Along the vast and perilous border of the kingdom, the tale of the “Masquerade” spread swiftly like an impassioned ballad of adventure.
Five girls, each wearing uniquely styled butterfly masks, moved like shadows—elusive and formidable.
They appeared wherever they were most needed.
From clearing out savage beasts infesting the trade routes, to thwarting bandits intent on raiding villages, to delving into treacherous places to resolve strange local mysteries… their presence was like a gale wind, driving away evil and restoring order wherever they went.
What impressed everyone most was their style of operation: extremely efficient, accomplishing missions swiftly and cleanly;
yet their fees were surprisingly reasonable, even willingly taking on requests from obviously poor villagers who couldn’t afford high commissions.
Their selfless attitude, prioritizing the protection of common folk over personal gain, earned them immense reputation and genuine affection among the border residents and grassroots adventurers.
People fondly called them the “Masked Guardians” or the “Mithril Butterflies.”
Their mystery and strength inevitably invited comparisons with the once continent-renowned but suddenly disbanded S-rank team, the “Rainbow Bonds.”
Many whispered among themselves:
“This style… it’s kind of like the old ‘Rainbow Bonds,’ isn’t it? Also an all-female team, and just as strong.”
“Come on, ‘Rainbow Bonds’ wasn’t this ‘generous.’ Besides, their captain, Miss Serena, is from the Sword Saint sect—she wouldn’t waste time running around the borders.”
“But seriously, their power growth is terrifying. How long since they registered? Already A-rank! Even stronger than ‘Rainbow Bonds’ back in the day!”
Of course, what made their peers both amused and deeply impressed was the “signature act” they always performed after completing a mission.
Whether facing tearfully grateful villagers, the guild counter handing over quests, or curious adventurers at tavern celebrations asking about their gear…
Eileen would always find a chance to elegantly showcase their set of mithril equipment—still pristine and glowing with magical brilliance even after battle.
“This time, we managed to take down that mutated rock lizard thanks to the exceptional protection of this mithril armor. It took a hit from its tail whip and came out unscathed!” Eileen tapped her breastplate, producing a crisp sound.
“Helga’s magic instantly froze that massive swamp toxin cloud. The power amplification and stability of this mithril robe was key.” She nodded toward the calm purple-haired mage beside her.
“Lilysa’s gauntlets? Oh, forged from mithril alloy, double enchanted with ‘Armor Break’ and ‘Shock.’ One punch, and even the toughest monster shell cracks!” Lilysa immediately swung her fist in sync.
“Rita’s holy light efficiently dispels curses and heals wounds. The staff’s conductivity and the purifying properties of mithril are crucial.” The young priest nodded gently.
Finally, Eileen would sincerely conclude, “Highly recommend ‘Mithril Workshop’ products! Specially from Raven’s Domain, guaranteed quality! Look for the Mithril Butterfly mark!”
They were practically the otherworldly version of a “live-stream sales expert.”
After another grueling adventure clearing an ogre nest in the border mountains, the “Masquerade” group, weary but satisfied, finally set out to return to Raven’s Domain.
Having been away for weeks, even Eileen couldn’t help but let out a small exclamation as the familiar outline of their territory came into view.
The changes were staggering!
Once barren lands had been neatly cultivated, new crops gleamed with healthy green under the sun.
The orderly residential areas had more than doubled in size, with brand-new stone houses lined up, their roofs reflecting sunlight.
Most striking was the sturdy stone wall now partially encircling the lord’s manor and core district. Though incomplete, its future grandeur was palpable.
The construction site buzzed with activity—voices chanting, tools striking rhythmically—a vibrant symphony of life.
“Wow! The walls are up! Eileen, you’re developing this place way too fast!”
Serena’s eyes widened in surprise. Raven’s Domain was no stranger to her—they had once promised under these very fields to form an adventuring party for life.
That vow beneath the starry sky remained vivid in Serena’s memory.
She glanced at the figure beside her, crimson eyes shimmering with warmth. Wonderful—once again together. She had nearly lost Eileen forever due to her own immaturity.
Now, her feelings were clear: she wanted to be Eileen’s sword! Only by her side could she find a true home.
Father, I finally understand! It really is true that mindset affects breakthroughs in realm advancement!
Whether it was a change in mentality or the rapid stats boost from her recent hero class change, Serena could now sense cracks appearing in the final barrier leading to her father’s domain.
It wouldn’t be long before she broke through!
“So many people!” Rita covered her mouth, astonished as she watched the busy figures at the construction site. “When we first arrived, hardly anyone was on the roads, and everyone looked so happy.”
“That’s all thanks to Eileen’s brilliant strategy—taking in the tomb-keeper clan who’d been isolated for centuries was the right move!” Helga pushed up her glasses, analyzing, “They not only brought warriors to protect the mausoleum but also many skilled builders, stonemasons, and logisticians. The labor shortage problem looks permanently solved.”
Eileen smiled faintly.
This was one of the effects she had hoped for when deciding to shelter the tomb-keepers.
The pace of the homeland’s reconstruction far exceeded expectations.
Most importantly, these people were simple and kind at heart. They felt profound gratitude and admiration for Eileen—who had freed them by drawing out the holy sword.
Who would want to stay forever in the Valley of Death, after all?
People’s hearts were not hard to read.
She didn’t return directly to the lord’s manor, instead turning toward the now busiest and economically vital area—the expanded blacksmith district.
From afar, the sharp, rhythmic “clang clang” of forging and the distinctive hum of magical furnaces reached her ears.
Entering the largest workshop, a blast of heat greeted her.
Tom, Raven’s Domain’s original blacksmith, was shirtless and muscular, sweat dripping as he swung a heavy hammer in perfect coordination with an equally sweaty but gray-haired and burly old man.
That elder was none other than Master Wagner, a forging expert sent from the capital city. Eileen had worked with him for years, and his craftsmanship was beyond question!
Her mother’s keen insight in having him dispatched to assist had been a timely relief.
“Master Wagner! Mr. Tom!” Eileen’s voice cut clearly through the noisy workshop.
Both stopped their work.
Wagner wiped sweat with a towel around his neck. Seeing Eileen, he smiled with both relief and exhaustion: “Young lady! You’ve finally returned!”
“Thank you for your hard work! How’s everything?”
Eileen’s gaze swept over the piles of semi-finished mithril ingots and the newly completed sets of mithril armor and weapons hanging on the wall, shimmering with enchantments.
“How’s it going?” Wagner grunted, pointing first at himself and Tom, then at a silent, dark-skinned tomb-keeper blacksmith in the corner (reinforcement sent by Aya), “The three of us, plus the apprentices working three shifts, are about to burn this furnace out! Young lady, you’ve been ‘advertising’ like crazy out there, orders flying in like snowflakes! Nobles from the capital, mercenary groups from the borders, even the church knights have sent people asking! But even if we don’t eat, drink, or sleep, we can’t keep up!”
“Miss Clarice said several merchant guilds want to cooperate, and the prices are negotiable! But she’s hesitant to decide rashly…”
He gulped water and gasped, “Also, unless you can find some more skilled master blacksmiths soon, this old body and young Tom here will collapse on the anvil one day!”
Eileen looked at Master Wagner’s complaining yet proud expression, then at the vibrant scene inside the workshop, and finally relaxed.
The advertisement effect was exploding—sales were no problem at all, and the domain’s “flagship product” was in desperate demand!
This was the very core purpose of her adventuring—to create a sustainable and stable source of income for the domain.
“That’s wonderful! More orders are good! Money’s taken care of; everything else is negotiable!” Eileen sighed with relief, her tone brightening, “I’ll think of a way to recruit staff immediately! There should be some talent we can poach from the capital! Thanks, everyone! End-of-month bonuses tripled!”
“Oh, that’s on the young lady’s word! No backing out now!”
Master Wagner shook his head helplessly at Eileen’s “money-hungry” look but couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes.
He recalled his initial reluctance when the marquis “exiled” him to this “backwater” territory, and now—
With the domain’s magical arrays, the support of Yuno and those mages from the capital, lighting, heating, and even power for some workshops were all solved. Life was more convenient than anyone had imagined.
The magic prodigy Miss Yuno, inspired by Eileen’s wild designs and using the domain’s abundant magical energy, had developed automatic irrigation magic water wheels, constant-temperature enchanted granaries, and even simplified ore crushers… production efficiency was skyrocketing!
Even those originally arrogant mages from the capital now spent their days around Yuno and Eileen’s library, exclaiming that coming here was the right choice and that they were learning real knowledge.
Wagner didn’t understand magic, but seeing those mages’ bright, sleepless eyes, he knew these magical tomes were priceless treasures.
“Who would have thought…” Wagner muttered lowly, swinging his hammer as he dove back into work, “This poor place was brought to life by the young lady! Luck… no, this is more than luck.”
He glanced at Eileen, who was discussing new orders with Tom while casually playing with a mithril scrap piece, murmuring, “If only we had a gold mine too…”
Wagner chuckled and shook his head.
This young lady always had surprises.
Without the timely discovery of the mithril mine, how could the domain be building up like this?
A ‘miracle’ was blessing Raven’s Domain. Everyone inside the territory thought so.
On the newly built packed-earth road, Captain Ansel led a spirited squad of soldiers on a routine patrol. He wore polished standard leather armor, a +13 mithril longsword hanging at his waist, his steps steady and strong.
Watching the thriving scenery on either side of the road—the neatly tilled fields growing well, new houses with smoke rising from chimneys, the distant sound of children reading crisply from the schoolhouse, and villagers pausing their work to warmly greet him—“Good day, Captain Ansel!” “Thank you for your hard work, Captain!”
Ansel nodded to each, a rare sense of fulfillment and pride swelling in his heart.
Once, as an aspiring knight of the kingdom, he had been assigned as the head of Eileen Raven’s bodyguard—a notorious villainous daughter—and thought his future was bleak, his dreams of glory shattered, even fearing he might be dragged down and ruined by this willful young lady.
But everything had changed.
Seeing the land they guarded, rising bit by bit from ruins and bursting with vitality, seeing the genuine smiles and hopes of the people, Ansel suddenly understood another way to serve the country.
It wasn’t only on blood-soaked battlefields that knights could prove their worth. Protecting peace, building a prosperous homeland where people lived and worked in safety—that was also knightly honor!
And he was one of the guardians of this land of hope.
All this change stemmed from the very young lady he once avoided—the formidable Eileen.
Her courage and wisdom—though sometimes unconventional—and her deep sense of responsibility for her domain and people, had completely overturned Ansel’s view of her.
In his heart, Eileen had transformed from a “troublesome villainous daughter” into a “wise lord worth following.”
As the patrol passed the expanded blacksmith district, the deafening clang of forging rang out.
Ansel glanced instinctively, looking through the open workshop door, and caught sight of the familiar figure—dusty but radiant Eileen, passionately discussing something with Master Wagner and Tom, gesturing with her hands.
Seeing the young lady pouring her heart and soul into the domain’s prosperity, the surge of pride in Ansel’s chest flared again.
He straightened his back, feeling the weight of his responsibilities grow even more sacred.
Just then, a clear female voice came from behind: “Captain Ansel! Could you send a few people to help? A new batch of lumber just arrived at the warehouse and needs moving and sorting!”
Ansel turned to see Aya of the tomb-keeper clan hurrying over.
Once an assassin girl, now dressed in the domain’s regular clothes, her face still bore the calm demeanor of a clan leader, but more so showed her integration into the new homeland.
She was in charge of coordinating the tomb-keepers’ participation in various construction tasks.
“No problem, Miss Aya,” Ansel responded decisively, nodding to several soldiers, “You all, go with Miss Aya to the warehouse and help out!”
The soldiers obeyed immediately, following Aya at a brisk pace.
Ansel watched them leave before returning his gaze to the busy silver-haired figure inside the forge, a firm and warm smile spreading across his face.
The domain would only get better from here.
Yet, no one realized that a shadow was steadily drawing nearer…