Heinrich opened the Pocket Castle's main doors as he made his way in. There was a little more activity than when he left to train. Apparently several monsters got taken up in a fight and were under supervision while they were in the process of recovering. As he took a look around, Alice, the small lamia, came toward him. She was about to ask a question when she stopped herself midway and sighed.

"Sorry Heinrich, from afar I thought you were Luka." She opened her eyes and crossed her arms. "You haven't seen him by any chance? He disappeared after we came back from our expedition."

"No, I also wanted to ask him a few questions."

"And I can't find that flying obscenity either…" Alice sighed once more as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "What kind of question did you want to ask him?"

Heinrich looked at Alice's bottom half. "No offense, but it is kind of awkward asking this to a monster."

"I don't think that can be more offensive than what that idiot did."

Heinrich raised an eyebrow. Alice shook her head while mouthing silently You don't want to know. The hero eventually gave in.

"I was wondering how Luka endures living with monsters without giving in to temptation."

Alice scoffed. "He doesn't."

"What? I mean as a devotee of Ilias…"

Alice interrupted him. "Heinrich. It's something you must understand since you joined. The catastrophe that happened 30 years ago brought humans and monsters close, when everybody realized they both suffered equally and worked together to get through." She looked up as she continued, annoyed. "And close enough for all perverts around the world to enjoy the pleasure they would gladly give. Luka remains a young man with his own impulses, and monsters are quick to fulfill any request of this kind. He probably slept around with half the castle." She sighed once more. "I think it's a miracle that all the men on the team don't jump on any monster that attacks us on the road. Their goddess is dead in their eyes, and so are her teachings. The only reason everyone don't run into a monster's arms, tentacles, or whatever is the fear of what said monster would do with them once the deed's done."

Heinrich remained dumbfounded for a moment. He never considered this world that different from the one he left behind. He thought there would be a few cultural differences, but didn't think the world would have mostly forgotten the goddess of light.

Noticing how shocked Heinrich was, Alice muttered. "Sorry, I didn't think how hard it would be to hear that everyone gave up on the goddess they once followed."

"I-it's okay."

The hero laughed nervously. Alice decided it was time to change the subject.

"How is Alicetromeria doing?"

Heinrich perked up.

"Oh she's doing fine! I think she's enjoying having that many monsters around to keep her company! You know, I always found it curious how she almost always felt at ease even when surrounded by monsters."

Alice cringed internally. It was Luka's ancestor without a doubt.

"Have you ever seen Black Alice once?"

"No, but I know she's a cruel, psychopath that decided to wage war against everyone, and that even monsters fear her because of her power. Why?"

The small Monster Lord assessed the situation. She decided that Heinrich didn't need another possible bombshell dropped on him.

Alice smiled as sincerely as she could to reassure Heinrich of his future. "I forgot what I wanted to say, sorry. Don't worry about it though, you will beat her and be remembered as a legendary hero through history." She tried to avoid sounding disgusted. "Besides, I am sure Ilias and the grateful population will reward you properly for your victory."

Heinrich smiled, feeling confident once more. "Thank you Alice, I will make sure to live up my reputation in the upcoming tournament."

Heinrich started walking away with a confident step. Alice suddenly saw a few feathers move behind a pillar. She closed in and saw Victoria. The valkyrie was looking down, hunched against a pillar, her wings lifeless. The lamia tried getting her attention.

"Do you need something?"

The valkyrie looked sideway, apparently ashamed.

"Nothing…"

She eventually turned her back and started walking away slowly.

Alice remained dumbfounded in front of Victoria's behavior. Was it about Heinrich? She eventually got back to her own search.


Heinrich confidently started to make his way to the royal chambers to see his companion Alicetromeria, but after a few minutes, doubt crept back in his mind about the situation at hand. He was in a world that wasn't his but where he existed 500 years earlier as a great hero. And most people were fine mingling with monsters and breaking Ilias's commandments? Was it his victory's legacy? Was his divine mission of slaying Black Alice even relevant now? Or maybe it was this action that led to this world…

Heinrich eventually entered the royal looking down. The only ones present at the time were the disguised 8th monster lord and her plush Beary. They turned toward the newcomer.

"You are looking troubled, Heinrich, did something bad happen?"

"I am feeling lost. I should be training to save the world or face Black Alice. Instead I am training for a friendly tournament against monsters with whom I already worked. This world is so different than the one we left behind…"

"Oh my, is it being friendly with monsters that surprise you? Or maybe you are troubled by the advances they make on you…"

Heinrich's face reddened slightly.

"Each time I come at the Pocket Castle, I'm requested to act as a bed warmer, and it only is when they don't explicitly say they want my children. But I am faithful to my hero's duties and to Ilias's commandment!"

Alicetromeria got up and started moving toward Heinrich, her hips swaying seductively.

"Besides, that would be a shame with me around, wouldn't it?"

Heinrich looked lost in thoughts, blind to his partner's attempt to entice him once more.

"You're right, I wouldn't want our relation to sour because I could not control myself. I must remain strong and not lose to temptation. But I currently even have the opportunity to train, with monsters preparing everywhere for the tournament."

Alicetromeria recovered from her failed seduction attempt and started looking for ideas to entertain his companion.

"Then maybe we should visit this world more together? We barely had the occasion to walk it, even less only with each other's company… How about visiting Grandeur? They have a theater where they regularly hold shows. Oh! I know! We could also travel to the Midas Village on Ilias Continent. They have great meat there! Or we could go to Yamatai and enjoy eating there like we did before…"

Heinrich shrugged. "Variety is the spice of life, let's go to Grandeur."

The pseudo mage looked disappointed for a second before Heinrich started smiling.

"Besides, Luka told me they have a restaurant in the theater."

She proceeded to jump up and down several times like a child under a sugar rush.


-Grandeur theater -

The duo exited the theater with several other customers in the middle of the night, clearly enjoying themselves. Heinrich managed to finally say between two bouts of laughter.

"I never thought I'd enjoy a show about a succubus dancing with zombies."

"They had some rhythm in their move, too much for the zombie's bodies."

"Are you talking about the moment where an arm flew off? I think that lady was quite surprised when it fell on her."

"Not as much as when the end started moving on its own to get back to its owner."

They exploded into laughter once more as they continued walking down on the road. Eventually, they took a break near the center of the pond. Even so late in the night, the city was still bustling with activity. Heinrich started to look at the sky while Alicetromeria was looking at him.

"You know… in this instant, I realize it's those kind of small moments that make me enjoy this world…"

"Then how about we enjoy it more together? Ufufu…"

"You're right." Heinrich clenched his fist as he posed in front of the star-filled sky. "This is why I must fight for it. I will do everything in my power to defend it! I will train more!"

"Wait…"

Heinrich started walking away with a newfound confidence, leaving a stunned Alictromeria behind. The 8th monster lord remained immobile, petrified by Heinrich's decision, her expression frozen into an uncanny smile. She slowly turned toward her plush Beary.

"Is this what humans mean by being blue balled?"

The stuffed bear nodded.

"That's no fun…"

She remained there, dumbfounded for a few minutes, until a regular eventually noticed her from afar.

"Do you need anything, young lady?"

Alicetromeria turned around and took a look at her interlocutor. He was wearing a heavy armor, but her senses picked on his toned body concealed by the plate. The gun at his belt indicated he was likely affiliated with the local mafia. He was also carrying an attractive scent…

"Yes, you will do nicely. Let's have fun together!"

Nobody ever hear from him again.