A magpie, boasting its blue feathers, was flying through the sky. 

As it left a streak of shimmering blue behind it, the magpie landed directly on a window of the Kaulan Imperial Palace.

Tap, tap.

“Come in.”

Upon receiving permission, the clever magpie grasped the window latch, opened it, and stuck its head inside. 

Hopping into the room, the magpie presented its leg, bound with a letter, to Reinhold.

[Report on the Appearance of the Demons] 

Reporter: Tigreia

“Finally.”

The handsome young man with golden hair and blue eyes unfolded the report and read it carefully. 

The initial content matched what he had previously received. 

The demon, identified as a succubus, had been dealt with using holy water that the porter had at the time. 

Even the recovery of the hero, Luciena Estel, was mentioned.

“Hmm?”

‘The expected destination of the porter and the hero is Waltercrua.’

“Waltercrua, huh…”

Reinhold had informants scattered across every city in the world. 

The commercial city of Waltercrua was no exception.

In fact, due to it being the location of Ravin, a former candidate for the hero’s party, the spies there were even more skilled and significant. 

Despite this, it wasn’t easy.

Ravin had already killed one informant. 

Though the informant was more of a small-time thug, the fact that a fish was found in the corpse’s possession was a clear warning. 

Moreover, ‘they’ had advised against provoking Ravin any further, so they were just watching from a distance.

“If the hero, the porter, and the thief join forces…”

It would be quite troublesome. 

If Luciena fought without regard for tactics, it would take the combined efforts of a saint, an archer, and a shield knight to counter her. 

If Tigreia was there, the outcome would depend on who struck first, but if there was a thief hiding and backstabbing, it would be a counter to the mage.

As Reinhold was finishing the report, something else tapped at the window.

“Come in.”

This time, it was a raven. 

The raven, draped in violet-black, fluffed its feathers upon seeing the magpie with its blue-dark plumage.

“Hand over the letter.”

The raven nudged the magpie aside with its body and extended its leg to Reinhold. 

The letter attached to its leg contained only a short message.

‘Redhead sighted, they said they’ll take care of it.’

Crumple.

Those bastards. 

Acting as if they were the ones who discovered her, and now ‘they’ were stepping in? 

The useless informants who wasted money must have heard about Luciena’s sighting from ‘them’ and hastily scribbled a sentence to send the raven.

“What should I do…”

Both the hero party and ‘they’ were trying to disrupt the balance Reinhold had achieved. 

It was extremely annoying and arrogant. 

As the guardian of the world, it was his duty to maintain balance, yet they were blindly driven by their own desires. 

It was infuriating.

“Morgan!”

In this regard, Crown Princess Linachien was indeed a woman who appealed to him.

“Since the last meeting, both the nobles and the people, led by the Ephalter family, have been clamoring to secure the hero’s whereabouts.”

Though her noble birth was impeccable, she had slight imperfections that did not match her dignity. 

Even now, she opened the office door herself, having run all the way without an escort. 

Linachien irritably brushed her sweaty platinum blonde hair away from her neck, trying hard to maintain a composed and regal demeanor.

“We haven’t even recovered from the last debacle, and now the public is demanding the hero’s return. We need a strategy to turn this situation around.”

It was amusing. Hadn’t she previously portrayed herself as a competent yet realistic strategist? Now that a crisis had arisen, she was demanding a solution from Reinhold. The more he saw her, the more he liked her. Her long platinum blonde hair, her haughty yet doll-like beauty, her ambition that surpassed her ability, and her secret efforts when no one was watching.

Reinhold wasn’t mocking her. He genuinely loved Linachien. From the moment he first saw her and understood who she was, he knew she was the woman he wanted by his side. To make her an empress and himself a guardian who would bring peace to the world, he even pretended to be engaged to a hero he had no feelings for.

His affection for Linachien was always sincere.

“Do not worry, Your Highness. I have just learned the hero Lucie’s whereabouts.”

“Where is she?”

“The commercial city of Valtercroix.”

“Ephaltera to Valtercroix…? That’s not a short distance.”

“The hero’s physical abilities exceed those of a normal human. A single leap can shake the ground and reach the clouds. Even if it’s not graceful, they can cover great distances with ease.”

Linachien didn’t need such a detailed explanation.

“Reinhold.”

She only called him by his surname when she was serious or had a request, and Reinhold found this quite challenging. Once they were formally married, he would have to correct this behavior, even if it required a stern approach.

Unaware of her fiancé’s thoughts, Linachien maintained a cold tone as she made her request.

“Reinhold, despite the defeat of the Demon King, demon remnants remain, and the hero, who has gained the steadfast support and popularity of the masses, has returned alive. Neither of these helps my succession to the throne or strengthens the imperial authority; they are significant threats. As my betrothed and my foremost servant, I require a solution.”

Her words were lengthy, but ultimately, she was asking for help. A proud crown princess relying on her shield knight.

“Though the problems are complex, the solution is simple.”

“What do you mean?”

“Demon remnants exist. To easily deal with them, a hero is necessary. But having a living hero is problematic.”

“Are you suggesting we re-enlist the hero to deal with the remnants?”

The shield knight shook his head.

“The hero has only recently recovered. They are likely not in perfect condition. While the demons are strong, they are not as strong as the hero. It would be best to eliminate them as soon as possible, while we still can.”

“Then what about the demon remnants?”

“The hero’s party, without the hero, should be sufficient to eradicate them. It won’t be easy, but by eliminating the biggest obstacle, Luciena Estel, we ensure our success.”

“Who will lead the expedition?”

“We’ll send the mage and the saint. With Tigreia, they can travel quickly.”

“What if the hero is in perfect condition?”

Despite her dismissive tone, Linachien wasn’t foolish. 

She was picking up the key points from their rapid exchange, which pleased Reinhold.

“In that case, we attempt to recruit them. Even demons are easier to eliminate.”

“We’ve already attacked the hero once. Will Luciena Estel accept our offer again?”

“Your Highness, do you remember what I always say is important?”

“Yes.”

Linachien remembered clearly.

“Information about the situation and the enemy.”

“That’s right. Therefore, we will first ascertain whether the hero is in perfect condition and whether there are factors that would lead them to accept our recruitment.”

Reinhold wrote two letters. 

Speaking loudly enough for the crown princess to hear, he instructed the raven,

“Deliver this message: Find the hero’s weakness and, if possible, kill them. Given the hero’s fierce nature, it will be kill or be killed, so act with determination.”

Conversely, to the magpie, he said,

“The world still shows signs of chaos due to demons, so a hero is needed. Make thorough preparations and go to Waltercrua to meet the hero. However, if the hero is deemed a greater threat than the demons, render them incapacitated or kill them. Do not rush your preparations.”

With that, the two letters were sent off.

As the birds flew away, Linachien leaned gently on his shoulder.

“I always learn so much from you.”

“Despite starting late, Your Highness is improving rapidly. I look forward to seeing more.”

“To be recognized as a great ruler, one must be a complete and ready leader now, not in the future.”

“Do not be impatient.”

Reinhold wrapped an arm around the crown princess’s shoulder.

“The finest vessels take the longest to craft.”

“You give me strength, Morgan. If I had someone like you by my side since childhood, I would have been ready to be an empress by now.”

“Your Highness’s childhood experiences, though painful, allowed you to better understand and embrace the people of this empire. It was a valuable experience.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

The crown princess thought of a boy. 

A boy who was always upright, despite his thin frame. 

A boy whose feelings she knew but couldn’t accept due to her noble birth. 

A boy who left after a cheeky remark, despite her efforts to reward his loyalty.

“I’ll return as a man who can stand equal to you.”

He had only taken the name Lin that she gave him, after the sewage alley incident. 

Reinhold would have been furious at such a rude remark, but Linachien regarded even that boy as an important subject, worthy of her affection. 

A ruler must love and enrich their subjects.

“Recently, I’ve been thinking about you, Lin.”

She hoped he was living well in a peaceful countryside, healthy and farming. 

Living within his means.

***

“Heading to Waltercrua to secure Lucy?”

“Spending a day on preparation.”

“A day? No, it might actually be too short for dealing with Lucie.”

The mage and saint headed towards Waltercrua.

“Let’s stick to the plan, got it?”

“Don’t act too familiar with Lin!”

“Don’t screw things up with your temper!”

“Sigh…”

Between the bickering Ravin and Lucie, Lin sighed.

“So, you’re moving, huh.”

Watching them, she smiled gently.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”

Calming her excited heart, she whispered,

“I’ll come for you soon, my Lin, once I eliminate the obstacles.”

The second main episode of DLC 2 had officially begun.

“Just wait a little longer, my Lin.”

And ‘they’ also began to move in earnest.