The road to Ashtar’s territory was shrouded in gloom for the Hero Party.
And why wouldn’t it be? They had suffered another defeat in the battle against Pector.
Even worse, Lady Ashtar had outshone them.
Of course, the Hero Party knew nothing about Lady Ashtar.
However, it was hard to accept that a noblewoman, who seemed like a sheltered flower, was stronger than them, who had been fighting the Demon King’s forces all this time.
“How is it even possible for Lady Ashtar to face Pector? Is that even feasible?” Eugene, the Hero, was particularly appalled.
“Could it make sense? How could a woman, who probably spent her days lounging in a manor, be stronger than a Hero?”
“Even though Eugene had been somewhat lackadaisical, he had still spent years observing Noah from behind. He had learned a thing or two.”
“And yet, here he was, less competent than a noble’s daughter. To make matters worse, she was a Saintess—not even a warrior!”
***
“It’s not impossible,” Noelle began.
Even as a human, one could surpass their limits.
Noelle herself was proof, having transcended humanity.
Born in the worst part of the world, surrounded by individuals that could only be described as ‘dog-like,’ she could somewhat comprehend Lady Ashtar’s strength.
But for a noblewoman to achieve such a feat? That was bizarre.
“A noble’s daughter, you say? How could she possibly grow that strong?” Eugene’s disbelief was evident.
“Hero, not everyone is like you,” Ella sighed heavily.
Ella had soiled herself by associating with a trashy Hero and had lived foolishly up until now, but she wasn’t oblivious to the Ashtar family’s prestige.
The Ashtar family was the greatest in the Empire.
Their reputation hadn’t simply endured over time—it was deeply rooted in history.
“The Ashtars possess immense mana reserves and have superior physical capabilities. Their lineage is exceptional even within the Empire. Long ago, they were even proposed as a replacement for the Armenia Imperial family.”
***
From their nomadic origins, they had always been remarkable—both physically and in their mana capacity.
“Still,” Eugene muttered, “how does that explain her strength?”
“It’s strange that a Hero who can wield the Holy Sword isn’t even on Lady Ashtar’s level,” Noelle shot back.
Eugene’s face contorted in frustration.
“And she’s a Saintess,” Syria added. “She has to live up to her title.”
“That’s true,” Eugene grumbled. “She is a Saintess.”
“Don’t tell me you’re up to something again?” Syria and Ella were growing tired of Eugene’s antics.
“How much longer would he focus solely on his lower half? Did he even plan to defeat the Demon King’s generals? It was exhausting.”
For once, however, Eugene felt wronged.
“It’s not that! I just thought… as a Saintess, wouldn’t she help us defeat the Demon King’s generals?”
***
Logically, if there was such a disparity in strength, she would feel compelled to contribute.
That was Eugene’s thought process.
He couldn’t rely solely on the Holy Sword anymore.
Reality had made it clear—Noah was no longer there.
His remaining comrades couldn’t take on the generals either.
Only Noelle, as a mage, seemed remotely useful.
“Do you really think so?” Syria asked doubtfully.
“Of course! The Empire would suffer losses too.”
“That’s not the issue. Why would someone as capable as Lady Ashtar follow a Hero who’s already lost to the generals?” Syria’s voice was sharp.
The Empire might collaborate to fend off the generals due to mutual interests, but it was unlikely that Lady Ashtar would join a defeated party.
Syria’s distaste for Eugene had grown so much that even the nights they’d spent together now made her skin crawl.
‘How could she have ever thought this Hero was worth anything?’
“Do you really have to phrase it like that?” Eugene grumbled.
“Am I wrong?” Syria snapped.
“In most adventuring groups, members are equals who cooperate to fight together. But when a female adventurer follows a male, it’s often because she believes he can protect her. It’s a practical decision,” Noelle explained.
Eugene felt her words were subtly mocking.
“Are you saying women want to be protected? If so, they should just stay home!”
“What did you just say?” Ella erupted.
Eugene’s words stung, especially since she had once been a sheltered woman herself before this Hero dragged her out of her comfort zone.
“My point is, we should exclude her. Realistically, if she’s strong enough to fight the generals, that’s all that matters,” Eugene argued.
“No, I disagree,” Noelle said firmly.
Eugene blinked in surprise.
He had expected Noelle to support him.
“She might be helpful against the generals, but you’re forgetting something important: You’re from the Kingdom. The Empire might be an ally, but if Lady Ashtar, an Imperial noble, were to steal the spotlight, it would create political complications.”
“That’s true, but…” Eugene trailed off.
The Kingdom had relied on the Empire’s assistance thus far.
Allowing a noblewoman like Lady Ashtar to overshadow the Hero might strain their alliance.
“That’s not all,” Noelle added. “Lady Ashtar is not just anyone. Her appearance—white hair like platinum—is a sign of mana fusion. It’s the mark of someone who has transcended humanity. She’s not ordinary.”
Eugene sighed. “I get it. She’s no ordinary woman. But still…”
“Besides, the generals aren’t the only enemies. If we’re to collaborate with the Empire, it’s better to stick to the Seven Stars, as per the treaty. Lady Ashtar is not an appropriate ally.”
Eugene couldn’t argue with that logic.
“Moreover, her personality and yours clash. She’s not someone who would fit into this party, and having her here might hinder your growth as a Hero,” Noelle concluded.
Eugene finally relented. “Fine. I’ll drop it.”
“By the way, do you know who that Yuria woman is?” Noelle asked.
“Yeah, she’s the one who got beaten by Lady Ashtar. She’s beautiful, though,” Eugene replied absentmindedly.
“Yuria is Aslan’s betrothed. Officially, she’s a commoner chosen to help the prince win back public favor and reclaim the title of Crown Prince.”
“What? She’s engaged to the prince? That’s off-limits, then,” Eugene muttered.
“But?”
“Even as a commoner, her position cannot be ignored. And if Lady Ashtar is a Saintess, there’s no way she wouldn’t know Yuria’s status. Yet, she beat her as if she were nothing.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Lady Ashtar truly showed no restraint.
Her words and actions were brutal.
After witnessing that, the Hero Party was convinced: the Empire’s Saintess was a fallen one.
For some reason, her demeanor reminded them of a familiar mage.
“That woman’s temper is no joke. Forcing her into the party might lead to daily bloodshed. She gives off a familiar vibe, you know.”
“Really?”
They chose not to investigate what that ‘familiar vibe’ might be.
It was likely connected to Noah anyway.
***
“By the way, everyone, I have a question,” Noelle interjected.
“What is it?”
“What kind of person was Noah before?”
“Well…” Eugene thought about the mage, Noah.
He didn’t need to elaborate on Noah’s strength—that much was obvious.
But how could he describe him in a way that didn’t make him seem stronger than the Hero himself?
- “Eat your meal, you pig.”
- “Not bad for working with limited ingredients.”
- “Crazy bastard. Do you even know why we’re broke?”
- “Shut up and eat in peace.”
Noah was good at cooking.
Especially when they were low on money, he often came up with meals inspired by Eastern cuisine.
Foods made with rice, something eaten by the people of the Wasteland, were quite decent.
“Noah was great at cooking,” Eugene finally said.
“Cooking?” Noelle tilted her head and looked at Ella.
Ella, meeting Noelle’s gaze, began recalling memories of Noah.
Even though she didn’t always get along with him, there was one thing she admired.
- “Has the noble Elf of the World Tree finally lost her mind? Should I wash your undergarments too?”
- “Well, you make them as clean as new, so yes.”
- “Am I your servant? Mix my laundry with yours, and I’ll kill you.”
Noah excelled at laundry.
Usually, everyone washed their own clothes, but Noah’s ability to clean clothes to perfection was appreciated by Ella, who, as an elf, valued cleanliness.
“He was amazing at doing laundry,” Ella remarked.
***
“Laundry?” Noelle was puzzled.
“Yeah, incredibly good. He could have opened a laundry service for nobles and made a fortune,” Ella explained.
Noelle tilted her head.
‘What exactly had her brother been doing with this party?’
Next was Syria’s turn.
Noelle’s gaze turned to her, prompting Syria to recall her own experience with Noah.
- “Give me the money. Now.”
- “Y-yes! Here it is!”
- “Is that all?”
- “But I’ve already paid the principal!”
- “Don’t give me that crap. If you’re late, there’s interest!”
Once, when Syria had been swindled, Noah not only recovered the money but also demanded interest.
“Not only that, but he used the Hero Party’s reputation to capture and imprison the perpetrator.”
If Noah ever fell into darkness, Syria was sure he’d be the most dangerous of them all.
She even remembered him extracting funds from the Pope during one of their visits to the Holy Kingdom.
“Noah… was good at extorting money,” Syria finally said.
“Extorting money?” Noelle was shocked.
“Yes. He’d lend money and then collect it with interest. Or he’d help someone and demand a much larger reward in return. He was remarkable at that.”
“That’s scary.”
‘Was her brother really like that?’ Noelle couldn’t believe it.
Still, considering the current state of the Hero Party, Noah’s resourcefulness had been necessary.
The real question was whether he was truly dead.
‘I guess I’ll find out later. He’s always been shady.’
For now, Lady Ashtar was the bigger concern. How had she achieved mana fusion, something Noelle herself hadn’t been able to do?
Getting closer to her might not be a bad idea.
***
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying Aslan’s group to the Ashtar estate was eerily silent.
Everyone inside had lost consciousness, their expressions far from peaceful.
***
Prince Aslan tossed and turned in his seat.
Thud! Bang!
- “Oh, you had fun playing with a succubus, didn’t you? Thanks to you, I’m wandering the afterlife!”
- “Even in your dreams, you need a beating. They say mad dogs only learn through pain!”
“Stop it, Olivia! I’m sorry!”
In his dream, Olivia beat Aslan mercilessly, tears of rage in her eyes.
The nightmare ended only when her club struck his bones, jolting Aslan awake.
“Ahhhh! My bones! Olivia, my bones! Wait…”
Aslan, now awake, looked around.
Raileur and Sharial were asleep, their expressions equally troubled.
‘Am I in a carriage? Where is this place?’
Looking outside, he saw knights escorting the carriage, bearing Ashtar’s emblem.
He called out to one of them.
“Hey, where are we?”
“We’re entering the Ashtar estate, Your Highness.”
‘The Ashtar estate? ‘So they’d been rescued.
“That’s right… I remember now. Pector was struck by a massive lightning bolt. And then…”
Aslan recalled the scene.
Olivia, his former fiancée, had summoned the bolt from the sky and slammed it into Pector.
Lightning was known to be fast, but somehow, that moment had felt clear and vivid.
- “If you hadn’t messed around and caused this disaster, I wouldn’t have to suffer like this!”
- “Ugh!”
- “Do you think your royal blood excuses your stupidity? You’re nothing but a discarded prince. Meanwhile, I’m a recognized hero by the Emperor himself. And yet you still defy me?”
He remembered it clearly: Olivia had beaten him black and blue.
After driving off Pector, she had tracked him, Raileur, and Sharial down like a ghost.
His body still ached from the memory of her punches and kicks.
“Hiiiik!”
Aslan screamed and fell forward, still haunted by the experience.
He couldn’t believe Olivia was such a cruel woman.
‘What about the others?’
Glancing at them, he realized they were no better off.
Yuria sat alone in a corner, head bowed.
As for Raileur and Sharial…
“Miss Olivia, please stop! Punish me instead—ugh!”
“Olivia, no! Why are you hitting me? I didn’t do anything—ugh!”
It seemed they, too, were trapped in nightmares.