On the western main road of the Dessert Kingdom,a small caravan sped forward along the vast straight route.
This road, built specifically for delivering supplies to the Watchwall, was wide enough for twelve carriages to travel side by side. But that did not mean just anyone could use it.
Two conditions had to be met: First, no one was allowed to use it during the Empire's supply convoys. Second, only nobles with legitimate titles were permitted.
A year ago, when waves of refugees flooded into the Free Nation—and then began returning—the region fell into chaos. Even nobles were reluctant to leave their lands.
As a result, this great road had been almost unused for an entire year. Now, only Hel's caravan traveled upon it.
Inside the lead carriage, Hel looked at the uneasy Tina seated across from her and asked:
"The Eight Academies of Savant City—I've already explained everything. Have you decided which one you want to attend?
Honestly, I don't recommend you coming to the same academy as me. It's only slightly better than the Potion Academy. Maybe the survival rate is a bit higher, and maybe the death rate won't reach seventy percent…but at least half the students still die."
"H-half… half?" Tina trembled at the number, immediately abandoning the idea of joining Hel at Skoll Academy.
"Then among the remaining five—Biology, Alchemy, Machinery, Arts, and History—which do you think suits you?"
"M-maybe… Arts?" Tina asked cautiously.
She'd never received a real education. But back when she worked as a porter for a merchant guild, she heard the overseers chatting once—about a collection of paintings sent from a big shot in Windmill Country to be auctioned.
The cheapest among them started at one thousand gold coins.
One. Thousand. Gold.
It would take Tina—and all her childhood companions—more than 160 years of nonstop work without food or rest to earn that much.
So she had always dreamed of becoming an art master. Only by earning enough gold could she take her younger siblings and escape the chains of their wretched social caste.
Of course, she had no idea how expensive art was in this age. Even the simplest linen canvas cost eight silver coins—not to mention the paint, which was the true drain.
But Hel didn't tell her. Even she wasn't sure which academy suited a "Trade Witch" authority holder. Among the five options, Arts and History were the best matches.
Sending a future business tycoon to study history, however, felt misaligned. Art, on the other hand, would at least give her common topics with nobles when doing business.
"Oh, right—once you transfer to the Art Academy, your studies will cost quite a bit. I can offer you a decent job."
"Job?" The word alone made Tina tense.
She knew too well how many nobles used "hiring a maid" as a disguise—luring poor girls into servitude barely different from slavery. Even if the maid died from beatings, the noble only needed to throw some money at the family. The more unscrupulous nobles would even accuse the dead girl of theft and demand compensation from her family.
Truly outrageous.
Which was why, in the Wild Dog Gang, no matter how poor they were, they never allowed their girls to work in noble households.
But Hel didn't mind Tina's guarded reaction. She continued calmly:
"I plan to purchase some businesses in Savant City. But as you can see, I didn't bring many people this time. So I need someone suitable to help manage things."
"But Lord Hel… this is our first time meeting, isn't it?"
Tina doubted him deeply. There was no such thing as free luck falling from the sky—especially not from a noble.
But Hel had warned her sincerely about the truth behind the special admissions to the Potion Academy. Because of that, she hadn't rejected him outright.
"Let's just say… you feel right to me," Hel said with a smile.
Tina, who had never seen a noble perform an honest good deed, was left even more confused. Was he serious? Was it because he was too young to have learned noble cunning? Or was he simply… different?
Dazed, she agreed to Hel's offer.
The true reason she accepted, however, was because of a deal she had made with the River of Fate. She had been shown a single thread of survival—and that thread was in this very caravan.
That was also why she loathed nobles but still followed along.
Meanwhile, not far behind the caravan, a group of uninvited pursuers was rapidly approaching Hel's trail.
Leading them were three powerful transcendents: a fully armored knight, a white-robed mage, and a bow cavalryman carrying a recurved bow.
All three radiated the aura of Stage Five.
Behind them marched forty heavily armed transcendents—every one of them Stage Four.
This disciplined, heavily equipped force was the Caramel Family's sharpest blade—the Blade of Caramel.
After receiving the duke's order, they immediately set out to pursue Hel's group. Though they were puzzled not to encounter the squad previously dispatched by the fifth son, they continued their mission regardless.
To prevent the assassination of the Mandrake Duke from being exposed, they intended to secretly escort Hel to the Scholar Nation—and eliminate him quietly.
Just then, however, a girl in a white dress appeared in their path. Her face was concealed beneath a hood, making it impossible for the Blade of Caramel to read her expression.
But her calm, overwhelming aura made them hesitate. And the cloak she wore bore the emblem of the Holy Inquisition Church—something they dared not take lightly.
The mage leading the group waved his hand. They decided to go around her.
Normally, they would eliminate anyone who spotted them to avoid revealing their movements. But this time, caution came first.
Yet just as the Blade of Caramel attempted to move past her—
the girl slowly lifted her head.
A sweet, delicate face emerged from beneath the hood.
"Everyone… a family should stay together," she said gently.
"So let me reunite you with yours.
Please—go die."
Smiling, Hel spoke the words.
The members of the Blade of Caramel froze—then began to smile back at her with eerie, unnatural grins. They drew their weapons.
And plunged them into their own hearts.
"LOYALTY!!!"
Their roar shook the sky.
When the echoes faded, only the girl in the white dress remained—walking gracefully through the field of fresh corpses.