Xiandre, along with the three other girls, approached the gate that led north. There were still people around them alive, but they were weak and nearly dead.
Distant cries could be heard as they continued on their path.
"Something like this was your doing, Fillia," Xiandre said.
"Y-yes," Fillia responded, her tone low.
Suddenly, Xiandre felt something vibrating in his pocket. He stopped in his tracks, and the girls halted as well.
Xiandre reached into his pocket and realized it was a potion—the one given to him by the girl at the brewing shop Iris. It glowed brightly, vibrating intensely.
Suddenly, the five of them heard footsteps running behind them. As they turned their heads, they saw the girl from the brewing shop running toward them. She held a potion in her hands, also glowing and vibrating just like Xiandre's. She stopped just in front of him.
"Hm? It's you again," Xiandre said.
"Grandma is dead," she said coldly, her expression blank.
"I can see why," Xiandre replied.
"I know it was you and the goddess who did it," she said, pointing at Fillia.
"Sorry for your loss," Xiandre replied.
"Who is this little girl?" Amelia asked.
"She's from a brewing shop Xiandre and I went to while you were asleep," Velmora replied.
"No," the girl—Iris—shook her head as she pointed at the potion Xiandre was holding.
Xiandre handed it to her, and she took it. She then glanced at Fillia one more time before drinking it.
Immediately, a pink smoke enveloped her as she returned to her true form.
Her chest grew larger, along with her thighs. Slowly, her clothes shifted as a hat appeared atop her head.
Xiandre was caught off guard by her sudden transformation. She giggled softly as her outfit changed into that of a witch.
"It's finally good to be back to my true self," Iris said.
"What is this?" Xiandre asked calmly.
"Well, you seem confused about what's happening right now, but you'll find out soon," she said, and then vanished.
Xiandre looked around, as did the other girls.
She was nowhere to be seen—she had vanished right in front of them in plain sight.
"She was the Witch of Darkness. She's supposed to be dead," Millie said.
Xiandre turned to her. "Darkness?"
"Yes. She was burned in her hut two centuries ago—killed by the royal knights. It used to be a myth, but now that I've seen her, I believe it. She destroyed city after city, spreading a plague across countries that killed millions. She was one of the most dangerous witches to ever exist. She had the power to manipulate darkness. Her weakness was light, so she was burned in her hut using a spell chanted by the Seven Virtues of Heaven. They surrounded her home and burned her alive. The royal knights helped by spreading the flames, turning her entire body to dust. I can't believe she's still alive—Iris Evergloom," Millie explained.
"A mere burn in a hut killed her?" Xiandre asked.
"No. It's said that using the spell of the Seven Virtues can create a fire as hot as the surface of the sun," Millie replied.
"I see," Xiandre responded calmly.
"Well, whatever it is, I don't really care for now. I only have one thing in mind," Xiandre said as he turned toward the gate and began walking.
"And that is to get my revenge on the class me and Amelia used to be in," he added.
"Fufu~ Feeling confident now, are we? Well, not like I doubt your strength," Amelia replied, smirking as she followed behind him.
Velmora chuckled softly and joined them, with Millie trailing behind, her expression blank and distant.
Fillia glanced up at the sun, her eyes drifting over the ruined city—the aftermath of her battle against Xiandre.
Suddenly, she trembled slightly, a strange heat spreading through her body. Her expression flushed, her steps faltered and her pussy wetting.
"If you don't follow, Fillia, punishment will come over you," Xiandre said calmly without turning around.
"Yes, Master," she replied quickly, nodding and catching up to the group as the strange sensation began to fade.
I never really said it out loud, Xiandre thought, but the punishment system they face for disobedience... it messes with their minds and they get Horny as it makes them crave for my dick. It's twisted, and I don't even know where it ends.
He sighed to himself.
"Really... what is this system up to?" he wondered silently.
Exiting through the gates, they stepped out into the wilderness, heading toward the capital of the country of Grimore.
As they walked, a cold wind passed by, and a distant river shimmered under the sunlight. The trees stood tall with blooming green leaves, and the grass beneath their feet was vibrant and soft.
It was a magical scene—peaceful and serene. Xiandre took it in, yet thought little of it. Still, the distant sounds of animals and nature kept him calm and grounded.
Amelia smiled at the landscape and turned toward Velmora.
"This world isn't all that bad, is it?" she said.
"Yeah," Velmora replied with a chuckle. "I actually used to travel alone back when I was still alive—before I became a sinner who crawled out of Hell."
"Oh? Were you some kind of adventurer?" Amelia asked.
"Not exactly. I was a traveling merchant," Velmora replied. "And it's actually kind of funny how I died."
"Oh? How did it happen?" Amelia leaned in curiously.
"Well, when bandits raided my village, I tried to run. I came across a ravine and thought I could jump across it. I almost made it—but not quite. I managed to grab the edge of the other side, but my grip failed. I fell. My arm broke when it struck a ledge, and I landed neck-first on a sharp rock. My neck snapped. Somehow, I survived the fall… but every bone in my body was broken. I could barely move. I watched as the bandits above gave up chasing me and returned to raid the village. I bled out slowly down there, alone."
"Wow… That's not funny at all," Amelia replied, her voice somber.
Velmora laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess it's more of a tragic backstory than a joke."
"Do you know who those bandits were?" Amelia asked.
"I think they were called the RedPillars," Velmora answered.
"Why didn't you tell Xiandre and me sooner? They hurt you. They killed you. We should get revenge," Amelia said, her tone serious.
"I would… but I don't know where they are now. And to be honest, I'm not the type to chase revenge," Velmora replied.
"It doesn't matter. They killed you. So we—and Xiandre—are getting revenge, right?" she asked, turning toward him.
"Sure," Xiandre replied calmly, without turning his head.
Hearing this, Millie looked at them with unease but said nothing. Fillia, meanwhile, remained lost in the beauty of the surrounding wilderness.
Amelia glanced at Millie and noticed her tension. She suspected Millie might know more about the RedPillars—especially since she is the princess.
"Fufu~ Millie, it's okay to speak up," Amelia said sweetly. "Maybe Xiandre won't like it, but it's fine with us."
"Umm… well…" Millie hesitated, then turned toward Xiandre.
He continued walking silently at the front, not looking back.
"You see... the RedPillars Bandits are slavers," Millie said, voice low. "They capture women—humans, elves, fairies, demi-humans—and sell them in the black market. They raid villages, kill the men, and sometimes rape the women before enslaving them. They don't care if the victims are children or adults. They're monsters… even if they're human."
"They worship the Pillars of Lust," Millie continued. "It's three massive structures, built by unknown people several million years ago. Even now, they still stand. The walls are carved with horrific scenes—women being raped and killed. That's why it's called the Pillar of Lust. I hate it. It makes me want to cry. Even children... Seriously? Anyway, the RedPillars Bandits are usually found in dark alleyways or in the black market located in the capital of Grimore. That's where they operate, but I don't know how to get inside."
"I see," Amelia said, her voice steady. "Well, that makes it one of our goals then. We'll interrogate some RedPillars Bandits and make them lead us to their base."
The sun began to set, painting the sky in soft hues of red and gold. Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind them.
Xiandre stopped and turned to Velmora.
"Let's set camp here," he said calmly.
"Right," she nodded and got to work.
While Velmora began preparing the tents, Xiandre followed the sound of the footsteps.
As he approached, the footsteps halted. Out of the shadows, a massive black bear leaped toward him. Xiandre swiftly dodged the attack, and with a single swing of his sword, the bear's head tumbled off its body, rolling across the ground.
"Looks like food won't be a problem out here in the wild," Xiandre remarked dryly.
Fillia joined Velmora in helping with the camp setup while Xiandre dragged the bear over and began butchering it with precision.
"Uwaaah, that looks pretty delicious! Right, Millie?!" Amelia exclaimed excitedly.
"Um… yeah..." Millie replied, less enthusiastically.
With a flick of her finger, Velmora summoned a campfire. Xiandre chopped down a nearby tree with one swing, fashioning makeshift logs for seats around the fire.
"I used to go camping in my previous world," Xiandre thought to himself. "But it was never this easy back then."
He finished prepping the logs and sat down with the others as the sounds of wildlife echoed softly around them, creating a peaceful nighttime atmosphere.
Xiandre took a chunk of the bear meat and began roasting it over the fire. Once the first piece was done, he handed it to Amelia.
Amelia received it happily, leaned forward, and kissed the forehead of his helmet with a soft giggle. Then, holding the meat by the bone, she took a big, satisfied bite.