453,

The carriage departed from the walls of Kakarl, heading into the distant forest. After bidding farewell to his disciple, the Master officially began his reclusive life. However, as the carriage arrived at a certain point in the forest, it suddenly stopped at the end of a small bridge. Curious, the Master walked to the front of the carriage, next to his beloved wife Alice, to see what caused this halt.

A person suddenly ran out from the woods and squatted in the center of the road. This squat forced the driver, Alice, to make an abrupt stop. "Oh my, it's a rock in the shape of a star!" It was a girl's voice, loud yet playful. The girl was not facing away from the carriage but was sideways. In other words, the girl could definitely see the carriage right next to her and knew she was blocking its path. Nevertheless, she ignored her surroundings, immersed in her own world. "It seems like it's our lucky day~ Will we find a crescent-shaped stone next? Hehehe~"

With a tall hat on her head and a staff in her hand, she was dressed as a typical wizard. But to the Master's surprise, despite the typical wizard attire, this girl's outfit was even more extravagant. The excessively revealing clothes, paired with mysterious bandages and a cloak, embodied the eccentric essence of adolescent fantasy. While the Master was distracted by the sight, his hand trembled. In the depths of his memory, the Master vaguely remembered the true face of this wizard.

With a sun in her right eye, a star in her left eye, and a grin resembling a crescent moon, engraved on her hat was the symbol of someone special. Five years ago, a real monster appeared on the continent. A girl who claimed to be the Great Wizard wreaked havoc everywhere single-handedly. This led to the historically unprecedented pursuit operation, which even forced the demons to dispatch their corresponding forces, the large-scale joint pursuit operation of the pursuer, the Great Wizard Marcina.

"Found it!" Suddenly, another girl descended from the sky. Although the Master did not recognize this girl, the fact that she was standing beside the aloof Great Wizard was enough to stun him. Simultaneously, another new girl appeared, not flying down, but walking slowly out of the forest. "Well, we found a way out."

"Hmph! This proves that the path we've chosen is right~" In the face of Marcina's self-righteous tone, the silver-haired girl walked past her with indifference. Isn't this...?! With just a glance, the Master recognized who this new girl was. It was Sophie, the former hero, the world's number one swordsman. Two entities that could be considered monstrous were walking together. Faced with this pair, it is unlikely that anyone on the entire continent could stand before them.

"Hmm?! You..." At that moment, a chill approached, piercing the Master's heart. Marcina looked at the Master, revealing a mysterious smile. "Your driver is quite interesting~" The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. With just one look, the Great Wizard saw through Alice's true identity. "What? Is there something special about this woman?" The nearby girl was confused, and Sophie also looked over.

Hands shaking, sweat dripping, Sophiel must be able to see through the truth, but the question is, what will happen next?

The master suppressed his unease and spoke calmly.

"I was just passing by... Can I go through?"

The three of them looked at the master, and after a few seconds, Sophiel was the first to react, stepping aside to make way.

Then, another girl also moved aside.

Finally, only Marcina was left standing in the center of the road.

"Seven kinds... No, it's eight, right?"

Tilting her head, Marcina asked.

Listening to his own heartbeat, the master watched Marcina, his whole body alert to her every move.

"Yes."

After the reply, Marcina jumped to the side in a skipped manner.

"Let's go..."

The master said softly, and Alice followed the master's instructions, urging the horses to move again.

Are you okay...

The master left immediately as the other party made way.

Assuring himself that everything would be fine, the carriage came to a stop again.

Suddenly, another person ran out from the forest, tripping and falling due to the entangled bushes.

"Darn it..."

"Hey, can you be more careful when walking."

The girl said to the man who appeared suddenly.

"Tsk! I, carrying a huge sword on my back, walking in this kind of forest..."

However, just as the man was retorting the girl's words, he suddenly froze.

The man looked at the master, and the master looked at the man.

"What's wrong? Do you know each other?"

The girl asked.

"I don't know..."

Saying he didn't know, but the man showed an evil grin.

"But this woman's face is one of the monsters I once killed~"

There was no need for more words, as at the moment he saw the man's face, all memories kept flashing in his mind like scenes from yesterday.

All the reasons began with this man.

And until the day he died, the master would not forget the consequences this man brought upon him.

It was this man, the murderer, the berserker Onigashima, who six years ago killed his beloved Alice.

In that moment, his heart and chest trembled violently.

"Alice!!!!!!!"

With this furious roar, countless dark substances surged from Alice's body.

The dark matter transformed into spikes, striking towards the Onigashima in front.

***