"I never expected you to survive my hands. What a pity."

Albel stepped forward and kicked the head of the stone-cold dead Black Dragon Bahamut. He was still annoyed someone had stolen his trophy.

Why did Isharis kill this dragon?

Albel didn’t quite understand, but there was nothing to do now. Desecrating the corpse wouldn’t solve anything—he had to let it go.

"Alright, let’s search for Crystal Grass nearby."

Albel sighed. He’d deal with Isharis later. First, he needed the Crystal Grass for the Shenluo World.

According to Yurei Amamiya’s description, Crystal Grass shimmered with a crystal-like glow on its leaves, fused internally with crystal ore. If it existed, it’d stand out clearly.

Alicia and Verdandi joined Albel’s search. The Fire Drake, as if understanding human speech, flew skyward to scout for shiny objects.

"Find anything?" Albel called out after circling with no luck, asking the pair searching other directions.

"No."

"Me neither."

Verdandi and Alicia seemed empty-handed.

"Damn, must it be this hidden? Do we go deeper into the valley?" Albel rubbed his forehead helplessly. Just a damn weed, wasting so much time.

"Roar~"

Just then, the Fire Drake flapped over, landing on Alicia’s head with two sharp calls.

"Little Gray says there’s plenty that way." Alicia pointed toward the valley’s depths behind the dragon’s corpse.

"You understand dragon speech?" Albel blinked. How did this idiot Holy Maiden know what the Fire Drake meant?

"I’m clever and in sync with Little Gray. Problem?" Alicia shot back, pouting.

"Fine. I’ll trust you this once." Albel actually wanted to explore deeper too but stayed silent out of pride, masking it with disdain.

"Believe it or not." Alicia huffed, cheeks puffed. He clearly agreed but mocked her—such a jerk. Ignoring him, she marched alone into the valley, cradling the Fire Drake.

"Bro, you’ll never find a wife like this." Verdandi elbowed Albel, exasperated.

"What do kids know? This is called playing hard to get." Albel ruffled her hair, scolding her for mocking him.

"Not finding a wife’s fine. Then I can stay with Vera forever." Verdandi murmured softly under his touch.

"What?" Albel hadn’t caught her quiet words.

"Nothing." Verdandi shook her head, walking lightly ahead—but her heart felt heavy.

"What’s with her?" Albel muttered, watching her back. She used to tell him everything.

"What an idiot." Alicia stomped the ground in boots, venting at Albel. She’d helped him in good faith, only to be insulted—biting the hand that feeds you.

"And you, black brute! Flipping me off just for saying ‘Pippi Dragon, let’s go’? Such a sore loser. Serves you right for dying." Passing Bahamut’s corpse, she kicked it hard, dumping her anger on the dragon too.

"Huff..."

"Whoa!"

After Alicia’s kick, the giant body trembled—something wriggled inside its belly.

"Help!" Alicia shrieked, thinking it wasn’t dead. Clutching the Fire Drake, she darted behind Albel, all swagger gone.

"Is it not dead?" Albel readied to fight, sword drawn. But after the tremor, silence returned.

"A last flicker?" Albel frowned. Safety first—he had to confirm its death.

"No. It’s truly dead. Fatal head wound—its brain was purified by the Holy Sword." Verdandi shook her head. She saw no life aura on the dragon.

"Th-then why did it move?" Alicia peeked from behind Albel, voice shaky.

"Something’s in its belly." Verdandi narrowed her eyes. She’d glimpsed a living thing wriggling inside.

"A female dragon?" Albel blinked. Offspring, maybe? But the dragon had a male voice.

"Not a dragon. I can’t see clearly." Verdandi shook her head. The aura was all wrong—and the dragon was male.

"Cut it open, then." Albel snatched the Holy Sword from Alicia’s waist, plunging it into the dragon’s abdomen and slicing it open.

"This sword makes a great kitchen knife." Albel marveled as it effortlessly cut through tough scales.

"Bang!"

As Albel searched the opened belly, a black light flashed past his face, landing behind him.

Albel spun around. That killing intent meant an attack—but his passive effect dodged it.

"What is that thing?" The fleshy ball on the ground made him nauseous: a baby’s head on a rotten body, tiny broken wings on its back.

"Damn it. Whatever it is, I’ll slash it first." Albel raised the Holy Sword. The thing had attacked him—it couldn’t be good.

"Hiss~"

The ball screeched—a raspy, bone-scraping sound. Albel froze for a split second. The creature darted into the rocks, vanishing.

"Damn. Fucking disgusting." Albel grimaced. That image would haunt him through lunch.

"Brother, what was it? Are you hurt?" Verdandi instantly teleported to his side, steadying him as he gagged.

"I’m fine. Probably a parasite. Forget it. Let’s find the Crystal Grass and leave." Albel waved her off. No breakfast habit saved him from vomiting.

"So weak." Alicia strutted up, hands on hips, gloating. From afar, she’d missed the creature, thinking he feared blood.

"Less talk. Lead the way. Fail to find the grass, and you’ll regret it." Albel flicked her forehead. Her fault, yet she gloated.

"Mmph... Little Gray." Alicia whimpered, cupping the Fire Drake to send it skyward for guidance.

"Beat you up, beat you up, for bullying me," she muttered behind Albel, cursing him endlessly in her head.

"Whoa. So much here." Albel followed the Fire Drake through a narrow pass. Around the bend lay a field of grass glittering with crystal light.

This should suffice for the Shenluo World. He beckoned Verdandi and Alicia to harvest it. This material meant wedding funds—he needed every stalk.

"Enough?" Albel eyed the towering pile. How much would it sell for? Hundreds of thousands of gold coins, at least.

"Uh... how do we carry this back?" Alicia stared at the heap taller than her.

"Don’t worry, Vera." Albel patted Verdandi’s shoulder. With her Instant Teleportation, nothing was impossible.

"Sigh." Verdandi activated the magic. In a flash, the trio and the grass vanished, leaving only black feathers.

Next second, they appeared in an inn room in Reinhal City. It was packed with Holy Knights of the Light Sanctuary, waiting. But no one expected—

"Former Holy Maiden Alicia, you’re under arrest for contract violation. You’ll be transferred to headquarters for processing."