Larry’s timely compliance won a reprieve for his stomach. As Mika suspected, Alicia had indeed taken full control of his appetite.
After over twenty years together, Alicia knew Larry’s food preferences and seasoning limits inside out—whether in this world or the last.
The minor roadside incident didn’t delay their journey. By 7 PM, they reached Danka Kingdom’s border checkpoint—only to find the caravan halted.
Danka’s borders had been abruptly sealed. No outsiders allowed in. No one permitted to leave.
The caravan leader bribed his way through with heavy coin—but only he and his goods were admitted. Alicia’s group faced three choices: find another route, pay the same exorbitant bribe, or have Larry flash his S Rank Adventurer credentials.
High-tier adventurers held significant privileges across nations. Even during border lockdowns, S Rank status granted passage—unless authorities actively hid something from the Adventurers’ Guild.
Such restrictions only fueled adventurers’ curiosity. Lawless, thrill-seeking elites with overwhelming power would bypass rules entirely, infiltrating nations through unimaginable means and tearing them apart.
Never underestimate a high-rank adventurer. When pushed, they’d defy entire kingdoms.
The Guild’s guidelines and codes bound ranks below B firmly. A Rank adventurers followed them loosely. For S Rank? The "guidelines" were mere suggestions—reference material for the untamable, carrying zero enforcement.
The Guild steered these potential disasters toward productive quests instead.
As an S Rank, Larry could’ve breezed through.
"I refuse!"
Alicia’s expected solution met fierce resistance.
Larry scowled. "That’s basically announcing my arrival to Danka’s entire leadership!"
"Perfect! Demand Daisy hand over my black card immediately!"
"Bullcrap! That’s walking straight into a trap!"
"You’ve got me as your fiancée now—what’s there to fear?" Alicia planted her hands on her hips. "Just tell her you’re retiring to marry me. Have her surrender the card and wait for the wedding invitation!"
Larry: (≖_≖)
"...That’s it?"
"Of course!" Alicia nodded firmly. "What more could we need? Mika’s been blessing our union all day."
"*Nowhere near enough!*" Larry snapped. "Since when do you think Daisy shares Mika’s... intellectual depth?!"
"Then force her." Alicia hefted the Yuan Staff, Mitchell, her voice icy. "Show your S Rank spirit. If she refuses? Erase her kingdom."
"Have some decency! She was fighting beside us yesterday! And ‘erase a kingdom’? How crude!"
"*You’re* the crude one, being picky." Larry shot back. "Shamelessness is invincible! Do you have any idea how much dignity I’ve sold protecting you?"
"Enough to buy a cabbage?"
"Enough to buy a fiancée!"
Flames seemed to ignite behind Alicia’s eyes as she glared. "Are you saying I’m worth less than a cabbage?"
Larry edged away. "Don’t twist my words. I never said that. Stop scripting drama in your head!"
"...How *do* we cross the border then? Pay?" Mika interjected, sweat beading on her forehead as she watched the bickering couple.
Larry and Alicia turned in unison: "Absolutely not!"
...
They chose to sneak across. For an S Rank Adventurer, Danka’s border was little more than air.
"We’re illegal immigrants now," Mika murmured, glancing back at the checkpoint.
Alicia shrugged, utterly unbothered. "Relax. Illegal migrants thrive everywhere. Most countries lack proper ID systems anyway. Censuses are theater. As long as we don’t buy property or start businesses here, no one will notice."
"But isn’t this against the Adventurers’ Code?"
Alicia beamed at Larry. "My tall, handsome, responsible fiancé will explain everything to the Guild later. Right?"
Larry’s eye twitched. *Great. The blame lands on me again.* His reputation score would dip—no real loss, but fewer private commissions. High-value tasks never hit public boards; clients chose trusted names.
He weighed it. His S Rank reputation was top-notch. Other S Rankers? Some owed thanks that scores couldn’t drop below zero.
Inside the border, Alicia summoned her flying broom. Cramped for three, but the nearest border town was close.
Larry perched in front, Alicia sandwiched in the middle, Mika clinging behind.
"Woah! Amazing!" Mika’s first flight had her bouncing with excitement. Alicia felt a pang of guilt—*maybe I should’ve been nicer to her.*
"Alicia, look! So high up!" Mika showed no fear of heights—a blessing, since flying with a terrified passenger was misery. Still, her tight grip around Alicia’s waist betrayed slight nerves.
*Up close like this... Mika’s curves really are generous.* Alicia glanced down at her own chest. *Hmm. Not quite the same... but easier on the shoulders.*
Then an unwelcome weight settled against her chest—Larry’s head, deliberately nuzzling.
*This body’s too sensitive!*
Alicia: (▼ヘ▼#)
Shielding Mika’s view, Alicia clamped one hand over Larry’s mouth and twisted his waist with the other.
"Mmmph! Ghhk!"
His muffled whimpers vanished in the wind. His squirming threatened their balance.
Alicia leaned close to his ear, sweetly venomous: "Stay still. Or I’ll drop you. Splatter’s hard to scrape off roads."
(He’d survive the fall—but it’d sting.)
Larry patted her hand desperately. She released him, shoving his head forward.
"Don’t get ideas. Even as a girl, I only ‘convenience’ myself."
"The wind up front’s brutal," Larry protested, stressing "*girls*." "I was shielding you two delicate flowers."
*He totally did that on purpose.* Heat flooded Alicia’s face. "I’d believe you," she hissed, "if this broom didn’t have a wind barrier."
"Try self-deception. Honestly? I *was* comfortable."
Larry’s accidental honesty hung in the air.
"Goodbye, Larry." Alicia’s smile turned lethal. "Meet us at the next town. Enjoy the sprint!"
She hurled him off the broom.
His shriek of despair harmonized beautifully with the wind.
"Alicia! Larry fell!" Mika cried.
Alicia turned, radiating calm. "He preferred stretching his legs. Said he’d meet us in town."
"But—" Mika’s protest died under Alicia’s serene gaze.
"...Oh. Okay then." *Better trust Alicia.*
