“Anyway, that’s how it is.”

Albel tweaked Yurei Amamiya’s request a little. He shifted the main goal to taking revenge on the black dragon.

He waited for Alicia and Alusa’s answer. At least one had to come slay the black dragon with him, or he couldn’t summon the Demon Sword Laevatein.

He was hoping Alusa would go with him. They hadn’t even kissed yet; this was a perfect chance to push their relationship forward.

But dreams are sweet. Reality’s cruel.

“Sorry, Al, I have other things to do today.”

Alusa gave a wry smile and shook her head, looking really torn. She left the room before Albel could ask why.

“Got it. I’ll avenge yours along the way.”

Albel felt a bit disappointed but kept it off his face. He forced a smile at her retreating back. Still, he was puzzled—she’d only just left that isolated elf island. What could she be busy with?

“Looks like it’s just the two of us then.”

He wasn’t happy, but that black dragon was getting slayed no matter what. So he had Alicia tag along.

“Huh? I have to go too?”

Alicia pointed at herself, looking stunned like she’d misheard.

“Duh.”

Albel shot the Holy Maiden a look. Without you, how do I summon the Demon Sword Laevatein? Keep trash-talking until the enemy attacks and dies to the counter?

“I just want to be a quiet, pretty girl.”

Alicia puffed her cheeks, hugged the Fire Drake, and stuck out her tongue.

“Hey, hey, I won’t let you slack off. How are we living without income? Robbing people forever?”

Albel’s expression twitched. So the Holy Maiden planned to sponge off him? Nope. He had to fix that, or he'd end up a househusband after marriage.

“Hmph. Beg me and I’ll go. I’m not unreasonable, you know.”

Thinking she had leverage, Alicia sat cross-legged on the bed, hugging the Fire Drake, speaking from on high.

She didn’t expect Albel’s counter. He just glared at her, and Alicia immediately backed down.

“I-I was kidding.”

Only then did Alicia realize she had zero bargaining chips with Albel.

No way. Alicia made a secret resolve. At this rate she’d be Albel’s complete slave, obeying his every word. Weren’t men and women supposed to be equal? She had to fight for some standing.

“No time like the present. Let’s earn some cash and take you home to get married.”

Albel packed up quick and called Alicia to move out.

“M-married?”

Alicia’s cheeks went bright red. She stammered, unable to speak.

“Yeah. Why’d you think I seized you at first? To sell you? Be real—you’re not worth much.”

Albel adjusted his gear, answering without looking up.

“Wasn’t it just for fun?”

She remembered Albel once joked about making her a sex slave, and asked tentatively.

“You’re too cute. How could I make you a sex slave?”

He brushed his clothes, turned around, and said it like it was obvious.

“D-do you really like me?”

Alicia pressed her lips, speaking slowly. Albel was handsome and strong. He liked teasing her, but he treated her well.

Marrying Albel wouldn’t be bad. She’d left home to make it big, after all.

But did he really like her?

Come to think of it, she didn’t feel heart-fluttering love. She just found Albel reliable and kind, so she liked him. Had she already passed her puppy-love phase?

“I want to have kids with you. That answer work?”

Albel folded his arms, looked at her with interest, and said it word by word.

“N-no way. You’re the Demon King and I’m human. If we marry, my parents will kill me. And we don’t know each other enough…”

Alicia covered her face, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

“I know you well enough. Thick-skinned, low IQ, big chest no brains, dumb as a post. And do I look like a Demon King?”

Albel spread his arms, unfazed. As a demonkin, he looked no different from humans—he only had a Demon King’s heart.

“You—!”

Alicia leapt off the bed to hit him, but he planted a hand on her head.

She flailed, trying to smack him, but with her head pinned and arms too short, she could only fluster.

“Enough. Quit it. We’re leaving.”

Albel gave Alicia a gentle push and dusted his hands. Babysitting this brat was exhausting.

“I’m not marrying you anyway. I’m going to be a glamorous socialite.”

Alicia puffed her cheeks and shot back, annoyed.

“Wake up. Stop lying to yourself. Who else would even want you?”

Albel rubbed her head. This idiot Holy Maiden’s brain had to be fried; she was getting more and more ridiculous.

“You dare doubt my charm? Just watch. I’ll bag a prince or a king and rub it in your face.”

Alicia followed behind Albel, chattering nonstop like a little sparrow.

“Try escaping my palm first.”

After Albel and Alicia headed downstairs, Alusa slipped out from a corner outside the door. She watched them go and tightened her grip on something in her hand.

“According to the map, the abandoned mine’s just west of the city. A whole mountain range. Should be easy to find.”

At the gate of Reinhal City, Albel checked the map Yurei Amamiya gave him, matched landmarks, and pinned down the location.

“Looks super far. We’re walking all that?”

Alicia somehow bought a straw hat and put it on. She squinted at the distance, complaining. It was autumn, but the sun still bit.

“It’s not that far. One or two hours.”

Albel shook his head. That distance was nothing to him.

“Hey, Al, rent two horses. It’ll be faster.”

She pointed to the stable by the gate. They seemed to rent mounts.

“Uh, I can’t ride.”

Albel shook his head, firm. He’d never ridden a horse.

“Huh? No way.”

Alicia looked incredulous. She’d ridden before. How could a former Demon King not have?

“Where I’m from, we ride dragons.”

“Mm… let’s walk then.”

Two hours later, on some random stretch of coastline.

“Al, how much longer? I don’t see any mountain range.”

Alicia looked wrecked. She’d never walked this far; her legs ached like crazy.

“It shouldn’t be far… Weird. No mountains here. Uh, let me check.”

Albel pulled out the map, glanced at it, then fell silent.

“What is it?”

Seeing him quiet, Alicia leaned in to ask.

“So, uh… I might’ve been holding the map upside down.”

Awkward, Albel rotated it a full 180 and pointed as he spoke.

“We were here. Now we’re… here.”

“T-then we just walked two hours for nothing?”

Alicia saw black. She nearly lost it.

“Not totally for nothing. The scenery’s nice.”

Albel scratched his hair, embarrassed. He’d really goofed.

“So what now? I’m dead tired. I’m not walking anymore.”

Alicia plopped down, hugging the Fire Drake, sulking.

“Little Gray, if only you could get big and fly me.”

“Uh… don’t. This one’s on me. But we can’t just loiter here.”

Albel felt awkward. Now we’re stuck.

“Big bro, I look away for a bit and you’re already in trouble again.”

Right then, Verdandi’s voice sounded behind Albel.

“Vera?! Little sis, perfect timing. Quick, teleport us back.”

Hearing Verdandi, Albel lit up, turned, and swept the petite girl into a hug. Perfect timing.

“Sigh. Big bro, you never let me relax. You’re a grown man.”

Verdandi puffed her cheeks. She clearly enjoyed the hug, but she still scolded him without mercy.

“Not my fault. This map doesn’t even mark north. Whoever drew it was so unprofessional.”

Albel shook the map, suspecting it was hand-drawn by that brat Yurei Amamiya.

“Vera, can you teleport us back?”

Alicia’s eyes lit up. Albel’s sister could use Instant Teleportation. Maybe she’d take them back.

“Of course. But Vera thinks jumping straight to the abandoned mine is better. Right, bro?”

Verdandi tilted her head.

“Right, right. Mission first.”

Albel nodded fast. From now on, anyone talks bad about his sister, he’ll wreck them.

“Okay. Grab my arms.”

Verdandi sighed, offered both hands to Albel and Alicia, and closed her eyes. In an instant, the three vanished from the beach.

The next second, they appeared in a mountain range. Verdandi landed steady. Albel landed face-first.

“Wow, this is Instant Teleportation?”

Alicia touched down lightly, realized they were somewhere else, and got so excited she could barely contain it.

“Hey, Vera, why do I always land like that when we teleport?”

Albel crawled up, helpless.

“Because you’re too heavy, bro.”

Verdandi pouted. Alicia’s a first-timer and still landed just fine.

“Tch, more like—”

Albel brushed dirt off, ready to retort, when he noticed black blood trickling down the rock.

“What’s this?”

He followed the flow with his eyes, and froze.

A pitch-black giant dragon lay limp on the ground. Its hard scales were shattered to pieces. Black blood pooled beneath it, and its blood-red eyes stared wide, unwilling to close.

On the black dragon’s massive head stood a silver-haired girl in silvery knight armor. She held a golden Holy Sword buried in its skull, and turned to look at the three.

“It’s a little earlier than planned. But that’s fine.”

The silver-haired girl, Isharis, pulled the Holy Sword free and hopped lightly to the ground. She walked toward Albel, step by step.

“Shu, we finally meet again.”

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