As our humble carriage approached Agbad, the journey was surprisingly swift despite its unassuming appearance.


    While it may have seemed like an ordinary carriage at first nce, concealed beneath its modest exteriory a wealth of blessings and protections.


    The blessings bestowed upon our carriage rivaled even the most advanced and fortified carriages of the empire, including the esteemed Emperor''s personal carriage, which boasted an array of powerful protective spells.


    Yet, our blessings were of a different nature, more divine in essence than merely magical.


    Even the horses that pulled our carriage were imbued with divine blessings, granting them remarkable speed and endurance, allowing them to traverse great distances without sumbing to fatigue.


    They say Agbad is a small vige nestled on the outskirts of the border between the Holy Kingdom and the northern countries.


    But to call it small would be a misnomer, for even from a distance, one could discern its sizable presence on thendscape.


    It seems the Holy Kingdom has a peculiar definition of what constitutes a "small" vige.


    "Adrian,"


    "Yeah…."


    Elena''s voice cut through the tense atmosphere of our carriage, her hands tightening in a silent plea for attention.


    I understood immediately what she was implying, even though her words were subtle. There was an unmistakable aura of chaos and dread, a malevolent energy that seemed to suffuse the very air around us. It was darker and more ominous than anything I had ever encountered before.


    As someone who had faced such malevolent energies in the past, I could sense that everyone in our carriage had their senses on high alert. Even the faintest hint of that foul energy was enough to send shivers down our spines.


    The reports had initially suggested that this was merely a bandit insurgency, but it was bing increasingly clear that the situation was far more dire than anyone had anticipated. There was only one race in the entire world capable of emanating such a vile and oppressive aura: demons.


    "Tell the others to get ready," I instructed Louise, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at my insides.


    With a solemn nod, Louise ryed my orders to her spirits, who set about warning the upants of the second carriage, preparing them for whatever dangersy ahead.


    I was confident that Isabe would detect the malevolent presence right away. As someone personally blessed by a goddess, she possessed an abundance of divine power that made her attuned to such dark forces.


    However, considering her rtive inexperience in facing demons directly, there was a chance she might not recognize it immediately.


    Buka and Darius, although seasoned individuals, were likely to find themselves out of their depth against such formidable adversaries.


    It was imperative to prepare them for whaty ahead.


    Demons were notorious for their treachery and deceit; they would not hesitate to employ any means necessary to achieve their nefarious goals.


    Who would have thought that our first mission as part of this makeshift hero party would involve confronting actual demons?


    ''Right sis?''


    Sis just chuckled in my mind.


    She reallyid out these whole scenarios quite well.


    …..


    As the morning sun ascended to its zenith, casting its golden rays across thendscape, the anticipation of whaty ahead hung heavy in the air.


    "Why did you gather us here, Kid? The vige is quite near now, you know?" Darius''s gruff voice broke the silence, his gaze fixed on the distant vige thaty before us. We were a mere 2-3 kilometers away, perched atop a hillside behind a towering tree, gazing down upon the quaint settlement below.


    ''Dwarves… haah!''


    Whether in this world or my original one, they always seemed to possess the same impatient demeanor.


    If elves were known for their haughty racism and arrogance and humans for their insatiable greed, then dwarves were undoubtedly the most impatient of all races. It had only been a short while since I called for them to gather, and yet Darius grumbled as if it were the end of the world.


    "You''re right, we''re close, but we''re going to have to leave the carriages here," I exined, cutting through Darius''sints before they could escte further.


    "Why?" Buka chimed in, his brow furrowed in confusion.


    "Because it''s too dangerous," I replied loudly, my tone leaving no room for argument.


    "The reports may have suggested that only bandits surround the vige, but this ce is far more perilous than I initially anticipated."


    "What do you mean?" Darius''s voice rang out, tinged with frustration as he ran a hand through his hair. His impatience was palpable, a reflection of the tension that simmered beneath the surface.


    "Demons...." I replied, my voice steady despite the gravity of my words.


    "Although it''s faint, there are signs of demonic activity here."


    The moment the word "demons" left my lips, a ripple of unease spread through our small group.


    Darius, Buka, and Isabe''s eyes widened in rm, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the situation.


    Meanwhile, Elena, Louise, and Alex, who were already familiar with the nuances of demonic energy, likely sensed the foreboding presence from afar.


    As for Aria, she would undoubtedly share in their concern if she were present here.


    However, I had chosen to keep her secluded in the carriage, engaged in conversation with my sister.


    When the party inquired about her absence, I had offered a flimsy excuse about her guarding the carriage against potential threats—an exnation they had epted without question.


    "Are you sure about that, Hero?" Buka''s inquiry cut through the tension, his excitement palpable as he anticipated the impending battle.


    As a seasoned warrior, it was only natural for him to crave the thrill ofbat.


    As I observed Buka''s eager anticipation for battle, I couldn''t help but feel a twinge of concern.


    I understood his desire to prove himself to his tribe, but facing a mid-ranking demon was a perilous gamble.


    Even with his newfound strength, he remained vulnerable to the insidious corruption of demonic miasma—a threat that could prove fatal, even to someone as formidable as him.


    "Demons, huh… I never thought we would encounter one this early," Alex remarked, his voice heavy with somber reflection.


    The memory of the recent invasion at Estelle Academy weighed heavily on his mind, casting a shadow over his typically upbeat demeanor.


    The devastation wrought by the demon incursion had left an indelible mark on him, and the tragedy of it all still lingered in his thoughts.


    As Ana had mentioned on several asions, Alex had harbored a deep-seated desire to protect others during the invasion, despite his own perceivedck of strength.


    Was he now attempting to atone for his perceived failures? The seriousness etched into his features seemed to suggest as much.


    Despite the horrors he had witnessed and the burdens he carried, he remained steadfast in his determination to protect those around him.


    It was a testament to his character—as always, he was exactly as he was in the novel, even back from when we first met each other, he was always the hero type of guy.


    "Hahaha, it doesn''t matter if there''s a demon or not when we have this youngd here!" Darius eximed proudly, delivering a hearty smack to my back.


    As the designated hero of our group, his words held a kernel of truth, but I couldn''t help but wish that the boisterous dwarf would tone down his loudmouthed enthusiasm, if only for a moment.


    Ignoring Darius''s exuberance for the time being, I turned my attention back to the vige below.


    Like so many settlements I had encountered on my time on this world, it wasid out in a circr fashion, its perimeter fortified by wooden walls resembling sharpened spikes—a defense against both monsters and potential human threats.


    It was the perfect copy of a medium-sized vige, reminiscent of certain viges in certain anime I''ve watched.


    The fact that such a seemingly insignificant vige had fallen under the control of mere bandits suggested that their leader was either blessed or possessed by a demon, their influence casting a sinister shadow over thend.


    Two entrances punctuated the vige''s defenses—one leading to the road that connected to the Holy Kingdom, and the other providing passage to the northern countries beyond.


    Each gateway represented a potential avenue for danger, a portal through which the forces of darkness could infiltrate and wreak havoc upon unsuspecting souls.


    As I surveyed the vige with a critical eye, a sense of foreboding settled over me.


    The air was thick with an aura of malevolence, a tangible reminder of the demonic presence that lurked within.


    As expected, our options for ingress and egress were limited to just one or two routes—either through the front or the back of the vige.


    While we technically had the capability to teleport directly into the heart of the vige or descend upon it from the skies, such overt maneuvers would only serve to alert the vigers, as well as the demon and the bandit leader, prompting them to take defensive action andplicating what should have been a straightforward mission.


    With a n beginning to take shape in my mind, I issued orders to the rest of the group.


    "Buka and Darius, you''ll take the back entrance and infiltrate the vige from there,"


    Considering theplementary dynamic between Darius and Buka, both in their fighting styles and their harmonious teamwork, it made sense to pair them together. In the event of unexpected trouble, theirbined strength would provide a formidable defense.


    "Alex, I want you to work independently. Scale the wooden walls and gather intelligence on the vige''s activities as discreetly as possible. Find out what''s happening beneath the surface."


    Allowing Alex to operate solo was a strategic decision; his overwhelming firepower rendered the presence of others a potential hindrance rather than an asset.


    The three of them nodded in acknowledgment, their expressions resolute as they prepared to carry out their assigned tasks.


    "Isabe, I need you to remain here and guard the carriages alongside Aria," I continued, turning my attention to the remaining members of our group.


    "Be, take to the skies and observe the situation from above. Provide support to any team members in need."


    Be stood out as the epitome of magical versatility within our group.


    While she could excel in any role, her ability to adapt and support others made her an invaluable asset.


    By leveraging her versatility in a supportive capacity, we could maximize her impact on the battlefield.


    "Louise, since you can send your spirits to gather information, I want you to remain here as well."


    Simrly, Louise possessed a simr capacity for versatility, albeit through her spirits.


    As her spectral allies conducted reconnaissance and gathered intelligence, her physical presence was not required on-site.


    "Elena, you''ll stay with me. We''ll enter through the front," I instructed, ncing at the slightly nervous Elena…


    As for Elena and myself, our roles as saintess and hero intertwined seamlessly.


    Our partnership was essential; ourbined abilitiesplemented each other, making us a formidable force.


    Separating us would be a tactical error, as our strengths and weaknesses bnced each other out. However, leaving Elena alone—even for a moment—filled me with a sense of unease.


    ''She might identally erase the whole vige in one go if left alone…''


    Her immense power, coupled with her gentle demeanor, held the potential for catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.


    With our roles clearly defined and our objectives set, we moved forward with a sense of purpose, each member of our party ready to y their part in unraveling the mysteries thaty within the vige''s walls.


    "Remember, if you sense even the subtlest signs of demons lingering in the air, just scream my name, okay? I''m the hero Afterall" I said yfully, eliciting chuckles and nods from mypanions.


    …..


    Entering the vige proved rtively straightforward. As we passed through the crumpled and broken wooden gates, we were met with a scene that left us all stunned.


    Even Elena, who walked directly behind me, couldn''t help but gasp in disbelief at the sight before us—crumbling and burnt houses, starving inhabitants, and a grisly tableau of rotting corpses strewn about. Drunken bandits littered the streets, their presence a grim reminder of the vige''s dire circumstances.


    "Doesn''t this remind you of the slums, Elena?" I remarked with a hint of levity, but her response was far from amused. She shot me a re, her expression filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow.


    "Sorry," I murmured, realizing toote that the topic was a sensitive one for her.


    The memories of what had transpired in the slums weighed heavily on her, and it was only natural for her to react strongly to scenes reminiscent of those dark times.


    ''I shouldn''t have said that… I should apologize againter''


    Nevertheless, the grim reality of the situation demanded our attention.


    The bandits'' depravity was on full disy, evidenced by the naked corpses of women strewn haphazardly across the ground.


    A surge of anger welled up within me as I surveyed the scene.


    Had these monsters defiled and murdered innocent women with impunity?


    As we traversed the deste streets of the vige, the grim reality of the situation became increasingly apparent.


    Among the wreckage and carnage, we discovered the lifeless bodies of children, their innocent lives snuffed out by the merciless cruelty of the bandits.


    It was a sight that filled me with a potent mixture of sorrow and rage—demonic influence or not, the senseless ughter of innocents was a transgression that crossed every moral boundary.


    My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of snoring emanating from a nearby house.


    I moved to investigate, intending to silence the sleeping bandit my holy word slowly materializing, when a blinding beam of light erupted from behind me, obliterating the man''s head in an instant.


    "Elena…?" I turned to see my fiancée, her normally gentle features contorted with anger as she unleashed a powerful burst of sunlight.


    To witness Elena—my innocent, kind-hearted fiancée—openly take the life of another human being was a sobering realization.


    Yet, in that moment, I understood the depth of her resolve and the strength of her convictions.


    ''It must''ve been hard for her....''


    The man had met a deserved fate, and Elena had been the instrument of justice.


    "Sorry… I was just—"


    "You don''t need to exin," I interjected, my voice filled with understanding. Elena had acted out of necessity, defending those who could not defend themselves.


    Her actions spoke volumes, and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in her unwavering courage.


    Elena offered a small, apologetic smile in response to my words.