What is the principle behind teleportation?

The golden-haired knight maiden blinked as the scenery before her flickered between black and white—then transformed entirely.

She glanced around in surprise, checking herself, then lifted her gaze to the sky.

Endless grassland stretched in every direction.

No trees. No shrubs. Only wildflowers and emerald grass.

The earthy scent of soil mingled with the faint perfume of blossoms… It felt strangely like the Village of Egramote.

*Is the outside world truly this peaceful?*

Anjerite closed her eyes, letting the vast prairie’s serenity wash over her.

Slowly, she tucked away her lingering attachment to the starting village—and to a certain someone. Opening her eyes, she spotted a shepherd tending his flock nearby.

"Excuse me," she called, offering an elegant knight’s bow. "Where exactly is this place?"

Politeness to strangers was second nature to her.

A knight must uphold both pride and protocol.

"This is Montedilu," the shepherd replied warmly, touched by her courtesy. "A border town near the capital of Monzakat Kingdom—Mongogara. See those distant walls? That’s the royal city itself, honored adventurer."

Anjerite’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing the location.

*This… isn’t where I imagined going.*

Though she’d never told the old priest her destination, her heart had leaned toward the Hitchcock Empire.

At least there, she knew people. When weariness crept in, she could seek out Sharon and the others… or even join them.

But—

If she did that, she wouldn’t be Anjerite anymore.

Not the knight who’d once declared she refused to rot away in Egramote as some village adventurer.

Her path had been clear from the start:

*Become a Temple Knight. Serve in the Sanctuary. Devote myself to the goddess. Then… strive to become a Holy Knight. And if fate allows—return to Egramote as a Hero.*

Her tavern banter with the innkeeper had been mere jest.

After all, *Hero* wasn’t just a title. In this world, even monsters knew its weight.

Less than a hundred existed across the entire continent. Among millions of humans… the absolute pinnacle of strength and excellence.

Nearly impossible.

So "I want to be a Hero" was a phrase only children spoke—those still young enough to dream.

As people aged, they traded ambition for fandom.

*—Yet even so… I’ll aim to be the 101st. Even with a one-in-ten-thousand chance.*

*—To chase my dream without regrets, no matter how bloody the road ahead.*

Her hands tightened unconsciously around her sword hilt, lost in thought.

When she snapped back to reality, the shepherd had already returned to his herd.

"Thank you!" she called after his retreating figure.

He turned, shouting back:

"Helping others is a Monzakat virtue!"

"Still—thank you!" she added with a smile.

A pleasant exchange, despite her momentary distraction. The shepherd’s kindness eased her heart.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she faced the horizon—the endless plains, the distant, almost unreal silhouette of Mongogara’s colossal walls.

*—My future begins here.*

*—Hey, Rogied.*

*—Did you know? Your little Anjer’s left the starting village.*

*—I’m at Mongogara, the capital of Monzakat Kingdom.*

*—The people here seem warm. The grasslands and flowers are lovely—though there are no forests.*

*—It’s wonderful. The breeze feels perfect, the air smells sweet, the sunlight’s gentle…*

*—It’s…*

She took another deep breath, eyes closing and reopening.

Lately, she’d grown fond of this ritual—it shifted her mood.

Like now. She missed her partner again.

The urge to write him surged.

But she knew: she must move forward. Only forward.

*—I still believe we’ll meet someday out here. You’ve left. I’ve left. The conditions are set. Now I just need…*

*—Your message. Your location.*

Anjerite lifted her right foot and stepped forward.

Ninety minutes later, she stood before Mongogara’s city walls.

Unlike Egramote’s humble fences, this capital radiated grandeur.

*Is the outside world all like this?*

Her eyes widened, mouth slightly agape—a country girl dazzled by the city’s splendor. Dust-streaked and wide-eyed, she marveled at everything yet hesitated to touch anything, fearing missteps.

Ten silver coins for entry tax. Anjerite winced, her cheeks flushing.

*Ten silvers…?* Back in Egramote, she’d survived on the cheapest food, clothes, and lodging. Her entire life’s expenses hadn’t reached one gold coin—and now *this*?

*Cursed outside world!*

Thankfully, Sharon’s parting gift covered it. Anjerite forced the sting of loss aside.

Monzakat was a small, nomadic kingdom on the continent’s western fringe.

Grasslands dominated the landscape. Shepherds roamed everywhere. Most adventurers favored close combat—and swordsmen vastly outnumbered knights or archers.

Here, "civilized" professions like mages and knights were scorned. Locals saw knights—those who preached "honor" and "faith"—as effeminate show-offs.

*Why clutter a fight with rules?*

Thus, knights entering Monzakat often hid their identities.

But Anjerite didn’t know this.

To the untrained eye, knights and swordsmen looked similar—many swordsmen even wore knightly armor.

This earnest young knight, burning with honor, despised barbarism.

Outside the city, the walls had awed her. Inside, her nose wrinkled.

Bare-chested muscle men.

Women in revealing furs.

Leering, yellow-toothed men cracking crude jokes.

And… the "noble" youth who’d trailed her since she entered the gates.

*—If not for his two hulking guards, I’d have knocked him out already.*

She’d assumed he was just another admirer. In Egramote, adventurers often stared—but they’d look away when she passed.

This noble…

Anjerite ducked her head, suddenly veering into a deserted alley.

Silent. Short. A dead end after five minutes.

Footsteps echoed behind her. The blank wall loomed ahead.

She sighed, turning to face the young noble and his two guards.

No real threat radiated from them. This was a minor kingdom—even in Mongogara, no petty lord could afford Lv.20 guards.

*Lv.20…*

Her right hand settled on the hilt of her Temple Knight Sword.

"Heh heh~ Little beauty~ Leading me to a quiet alley? Ready to show me that lovely body of yours~?"

The noble’s voice was shrill, boyish.

Anjerite’s lip curled. How could someone younger than her speak like this?

*Disgusting. Last time I felt this… was with Rogied’s "friend." What was his name…?*

She didn’t bother recalling it.

Her sword slid free.

*Lv.20 brawlers. Unarmed. Nomadic specialties.*

*Before my class change, I’d have lost badly.*

*But now—*

***Shiiing!***

The Temple Knight Sword gleamed. Her expression turned icy.

Ignoring the noble’s sneer, she shouted:

"**Thrust!**"

Three blinding charges. Three strikes.

First—left guard. Before he reacted, her blade kissed his neck. Remembering he was human, not a monster, she flipped the sword flat.

***WHACK!***

The pommel slammed his skull. He crumpled.

Second—right guard. Faster, but not fast enough. Anjerite stomped his knee tendon. He dropped with a cry.

Third—she stood before the noble, sword tip pressed dead-center on his forehead.

Her voice cut like winter wind:

"**Eager to die?**"