Somehow, the objectives Ryan had prioritized were already being

achieved.

And after defeating the archdemons, the objective he had in mind when breaking into the territory of Kowarre

was now appearing right in front of him.

"What’s wrong? Why aren’t you answering?" Beatrice remarked. She still had her unusual blue hair, which made it clear that she had kept the relic with her the entire time.

Her clothes were the same, except for a robe that covered her whole body and part of her head.

"You took a long time to get back," Ryan remarked in a dry tone as he approached and pulled back the robe’s hood, leaving her face visible and revealing her hair.

"Yes... I’m sorry. Getting back was more complicated; it seems Rigal’s demons are gathering, and it was hard to avoid them," she said calmly.

Although what she said could not necessarily be taken lightly.

Ryan interpreted that her calmness was likely because he was there.

"So, did you bring your brother with you?"

"Yes, although, you know... Demon Queen Ophelia offered to make me her sentinel. Can you believe it?"

"Huh, I see."

"What, does that not bother you?"

"Well, I knew you wouldn’t accept. Besides, I figured something like that might happen."

"And what would you have done if she hadn’t let me come back as retaliation?"

Ryan took her by the chin before responding.

"I don’t recall choosing a girl so weak for my group. If that had happened, I was sure you would have escaped somehow."

She looked away at his words.

"Yes, you’re right..."

"So, did you run into trouble on the way? I think those demons were following you."

"Eh? I don’t think so. I just arrived here."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I’m sure no one was following me. It was annoying, but I managed to get here without drawing attention."

Ryan, without taking his eyes off Beatrice, stayed quiet for a moment reflecting.

’I see. I guess they were looking for someone else. Whatever, it’s not my problem. I don’t plan to look into it further.’

Then she, while looking him directly in the eyes, removed the relic. Her hair turned black again, and her eyes turned violet.

"It seems this appearance is the one you like best, isn’t it?"

"Why do you say that?" Ryan frowned.

"Well, it’s just that you’re looking at me strangely, hehe."

"I see. It wasn’t for that reason, although, as a matter of fact, you are more beautiful in your natural form."

"Idiot." She looked away, slightly blushing.

’With this done, all that’s left is to open the new village portal inside the dungeon and close the portal connecting Kowarre territory with the elven forest.’

Ryan looked around.

’Although, I still don’t know how to do that.’

"But where is your brother?" he asked, noticing that no one else was around except for the corpses of the archdemons and his wyvern.

"Oh, you see, he’s hidden in that direction," she said, pointing right behind where the footprints she had left on the ground when she was in stealth were coming from.

"I told him to wait for me, and I came to look when I heard someone was fighting. Although I was very surprised it was you."

She paused.

"So, he should still be hiding in that spot. He’s even using stealth. It seems the Demon Queen taught him several things; I think he’ll be a good assassin when he grows up."

’I wonder if it’s normal to say that about a brother when he’s so small...’

"Right, then let’s go get him. We’ve stayed here too long, and the villagers are waiting for us in the dungeon."

"So, were you able to create the relic?"

"Yes. Currently, I have the village entrance sealed in the relic. All that’s left is to open it inside the dungeon."

They continued talking, and Ryan caught Beatrice up with the news of the village, although there really wasn’t much to say; after all, he spent ten days unconscious.

He took the wyvern’s reins, and they walked to where Beatrice’s brother was.

"Theo! You can come out now," she said in a kind tone.

And he appeared before them. He was also wearing a robe just like the one Beatrice had brought.

"Sister, why is my brother-in-law here with you?"

"Eh, hey Theo, don’t be disrespectful."

"But why do you say that? He is my brother-in-law, isn’t he?"

’Yes, but I didn’t expect to hear that term in this world.’

Ryan approached him and placed his hand on his head.

"Yes, I am your brother-in-law. Tell me, Theo, did you take good care of your sister on the way?"

"Yes. Of course. My sister is very scatterbrained; she spent the whole time saying she wanted to see you again soon."

"Hey, Theo! Shut up already! I never said that."

"Eh, so that’s how it is?" Ryan let out a teasing laugh.

After that, they mounted the wyvern and left that territory. They reached the elven forest without problems and adjusted the flight toward the sky, right in the direction of the S-rank dungeon.

When they crossed the portal.

Only the girls from his group were waiting for him.

"Ryan!" Helen shouted when she saw him arrive on the wyvern. "And you returned with that weak demon. I thought she had already died."

The wyvern landed in front of them. Then, they hopped off and everyone gathered together.

Beatrice took a step forward and responded to Helen.

"There is no way I would die in those lands. Don’t get your hopes up."

"Eh, you want to fight?"

"You should be more honest, Helen. You were worried about her too, weren’t you?" Mirian commented in a mocking tone.

"Eh? Of course not. I just thought it would be a waste of time for her to die, even after I took the trouble to train with her."

"Yeah, whatever."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Now, now, you two calm down," Karol intervened. "Hey Ryan, I noticed your clothes are dirty. Did you have to fight?"

"Yes, but it was nothing. Don’t worry." Ryan looked around. "And where is everyone?"

"We left them all on the top floor at Karol’s suggestion," Irina commented.

"Yes, although I had to work extra, killing monsters so they wouldn’t get near that huge group," Mirian said with a tone of annoyance.

"Hey, I helped with my magic too."

Then Ryan intervened.

"Well, now let’s go to the top floor. We need to open the new entrance to the village."

Although Ryan had not given those instructions, Karol had somehow intuited that the best place to put the entrance would be the top floor.

So, since he had no objection at all, everyone headed to that spot.

Ryan opened the portal, and the elves and beastmen began to enter one by one.

After a while, everyone had already entered.

Except for Ryan’s group, his assistant, and Beatrice’s little brother.

"Well, we are finally all together. With this, they won’t surprise us, and we won’t have to deal with attacks from those annoying demons every time," Ryan commented after sighing.

"They were a good source of experience for me, though," Helen said, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"You only think about fighting, don’t you?" Beatrice questioned.

"Of course not. I think about other things too," she grumbled.

"Hmph. Besides Ryan and fighting, I doubt there’s anything else in that hollow head," Mirian replied.

"You’d better shut up."

’You guys never change, do you?’

"How about we head into the dungeon house? Then we’ll go to the village. I’d like to plan certain things," Ryan commented, trying to calm the atmosphere.

They nodded.

But, just as they began to walk.

A loud bang resonated behind them. Only a few meters away.

And with that sound, two silhouettes appeared before them.

Beatrice’s eyes went wide.

"But... how is it possible that she came here... Lady Ophelia?"