After four days they had finally arrived at the city bordering the domains of the Demon King.

  Ryan and his group headed to the nearest tavern to ask for a room, but they became involved in a commotion where Ryan intervened to heal a poisoned girl.

  The unusual part of the situation came when another girl appeared in front of them asking to join their group.

  "Of course not, just go away brat." Ryan grumbled bluntly.

  She looked at him with a pout.

  "Don’t be stupid, accept me, I’m very strong!"

  "At least we have to admit she looks very cute." Mirian crouched in front of her and began pinching her cheeks.

  "Ha ha hey that tickles."

  "She really is a child. Where are your parents?" Helen asked.

  "...I already told you I’m not a child, can’t you see?"

  "That’s exactly why we’re saying it. Playtime is over. Now let’s go to the room. Did they give you the key?" Ryan asked while looking at Helen.

  "Yes, I have it here. So when are we going to collect materials?"

  "At dawn. For now I want to sleep."

  "Me too." Mirian said.

  "Hm understood."

  They headed to the room.

  They were exhausted from the long journey, and without saying more each of them went to sleep.

  ...

  At dawn they gathered in the inn to have breakfast.

  And they began planning their day.

  They asked the innkeeper about the best place to gather materials and he replied that it was uncertain, but that it would be best if they split up so they could cover more ground.

  He also recommended that they not enter the Demon King’s domains for any reason.

  Because a barrier created by artifacts brought by Rank S heroes was protecting the city. Because of that the city was still so lively even after having been attacked.

  "Alright, then we’ll meet here in two hours. Gather as much material as you can."

  "Yes!"

  Ryan separated from them. Each of them went in a different direction to leave the city and search the surrounding areas for materials.

  Ryan was near the south exit. He could already see the guards guarding the gate.

  He walked in that direction. But suddenly a voice stopped him.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  "Hey you! Are you going to let me join or not?"

  Ryan slowly turned his head.

  The girl from the tavern had appeared again.

  'What a nuisance. Doesn’t this kid have parents or something...'

  Ryan started walking quickly. Instead of going to the south gate he went into the alleyways trying to lose the girl who kept following him stubbornly.

  She kept calling out to him persistently and didn’t lose his trail.

  At one moment, before reaching a crossing in the alley, Ryan got distracted because the girl was grabbing his clothes. He sped up and went deeper into the lonely alley.

  Bang!

  He collided with someone, and that person fell to the ground sitting.

  "Ouch, Zelyn are you alright?"

  "Yes, I think so hehe."

  "Who are they?" asked the girl who had been following Ryan.

  Ryan approached them and offered his hand to help them stand up.

  But suddenly he got distracted when he saw that person’s face.

  "Horns?"

  "Tsk..." The person clicked their tongue and stood up.

  "Zelyn stay behind me."

  The one called Zelyn was also a girl. Violet eyes and black hair, but unlike the other girl with horns, Zelyn looked human.

  "They’re demons, be careful!" warned the blue-haired girl.

  Ryan stepped away from them, becoming alert.

  'I have to protect this brat... I had to run into demons right now...'

  "Cristal, we need to run, we’ve been discovered!"

  "Don’t worry. It’s just a child and him, an ordinary adventurer, he’s not a hero."

  'Did she inspect me?'

  Ryan took a defensive stance and stepped in front, protecting the girl.

  The demon girl fixed her gaze on Ryan with a calm smile.

  "I’m not going to start a fight here. Instead..."

  Before she finished speaking, the horned demon girl took out a stone engraved with symbols.

  "Shit, run now, she wants to transport us!"

  The girl grabbed Ryan’s hand and they ran, but a blinding light surrounded them. And when they opened their eyes they were in a completely different place.

  Gloomy, with a foul smell of ashes and smoke fog covering the area.

  "What the hell happened, where are we?" Ryan asked himself while looking around.

  "There’s no doubt. That bitch transported us somewhere inside the Demon King’s domain. Luckily it looks like an empty place. The signs of battle indicate that people fought here, maybe a day or two ago..."

  "Stop talking like that. You’re just a child. And how can you know all that?"

  "I’m not a child!!"

  'Playing at being an adult just because she knows more about this world than I do.'

  A deep voice echoed.

  "What a surprise, we have guests." A silhouette approached them, walking through the fog.

  Then another silhouette appeared.

  "Since we arrived late to the battle, this will be entertaining."

  Ryan took a step back, leaving the small girl behind him.

  "Damn... those are demons too..."

  "Don’t be afraid. I won’t kill you, I’ll just torture you for a few years and turn you into my pets."

  "Hmm, and look at the cute toy he brought. That girl will be my personal pet."

  Ryan stepped forward and activated the aura of his gloves.

  "And you think I’ll allow something like that? You’re just trash."

  "Shut up stupid human. I changed my mind, you I will kill."

  The demon lunged at him and delivered a powerful kick, but Ryan blocked it.

  "Hm, you’re stronger than I thought. This could be fun." Before the demon finished speaking, the other one was already behind Ryan and attacked him, sending him flying several meters.

  "What a dirty move, do you really need tricks like that?"

  'They distracted me... they’re used to fighting as a team.'

  The girl ran and stood behind Ryan.

  "We don’t have time, empower me!" she shouted.

  "What are you saying? Just stay behind me. Now I’m going to fight seriously."

  "Don’t be stupid, empower me. You’re a support member, aren’t you?"

  "...How do you know that?"

  "I saw you heal the girl in the tavern. But we don’t have time, do it now."

  The demons began approaching them slowly, very confident.

  "Listen, I’ll empower you, but just run as fast as you can, I’ll take care of..."

  "Just do it already damn it!" the girl shouted.

  'I’ll scold her for that attitude later. For now I want her to escape.'

  Ryan cast every enhancement spell on her.

  "Oh, what a surprise, you’re a priest?" She looked at her hands with a smile.

  "I can feel my mana coming back..."

  "And what happens if you recover some mana? You’re still just a tiny human."

  "Ha ha ha, now you’re going to experience despair." the girl replied.

  "What are you doing? I told you to run..."

  Ryan’s words were interrupted when he saw the girl’s body begin to change.

  In just a few moments her child’s body transformed into that of a woman.

  "Eh... Eh... but what are you?"