"Ow ow ow! Let go! I was just worried sick!"

On the plains of Aetron County, a stunning girl marched forward while twisting a handsome boy’s ear.

Alicia snorted. "Oh yes—by ‘checking for injuries,’ you meant grabbing the most intact pair of breasts you could find?"

Larry rubbed his ear awkwardly. "Look, it’s a primal male instinct! When testosterone floods your system, you can’t help reacting to attractive females. Besides, what if you had internal injuries? I had to be thorough!"

Alicia glared. "Your ladyship is a man!"

"Doesn’t that statement contradict itself?"

Alicia froze, clapping a hand over her mouth. *What’s wrong with me? Since when do I call myself ‘ladyship’?*

*Ugh. Living with Hani too long. I’m starting to default to female mode.*

Frustration flickered in her eyes. She knew this was inevitable—male and female bodies and lifestyles differed too vastly. Months of adaptation were bound to warp her psyche.

Especially when her formerly pure-hearted best friend suddenly developed... *interests* in her current form.

*Sigh. I really need to find that Demon King fast—or figure out another way back.*

Just as Alicia sank into thought, thunderous stomping shook the earth ahead.

She snapped her head up. Unnoticed, they’d reached Aetron County’s border. An army stood stationed there, peering toward them.

"It’s Daisy! Let go of me—we need to look lovestruck!"

Larry’s sharp eyes had already spotted Daisy astride a towering swift dragon. He tugged Alicia urgently.

Alicia: (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)

Larry pleaded desperately, "Big sis! I’m begging you! I don’t want another nightmare tonight! Let me escape those demons haunting me! I still need to live long enough to pick out a top-tier, expensive, custom flying gadget for Your Majesty!"

*Right. He still owes me money. Better keep him alive.*

Alicia released his ear—but Larry instantly laced his fingers through hers.

Alicia: "!!!"

*Still scheming?!*

She rolled up her sleeves to fight, but Larry hissed, "Acting! We’re acting!"

Alicia forced a smile. "You’d better be acting. Or I won’t mind becoming your sister-in-law."

A chill shot through Larry’s lower half. He nodded frantically.

Alicia let herself be dragged, stiff and awkward, to Daisy’s group.

Daisy and Mika rushed forward. "Are you two alright?"

Alicia spun in a circle. "Perfect! See? Not a scratch on us."

Daisy exhaled in relief, then frowned at the ruined landscape behind them. "What happened here?"

After hearing their story, Daisy’s expression darkened. Now she understood the ruthless method Garp had used.

Without losing a single soldier, he’d annihilated Jip’s strongest army and general in Aetron County. And all Jip gained was a half-destroyed, unusable ranch.

The contract in her arms felt unbearably heavy.

*This was the decade of development Garp bought for Danga—with his life and legacy.*

Johnny stepped forward eagerly. "Your Majesty, Jip’s crippled now. Shouldn’t we reclaim Aetron County—"

"No." Daisy shook her head. "Garp was a criminal king, but he signed with the Royal Seal. Besides, Aetron’s a wasteland now. Rebuilding it would drain us. Let Jip clean up their own mess. Once we stabilize Danga internally... after ten years of growth... we’ll reclaim a fully restored Aetron County."

Her voice rang with unshakable conviction.

Johnny grinned. "Then in ten years, I’ll lead the charge to win back Aetron County for you!"

"Daisy’s totally queen material now," Alicia whispered to Larry. "Her aura’s changed so much."

Larry nodded in agreement.

Alicia turned to Mika. "Did you know about this?"

Mika nodded softly, explaining the details.

Larry murmured, "Putting aside his methods... he was quite a man."

"Yes," Alicia said, watching Daisy. "After all this... Daisy has truly ‘grown up’."

...

News of Danga’s events shook the continent—especially Jip, where it was catastrophic. Rumor said the king fainted from rage.

For Daisy, Garp had paved her path to the throne. She was soon crowned Danga’s first queen.

When Jip demanded accountability, Daisy presented Garp’s contract. One clause was clear: *Thirty minutes after signing, Aetron County became Jip’s sole responsibility. Danga bears no liability for any events occurring thereafter.* Both nations’ royal seals authenticated it.

It was just paper—but Jip no longer had the strength to tear it up.

Once a military powerhouse deterring neighbors, Jip now reeled from losing its legendary warlord Trollopp and elite troops in Aetron. Daisy ensured the news spread like wildfire.

Oppressed neighboring states grew restless. Jip’s own hidden social fractures threatened to erupt.

That decade of peace with Danga wasn’t Danga’s shield anymore—it was Jip’s lifeline.

Under Daisy’s veiled threats, Jip swallowed its humiliation.

They desperately wanted to know what annihilated their army in Aetron. Suspecting forbidden dark arts, they recalled rumors of Garp’s ties to the Soulspirit Race—but had no proof. By the time they reacted, Alicia’s Barrier had sealed the area like an off-limits zone in a game. No matter their efforts, not a single crack appeared.

When the Barrier vanished, Larry and Alicia had already cleared the scene, leaving only devastation.

With the two culprits refusing to testify, Jip had no choice but to eat their bitter pill.

"Ah! Delicious!"

While Jip’s palace simmered in gloom, Danga erupted in celebration.

Queen Daisy’s coronation feast lasted all day, culminating in a grand banquet.

Alicia and Larry—Danga’s true saviors—remained anonymous per Adventurers Guild rules. They didn’t care about fame.

Now, they guzzled expensive wine at the banquet.

Mika tried to stop Alicia. "You shouldn’t drink so much—"

"Pfft! I never get drunk!" Alicia boasted, slapping Mika’s arm. "And don’t worry—I’d never do anything scandalous after drinking!"

Mika blinked, confused why Alicia emphasized *that* to her.

Larry interjected, "I have a weak tolerance. What if I get drunk and..."

Alicia cut him off with a glare. "If you want to get castrated after drinking, be my guest."

Larry stared into his cup, then reluctantly set it down. "I’ll pass."

"By the way, Alicia," Mika suddenly asked, "did you find that black card?"

Alicia froze mid-sip. She and Larry exchanged horrified looks.

*They’d completely forgotten their original mission in Danga!*

"My black card!"

Alicia abandoned her wine and sprinted to find Daisy. Larry and Mika chased after her.

Daisy jumped as Alicia burst in. After dismissing her guards, she asked, "What’s wrong? You look frantic!"

Alicia gripped her hands. "Daisy! My black card! Where is it?!"

"Your... black card?" Daisy stared blankly.

Larry prompted gently, "She means Aelis’s black card. Remember the quest we posted?"

Daisy’s eyes flickered with realization. She studied Alicia carefully before saying, "I kept it in my old chambers. I’ll take you."

Alicia, fixated on her card, missed Daisy’s suspicion.

In Daisy’s former princess quarters, a cold draft hit them. The window stood wide open.

Daisy frowned at her maids. "Why is this open? Wasn’t it secured an hour ago?"

The maids knelt trembling. "We checked it ourselves, Your Majesty! No one entered after—"

"Never mind that!" Alicia interrupted impatiently. "The card!"

Daisy sighed, retrieving a chest from under the bed. She unlocked it under Alicia’s eager gaze—

Only to find an empty box and a single note.

Daisy read the message aloud:

*"Want the black card? Come to the Splanam Mountains, Aelis and Larry!*

*—Julia & Eileen"*

"Julia and Eileen were here?!" Daisy gasped, recalling the two mysterious rescuers from her prison cell. *No wonder they seemed familiar.*

*They’ve been hiding in Danga all along... probably right here in the palace.*

Warmth filled her chest. However much she complained, they were still her partners.

"TWO WOMEN!!!"

Alicia’s snarl shattered Daisy’s tender moment. She glared at the open window. "You packed everything, Larry?"

"Uh... always carry it now." Larry patted his compression waist pouch.

"Good! Daisy—we’re leaving!"

Alicia grabbed Larry’s hand and leaped out the window, ignoring his yelp.

Daisy watched them vanish into the night. "Aelis... Larry... goodbye."

Mika tilted her head. "You mean Alicia and Larry?"

*(Aelis and Alicia are the same person—different pronunciations in this world. My rule.)*

Daisy smiled softly, ruffling Mika’s hair. "Just a slip of the tongue. Aren’t you going with them?"

Mika shook her head. "No. That’s their world. I’m heading home tomorrow."

"Visit me often, Mika."

"I will, Daisy!"