New Member (Non-Staff)

Aina originally didn’t want to buy that dress, as she rarely had any occasion to wear it. But Liyana said that if Aina didn’t take it, she would buy the dress Aina had tried on and gift it to Xia Lun… So, in the end, Aina purchased it anyway.

However, when Aina went to the counter to pay, she was told that the gentleman accompanying her had already settled the bill.

“How enviable, madam, to have such a gallant and handsome partner,” the clerk couldn’t help remarking.

Aina gazed at the dress in her hands, lost in thought.

Did he really think such a trivial gesture could sway her?

How naïve, Hero.

With a flick of her wrist, Aina stored the dress in her spatial ring.

Well, since it was a gift from the Hero, she wouldn’t just toss it into some forgotten corner… She’d place it on an unused shelf, at least.

Not that it meant anything. It was simply so that in the future, after she had vanquished the Hero, she could reminisce about this worthy adversary.

Yes, just as humans preserved their hunting trophies as specimens, this would be her first spoil in the conquest of the Hero.

Aina silently reaffirmed her resolve.

She was the cold and ruthless Demon King—how could a mere dress shake her conviction?

Her treasury overflowed with gold and jewels; such a garment was beneath her notice.

But since it was a gift, basic courtesy demanded she treat it with some respect.

In the end, Aina placed the dress in a slightly more visible spot.

That way, when she cleared out unnecessary junk from her spatial ring later, she could easily spot it and discard it without a second thought.

That was what Aina told herself.

……

In a shadowy corner of Olie City, a dark figure flickered in and out of sight.

“To think… the world where the ‘Goddess’ resides is even more formidable than we anticipated,” Death Praise murmured, tightening his black robes around himself.

Merely wandering into a random city, he had encountered two beings of immense power—both of whom had faintly sensed his presence.

In his world, such mighty figures could be counted on one hand… Yet here, in a city that wasn’t even particularly prosperous, there were two.

Fortunately, they hadn’t come after him, likely assuming he was merely passing through.

Death Praise further suppressed his aura, his heart swelling with exhilaration.

To bring death to such a powerful world… What an unparalleled honor!

“Hey! Who are you? This is my turf.”

A ragged beggar stumbled into the alley, startled by the stranger’s presence.

But seeing how emaciated the figure beneath the robes was, the beggar regained his confidence—this wretch was no match for him.

“Scram! Get the hell out of here, you eyesore!”

“How pitiful,” Death Praise sighed. “To live as insignificantly as an insect… Your death, too, shall be meaningless… To perish in this filthy alley, forgotten by all—what a wretched fate.”

“The hell are you babbling about? I’m warning you, if you don’t get lost, I’ll beat you senseless!” The beggar rolled up his sleeves.

Death Praise: “Wouldn’t you prefer your death to hold greater meaning? I can make it shine brilliantly.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?” The beggar spat, too irritated to waste more words, and swung his fist.

Yet the moment his hand reached for the robed figure, his arm began melting like heated wax, flesh dripping in thick globs to the ground.

“Aaaah! My hand! My hand! What’s happening?!” The beggar shrieked in horror.

But his voice soon grew distorted and muffled.

His entire body was liquefying, flesh turning gelatinous, sliding off his bones like overcooked stew meat.

“Guh… ack…”

Within moments, the living man had dissolved into a puddle of slop, leaving only a bare skeleton behind.

Crack—

With a brittle snap, the bones crumbled into dust upon hitting the ground.

“How pitiful… But such a worthless, ugly death is the perfect punishment for vermin like you.”

A wisp of dark energy seeped from the beggar’s remains, vanishing into Death Praise’s billowing robes.

“Pathetic…”

……

“Besides brewing potions, I have other skills too!”

Ankula declared earnestly. “For example, I can divine the future—even summon powerful entities to possess me!”

Xia Lun sat across from her and nodded.

Well, she was a witch… It wasn’t surprising she dabbled in the occult.

“Then why didn’t you use that against the Red Dragon…?”

“Invocation rituals are complicated! There was no time to prepare back then… Plus, it’s risky. If some being decided to hijack my body and refuse to leave, I’d be in serious trouble…” Ankula stuck out her tongue.

“Then why not divine whether Xia Lun will let you join our party?” Liyana asked curiously.

Ankula: “Divining matters related to oneself is forbidden!”

“I’m sorry, Miss Ankula… I don’t think you’re a good fit for our team,” Xia Lun finally rejected her application.

“Why not? We’ve already adventured together! I know I can contribute!” Ankula protested. “With me around, you’ll never run out of potions!”

Hiss—

Xia Lun was admittedly tempted.

But there was no way he could accept.

Earlier, Ankula’s father, Angelie, had approached him, insisting his daughter not become an adventurer.

Normally, Xia Lun disapproved of parents dictating their children’s futures.

But Angelie’s offer was simply too generous.

While Xia Lun could resist temptation, Liyana couldn’t—she agreed instantly, leaving Xia Lun no choice but to comply.

So it was better for Ankula to stay home.

Besides, if she truly wanted to be an adventurer, her skills could easily land her a spot in a higher-ranked party later.

After all, Dawn’s Wing was still just a fledgling Level 2 group.

Seeing Ankula’s stubborn refusal to give up, Xia Lun sighed.

“Well then… Miss Ankula, how would you feel about being our reserve member?”