chips in his hand to Alexia. ¡°Before anything else, maybe you want some of this? This potato chips are very good, you know. They''ve got a special taste."


    Alexia was lost at words. She was definitely not expecting this. As the Chosen Hero who was fighting against the demon lord and his minion for restoring the World Tree''s power, she always thought that the moment she faced the demon lord, the final boss would be waiting on his throne, ready to fight her with all of his power.


    She never even guessed for a second that the ''throne'' was a very comfy sofa, and his ''power'' would be a bag of potato chips. Both were surprising, and to add it to the pile, this demon lord only looked like a young man who was only a few years older than she is.


    This was so wrong on many levels, and obviously, way out of her imagination.


    To begin with, the demon lord didn''t move from his sofa since her arrival. He was sitting too comfortably, as if he didn''t care that his sworn enemy already in front of him with a sword in hand.


    Alexia was already beyond speechless.


    Chips, he said? POTATO CHIPS?? In this situation!?


    Decided that this demon lord definitely had some few screws loose in his head, Alexia chose to ignore his weirdness and repositioned her longsword in front of her body while showing her strong gaze.


    ¡°Are you ready to accept your end, demon lord!?¡±


    Her blade glinted and reflected chandelier lights from the ceiling, showing its menace to the demon lord, but instead, he looked even happier than he was before.


    ¡°Well, what a waste, you don''t want the chips? Fine, I''ll finish them myself.¡±


    With a noisy munching sound, the demon lord savored the chips deliciously. Finally, he licked the last of the crumbs from his fingers and threw the empty bag on the floor, like the way he did to his book a few minutes before.


    Alexia mentally shuddered at the demon lord''s messy and dirty appearance. His white blonde hair¡ªwhich hanged longer at one side¡ªwas curled unevenly like he slept at wrong position and woke up too sudden (kind of true, in a way). His dark fur cloak looked more untidy with countless crumbs sticks on fabric, while the red-colored shirt under them was crumpled so badly. His pants looked similarly dirty with dust grains, while his long boots were messily unlaced. The black cord necklace with tusked pendant that he wore was slanted sideways, but he wasn''t even trying to fix it. He got a carved mark around his nape which was creeping into his chest but Alexia couldn''t guess the motif, because most part was hidden below his clothes. Then last, but not least, a pair of dark horns on his head were shimmering at few spots, like he just touched them with his chips-oily fingers.


    ¡°Well, now.¡± The demon lord jumped from his comfy sofa and cleared his throat. He swayed his hand exaggeratingly, and the chip crumbs from his clothes fell into the floor, dirtying the dark carpet under his feet.


    The castle topmost chamber, this audience room, should have a marvelous brilliance originally. The marble floor with carved pillars, big arched windows with prism glass, and a beautiful chandelier hanging on the painted ceiling, all of them showed the majestic aura, but everything gone to waste because of the filth scattered everywhere.


    There were a few books, many empty bags of chips, few unopened bags of potato chips with various brand, chip crumbs, muddy footprints, crumpled tissue papers, and so many more lumps of unrecognizable things. It was so difficult to ignore the filthy floor, but Alexia tried her best.


    Her sworn enemy was here in front of her, and obviously, she refused to lose her chance to kill the demon lord because of the filth distraction.


    ¡°I commend you for reaching this very place, Hero,¡± said the demon lord with an evil grin. ¡°Your journey must''ve been hard. You should thank your friends who helped you reach me, sacrificing their lives to stop my minions and opened your way into this room. Unfortunately, they will die in vai¡ª¡±


    ¡°I don''t have friends.¡± Alexia interrupted.


    The demon lord''s word stopped immediately. He peered into Alexia with his doubtful violet purple eyes.


    ¡°You don''t have friends?¡±


    ¡°No, I''m alone. But don''t underestimate me!¡± Alexia shouted with rage, and strengthened her grip on the longsword''s hilt. ¡°I alone am more than enough to stop you, demon lord!!¡±


    ¡°W-w-wait a second!!¡± shouted the demon lord in panic. He looked so lost and dumbfounded, as if he really had no idea what just happened. "Alone? Where are your party members!?"


    ¡°I don''t need them.¡± Alexia repeated, ¡°Told you I alone am enough. And by the way, your minions? Pssh! Way too easy! They didn''t even put out a fight.¡± Then, she added with mocking tone, ¡°Why don''t you check on their bloody carcasses outside?¡±


    ¡°You...¡±


    The demon lord''s face gone pale, and it made Alexia happy. Who wouldn''t? Anyone would if they had seen their enemy''s weakness.


    Being in high spirits, the girl didn''t stop pouring oil into the fire. ¡°What?¡± She smiled victoriously, ¡°Are you angry because I''ve trampled all of your minions'' lives? Then, bring it on! Let''s begin the real battle between the hero and the demon lord!¡±


    The demon lord promptly showed a worried look. ¡°Are you really the hero? You seem kinda....different.¡±


    ¡°I AM!! Now fight me!!¡±


    ¡°No way, I still need to make sure.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to argue!! DIE!!¡±


    Screaming her lungs out, Alexia dashed forward. She skidded across the filthy carpet. The tip of her longsword ripped the fabric and created friction against the marble floor, before the blade flashed straight into the demon lord.


    She was sure that she would score a hit. The demon lord only stood there casually. He had seemed not ready to intercept her sudden attack. But no, she was wrong.


    Her blade bounced against the demon lord''s hand, leaving traces of the blue glow of a series of ancient language which was circling around in complicated intertwining lines¡ªa magic circle.


    Unable to comprehend her failure, she tried again. She immediately swerved her sword, and targeting the demon lord¡¯s side. The blade cut through the wind, before it was deflected again with a high-pitched sound and another glow of magic circle.


    Surprised but refusing to give up, Alexia swung her longsword again with enormous speed. So far, no one was able to stop the speedy skill of hers, but again, the demon lord easily fended off her blade. She tried again, and again from many angles, but the result was no different.


    His minions were weak, they were a piece of cake, but the demon lord was definitely in a different league. He was standing relaxed, too relaxed, while deflecting every Alexia¡¯s flurry of attacks with one hand, yawning wide in boredom.


    As she realized that her strategy was futile, Alexia pulled her longsword and jumped away from the demon lord. As she put her blade front in a guarding position, the adrenaline rush from before was subsiding, and eventually, her breath became ragged. ¡°What¡ªare you¡ª¡±


    ¡°You had enough?¡±


    The demon lord glanced towards her with nonchalant look, realizing the girl of another probable truth. Amidst of the battle a second ago, she vaguely remembered that the demon lord didn''t throw any attacks to her. He was just deflecting her attacks, easily and effortlessly.


    It really hurt her pride. ¡°You were just on defense!¡± Alexia shouted dejectedly. ¡°Fight me for real, demon lord!! NOW!!¡±


    ¡°What an impatient hero.¡± The demon lord casually waved his hand, the one he had used to deflect Alexia''s sword, and stared at her with a strange look, ¡°Your attitude is making me more suspicious on your hero status. If you''re really the hero, didn''t you graduate from the famous Hero School?¡±


    As she heard his words, Alexia promptly went vigilant. She immediately hid her surprise that her enemy knew about the Hero School, acting all indifferent. Honestly, she was still unable to understand this weird demon lord''s point, but for now, she chose to follow his question, and keeping an eye for another chance to attack.


    ¡°I did,¡± She answered honestly. In truth, a person who becomes the Chosen Hero to defeat the demon lord should be graduated from the Hero School. It was the law of the Kingdom, but Alexia wasn''t sure why the demon lord even knew about this fact.


    ¡°Then, you know their principle,¡± continued the demon lord with a serious tone, ¡°A man who becomes a hero should have dignity, kindness, and compassion, even to his enemy. A man who becomes a hero is always waiting patiently for a chance to strike the victory. A man who¡ª¡±


    ¡°Stop reciting that, please.¡±


    Alexia accidently blurted her heart whisper. She hurriedly covered her mouth, cursing herself for saying ''please'' to her sworn enemy.


    To be honest, she hated her alma mater''s principle. That principle confined a person into becoming the ''perfect'' hero, and for Alexia, it means losing her freedom. So what if she''s not kind and patient? It would never change the fact that she could graduate from the school and become the true hero, even if her motivation and resolution only burns by hatred not by compassion.


    Still, she was more annoyed at the fact that this weird demon lord, who strangely knew that stupid principle, was repeating it again like a vexing spell.


    ¡°I AM THE HERO!!¡± Alexia shouted angrily. ¡°You kept saying, a man, a man, a man! So what if I''m a woman!? I''M STILL THE HERO!!¡±


    ¡°Pause for a moment!¡± The demon lord instantly raised his hand. He dumbfoundedly stared at Alexia with widened eyes, ¡°You''re serious??¡±


    ¡°What!?¡±


    ¡°A...woman? You''re a girl!? Are you kidding me??¡±


    Alexia promptly widened her golden brown eyes, annoyed. ¡°Isn''t that obvious!?¡±


    ¡°I asked because it''s not obvious,¡± said the demon lord, surprised. ¡°You don''t have...¡± His violet purple eyes shifted from Alexia''s face to her flat chest. ¡°I mean, you don''t really look like a girl, more like a pretty boy who hasn''t past his puberty age.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me!!¡±


    Alexia was boiling with rage. Sure, she had short light-brown colored hair which hadn''t grown past her shoulder, but she actually made some effort to braid it at the side so people didn¡¯t wrongly surmise her gender.


    It was not even her fault if her clothes were also not the kind of clothes a girl would wear. It was a dark green vest, draped on her left shoulder, above a combination of a shirt and skin-tight long pants with dark flat boots. It was not a skirt, obviously, because a skirt wasn''t suited for battles and fights, but she is definitely, one hundred percent, a girl!


    ¡°And well, you know, your name...¡± The demon lord murmured and opened the palm of his hand. With a flash of magic circle, suddenly there were a few pages of papers on his hand. ¡°See, it''s written here, jobclass swordsman, weapon preference longsword, birthday January 1st, oh wow at new year! Pretty nice! Age 17, seventeen!?¡± He suddenly shouted and took a glance towards Alexia with a surprised look, ¡°It seems there still are strange things in this world...¡± he muttered to himself, before he shrugged it off and darted his eyes back to the paper, ¡°Lastly, the name, Alex.¡±


    Alexia''s anger subsided a little when she saw that. Suspicion grew inside her mind. Papers with her data on it, and they were within the demon lord''s hands. What the hell happened??


    The demon lord raised his eyes from the paper and took another glance towards her, ¡°Well, Alex is a man''s name, isn''t it?¡± he innocently asked.


    ¡°It''s Alexia!!¡± She exclaimed.


    In contrast with Alexia''s anger, the demon lord only showed ignorance. He threw away the paper, adding a pile of trash to the floor and peered into the girl with disinterest. "Okay, Alexia, was it? Nice to meet you, but you can go home now. I won''t fight you."


    Without paying attention to the girl, the demon lord picked up the nearest unopened potato chips bag beside his sofa.


    His back was facing her, and it was supposed to be the perfect chance that Alexia has been waiting for. Yet, she was unable to move from where she stood, too shocked by the words she''d just heard.


    "Why!?" she screamed angrily. Obviously, she couldn''t accept the demon lord''s one-sided decision. Today, her wish of revenge should have been fulfilled when she killed the demon lord, but instead, the demon lord refused to fight her.


    Still with his back facing her, the demon lord popped the potato chips bag open and started to eat the chips inside. He walked to his sofa with relaxed step, before he threw his body back into the pillow-y cushion.


    ¡°You,¡± he said while eating, ¡°aren''t qualified.¡±


    ¡°What did you say!? I''m the real Chosen Hero who bears the mission to free the World Tree from you!!¡±


    ¡°Ah yes,¡± The demon lord shifted his sitting position to be more comfortable and peered into the girl. With a mouthful of chips, he continued, ¡°I''m sure you passed the qualification from the Hero School, the papers are the valid proof of that, but!¡±


    He pointed his oily fingers to her. ¡°You didn''t pass my qualification. Tell the school to find a new hero. Now, go home! Shoo, shoo!¡±


    The demon lord''s casual gesture only provoked Alexia''s fury. Her anger was already burning at the highest degree boiling point, and in the verge of bursting out. ¡°No way!!¡± She exclaimed, ¡°The hell with your qualification! You probably are just bullshitting your way out from your certain demise!!¡±


    ¡°Wow, what dirty words. Is this the real you? Where is the dignified hero''s image?¡±


    Crap!


    Alexia hurriedly closed her mouth. She forgot the mask she should wear in the wake of her fury. Now, only colliding her true self who was full of hatred to the demon lord. She knew that part of her wasn''t exactly suited for a hero. She always tried to hide it, but in the end, her emotion got in the way.


    Common sense started to seep into her brain, waking her from the burning fury. She tried to conquer her anger, but her attempt gone futile when the demon lord provoked her again.


    ¡°See?¡± he said while nonchalantly fishing his hand into the chips bag. He pulled out few chips and started munching them with a loud and noisy sound, ¡°A real chosen hero would never use that impolite phrase. You¡¯re just a fraud.¡±


    ¡°That''s it, you asshole!!¡± She screamed in rage. Mask or whatever, she didn''t need it anymore. For this shitlord, real hatred should be perfect. ¡°Your shitty mind only confined inside a baseless prejudice. What makes you think that I was unqualified? My power is more than enough to kick your butt flying from this world!!¡±


    For a moment, the demon lord only silently stared at Alexia who struggled to catch her breath after her outburst. A second later, he suddenly laughed happily. His body was shaking, enough to let the potato chips fell out from their bag. ¡°That is so un-hero like, Alex.¡±


    ¡°Don''t cut my name short, you shitlord!! It''s Alexia!!¡±


    To be honest, she never liked the manly part of her name, because it made people think that she was a male, not a female. In any chance her name must be cut short, she preferred Xia, definitely not Alex.


    ¡°Shitlord?¡± The demon lord''s purple eyes were widened in surprise for a short second, before an evil-but-happy grin showed on his face. ¡°Heh..you''re kinda interesting. Well, I''m kinda bored with the repeats, this is like a breeze of fresh air, so maybe I can elucidate a little for you.¡±


    Boiled with fury, Alexia forgot what the demon lord was going to elucidate. Only a second later, she realized. It was his said qualification.


    ¡°Okay, first reason,¡± said the demon lord, swaying his hand full of chips to Alexia. ¡°You are a girl, right? You said it yourself.¡± Then, he added while throwing the chips to his mouth, ¡°True hero should be a male, don''t you think?¡±


    His opinion was so far-fetched that Alexia instantly protested, ¡°Is your stupid brain stuck hundred centuries ago, huh!?¡± She pointed her longsword to his face. ¡°The era has changed! Didn''t you hear about woman emancipation!?¡±


    ¡°Hm? Is that the one that said women could stand on the same ground as men?¡±


    "Yeah, that!! It means a woman could become a hero too!¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­you have a point there...¡±


    Alexia quietly stood, trying to reduce her anger. She satisfyingly watched the demon lord who had lost in thought while savoring his potato chips because of her sound opinion. The sight had sparked her hope a little. Maybe in the end, she would get the fight she wanted.


    ¡°Fine then, I could let the first slide,¡± The demon lord finally said. He leaned on the backrest and threw the potato chips bag that surprisingly was already empty behind him.


    Alexia almost screamed in victory, but she stopped short because of the demon lord''s next sentence.


    ¡°But not for the second!¡±


    ¡°What''s the second?¡± asked Alexia warily.


    The demon lord played his fingers to his longer part of his white blonde hair, spreading dirty oil splotches to them. He seemed unconscious with his actions, but not with Alexia.


    She tried her best to ignore the demon lord''s filthy gesture. Without showing her disgust head on, she opened her ears wide for the second qualification that she hoped she could probably overturn as well.


    ¡°You don''t have party members,¡± The demon lord said, ¡°and that is a fatal flaw for a Hero.¡±


    Alexia almost doubted her ears. She opened them very wide, but what she heard was too nonsensical, enough to cause her mouth to gape like an idiot. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Party members,¡± The demon lord repeated thoroughly, acting like Alexia hadn''t heard what he just said, ¡°Didn''t you say that you were alone?¡±


    ¡°I did say that, but what is that have to do with¡ª¡±


    ¡°It''s common sense,¡± started the demon lord. ¡°A hero should be accompanied with his¡ª¡± he caught Alexia''s glare and hurriedly revised, ¡°¡ªher friends, where they were called the party members. Together they journeyed to the demon lord''s castle to defeat the demon lord.¡±


    ¡°So, to conclude, you refuse because I don''t have party members?¡±


    ¡°That''s right!!¡± The demon lord raised his two thumbs up to Alexia. ¡°It''s really unfortunate, but I can''t accept that you deviated from the setting.¡±


    ¡°Ha? Are you still sane, shitlord?¡± mocked Alexia, ¡°Setting? Don''t make me laugh! Told you I alone am enough! Or maybe, you''re so deaf that you didn''t hear what I said!?¡±


    ¡°I heard,¡± he answered nonchalantly, ¡°and I said, no.¡±


    With a flash of magic circle, the demon lord summoned a book with dark bindings out of nowhere to his hand, and then, he started to open the pages. ¡°I won''t fight you, Alex.¡± He stopped and took a short glance towards the girl, ¡°No, even if you glared me like you''re going to drill holes into my face.¡±


    ¡°As if!¡±


    Sneering, Alexia dashed towards the demon lord while raising her sword high, ¡°I¡¯d rather drill real holes than an imaginative one!!¡±


    The demon lord seemed surprised with her sudden action. In panic, he jumped off his sofa, and vanished.


    ¡°Wha¡ª!?¡±


    Alexia was beyond surprised. Her blade slashed the sofa with a screeching sound, and left a big hole on it, but the demon lord was nowhere within her sight. His dark binding book was the only thing remaining, floating in air for a nanosecond, before falling right into the sofa''s hole.


    She was disoriented with the sudden happening, and a sigh sounded from her behind promptly made her jump¡ªliterally¡ªfrom where she stood.


    The girl wheeled back in a hurry, and vigilantly placed her longsword in front of her. Then finally, she saw the sight of the just-vanished demon lord, standing casually in an entirely different part of the chamber.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Obviously, she really had no idea how he could vanish and appear at another place within seconds, but she had no time to think it thoroughly. She came for a fight, not for musing over an unimportant thing.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know when to give up, huh?¡± The demon lord shrugged wearily, ¡°My lovely sofa really has seen better days.¡±


    Ignoring his words, Alexia dashed again towards her enemy with a shout, ¡°Yield!!¡±


    Seeing her stride, the demon lord let out a short weary sigh. Right after, he immediately turned back and started to run away from her. ¡°No way," he refuted, "stop being such a hard headed girl.¡±


    His actions annoyed Alexia very much that she immediately ran to pursue him. ¡°Don¡¯t run from me, you shitlord!!!¡±


    The demon lord giggled and glanced at her behind his shoulder, ¡°Saying ''don¡¯t'' only makes me want to ''do'', you know? Let¡¯s see if you can catch me,¡± he said amusingly while keeping his speed.


    Alexia''s head seemed like it was going to explode in rage. What Demon Lord would ever run from the Hero? A crazy one??


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you! I definitely will catch you!!¡± Alexia yelled in between her breath, while chasing the shitty demon lord, in purpose of none other than ending his pitiful life.


    Yes, this was supposed to be a chase of life and death.


    Yet¡­


    She couldn¡¯t help to feel so out of place.


    The demon lord ran around his dirty audience chamber, along the wall, and zigzagging around the thick pillar propping the ceiling. As Alexia kept pursuing him, she could swear that she could hear his joyful giggle not just once or twice.


    ¡°Hee¡­this chasing game is pretty interesting¡­¡± he muttered with a teasing tone, ¡°how far can you keep up, Miss Hero??¡±


    Alexia was so, so, sooo upset, that she glared at his running figure dejectedly with all of her might. It seemed that she was the only one who actually thought that this was the chase which would lead to his death. As a matter of fact, the shitlord only looked like he was enjoying himself to the fullest.


    Having enough of his bullshit, Alexia kicked the marble floor faster and dashed towards the running demon lord. She won¡¯t lose to this clown demon lord, never!!


    Then, it suddenly happened.


    Her boots stepped right on one of the empty chips bags littered all over the audience chamber floor, and she accidentally slipped away from it.


    Crap!


    Losing her balance, Alexia tripped over the marble floor and loudly fell face first onto it.


    ¡°¡ªkh!!¡±


    The demon lord promptly stopped. Near one of the chamber pillars, he wheeled back to face the fallen girl. His face grimaced as he gazed at her sprawled body, ¡°Uh¡­that must have really hurt. You okay?¡±


    Okay? OKAY?? Alexia felt her rage gushed up like an active volcano as she heard that very word from her enemy''s mouth. Rubbing her sore nose that had kissed the floor¡ªsecretly glad she didn''t suffer a nosebleed¡ªshe raised her body to stand. Propping herself with the longsword, she glared the purple eyed young man in front of her eyes with full animosity.


    ¡°Uwah, your nose looks so red.¡± The demon lord widened his eyes in astonishment, ¡°no wonder, you fell to the floor in a really flashy way, you know?¡±


    ¡°Whose fault is that!?¡± Alexia couldn¡¯t help but yell in anger. The sore pain on her face really added up to her bad mood, piling it up over, and over again.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it because you chased me in the first place, Alex?¡±


    ¡°Ugh! In the first place, I wouldn''t have fallen if your chamber wasn¡¯t so dirty!!¡± Alexia promptly retaliated, converging hatred within her words. Pulling back her longsword in front of her, she pointed it right to her enemy, ¡°And, in the first place, it would never happen if you didn¡¯t run from me!!¡±


    ¡°Huhh!? That¡¯s an unreasonable demand,¡± the demon lord replied with a pout. ¡°Told you, I won¡¯t fight you, what¡¯s wrong with running then??¡±


    ¡°Everything!!!¡±


    Readying her sword again, Alexia kicked the floor and resumed her dash towards the demon lord. This time, she reached him, and successfully caught him off-guard.


    Surprised, the demon lord reacted a little too late. He widened his violet eyes, ¡°You¡ª!¡±


    Alexia swung her blade, grinning gleefully in her chance of victory, and¡ª


    ¡ªswoosh.


    Nothing happened.


    Alexia blankly stared at the empty space in front of the pillar where her blade just slashed. For a second time, the demon lord suddenly vanished from the reach of her blade without a trace. What in the worl¡ª


    ¡°Really, aren¡¯t you tired of doing this?¡±


    A cold voice was emanating right from her back, and stopped every processes running through Alexia¡¯s mind. She promptly turned back, only to face the demon lord who was standing right in front of her eyes.


    He was showing none of his amusement and playfulness from back there, only the opposite. His violet purple eyes pierced through her with a cold stare, enough to freeze her in horror.


    The demon lord moved to grab her forcefully by the neck, but Alexia reacted too late. Her reflex felt dull in front of the menacing gaze of his, and it had cost her the consequences.


    Within a split second, the demon lord pushed her back roughly to the pillar and started to strangle her neck in the air.


    ¡°¡ª!!¡±


    Pain was running through all of her body and left Alexia to gasp. Her grip on her longsword was loosening off and it fell to the marble floor with a ringing sound. Her feet were dangling in the air, and struck her with complete hopelessness.


    She struggled to release herself from the demon lord¡¯s hand, but it was all gone in vain. She tried to kick him, only to miss. She slapped his strangling arm with all the power she could manage, but the demon lord didn¡¯t even flinch.


    As she stared into his cold and unmerciful purple eyes, for the first time since her arrival, she felt a shudder of fear. It finally dawned on her that she had underestimated her enemy.


    ¡°¡­it¡¯s getting boring, the chasing game, and you too.¡± With a smiling face, he hissed with a same cold and low voice while strengthening his grasp to her neck, ¡°why don¡¯t we end this then, Miss Hero?¡±


    His cold smile and the increasing pain was enough to ring the warning bell from within Alexia¡¯s body. It was a completely different smile than every smile he showed to her before, and it was more than enough to tell the girl that death was approaching, while she had no way to escape from it.


    Die? Death? Me??


    As the painful pressure on her neck kept increasing, Alexia felt her vision darkened. She really didn¡¯t want to go down like this, not when she still left so many unfinished businesses. Yet, she was unable to help herself.


    Overwhelmed by the demon lord¡¯s power, she regretted the rashness in her decision. Storming his castle was good and fine, if she really had the chance to win over him, but she couldn¡¯t.


    Was there no other choice besides giving up?


    It¡¯s getting really dark¡­ no¡­ I¡­


    All of a sudden, the pressure on her neck was gone. She fell to the floor, desperately coughing for air, while light slowly returned to her eyes.


    For a short moment, blurry marble floor was the only scenery extending over her vision, but she didn¡¯t even wait to shift her gaze upward, right towards her enemy.


    A stupid little blur would never stop her to glare her sworn enemy with hatred. Moreover, not after what that enemy had done to her.


    ¡°Hee¡­what a good face you have there,¡± the demon lord sneered, while nonchalantly peering at her, ¡°even at the verge of losing, you still showed the ¡®I¡¯m not gonna lose¡¯ gaze, huh?¡±


    The moment her vision cleared, Alexia immediately reached her longsword which was falling beside her feet. She jumped back to stand, ready to face her enemy again.


    In contrast with Alexia¡¯s animosity, the demon lord only looked like he was having an enjoyable time. He gazed upon her with an expression full of amusement for a short second, before he wheeled back and casually walked towards his torn sofa.


    As he picked up the falling dark binding book from before, he let out a long sigh with drooped shoulders, ¡°Now, where should I sit? This is so puzzling¡­¡±


    Alexia was too flabbergasted. Considering of what just happened, the demon lord¡¯s action was very off. It was as if he stopped paying attention to her existence. He even showed his back to her! To the hero who wanted to kill him!!


    Not much time passed since he strangled her. Alexia even fearfully thought that she would soon be dead, but now? What the hell is he thinking!?


    Unable to understand his actions, Alexia stopped trying. Now when the demon lord was showing his back to her, it could be her only chance to strike. Gripping her longsword tight, she readied her stance once again.


    She had tried to keep quiet for the sake of her surprise attack, but she actually lost to the tension created in the moment. When the tip of her blade inadvertently scratched the dirty marble floor, Alexia gasped.


    The vague sound called the demon lord from his action of contemplating the sofa. As he peered towards Alexia behind his shoulder with eyebrows wrinkled, every cold feature of his face was gone completely¡ªas if it was only a fata morgana, an illusion which was blown away and gone with a poof.


    ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± he asked confusedly, ¡°I thought you had gone home already.¡±


    The unexpected question staggered Alexia. ¡°Home? Why would I¡ª¡±


    Turning to face the girl completely, the demon lord shrugged wearily. ¡°Well, don¡¯t you realize already that you can¡¯t win against me? Why waste time here, then?¡±


    What he said was so true, that Alexia felt a mentally piercing pain to her heart. She couldn¡¯t win, it was pretty obvious, but she didn¡¯t have the option of giving up. Not when her dream hasn''t been fulfilled yet.


    Putting up a brave front, Alexia at glared the demon lord. ¡°I won¡¯t leave,¡± she hissed quietly, ¡°so what, you¡¯re going to scare me again?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The demon lord looked lost in thought. While gazing over the book in his hand, he mumbled in disappointment, ¡°I thought my act was pretty good. I¡¯m sure that I scared you enough to make you go home.¡±


    An act? That very word reverberated through Alexia¡¯s mind and stopped everything that she was about to do. As she stared blankly at her enemy, the first thing that came back to her was the moment where he strangled her. The pain was real, his cold gaze also stuck hard inside her mind, she even remembered the fear, but it was all an act?


    Now that she thought of it, his change of attitude was too drastic. Is it because he faked that one???


    ¡°Huh, what¡¯s with your face?¡± asked the demon lord innocently, ¡°I just showed you that you really have no chance against me, so you should just go home already.¡±


    The word ''home'' promptly woke Alexia from her running mind. The demon lord had probably fake an act to scare her home, but he¡¯s really wrong if he thought he could succeeded with that trick!


    ¡°Hmph, sorry then!¡± snapped Alexia. ¡°You should have just killed me if you wanted me to be gone.¡±


    The demon lord raised his eyes from the book and peered back into Alexia with a difficult look on his face. ¡°Well, that¡¯s hard. I don¡¯t want to kill you.¡±


    His nonchalant answer immediately got on Alexia¡¯s nerve. ¡°Ha! Are you stupid!?¡± she exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯m your enemy! THE HERO!!¡±


    Now that the shackle of fear she felt from before was completely gone, the demon lord¡¯s actions only brought an irritation to her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t want to kill me!? WHAT BULL!!¡±


    The demon lord only shrugged indifferently. Looking as if he had no interest in Alexia¡¯s opinion, he shifted away his eyes from her and opened the book in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s the truth, and well, it¡¯s not like I wanted to stray from the setting¡¯s rule too.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­what? Setting again?¡±


    The demon lord smiled. ¡°Yup, it''s the same setting which dictated that a hero should be accompanied by party members. The one you ignored completely.¡±


    ¡°What the hell is going on with this party member bullshit!?¡± Alexia started her protest, ¡°Why should I¡ª¡±


    ¡°You should,¡± interrupted the demon lord, ¡°Hero and party members.¡±


    Alexia retaliated, ¡°But I''m alone¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not enough. Don¡¯t you see the difference in our power?¡± interrupted the demon lord again, his purple eyes darted back to the book, ¡°You can¡¯t win alone, but maybe the outcome would be different if you have some companions.¡±


    ¡°But, that¡ª¡±


    ¡°If you don''t want to do it, go home,¡± he interrupted Alexia¡¯s defense again, and nonchalantly waved his hand to her,¡± The Hero School should send me a new replacement.¡±


    Alexia felt her confidence drop down hard. He was right about the difference in power. She understood how easy it would be if he wanted to kill her. How he moved to strangle her (regardless whatever he said about not wanting to kill her), and how he vanished in a blink of time, it was just not something she could overturn with force and intention only.


    True, party members sounded like a good idea, but to Alexia, it was a completely different story. ¡°But I''m an individualist.¡± She tried to defend herself, coaxing her way out from this party member business. Yet, she sounded more helpless by the second. ¡°I don''t have¡ªI''m not that sociable to¡ª¡±


    She didn''t want to tell her sworn enemy about her weakness, but it seemed she had no other choice.


    ¡°Not sociable??¡± The demon lord raised his head and peered into Alexia with doubt and surprise. His purple eyes opened so wide, as if he was staring at a very strange creature. ¡°You sound more un-hero like by the minute. Shouldn''t a hero have many friends?¡±


    ¡°No, I-I''m not really good with people. This party members business, I can''t¡ª¡± She fidgeted while discontinuing her words. A topic which was probing at her weakness always made her feel very nervous.


    Stranger anxiety, Alexia was unable to find another appropriate word for her weakness. She was always nervous if she had to face people she didn''t know, and making friends was the hardest hurdle in her life. She didn''t even have a friend in the Hero School, so much for party members who would fight for the same reason as her.


    It''s impossible.


    ¡°I really don''t understand what makes it so hard,¡± said the demon lord. In contrast with his role as the sworn enemy and the evil villain, his face showed worry while looking at the nervous girl. ¡°You just need to go out there in an adventure, helping people in the way, and build a strong bond with a few individuals you will meet in your adventure, the individuals who would become your party members.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound so easy...¡±


    ¡°It is easy! Even I could do it!¡±


    ¡°Even if you''re the evil demon lord? That''s a load of bullshit for a shitlord.¡±


    ¡°Again with the dirty words. Maybe you can fix that first if you want to get some friends,¡± he pointed, ¡°and don''t glare at me! I''m just stating the truth.¡±


    Alexia did have a problem talking to total strangers. She would become too nervous even to say a word, less a sentence. Yet weirdly, she just realized that she talked to the demon lord just fine. She even could become emotionally angry and showed off her true color, cursing him on every sentence.


    Was it because he was her sworn enemy, enough to cloud her anxiety with hatred? Maybe.


    Or maybe, there was another reason.


    The demon lord was a stranger, but at the same time, he wasn¡¯t. She was only a child when the calamity caused by the demon lord struck her village and stole everyone''s lives in front of her eyes. She swore revenge on that day, and dreamt of killing the demon lord with her own two hands.


    In a way, the demon lord wasn''t exactly a total stranger for her. Alexia always heard about him who had lived hundreds of years while gnawing at the World Tree''s power, and in return, brought out calamity to the world. Still, only today she finally saw that the demon lord¡¯s appearance didn''t look like he had lived that long. Rather than a hundred year old demon, he only looked like a young man who hasn''t lived past the age of twenty.


    As for the fact that he was a potato chips freak and disgustingly filthy¡­well, it was kind of a new discovery.


    ¡°Then, how about I give you a proposition, Alex?¡±


    Suddenly, the demon lord asked, waking Alexia from her daydream.


    ¡°Proposition?¡± She asked, before she added with an angry glare, ¡°And don¡¯t cut my name, you shitlord!¡±


    The demon lord only giggled at Alexia¡¯s protest. He closed the book with dark bindings in his hand, and walked to Alexia with steady steps. ¡°You said that you¡¯re not sociable enough to make friends, to make them party members, but I can¡¯t accept a hero without party members. Then, there is only one option.¡±


    He stopped in front of Alexia, pushed her blade to the side with his book, and smiled to the girl. ¡°I¡¯ll help you find them.¡±


    ¡°Haaa?¡±


    Feeling too surprised, Alexia didn¡¯t resist when the demon lord pushed her longsword aside. She let her blade fell to her side, while popping a new hole to her ears so she could hear more right, and raising her head to peer suspiciously at the demon lord who was standing in front of her, a head higher than she was.


    ¡°At the same time,¡± he continued, ¡°I can prove to you that it¡¯s easy, not as hard as you imagined.¡±


    Her suspicion seemed baseless, and her ears didn¡¯t hear wrongly even for a word. No matter how impossible, the evil demon lord was really going to help her.


    ¡°You really have some screws loose. What demon lord in their right mind would want to help the hero?¡±


    In Alexia''s mockery, the demon lord only smiled happily, ¡°I¡¯m helping myself by helping you.¡±


    ¡°Huh, then why should I accept? If you¡¯re in for your own benefit, what¡¯s in for me?¡±


    The demon lord raised his eyebrows in curiosity. His violet purple eyes peered into Alexia''s golden eyes, trying to find something wrong inside them. ¡°Are you really, really the hero? Can you do something without expecting something in return? That¡¯s going to be more hero-like.¡±


    ¡°Dream on, shitlord!¡±


    The demon lord sighed, ¡°Okay, fine, I¡¯ll give you an extra chance.¡±


    ¡°What chance?¡±


    ¡°You can try to kill me anytime, anywhere, anyhow you want while I accompany you on your journey to find the party members.¡±


    Alexia instantly gaped in surprise. It sounded too nice for a proposition offered by the supposed evil demon lord. Honestly, she was having some difficulties to believe it.


    ¡°But don¡¯t expect me to not guard my life,¡± added the demon lord, pointing his book to Alexia, ¡°You can try, but I won¡¯t let you kill me. That¡¯s why I said, a chance.¡±


    ¡°But I can try anytime?¡± Alexia ascertained, ¡°Even now!?¡±


    Without waiting, she pulled her longsword and swung it sideways. In his position right now, there was no way the demon lord could dodge the trajectory of her blade. She was ready to feel her blade sink into the flesh, only to find it stopped short with the book cover.


    With screeching sound, the book¡¯s leather cover was ripped¡ªtogether with a few front pages¡ªwith a slash from her sword. Aside from those, nothing else got hurt, of course, including the demon lord.


    ¡°You¡¯re really impatient,¡± The demon lord pushed away Alexia¡¯s blade harshly from his book and stroking the ripped cover with a longing gesture, ¡°True, it is effective starting now, but this is my favorite book, you know.¡±


    Alexia glared the demon lord with an annoyed look, cursing herself with her own failure. ¡°Hmph! Not my fault!¡±


    The demon lord lowered his book and returned his gaze back to Alexia. ¡°So, does this mean, you accepted my proposition?¡±


    ¡°Ha! Do you take me as an idiot!?¡±


    ¡°Huh, what¡¯s with you all of the sudden?¡± asked the demon lord with a confused look. ¡°I thought you had agreed already.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! No way!¡± Alexia snapped and turned her face away from the confused demon lord. She didn¡¯t even think twice of her refusal.


    Of course, a chance to kill him rang very nice in Alexia¡¯s ears, but in the end, it was all preposterous. To begin with, there was no way, NO WAY, she would be willing to spend a journey with the enemy she hated most. What a joke!


    ¡°Hee¡­you¡¯re fine with it then?¡±


    An amused tone of voice coming from the demon lord''s mouth turned Alexia¡¯s eyes back to his figure. He was still standing there, and peered down into her with a victorious grin on his face.


    Really, she wanted to slap him already. ¡°What now?¡± she demanded.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± The demon lord smiled meaningfully, ¡°No, I just thought you don¡¯t need this anymore.¡±


    For a second there, Alexia squinted her eyes suspiciously, unable to process the meaning of his words. Then, the demon lord moved to open his palm and a necklace fell through his fingers with a soft clink sound.


    Alexia widened her eyes with mouth agape. It took her a second or two, gazing blankly at the necklace hanging around the demon lord¡¯s fingers to understand what was going on. It was a simple cord necklace with cool green pendulum shaped like a small seed, and it was a very familiar one.


    Panicked, Alexia hurriedly took a step back and brushed her hand over her neck, searching for something she''s sure was there. But, she couldn¡¯t find it.


    Then, there was only one explanation.


    Overwhelmed, she promptly darted back her eyes to the demon lord, who¡ªby an unknown reason¡ªwas holding her precious necklace within his grasp. ¡°That¡¯s mine! How could¡ª¡±


    Alexia tried to grab the dangling necklace of hers, but the demon lord was faster. Pulling it back, he hid it within his palm and threw a grin towards the girl.


    ¡°I saw it back there when I strangled you,¡± he answered Alexia¡¯s confusion with a nonchalant expression, ¡°This necklace is kinda nice, there is something which pulls me into it, sooo, I think I should be having it.¡±


    ¡°Give me back my necklace!!¡± Alexia yelled and took a step forward with a stern face.


    This was not something she could accept at all. That necklace was supposed to be a link to her past. Her parents once said she was born while holding the pendulum, that it would show her the way one day, but screw that right now. What was more important was that very necklace was the only memento of her deceased parents and the only remembrance of the peaceful life she had had.


    It never occurred to her that she would lose it to her sworn enemy¡ªthe demon lord, nonetheless. It¡¯s unacceptable!


    ¡°Give it back!!!¡± she yelled again and readied her longsword in front of her body, but her threat was futile.


    The demon lord was only standing casually, as if he never felt any danger in the girl¡¯s actions. Rather, he looked more amused than before.


    ¡°Well, should I return this to you, then?¡± he asked teasingly.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    That was unexpected. Alexia thought that the demon lord would never comply into her wish, but what he said was the complete opposite. She almost felt relieved with his words, but his unending smile seemed too disconcerting to her. It was like a harbinger of bad luck.


    ¡°What...do you¡ªmean?¡± she tried to ask carefully. ¡°Are you...really going to¡ªreturn it?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± answered the demon lord. He raised his forefinger to the girl, ¡°with one condition.¡±


    Vigilance immediately ran through Alexia¡¯s body. ¡°Condition?¡±


    ¡°Yes, just let me accompany you in your journey of searching party members,¡± the demon lord answered with another smile, ¡°I¡¯ll return your necklace when we¡¯re done.¡±


    Alexia dumbfoundedly stared at the demon lord. She really couldn¡¯t fathom his way of thinking. Again with the journey together??


    ¡°What¡¯s your agenda!?¡± accused Alexia, believing her enemy was a number one no in her dictionary. ¡°Just spit it out!¡±


    ¡°Spit what out?¡± replied the demon lord with an innocent look, ¡°I just want to help you with your party member quest, nothing else.¡±


    Alexia didn¡¯t answer immediately. She took a brief pause to glare at her enemy¡ªthe very enemy she should not even believe in, before she yelled from her throat, ¡°Ha!! I¡¯m not that stupid, you asshole!!¡±


    ¡°Then you don¡¯t need your necklace back,¡± the demon lord nonchalantly replied. He shifted his gaze towards the necklace in his hand and playing it around his fingers, ¡°I see.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, the seed pendulum necklace disappeared from his hand with a flash of bluish magic circle.


    Alexia watched it gone in horror. ¡°N-no!!¡± She didn¡¯t want to sound hopeless, but she was unable to hold off her trembled voice. Losing the necklace was too unbearable for her, and watching it gone before her very eyes was more excruciating.


    It was stupid and careless of her that the demon lord could rob the necklace from her in the first place, but that was the reality she couldn¡¯t fight anymore.


    ¡°Easy, I''m just keeping it in a safer place,¡± assured the demon lord. He smiled towards the pale girl, ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be ready to return into your possession if you just accept my proposition.¡±


    The proposition.


    The demon lord already gave her a way, but even so, it was too hard for Alexia to accept it. Journeying together with him, the person she hated most, and the very one she wanted to have revenge on. To be honest, she didn¡¯t have the confidence that she could do that.


    His offer to try to kill him in every chance she had was probably the only good thing in it, but if she refused, she would probably lose her precious necklace to the demon lord (in any way, she wasn¡¯t strong enough to rob it by force).


    Is this is the only option?


    ¡°So?¡± the demon lord¡¯s voice called Alexia back to present, ¡°Last chance, yes or no? Your choice, Miss Hero.¡±


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Alexia started. She really had no other choice, so she probably should start bracing it head on. After heaving a short breath to encourage herself, she darted her eyes to the demon lord. ¡°If I accept, you¡¯ll return my necklace?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°But,¡± Alexia glared at him hatefully, ¡°I don¡¯t think I can believe you. Who knows if you tricked me into this shitty idea so you could kill me?¡±


    The demon lord incredulously peered into the girl and shook his head tiredly. ¡°I¡¯m not you, Alex," he said, "And I told you already, didn¡¯t I? I¡¯ll definitely return your necklace when everything is over, and why don¡¯t you just believe me that I have no plan on killing you?¡±


    ¡°Lies.¡±


    ¡°Haaaah¡­¡± the demon lord exhaled a long breath and shifted back his eyes to the girl, ¡°Really, if I wanted to kill you, I¡¯d probably done it already. I would never choose this kinda bothersome way.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡±


    For an umpteenth time, he was right. She was still alive right now, probably because of the demon lord¡¯s mercy. As shitty and crazy as he was, Alexia was unable to object his point.


    Yet, it was really hard for her to accept his proposition as it was. As the matter of fact, she didn''t feel safe being together with her enemy. Who knows if he was lying about not wanting to kill her, and secretly cooked up a plan behind her back?


    If so, being together with him wouldn''t be good for her. Hating him was one thing, but there was that imminent danger behind her back too. If there was any way she could keep him under surveillance, probably the danger could be reduced sufficiently.


    With a new idea bloomed within her mind, Alexia darted her eyes back to the demon lord, ¡°Then, if you could promise me.¡±


    ¡°Promise?¡±


    ¡°Just stay within my sight so I can keep my eye on you,¡± Alexia blurted her newfound idea, ¡°I have to make sure you won¡¯t bring any danger. And don¡¯t forget my necklace.¡±


    Looking surprised at Alexia¡¯s words, the demon lord blinked his eyes a few times. ¡°I got the necklace part, but stay within your sight?¡± he repeated reluctantly, and shifted away his gaze, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to disagree, but¡­does that mean you¡¯ll be observing me in the bathroom too?¡±


    ¡°Eh¡ª?¡± Alexia blankly stared at the hesitant demon lord.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­well, fine with it, but¡ª¡± he paused and incredulously peered into her, ¡°¡ªreally?¡±


    ¡°B-b-bath¡ª¡± Alexia struggled to find words as embarrassment started to seep into her mind. Just now, she realized the fatal mistake in her idea. Observing her enemy was nice and good, but a girl like her, watching the demon lord¡ªa young man¡¯s bathroom procedure? That was too¡ª


    ¡°NO!¡± Alexia hurriedly revised. She forced herself to wipe clean any embarrassing image from her mind and moved to glare the demon lord. ¡°Not the bathroom!! It¡¯s an exception!¡±


    ¡°Heh? Is that so?¡± The demon lord showed a teasing smile, ¡°That¡¯s disappointing.¡±


    ¡°JUST SHUT UP!!¡± Alexia instantly raised her voice. Refusing to be embarrassed any further, she plastered a tough look, and blurted, ¡°So what, shitlord!? Do you accept or not!?¡±


    The demon lord promptly nodded with a smile. ¡°Mmhm, of course. I promise to stay within your sight during the journey, and your necklace will soon be yours again, Alex.¡±


    Feeling satisfied as soon as she got the promise she wanted (regardless he was sincere or not), Alexia moved to turn her face away and tried to sound as disinterested as she could, ¡°Hmph, good! Now for the other dire problem.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Is there one more?¡± asked the demon lord.


    Right, the problem hadn¡¯t been solved just yet, as there was still one disturbing fact in Alexia¡¯s mind. It was the most fundamental one. If this problem was not resolved, she didn¡¯t think that she could have a journey together with her enemy.


    ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m the hero and you¡¯re the demon lord,¡± Alexia grumbled in discontent. Whatever said, she just couldn¡¯t let go of the first problem which made things sound pretty impossible. ¡°What would people think with us being together?¡±


    ¡°What if I¡¯m not the demon lord, then?¡±


    ¡°Huh, you aren¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± the demon lord said while playing with his fingers on his slanted short bangs, ¡°but no one knows that, right?¡± he continued, ¡°As far as the people of this world know, the demon lord resides in his castle full of demonic creatures, no one really knows how I look like.¡±


    Alexia widened her eyes. That¡¯s true.


    She also thought of that before. No one ever knew that the demon lord was a sloppy young man with white blonde hair and purple eyes who loves potato chips too much. Still, there was one problem left in that theory.


    ¡°Impossible. Don¡¯t you think people can guess if you have those horns sticking out of your head, eh, shitlord?¡± Alexia protested while pointing the demon lord¡¯s oil-splotched pair of dark horns.


    ¡°Ooohh, this?¡± The demon lord said while rubbing his fingers on one of his horn. ¡°This is not a problem,¡± he pulled the horns from his head, and waved them in front of the girl¡¯s eyes.


    Alexia instantly lost at words. She was just staring at the detached horns with mouth agape, unable to process the fact on her mind.


    It was a horned hairband.


    A pair of dark horns on the demon lord¡¯s head were actually a horned hairband. The demon lord himself, was naturally horn-less.


    ¡°This is kinda like the crown of a demon lord. Your King has one too, right? A crown from some kind of golden things?¡± He explained with a happy tone, ¡°These horns are just the same thing as that crown.¡±


    ¡°W-wh-wha--?¡±


    ¡°Your surprise is really interesting. You look like a fish out of water, Alex.¡±


    Alexia struggled to find her voice back from the abyss of surprise. ¡°Urgh, shut up, shitlord!!¡±


    Still, her anger only made the demon lord happier. He smiled joyfully while playing with his hand on his detached horned hairband. ¡°So..¡± he started, ¡°problem solved, I think?¡±


    The problem had been solved, indeed. Alexia couldn¡¯t find any other argument to back up her hesitation. He gave her a chance to kill him anytime and anywhere. He said he¡¯d return her necklace, and he also promised to stay within her sight, like she wanted it. Now, he didn¡¯t even look like a proper demon lord.


    Without the horns, no one would know that her companion was the real evil incarnate. To tell the truth, she was still reluctant, but this was the best way she could think at the moment. She got nothing to lose, so might as well she face it head on. Hopefully, she would be the one to emerge victorious at the end.


    ¡°Okay, I accept your proposition,¡± said Alexia serious. ¡°It sounds shitty like you, shitlord, but it seems to be the best chance I have.¡±


    ¡°Nice! I knew you would understand, Alex.¡± The demon lord raised his thumb, satisfied, before he added, ¡°And it would be perfect if you stopped calling me shitlord. I have a name. It¡¯s Zefrael.¡±


    ¡°If you stop calling me Alex then, shitlord,¡± answered Alexia with a sarcastic smile.


    ¡°In a way, you are really an interesting creature.¡± The demon lord¡ªZefrael murmured dejectedly while glancing at Alexia, but she only glared at him resentfully.


    ¡°Haah, fine.¡±


    Finally giving up, Zefrael walked back to his torn sofa. He put his book and the horned hairband on the sofa''s handrest. As if he was saying goodbye, he stared at them and at his messy filthy chamber for a moment, before he turned back to Alexia with a vibrant expression.


    ¡°Okay then. Let¡¯s go on an adventure, Alexia!¡±

 Chapter 3

    ¡°Archers would be the best choice, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Ha? What¡¯s with you all of a sudden?¡± Alexia couldn¡¯t help herself to ask. The demon lord was always weird and she was sure this time wasn¡¯t an exception.


    They were out of nowhere in the middle of a grassland stretching into the horizon, when he suddenly blurted nonsense.


    ¡°For your party members, Alex,¡± Zefrael said while walking through the soil path etched with various tire tracks. Dust was raising by the sound of his footsteps and blown away by the warm winds. ¡°You are a close-range type swordsman, right? Long-range members should serve you very well.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, whatever,¡± Alexia irritatingly glared at the demon lord¡¯s back she had been following for some time, ¡°Rather than that, I told you I''m a girl, not a swords-man! And don''t you think I didn''t notice that you inappropriately cut my name again. I thought you said you would stop that!¡±


    Zefrael halted his step and peered towards Alexia behind his shoulder. Looking very surprised with two eyes opened wide, he said, "Oh, right! I forgot you''re a girl!!"


    "Don''t lie to my face."


    The demon lord promptly giggled as he caught her dry glare. "You knew?"


    "You''re doing that on purpose!"


    "Still, did I ever say that I wouldn''t cut your name again?" he asked, looking somewhat amused, "I think not, Alex.¡± He deliberately cut her name again knowing that the girl would be angry. When he caught her angry glare, his mouth was promptly raised into a smile. ¡°That¡¯s what makes things interesting, no?¡±


    Provoked by the demon lord, Alexia immediately drew her longsword from the sheath hanging on her side. The blade was ringing against the sheath, before it flashed in front of the demon lord¡¯s face.


    ¡°Again?¡± Zefrael stared Alexia strangely, astonished by her actions. ¡°This is for how many times now since we departed? It¡¯s getting boring.¡±


    It hadn¡¯t been that long since her departure from the demon lord''s castle with the demon lord himself. Even now, Alexia vaguely thought that her action was stupidly thoughtless.


    She veered so far from her purpose on killing the demon lord, to having a journey with him. Her predecessor would never approve this if they knew. Still, she had made her choice, and she would walk the path she chose with resolution.


    Which means, in the end, what she should do is try to kill the demon lord in every chance she had.


    ¡°We just walked a few miles, and you already drew your sword for five, six, eight¡ªno twelve times already if I counted this,¡± continued Zefrael, ¡°You¡¯re really an aggressive type, huh? Not that I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Alexia couldn¡¯t find any arguments to get him back. It was true, they hadn¡¯t walked that far. This grassland was still in the demon lord¡¯s dominion. If she turned her head behind, she could still see Zefrael¡¯s castle with its sharp spires, right at the base of The World Tree which was soaring high in the blue sky.


    Being the evil and final boss¡¯s dominion, the area should''ve been dark and desolate, where death was creeping on every corner, but instead, the area was remarkably lush with greenery. The existence of the World Tree was the reason it could even happen.


    Ironically, because it was located at the nearest place from the World Tree, specifically at its gigantic root base, the demon lord¡ªZefrael¡¯s castle was surrounded by the beauty of the land. On the contrary, the farther it was from the Tree, the more desolate it would be.


    Wind carried the smell of calm and peace throughout the grassland, while the tune of the dense branches of the Tree played the sound of harmony. Really, if it wasn¡¯t common sense that the demon lord''s castle was located at the base of the World Tree, no one would ever believe that this was where the source of the evil resides.


    The demon lord, as annoying as he was, actually was right. Between the castle and the grassland, they really hadn¡¯t walked far. Actually,the distance was pretty near. Within that distance, Alexia had tried many surprise attacks on him, only to end up in failures.


    As she had realized it before, he was really way over her league. So much Alexia didn¡¯t want to admit, it was a blatant fact. Touching him already gave her some difficulties, let alone killing him.


    She seemed to have a very, very long way until her dream could become reality.


    Right in front of the tip of her blade, Zefrael sighed quietly, ¡°Look, I even did what you wanted before departing, so just take it easy and let me guide you on your journey.¡±


    ¡°Ha! It¡¯s not what I want! It¡¯s what you¡¯re supposed to do!!¡± Alexia instantly protested while waving her sword incoherently, ¡°Do you think I would want to go with you if you¡¯re so dirty like that!?¡±


    ¡°What a clean freak,¡± Zefrael accused with a pout.


    ¡°No way! I¡¯m normal! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s disgustingly messy!!¡±


    As she recalled what happened, Alexia was sure that she did the right thing. Compelling the demon lord to clean himself was one of them. That time, some weird and unbelievable things had happened.


    It took Zefrael some time to clean himself. Alexia had said that she wouldn¡¯t follow him to the bathroom, but to be honest, for a second there, she had thought to launch her surprise attack. There was a very big possibility that the demon lord would not have been ready to intercept if he was in the middle of cleaning himself. But no, in the end, she decided that it was too inappropriate in so many ways. Just the thought of it had already embarrassed her so much, and putting it into action was clearly impossible. She didn¡¯t need to think twice that it would turn out to be a failure.


    So, she waited.


    Alexia had no idea how it happened, but suddenly she was treated to a feast in the middle of her wait. A full course meal was served in a long table, waiting to be eaten by both her and the demon lord.


    That time, she was so surprised that she felt her body turn to stone¡ªun-literally. It was so wrong for her to accept that kind of hospitality. She hadn''t forgotten that she had heartlessly slaughtered many demonic creatures, and leaving them as bloody carcasses on the castle floor, but instead, she got a meal to fill her stomach??


    Of course, the first thing on Alexia''s mind, it''s poisoned. She didn¡¯t plan to touch any of the food that she knew was a trap, at least not on her own volition, but then the situation changed.


    Zefrael arrived after he had cleaned himself. He looked so much better in clean and tidy appearance without messy crumbs and oil splotches in his hair or his clothes. He had changed out of his exaggerated fur cloak into dark long coat with minimalistic fur accents (which obviously was more suited to wear in a journey), but the rest of his get-up stayed as it was. He then joined her to eat, without any hesitation whatsoever.


    Alexia was confused. He wouldn¡¯t eat the same food if it¡¯s poisoned, right? Yet, he actually ate them willingly, with a few additional potato chip garnishes. That time, her poison-theory had been thrashed.


    Still, the girl was unable to touch the food, afraid that her conjecture was the right one. She was only sitting at the table across him like a statue, when Zefrael said that he wouldn¡¯t leave with a hungry stomach and if she was hungry as well, she was welcomed to eat anything she wanted.


    At that time, Alexia had thought, did he not count the number of potato chips he¡¯d been eating since meeting her? How could he still be hungry!?


    Really, Zefrael was a weird demon lord who definitely had some screws loose in his head. Alexia already knew that, but it seemed his weirdness was way beyond her imagination.


    First things first, shouldn¡¯t he, like, be angry at her because she had robbed the lives of his minions? Not treating her to a feast?


    She''s the Hero and he''s the Demon Lord, for god¡¯s sake!


    In the end, she refused to eat. She wasn¡¯t that hungry to accept her hateful enemy¡¯s given food. And Zefrael let her do what she wished.


    The supposed evil demon lord''s actions told Alexia that he didn¡¯t seem to harbor any hard feeling for her because of the slaughter and the hatred she¡¯d thrown at him. That was the main reason why Alexia couldn¡¯t really comprehend him. Probably, he himself was the strangest thing in this world.


    ¡°So? What is it this time?¡± Zefrael¡¯s voice called Alexia back to present. ¡°You want to use your sword to stab me again, or you just want to brag the glittery tip of your sword to my face?¡± he sneered.


    Alexia¡¯s mind stopped for a second, trying to understand what he meant. Her longsword¡¯s blade just looked normally sharp as a sword should be. She shifted her eyes at the tip in front of Zefrael¡¯s disdainful face and she realized the yellowish bright sun was reflected on the blade''s surface.


    It was probably ''the glitter'' he had mentioned, but the girl ignored it completely and cleared her throat. Getting angry at Zefrael wouldn¡¯t get her anywhere, and stressing at the unimportant-glitter-word that he used was also an unproductive act. He already proved that he could foil each and every one of her surprise attacks, and she doubted if she would succeed with an upfront straight attack.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    So, without saying anything, she pulled down her longsword and returned it to the sheath hanging on her hips.


    ¡°Good choice,¡± Zefrael smiled nonchalantly and happily gazed into Alexia¡¯s golden brown eyes, ¡°Now, let¡¯s return to the party member topic.¡±


    ¡°Like I care,¡± Alexia said dejectedly and resumed her steps on the pathway.


    She passed Zefrael, completely ignoring his existence, but he caught up to her to walk by her side, following her speed.


    Alexia couldn¡¯t help but notice that he smelled like lavender, not too strong, but subtle enough for her to enjoy it. She was right, clean is definitely better.


    The moment she thought that, the girl suddenly remembered that he was actually the enemy she hated most. She scolded herself for enjoying even for a bit and hurriedly put a distance between them, hoping that the sweet smell of the lavender wouldn¡¯t ever go through her nostril again.


    Zefrael didn¡¯t seem to realize her actions as he continued his preaching, ¡°You should care, it¡¯s about your party members.¡±


    He strolled with relaxed and unguarded steps, showing Alexia a dozen of opportunities to strike him. To tell the truth, it ticked her off so much, but she tried to keep it to herself. She had failed many times already, deceived by the demon lord¡¯s defenseless-but-impossible-to-breach act, and she wouldn¡¯t let herself fall into the same hole again. She should find another opportunity.


    ¡°Just leave me out from this party members business,¡± the girl resentfully said, ¡°I¡¯m only here to get my necklace back while grabbing the chance to kill you, shitlord.¡±


    Zefrael giggled when he heard the shitlord phrase again. ¡°You¡¯re so interesting, but listen¡ª¡± With a serious look, he glanced at the frowning girl, ¡°this party member business would benefit you too, you know.¡±


    ¡°Except the extra chance to kill you?¡±


    ¡°That was the extra, this is the main point,¡± continued Zefrael, ¡°I said it before, right? I¡¯m far stronger than you are. Alone, you will have no chance, but with party members, who knows? Maybe you could really kick my butt flying from this world,¡± he added jokingly.


    He sounded pretty reasonable, but Alexia didn¡¯t want to admit it head on. Instead, she twisted her words, ¡°You sound like I¡¯m the only one who would get all the merit from this messed up journey.¡±


    ¡°You are.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Alexia faked amazement. She took an accusing glance towards the demon lord who was walking beside her, ¡°I remember you said that you were only helping me to help yourself. What¡¯s your true motive, shitty demon lord!?¡±


    ¡°Zefrael,¡± The demon lord warned, ¡°It¡¯s all fine when no one''s here, but eventually, you¡¯ll only bring doom to yourself if you keep saying that. What¡¯s the use of leaving my horns and hiding my identity if you keep spouting it like that?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± The truth which rang so true within Zefrael¡¯s words immediately annoyed Alexia, but she refused to let him win over her for this. ¡°Stop complaining on small details! YOUR MOTIVE!!¡± she exclaimed.


    Zefrael glanced at Alexia in silence for a second, before he shrugged in resignation. ¡°Well, fine, if you insist. I have a few,¡± he explained, ¡°First, I¡¯m kinda bored of waiting for the hero again. Second, you¡¯re very interesting. It will be my loss if the new dispatched hero wouldn¡¯t be as interesting as you. And lastly, I want to try it at least once.¡±


    ¡°It, what?¡±


    Suddenly, Zefrael looked so happy. It seemed like he had been waiting for that question for a long time. ¡°What else?¡± He smiled as bright as the sun, ignoring completely the fact that he was supposed to be a dark demon lord, ¡°An adventure, of course.¡±


    ¡°Ha?¡±


    Alexia instantly stopped walking, too astounded even to say anything. Zefrael had walked past her, but he suddenly stopped in surprise and turned back her way.


    ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m getting deaf,¡± muttered Alexia with doubt. Her feet seemed to be stuck on the pathway, refusing to move even an inch. ¡°What did you say you want to try?¡±


    ¡°Adventure,¡± repeated Zefrael innocently. He gazed back into Alexia¡¯s doubtful golden eyes with confidence. ¡°I only heard about them, you know. It was a journey to bring the world peace, a journey where you can find your own self and build a bond of trust among your companions. See? Sounds interesting, right?¡±


    Alexia was speechless. Was she really talking to the demon lord? Not somekind of hero-wannabe?


    ¡°It sounds boring to me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because you don¡¯t know what the real boring meant,¡± Zefrael said while his fingers played with the longer strands of his hair. ¡°You see, my role as the demon lord obliged me to stay at the castle, waiting for the hero and his party members to arrive, before I should fight them to the death,¡± he explained carefully. ¡°I''m really fine about the fight to the death thing. In the end, death is inevitable."


    Right after he said it, he suddenly became quiet and raised his head to gaze at the gigantic World Tree above his castle. As she felt something nagging in her brain, Alexia almost opened her mouth, but Zefrael''s words had her first.


    ¡°The problem is the wait. That¡¯s the hardest part,¡± he continued his explanation dazedly while looking far away into the Tree. ¡°Since my awakening, I waited hundred years for the Chosen Hero''s arrival. It¡¯s so boring I could die.¡±


    Alexia couldn¡¯t find any words to say. For once, this shitty and weird demon lord she hated looked really sad. Honestly, she had no idea what to say to his sudden confession.


    As he shifted his gaze back to the girl, Zefrael smiled resignedly. ¡°That is, until you showed up, Alex.¡±


    ¡°Um..¡± Alexia fidgeted in her place. This was unexpected. Seeing how Zefrael looked genuinely sad, he seemed to have his own problem. She never thought she would see this side of the demon lord she always hated for her entire life. She even forgot to be angry when he cut her name again arbitrarily.


    Alexia had no idea how to break the silence that was creeping between them, but suddenly, Zefrael laughed so hard while bending his body over. Surprised, she instantly opened her eyes wide, unable to believe her own sight.


    He jokingly glanced at the shocked girl and doubled up his loud laughter. ¡°You really believed that! What a blunder!!¡± he said, grinning happily.


    ¡°W-wha!?¡±


    Shock left Alexia with a surprised but furious mind. She glared him and irritatingly stomped her feet to the ground. Dust was raised to her nostril, bringing the whiff of a stuffy scent of sand, but she didn¡¯t care even one bit and kept pointing her finger furiously to the demon lord.


    ¡°You lied to me!! How dare you!!!¡±


    ¡°Did I now? It could be the truth, you know?¡± he tried to defend himself, but the sound of laughter which was tingling within his words, ultimately turned everything meaningless.


    ¡°Only bullshit can be told with that shitty grin of yours, shitlord!!¡±


    Unable to contain his amusement any longer, Zefrael laughed again, shaking his body while holding his stomach.


    Alexia¡¯s face felt very hot. She was so embarrassed with the fact that she fell for the demon lord''s lies so easily. That embarrassment soon brought rage out from all over her body. She couldn¡¯t forgive herself, but she couldn¡¯t forgive Zefrael more.


    ¡°Ain¡¯t I right, Alex?¡± He wiped a trickle of tear from the corner of his violet purple eyes, ending his laugh in a wide and big smile, ¡°Other heroes wouldn¡¯t be this interesting¡­¡±


    ¡°Grrr!! SHUT UP YOU ASSHOLE!!¡±


    Her shout reverberated through the air, and the grassland returned her fury with a breeze of cool winds. Involuntarily, it calmed her temper a little.


    She took a few halted breaths, looking irritatingly at the shitty demon lord who gazed up to the blue sky without any concern to her outburst.


    ¡°Still, it wasn¡¯t really a complete lie,¡± Zefrael suddenly muttered with a serious tone, and distracted Alexia¡¯s irritation.


    ¡°What?¡± She asked cautiously, ready to brush off another trap he would set for her.


    Zefrael darted his violet eyes away from the sky, back to Alexia. ¡°Now, care to guess?¡± He teased while smiling contently, ¡°How much of it was a lie, and how much of it was the truth?¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Whatever, I won¡¯t be playing your shitty games!¡±


    Deciding that the shitlord didn¡¯t deserve any more of her attention, she stomped her feet in irritation and resumed her walk on the pathway. She didn¡¯t even bother to care if he was following her or not. She had hoped that he wouldn¡¯t, but reality isn¡¯t really that simple.


    When Alexia heard a set of steps behind her, she realized that her ordeal wasn¡¯t going to end very soon. So, she¡¯d better be ready anytime. She knew she would become very happy beyond delight when she would finally kill the demon lord who kept getting on her nerves. One day, for sure.


    Nevertheless, something did nag her brain. It would be much easier if she presumed all of Zefrael¡¯s words were a total lie to trick her, but no.


    The sadness she saw felt too true that she couldn''t quickly rule it out as a lie. Plus, he sounded like he had been forced into the demon lord¡¯s role. Of course, it was too ambiguous to be stated with certainty, but no one was forcing him, right?


    As stated by the common belief, the demon lord was here by his own will to grasp the power of the World Tree as his own.


    That¡¯s why, it nagged her.


    Alexia knew her history enough to regard Zefrael''s words as incoherently incomprehensible.


    The world history and legends stated that a long, long time ago, The World Tree sprouted all of the lands and seas. The blessing was infinite and reached to every part of the world, including the people. The world was at peace, until one day, an evil individual arrived from the realm of the darkness. Wanting the Tree power, he sought them as his own, and he prevailed.


    The existence of that individual¡ªwho was eventually called as the Demon Lord¡ªultimately brought out calamities to the world. Land was separated with big crevices, seas became too rough and dangerous, while demonic creatures started appearing out of nowhere and threatening the lives of the people.


    Those calamities were called ''The Split'', as in the splitting land.


    In that time of darkness, a band of heroes arised. With various powers entrusted to them by the World Tree, they set to vanquish the Demon Lord. It was a fight of honor and blood.


    Finally, the heroes succeeded. With the sacrifice of their lives, they sealed the over powerful demon lord, and restored the power of the Tree.


    But, there was an ominous prophecy.


    One day, the seal would be broken, and the demon lord would be free to reign over the world again.


    Hoping to stop him like the predecessor heroes, the King of the lands created the Hero School to train the next generation of heroes. The School educated a person to become a Hero, while getting ready for the awakening of the demon lord.


    It was said that hundreds, even thousands of years passed in peace. No calamities in sight and no darkness creeping on the world. Many graduates from the Hero School ended up as normal people without any chance to face the evil demon lord.


    Until just recently, the evil demon lord¡¯s fang of darkness struck the peaceful world once again. ''The Split'' was resurging, along with the wake of the demonic creatures.


    As the people from this age, Alexia strived to become the hero to vanquish the demon lord. She finished her training at the prestigious Hero School, and finally got the qualification she needed.


    She was ready to finish the demon lord for good, not sealing him like how the predecessor heroes did. The seal had proven to be a failure, so death was definitely the best option.


    But, she was trapped in this weird situation where she had to have a journey with the demon lord himself, who wasn''t exactly like his image in the legends. It was really a f**ked-up story.


    Finally deciding that she was only wasting her time to understand the shitlord, Alexia tried to forget his bullshit and wiped his sad expression clean from her mind. After all, his actions afterward had told her that it was probably just an act to make fun of her.


    First of all, the moment Zefrael looked really sad was at the point he had said that he was bored so much while waiting for hundreds of years for the Hero''s arrival. The start of the first calamity which indicated the seal had been broken was only in a few decades ago, wasn¡¯t it impossible that he waited hundreds of years for that?


    No other explanations, he¡¯s definitely lying!


    ¡°There!¡± Zefrael suddenly said cheerfully from Alexia¡¯s side. He waved his hand exaggeratingly, as his face gleamed with excitement beyond words, ¡°Behold the first quest of this journey.¡±


    In front of them, an old bell tower emerged beyond the horizon. It promptly notified Alexia about the existence of a town in the vast grassland.


    ¡°I really hope it¡¯s going to be an archer,¡± Zefrael added, and glanced at the girl with a grin on his face.


    Alexia only sighed and rolled her eyes. Archers or whatever, she only hoped it would be over soon.

 Chapter 4

    For the hundredth time already, Alexia hoped she¡¯d better be deaf rather than hearing Zefrael¡¯s nonsense. But she had no other choice, as her hearing was still as perfect as ever.


    ¡°What the hell are you saying now?¡± She asked suspiciously.


    ¡°I told you, I think it would be him,¡± the demon lord whispered quietly while taking a glance at the young man who walked a few steps in front of them.


    ¡°Huh? The town mayor¡¯s son??¡± Alexia confusedly raised her eyebrows at Zefrael who grinned with excitement by her side. ¡°What are you implying, shitlord?¡± She added in a whisper¡ªso that no one would hear her mentioning the shitlord phrase¡ªbefore she shifted her confused gaze towards the mayor¡¯s son.


    He was a young man in his twenties with spiky dark purple hair and blazing green eyes. The left side of his head was shaved with lightning motif and he was wearing a tight leather suit which pressed on his lean body. A crossbow, dangling on his back, indicated his role as an archer.


    Alexia already heard his name back there. It¡¯s Merion.


    ¡°See? Do you realize the flag yet?¡±


    Zefrael whispered again to her ears and Alexia immediately jolted in surprise. His breath which brushed her earlobe had startled her beyond any words and knocked an incoherent beat to her heart.


    She hurriedly stayed away from the shitty demon lord, covering her ears and staring at him dejectedly. ¡°The hell are you doing!?¡± she screamed in low voice, unconsciously followed his whispering.


    ¡°Shh! We wouldn¡¯t want him to hear this,¡± warned Zefrael.


    Alexia promptly stared at him with a dry look. ¡°I¡¯m lost. Are we talking about a secret here?¡±


    ¡°Well, not really¡­¡± Zefrael seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, before he turned back to the girl, ¡°but I think, he better not hear this.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡± Alexia didn¡¯t know what to say anymore. Whether she liked it or not, this weird and incomprehensible demon lord was her companion, even so, she realized that it was impossible for her to stay on the same wavelength with him. Now, and probably, forever.


    In any case, the town with a bell tower in the horizon was a small but lively town. At her first journey to reach Zefrael¡¯s castle, she didn¡¯t even stop in this town even for a second, nor had she planned to. For her, it was only a distraction for her mission to kill the demon lord. That¡¯s why she¡¯d gone straight to the demon lord''s castle from the capital.


    Not even in her dreams, she thought that this kind of development where she would go to town and town to offer her help would ever happen in her life.


    Too coincidental with Zefrael¡¯s opinion that a hero should willingly help people in need, that small but lively town was in dire need of help from a hero.


    Considering that she was the Chosen Hero, ''offering help'' was supposed to be her duty, but it was too bothersome for Alexia. To be honest, she rather skipped the hassle and resumed the journey around the world, but then, it would cross the purpose of this second journey offered by the shitty demon lord.


    It was, after all, a journey for finding party members.


    It sounded stupid, but she realized that Zefrael''s theory was right. If she had party members, the chance for her to kill him would increase. So, she finally braced herself to accept this ridiculously shitty plan of his, one step at a time.


    This time, in the town with a bell tower, the quest was slaying a dreadful dragon.


    One day, an evil dragon suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It had destroyed the town marketplace into rubble, and causing a few casualties within the townsfolk.


    With great effort, the people had succeeded to drive out the dragon to the mountainous cavern not far from the town, but it was only a temporary solution. Fearing that one day, the evil dragon would attack the town and the townspeople again, the mayor of this small town was requesting Alexia to save their home and slay the dragon for good.


    During the conversation, Zefrael was her spokesperson. Alexia wasn¡¯t exactly good in talking with people she didn¡¯t know, thus, she left the talking part to the demon lord. Or it was supposed to be.


    Zefrael had grumbled his protest at the dragon slaying quest. He had said some nonsense about dragon being a near-ending quest that Alexia shouldn¡¯t tackle in the first stage.


    How stupid. She was the hero and she didn''t need a demon lord to tell her which one she should do and which one she shouldn¡¯t. She gathered her courage, and successfully accepted the mayor¡¯s request¡ªeven if her voice had trembled for a second there. Fortunately, Zefrael yielded without further protest¡ªmaybe commending her for raising her voice by her own volition, or maybe he realized that the final verdict ultimately rested on her shoulders.


    Then, the mayor sent his son to help Alexia reach the cavern where the dragon was supposed to be. So, now here she was, trudging through mountainous hillside to reach the cavern with Zefrael on her side, and the mayor¡¯s son, Merion a few steps in front of them.


    The sounds of chirping birds and cicadas surrounded the forested pathway, singing the tune of a calm melody. The high soaring trees rustled in the warm wind, and their leaves filtered the sunlight into thin patches of calmly swaying shadows on the ground. The scenery was very normal¡ªtoo normal and too peaceful¡ªwhich left Alexia doubting if there really was a dreadful dragon lurking around.


    She tried to stay vigilant, ready for any ambush from the said dragon, but what Zefrael had said a minute ago actually tickled her curiousness. ¡°Flag?¡± she repeated what the demon lord said to her, puzzled.


    ¡°Yes, the flag. It¡¯s so obvious even I could see it,¡± he whispered again with a grin on his face.


    Still feeling lost, Alexia swept her surrounding, and tried to look for the ¡®flag¡¯ that Zefrael was talking about. But, aside from the dense forest with various sized stone cliffs, she didn¡¯t find anything flag-like.


    ¡°Where are you looking?¡± Zefrael pulled Alexia''s wrist, snatched her gaze away from the forest scenery, and gestured towards Merion, ¡°It¡¯s him.¡±


    Alexia roughly warded off Zefrael¡¯s hand from her wrist, and angrily glared at him. She almost opened her mouth to curse the demon lord for touching her, but then, she realized the sign he had been showing.


    The girl darted her eyes to Merion¡¯s back as gestured by Zefrael. ¡°What¡¯s with him?¡± she asked with sullen look. She never expected the day she talked about someone behind his back, literally, would ever come, moreover with the demon lord.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see his vibrant colors and gaudy appearance?¡± Zefrael incredulously peered into Alexia, as if he didn¡¯t understand why she didn¡¯t understand, ¡°He just can¡¯t be the Townspeople A or B, mind you! He even got a name!¡±


    Uh¡­what?¡± Alexia only stared at Zefrael with an astonished look. He looked so proud with himself, that it urged her to doubt her own self. How is it even possible that someone doesn¡¯t have a name in the first place??A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Really, sometimes Alexia thought to herself, between her and the demon lord, who actually didn¡¯t have a common sense?


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet he will become one of your party members, Alex!¡± Zefrael happily added, ¡°I told you it would be an archer!¡±


    ¡°Ugh, just stop cutting my name, you sh¡ª!!¡±


    Merion suddenly wheeled back, realizing Alexia that she had just lost her control in her voice, and probably had screamed too loud for him to hear. She promptly closed her mouth, and nervously acted like nothing happened.


    But, Merion wasn¡¯t deceived by her act. He was alternating between Alexia and Zefrael, and wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion. ¡°Is there anything wrong? Miss Hero, I heard your scream¡­is the dragon..?¡±


    ¡°Eh? No, no! No dragon¡ªI mean¡ª¡± Alexia hurriedly amended and plastered a nervous smile to her face. Her anxiety problem struck again the moment she felt Merion¡¯s eyes on her. She darted her eyes below, watching the sparse grass below her feet, while trying to find appropriate words in panic.


    Fortunately, Zefrael helped her. ¡°Nothing happened, Merion!¡± he reassured the archer in exchange of the girl and instantly changed the topic, ¡°More importantly, are we there yet?¡±


    The mayor¡¯s son glanced at them with a shade of doubt in his green eyes, but soon, he shifted his gaze away and wheeled back to the front. ¡°It¡¯s not far anymore, the cavern is just beyond that cliff,¡± he explained earnestly and resumed his walk.


    Unconsciously, Alexia breathed a relieved sigh. Facing a stranger head on is always hard, and she was kind of grateful to the demon lord for helping her out from the nervous situation.


    Actually, she didn''t get what the secret between her and Zefrael¡¯s conversation, but the situation and the demon lord¡¯s whispering had dragged her to it.


    She moved her sight to the cliff Merion was talking about, accidentally caught the evil-but-happy grin Zefrael had been showing at the corner of her eyes.


    It crossed her. She was grateful, but not anymore!


    She was so itchy to draw her longsword and slam the blade to his victorious grin he¡¯d been showing her, but she held herself. The situation right now had prevented her rage from bursting out. Apart from her knowledge that she wouldn¡¯t succeed, she didn¡¯t want Merion to be more suspicious about the connection between her and Zefrael.


    Since they arrived in the town, she acted like the demon lord is one of her party members, and he did as well. Beating him now would make everything gone to waste.


    Realizing that there¡¯s only one option, she pretended that she didn¡¯t see the demon lord¡¯s grin and focused her attention at the cliff Merion had been leading into.


    In the distance, rough and large stones covered with moss were protruding from the wall on both sides, narrowing the pathway into a small crevice. The opening was cramped enough only for one person to pass, and they needed to walk through one by one. Merion had gone first, before Alexia followed, with Zefrael walking not far behind her.


    ¡°There it is,¡± Merion said immediately when they passed the opening.


    Beyond the crevice, the trees were getting sparse. In exchange, a single stone cliff in the size of a mountain was extending high to the sky, approximately 50 feet from the ground. Having a hard time to see the summit, even if she raised her head, Alexia gave up and focused her attention on the more distinct part of the cliff, a giant sized dark hole in the middle of it.


    The cavern.


    ¡°Well now, I think my job is done,¡± said the archer while looking at Alexia and Zefrael, ¡°I¡¯ll pray for your victory. Then....¡± He bowed courteously, and walked back to the crevice.


    ¡°Wait a sec!!¡± Zefrael exclaimed and stopped Merion right before he passed the crevice. He widened his eyes and stared at the mayor¡¯s son with a dumbfounded look. ¡°You¡¯re not going to help??¡±


    Merion tilted his head in confusion. ¡°I did, didn¡¯t I? You guys wouldn¡¯t reach this place without my help.¡±


    ¡°But I thought you were going to help her with the dragon as well,¡± murmured the demon lord. For once, his vibrant expression was clouded with disappointment.


    ¡°Er...sorry??¡± Merion said, surprised, ¡°That¡¯s kind of abrupt. I don''t have any battle experience. Surely you aren¡¯t hoping I could fight the dragon?¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Zefrael exclaimed in horror, ¡°An obvious party member candidate with townspeople trait! This can¡¯t be happening!¡±


    Merion blinked his eyes incredulously without saying a word¡ªeven a syllable¡ªto Zefrael¡¯s sudden exclamation. He was only standing there, beside the crevice, not sure on what he was supposed to do.


    Alexia felt pity for him. The demon lord was spouting nonsense again, and there was no one else to help beside her. She realized that she still wasn¡¯t comfortable talking to Merion by herself, but she couldn¡¯t let the shitlord keep pestering him with his twisted common sense.


    She swallowed her nervousness and forced herself to be brave, even for only a minute or two. ¡°Please, just ignore him,¡± she said to Merion, pushing her voice to sound louder than just a mumble, while her brain tried to weave the right words. ¡°We are¡ªum, grateful for your guide, and we¡¯ll take it from here¡­err, you can go back and¡­be careful¡­¡±


    Being anxious, Alexia felt her voice trail off into a whisper and she lost the courage to repeat them. Fortunate for her, Merion caught on her point loud and clear.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll do that,¡± Merion immediately replied with a smile, ¡°Thank you, Miss Hero, and good luck with the dragon.¡±


    After that, he bowed again and turned back to dive into the small crevice. Zefrael was pouting on the side, but he wasn¡¯t saying anything to stop Merion¡¯s leave.


    When the mayor''s son was out of her sight, Alexia couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. Her nervous breath slowly returned to normal, and anxiety was finally wiped away from inside her.


    ¡°How incomprehensible¡­¡±


    Beside her, Zefrael mumbled with a baffled look. His purple eyes drilled into the crevice Merion had disappeared, as if he¡¯d seen an impossible happening in front of his eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who''s incomprehensible. Don¡¯t pass that to another person,¡± Alexia commented with a sigh.


    ¡°Why? I¡¯m just stating the obvious truth.¡±


    ¡°Your truth is twisted,¡± Alexia answered curtly. Having no interest to drag the topic longer than it should be, she coldly stared at the demon lord, ¡°Just leave it at that.¡±


    Zefrael exhaled his breath with a resigned look on his face. ¡°What a bummer¡­I thought he¡¯s really the one¡­¡±


    ¡°He isn¡¯t. Just accept that you lose your bet!¡±


    ¡°No battle experience,¡± Zefrael muttered again, ¡°Do you think his crossbow is only for decoration, Alex?¡±


    ¡°Like I care! Just stop cutting my name!¡±


    Zefrael threw a short blank stare at her, before he sighed again in disappointment.


    To be honest, Alexia was kind of happy with this development. True, she wouldn¡¯t get any help from Merion for the dragon slaying thing, but it paid off already if she could see Zefrael losing. Serves him right!


    Alexia didn''t feel like she needed the archer¡¯s help. Slaying dragons was new for her, but there¡¯s always a first for everything.


    ¡°Oh well.¡± Finally the demon lord shrugged and turned his eyes back to the girl, ¡°Should we leave too, then?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me??¡±


    Alexia blinked her eyes, too surprised with Zefrael¡¯s sudden words, but he just stared at her as if everything was already obvious.


    ¡°I thought this quest would present Merion as an archer in your party member, but it doesn¡¯t seem so,¡± he said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean we don¡¯t need to waste our time here any longer? The journey is for finding party members, right?¡±


    ¡°Haaa? You¡¯re insane, shitlord!¡± exclaimed Alexia. She glared at the demon lord with spite and opened her mouth again, ¡°What do you say about the dragon, then!?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t grant you party members, I suppose,¡±


    His answer only made Alexia rage out even more. ¡°Ugh! Is your brain stuck in that shitty word of party member!?¡± she shouted loudly, hoping this common sense of hers could pierce his twisted way of thinking. ¡°This has more pressing matters!!¡±


    ¡°What matters?¡± he asked innocently.


    ¡°THE! DRAGON!!¡± Alexia screamed her lungs out in irritation, ¡°Are you suggesting to leave it as it is now, leaving the dragon to attack the townspeople!? You son of a b*tch!!¡±


    Unconsciously, she cursed again. She thought at first that the demon lord would reproach her again, but he just stood there quietly, thinking.


    ¡°¡­don¡¯t think he would¡­¡± Zefrael murmured quietly while turning his face towards the gigantic hole in the cliff.


    Alexia tried to hear his words more clearly but she was having some difficulties. Her eardrums were still ringing because her loud scream of fury just now, and she failed to understand the demon lord¡¯s point.


    Zefrael darted his eyes away from the cavern¡¯s entrance, and glanced at the girl with concern, ¡°It¡¯s going to be hard, are you sure you want to tackle the dragon?¡±


    ¡°For the safety of the townspeople!¡± Alexia said defensively.


    ¡°Huh, so you do care¡­¡±


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I!? I¡¯m not you, shitlord!¡± Alexia promptly protested. As usual, she couldn¡¯t understand this shit of a demon lord. Who in the world would not care if people''s lives were in danger? He is, obviously!


    ¡°I thought you¡¯re a hero who has none of a real hero traits, you know,¡± Zefrael mumbled while rubbing his tusked pendant in his neck¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t slanted anymore after he cleaned himself¡ªbefore he threw a grin to the girl, ¡°but if you care about the wellbeing of the townspeople, honestly, that make you sounds like a real hero.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the real hero!!¡±


    ¡°No one said you¡¯re not, Alex,¡± he replied with a teasing smile.


    Zefrael kept getting on her nerves, and she had enough already!


    ¡°GRR!!! YOU¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a deep roar was reverberating through the air. Alexia''s words stopped in an instant. She lost all the will to be angry to the demon lord, and it had flipped all over into vigilance.


    In her anger, she probably had awakened something up from inside the cavern. How careless of her.


    Alexia darted her golden eyes to the entrance and warily weaved her words into a whisper, ¡°It¡¯s the dragon¡­¡±


    Zefrael nodded and followed her gaze towards the dark hole in the middle of the cliff. ¡°Yes, it is the dragon,¡± he quietly assented.

 Chapter 5

    Alexia hoped her ears would stop ringing. It distracted her so much, but she had no fastest way to make them stop immediately.


    The dragon kept roaring at high note, shaking the cavern walls where it resided. The sound was literally numbing her eardrums.


    This is bad.


    As she nervously grasped her longsword''s hilt, she warded off the stone rubbles which had broken from the stalactite because of the quake, and focused her concentration once again to her enemy¡ªthe dragon.


    It was a blue-scaled four-legged dragon as big as a 30 feet house, with a pair of enormous clawed wings on its back. With forelegs clawed deeply into the cavern floor, it opened its mouth wide, and roared again at Alexia.


    She grimaced, trying to withstand the roar which was slamming her eardrums. Dodging the harsh wind from the dragon throat, she hurriedly dashed sideways towards the dragon¡¯s hind legs.


    She¡¯d almost arrived when a sudden strong wind blew unto her. As Alexia frantically kept her balance, she realized that the dragon was flapping its wings furiously right towards her. The cavern stalactites fell in a streak, and she immediately dodged to save her precious life.


    Right after the rain of stalactite was over, the girl jumped away to catch her breath. She glared the dragon with all her might, but unfortunately, her threat wasn¡¯t delivered properly. The blue scaled dragon roared back fervently, as if it was angry at her.


    ¡°Buhahahahahaha!!¡±


    Alexia instantly jumped in surprise when a loud laugh resounded behind her. She glanced to her behind, in the corner of the dimly lit cavern, and there he was, laughing his damn ass off.


    ¡°This is so funny!!¡± Zefrael exclaimed cheerfully without containing his laugh.


    Looking very annoying in Alexia''s eyes, the demon lord was sitting comfortably at the corner of the cave with a leather hard-cover book in one hand, and a bag of potato chips in the other. He even had a cushion pillow to prop his back from the rough cavern wall, while a ball of light was floating around his head, conveniently illuminating the book in his hand as his eyes drilled into the pages.


    He wasn¡¯t paying any attention at Alexia who was fighting, at the shaking cavern, even at the dragon. He only read his book and munching his chips like a glutton, occasionally giggled to himself, and sometimes, laughing so hard like he did just now.


    Alexia was enraged by his carefree behavior. It had irritated her how Zefrael wouldn¡¯t help her with the dragon and rather chose to read his damn book, but it irritated her even more when he suddenly giggled¡ªand laughed¡ªin the middle of her difficult battle. The hell he¡¯s even reading!? A book of jokes or something??


    Sadly, Alexia''s fight hadn''t progressed much since it began. The dragon kept fending her attack, and frequently chased her away to the distance where her sword couldn¡¯t reach. She hadn''t suffered any wounds, but in the same time, she also hadn''t yet to be successful in scoring a hit to the dragon.


    Then all of the sudden, the dragon roared in anger. The reverberating roar immediately shook the inside of the cavern, and slapped Alexia awake from her annoyed feeling. She scolded herself for being distracted and once again, repositioned her longsword to face the dragon.


    She didn¡¯t need Merion¡¯s help, and she also didn¡¯t need the demon lord¡¯s help for slaying the dragon. It was already an established fact within her mind. The girl wouldn''t even begin to hope that the shitlord would help her, but his action¡ªplus his annoying laughs¡ªirked her so much that she wished a stalactite would accidentally fell on his head. Or maybe, the dragon''s attack could stray at him or something.


    Exactly when she thought that, the dragon swung its foreleg furiously and kicked the stalactite rubble. Alexia hurriedly braced herself to dodge, only to realize that the stalactite wasn¡¯t flying towards her.


    The stalactite flew through the cavern, and ran straight to the cave corner where Zefrael was enjoying himself to the fullest.


    Alexia couldn''t help to blink in surprise with mouth agape. She couldn¡¯t believe her secret wish was granted, by her enemy dragon nonetheless.


    With a swoosh sound and a gust of wind, the stalactite¡¯s tapered edge pierced Zefrael¡¯s ball of light, and struck the wall near him with a loud cracking sound. The light instantly dimmed, and shrouded the cavern with darkness. Amidst off everything, the blue scale of the dragon was glowing menacingly.


    As sudden as it gone, the ball of light appeared again, floating around Zefrael, and illuminated the cavern for a second time.


    ¡°That was foul play, you know,¡± the demon lord dejectedly said while looking up to the dragon. He raised himself to stand, while hugging a closed hard cover book in front of his body. The remnant of his potato chips, the bag and the crumbs was spreading in disarray below his feet near his cushion pillow.


    The blue dragon loudly roared again, and Alexia struggled to cover her ears from the reverberating sound which was striking into her eardrums.


    ¡°Oh come on, it¡¯s funny!¡± said Zefrael.


    The demon lord said the words in a self-defense tone. From the sound of it, he seemed like he was pouting, but honestly, Alexia was confused by it.


    ¡°What¡¯s funny, shitlord?¡± she asked, while keeping her main focus on the dangerous dragon, ¡°Your stupid book? Or the fact that a stalactite almost stab you?¡± she added with mockery.


    But, Zefrael only answered her mockery with a happy grin, ¡°Everything, maybe?¡±


    ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    The roaring of the dragon ultimately stopped her protest. The girl promptly shifted her focus to her enemy, ready to swing her longsword anytime. But, the dragon wasn¡¯t showing any sign to attack.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    It only focused its big and round silver eyes¡ªwith a draconic vertical-slit pupil¡ªto the demon lord, while doing nothing except roaring to his every sentence.


    ¡°Why?¡± The demon lord stared the dragon again, looking very disappointed. He played his fingers on his slanted short bangs with sullen face. ¡°If that happens it wouldn¡¯t be interesting anymore¡­¡±


    ¡°What the hell you¡¯re saying, shitlord? You don¡¯t even make any sense!¡± Alexia protested again, refused to be confused any further by the weird situation.


    ¡°Sec, Alex, I¡¯m not talking to you.¡±


    ¡°Ha?¡± Alexia stared Zefrael with an incredulous look. He said that he wasn¡¯t talking to her, but obviously, there was no one else here except her and him. She already knew that the demon lord was insane, but talking to himself? That¡¯s a new level of insanity.


    The dragon roared again, and for the umpteenth time, the demon lord voiced out, this time, with resignation.


    ¡°Okay, okay, fine!!¡± he said curtly.


    The thing that happened before her eyes was really bizzare. Zefrael was talking, but he said it was not to her, and the dragon kept roaring, but not attacking her. It felt like¡ªlike the shitlord was actually talking to the dragon instead of her. Wait¡ªis that even possible!?


    As he shifted his eyes away from the dragon, Zefrael moved to stare the girl, before he opened his mouth, ¡°He needs your help, Alex.¡±


    ¡°What? Now you¡¯re talking to me¡ª¡±


    Alexia instantly swallowed her sentence, feeling crossed. Confused with the situation regarding the dragon, she had reacted reflexively to the annoyingly short nickname he used. The girl was about to protest, but sadly, she lost that chance as Zefrael walked towards her way.


    ¡°I am talking to you, Alex," he nonchalantly said, "and I told you he needs your help. Uphold your hero¡¯s duty and do him some justice.¡±


    Feeling confused again, Alexia asked, ¡°Who¡¯s he?¡±


    Zefrael only shrugged his shoulder, giving her no answer, but the dragon roared instead. The loud sound promptly shifted her confused gaze from the demon lord, to the dragon.


    The dragon''s silver eyes drilled into her, looking somewhat helpless. it didn''t take long for those pair of draconic eyes to move towards Zefrael as it let out a roaring whimper.


    Yes, a whimper, from a dragon. Alexia almost doubted her ears, but it was the truth.


    ¡°I won¡¯t, Alex will do it instead of me,¡± The demon lord said it with a pout.


    Alexia was so lost. She really had no idea what the demon lord was talking about. She only stared him incredulously in silence, before he finally turned to her.


    Letting out a long and weary sigh, Zefrael opened his mouth, ¡°Actually¡­¡± he started, ¡°This dragon is kinda an acquaintance of mine.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡±


    ¡°Well, he can¡¯t talk our language in dragon form, but I can guess the meaning his roaring, more or less.¡±


    The dragon roared again, as to protest Zefrael¡¯s word.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I got it!¡± Zefrael answered the roar with a grumble, before he turned his eyes back to Alexia, ¡°Revision, I understand him completely.¡±


    Alexia didn¡¯t know what to say to the demon lord¡¯s sudden confession, so she only nodded at him uninterestedly.


    ¡°And, he, I mean the dragon, wasn¡¯t actually threatening the town and the townspeople lives,¡± Zefrael continued to explain, ¡°Instead, he lived there, among the people.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Zefrael¡¯s explanation was very nonsensical that Alexia couldn¡¯t help to ask. The demon lord was always spouting nonsense, but for some reason, this time, his nonsense didn¡¯t sound like a complete bullshit.


    ¡°He lived there as¡­¡± Zefrael suddenly stopped and darted his purple eyes to the dragon, ¡°What did you said you did back there?¡± he asked.


    The dragon let out a short growl.


    ¡°Ah, right, I remember you always come to¡ª¡± Zefrael muttered to himself, before he returned to Alexia with a straight face. ¡°Leaving that aside, he¡¯s the item shop merchant at that town. His shop is located in the marketplace.¡±


    Item shop? Alexia remembered that it was the part of the town marketplace which turned into unrecognizable rubble. The townspeople said the item shop merchant was missing, probably eaten by the dangerous dragon. But, if the demon lord said is all true¡­


    ¡°He had a human form, once,¡± continued Zefrael, ¡°Because the potion effect is ran out, he accidentally reverted back to dragon form in the middle of town, destroying his house into rubble. Few people get hurt, and ultimately, he chased out from the town. How stupid¡­¡±


    The dragon roared furiously, and shook the cavern. Alexia covered her ears in reflex. It seemed the demon lord¡¯s words ticked it¡ªhim out.


    But, the demon lord wasn¡¯t fazed even a little. He resumed his explanation, as if he didn¡¯t hear the loud roar which staggered his foothold. ¡°To conclude, he needs a same kind of potion to change back to human form.¡±


    ¡°A potion?¡± asked the girl with doubt.


    ¡°Yes, a very special potion mixture he created himself. That¡¯s where you come, Alex.¡± Ending his explanation with a grin, Zefrael added, ¡°Surely as the real hero, you would extend your help to everyone in need, right? Him, included.¡±


    The dragon whimpered again, as if he really wished for someone to help him. His vertical slit eyes were staring Alexia with a hopeful look, showing none of his menace from before.


    She started empathizing with the dragon. ¡°If I could¡­¡± she started, planning to offer her help, but suddenly, she realized another probability.


    ¡°Wait a second!!¡± exclaimed the girl.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    Zefrael peered into her with questioned look, but Alexia didn¡¯t pay him any attention. Her mind was already busy playing all the bad scenario that could happened to her.


    The dragon could only roar incoherently without any meaning, and the demon lord could possibly use that to his own benefit¡ªif no one but him could understand the very dragon.


    For all that she knew, the shitty demon lord never seriously talked to her, so this could be one of his way to trick her again. Whatever said, Alexia refused to yield to him.


    ¡°Is this another game of yours, shitlord?¡± she warily asked while glaring the demon lord.


    ¡°Huh? Game?¡±


    ¡°You could be lying to me about the potion! What if the effect isn¡¯t same with the one you told me? What if the potion would make this dragon stronger, enough to obliterate an entire town?¡± Alexia burst out all of her doubts in a streak, ¡°That would be an inexcusable act as the hero!!¡±


    Contrast with her rage, Zefrael widened his eyes in astonishment. He quietly stared at the girl, like he was assessing her. ¡°You have a really wild imagination, eh, Alex?¡±


    ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t cut my name!!¡± She pointed her longsword angrily at the demon lord, ¡°What imagination!? It could be true!! You said yourself that this dragon is your acquaintance! A demon lord helping his evil friend is more fitting than your shitty explanation!!¡±


    Zefrael giggled happily. ¡°Funny part two,¡± he said, grinning to the dragon, ¡°Even funnier than you, right?¡±


    ¡°The hell you¡¯re saying!!¡± Alexia screamed in irritation.


    Accompanying her irk, the dragon growled at low note, like he was agreeing with her.


    Unfazed, Zefrael showed a teasing smile on his face, ¡°Really, I¡¯m sorry to break your hope, but it''s the truth.¡±


    ¡°Prove it!¡±


    ¡°Prove?¡± Zefrael reluctantly repeated Alexia¡¯s demand. ¡°It¡¯s impossible right now, but if you found the potion and gave it to him, it will be proved alright.¡±


    ¡°That would crossed the purpose of proof, you stupid shitlord!!¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Zefrael shrugged and became silent. He darted his eyes to the hard cover book in his hand and thought for a moment, before he raised his eyes back to Alexia. ¡°I have no proof, that¡¯s a fact, that¡¯s why I¡¯ll offer you a different approach.¡±


    ¡°After he drank the potion,¡± The demon lord pointed at the dragon, ¡°if he doesn¡¯t change to human form like I said, or if it happened like you said, I¡¯ll kill this dragon for you.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡ª?¡±


    Too surprised, Alexia almost lost her grip to her longsword. She hurriedly clenched the hilt again, and peered into the demon lord with pure doubt.


    ¡°How is it?¡± he asked.


    The dragon growled with discontent, but Zefrael sounded so confident.


    After the demon lord said those kinds of things, it would be wrong if Alexia still didn¡¯t want to admit his point. She hated him, yes. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t hoping even for a second that the demon lord would really kill the dragon for her, but the fact that he said that he would itself was kind of impossible.


    Sure, he could be lying, but she wouldn¡¯t know for sure if the potion in question wasn¡¯t here to answer her suspicion.


    And that could only mean one thing.


    ¡°Fine!¡± Finally, she gave in, ¡°What potion should I find?¡±

 Chapter 6

    ¡°This smell is so extraordinary,¡± Zefrael suddenly said while pinching his nose, ¡°Would you please put that away from me?¡± He took a few steps farther and glanced at the potion with disgust.


    For once, Alexia agreed with him.


    If it wasn¡¯t a request that decides her next course of actions, she definitely threw away the potion she had been holding, because it smelled like shit.


    She couldn¡¯t believe there is someone in their right mind would ever want to drink this disgusting thing. She wouldn¡¯t, obviously, definitely, and surely.


    Nevertheless, it was not her position to judge people weird tastes.


    The potion actually looked pretty normal¡ªregardless the stinky smell. With the color of honey, but thinner, almost transparent, the liquid type potion was stored inside a small sized flask. At the top of the protruding cork, there was an insignia of a dragon.


    It was quite a distinctive potion. Alexia hadn''t had any hard time finding it among the item shop rubble. Instead, she rather considered it as an easy task. The stinky potion was the only mixture left within the rubble. The flask had miraculously survived the falling house, even when the house had completely collapsed on it.


    Yes, finding the potion itself was a piece of cake, but the circumstance before was not. The girl didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the demon lord had been quite a help for her back in the town.


    When she was back, the townspeople welcomed her with joy¡ªMerion included. They thought she had finished the dragon for good, and started throwing torrents to her. Sentences like, ''congratulations'' or ''thank you'' was the most frequent, but there was actually someone who had asked about how her fight against the dragon went. Honestly, they only caused her anxiety to build up. She was unable to explain the truth, where she only needed to fetch something from the item shop.


    That was where Zefrael came in.


    He casually brushed all of the townspeople¡¯s inquiry, and concisely told them that the quest was not yet done. To proceed, they needed something from the marketplace rubble. Right after, the boisterous crowd instantly dispersed, losing interest about the request which hadn¡¯t been completed, and she was free to go to find the potion.


    With the potion finally in her possession, Alexia immediately hiked back to the cliff with the cavern with Zefrael at her side. They had been walking without a hitch, but suddenly the shitlord started protesting about the smell of the potion.


    It really crossed the girl.


    ¡°That¡¯s weird, coming from you,¡± replied Alexia with a sarcastic tone. She disgustingly held the flask with the tip of her fingers, as far away as she could from her nose. ¡°You come under the category of filthy too, I believe.¡±


    As the trees rustled by the calm winds, she was supposed to smell the fresh forest air, but instead, the stinky smell was dominating all of her sense of smell. It seriously increased up her annoyance towards the situation¡ªand towards the asshole shitlord who had done nothing but protesting to her face.


    ¡°Oh, come on, it¡¯s just a few crumbs!¡± Zefrael protested with a pout, ¡°And I cleaned them already. I¡¯m not that filthy¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Alexia promptly threw a sarcastic smile towards the demon lord''s face, ¡°I still saw some sticking in your hair.¡±


    As if he was surprised by her words, Zefrael hurriedly brushed his white blonde hair. Potato chip crumbs instantly fell from his hair, and dirtying the forested pathway below his feet.


    Alexia couldn¡¯t begin to imagine how he didn¡¯t realize the crumbs which had been stuck on him since he ate additional two potato chips bags back in town. Honestly, she was irked with his ignorance back there. She had been busy foraging the marketplace rubble to find the potion, but he was only watching while munching his damn potato chips deliciously. No help, nothing.


    Still, it was all behind her.


    As she saw the hesitation painted on the filthy demon lord''s face when he saw his crumbs on the ground, Alexia felt like she had scored a win from him. A victorious smile promptly showed on her face. ¡°See?¡± the girl deliberately moved the potion towards the demon lord, ¡°Here, someone as filthy as you definitely more suited to hold this better than me.¡±


    Zefrael immediately retreated even farther. ¡°No! Why do you think I get you to fetch that stinky potion!?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Suspicion seeped into Alexia¡¯s mind. Back there with the dragon, Zefrael had stubbornly passed the potion request to her, while saying it was her duty as the hero. She had believed him, but she might have been wrong.


    "Was it because you don¡¯t want to touch the potion you knew would stink?¡± Alexia spouted her hypothetical theory.


    ¡°Well¡­" Zefrael murmured while turning his eyes away, "probably¡­¡±


    Now, that''s fixed!!


    ¡°How dare you used me!?¡± exclaimed the girl.


    Alexia was upset. She didn¡¯t like the fact that she¡¯d just played by the demon lord''s hands. It was true she wanted to help, but when she knew that it had been instigated by the shitlord, she felt really miserable¡ªand of course, angry.


    ¡°No, Alex. You¡¯re a little wrong in that.¡±


    ¡°What IS wrong!?¡± she yelled.


    Zefrael shrugged, ¡°If I¡¯m alone, I probably leave him as he is. It¡¯s your will to help the townspeople that brought us to this situation. Isn''t that a very commendable act for a Hero??¡±


    The last of his sentence clearly sounded like a tease, and it promptly increased her irritation. Plus, the fact didn¡¯t change that Zefrael was the one who forced her to hold the stinky potion.


    Hoping she wouldn¡¯t gag, Alexia flashed the potion to Zefrael''s place. A breeze of shit was wafting in the air, and blowing off an extraordinary stinky smell to the demon lord.


    Zefrael¡¯s face immediately grimaced in disgust. He stared Alexia beyond astonishment with a frown. ¡°I told you to keep that away from me, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Like I care!" the girl blurted, "Just eat shit! Serves you right for using me!¡±


    ¡°Hey, that wasn¡¯t me!¡± Zefrael refuted, ¡°If you want to complain, do it to the dragon! This would never happen if he wasn¡¯t stupidly transforming like that,¡± he continued grumbling his discontent, ¡°And to begin with, if he doesn¡¯t love rice vinegar too much, the potion wouldn¡¯t be as stinky as this!¡±


    Alexia promptly baffled by a word¡ªtwo words, which had reached into her eardrums. ¡°Rice vinegar?¡± she repeated.


    ¡°Yes, vinegar. That was the reason it smelled like that, Alex,¡± Zefrael added in a mumble, ¡°He probably poured it too much in this potion.¡±


    Now that Alexia thought it again, there was a kind of tangy scent mixing with the stinky shit smell. It could be the vinegar that Zefrael was talking about, but really, she didn¡¯t exactly want to ascertain it. She definitely puked if she tried to smell the horrible potion again thoroughly, so she rather let it stay as a possibility.


    Still, even if it was rice vinegar, not exactly a shit or anything like that, the potion was still stinky, and disgusting as ever. Alexia was really reluctant to hold it, and in her opinion, the filthy demon lord¡ªwho had trapped her to do this annoying request¡ªshould be the one to hold it.


    Wasting no more time, she caught up to the retreating Zefrael and extended her hand again to him. ¡°Just hold this, it¡¯s your responsibility,¡± she said, twisting her words so she wouldn''t need to hold the potion any longer.


    ¡°No way!¡± Zefrael refused again. He retreated for a second time, opening a distance from the girl and the stinky potion.


    Alexia had no choice but to chase on him again. ¡°Hold it!¡± The girl fervently forced the flask to him, running towards his escaping figure with vigorous steps.


    The demon lord instantly paled while shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn, Alex," Zefrael protested with a pouting face, "I said no!¡± Then, he wheeled back, and ran away once again.


    "Wait, shitlord!! Just accept your fate and take this!!!¡±


    As she followed the demon lord who fled towards the cavern, the trees gradually became a blur, and a strong wind from her front side inadvertently blew the stinky smell away a little. Involuntarily, she started enjoying the chase.


    Alexia had hated it before when she had chased him around his audience chamber¡ªthe fall caused by the potato chips had made it worse¡ªbut now, she felt a little different. The forest was different from the closed up chamber, and the blowing wind actually eased up the strain from the run.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    She would definitely, definitely pass the stinky potion over to the shitty demon lord! Just say your prayers, shitlord!!


    As soon as she passed the small crevice between the two protruding cliff, Alexia finally caught the sight of Zefrael who was standing in front of the cavern¡¯s entrance. She followed to stop, catching her breath, and glared the annoying shitlord with all of her might.


    Realizing her eyes on him, Zefrael promptly let out a sigh. ¡°Just give it up, Alex. Look, we¡¯re here already, giving it straight to the dragon would mean much more than passing it to me.¡±


    ¡°You only played your way for not touching this shit!¡± Alexia instantly protested.


    ¡°Well, true¡­¡± he muttered quietly.


    ¡°Ha!!" the girl snorted dejectedly, "What¡¯s the use of your existence if you¡¯re not helping me to bring this to your dragon friend!?¡±


    Of course with his promise to stay within her sight, he was obliged to be in the place she could see. He also said that he would be helping her with the party members finding journey, and she did appreciate his swift confrontation with the townspeople, but it was just too impossible to her to show her gratitude honestly. After all, Zefrael was supposed to be someone she hated so much she wanted him dead. Thanking him was a no-no!


    Still, this was only a mediocre potion-carrying task. Anyone could do it, but he kept running away from it as if his life depends on it. Is he freaking serious???


    ¡°That was unbelievable, Alex," Zefrael opened his purple eyes wide, looking exaggeratingly amazed, "Did you just told me you¡¯re too weak to hold that small flask by yourself that you need help from me? Wow, really, wow."


    Alexia instantly burned with rage. ¡°No!!¡± she retaliated, screaming to his contrived face, ¡°Did your brain cells frozen, shitlord!? I¡¯M NOT WEAK!!!¡±


    ¡°Oh, really??¡±


    ¡°Grr! So you want to try my strength again, huh!?¡±


    Blinded with fury, Alexia threw the stinky potion she had been holding towards the demon lord, and moved to draw her longsword.


    Zefrael instantly dodged the flying potion. Losing its target, the flask with golden liquid passed the side of his body, before it struck against the cavern¡¯s wall behind him with a piercing thud sound.


    Her blade was still half-drawn when Alexia froze in her place. She closed her eyes in fear of the impact, while cursing herself with her stupidity. She didn¡¯t like the potion, and she was relieved that it finally released from her hands, but her short-fused actions just now would only disregard everything that she had gone through at the town.


    She warily opened her eyes, scared to find her irreversible mistake, only to see the stinky potion fell to the ground wholly, looked like it ever was, without any scratch on the glass surface.


    Both of her eyes promptly opened wide, stupefied with what she saw. It seemed the flask was very, very sturdy, beyond everything she could ever imagine. No wonder it could survive the collapsed house.


    ¡°Really, I never guessed that staying within your sight promise would turn this interesting,¡± said the demon lord, giggled behind his teeth.


    His voice rang into her eardrums, but Alexia was still unable to return her bearing after the impossible happening with the flying potion. She only kept her silence, as he continued, giggling happily in his every words.


    ¡°See? He definitely can¡¯t win from you regarding the interesting meter, Alex,¡± Zefrael said in a jeering tone, ¡°Rather than waiting in the cave, this is clearly the best choice of having fun.¡±


    His teasing words gradually called back her rage which was blown by surprise. Alexia sheathed her half-drawn blade, and pointed her fingers to the annoying creature in front of her eyes. ¡°What the hell did you say, you crazy shit of a shitlord!?¡± she exclaimed, stomping her feet to the ground in irritation.


    Her shrill was resounded throughout the air, breaching into the cavern, before a deep roaring answered her from inside. Surprised by the sudden roar, Alexia gulped down the next cursing words she planned to blurt and glared the demon lord with spite instead.


    Ignoring Alexia¡¯s obvious irritation, the demon lord grinned, and gestured towards the cavern entrance. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we can¡¯t continue this interesting conversation, but you better not make him wait any longer,¡± he added jokingly, ¡°He could become impatient and finally chose to trample the town, you know.¡±


    ¡°Then, pick it up from the ground, shitlord,¡± mocked Alexia as she tried to hold herself from being fazed by the demon lord¡¯s teasing words, ¡°Or maybe you¡¯re saying that you¡¯re too scared to touch that harmless potion?¡± she added with cynical insult, trying to provoke him.


    Yet, Zefrael didn¡¯t give the reaction that she hoped.


    ¡°Well, yes, I¡¯m sooo scared,¡± he said, emphasizing his obvious contrived fear, ¡°That¡¯s why you should help me with that, o great hero.¡±


    Alexia immediately raged even more. ¡°How shameful!! A demon lord scared by a mere potion!! You brought shame to your own title, shitlord!¡± she shouted, and clenched her teeth in anger, ¡°Do you want to go down in history as the demon lord who feared stinky potion!? What a load of bull!!¡±


    ¡°Ho, that¡¯s kinda good idea,¡± Zefrael replied with vibrant expression, ¡°So unique, enough for people to remember my existence after I gone, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Again, the shitlord¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t go as she wanted. Alexia was very upset, at the demon lord who kept retorting, and at herself who couldn¡¯t win against him, even in a stupid argument.


    ¡°Grrr! You¡¯re really annoying!!!¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s an honor,¡± Zefrael said with a contented smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re deaf!? I¡¯m not complimenting you, asshole!!¡±


    Zefrael giggled again and took a glance at the potion lying in the ground behind him. ¡°I really had fun, but this is going nowhere,¡± he muttered quietly, before darted his eyes to the girl who was breathing hard after her scream, ¡°You don¡¯t want to touch the potion anymore?¡±


    "Hmph!¡± Alexia turned her head away in annoyance, ¡°That¡¯s obvious!!"


    ¡°I don¡¯t want either, so¡­¡± The demon lord paused and showed a wide grin, ¡°The flask proved indestructible, and since no one of us want to touch that, why won¡¯t you kick it with your boots and lead it to the dragon?¡±


    ¡°Ha?¡±


    ¡°Nice idea, right? No need to praise me, I can guess what you want to say already.¡±


    ¡°Nice idea your ass!!¡± Alexia instantly replied with irritation. He was so annoying and she just couldn¡¯t take it anymore. To begin with, where was the nice in the brash idea he¡¯d just spouted?! ¡°Doing that would only made the dragon really going to trample the town in rage!!¡± she protested.


    ¡°Him? Pssh, no way!¡±


    ¡°Then you do it! He won¡¯t be angry because he¡¯s your friend!¡± Alexia denied again, coaxing her way for not getting near the stinky potion again.


    ¡°An acquaintance,¡± Zefrael corrected with a pout.


    ¡°Whatever!¡± Alexia didn¡¯t want to care anymore. Friend, acquaintance, whatever it was, it wouldn¡¯t change a thing. A demon lord and a dragon was a perfect combination for each other. If they want to destroy the world together, it would definitely over and done.


    But of course, she wouldn¡¯t let it ever happen.


    ¡°Just do it, shitlord! For your precious acquaintance.¡±


    ¡°Err¡­precious is waaaay too exaggerating, so no.¡± Zefrael shrugged and showed an amazed look, ¡°And do you realize we¡¯re back in this argument again? You¡¯re just wasting time.¡±


    ¡°You are!!¡±


    ¡°Haaah¡­don¡¯t you want this to be over and done already?¡± Zefrael sighed wearily, but soon his dark expression shifted back into a teasing grin. ¡°I could do this all day, but could you? It¡¯s getting dark, Alex.¡±


    As the demon lord pointed, the sun that had been hanging high in the sky, was now hanging low near the horizon. The orangeish color of the coming twilight was dyeing the sky with a tinge of purple. Soon, the night would come and shrouded the world with perfect darkness.


    The time was indeed running out.


    As she glances at the annoying demon lord, Alexia peevishly realized that he had said the right things. There would be no end to their arguments about the stinky potion if one of them didn¡¯t want to give in. Plus, his smiling vibrant expression actually told her that he was obviously willing to continue the stupid argument for the sake of having fun.


    It was really frustrating, but she had no better choice. Even if she hated him so much, it tired her to become angry all the time to the weird and shitty demon lord. Moreover, it would be her loss if her anger only brought amusement to him.


    Finally decided, Alexia walked confidently to the fallen potion. She passed Zefrael and ignored him completely. Trying to look indifferent, she picked the stinky potion from the ground, and moved to grab it within her hand. The awful stench instantly tormented her nostril again, but she kept it to herself, breathing a little stale air as she could.


    Kicking the potion wasn¡¯t an option for her. As she had said to the demon lord, it was too brash. Even if her opponent could be an evil dreadful dragon, there was no honor in being disrespectful.


    She didn¡¯t care what Zefrael thought of this action of hers. To be exact, she didn¡¯t want to care anymore. Whether he was happy, laughing, grinning, or maybe surprised, she didn¡¯t even try to find out.


    Without paying any attention to the demon lord behind her, the girl walked through the entrance, right into the cavern'' inside. Her steps created echoes within the dark cavern, and when that echo was accompanied by other steps which weren''t hers, she immediately knew that Zefrael was following her not far behind. He wasn''t saying anything. Good.


    As soon as she reached the cavern'' depths where the outside light couldn''t reach, Alexia immediately felt stuffy. Outside, the wind could blow some of the stinky scent away from her, but inside here, there was no wind to help her. The cavern itself wasn''t really that deep. Her first experience in trekking this path before told her that. But because of the stuffy air, the walk seemed longer than she remembered.


    In order to end this torture of shit in a flash, Alexia hastened her steps and entering the darkness cavern in front of her without doubt. Then all of the sudden, a light emanated from behind her, illuminating the rough cavern walls and grounds, before it flew pass her to show up the way.


    Alexia didn¡¯t have to guess anymore about the source of the sudden light. After all, he did the same thing before.


    Actually, the demon lord did help her, in a way or another. If he doesn¡¯t like making fun of her and provoking her all the time, could she probably¡ªjust probably accustomed to his presence? Honestly, it sounded impossible.


    It didn''t take long for Alexia to reach her destination. The diffusing glow from the dragon¡¯s blue scale was already within her sight as the sign of the closing curtain of the stinky torture.


    In front of that promising chance, the girl immediately walked to the dragon without further delay. She put the stinky potion on the ground near him, and retreated far enough to stay away from the stinky smell.


    The blue scaled dragon growled while staring her with his silver eyes, but Alexia didn''t exactly pay him any attention. She was just relieved to finally part with the disgusting smell from the potion. Plus, it was beyond her understanding about what he actually said. Zefrael would know, but she didn¡¯t want to stoop that low only to ask him the meaning.


    Moreover, there was pressing matter concerning her agreement for fetching the potion. ¡°Now let¡¯s see the proof,¡± she said, glancing resentfully towards Zefrael who stopped beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your promise!¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± The demon lord smiled joyfully to her resentment, before he raised his head and gazed into the dragon, ¡°It¡¯s showtime!¡±


    Following the demon lord¡¯s word, the dragon roared loudly while raising his gigantic head up. The cavern heavily reverberated in accordance of the deafening roar. Alexia immediately struggled to cover both of her ears, feeling somewhat grateful that the stalactites weren¡¯t falling from the ceiling to hurt her.


    The dragon opened his mouth wide¡ªshowing his sharp fangs, before he moved to swallow the stinky potion whole from the cavern ground. Painful cracking sound entered Alexia''s ears, where she guess it must be the over durable flask¡ªmaybe the dragon sharp teeth was the only thing capable in breaking it.


    Ignoring the fact that the blue scaled dragon was actually eating the glass fragments along with the potion, Alexia nervously watched it, hand in her longsword''s hilt, ready to be pulled at any moment notice.


    Smoke started billowing from the dragon''s gigantic body, and shrouding him completely with a veil of whites. What would happen after the smoke disperses? Soon, she will find out.

 Chapter 7

    There were some things still deemed impossible even if Alexia had seen them with her own eyes. This was obviously in the list.


    After the smoke dissipated, the 30-feet blue scaled dragon was gone, replaced by a figure of a person. Whether if she liked it or not, or how impossible it was, the demon lord didn¡¯t lie to her.


    It was still unbelievable, and it was just beyond her comprehension that a single flask of stinky potion could reform something as big as a dragon, to a person with small built. Firstly, the difference gap was too vast, and secondly, a drink-type potion usually gave an upgrade or a downgrade to the body, not changing them completely into something different.


    Still, it did happen.


    In exchange of the dragon, a boy was standing there. He wasn¡¯t small enough to be called a child, but not big and old enough to be called a young man. His height didn¡¯t seem to differ much than Alexia¡¯s, and he had a quite young face. His eyes were still the draconic type with vertical slit pupil, but in his human form, the slit wasn¡¯t as big as before and the silvery color of his eyes were slightly darkening.


    What was more impossible is the fact he wore proper clothes. Not wearing anything wouldn''t be good either, but it was just too weird.


    Alexia remembered clearly that she didn¡¯t saw any clothes on him when he had been in his dragon form, but after the reformation, the clothes suddenly appeared out of nowhere and sticking to his small and lean body.


    There was a bandana with squared ethnic design which tied at his forehead between the bangs of his vibrant blue hair. Then, he wore a loose oversized half-coat with a same ethnic design on the sleeves'' part, over a dark tight leather suit as his top, while the bottom was a pair of knee-long baggy pants, plus a pair of flat shoes. In short, he wore a whole complete set.


    Really, Alexia had nothing to say, except well-clothed for someone who used to be a dragon.


    ¡°Nnmmmmmnnn!!! FINALLY!!!


    The dragon¡ªno, the boy screamed in joy and jumped high in excitement. His face was showing off an immeasurable happiness as he ran cheerfully towards Alexia.


    ¡°Thank you so much!!¡± He grabbed the girl¡¯s hands, and shaking them many times in gratitude.


    Alexia instantly froze in her place, surprised. Nervousness struck her hard, leaving her unable to do anything except looking carefully at the boy.


    Now that he¡¯s near her, Alexia realized that he was only a few inches higher than her. By appearance only, he couldn¡¯t be much older than she is, but that was her presumption. The menacing aura of the dragon was gone completely, but the fact didn¡¯t change that he IS a dragon.


    ¡°Hey, Enna, you¡¯re supposed to say that to me, not her,¡± Zefrael cut in between the boy and the girl with a grumble, ¡°Without me, you¡¯ll be stuck in that form for eternity, you know.¡±


    The boy released his hand from Alexia¡¯s in reflex. He was standing casually with one hand on his hips, but his eyes were glancing at the demon lord with spite. ¡°How many years now?" he snarled, "I see you don¡¯t change a thing! You still like to cut my name wrongly, huh!!¡±


    Zefrael started to open his mouth, but the boy stopped him with finger raised. ¡°And who would want to say any gratitude to you!?" he snapped again, "Acting like you didn¡¯t understand me when you did! Laughing when you knew I was stuck in a fight I didn¡¯t want. Ignoring my words completely that I only needed my transforming potion. You obviously only had fun with my predicament!¡±


    The demon lord smiled teasingly. ¡°But in the end I helped you, didn¡¯t, Enna?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Ennario!! Spell it properly, Zef!¡± the boy instantly replied with spite, "You''re not even older than me to call me using that impolite way! And mind this too, you didn¡¯t help me, the hero did!¡±


    As if his animosity towards the demon lord was nothing important, the boy turned to the girl and smiled sincerely, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right¡ªer,¡± he paused, trying to remember something, ¡°I think I had heard your name back there, it¡¯s Al¡ªsomething?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­it¡¯s Alexia¡­I¡ªuh,¡± Alexia nervously replied while fidgeting on her place. She was fine when he was a dragon, but she couldn¡¯t help to become anxious when those silvery grey eyes were directed at her.


    "I''m not being impolite," The demon lord interrupted with a shrug, relieving Alexia¡¯s obligation to continue her hard-found words. His purple eyes amusingly drilled into the dragon boy named Ennario, looking like he''d just find a toy to play with. "You know, I only picked the one which sounds cuter, so it''ll be suited with your face."


    This time, Alexia couldn''t make herself to deny the demon lord''s point. Despite being a scary dragon, Ennario had a really cute face in his human form. How it turned even cuter when he was angry was a plus.


    Still, the dragon boy himself didn''t seem to like that fact.


    "Don¡¯t call me cute!!" Ennario instantly protested with a peevish look.


    "But you are cute, Enna," Zefrael teased again.


    "And don''t call me Enna!!!"


    "Still," the demon lord let out a mumble. Looking like he was already satisfied with his amusement for a day, he stared into the angered dragon boy with a troubled look. "I really can''t overlook what you just said, Enna. Whatever said, I''m still older than you."


    ¡°I¡¯m older," Ennario straightly retaliated with a pouting face, "if I count your last re-born day!¡±


    ¡°That obviously didn¡¯t count!¡± Zefrael exclaimed, and suddenly darted his eyes to Alexia. ¡°What do you think, Alex? Who¡¯s older?¡±


    Alexia was promptly taken aback. She couldn''t even find an immediate answer for the question which was suddenly thrown at her. Rather, she was astonished why she had to be included within their stupid conversation. She literally had nothing to do with it, and clearly she wouldn¡¯t know the exact answer.


    There was a slight confusion when she heard the ''born day'' words¡ªthe shitlord''s birthday or something? Yet, in the end, it was nothing important for her.


    By common sense only, it was pretty obvious that both were older than she is, but Alexia could guess neither of their real age. Then, there was only one last option she could pick.


    ¡°Whatever,¡± she grumbled, "Do I look like that I care about that??"


    "You''re no fun, Alex," Zefrael instantly pouted.


    "I refused to be your fun. Period!"


    ¡°Haaa¡­.¡± the demon lord promptly let out a long sigh, "fine, I could let the ''who''s older'' topic slide, still¡ª" Turning back to face the dragon boy, he intently stared at his face, ¡°You being cute is really undeniable, what did you actually done to have this kind of human appearance?" he cynically added.


    Ennario puckered his mouth peevishly, ¡°I''m not doing anything!!!"


    ¡°Oh, really??" Zefrael grinned, "So you''re magically born to be cute! Nice!"


    In the demon lord¡¯s words, the dragon boy protested again. As if they had forgotten Alexia''s existence, two guys resumed their volley of words. They were bickering, but in the same time, they looked like they¡¯re enjoying themselves. Her heart promptly pricked by a slight envy.


    ¡°You two are really good friend, huh?¡± the girl muttered quietly, mostly to herself.


    Friends were the things that she never had in her entire life. She always thought that their existence is going to be a bother, but now, she had a vague feeling that it could be kind of fun too. Like the demon lord and the dragon boy who¡ª


    Her train of thought instantly stopped as she saw two pair of eyes prying on her. One purple, one silver, both peered into her with a tinge of discontent.


    ¡°No, Alex, Enna isn¡¯t my friend, less a good friend. Told you he¡¯s an acquaintance,¡± said Zefrael with sullen tone.


    ¡°Exactly! Who would want to become friend with him!?¡± followed Ennario, ¡°It¡¯s a connection I want to severe anytime!¡±


    ¡°Right! What Enna said, doubled!!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t copy my words, Zef!¡±


    ¡°Er¡­¡± Alexia didn¡¯t know what to say when the two guys in front of her glared at each other again. They denied it completely, but in her eyes they really looked like a good friend. Still, she should keep it to herself to avoid further bickering.


    Ennario was the one who released his glare first from Zefrael. He shifted his attention to Alexia, and cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry, I let this good-for-nothing occupied me for some time. I was talking to you right?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yes?¡± Alexia answered ambiguously. To be honest, she already forgot what was the dragon boy had talked about before.


    Fortunately, Ennario easily gave her the answer.


    ¡°I was in the middle of asking your name,¡± he said while scratching the side of his bandana reluctantly, ¡°it was Alexia, you said?¡±


    The girl promptly nodded.


    ¡°Okay then,¡± the dragon boy smiled vibrantly, and bowed down, ¡°Once again, thanks, Alexia¡ª¡± he suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Looking confused, he raised his body, and peered into the girl with a full attention while observing her from top to toe. As if he¡¯d just saw unbelievable things, he suddenly inhaled sharply and exclaimed in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re a girl!?¡±


    ¡°Wh¡ª¡±


    Alexia instantly lost her voice. She wasn¡¯t too nervous anymore since she saw the guys¡¯ bickering, but the words which she''d just heard instantly flipped over her state of mind. Her anxiety was completely blown away to the brink of annihilation, and her rage immediately gushed out like a hot geyser. It seemed the dragon boy was as blind as the demon lord!


    ¡°But, but, Zef called you Alex, so I thought¡­¡±


    ¡°Buhahahahahaha!!¡± Zefrael suddenly laughed happily while holding his stomach. With a voice tinged with giggle, he said, ¡°This is really a masterpiece, Alex! Told you it wasn¡¯t obvious!¡±


    ¡°Grrr!!! It¡¯s because you cut my name all the time, asshole!!¡±


    ¡°Ass¡ª¡± Ennario gasped in surprise and faced Alexia with mouth agape. He looked very astonished as he incredulously blinked his draconic eyes many times.


    Crap! I did it again!


    Alexia regretted her actions, but she knew that it was already too late to vindicate her mistake.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    In other side, Zefrael struggled to contain his laugh within a grinning face, but he failed miserably, and ultimately let out a sentence with submerged laugh, ¡°The cat¡¯s finally out, hahah.¡±


    ¡°Ugh!! I¡¯m really going to #@£¤$€¡ê!!!¡± Alexia was bursting uncontrollably, too annoyed at the shitlord to weave a proper sentence. It was partly her fault, but it was mostly his fault!


    She glared resentfully towards her enemy, but her effort was stopped by another gaze by her side.


    Looking doubtful, Ennario was staring at her. ¡°Alexia, you¡ª¡± he mumbled quietly, before his doubt changed into amazement, and his cute face glistened with joy, ¡°¡ªare a fellow brother¡ª¡± he suddenly remembered and hurriedly revised, ¡°oops, I mean sister!!¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Alexia blinked in surprise. At first she thought that the dragon boy would degrade her about her bad habit on using dirty words, like Zefrael had done. But he didn¡¯t?


    Confused beyond words, Alexia peered into Ennario''s figure carefully, trying to find a sensible answer within his unexpected reaction, but she hadn''t got the time to find it.


    The dragon boy grabbed her hands in a blink of an eye, and shaking them vigorously in joy. He did this before immediately after he''d changed into human form, and he did it again now. She had been frozen in nervousness back there, but this time, she froze in confusion and dismay.


    ¡°I never guess that we were the same victim of Zef¡¯s rude nickname!!¡± he exclaimed in joy, ¡°From today on, we were brother¡ªsister¡ªwhatever in arms!!¡± Then, he gestured his eyes towards the demon lord, ¡°Together we will make this good-for-nothing beaten up, enough to force him call our names properly!¡±


    Alexia¡¯s face promptly lit up with joy. A person who would help her beating the shit out from the shitlord? Bring it on!


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s beat him dead!¡±


    Releasing her hand from Ennario grasp, Alexia reached the hilt of her longsword. ¡°Like, now?¡± she added joyously, drawing her blade in a slow menacing way.


    ¡°Wait, wait!!¡± Zefrael interrupted with a dejected look, ¡°That¡¯s not fair, Alex! You aren¡¯t allowed to make a dragon your party member! It¡¯s not an option!!¡±


    ¡°Why not? There is no rule in that!¡± She unsheathed her blade, and flashing it in front of the demon lord. ¡°Get ready!¡±


    Zefrael jumped away in reflex. ¡°I said, no!¡±


    ¡°What party member?¡±


    A single confused question ultimately stopped Alexia¡¯s march. She turned her head to the individual who had thrown the question, and realized that he was actually staring at her and at the demon lord with pure doubt.


    ¡°Now that I think of it, why are you out from your castle, Zef?¡± Ennario asked the demon lord, before he darted his eyes to the girl, ¡°And you¡¯re the hero, right, Alexia? What in the world are you doing with the demon lord??¡±


    The questions immediately staggered her. Alexia unconsciously put down her longsword, as she was reminded by the stupid agreement between her and the demon lord. She warily glanced towards the demon lord, before her eyes reluctantly returned towards the confused dragon boy.


    First of all, Zefrael was supposed to hide his demon lord identity, no one should even know that she, the Hero was having a journey with her enemy, the demon lord. They had acted pretty great at the town, as a hero and her fellow party member, no one got curious or suspicious. Still, that presumption definitely wouldn¡¯t work at Ennario who knew Zefrael as he really is.


    Telling the dragon boy the whole truth was definitely easier, but then, should she? After knowing the real reason behind this journey, what if Ennario sided with Zefrael to become her enemy? He was his friend, after all. It would make her trouble doubled.


    ¡°Ah, yes, Enna, about that¡­¡± Zefrael started with a serious tone, but when he realized Alexia was busy contemplating, he struck a wary pause. He stared at the girl in silence, before an evil-but-happy grin brushed on his face. Turning back to Ennario, he opened his mouth, ¡°Actually, we¡¯re on a honeymoo¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªouch!!¡±


    The demon lord swallowed his words and screamed in pain as a painful cracking sound cried out in the quiet cavern. He grimaced, rubbing his left temple which had struck by a long and blunt object, and dejectedly staring at the girl, ¡°What are you doing, Alex!?¡±


    Alexia promptly gasped. With a feeling like she had just woken up from a dream, she became aware that she¡¯d just thrown something at the annoyingly insane demon lord. Involuntarily, she realized that her longsword was missing from her hands.


    In her bottomless fury and her gushed outrage when she heard the demon lord nonsense, it seemed she had lost herself and unconsciously threw her blade, not swinging it properly. It miraculously hit the shitlord, but regrettably, only at the blunt part of the hilt.


    H-h-honeymoon, he said!?? No f*cking way!!


    Alexia would never, ever, ever want to have one with this shit of a demon lord!!


    Zefrael picked up the fallen longsword beside his feet and glanced towards Alexia with a pouting face. ¡°That¡¯s kinda unexpected, and savage, Alex," he commented, "Is this counted into one of your tries to kill me?¡±


    ¡°Who started it!?!¡± she yelled furiously.


    ¡°Well, me?¡±


    The damn shitlord innocently returned her question with a jeering tone, adding more annoyance to her already-piled-up indignation. Alexia promptly cursed, ¡°You son of a¡ª¡±


    ¡°Erm, I don¡¯t really understand, but you guys are married?¡±


    Ennario¡¯s confused voice interrupted her cursing words with a question which sounded similarly annoying than the demon lord''s action. Without wasting any time, Alexia immediately moved her glare towards the dragon boy, ¡°You there!!¡± she pointed at him and let out a streak of hate, ¡°Are you deaf? Or are you blind? Stupid? All of them!?¡±


    Ennario reluctantly rubbed his cheek. ¡°U-um, well¡ªI just saw that you just done a domestic violence to your husband. That¡¯s kinda wrong, don''t you think¡ª¡±


    ¡°Holy shit!!" Alexia instantly cursed to cut off the dragon boy''s blabbering nonsense, "I¡¯m not married to him!!!¡± She indignantly pointed her finger to the demon lord, ¡°AND HE IS NOT MY HUSBAND!!! PERIOD!!¡±


    ¡°But Zef said¡ª¡±


    ¡°HE''S LYING GODDAMNIT!!¡± Alexia screamed again. It was way beyond her comprehension on how the dragon boy¡¯s brain works. Was he faking it, or he was really, really an idiot!?


    As if he was watching an interesting show, Zefrael laughed again for a second time, acting oblivious at the fact that he was the one who started it in the first place. He slowly rubbed the sharp side of the girl''s blade in his hand, and grinned with a pleased look, ¡°Really now? Who knows it could happen?¡±


    Alexia stomped her feet in blasted fury. She dashed towards the demon lord and violently grabbed the collar of his dark long coat.


    Regardless how strong he was all this time¡ªtoo strong and too fast¡ªto foil every each one of her attack, the demon lord acted a second too late. In the impact of the forceful pull, the longsword fell from his hand and rang against the ground.


    ¡°That sick nonsense would never happen in a million years!¡± Alexia shouted resentfully, straight to his still grinning face, ¡°Don¡¯t! Ever! Dream!!¡±


    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s kinda disappointing.¡±


    Zefrael actually showed an expression brushed with regret, but Alexia wasn¡¯t that stupid to believe him. He was most definitely did it deliberately for his own amusement. She would never play along, no!


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Ennario slowly raised his voice. His eyebrows were wrinkled in confusion, ¡°Then, what¡¯s the deal?¡±


    Alexia cast a final glare to her sworn enemy, before she roughly let go of his collar, and threw him away from her. Fortunately, Zefrael wasn¡¯t resisting, he just gave in and shrugged his shoulder.


    As she picked her longsword from the ground, the girl realized that the demon lord swiftly turned his attention to his dragon friend.


    ¡°Actually, Enna¡­¡±


    Alexia instantly warned him with a cold glare, and he promptly let out a short sigh and mumbled, ¡°I got it! Stop drilling into me, Alex. I¡¯ll tell Enna the truth this time.¡±


    True to his words, Zefrael started to explain all the things that happened so far. Alexia sheathed her blade and opened her ears wide to listen carefully, ready to interrupt if the demon lord spouted nonsense again. But in the end, she didn¡¯t need to.


    Contrary to her fear, the demon lord explained properly and rightfully. He revealed everything that had happened since Alexia¡¯s arrival to his castle, and how it turned out to the present condition where he followed her to a journey. He explained the bizarre proposition he came up, with a sole reason to find appropriate party member for a lone hero.


    Truth was out, but for Alexia, that was for the best. She was reluctant at first to tell Ennario the whole truth, but she realized that it was better than hiding it and let Zefrael spouting his nonsensical lies. Still, she did learn it the hard way.


    ¡°Party members¡­¡± Ennario pondered quietly, ¡°That''s an insane reason.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Alexia agreed immediately, nodded her head in excitement. Finally, someone who understand how f*cked-up the adventure was.


    ¡°I say this insane shitlord is already out of his mind,¡± she added.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re being rude, Alex,¡± Zefrael reprimanded with a grumble. He was standing lazily with hand crossed, discontentedly staring at the girl for a moment, before he turned his unpleased gaze to the dragon boy. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you agree with her, Enna?¡±


    Ennario started to open his mouth to say something, but Zefrael walked to him and put his hand on the dragon boy¡¯s shoulder. It immediately stopped any words from the dragon boy''s throat.


    The demon lord smiled, but it was obviously a threatening smile. ¡°If this insane journey didn¡¯t happen, you¡¯ll be most definitely stuck in this cavern as a dragon for eternity. But now you reverted back! Isn¡¯t that fortunate??¡±


    Ennario seemed surprised for a split second, but soon his eyelids dropped down with guilt. ¡°Uh¡­well¡­¡±


    ¡°And what caused that fortunate things happen, huh??¡± continued the demon lord, ignoring completely the clear change in the dragon boy¡¯s face, ¡°Care to clarify to the great hero here?¡±


    Ennario looked uncomfortable with Zefrael¡¯s suave but forceful persuasion. He hesitatingly played his fingers on the tassel of his ethnic bandana, and mumbled, ¡°Err¡­that, I think¡­is¡­this insane¡­¡±


    He seemed so pitiful that Alexia couldn¡¯t stand to watch anymore.


    ¡°Stop cornering him!¡± she blurted and pushed the Zefrael away. Standing in between the two guys with her back facing the dragon boy, she resentfully glared him, ¡°No matter what Ennario, or whoever say about this journey, for me it will always be the f*cked one. You know why?¡± she added provokingly to the shitlord.


    Zefrael didn¡¯t say anything, but actually, she didn¡¯t need him to say something. With a voice muddled with hate, she continued, ¡°Because you¡¯re in it.¡±


    The demon lord widened his eyes in surprise. He was dumbfounded for a second, before he turned his eyes away from the girl''s glare. ¡°Huh, that¡¯s kinda harsh. Do you hate me, Alex?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Alexia answered immediately. She didn¡¯t even need to think anymore. The answer was already too clear for her, that she didn¡¯t even need to consider the otherwise.


    For a second there, Zefrael¡¯s expression was glum. She thought that he was hurt by her words, and finally showed a sign that he would be willing to accept her challenge directly to end this farce once and for all. Instead, he turned back to her with a very bright smile on his face.


    ¡°Hate is good. You hate me so much but you still stuck here, in this insane journey,¡± he said, smiling so contently, as if he never showed a glum expression in the beginning. ¡°If hating me will make you more satisfied, then keep doing it. I won¡¯t forbid you.¡± Then, he grinned in excitement. ¡°That itself would become the spices of amusement in this insane-but-interesting journey.¡±


    Honestly, Alexia was too astounded on his answer. As usual, the shitlord wasn¡¯t giving in to her. Anytime, anywhere, he always acted like he was having fun the entire journey. Instead disagreeing on everything she does, he just regarded them as interesting.


    Then, so be it.


    If that the case, she also wouldn¡¯t care anymore.


    She would only focus herself at the best part where she would have a chance to kill the demon lord covertly during the f*cked-up journey. To tell the truth, that was the only part that she liked.


    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll come,¡± Ennario suddenly said.


    It actually surprised Zefrael, and of course, Alexia.


    She wheeled back to face the dragon boy and raised her eyebrows in doubt. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she ascertained. Who knows she just heard wrongly?


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to become one of your party members, Alexia. I did say that I want that chance to beat up Zef, right?¡± he explained with a slight grin, ¡°And, guess what? Now that my shop at this town is broken down, I should probably find a new place to set up my shop during the journey. Two bird, one stone.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡± Alexia replied with a quiet and vague mumble. His reason was actually making sense, but still¡­


    Suddenly, as he remembered something, Ennario hesitatingly added, ¡°Oh, but of course, if you want me to¡­¡±


    Alexia confusedly stared at the dragon boy¡¯s silver draconic eyes which were looking straight at her. There was no hesitation within his eyes. It seems he was really honest about what he said about being her party member¡ªwhatever his reason was.


    Having a hard time to believe his choice, the girl peered into his draconic eyes, trying to find something behind that resolute gaze, but she didn¡¯t find any.


    Usually, she would straightly refuse.


    Even if the demon lord said that the purpose of this insane journey was to find party members, she wasn¡¯t sure that she could accept someone to be her companion. Her stranger anxiety was the main reason.


    She would feel uncomfortable with another existence of strangers near her, and ultimately, it would disturb her in accomplishing her mission. At least, that was what Alexia thought.


    But, with a reason unknown to her, the anxiety problem wasn¡¯t acting up anymore in front of Ennario. She was perfectly sane and quite calm to think everything through. No nervousness, no panic, nothing. It felt like she was having a sense of familiarity with him.


    As he said before, they were the same victim of Zefrael¡¯s improper name cutting. It couldn''t be that, could it??


    ¡°No, no way, Enna!!¡±


    In the middle of her thoughts, Alexia heard the demon lord¡¯s protesting voice. By the time she realized, Zefrael was already in front of her, obstructing her view of the dragon boy''s small figure.


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Ennario.


    "It''s because you¡¯re not in the list!¡± Zefrael immediately answered, sounding very certain with himself.


    ¡°Ha?" The dragon boy let out a baffled voice, "What list?


    ¡°List of party members, of course,¡± continued the demon lord, ¡°A dragon obviously wouldn¡¯t be there.¡±


    Zefrael stubbornly denied Ennario''s idea with his twisted common sense, and really, Alexia was fed-up already. She pushed the demon lord away harshly from her front, and took a step towards the dragon boy who wanted to become her first party member.


    Alexia had let her chance to stab the demon lord¡¯s back slip away, but she didn¡¯t regret her actions. After all, she didn¡¯t like it more when her view obstructed, especially by the demon lord. Plus, she didn¡¯t like it more if the shitty demon lord could get what he wanted, right in front of her eyes.


    Arriving at one absolute decision, she threw the last ultimatum.


    ¡°You can come, Ennario,¡± she said confidently, ¡°I would love it if you¡¯ll become my party member.¡±


    ¡°Alex!!¡±


    Zefrael protested again, but the girl didn¡¯t try to care even one bit. She was the hero, and it was her party members they were looking. Naturally, choosing them had been her rights, not his.


    After all, the main problem was solved already. Her stranger anxiety wasn¡¯t acting up towards the dragon boy, so there wouldn¡¯t be any problem in having him as her companion.


    Would it?

 Chapter 8

    Is this how deep regret feels like?


    Alexia couldn¡¯t help herself to have the negative feeling. She finally realized that her short thought on accepting Ennario¡¯s offer was probably the reason she had fallen into the darkest depths she couldn¡¯t climb out.


    Regret.


    How painful that word felt to her ears right now, er¡ªno, she probably should say nostrils, not ears.


    Right, her nostril was being tortured, so hard. She had led herself to this shithole and she didn¡¯t have a way out. The thing she wanted to say the most was ¡®Holy shit it stinks!!¡¯, high note.


    But she held back.


    Alexia didn¡¯t want the demon lord to know her predicament, not after what she did back there in the cavern. She had accepted the dragon boy confidently into her ranks, regardless of what he said. She clearly didn¡¯t want him to know that she was facing a problem right now. Even in regret, she still had her pride.


    Still, when Alexia took a glance towards Zefrael who walked by her side, she immediately felt her pride crumbled into pieces. The demon lord was casting a disdainful gaze towards her, a gaze that said, ¡®your fault, I¡¯ve told you¡¯.


    Alexia felt so embarrassed. She hurriedly turned her face away from the demon lord, escaping his silent accusation.


    It was really hard to admit, but the demon lord was actually right. She wasn¡¯t supposed to accept Ennario to be one of her party member. Not because he was a dragon that wasn¡¯t included in the Zefrael¡¯s nonsensical list, but because he stank as hell.


    Of course, the one that stank wasn¡¯t the dragon boy himself (if he was, it would be horrible beyond words), but his stash that was hanging by his hips.


    Alexia didn¡¯t need to ask anymore. She could guess the source of the stinky smell which was wafting from inside the dangling pouch. It was the very same ingredient of the stinky potion which had changed his form.


    Zefrael had said once, that it was rice vinegar.


    Tortured by rice vinegar, a mere cooking ingredient, it sounded so ridiculous she would laugh herself if she wasn¡¯t the one experiencing it. But she did, and it was so excruciating.


    Now that she thought of it, everything had gone wrong since then.


    As they left the cavern, they had stopped by the town (Alexia finally heard the town name, it''s Kieln). Night had fallen, and resuming the journey immediately wasn¡¯t exactly proper. Without the light from the sun, it was too dark to see. So, they had spent the night at the town¡¯s inn.


    As gratitude for slaying the dragon, and saving the missing item merchant (sometimes truths were better not told), the group got the inn¡¯s two nicest rooms at the second floor for free. One for Alexia, and the others were provided for her supposed party members. From her room window, she had seen the golden bell¡ªhanging inside Kieln''s bell tower¡ªilluminated by the starry sky. It was beautiful, and she quite liked her room.


    Then a night passed.


    It passed with¡ªno, she probably mean without. Yeah, definitely without!


    Nevertheless, WITHOUT notable problem, the night had passed very quickly as she slept. The bed was really comfortable. That was one of things she rarely experienced in her first journey to the demon lord''s castle. At the time, to keep her contact to strangers minimal, Alexia oftentimes slept outside with grass as her bed and sky as her roof. Of course, it had its own comfort, seeing the world as it is, vast and beautiful, but to be honest, nothing beat snuggling inside a warm and comfy bed.


    At the morning, Ennario had stopped by his house¡ªhis ex-house, the rubble¡ªto pick up his things. Alexia had wondered to herself, would there be any things left in the unrecognizable rubble? She already knew from the time she searched for the potion, nothing valuable left there, not even a coin left.


    Even so, he did found the thing he was looking for.


    It was a shabby pouch with a dull cream color of dirty rags. It looked like a trash, even Alexia thought that it was a trash when she first saw it, but Ennario said that it was the pouch where all of his valuables were stashed, whatever that is.


    In a way, it could keep all of his valuables intact from thieves. No thief would want to steal something trash-like, right?


    After the dragon boy bounded the pouch at his hips, they were set to go. Ennario said he had some delivery to a village in the eastern part of the continent, and if she was fine with the detour, he would want to go there in the meantime.


    Alexia had no objection.


    Actually, she didn¡¯t have an exact destination in mind. They were only looking for party members, anywhere would be fine. As for Zefrael, he had said that he would follow the hero wherever she went, exactly as he promised.


    Then, they simply left the town.


    When Kieln finally disappeared from sight, right at the middle of soil pathway which divided the grassland, Alexia finally realized that she¡¯d done an uncorrectable fault. She became aware of it, because the wind suddenly blew towards her way.


    While it had supposed to bring a breeze of fresh air, she smelled something which caused her to grimace in disgust instead. It was a familiar stinky smell of shit, wafting from her front, exactly from Ennario¡¯s location.


    For the purpose of leading the way, the dragon boy walked in front, while she and the demon lord followed behind. The one who knew the way should lead, that was the best choice to avoid being lost. Alexia just didn''t expect that the best choice would bring her an awful stench that could cause her to puke her entire breakfast.


    She had a simple oatmeal breakfast, by the way. Puking them out would be too disgusting, so please no.


    Trying to avoid the stinky smell, Alexia slowed down her steps, putting a distance between her and Ennario, but it was still no good. The shitty smell was still wafting in the air around her, torturing her nostril with the awful stench.


    The demon lord was following her example, and staying as far as possible from his friend''s figure, but his disgust drawn face told the girl that he also face the same problem as she was.


    In the end, Alexia couldn¡¯t hold out anymore.


    ¡°Holy shit this really stinks!¡± she exclaimed in whisper. Staying quiet in this kind of situation wasn¡¯t really like her, but at the same time she didn¡¯t dare to voice out louder than she needed to.


    She only wanted to vent up her frustration for her own sake, and not exactly hoping someone to hear her or something like that, but naturally, Zefrael who were by her side heard it quite clearly.


    ¡°I would hold off on using the dirty words,¡± he whispered back with a mumble, not too loud for Ennario to catch it, ¡°but yes, I agree, this is too overly stinky. How many vinegar he¡¯s carrying inside that pouch? What do you think, Alex?¡±


    Alexia rolled her eyes in his question. ¡°Do I look like I care about that, huh?¡± She only cared about a way for her to be freed from this stinky smell, rather than the alternative, and she was sure whispering behind the dragon boy¡¯s back with the demon lord wouldn¡¯t give her what she wanted. ¡°I should just tell him,¡± she finally said as she took the first step towards Ennario.


    Yet, Zefrael suddenly grabbed on her wrist and stopped her march. She wheeled back to throw an angry glare to the demon lord, only to saw him returned her glare with an alarmed face.


    ¡°Telling him what?¡± the demon lord whispered with a serious tone, ¡°The stench?¡±


    Alexia immediately pulled her hands away from the demon lord¡¯s grasp. Brushing off the last remnant of his touch from her hands, she glared at him. ¡°He needs to trash it, period.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bad idea, Alex. You will only provoke his wrath, so don¡¯t.¡± Zefrael shrugged with a resigned look, ¡°He would never throw that away. It¡¯s the love of his life after all.¡±


    Naturally, Alexia didn¡¯t want to provoke Ennario¡¯s wrath. It would be rude for her to ask him to throw it away if the stinky rice vinegar was really¡ªas Zefrael said¡ªthe love of his life. To begin with, she had a hard time to believe there is someone who was in love with that stinky cooking ingredient, so she had a doubt at the demon lord¡¯s words.


    In any case, she also wouldn¡¯t like it if someone told her to throw the things that she loves. Zefrael did have a point, but she has no other idea to round up the stench problem.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Alexia scoffed, ¡°So what? You have a better idea?¡±


    Walking casually by the soil pathway, Zefrael cast a glance towards Ennario. With fingers rubbing on his tusked pendant, thinking, he muttered quietly, ¡°Well¡­maybe¡­?¡±


    His unruffled gesture only irked Alexia more. She for once, had already sickened from being tortured by this stinky smell of shit, and clearly, she didn¡¯t want to spend more time dawdling in this hell hole.


    ¡°Just out with it already!!¡± she shouted loudly, forgetting completely that they were still in the middle of talking behind Ennario¡¯s back.


    Her shout produced an instant effect.


    Ennario immediately jumped in surprise and wheeled back. His confused silver eyes were alternating between the two who tailed him in a distance. ¡°What are you guys doing back there??¡± he asked, ¡°And why are you two walk so far away??¡±


    Alexia promptly halted her step. She was in the middle of trying to find some excuse when the demon lord stopped by her side.


    ¡°Look what you have done,¡± blamed Zefrael. He sneered at her, and clicked his tongue between his teeth, ¡°Now the discussion time is over.¡±


    The girl instantly felt annoyed. To begin with, he was the one who had started the damn discussion by whispering around. She would rather like to blurt it head on to the dragon boy, but he had dragged her to it. Now he blamed her because his sneaky time behind someone¡¯s back is over? What a joke!


    She clenched her teeth, and resentfully glared the annoying demon lord, ¡°You got what you deserve! Just do that idea of yours immediately!¡±


    ¡°Patience is a virtue, Alex.¡±


    Alexia really wanted to slap the demon lord. He had been dragging the stench problem longer than it should be, and it really irritated her. Still, she felt like she would lose if she did that.


    ¡°Whatever!!" the girl clenched her itchy fingers, "Just spit it out!!¡±


    Zefrael promptly let out a long and weary sigh from his nose. As he shrugged in resignation, he darted his eyes towards Ennario who approached with an unhurried run.


    The awful stench in the air gradually became thicker, but the demon lord seemed unfazed. He swiftly approached his dragon friend, and said, ¡°You stink, Enna,¡± in a straight and impolite manner.


    Alexia felt her mouth dropped down. After what he did, sneakily talking behind his back about his friend''s stench problem, she never thought that he would say it straight to his face like that. Don¡¯t tell me this is his better idea!?


    Seriously, she couldn¡¯t guess even a grain of what the demon lord wanted to do, so the girl chose to stay quiet for now.


    Still, the horrible smell reminded her that her mouth was still opened from a second ago. She hurriedly moved them to a close in panic, but it was a little too late. Her tongue felt like it could almost taste the disgusting stench. Holding off her gagging urge, Alexia forcefully veered her attention back to the guys.


    ¡°S-s-stink??¡± Ennario seemed surprised with Zefrael¡¯s direct indictment. He looked lost as he blinked his eyelids a few times.


    ¡°Yes, totally,¡± the demon lord continued, hand crossed in front of his chest like a sign of his discontent, ¡°How do you store your vinegar stash, Enna?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Eh? My vinegar?¡± Ennario was confused, but urged by Zefrael¡¯s words, he involuntarily darted his eyes towards the dangling pouch on his hips. As he opened the rope bindings, he pulled out a corked glass tube, filled to the brim with a clear yellow liquid. The stinky smell instantly doubled in intensity. ¡°It¡¯s here, why?¡±


    Zefrael grimaced at the intensifying stench and glanced sharply to the opened pouch. ¡°How many are there? Care to elaborate?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­why?¡±


    ¡°No reason,¡± the demon lord nonchalantly answered. ¡°Just guessing, they were too many to create this horrible and disgusting stench.¡±


    Ennario shrugged quietly. ¡°Well, yeah, I have all of my stash here. Is the smell really, really that bad?¡±


    As she watched the conversation in front of her eyes, Alexia gradually became more impatient. She hadn¡¯t felt a slight hunch that this stench problem is going to be over soon, not if the demon lord and the dragon boy keeps dragging on it. She really had to add herself into the pointless conversation to point it towards the right direction.


    With the decision in hand, Alexia kicked her boot to the soil below, and walked towards the guys. She thoroughly ignored the intensifying stench, and let out a disdainful scoff. ¡°Hah! Is your nose broken or something? It smells awful.¡±


    As both of the guys turned to her, the girl took her place between the two of them, and glared the demon lord with a discontented gaze. ¡°You¡¯re going nowhere, shitlord. Just hurry it up and do your stupid plan! Or you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t have that damn plan?¡±


    ¡°Easy, Alex,¡± Zefrael casually brushed off her anger with a smile. If he was tortured by the stinky smell, he wasn¡¯t showing it. ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡±


    As if he had rounded up his excuse for the girl, the demon lord shifted his attention back to Ennario. ¡°You heard what she said, Enna. It IS unbearably stinky, so to save all of us, I have something for you.¡±


    Zefrael slowly opened his palm. With a flash of bluish small magic circle, he summoned a palm-sized cylindrical¡ªthing with clear crystal color.


    Honestly, Alexia didn¡¯t know what it was, but he seemed so sure with himself, so she didn''t say anything. Not yet.


    The demon lord gestured Ennario to open both of his hand, and he handed the cylindrical thing to him.


    ¡°Here, use this to store all of your precious vinegar.¡±


    Ennario confusedly accepted the cylinder and wrinkled his eyebrows. ¡°I probably should ask what is this first," he muttered, "but what you just did piques my interest more.¡± Looking perplexed, he pointed his finger at the demon lord¡¯s hand which had just summoned the cylindrical thing. ¡°What exactly have you done there, Zef? This just popped out of nowhere.¡±


    Alexia promptly widened her eyes, startled with Ennario¡¯s question. Now that she remembered, the demon lord occasionally did those flashing magic circle ever since she met him.


    He had miraculously summoned many things out of nowhere, and it appeared so suddenly within his hands¡ªwhether if it was a book, a paper, a bag of potato chips, or the mysterious cylindrical thing.


    If she thought of it all over again, his vanishing act seemed like it had the same basis. Plus, her necklace had been gone in the same manner. The demon lord did say something about keeping her necklace in a safer place, but of course, she couldn''t make sure of it. Hopefully, he wasn''t lying for that. She couldn''t afford to lose that important necklace after all.


    Zefrael acted like the miraculous things he had done was a pretty normal gesture. Alexia never asked for the details¡ªclearly she wouldn''t stoop so low to ask her enemy¡ªbut now when Ennario pointed it loud and clear, she finally realized her shortsighted action of not asking. It could possibly give her a hint of the ability of her enemy, and maybe, a way to turn over that ability to defeat him.


    It was time for her to pursue the answer.


    ¡°Oh, this?¡±


    The demon lord''s question promptly cleaved her running mind. Alexia immediately returned her focus at the present situation.


    Zefrael was opening his palm, and a bluish magic circle flashed before his hand. This time, a bag of potato chips appeared within his hand. ¡°You know, it¡¯s just a simple teleportation magic,¡± he said while popping open the bag of chips in his hand. As he fished out the chips from the bag and threw them into his mouth, he straightly continued, ¡°Packing things for this journey is waaay to bothersome, and bringing them all the time is definitely worse. So, I just use this magic to fetch anything I want from the castle. Simple, huh?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    As she felt a pang of envy, Alexia unconsciously gaped. She promptly closed her mouth when she realized her blunder, but it was already too late.


    Two pair of eyes was staring right at her, as if they were waiting for the explanation behind her gaping mouth. The girl mentally cursed, but she knew that she had failed miserably to hide from the reality.


    Of course, she also would want to do what Zefrael did. It very practical and easy with a lightweight journey, but it was just way beyond her capability.


    Having no other choice, Alexia sighed quietly. ¡°You''re just being unfair, shitlord."


    ¡°Yeah! Exactly!¡± Ennario agreed immediately. He vigorously nodded, before he moved his discontented gaze to the demon lord who was having a leisure eating time with his beloved potato chips. ¡°Not fair, Zef, not fair! At least teach me how to do it!¡±


    As he swallowed a mouthful of chips, Zefrael glanced towards Ennario with disinterest. ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Enna. Magic isn¡¯t for a dragon like you. But really, I don¡¯t think you need it too, your pouch already warped the time and space itself.¡±


    ¡°You realized??¡± the dragon boy instantly raised his voice vibrantly. He seemed surprised, but at the same time, he was glistening with joy. ¡°It¡¯s the rarest item I¡¯ve got a few years back. An old hermit¡ª¡±


    ¡°Okay, so you got that, the end,¡± Zefrael promptly interrupted in a hurry, as if he wasn''t interested at the dragon boy¡¯s word even for a bit, ¡°Leave it at that.¡±


    Ennario¡¯s shoulder dropped down in disappointment. He obviously wanted to tell a story about his pouch and the old hermit, but this time, Alexia definitely sided with the demon lord. She didn¡¯t want to hear the unimportant story, not at all. She only wanted to point at the more dire and confusing thing.


    ¡°Uh¡­what about the stinky pouch?¡± she immediately asked. The faster she knew about the damn pouch, the faster she would be freed from the awful stench.


    ¡°Heyyy, you shouldn¡¯t call it like that, Alexia!¡± Ennario instantly protested. With a pouting face, he incoherently waved the mysterious cylindrical thing he got from the demon lord. ¡°It got a cool name ¡®Daedalus¡¯s Sacred Pouch¡¯. Use that!¡±


    ¡°What a lame name,¡± Zefrael commented while munching his chips, ¡°Who is Daedalus anyway? Never heard of him.¡±


    Alexia instantly rolled her eyes. Both of the guys hadn''t given her the straight answer, and she was really sick of waiting in this stinky hell hole.


    ¡°Ugh! So what of the pouch!?¡± she exclaimed peevishly.


    Zefrael promptly stopped his munching, and peered into the upset girl in silence. He seemed thinking for a second, before he darted his purple eyes towards the dragon boy. ¡°Enna, take out all of your vinegar stash. It will tell Alex all about your pouch without difficult explanation. And in the same time, I can show you how that thing in your hand functions.¡±


    Ennario had confused for a second, but after a moment of contemplation, he shrugged his shoulder and finally yielded in. As he crouched on the side of the soil pathway, he put the cylindrical thing beside him, before he started to spill the insides of his pouch.


    With a crisp sound of glass bumping on each others, hundreds of glass tube filled with yellow liquid¡ªvinegar¡ªrained down like a waterfall from the opening of Daedalus¡¯s Sacred Pouch, along with a thick horrendous stench of shit. Alexia didn''t have any plan to open her mouth because of the disgusting smell, but her mouth instantly dropped down as she saw the unbelievable amount of vinegar tubes.


    After the vinegar rain was over, the piled up vinegar tubes were lying in the edge of the soil pathway in a shape of a small mountain. Weirdly, the small pouch in Ennario''s hand looked as normal as ever, not deflated or inflated, even after an abnormal amount of things had gushed out from the inside.


    Alexia finally understood the demon lord¡¯s incomprehensible words. The thrash-looking pouch with a lame name was indeed warping the law of time and space.


    Following Ennario''s position, the demon lord moved to a crouch. The bottom part of his long coat brushed the tall grass, before they fell by the soil pathway, taking on dirty dust of the pathway. He gestured Alexia with his chips-oily finger to do the same, but she immediately refused.


    ¡°No!¡± The girl shook her head. There was no way, no way she would go near the piled up source of stench in her own volition. Whatever the shitlord wanted to do with the dragon boy, he could do it alone. Period.


    As he realized her stubborn refusal, Zefrael gave up pretty easily. He shifted his attention towards Ennario who sat by his side, ¡°Okay then, put all of this vinegar inside the thing I gave you, Enna.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why?¡±


    ¡°Your precious treasure will be safer inside that thing,¡± explained the demon lord while eating his chips, ¡°This thing is kinda like your pouch, sorry if I don¡¯t name it like you do,¡± he paused for a moment to swallow his chips, before he continued, ¡°It locks the void inside the cylinder, in a way that your Daedalus can¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the one who named it!¡± The dragon boy disapprovingly puckered his mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t mock me.¡±


    The demon lord grinned in his accusation. As if he didn¡¯t care what Ennario thought, his expression swiftly changed back into serious one. ¡°I created that some time ago,¡± he resumed his explanation, ¡°At first, I thought to use this to store and preserve my chips. It would last longer than if I let them lie outside, but it turns out, I don¡¯t need it.¡± Looking somewhat unsatisfied, he muttered with a pout, ¡°My chips ran out faster than I¡¯ve expected that I don¡¯t have time to store it properly.¡±


    ¡°Of course it ran out!¡± Alexia let out her peevish voice in between the guys¡¯ conversation. It just crossed her that the stupid demon lord didn¡¯t realize the obvious blatant reason. ¡°You eat them all the time!¡±


    Zefrael raised his eyes to glance the bag of chips in his hand, and let out a short sad sigh, ¡°Yes, I guess¡­it¡¯s just as you said, Alex.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Alexia snorted and turned her face away. Even if the shitlord was agreeing with her, it was still difficult to accept it with open arms.


    The vast grassland accepted her annoyed gaze, and returned into her mind with a lull which calmed her temper. Morning sun shone on the well-ordered line of green grass. They glistened with the reflection from the morning dews. The grassy landscape was swaying in the rhythm of the wind, extending far and wide below a clear blue sky. The scenery should¡¯ve been perfect, if it wasn¡¯t for Ennario¡¯s mountain of stinky vinegar.


    ¡°Got it, Enna?¡±


    Zefrael¡¯s serious voice pulled Alexia¡¯s attention back to the crouching guys. She sneakily cast a glance towards both of them, while opening her ears wide, trying to understand the demon lord¡¯s plan for Ennario''s vinegar.


    ¡°Inside this cylinder, your vinegar will be preserved. Additionally, it will push back the expiration date. Isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡± said the demon lord.


    ¡°Yeah, if so, that¡¯s too wonderful, Zef,¡± Ennario mumbled astonishingly, ¡°You sure you want to give it to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Enna, it¡¯s¡ª¡± the demon lord paused. As if he¡¯s aware of Alexia¡¯s gaze, he cast an upward glance towards her, ¡°to save all of us,¡± and, he added with grin, ¡°especially this one.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±


    Feeling embarrassed that the shitlord found out she was looking, Alexia immediately turned her face away again. Her face felt a little hot, but she hurriedly pretended that she didn¡¯t feel it.


    ¡°Oh, I see. I remember you guys say that the smell is bad.¡± Ennario¡¯s eyes dropped down in guilt when he glanced towards the girl, ¡°Sorry about that, Alexia.¡±


    As she hears the dragon boy¡¯s apologizing words, she finally realized that he didn¡¯t even aware that his vinegar stash smells so awful. No wonder he looked so carefree back there as if there is no problem in sight. It was because he loves the vinegar so much.


    After she saw the unbelievable amount of vinegar tubes with her own two eyes, she could finally believe what Zefrael had said back there. The rice vinegar was really the love of the dragon boy¡¯s life.


    ¡°So, Zef, how to use this?¡± asked Ennario. His fingers were tapping on the upper part of the cylinder¡¯s side, and created a slow rhythmic sound.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Zefrael raised his head from the bag of potato chips in his hand and incredulously stared the dragon boy, looking somewhat confused. It took him a second, before he realized, ¡°Oh, right! I haven¡¯t told you.¡± He pulled his fingers out from the chips bag, and pointed to the cylindrical thing. ¡°You saw that glow on the upper side?¡±


    Ennario promptly wrinkled his eyebrows and observing the cylinder carefully. Standing behind him, Alexia did the same. She peeked behind the dragon boy¡¯s shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of the supposed glow of the cylindrical thing.


    At the upper flat area of the cylinder, there was something like a small vortex which glowed dimly with a diffused green color. It was thumping with a constant beat, and revolving in an endless circle.


    ¡°It was the socket,¡± Zefrael continued, ¡°Just use your finger to shove something in or taking something out.¡±


    Drilling his eyes at the swirling vortex of the cylinder¡¯s socket, Ennario muttered with doubt, ¡°Is that¡ªsafe? Looks kinda dangerous.¡±


    It did. Alexia mentally agreed with the dragon boy. A sane person wouldn¡¯t carelessly put his hand, in this case, finger, into something as bizarre and mysterious as this.


    ¡°Pshh! Dangerous? No way, it was one of my creation,¡± the demon lord scoffed disdainfully and confidently shoved his chips-oily fingers into the vortex. He pulled them a second later, and waving his crumby fingers¡ªwhich looked pretty much the same as before¡ªtowards the dragon boy. ¡°Here! Perfectly safe!¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­" Ennario promptly muttered, "it does look safe.¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Zefrael said with a proud smile. He resumed eating the potato chips, crunching them loudly inside his mouth and glanced towards the dragon boy. ¡°Now, chop-chop, Enna! We can¡¯t spend all day here, can we?¡±


    Urged by the demon lord, Ennario started to put his vinegar stash into the cylinder, one tube at a time. It actually took some time for him to do that. During the time, Zefrael kept eating his chips (obviously), while Alexia attentively watched Ennario¡¯s diligent proceedings.


    Like the Daedalus something pouch, the cylinder¡ªregardless the compact size¡ªcould accommodate every each one of Ennario¡¯s vinegar stash. It was such a miracle beyond anything she could ever imagine. How in the world the shitlord could create something like that?


    When Ennario finally put the last tube inside the cylinder, the horrible stench vanished from the air. The wind blew off another breeze of fresh air, and finally pulled Alexia out from the stinky hell hole. Really, she was beyond grateful with the blessing.


    ¡°Done!¡±


    Raising his body to stand up with a small jump, Ennario held up the cylinder¡ªwhich was filled with hazy yellowish color¡ªtowards the sky. The sun etched a cylindrical shadow to his smiling face as he glanced back to the still crouching demon lord, ¡°I got a name for this, Zef¡ª¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t use my name,¡± the demon lord promptly interrupted while raising his body to stand. As he halted his chips gluttony, he threw a disapproving look towards the dragon boy, ¡°That¡¯s lame, Enna, so no.¡±


    ¡°Eehh? But¡ª¡±


    Zefrael instantly shrugged, ¡°It doesn¡¯t really need a name, just call it a cylinder.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no fun!¡± Ennario replied with a pout while rubbing the glassy surface of the cylinder in his hand, ¡°Then, scratch your name, make it Cylindric Conservation. In short, CC!¡±


    The demon lord casually waved his hand to his dragon friend, and darted his eyes back to his potato chips. It was obviously an ambiguity between agreement and disagreement, more like he didn''t even care or interested in whatever name Ennario would put to the cylindrical thing.


    ¡°Ugh, fine!¡± Ennario blurted dejectedly. As if he was looking for a confidant, he turned his face to Alexia, and showed her a vigorous smile, ¡°What do you think, Alexia? CC!! Pretty nice, huh?¡±


    Startled at the question which was thrown at her, Alexia was speechless for a second. Only a moment later, she found her voice back. ¡°Well¡­yeah¡­CC¡­okay¡­¡± she mumbled hesitatingly.


    Whatever the name, it was a cylinder that had saved her from the stinky hell hole. Zefrael¡¯s plan had passed brilliantly with flying colors, and she was so grateful for it. Finally, the journey could continue with more comfort than torture. So really, she didn¡¯t care about Ennario¡¯s lame naming sense. Even if he named it ¡®SS the Shit Sealer¡¯, she would still be fine with it.


    ¡°Your reaction is too bland¡­¡± Ennario muttered quietly while puckering his mouth, but in the end, he breathed a long sigh in resignation, ¡°Well, CC it is then.¡±


    As if he¡¯d just got the approval he needs¡ªeven if it wasn''t exactly clear¡ªEnnario shoved the cylinder, CC, into his pouch, before he tied it to his hips. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re done! Let¡¯s go!¡±


    At the same time, Zefrael¡ªwho finally finished his potato chips¡ªmoved to throw the empty bag to the ground.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t litter here!!¡± Ennario suddenly shouted, stopping the demon lord¡¯s movement in air. He pointed the empty bag in Zefrael hand with an upset look, ¡°It¡¯s bad for the environment, so throw it at the proper place.¡±


    Acting all amazed, the demon lord swept his surrounding exaggeratingly. ¡°Where?? Maybe I¡¯m blind but I don¡¯t see any trash can here.¡±


    Ennario fidgeted, ¡°Well, the existence of a trash can in the grassland is really out of place, but¡ª¡°


    Showing a victory drawn face, Zefrael happily grinned, ¡°Hee¡­so I can¡¯t help to throw it here then? Well, there is no trash can.¡±


    Alexia felt itchy all of the sudden. She was really itchy to retaliate to his obvious falsehood, and to interrupt his blame on the dragon boy, so she did. ¡°Do you ever throw a trash into the proper place, huh, shitlord?" she scoffed in disdain, "Your castle¡¯s audience chamber sure looks like a big dump waste rather than a proper room.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right,¡± the demon lord instantly gasped like he realized something, but soon his surprise turned into another playful grin, ¡°now that you said that, Alex. It did look like a giant trash can. In that case¡ª"


    Stopping his sentence mid-way, he raised his hand which was holding the potato chips bag and promptly flashed a bluish magic circle there. In a blink of an eye, the empty bag was gone, leaving the demon lord¡¯s hand empty as ever.


    ¡°There, I threw them into my personal trash can,¡± Zefrael grinned, ¡°No more objections now, Enna? Alex?¡±


    Ennario looked surprised, but he didn¡¯t say anything to object. As for Alexia, she didn¡¯t want to feel more tired by objecting to the demon lord¡¯s exaggerating action just now.


    As a matter of fact, she wasn¡¯t as environment-friendly as the dragon boy. In many occasion, she had let the demon lord litter all the time, saying nothing to compel him for the otherwise. She was one hundred percent sure that raising her protest wouldn¡¯t do her any good. She rather closed off every chance of him teasing her.


    Still, to tell the truth, she wasn''t able to move her eyes away from the missing chips bag in the demon lord¡¯s hands, for an entirely different reason.


    It was a surging wave of jealousy and envy.


    She had felt it sometime before when Zefrael demonstrated his summoning. It was obvious that it was a magic process. It was the power of magic which would never arrived within her reach. It really frustrated her that he¡¯d done it so easily¡ªwithout even casting any incantation, to beat¡ªeven if the first rule in magic was the incantation itself.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t look at me like that, Alex?¡± Zefrael suddenly said while gazing at her with a downhearted look.


    His abrupt words instantly slapped Alexia awake. She gasped in horror when the meaning inside his words struck into her brain with a hard impact. Being too frustrated in her inability, it seemed she had unconsciously showed her envious expression to her enemy.


    The girl hurriedly plastered a tough face, hoping that the demon lord would leave the topic immediately before he sniffed out the thing she had been hiding for some time, but he straightly devastated her hope.


    With piercing purple eyes straightly directed into her eyes, he murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want to learn my teleportation magic too? You know that you can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Eh!?¡± Alexia instantly felt her blood drained out when she heard that. ¡°Wh-what did you say?¡±


    Vigilance started running through her entire body. She never thought that the worst case scenario where the demon lord guessed her inability in magic could happen, moreover at the time when she was not ready.


    Right, Alexia confessed. She couldn¡¯t do any magic. She knew its existence, she theoretically learnt it at the Hero School, she even memorized some of the incantation, but less conjuring magic, she couldn¡¯t even perceive magical energy.


    That was what she had been hiding, her sole flaw as the Chosen Hero.


    Magic was a power of nature, given by the blessing of the World Tree, to the people of the land. Some individuals accepted those blessing into their selves fully, and born with a gift to channel the power of nature. It was the power to call on magic using the magical incantation.


    The qualification of the Hero School had stated that the Hero should be able to use magic, to become best of the best, both in magic and physical combat. But, Alexia hadn''t been born with magic power.


    She had seriously thought that she could¡¯ve been dropped out from the school because of that fatal flaw, but it turned out that her physical combat part was top notch. She had won against other students with magic power in every chance, whether if it was the sparring battle, a mock-up quest, everything.


    Her desire for revenge was the one that pushed her to the limit. To counter magicians¡ªwho usually had slow attacks because of the long incantation¡ªshe drilled herself with every speedy techniques. She even dared to say that she trained harder than anyone else, just for a chance to kill the demon lord with her own hands.


    Fortunately, her effort had paid off. As the best graduate from the Hero School, she was finally chosen as the Hero by the King and dispatched to the evil castle.


    Yet¡­


    Now, the demon lord¡ªthe sworn enemy she had to kill¡ªpointed straight to her face, and said that she couldn¡¯t do magic. Alexia was really in the verge of losing herself. How the hell he found out!?


    ¡°Um¡­Alex, why are you making many different faces on your own?¡± Zefrael incredulously peered into her face, looking like a lost child in a crowd, ¡°I just wanted to tell you that you can¡¯t learn my magic because it was my privilege as the demon lord.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Alexia couldn''t even believe what she''d just heard.


    ¡°It was one of the exclusive magic that only I can do¡ª¡± he stopped, and confusedly stared at the girl, ¡°What now? Your mouth is gaping like an idiot.¡±


    Alexia hurriedly closed her mouth, finally aware that she had unconsciously opened them. Her tongue felt really dry. How long did she open them???


    Still, looking at the demon lord''s words, she seemed to have misunderstood something. Zefrael wasn¡¯t aware on her inability of magic. He only thought that she couldn¡¯t do it because it was his own personalized magic. Alexia instantly felt relieved, the worst case of scenario wasn¡¯t going to happen.


    Acting like nothing¡¯s happened, the girl let out a nonchalant snort, ¡°Hmph! Not your bussiness, shitlord.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Zefrael¡¯s violet purple eyes was staring into her eyes with the color of hesitation. He looked like he was having a hard time to believe her word, but Alexia didn¡¯t have a plan to give in.


    ¡°Really,¡± she curtly answered. As she glared his doubtful purple eyes with the strongest gaze she can manage, she added provokingly, ¡°Not satisfied?¡±


    The demon lord finally shrugged in resignation, ¡°Well, have it your way.¡±


    As soon as she seized her victory, Alexia immediately sneered, ¡°Certainly.¡±


    ¡°Um, sorry to interrupt.¡±


    Ennario suddenly said from the side. Alexia almost jumped in surprise. Zefrael, on the other side, wasn''t exactly so. Looking pretty much unfazed, he was wiping the last oil splotch in his finger using the tail of his dark long coat in a casual gesture. As usual, he was so filthy.


    ¡°Uh¡­we better get moving,¡± the dragon boy hesitatingly continued his word, ¡°long way ahead.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Alexia instantly replied, taking all her chance to leave the topic of magic, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Without further wait, she kicked her boots and resumed the journey which had been paused because of the stench problem. Now, without the torture of the stinky smell, her stride felt lighter than before. Behind her, two sets of steps straightly followed, as they were ready to welcome the next chapter of the journey.


    Or it was supposed to be like that.


    But suddenly, Ennario let out a confused mutter, ¡°Zef, you said back there, about the exclusive magic only privileged for you.¡±


    Without stopping her stroll, Alexia opened her ears wide to hear the conversation behind her back. Undoubtedly, she wasn¡¯t part of it, but who knows she could get some information from it?


    Zefrael only sounded a confusion, leaving Ennario to continue his sentence, ¡°By that, you can¡¯t mean the power of the World Tree?¡± he carefully asked, "But isn''t that¡ªthe power owned by¡ª?"


    ¡°Of course it was her power. It was the power which was coming from our mother World Tree, what else?¡± the demon lord replied as the matter of fact, but suddenly, he sharply inhaled his breath in wary, ¡°But wait, do you actually meant someone else??¡±


    ¡°No, sorry," Ennario shook his head, "Maybe I''m over thinking things."


    ¡°Huh? You can think, Enna??" Zefrael asked in disbelief.


    "Should I really smack you, Zef??"


    Zefrael giggled quietly, but then, his tone of voice turned somewhat serious, "Well, isn''t it common sense that the demon lord is able to use the power of the World Tree? And I am that demon lord, so nothing''s wrong, right??"


    ¡°Don''t get cocky!!!¡±


    Tired of being a spectator, Alexia shouted. She stopped her stroll and wheeled back towards the two guys, ¡°I¡¯ll kill this shitlord and stop him from using the power of the World Tree," she declared, "It was my mission after all.¡±


    That''s right, it was her sole mission.


    Honestly, Alexia never thought a lot about her mission. She only wanted to fulfill her wish of revenge with any means possible. Still, to tell the truth, as the Chosen Hero, her mission wasn¡¯t limited to kill the demon lord, but also to release the World Tree from within his evil grasp.


    Ennario promptly gazed the girl with a difficult look on his face. He wasn''t saying anything after the girl''s declaration of war.


    In opposite of the dragon boy, Zefrael giggled quietly. He smiled to the girl, looking happy and joyful as usual, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be waiting until you get your party member, Alex.¡±


    Alexia instantly rolled her eyes and wheeled back to the front. She had no plan to drag the topic any longer, so she immediately resumed her walk on the pathway. Not long after, her step was followed by demon lord and the dragon boy.


    She heard no more conversation from her behind, and the melody of the calm grassland involuntarily lulled her into a long contemplation.


    To be honest, she was a little lost back there with Zefrael and Ennario¡¯s conversation. The information didn''t seem comprehensible enough or even useful to her, and besides that, the demon lord¡¯s reaction was really off.


    Faced with a sure end which was lying in front of him, Zefrael looked like he was having fun with it. He even helped her¡ªthe Hero who would kill him one day¡ªby raising her chance on winning. He was being too tenacious for getting some party members to help her, and even used such a cunning way of robbing her necklace. It was so twisted beyond her imagination.


    Seriously, was he that proud and confident that she wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat him? Or he was just an insane and weird one? Or maybe, there was actually another hidden reason behind his action?


    Alexia didn¡¯t know much about her enemy. For example, many of his abilities were proved unknown to her. He was gnawing at the power of the World Tree, and seizing it as his own, but what was actually that power?


    Summoning things from his castle to his hand in an instant? Using a vanishing magic without any incantation? Creating the CC which could bend the law of time and space? What else she still hadn¡¯t found out?


    Everything about him was completely shrouded in mystery.


    Now that she thought again, that was probably the reason she couldn¡¯t even win from him.


    Then, in that case, her next agenda would be to know the demon lord more, so she could cook another plan that would end his life once and for all.


    Didn¡¯t he say that he will be waiting?

 Chapter 9

    ¡°This obviously isn¡¯t a village.¡±


    As he stopped in the middle of a crowded intersection, Zefrael complained with a pout. Some passing people glanced towards his way in confusion, some threw him a disapproving gaze, but most of them didn¡¯t even care even a bit and just sheered away passed him.


    Having no other choice, Alexia followed him to a stop. There was no other way to say it, she was irritated. ¡°It¡¯s not," she snapped, "Are you by any chance blind or something?¡±


    Naturally, she didn¡¯t want to be blamed for her sarcasm. Really, how could she wasn''t cranky if the shitlord complained at the obvious blatant fact?


    There was no way she could call her surrounding a ¡®village¡¯, not with the vast amount of people and the big building which was standing around them.


    The place was no village. It was a city, and a big one at that.


    Two or three stories tall brick buildings neatly lined up on the sides of the spacious main road. The road itself extended through the whole city with an organized three-color combination concrete pavement. Boxes of plants, bushes, and even flowers are orderly placed in the center of the road, in between ball-shaped lamp post.


    The main road opened in a cross intersection where the number of people passing was never exhausted. Some walked in a hurry crossing the intersection to the destination they had in mind, and some walked more leisurely around the lush and spacious garden, right in the middle of the intersection.


    No one in their right mind would want to stop in the middle of the endless people stream, but the shitty demon lord clearly didn¡¯t have a right mind.


    ¡°No, but¡ª¡± Zefrael shrugged his shoulder in puzzled manner, ¡°Well, I thought our destination IS a village.¡± He glanced accusingly at the dragon boy who also moved to stop, ¡°Enna said so.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I did,¡± Ennario replied with sullen face. He didn¡¯t seem to like the nickname Zefrael gave him, but at the same time he looked resigned as if the demon lord would never correct them. With a sour face, he puckered his mouth, ¡°But I did say that the village is in the eastern part of the continent.¡±


    Zefrael looked surprised. ¡°You did?¡±


    ¡°He did.¡±


    Alexia instantly replied with spite. Beside the probability of blindness, it seems the shitlord also had a probability of deafness. She got a weary look from the demon lord, but she immediately ignored him. She definitely had more pressing matters which needed her immediate attention.


    ¡°More importantly, when will your stupid brain is going to realize that we¡¯re being a disturbance to people passing through?¡± she pointed with annoyance.


    There was nothing more problematic than being idle in the endless wave of passing people. The girl felt so many eyes on her, uncountable by number already, and it felt very awkward like she was in a wrong time and place. The tension she felt in the middle of the crowd stiffened her body in anxiety, and she didn¡¯t like it. Really, really didn¡¯t like it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just talk while walking,¡± Alexia finally ended her sentence with an unshaken determination and took the first step forwards.


    A second later, the dragon boy followed. While taking a pleased glance towards the demon lord, he added, ¡°What she said.¡±


    Ennario patted Zefrael¡¯s shoulder twice, as if to comfort him, before he resumed his nonchalant walk.


    Honestly, that gesture looked weird in Alexia¡¯s eyes, because Ennario¡¯s built was smaller than Zefrael. She felt a little itchy watching someone shorter like him patted the demon lord who was obviously taller, but of course, she chose to stay quiet. After all, who was older between them was still debatable.


    Heeding Alexia¡¯s wish¡ªand also Ennario¡¯s, Zefrael finally nailed off his feet from the ground. He took his place beside the girl and started to walk with the group in the same speed.


    ¡°So,¡± he started, throwing his question towards his dragon friend who was walking by the girl¡¯s opposite side, ¡°If the destination is the eastern village, why are we here then?¡±


    Ennario peered him with doubtful look, as if Zefrael wasn¡¯t suppose to ask him that, but nevertheless, he answered him, ¡°That eastern village is pretty far from here, considering the distance, we wouldn¡¯t be walking¡ª¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zefrael interrupted with dubious look, ¡°We¡¯re not walking there??¡±


    ¡°Nuh-uh,¡± Ennario shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not recommended.¡±


    The demon lord seemed surprised by the answer. His eyebrows were wrinkled in confusion. ¡°B-but I thought, adventure is done by walking throughout the world.¡±


    ¡°Hah! And spending years to reach a single destination?? You amaze me, shitlord.¡±


    Alexia couldn¡¯t help to cynically intrude the argument which was passing through her ears. They literally talked between her that she just couldn¡¯t listen quietly. All the more when the weird demon lord was spouting nonsense again, at the very moment she felt so uncomfortable because of the crowd.


    But, Zefrael only stared her with a dumbfounded look.


    ¡°It took years to reach that eastern village??¡± he repeated in surprise. His purple eyes glinted with amazement and excitement. ¡°Wow, I never thought this continent is extending that far.¡±


    Alexia instantly rolled her eyes, feeling too bothersome even to retort at his nonsensical remarks. She admitted that she didn¡¯t know which eastern village Ennario had been talking about. There were too many settlements in the east that she was unable to pinpoint the exact place. Still, in her visualized estimation, the edge of the continent would only take a year, tops, there was no way the dragon boy¡¯s eastern village would go over it.


    She was being sarcastic and had coaxed her words in annoyance, yet Zefrael actually believed her nonsense. She didn¡¯t even care if it was true or his usual faking act, but it seemed the dragon boy did care.


    ¡°Is this supposed to be a joke?¡± Ennario asked warily. ¡°Or you really don¡¯t know?¡±


    Zefrael shrugged his shoulder. ¡°Sorry if you guys had high hopes for me,¡± he answered with a mumble and showed a disappointed look, ¡°I would want to joke around, but sadly, it¡¯s the latter.¡±


    Ennario breathed a long sigh. ¡°Yeah, no wonder. You holed up in your castle all the time,¡± he commented. ¡°Seriously, do you ever get out? Don¡¯t tell me this is your first?¡±


    ¡°First¡­well, probably,¡± Zefrael said quietly. His violet purple eyes glanced towards his dragon friend, before they moved to Alexia with a tinge of amusement. ¡°You guys know why I can¡¯t leave,¡± he said haughtily while placing his hand on his own chest, ¡°I have a duty to wait, you know. If I¡¯m not in my castle when the Chosen Hero arrived, that would be my blunder. So,¡± he continues with a smile, ¡°In that case, I would rather stay at home, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Ennario sighed wearily while shaking his head a few times. The short tassels of his bandana are swaying vaguely. ¡°Why don''t you say that you are a standard shut-in, huh, Zef?¡±


    ¡°Well, duh, because I¡¯m not, Enna. Evidently, I got out, didn¡¯t I??¡± The demon lord protested while discontentedly staring at Ennario, but not for long, he shifted his eyes through the crowd of people, far into the distance with a contemplation look, ¡°but really, I never needed to get out in the first place. At home, I could know everything.¡±


    The demon lord was muttering to himself, but his voice was delivered clear enough to Ennario¡¯s place that it was impossible for Alexia to pretend that she didn¡¯t hear it.


    The city¡¯s hustle bustle finally became her background music as she spouted her mockery, ¡°Why you left, then? What a pity to leave the ability to know everything.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    She only has one word, bullshit.


    Alexia obviously didn¡¯t believe him about the ¡®know everything¡¯ part. Firstly, she didn¡¯t want to admit that her enemy was that almighty, and secondly, he had ruined that very part when he stupidly believed her sarcasm lie just now.


    ¡°Well, reason is simple!¡± Zefrael answered vibrantly and glanced at the girl with a grin, ¡°I left for you, Alex. Be grateful.¡±


    That was kind of unexpected, but expected answer from the shitty demon lord. It maxed out her irritation that she snarled immediately, ¡°Over my dead body! You forced me into this!¡±


    Yet, the demon lord only giggled quietly at her snarl. As he darted his eyes from her to his opened palm of hand, he continued as if he hadn''t heard any of the girl¡¯s irritation. ¡°Well, I do know every place which was connected by roots of the World Tree in this continent, but it¡¯s kinda like an overview, I never knew the real distance.¡±


    Alexia half-heartedly listened to the demon lord¡¯s excuse. She wasn¡¯t interested in hearing them. To be honest, she didn¡¯t even care. Completely ignoring his bullshit, she swept back her vision to the surrounding which was getting quieter by the second.


    As they went east, the cross intersection ended with a stone-arc gateway which draped with blue-colored vertical flag at the sides. The twin flag with golden lines was embroidered in gold thread to shape the crest of an eagle with spreading wings. It was the crest of the Regalia Kingdom.


    Regalia Kingdom was a sole kingdom in this world, the main capital in the continent. It was the very kingdom which has given Alexia her Hero title and ordered her to defeat the demon lord, to save the World Tree from his grasp. The famous Hero School was built there, within the capital, as the starting point of every individual who sought to become a Hero.


    Regalia Kingdom was actually the place where her first journey had begun. During that first journey, Alexia already had the chance to visit this city¡ªwhich was stood between the Kingdom and the Demon Lord''s castle.


    To tell the truth, the city landscape was nothing new to her. Instead, she could say that the familiar scenery was somewhat soothing for her. Besides that, there was one more positive point. As she walked towards the eastern direction, the wave of people was starting to diminish in number. Soon, the tension she felt within the crowd waned, and she finally felt quite comfortable.


    Then, Ennario¡¯s voice entered her eardrums again.


    ¡°Just leave it at that, Zef,¡± he said curtly, ¡°You could make up any reason which wasn''t true at all, and we would never know the validity. More importantly¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s exaggerating!¡± Zefrael interrupted with a pout. ¡°What do you think I am??¡±


    ¡°A liar who likes to make fun of people,¡± the dragon boy replied accusingly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, huh, Alexia?¡±


    Ennario threw the question at her, but the girl didn¡¯t even need a second to come up with an answer. ¡°Yeah, an asshole who lies all the time, to be exact.¡±


    ¡°See?¡± the dragon boy happily giggled while nodding in satisfaction.


    Clearly, Alexia couldn¡¯t agree more. Considering everything that had happened so far, and how she had deceived in some of the occasion, her straight conclusion couldn¡¯t be wrong. It would never be wrong.


    ¡°Aww, you guys is so mean to me¡­¡±


    Ennario shrugged in contrived astonishment. ¡°Stop playing the victim, would you? You just look like faking.¡±


    As she glanced at the sulking demon lord, Alexia couldn¡¯t hold a victorious smile to appear at her face. It seemed, as the dragon boy said before, he was indeed her brother in arms, even if it sounded so bizarre.


    To tell the truth, she still couldn¡¯t fathom Ennario¡¯s decision to accompany her in this journey and becoming one of her party member. Why would he if the closing act in this insane journey was obviously killing the demon lord, his own friend¡ªor acquaintance??


    He had said that he wanted to beat up the shitlord, but killing him? It should be another story.


    Nevertheless, Alexia couldn¡¯t retract her decision anymore. It was too bothersome to find another person and repeating it all over again. She would rather just go with it, and tackle the next quest of party member (made by Zefrael) and let it over with.


    Besides, there was a chance that the other replacement wouldn¡¯t be as easy to deal as Ennario. She felt it sometime before, that the dragon boy was actually quite nice to her. After he realized her stranger anxiety problem¡ªhe had guessed when he saw her fidgeted nervously every time they met people in the way, and the shitlord had also confirmed it¡ªhe didn¡¯t try to make fun of her. He even helped her with the small talk like Zefrael did before, but in a much better way¡ªwhich meant, no teasing included.


    Alexia did feel grateful, but at the same time she couldn¡¯t help to feel a little discouraged, because Ennario acted towards her quite differently compared to how he acted towards the demon lord. With her, he kept this assuring expression with a slight smile plastered to his face, more like a courtesy smile for customers.


    Well, he is a merchant, it can¡¯t be helped.


    Inevitably, it just gave her a feeling that there was an invisible wall between them, which was obstructing her to know the real purpose he had for joining the adventure.


    Alexia couldn''t even guess Ennario¡¯s reason to hide his dragon identity by transforming into a human. Was he the only dragon in this world? Or there was more like him? That was another mystery she couldn¡¯t solve.


    Her knowledge only reached out to a few facts. Like how he loved rice vinegar too much, and how he had a bad sense in naming things. Of course, she knew those traits from his argument with the demon lord, certainly not something she had found out with her own power.


    All of the fact actually told her that she and Ennario weren''t actually ¡®friends¡¯ like the bond between him and the demon lord. Still, she stopped herself from hoping too much. During this insane journey, probably she would know Ennario better, or she wouldn¡¯t. Who knows?


    When the final day finally came in the near future, probably the dragon boy would be a help to her, or he wouldn¡¯t. Well, whatever it was, she wouldn¡¯t keep her hopes up too high.


    If push really came to shove, she would definitely still ready to fight the demon lord by herself. In any way, she should really think some way to overcome his strength before the day came.


    As she snuck a glance towards her sworn enemy, Zefrael was letting out a short sigh with a defeated expression.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a killjoy, Enna,¡± he mumbled in a sulky tone. Yet, a moment later¡ªas if he never sulked at the first place¡ªhe stared blankly at the dragon boy, ¡°So? What¡¯s the more importantly thing you¡¯re want to say?¡±


    As she was watching the sight, another perplexity popped up inside her mind. It was a confusion enough to veer her curiosity from Ennario¡¯s mystery, to Zefrael¡¯s.


    Actually, the sight of the demon lord¡¯s fast-changing expression was really disconcerting to her. Moreover, he had done it many times already. He had said that his cold expression from before was only an act, and Alexia immediately assumed that his fast change in attitude was because he had faked it, but what if she were wrong?


    His change was very unnatural, and it just suspiciously blurred the personality of the shitty demon lord within her mind. Honestly, she would be lost if she had to guess which one was the real him. Was it one of them, or actually all of them??


    She had no answer for those mysteries, whether if it was the demon lord, or even the dragon boy. Obviously, she needed more time to delve deeper into them. It was her next agenda, but really, she shouldn¡¯t be too hasty.


    Alexia stopped herself for thinking too much and shifted back her mind into the conversation happening in front of her.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ennario seemed confused by Zefrael¡¯s words for a second, before he let out a gasp, ¡°Oh, yeah, about that.¡± He darted his silver draconic eyes to the approaching stone-arc gateway with blue flags, ¡°I¡¯ll answer your first question, straight to the point. We¡¯re here to catch a ride to the eastern village.¡±


    ¡°A ride?¡± asked Zefrael.


    ¡°Right, do you know this place?¡± Ennario continued as they passed below the stone-arc gateway, entering the Regalia Kingdom territory.


    ¡°A¡ªcity¡ª?¡± The demon lord answered with a baffled look, ¡°Alex said it¡¯s not a village.¡±


    Alexia held herself not to retaliate. The shitty demon lord cutting her name short inappropriately wasn¡¯t anything new anymore. Ennario was another example which had proved the shitlord wasn¡¯t going to yield about the nicknaming thing. It just tired her to be angry at his remarks every time.


    ¡°This city is called the World Intersection,¡± the dragon boy continued with a slight mocking tone. He extended his hand towards the surrounding and added, ¡°To go across territories, people must¡¯ve passed this city. Did your so-called overview tell you that, Zef?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, I¡¯ve heard of it. I¡¯m not that ignorant,¡± the demon lord muttered quietly. He looked a little displeased with Ennario¡¯s contemn, but soon his nonchalant mask was returned as he darted his eyes toward the girl, ¡°You knew about it as well, aren¡¯t you, Alex?¡±


    Ignoring the fact that Zefrael had cut her name again, Alexia buried her annoyance in the deepest corner of her mind. She tried not to care, even for a bit, because she would definitely lose if the stupid shitlord would have fun again with her irritation. Instead, she forced herself to answer him without any irk. Luckily, she managed to sound a yes with disinterest.


    The World Intersection, it was the common sense for everyone who lives in this continent.


    The city of Zalende, this city, was more known as the World Intersection. As the name dictates, Zalende was a place where all of the four territories intersect. Built with high walls and big gateways, this city acted as the only connection between all territories. The only way to go across the territory was passing through Zalende.


    Alexia had learnt it before in her school about the continent geography. From Zalende to the east was the biggest territory where Regalia Kingdom stands tall with many major cities spreading around it, while to the west, the smallest one, was the evil Demon Lord¡¯s territory where the gigantic World Tree soars into the sky. Those two territories were quite familiar to Alexia, as she had been there before, but she couldn¡¯t say the same for the two other territories. Northern territory had been said to be a cold territory with an unending snow while southern was supposed to be a hot blazing desert, but that was only a textbook knowledge, she never verified them with her own eyes.


    ¡°Good, that would make things simpler,¡± Ennario said in satisfaction, calling Alexia back to her present situation.


    Zalende¡¯s eastern gate which led into the Kingdom territory appeared in sight as they walked. Buildings and houses thinned out into an open area with an opened wooden-golden-hinged gate door. Exactly near the gates, dozens of carriage coaches pulled with horses, parked neatly at the pavement road sides.


    In front of the scenery, Ennario stopped and glanced towards both Alexia and Zefrael with a bright smile. ¡°This is what I meant for a ride. It''s a way to brought us east in a faster method.¡±


    Without waiting for a reaction from his two companions, he stretched his arms open in excitement and gestured towards the coaches with his hopeful silver draconic eyes, ¡°Now, let¡¯s haggle!¡±

 Chapter 10

    It turned out, Alexia didn¡¯t like haggling. If possible, she wouldn¡¯t want to do it again for a second time.


    And for that, she had a few reasons for her claim.


    First would be how it had to be conducted with another person¡ªstrangers mostly¡ªby talkative speech. That was the very reason why it was impossible for her. Naturally, she would be stuttering before she could even haggle. Luckily, Ennario was the one who did the haggling.


    Second was definitely because the process dragged too long than she could ever imagine. It was only a few hours after morning when they arrived at Zalende, but when the price was finally agreed between both parties, it had already past lunch time. She felt so hungry that she almost drooled over Zefrael¡¯s potato chips eating antics (he actually ate some during the haggling). Fortunately, it was only almost, and clearly didn''t happen.


    Still, both of the guys had found out that she was actually hungry. Her stomach was to be blamed because it was too noisy. Really, such disgrace was definitely needed to be kicked far away into the oblivion and wiped clean from everyone¡¯s memory for eternity, but her hope wasn¡¯t granted.


    As expected for the shitlord, he had teased her with his evil-but-happy grin, while offering some of his potato chips he¡¯d been eating. In anger and embarrassment, Alexia had curtly declined him with a short resentful no. She actually didn¡¯t hate potato chips, she had also eaten some in the past, but accepting them from the demon lord was an unacceptable deed for her¡ªand she already sick of them because she saw him eating them every time.


    So yes, the girl had successfully defended her pride, but as the consequence, her stomach stayed hungry as ever.


    In the dire predicament, Ennario came as the savior. With a nonchalant gesture, he suggested to have some lunch before the departure by coach. Thank god.


    Finally, they had some lunch in the open-terrace caf¨¦ in the center part of Zalende. The food was very delicious. It tasted heavenly for Alexia who had been starved for some time. Both of the guys also ate while adding some of their weird and problematic preference. Zefrael was doing it with his chips as usual, but the real problem lies in Ennario.


    His preference was vinegar. Alexia knew them already, but what she didn¡¯t know was the fact that he poured them to everything he eats or drinks. His savory meal, his soda drink, even his sweet chocolate cake dessert, everything was vinegar-styled. Yuck!


    Alexia didn¡¯t want to guess the taste, or even tried to imagine. It was clearly too disgusting, scary, and horrendous at the same time. She really questioned the credibility of the taste bud of his. Her conjecture, it was probably broken beyond repair.


    Anyways, during the short lunch, they had some trifling conversations. After Alexia finally satisfied her fussy stomach, they left the city to the east by the hired coach, without any further problem.


    Everything supposed to end well, but¡ª


    That was before she heard the ¡®agreed price¡¯ between Ennario and the coach driver. That would be her third reason to say no for another haggle.


    ¡°Saving a village? Seriously??¡±


    Alexia exclaimed in surprise while throwing a bothersome look towards the guys who sat across of her inside the coach, especially to the one who gazed at her with a hopeful look in his silver eyes.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ennario mumbled while scratching his vibrant blue hair around his bandana knot, ¡°you¡¯re willing to do it, right, Alexia?¡±


    Honestly, she wanted to say no, as it only sounded nothing but a bother to her. Yet, the other stare¡ªfrom the one who kept munching his potato chips¡ªstopped the thoughtless answer which had almost blurted out from her mouth.


    He wasn¡¯t saying a word. He was only munching his chips¡ªmunch, munch, munch¡ªnoisily-but-deliciously, while keeping his violet purple eyes locked at her. Seriously, she couldn''t even begin to imagine how bottomless this stomach pit was. Chips before, during, and after lunch!? Is there a black hole inside his stomach or something??


    Well, nonetheless, Zefrael¡¯s silent¡ªnot exactly if she counted his munching¡ªgaze involuntarily reminded her about the true purpose of the journey. This¡ªif she had to borrow the demon lord¡¯s word¡ªwas probably the dawn of a new quest.


    As much she wanted to say no, she couldn¡¯t, because her necklace''s safety was depended on it.


    Alexia threw her gaze outside, beyond the coach¡¯s glass window to escape the stare at her. A perfectly lined wide brick road actually came to her view. The road was stretching over a fertile steppe with thick trees and small flower bushes which rested on the varied sized slopes. At the end of the road, was the capital of Regalia Kingdom, but obviously, it wasn¡¯t where she was headed this time.


    As she breathed a short sigh, the girl returned her sight back to the coach''s inside. The constant rattling of the coach''s tires was sounding in the back of her mind as she faced the two guys who sat side by side on the leather cushion with carved ornamental wooden walls as their background.


    ¡°Yeah¡­well, if I must¡­¡± she muttered, regretfully realizing that she had no other choice but to comply.


    ¡°I knew you would understand, Alexia!¡± Ennario vigorously replied. Raising his two fingers with a sign of peace, he winked happily, ¡°That way, the cost for hiring this great coach would be free.¡± Turning his head front, he loudly added to the coach driver who was holding the reins of his horses outside, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Mister?¡±


    From outside, a deep and low voice of a man replied, ¡°Yes, of course. If my request is complete, I¡¯ll bring you wherever you want with my coach.¡± Then, he continued with sheepish voice, ¡°Haha, how lucky I am to be helped by the Hero herself.¡±


    Right, that was the very reason which had started the request. The coach driver had found out that Alexia was the Hero and then, it came down to this. Honestly, she was annoyed back there. To her frustration, he also surmised wrongly about her gender¡ªfollowing Zefrael and Ennario¡¯s example¡ªbut she had no other choice but to help him. Helping people in need was actually listed within her duty as the Hero.


    Alexia had already crossed the line she couldn¡¯t turn back anymore when she agreed, so she better readied herself to face the inevitable. Still, the ¡®quest¡¯ did sound pretty bothersome¡ªmore than the one about slaying the dragon.


    As she shifted her gaze back to the moving scenery outside the window, the girl recalled Ennario''s explanation about the details of the quest.


    The coach driver was a man in his forties, his name was Karlan. His hometown was a small settlement in the southeastern part of the Kingdom territory. Karlan said that his village was built around the Salen Gulf, the mountainous reef at the edge of the continent. It was famous with the beautiful beaches and the ample sea products, from seafoods to decorations and accessories.


    The village had been prospering all year straight with their nature tourism and renowned products, but lately, it was getting desolate. Everything changed because of one scary rumor.


    They said ¡®ghosts¡¯ kept appearing at unexpected places, and scaring the hell out of the people. Karlan even said that his ten-years-old daughter was claiming that she could see this ghost, and sometimes was seen talking to herself and later, conveying the said ghost¡¯s words. It was really appalling, the coach driver had said.


    Karlan''s request was none other than the investigation of the ghost rumor, whether it was true or not, and followed with an extermination¡ªif the ghost was a real deal. He was hoping to return his village back to its glory, and also, saving his little girl from the ghost''s bound.


    In a way, it was a preposterous kind of quest, which was kind of in tune with this insane and f*cked-up journey.


    ¡°Haa¡­¡±


    Unconsciously, Alexia let out a weary sigh. She, for one, didn¡¯t like the sound of this quest.


    ¡°A long sigh,¡± Ennario muttered quietly, and wrinkled his eyebrows, ¡°Are you unsatisfied with the price, Alexia?¡± Throwing a hopeful look towards the girl, he tried to persuade her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him? It¡¯s free! Isn¡¯t that wonderful?? Nothing beats free things.¡±


    Alexia sighed again in his vigorous inquiring words. It''s not like she hated the freebies. The pocket money she got from the Kingdom for the journey''s expenses was on the verge of running out. It was about time she acted economically, and accepting free things when she got the chance. Yet, there was a probability that the situation wouldn¡¯t need to arrive at this bothersome quest.


    ¡°Well,¡± the girl started, before she suddenly swallowed back her word, realizing the not-really-good situation around her.


    The coach wasn¡¯t big, it had a limited space, enough to accommodate maximum of four persons¡ªand five for the driver outside. Alexia and her party member''s place were separated from the driver''s seat by a thin wooden plank which acted as a sliding door. Considering that, it was only natural if Karlan who was outside, could hear almost everything which was happening inside.


    That was the not-really-good thing that she had realized. Whatever said, in her opinion, the coach driver shouldn¡¯t hear about the thing she was about to say.


    Having no other choice, Alexia picked the last remaining option. Bending her body forward, she gestured towards Zefrael and Ennario to come closer with her hand.


    The demon lord followed her wish immediately. He stopped his chips-eating mode, and bended his body forwards with an amusing look in his face. Beside him, the dragon boy looks confused, but he actually followed without saying a word.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Whispering time?¡± asked Zefrael with quiet voice. His expression gleamed vibrantly with excitement, ¡°What are we gonna talk about now?? I¡¯m sooo thrilled!!¡±


    ¡°Shut up, shitlord!¡± Alexia hissed, forcing her voice to come out as quiet as possible as she brushed off her irritation. This obviously wasn¡¯t the time to be angry at small things. Even if she was astonished much on how the shitlord could voice out an excitement without raising his whispering voice, she wasn¡¯t bothering to show it on her face.


    Instead, she glanced towards both of the guys. She warned Zefrael with a look, before she darted her eyes towards Ennario, ¡°You see, in my opinion, we don¡¯t even need this coach.¡±


    ¡°Huh!?¡± Zefrael raised his voice in surprise, but then, he promptly closed his mouth with his hand. A second later, he lowered his hand and continued with happy screaming whisper in front of Alexia¡¯s annoyed glare, ¡°You do think adventure is done by walking!! I think so too!!¡±


    ¡°No! Stop jumping to conclusion!¡± she instantly protested while keeping her voice to stay at low tone, and glared the grinning demon lord with a peevish look. Regardless of what he said, walking was a super duper bad idea, and more importantly, she didn¡¯t like agreeing with her enemy unnecessarily. ¡°And stop showing that grin before I plaster your mouth!¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­so savage¡­¡± Zefrael muttered with a pout. He turned his eyes away and drilling them into the opened potato chips bag in his hand, ¡°I thought you¡¯re finally approve my idea, and¡ª¡±


    Alexia promptly glared him without saying a word. Luckily, he got her point clear enough as he immediately showed a gesture to zip his mouth with his finger.


    As soon as he did it, the demon lord returned to his chips and started consuming them again. Of course, his munching sound was still noisy, but in one way or another, he was being quiet enough as she had wished.


    ¡°Okay, back to the topic,¡± Alexia finally said and turned her eyes back to the dragon boy, ¡°What I mean is, we don¡¯t even need coaches for our transportation.¡±


    With an expression dyed with confusion, Ennario tilted his head. ¡°Not walking, no coach, huh??¡± he mumbled, crossing his hands in front of his chest in a thinking gesture, ¡°What do you propose then, Alexia?¡±


    ¡°We have you, right, Ennario?¡±


    Alexia voiced out the obvious conclusion which she¡¯d got during the journey, but the dragon boy¡¯s vertical slit pupils only went bigger in complete confusion, as if he was puzzled beyond any words could say.


    ¡°Me??¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hello?? Dragon Ennario??¡± Alexia impatiently scoffed. Really, had she needed to explain things very slowly in a more detailed way to this idiot??


    ¡°Uh, yes??¡±


    Alexia immediately rolled her eyes in his innocently stupid reply. Again, he was unable to catch her point directly, even if it was so obvious already. She was so vexed. This was really the first time she talked with someone so stupid and idiotic.


    ¡°Alex probably meant your dragon form, Enna!¡±


    Zefrael suddenly raised his voice from the side. He finished the last of his chips, ditching the empty bag into thin air and licked his crumby fingers.


    After Ennario¡¯s complain, the demon lord did flash the empty bag away after he ate his chips. Probably, he was doing his best to be more eco-friendly by throwing them into his personal trash can, but in the end, his gesture was still filthy. Couldn''t he normally wipe the oily crumbs rather than licking them off like that??


    "Look, Enna,"


    Zefrael''s voice immediately called Alexia''s thought from her contempt about his filthiness.


    ¡°As a dragon, you¡¯re big enough to carry few people on your back, and plus, you can fly through the air!" he said with a slight grin on his face, "You''re obviously faster than walking, and naturally, faster than the coach."


    The demon lord darted his purple eyes towards Alexia as his grin deepened, ¡°Right, Alex?¡±


    Honestly, Alexia hated his grin, but she couldn''t find any words to retaliate. The shitlord understood her point without any detailed explanation, and he had conveyed them in an easy to digest way. It was kind of frustrating, but actually, it was relieving at the same time. She didn¡¯t like to be understood by her sworn enemy, but she didn¡¯t like it more if she had to do the bothersome long-winded explanation by herself.


    A win-win solution, then?


    It was regrettable, but she finally chose to nod towards the demon lord, and closing the curtain of her discontentment.


    The girl seriously thought that everything would be a breeze after that, but clearly, she was wrong.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Ennario stared the girl with a stern expression and puckered his mouth. There was no sign of concede within his silver draconic eyes.


    Honestly, Alexia was taken aback. "Why?" she asked with a quiet voice, tried to ask, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it could be a costless transportation, better than a hired coach?¡±


    Ennario promptly shook his head, ¡°No, I''m sorry.¡± He seemed guilty for a second, before his expression became stern, ¡°This time I can¡¯t give in to you, Alexia.¡±


    The girl immediately wrinkled her eyebrows, perplexed. Her profound theory should''ve been correct.


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, a quiet giggle interrupted her words. As she turned her attention to the source of the voice, she caught the demon lord¡¯s amused glance.


    ¡°That¡¯s out of the option, Alex,¡± he said amusingly while pointing his finger¡ªwhich was already cleaned from the remaining chip crumbs¡ªtowards Ennario, ¡°this dragon here doesn¡¯t like being a dragon.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Who would?? That form is a big waste of space!¡± Ennario instantly blurted out in his defense, ¡°Look what happened in the last incident! I accidentally tore up the house I¡¯ve been living for some time.¡± Looking very sulky, he snapped towards the amused demon lord, ¡°And it will be my loss if you¡¯re the only one who could understand what I said!¡±


    ¡°But, you ARE a dragon!¡±


    Alexia promptly raised her whispering voice. She couldn¡¯t comprehend Ennario¡¯s hesitation for being a dragon.


    Dragons were said to be a legendary creature, with unimaginable power. It had been said that they were able to crush a mountain flat, or even wiping out one or two hills from existence.


    She, for one, wasn¡¯t refusing if she could be a dragon. It would be easier for her to stomp the shitty demon lord dead without even agreeing to his stupid proposition of a journey. Also, if she was a dragon, she could soar high in the sky, and tasting freedom as she flew. Wasn''t that a great thing??


    Still, it was pretty much impossible as she was one hundred percent human, moreover without a magic power inside her. Dream could only stay as a dream, fleeting as it is.


    ¡°Being dragon isn¡¯t fun, you see¡­¡± Ennario dejectedly muttered with a quiet voice, ¡°¡­destiny, rules, responsibilities, role, everything! That¡¯s why¡­¡±


    His voice soon trailed off into nothingness, and Alexia couldn''t hear him anymore. There was actually one thing she could surmise from his near-extinct voice. It was the fact that he really didn¡¯t like his dragon form. Unbelievable, but it was the truth.


    ¡°More importantly!¡±


    As if his glum expression a minute ago was only a mirage, Ennario suddenly showed a smile. With his usual carefree face, he said, ¡°You see, Alexia, I can¡¯t talk properly in my dragon form. It''ll be impossible for me to haggle to my heart content!!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where it matters!?¡±


    Being too surprised, Alexia forgot they were still in the middle of the sneaky-sneaky time behind Karlan¡¯s back. She unconsciously let her voice raised too high, almost into a sharp yell.


    And of course, the coach driver finally heard it.


    ¡°You okay in there, Miss?¡± Karlan asked with worried tone.


    ¡°Errr¡­¡±


    Alexia struggled to find some words to reply, but Ennario actually gone before her.


    ¡°No problem, Mister!¡± he assuredly said with a cheerful tone, ¡°We were just talking about my haggling hobby.¡±


    A modest laugh promptly resounded from beyond the sliding door. ¡°I have to admit, you¡¯re really good at it, kid! Never in my life, I thought I could give my service for free!¡±


    ¡°You flatter me too much, Mister,¡± replied Ennario with sheepish laugh.


    As the sneaky time struck its end, everyone moved to sit back properly on their cushion, Alexia was included. Still, she couldn''t help to let out a protest.


    ¡°And saving a village as an exchange payment, where is the free in it??¡± she sarcastically said with a very low voice. As she dejectedly stared at the smiling dragon boy, she snapped, ¡°I dare you! Back there, you¡¯re probably just haggling for your own amusement, nothing less.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ennario promptly wiped his smile. He seemed like he was lost in thought as his hand rubbing on his bandana tassel. ¡°I don¡¯t really have problem with money, so yeah," he mumbled, "You¡¯re probably right, Alexia. But, haggling is the real pleasure of a trade, right?¡±


    The dragon boy winked at her, but Alexia curtly answered him with an unwavering no.


    She didn¡¯t feel any of the ¡®pleasure¡¯ that Ennario was talking about, only the alternative. His sociability, courtesy and his supple way to deal people are definitely things which she couldn¡¯t apply to herself. On the top of that, his hobby was haggling, the very thing that she didn¡¯t want to experience for a second time. He was indeed the polar opposite of her.


    ¡°But mind you, I¡¯m not rich!¡± the dragon boy suddenly said while pointing his finger upwards with a reprimanding look, ¡°So haggling is indispensable!¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡±


    Alexia really had enough. She wasn¡¯t interested in dragging the topic any longer. Anyways, it was pretty impossible to change the dragon boy¡¯s opinion about the importance of his hobby. She rather struck the last note of this topic, but her wish wasn¡¯t easily granted.


    ¡°Talking about rich,¡± murmured Ennario while taking a short glance to his side, ¡°No one beats Zef here, Alexia. Can you believe it?? He paid things I delivered to his castle with big gold chunks!¡±


    Unable to contain her doubt and astonishment, Alexia widened her eyes. ¡°Gold chunks?¡± She darted her eyes towards the supposed rich demon lord, ¡°Really??¡±


    Zefrael nonchalantly shrugged. ¡°Well, it¡¯s the only thing I have.¡±


    Ugh!


    Alexia was so envious. First magic, and then, the richness. Why the shitlord kept having things she couldn¡¯t have?? It was so vexing.


    Still, it was to be expected. As the demon lord, magic was supposed to be a part in him. And he had a castle, a big and luxurious castle. Even if he was using it wrongly to be his personal trash can, that castle was more than enough to signify the richness he was having.


    Alexia knew that she shouldn''t even feel envious, as it was a disgrace to her dignified Hero title. Still, ignoring them was hard.


    As she diverted her attention towards other things, she actually found something to immediately cloud her envy.


    ¡°If you guys are really rich, why being so stingy??¡± the girl promptly snorted with disdain, ¡°Just pay the full hiring fee, so we won''t be going to that ghost village.¡±


    Zefrael promptly widened his eyes in silence and stared Alexia with reluctant eyes. ¡°You know,¡± he started with a soft mutter, ¡°I felt that you¡¯re more prickly than usual about the quest, Alex. Do you, by any chance, are scared of ghost?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not!!¡± Alexia instantly refuted.


    ¡°Then, why so thorny?¡± The demon lord glanced to his side¡ªtowards his dragon friend, as to demand an agreement, ¡°Your guess, Enna?¡±


    Ennario contemplated for a second. ¡°Because she was scared of ghost??¡±


    ¡°I¡¯M NOT!!¡± she yelled again.


    Ignoring her irk, Zefrael cheerfully continued, ¡°For example, Alex, the ghost will surprise you with a ¡®Boo!¡¯, and you¡¯ll run away in panic.¡± Then, he took a glance towards Ennario who sat by his side, ¡°Don¡¯t you also want to see that kind of interesting development, Enna?¡±


    The shitlord''s annoying actions promptly angered the girl. Furiously, she stomped her feet to the coach¡¯s wooden floor, ¡°Grr!! Don¡¯t use me for your stupid example!! And don¡¯t ask for an agreement from Ennario!!¡±


    ¡°Whoawhoa! Easy, Alex!¡± Zefrael exclaimed with a cringe, ¡°Surely you don¡¯t want the coach to fell and bring us with it, do you??¡±


    Alexia immediately stopped her stomping feet in embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t shake it too hard!!¡±


    ¡°Really? I thought it was an earthquake.¡±


    ¡°Earthquake your ass!! You just¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey, Zef, stop teasing her!¡± Ennario intruded, and peered into Alexia with a regretful look. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to say that you¡¯re scared of ghost, Alexia. You¡¯re probably just bad with them, right?¡±


    ¡°NO!!¡± she yelled again indignantly.


    Ennario was probably trying to appease her, but he failed terribly with his choice of words. As the matter of fact, Alexia didn¡¯t feel scared, of even feel bad of ghost even for a grain. Instead, she would want to meet one if they''re really existed.


    The main reason of her dissatisfaction wasn''t the ghost itself, but rather the request which had been stuck on it. Saving a village sounded too high and exaggerating, even for a Hero. In her opinion, the seaside village would really be saved if the people who live there were making some efforts on restoring the village as it was. They shouldn''t have been dependent on a hero and her f*cked-up party member to appear and save the day.


    Still, Alexia was already stuck inside the ghastly quest without having a way out.


    Now that the situation had turned out like this, she should just see for herself to make sure, whether if the ghost was real, or it was only a baseless rumor. If she really could meet those rumored spectral beings called as ghost, maybe everything could be paid off.


    Honestly, Alexia was longing to see one. And hopefully, her blade could send a requiem to lead them into the afterlife.