On a beach outside the coastal city of Rainhall on the continent of Akalia, a black-haired youth lay sprawled across the sand. Around him lay the charred and torn corpses of sea monsters, while fishermen gathered at a distance, none daring to approach.

Minutes ticked by until the boy finally stirred awake.

"Where... is this?"

Albel opened his eyes, shielding them from the glare with his forearm as he sat up. He scanned the unfamiliar shore, confusion etched on his face.

"I remember... falling into the sea."

He stretched his stiff limbs, then froze at the sight of the dead sea beasts. Fragments of memory surfaced.

"Alicia! Alusa!"

Albel scrambled to his feet, scouring the beach for any trace of them. But they were gone—as if vanished from the world itself.

"That black dragon... I’ll make it pay."

He clenched his fists. *Daring to trick me? You’ve signed your death warrant.*

*Gurgle...*

His stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.

"Ugh. Food first," he muttered, spotting a grand coastal city in the distance. He trudged toward it, exhaustion weighing his steps. Behind him, the fishermen swarmed forward, harvesting valuable materials from the monster carcasses.

---

*Five hours earlier.*

"Alusa, stay vigilant out there. Listen to Mr. Albel."

Before the elven village, the Elder gripped Alusa’s hands, her voice thick with concern.

"I know," Alusa whispered, tears welling unbidden. The Elder had been like a grandmother to her all these years. Leaving felt like tearing out a piece of her heart.

"Don’t worry, Elder. I’ll protect her," Albel declared, thumping his chest. *If I can’t even safeguard my future wife, I might as well go farm turnips.*

"Visit when you can. I’ll leave a gate open behind the island. This will always be your home."

The Elder’s rare sentimentality spilled over into extra words.

"I will. I promise."

Alusa’s tears finally spilled over.

"I’ll come play too!" Alicia chirped, cradling her Fire Drake.

"Our doors are forever open to the Holy Maiden," the Elder replied warmly.

"Only thinking about fun? Time to go. Farewell." Albel flicked Alicia’s forehead. *Can’t she take a heartfelt goodbye seriously?*

"Bye~!" Alicia waved the Fire Drake’s tiny claw at the Elder and the gathered elves.

"Visit often, Alusa!"

"Don’t forget souvenirs!"

"Tell me stories when you return, Alusa-nee!"

"Goodbye, everyone. I’m going." Alusa wiped her tears, waving fiercely until her back turned and sobs shook her shoulders.

"We’ll visit again when we can," Albel murmured, patting her back. *This feels like escorting a bride away from her family... Well, that’s exactly why I came, isn’t it?*

*Visiting the in-laws later is perfectly normal. No issues here.*

Soon, they stood before Bahamut. The black dragon lay motionless, eyes shut as if asleep.

"Bahamut. We had some delays yesterday. Let’s go."

To Albel’s surprise, the dragon instantly surged upright, spreading its wings. It lowered its back, urging them to climb on—a frantic energy radiating from its frame. *Trapped on this island for a decade... no wonder it’s gone stir-crazy.*

"I want the dragon’s head!" Alicia scrambled onto its back, pointing at Bahamut’s skull.

"Like hell you will. Sit still." Albel rapped her head. *Does this idiot Holy Maiden think it’s a pleasure cruise?*

"First time riding a dragon..." Alusa murmured. As an elf, she revered such high-tier beings. With Albel’s help, she settled onto the scaled back, awestruck.

"Quite the experience," Albel agreed, sliding in behind her. His arms circled her waist "to keep her from slipping," though his grip lingered just a fraction longer than necessary. Alusa’s cheeks flushed, but she said nothing.

"Scaly, move out!" Alicia commanded from the front, one arm hugging her Fire Drake, the other slapping Bahamut’s neck like a zeppelin captain.

"Shut it, idiot," Albel growled, shaking her head. *Does she really think this dragon won’t dump her midair?*

Ten minutes later, the black dragon Bahamut did exactly that.

"Ten years imprisoned on that island! You’ll repay the debt owed by that woman!"

Bahamut’s roar split the sky before it vanished into the clouds, leaving Albel and the girls plummeting like severed kite strings into the churning sea.

---

*Back in Rainhall City.*

"I earned this meal fair and square. Why pay?"

Albel stood amid groaning bodies in a restaurant, facing the trembling owner with righteous indignation.

"Please, sir! Just go! Keep the bill! At this rate, I’ll lose all my customers!" The owner’s face was a mask of despair. *A freeloader who flattens hired thugs without moving a muscle? What plague deity did I offend?*

"Ah, I’d pay if I could. But I’m new here... broke." Albel patted the shuddering man’s shoulder. *A righteous and upright youth like me would never skip a bill.*

"Sir! Master! This meal’s on me—just leave!" The owner dropped to his knees, forehead pressed to the floor. *Just make this nightmare end.*

"Tch. No backbone at all." Albel strode out, disgusted. He’d scoured the city but found no trace of Alicia or Alusa.

*Did sea monsters eat them?* He shuddered. *My two freshly claimed wives... gone?*

*No. They can’t be that fragile.*

He took a deep breath amid the bustling crowd. Time to dust off an old skill.

*Thud!*

Albel face-planted in the middle of the street. Pedestrians recoiled, muttering about scam artists.

*Mind Warp.*

Ignoring the stares, he closed his eyes. The Demon King’s exclusive skill activated, seeking the current whereabouts of those imprinted in his memory.

His consciousness shot through the city.

Alicia sat enthroned, surrounded by robed clerics.

Alusa accepted a heavy sack of gold coins from a guild clerk.

Albel pushed himself up from the pavement. *Why do they look perfectly fine? Did we even fall into the same ocean?*

*Damn it. I need to find them. Can’t let my gorgeous future wives slip away.*

*...But they’re leagues away. No coin for a zeppelin. Walking’s out of the question. Need funds.*

*Work?* He eyed street vendors and shop clerks.

*No.* He shook his head violently. *A Demon King working for humans? I’d be the laughingstock of the underworld. But I’ve no talent for trade either.*

*"Take what you want. If they refuse—take it anyway!"*

His childhood friend Bessarius’s words echoed in his mind. *Robbery: the fastest path to riches.*

*"It’s not stealing. It’s... Robin Hooding."*

Albel brushed off his clothes and headed for the city outskirts, stopping at a desolate stretch of road perfect for ambushes. He crouched behind a thicket.

*Hide on bush.*

The phrase surfaced in his mind—meaning and origin lost to memory.

*Clip-clop...*

A lavishly decorated carriage approached, pulled by a unicorn. *Definitely wealthy.*

Albel leaped into the road.

"This tree was planted by me! This road was paved by me! Pay the toll to pass—or face me!"

*Screech!*

The driver yanked the reins to avoid him. The carriage halted.

"What do you want, boy?" The driver sneered down, unimpressed.

"Can’t you see? Road tax!" Albel bellowed.

"A robber? Where’s your blade?" The driver scoffed. *This ragged kid? More like a beggar.*

"I don’t need a knife! Hand over your valuables, and I’ll *mercifully* let you pass. I only take gold—not virtue—"

Before he could finish, a raven-haired girl leaned from the carriage window, her gaze sharp and serious—unlike Alicia’s airheaded charm or Alusa’s gentle purity. A knight’s resolve shone in her eyes.

She followed the driver’s gesture, then stepped down. Sixteen or seventeen, she wore battle-ready attire, a black katana slung at her hip.

"Take these. Move aside. My mistress is late for academy enrollment." She offered a handful of silver coins, her expression pitying, not disdainful.

"Trying to feed a stray?" Albel blinked.

"Aren’t you a beggar?" Her surprise was genuine.

"I said it once—I’ll say it again: I’m not begging. I’m *robbing*!"

"A bandit?" Her hand flew to her katana’s hilt.

"Yes. I am Albel. Pay up."