The forest was quiet as Nelluru carefully prepared the rare Azure Leaf Tea. She held the steaming cup with a steady hand and said, "This is a very expensive drink. My husband used to drink it from time to time. It is said that it is a leaf that can be harvested in Slardar, which is located beyond the eastern sea. I put a lot of sugar in it, so I think I can get rid of the scale. The human race thinks of strange things";
Shaking off the memory, Nelluru looked around the empty clearing and asked, "By the way, where did that scary man go? Galt? If it's him... I'm going to report about magic and wizards. He said that and flew away clen answered.nelluru asked curiously Did he fly away? I'm not afraid of him anymore.
Alicia watched the steam rise and thought to herself, "I heard from the town's merchants that Heiden is in trouble now. Dublin is attacking. Of course, Heiden is also in a war. I can't stop it now that I've lost my human function. I heard that Esslin tried to stop the invasion in front of the border."
Alicia said as she realized the depth of the crisis. "I also heard that I couldn't stop it. Why did Esslin do that? Esslin and the Ghosts have been at war for a long time. Now, even if Heiden had a way, there's no one who has the magic knowledge to handle it. Wizards aren't there anymore. Why?Clen asked ;Because the King of Heiden banned magic. He was ignorant, and now the kingdom pays the price."Alicia explained;
Nelluru broke the silence, handing her the cup. "Here you go, Hero. Azure Leaf Tea? I put it in with all my heart. Is this your first time drinking it?"
Alicia grumbled, "Shut up! I'm from the village, and I don't like it." She took a long sip. "It's heavy... but it's delicious, Nelluru. I thought it would be more bitter."
Nelluru smiled softly. "I made it sweet. Now, Luna, let's have dinner."she started breastfeeding him;
Alicia replied, her voice low, "It's the first time I've won someone's smile with a sword. I'm finally happy to be a hero... to do something new."
Alicia growing serious, said, "You want to make Luna the king, but the country is disappearing. The Hayden royal family has a secret about magic stone technology, and the ghosts are after it. There is only one man leading them: The Dragon Slayer, Dorrel. He found her retired father and killed him just to prove his magic was complete."
Alicia's eyes flared with cold anger as she remembered Dorrel. Her mind flashed back to the moment her Father lay at the brink of death, his hand gripping hers one last time.
"Wait... stop it, Alicia," he whispered with his final breath. "He's a soldier. If you fight, you'll get involved in the war. Do not fight him. Instead, show your father what lies beyond this world."
Clen (the Demon King in a boy's form) scoffed. "Good grief. It's really troublesome. I have to protect what I've decided to destroy."
Alicia asked, "Are you going?"
Clen took charge. "Then I'll go too. You stay here and protect Luna and Nelluru. I don't want anyone to know I'm working with your race. I will show them what real magic power is. You were told not to fight him, Alicia. That was your promise to your father."
Alicia answered bitterly, "But I'm no longer a hero. I'm just a walking corpse. It's fine if I want revenge."
Clen challenged her, "Whether you're a hero is up to you. What did you want to do to become one?"
Alicia replied, "I wanted to make the world a bigger place."
Clen gave a thin smile. "I won't stop you from being a hero." As he prepared to vanish, he warned, "Don't let your guard down. I'll find you
The group moved toward the border. Rod and Mikiru, two travelers on the road, complained about the oppressive heat. "We crossed the border without permission," Rod groaned, "but we can't get to Hydra Art at this speed."
They reached the town of Ceylon. The remains of crows hung from the walls—a grim sign of the war. Nelluru woke up trembling. "The remains of a crow... they're still here."
Alicia comforted her, "It's okay, Nelluru. No one will notice you now."
But suddenly, a Townsperson—a survivor of the "Gang of Crows" who had barely escaped death—pointed at Alicia's sword. His face twisted in terror and rage.
"It's him!" the Townsperson yelled, his voice cracking. "He's the one who attacked us! Look at the sword! What do you mean, a hero? If a hero was alive, this town wouldn't be like this! I'll kill him myself!"
Carly, the owner of the local inn, stepped forward to stop the mob. "Stop it! Nine crows today—that's enough blood!" Carly, a pure-blooded Hayden, turned to the crowd, "We'll protect our town with our own hands. Arm everyone who can fight!"
Alicia leaned into Nelluru and whispered urgently, "It's really tense. The survivor recognized me. Call me Alicia instead of 'Hero' while we are in town. I want to keep my identity a secret."
As they entered the inn, Piega and Kasen, Carly's sons, jumped out nervously.
"Who are you guys?" Piega shouted. "Are you from the Three Tribes?"
"Mom! Mom!" Kasen yelled. "He's a bandit and he's got a sword!"
Carly smacked her sons down. "Without a sword, you can't even walk outside. You have big bodies but small guts, just like your father!" She turned to Alicia, "I'm Carly. Ignore these two idiots. They're my sons, supposedly our 'guard unit.' Tell me what's going on."
Alicia lied to protect them. "We are a guard unit for a noble family. We are protecting this girl."
Carly sighed. "If you have the money, I'll help. What do you need?"
Alicia replied, "A room, a bed for the baby, and a meal for two." After paying, Carly yelled, "Piega! Kasen! Carry their luggage upstairs!"
The sons grunted, "What the hell is in there? It's so heavy!"
Upstairs, the room was cold. Carly pointed to the iron furniture. "The King gave these to us decades ago. But now the King is dead and the iron has stopped. I'm sorry."
While they settled in, the bitter talk of the tavern drifted up through the floor. Men were drinking and cursing the heroes for the King's death.
Upstairs, Alicia was listening closely to their words, her heart heavy with the town's hatred. Suddenly, her body went rigid. Her eyes darted to the window.
Alicia exclaimed, "I sense a monster!"
CRACK! The window shattered. A swarm of massive, multi-legged bugs flooded the room. Piega and Kasen screamed in terror.
"What's this? Don't touch it! It's a bug!" Piega yelled, running for the door. "I don't like bugs with a lot of legs! Let's run!"
A calm voice came from the shadows. "It's not just a bug. It lives in the habitat of monsters. If you stimulate it, it attacks." Alicia exclaimed
A man stepped into the light. "My name is Maynard. I'm the Highest Wizard of the Boret Army, led by General Dorrel."
Alicia gasped, drawing her sword but didn't see her sword coz she left it in the room where they were"The Boret Army... they are already here."
Maynard looked directly at the cradle. "I have one purpose: to find out if the baby here is the descendant of the royal family. I am Von Ritz... the Highest Wizard!"