CHAPTER 46: LILIA OF THE DEMON VILLAGE
Two weeks had passed since the Arcane Cave Incident.
The news of Heavenly Paradise's first official mission spread throughout the Arcane Drifter Headquarters faster than anyone expected.
A newly formed crew had accepted what was believed to be a simple C-Class mission...
Only to defeat an A-Class threat and return with a Perfect Mission Rating.
Their name quickly became known across Tokyo.
Not because they were the strongest.
But because they fought as one.
High above the clouds, Heavenly Paradise floated peacefully beneath the morning sun.
The once-empty sanctuary was now full of life.
Young recruits trained in the courtyard.
Children laughed near the gardens.
Several healers prepared medicines using herbs grown around the floating island.
The headquarters had truly become a home.
Near the central training grounds...
The four founders stood together.
Kenya wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Again?"
Shen nodded.
"Again."
Kenya sighed dramatically.
"You've been saying that for three hours."
"And you'll hear it for another three."
Kenya groaned.
"I miss fighting monsters."
Ruke smiled while drawing his twin swords.
"Then stop complaining and attack."
Kenya grinned.
"I was waiting for you to say that."
Crimson flames erupted around his body.
His Fire Demon Form activated instantly.
The ground beneath his feet blackened from the heat.
Without warning...
Kenya charged.
His blazing fist rushed toward Ruke.
"Fire Demon Style!"
"Blazing Rush!"
Ruke disappeared.
Only blue lightning remained.
The attack struck empty air.
Ruke reappeared behind Kenya.
"Too slow."
His wooden practice sword lightly tapped Kenya's shoulder.
"If this were a real battle..."
"You'd already be defeated."
Kenya turned around.
"You're getting faster."
Ruke smiled.
"So are you."
Nearby...
Eliz stood quietly inside a glowing magic circle.
White light floated around her right hand.
Dark Arcane surrounded her left.
Unlike before...
The two powers remained perfectly balanced.
She slowly merged them.
A beautiful silver sphere formed between her palms.
Instead of exploding...
The magic stabilized.
Eliz smiled happily.
"It worked..."
"I finally stabilized both elements."
Several recruits watching nearby immediately applauded.
"Founder Eliz is amazing!"
She smiled shyly.
"I still have a long way to go."
Meanwhile...
Far away from the training grounds...
Shen stood alone on the highest cliff of Heavenly Paradise.
Cold wind blew across the floating island.
His black coat fluttered gently.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Dark Arcane energy surrounded him.
Black flames rose from the ground.
The air itself became heavier.
A strange symbol appeared beneath his feet.
Commander Ryulga quietly watched from behind without interrupting.
Shen slowly spoke.
"Dark Mage..."
"Form Three."
The Arcane energy exploded.
Darkness spread across the cliff.
Black lightning shot into the sky.
The floating island trembled.
For a brief second...
A shadowy figure appeared behind Shen.
Its glowing violet eyes slowly opened.
Then—
The entire transformation collapsed.
The darkness disappeared instantly.
Shen fell to one knee.
"...Again."
He clenched his fist.
"I still can't control it."
Ryulga stepped forward.
"You are forcing it."
Shen looked up.
"I have to become stronger."
Ryulga folded his arms.
"The power you're chasing..."
"Cannot be forced."
"It answers only when your heart is ready."
Shen remained silent.
Ryulga looked toward the endless clouds.
"You've already become stronger."
"But strength isn't measured only by power."
"It is measured by the lives you protect."
After saying those words...
The Commander quietly walked away.
Shen remained standing alone.
He looked at his hand.
Tiny traces of black Arcane still flowed between his fingers.
"...One day."
"I'll master Form Three."
Another week passed.
Life at Heavenly Paradise continued peacefully.
The recruits grew stronger.
Kenya challenged Ruke almost every afternoon.
Eliz taught healing magic to younger members.
Shen trained until sunrise every single day.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Until...
One afternoon...
A deafening alarm echoed across the floating island.
Every recruit immediately stopped what they were doing.
Shen looked toward the sky.
A crimson magic circle suddenly appeared above Heavenly Paradise.
Commander Ryulga's communication projection materialized.
His expression was more serious than anyone had ever seen.
"Heavenly Paradise."
"We have an emergency."
A burning mission scroll appeared before the four founders.
Golden letters quickly transformed into crimson.
ARCANE DRIFTER HEADQUARTERS
EMERGENCY QUEST
Mission Rank: B-Class
Location: Delmira Village
Threat: Unknown Demon Siege
Priority: Immediate
The mission continued updating by itself.
Survivors Detected. One Arcane Signature Identified. Former Drifter Candidate. Name: Lilia
Ruke froze.
His breathing stopped.
"...Lilia?"
Kenya looked at him.
"You know her?"
Ruke slowly nodded.
"We trained together..."
"Years ago."
"I thought..."
"...she died."
Silence covered the courtyard.
Shen closed the mission scroll.
"Whether she's alive or not..."
"We're bringing everyone home."
Eliz immediately grabbed her staff.
"The transport is ready."
Kenya ignited flames around his fists.
"Let's move."
Without another word...
The four founders sprinted toward the teleportation gate.
Far away...
Beyond the Northern Mountains...
Delmira Village burned beneath a crimson sky.
Smoke rose into the heavens.
Houses collapsed one after another.
People screamed as strange demon creatures surrounded the village.
Standing before the final shelter...
A lone girl with long ash-white hair gripped a cracked staff.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Her breathing was unsteady.
Yet...
She refused to move.
She took one final step forward.
"I won't let..."
"...anyone else die."
The demons slowly surrounded her.
Above the burning village...
Dark clouds gathered.
And far beyond those clouds...
A streak of blue lightning raced toward Delmira.
Heavenly Paradise...
...was coming.
The journey to Delmira Village would take several hours.
Meanwhile...
Far beyond the borders of Tokyo...
Nestled between towering mountains and dense evergreen forests lay a quiet village untouched by the outside world.
Delmira Village.
Unlike the bustling Arcane cities, life here was simple.
Children chased one another through narrow stone streets.
Farmers harvested wheat beneath the warm afternoon sun.
Blacksmiths hammered glowing metal while merchants greeted familiar faces with cheerful smiles.
For generations, the village had survived by depending on one another.
Everyone knew everyone.
Among them...
One young woman walked through the marketplace carrying a basket filled with fresh herbs.
Long ash-white hair flowed behind her.
Her emerald-green eyes remained calm, though years of hardship could be seen within them.
"Lilia!"
An elderly woman waved from a nearby bakery.
"You're back already?"
Lilia smiled warmly.
"The herbs were growing well today."
"I collected enough medicine for everyone."
The old woman laughed.
"You work too hard."
"You should think about yourself sometimes."
Lilia simply smiled.
"If everyone is healthy..."
"I'm happy."
Several children suddenly ran toward her.
"Big Sister Lilia!"
"Come play with us!"
One little girl hugged her arm tightly.
Lilia gently patted her head.
"I'll play later."
"First, let's finish your reading lessons."
The children groaned.
"Again?"
She laughed softly.
Continuing Chapter 46:
If you can defeat today's lesson..."
"I'll treat everyone to sweet bread."
Their eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Really."
The children immediately ran toward the village school.
Watching them disappear, Lilia couldn't help smiling.
An elderly village chief slowly approached her.
"You've become the heart of this village."
Lilia looked away.
"I only do what anyone else would."
The chief shook his head.
"No."
"Most people would've left years ago."
"You stayed."
"You protected us."
Lilia became silent.
Her fingers unconsciously touched the small silver pendant hanging around her neck.
A memory flashed through her mind.
Years ago...
A large training field.
Young Drifter candidates sparring under the bright morning sun.
A cheerful black-haired boy holding two wooden swords.
"Come on, Lilia!"
"You almost had me!"
She smiled despite herself.
"You wish, Ruke."
The two rushed toward each other laughing.
The memory disappeared.
Lilia quietly closed her hand around the pendant.
"...I wonder..."
"...where you are now."
She believed everyone from those days had already moved on.
Perhaps...
They had forgotten her.
She certainly hadn't forgotten them.
As evening approached, the peaceful village slowly settled.
Families gathered around dinner tables.
Lanterns illuminated the streets.
Children listened to stories told by their grandparents.
For a brief moment...
Everything felt perfectly normal.
Then...
A village guard standing atop the northern watchtower froze.
His face turned pale.
He stared into the distant forest.
"...What..."
"...is that?"
A strange black mist slowly drifted between the trees.
It spread unnaturally fast.
Birds suddenly burst from the forest, flying away in panic.
Animals ran toward the mountains as if escaping something unseen.
The guard immediately rang the warning bell.
The peaceful atmosphere vanished instantly.
Villagers rushed outside.
Parents grabbed their children.
Farmers abandoned their tools.
The village chief looked toward the forest.
His expression became grim.
Lilia was already there.
Her eyes narrowed.
"...That's not Arcane energy."
"It feels..."
"...different."
The black mist reached the edge of the forest.
Then...
The first creature stepped into the fading sunlight.
Its skin was pitch black.
Its face was hidden behind a white bone mask.
Long claws scraped across the ground.
Glowing crimson eyes stared toward the village.
Another appeared.
Then another.
Within seconds...
Dozens of masked demon creatures emerged from the forest.
None of them made a sound.
They simply walked forward together.
Like soldiers receiving orders.
One child whispered fearfully,
"...Monsters?"
Lilia slowly moved in front of the villagers.
"No."
Her voice was calm.
"...Demons."
The village chief's eyes widened.
"Demons...?"
"They disappeared decades ago."
Lilia's grip tightened around her staff.
"They're back."
The lead demon slowly raised one claw.
Immediately...
Every demon behind it stopped walking.
Perfect discipline.
Perfect coordination.
Lilia's expression hardened.
"They're organized..."
"They aren't acting like ordinary monsters."
The lead demon pointed toward Delmira Village.
Its distorted voice echoed across the valley.
"Leave..."
"...no survivors."
The entire demon army charged at once.
The earth shook beneath hundreds of approaching footsteps.
Lilia stepped forward alone.
She planted the end of her cracked staff firmly against the ground.
A brilliant white light began surrounding her body.
"I won't let you..."
"...take this village."
The battle for Delmira...
Had begun.
The demons charged like a black tidal wave.
Their bone masks reflected the fading sunlight as hundreds of clawed feet thundered across the ground.
The villagers screamed.
"Run!"
"Get the children inside!"
Mothers carried their sons and daughters toward the underground shelters while the village guards formed a defensive line with trembling hands.
Lilia took a deep breath.
Her cracked staff began glowing with brilliant white mana.
"White Flame..."
"...Barrier."
She slammed the staff against the ground.
A massive dome of white fire erupted around the front entrance of the village.
The first wave of demons crashed into the barrier.
Several were thrown backward while others burst into white flames.
The strange fire did not burn ordinary objects.
Instead...
It burned only demonic mana.
The creatures screamed as the holy flames consumed them.
The villagers stared in disbelief.
"It's working!"
"Lady Lilia is stopping them!"
But Lilia knew better.
The barrier was already weakening.
She whispered quietly,
"My mana..."
"...is dropping too fast."
Without warning—
A giant demon leaped over the barrier.
It stood nearly four meters tall.
Its bone mask had two crimson horns, and a massive axe rested upon its shoulder.
The creature swung downward.
Lilia reacted instantly.
Her staff barely blocked the attack.
The impact threw her several meters backward.
She rolled across the ground before stopping beside a burning house.
The demon laughed.
"So..."
"...the guardian."
Another three elite demons landed beside it.
Unlike the ordinary soldiers...
These possessed intelligence.
One of them spoke.
"Kill her first."
"The village will fall."
Lilia stood once more.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
She tightened her grip on the staff.
"I won't..."
"...let you pass."
Golden-white flames erupted around her body.
Her emerald eyes glowed brightly.
"White Flame Style..."
"Holy Crescent!"
She swung her staff.
A brilliant arc of white fire swept across the battlefield.
Several demons were cut apart instantly.
The elite demon crossed its axe.
The holy flames pushed it backward but failed to defeat it.
"So this..."
"...is White Flame Magic."
It smiled beneath the bone mask.
"No wonder our Lord warned us."
The demon raised one hand.
Immediately...
The surrounding soldiers spread into perfect formation.
Lilia's eyes widened.
"They're coordinating..."
"They've trained..."
The ordinary demons circled around the village from multiple directions.
Some climbed rooftops.
Others broke through fences.
Several attacked the western gate simultaneously.
It wasn't chaos.
It was strategy.
Meanwhile...
Far away inside a ruined watchtower overlooking Delmira...
A figure wearing black armor silently watched the battle.
A crimson cape fluttered behind him.
His face remained hidden beneath an elegant obsidian helmet.
Only his glowing scarlet eyes could be seen.
He rested one hand upon a dark sword.
Beside him stood another demon soldier.
"My Lord..."
"The outer defenses are collapsing."
The armored figure nodded.
"As expected."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Completely emotionless.
"Our objective?"
The soldier bowed.
"Recover the relic beneath Delmira."
"Leave no witnesses."
The armored figure looked toward Lilia.
"So..."
"She survived."
"I thought the previous attack would've killed her."
The soldier asked,
"Shall we eliminate her now?"
The knight slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I wish to see..."
"...how brightly the final flame burns."
He turned his gaze toward the distant sky.
"The Drifters should receive the emergency signal soon."
"If they come..."
"...we'll learn how much Headquarters truly knows."
Far below...
The battle became even more desperate.
The western gate exploded inward.
Dozens of demons rushed through.
Village guards fought bravely.
One by one...
They fell.
Lilia immediately changed direction.
She leaped between the demons and the fleeing villagers.
"Stay behind me!"
A little boy cried.
"They're everywhere!"
His younger sister held tightly onto his arm.
Lilia smiled gently despite the chaos.
"You'll be alright."
"I promise."
She lifted her staff high.
White mana erupted around the children.
"Healing Light."
Warm energy flowed across their bodies, calming their fear.
Then—
A demon lunged toward them.
Lilia disappeared.
She struck the creature with the end of her staff, sending it crashing through a stone wall.
Another attacked from behind.
She spun gracefully.
"Holy Flame Kick!"
White fire exploded from her foot.
The demon flew backward.
One after another...
She defeated every enemy reaching the shelter.
But each spell consumed more mana.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Sweat covered her forehead.
The cracks along her staff spread further.
A small piece of the wooden staff broke away.
Lilia looked at it silently.
"...Just a little longer."
Across the battlefield...
The Demon Knight watched everything without moving.
"So..."
"You've grown stronger."
"But not enough."
He slowly extended one hand toward the burning village.
Dark crimson symbols appeared beneath the ground.
Ancient demonic runes.
One after another...
They ignited.
The earth began trembling violently.
Lilia immediately sensed the change.
"What..."
"...is this mana?"
The village chief looked at the glowing symbols beneath the streets.
"I've never seen these before."
The Demon Knight quietly spoke.
"Awaken."
Instantly...
Every rune released enormous waves of dark energy.
The demons became stronger.
Their muscles expanded.
Their claws lengthened.
Their crimson eyes burned brighter than before.
Even the elite demons looked surprised.
The lead elite smiled.
"Our Lord has blessed us."
"Advance."
The empowered army charged once more.
Lilia stared at the overwhelming force rushing toward her.
She slowly exhaled.
"If I fall..."
"...the village falls."
She planted her broken staff into the ground one final time.
White flames rose around her like a blazing pillar.
Even the demons hesitated.
The battle...
Was only beginning.
The pillar of white flames illuminated the entire battlefield.
Lilia slowly opened her eyes.
The air around her had become completely silent.
Every demon instinctively stopped.
Even the Demon Knight standing atop the ruined watchtower watched her with interest.
"So..."
"You've chosen to burn the last of your mana."
Lilia ignored him.
She tightened her grip on her cracked staff.
"I won't let..."
"...anyone touch this village."
The white flames surrounding her expanded across the streets.
The holy light pushed the demons backward.
Children hiding inside the shelters looked toward the battlefield with hope.
"Big Sister Lilia..."
One little girl clasped her hands together.
"Please don't lose..."
Lilia smiled gently without turning around.
"I'll come back."
She raised her staff toward the sky.
"Holy White Flame..."
"Scatterburst!"
A massive sphere of white fire formed above the village.
The surrounding air trembled violently.
For a brief moment...
Everything became completely white.
Then—
The sphere exploded into thousands of blazing fragments.
Each fragment sought a demon.
One after another...
The holy flames struck their targets.
Hundreds of demons were blasted backward.
Several disappeared completely beneath the sacred flames.
The remaining demons screamed in agony as their corrupted mana burned away.
The villagers watched in amazement.
"She did it!"
"The demons are retreating!"
But the celebration lasted only seconds.
The white flames slowly faded.
Lilia's breathing became unsteady.
Her knees trembled.
The mana inside her body had nearly vanished.
A crack spread across her staff.
Then another.
The staff finally split near the center.
Lilia looked at it silently.
"...I'm sorry."
The old weapon had served her for years.
Now...
It had reached its limit.
The Demon Knight slowly stepped forward from the watchtower.
Every demon immediately knelt.
His black armor reflected the burning village behind him.
He walked calmly through the battlefield.
Unlike the others...
No holy flames touched him.
Lilia's eyes narrowed.
"So..."
"You're their leader."
The knight stopped several meters away.
"I am merely a commander."
"My Lord's ambitions are far greater than this insignificant village."
Lilia pointed her broken staff toward him.
"Why attack innocent people?"
The knight answered without emotion.
"Because this village is built above something valuable."
"And because fear..."
"...spreads faster than war."
He slowly drew his long black sword.
Dark crimson mana erupted around the blade.
The pressure alone extinguished nearby fires.
Lilia instinctively stepped back.
"This mana..."
"It's overwhelming..."
The knight raised his sword.
"You fought well."
"You deserve respect."
"So..."
"I'll grant you a warrior's death."
In a single step—
He disappeared.
Lilia barely reacted.
She blocked the attack with her broken staff.
The impact shattered the remaining wood.
Fragments scattered across the battlefield.
Lilia was thrown across the village square.
She crashed into a stone fountain.
Blood ran down her forehead.
She struggled to stand.
The Demon Knight slowly approached.
"You've reached your limit."
"I suggest..."
"...accepting defeat."
Lilia wiped the blood from her face.
"No."
"As long as..."
"...I'm breathing..."
"...I'll keep fighting."
She gathered the last traces of white mana into her bare hands.
Without her staff...
The spell became unstable.
Tiny white flames flickered around her fingers.
The knight sighed.
"Stubborn."
He raised his sword once more.
Meanwhile...
Hundreds of kilometers away...
A silver Arcane aircraft raced across the sky.
Its engines glowed with brilliant blue mana.
Inside...
Heavenly Paradise stood around a magical map displaying Delmira Village.
Commander Ryulga's voice echoed from the communication crystal.
"Reports continue arriving."
"The situation is worsening."
Shen studied the map carefully.
"How many civilians?"
Captain Kael answered,
"Approximately three hundred."
"Many are trapped inside the village."
Kenya clenched his fists.
"We're not losing anyone."
Ruke remained unusually quiet.
His eyes never left the name displayed on the mission report.
Lilia.
Memories surfaced one after another.
Training together.
Laughing after missions.
Promising to become full Drifters someday.
Then...
The day she disappeared.
Ruke whispered softly,
"...Please still be alive."
Eliz gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll find her."
"You have my word."
Ruke gave a silent nod.
Suddenly—
Shen's Supreme Lord Eye activated on its own.
His vision pierced beyond the clouds.
Far ahead...
He could see enormous waves of corrupted mana surrounding Delmira Village.
His expression immediately changed.
"...They're stronger than Headquarters estimated."
Kenya looked toward him.
"How bad?"
Shen answered quietly.
"There's an army..."
"...and someone leading it."
The aircraft suddenly shook violently.
A magical warning alarm echoed.
Captain Kael rushed toward the cockpit.
"What's happening?"
The pilot looked terrified.
"An enormous demonic barrier has appeared around the village!"
"The teleportation route is blocked!"
Shen immediately stood.
"How long until we arrive?"
"Seven minutes!"
Kenya cracked his knuckles.
"Too long."
Ruke walked toward the aircraft door.
"So we don't wait."
Eliz smiled.
"I was thinking the same thing."
The four founders exchanged determined looks.
Shen placed one hand on the emergency exit.
"We jump from here."
Captain Kael stared at them.
"Are you insane?"
"We're thousands of meters above the ground!"
Kenya laughed loudly.
"We're Drifters."
Shen opened the aircraft door.
A violent wind rushed inside.
Far below...
Smoke rose from Delmira Village.
The battle was reaching its climax.
Shen looked at his team.
"Heavenly Paradise."
"Let's bring them home."
Without another word...
The four founders leaped into the open sky.
Like four blazing meteors...
They descended toward the burning village below.
The icy wind roared around them.
Four figures descended from the clouds like blazing meteors.
Shen at the front.
Kenya surrounded by crimson flames.
Ruke wrapped in blue lightning.
Eliz glowing with intertwined light and darkness.
The villagers looked up.
"What...?"
"Someone's coming!"
Lilia, barely standing, forced herself to look toward the sky.
The first thing she saw...
...was a bolt of blue lightning.
Ruke landed between Lilia and the Demon Knight, shattering the stone road beneath his feet.
Lightning surged around his twin swords.
He slowly stood.
"...Sorry."
"I'm late."
Lilia's emerald eyes widened.
She could hardly believe what she was seeing.
"...Ruke?"
Ruke turned and smiled.
"It's been a long time."
Before she could answer—
A wave of crimson fire exploded across the battlefield.
Kenya crashed into the center of the demon army.
"Fire Demon Style!"
"Inferno Crash!"
A pillar of fire erupted upward.
Dozens of demons were thrown into the air.
The villagers shielded their faces from the heat.
Kenya grinned.
"Finally..."
"A proper welcome."
Above them...
Eliz floated gracefully.
Ancient magic circles appeared beneath her feet.
She raised her staff.
"Light..."
"...protect them."
A massive barrier of golden light expanded across the village.
Every civilian was safely enclosed inside.
The injured immediately felt warm healing mana flowing through their bodies.
Cuts closed.
Pain disappeared.
The villagers stared in amazement.
"Healers..."
"They're real Drifters..."
Finally...
Shen landed before the Demon Knight.
Unlike the others...
His arrival was completely silent.
Dark Arcane flowed gently around his body.
His Supreme Lord Eye examined the enemy.
Unknown Individual. Title: Demon Knight Commander. Estimated Rank: A-Class. Warning: Highly Intelligent Opponent.
The Demon Knight laughed quietly.
"So..."
"Heavenly Paradise."
"You arrived sooner than expected."
Shen calmly drew his sword.
"You know us."
"I know enough."
"You defeated the Arcane Crystal Dragon."
"You ruined years of preparation."
Kenya looked toward Shen.
"So these guys were behind the corruption?"
The Demon Knight smiled.
"You'll learn..."
"...in time."
Without warning—
He vanished.
His black sword appeared directly before Shen.
Shen blocked it instantly.
Dark Arcane collided with crimson demonic mana.
A powerful shockwave spread across the battlefield.
The ground split apart.
The two stared into each other's eyes.
The Demon Knight smirked.
"Interesting."
"You've grown."
Shen pushed him back.
"Not enough to defeat you."
"Not today."
The Demon Knight jumped backward.
He looked toward the remaining demon soldiers.
"Our objective has already been completed."
The elite demons immediately began retreating.
Kenya frowned.
"Running already?"
The Demon Knight answered calmly.
"We never came here to conquer the village."
"We came..."
"...to retrieve what belonged to us."
Shen's eyes narrowed.
"The relic beneath Delmira."
The knight chuckled.
"So your eyes truly are special."
He slowly raised one hand.
A crimson crystal floated from beneath the ruined village square.
It flew directly into his hand.
The relic pulsed with dark energy.
"Our mission..."
"...is complete."
Ruke stepped forward.
"You're not leaving."
Blue lightning erupted around him.
Kenya ignited his flames.
Eliz prepared another spell.
Shen pointed his sword toward the knight.
The four founders stood together.
The Demon Knight looked at them silently.
Then...
He laughed.
"You four..."
"...have potential."
"But you're still far from ready."
Dark mana surrounded his body.
A gigantic teleportation circle appeared beneath every remaining demon.
Before disappearing...
He looked directly at Shen.
"The next time we meet..."
"...bring your third form."
Shen's eyes widened.
"You know about it?"
The Demon Knight only smiled.
Then—
The entire demon army vanished.
Silence returned to Delmira.
The fires slowly died.
Continuing Chapter 46 from that point:
For the first time since the attack began...
The village was safe.
The villagers erupted into cheers.
"They're gone!"
"We survived!"
"Thank you!"
Lilia finally collapsed.
Before she touched the ground—
Ruke caught her.
She smiled weakly.
"You really..."
"...came back."
Ruke laughed softly.
"I promised we'd become Drifters."
"I couldn't let you disappear again."
Tears filled Lilia's eyes.
"I thought..."
"...everyone had forgotten me."
Shen walked over and knelt beside her.
"No."
"Heavenly Paradise never leaves someone behind."
Eliz gently healed Lilia's wounds.
The holy light restored most of her strength.
Kenya looked around the damaged village.
"We'll help rebuild."
The villagers bowed deeply.
"We can never repay you."
Shen smiled.
"You don't have to."
Several days later...
Heavenly Paradise worked alongside the villagers, repairing homes, restoring farms, and protecting the surrounding forests.
Laughter slowly returned to Delmira.
On the morning of their departure...
Lilia stood at the village entrance.
Her injuries had mostly healed.
The village chief walked beside her.
"You've protected us for years."
"But now..."
"...it's time for you to follow your own path."
Lilia looked toward Heavenly Paradise.
Then toward Ruke.
She smiled.
"I'd like..."
"...to become a Drifter again."
Ruke laughed.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Shen stepped forward.
He extended his hand.
"Lilia."
"Would you like to join Heavenly Paradise?"
She looked at the floating emblem on his coat.
The emblem representing hope.
Friendship.
And a place where no one fought alone.
Slowly...
She placed her hand in his.
"I'd be honored."
The members of Heavenly Paradise smiled.
As their transport rose into the morning sky, Delmira Village grew smaller beneath them.
Unknown to everyone aboard...
Far away inside a dark fortress...
The Demon Knight knelt before a shadowed figure seated upon a massive black throne.
"My Lord."
"The relic has been secured."
The figure slowly opened glowing crimson eyes.
"And Heavenly Paradise?"
The Demon Knight lowered his head.
"They're growing faster than expected."
A quiet laugh echoed throughout the throne room.
"Excellent."
"The stronger they become..."
"...the more entertaining the coming war will be."
Outside...
Dark clouds gathered over the horizon.
The peace they had earned was only temporary.
For the true Demon War...
...had finally begun.
**End of Chapter 46**