The room door swung open from inside, and Albel stepped out with flushed cheeks.

"Bro, you were quick," Verdandi said, peeking into the room. Seeing Alicia naked while dressing, she tilted her head and added with admiration, "If only I had been quick. I didn’t even get to touch a hair on her head."

Albel rubbed his still-aching cheek miserably. He’d planned to take advantage of Alicia and ease his recent cravings, but it backfired—now he felt even hungrier.

"How pitiful," Verdandi shrugged, turning toward another room.

"Not pitiful," Albel shook his head. "Pathetic."

"Al, you’re back! I was so scared!" Alusa rushed to hug him the moment he entered, her eyes still red-rimmed from crying.

"Don’t worry. I’m not that easy to kill," Albel smiled, patting her back while breathing in her unique elven scent. Nothing in this world could end him.

"I’m just so relieved," Alusa whispered, wiping her tear-streaked eyes. She’d truly been terrified.

"Sorry for worrying you," Albel apologized. He’d been too busy scheming with Verdandi to grope Alicia, forgetting Alusa’s feelings.

"Oh, you’re not dead," Yurei Amamiya muttered upon seeing him, her face flickering with disappointment.

*Hey, brat, you really want me dead?*

"Yurei, don’t say that. Albel is our comrade," Shenluo World chided before Albel could retort.

"I was startled hearing Alusa’s story earlier, but I’m glad you’re safe," Shenluo World added with a textbook smile. She’d never doubted his survival—she’d already foreseen a future where he lived.

"Sorry for the worry," Albel grinned at Shenluo World and Yurei. Though they’d only met days ago, their bond felt solid. Yurei especially—her sharp words hid a soft heart.

"That woman was weird," Alicia said, now fully dressed and entering the bedroom. "She had four tentacles growing from her back, like a monster."

"Never seen anything like it," Albel shrugged. Demons often had tentacles, but that woman seemed unnaturally mutated.

"I’m really curious," Alicia pressed, sitting on a chair and staring at him.

"Curious my foot! Next time, don’t meddle. I can’t always save you," Albel flicked her forehead hard. Didn’t she learn from mistakes?

"Ow! I was saving that little boy!" Alicia rubbed her head, glaring but losing confidence—she knew she’d been reckless.

"Poor boy. His mom turned into that..." Alusa said sadly. Having lost her own parents, she understood the pain. If his father was gone too, he’d be an orphan like her.

"Relax. It’s nothing. Probably just a random mutation. That monster wasn’t even six-star level—I’d wipe out one or a dozen. Right now, we need to fix the Skyship and head to the Imperial Capital," Albel waved dismissively. He wasn’t a savior. Better to reclaim the contract in the capital, then marry Alicia and return to the Demon Realm.

"Albel’s right," Shenluo World agreed. As an avoider of trouble, fewer problems meant less strain on her body. "I checked—the Skyship will be repaired by tomorrow morning. All materials are ready."

Verdandi added from behind Albel, "How about grabbing food? My treat."

"Sure! I’m starving," Alicia volunteered before Albel could speak. She’d wanted street snacks earlier, before the chaos.

"Always eating," Albel sighed but nodded. After that fight, a meal sounded perfect. Then a good sleep before boarding the Skyship.

"Tch," Alicia stuck her tongue out at him and followed Shenluo World out. Alusa and Verdandi trailed behind—nothing else to do anyway.

Albel sighed, closed the door, and joined them.

Meanwhile, three kilometers outside Qatar City, a figure in a black suit and white hair stood on a hillside. A black-and-white ghost mask covered his face as he watched the setting sun dip below the horizon.

"Prince Berial, everything’s prepared," a middle-aged man in a white coat and black-rimmed glasses approached respectfully.

"Good. No mistakes this time. Tyrus’s physical enhancement must be perfected," Berial nodded, satisfied.

"Rest assured, Prince. This afternoon’s experiment succeeded—the harvested souls transferred to Tyrus. All we need now is the final trigger," the man declared confidently.

"You’re quite the mad scientist, using your own wife as a test subject," Berial turned, his crimson eyes glinting through the mask.

"For the Agent Prince’s cause, such small sacrifices mean nothing," the man bowed obsequiously.

"True. A real man doesn’t sweat the details. After the Tyrus incident, I’ll grant you a position—wealth and women await," Berial mused, unreadable.

"Thank you, Prince Berial!" The man bowed deeply, grinning.

"Dismissed." Berial waved, and the man left.

"The last capture operation for Shenluo World failed. Outsiders can’t be trusted—even a twelve-star Swordfighter proved unreliable." Berial gazed toward Qatar City. That girl was crucial to his plan. He’d sent a twelve-star warrior with the transcendent magic "Fading Light," yet not only did he fail to capture her, he vanished.

Berial snorted at the survivors’ report about "reflecting magic and monster effects." Impossible. He’d fed them to his puppet Massa for deserting and lying. Ouroboros’s external agents needed purging.

"Shenluo World, no one will save you tonight. Defying Ouroboros? I’ll make you wish you were dead." Berial’s eyes narrowed. His body dissolved into black light, vanishing from the hill.

Back in Qatar City—

"I’m stuffed," Albel patted his belly leaving a restaurant. Real meals like this were life. Before, he’d choked down nothing but river and sea fish—insult to his stomach.

"Mmm, delicious," Alusa sighed happily. Raised in the elven forest, human food was a new delight.

"If only we could eat like this every day," Alicia walked beside Albel. She’d devoured the most, yet stayed perfectly curved—no weight gain at all.

"Easy. Marry me, and I’ll feed you daily," Albel replied casually. He craved good food too. Back when he was poor, he ate scraps—only at the Bessarius mansion did he taste luxury. Today’s events decided it: as a man with a wife-to-be, he’d earn enough for daily feasts.

"No way," Alicia refused instantly, picking her teeth with a toothpick. Her Fire Drake on her shoulder was equally full, belly bulging.

"I’m glad you liked it. I worried you might not," Shenluo World and Yurei Amamiya joined them, smiling.

"Delicious," Verdandi licked her lips. Though she never felt hunger, eating brought satisfaction—especially after Albel’s awful cooking.

"All that’s left is a good night’s sleep," Albel stretched. Full stomachs stirred desires, but after this afternoon’s fiasco, he’d leave Alicia alone.

"Help!" A woman’s scream pierced the air behind them.