I like them big, do you?

[You have killed the Freezing Spectre.]

[You have killed the Freezing Spectre.]

[You have killed...]

"It took us five days to go to this province. Fucking five days..." Reylin spat while extinguishing the freezing specters with his flames.

Lioness was next to him, "You have been silent for the majority. That was a bummer, Reylin. I can't believe you are that shy."

"Shy?" Reylin glared, "Could you tell me what you've talked about today?"

"Period." Lioness replied with a stoic face.

"Period... I won't comment on how Steel Melody thought about it while seeing the blood gushing out of the monster, but am I the person to talk about it? Do I look like someone who saw pads?

Can I tell you what company makes the most comfortable ones?"

"You look like you are on a period, though." Lioness retorted and chuckled.

Reylin licked his lips and nodded, "Good comeback. Then, what about yesterday. Make-up. We, Crowns, don't need make-up."

Aria tilted her head and widened her eyes, scrutinizing Reylin's face, "You could use some, though. You would at least look on par with your third brother then."

Reylin threw a bomb, "You sure know how good he looks."

"Indeed. Just a face, though. He ran away too fast," Lioness added.

At last, Reylin sighed, "It might've been too much from me. Anyway, you get the gist. I don't have anything to talk about with you three other than the game. And you took too close an approach with your poaching."

"At least you can light up bonfires," Lioness patted his shoulder, "And I don't mind. William and I were nothing but me trying to take a crown. I thought more about our families rather than us. And when I tried to be myself, he couldn't take me anymore! Haha."

"I like your character," Reylin said, "That is because I also keep challenging myself."

"Thanks." Lioness replied briefly while staring into Reylin's eyes.

It seemed like a mood unfurled before them. Still, the other teammates returned at last, and Steel Melody shouted at the pyromaniac!

She said, "Rey! Why did you stop sending fireballs?"

"I thought how lucky I am that the specters don't bleed," Reylin arched his head back as he retorted.

Steel Melody blushed and looked to the side, "Shut up!"

Ferocious Bear laughed, "We have cleaned up the road ahead. I think we can enter the city now!"

It was her city as per the token, but Ferocious Bear didn't look like she came here to take things into her own hands. For her, it was a pleasant adventure across these five days where she had learned a lot from two older women.

Reylin knew that it had helped her heart greatly.

However, it was the hero who got stronger, not the lady called Maya.

He looked over at her cautiously, then said, "Let's head further. It's time to meet the noble and take the city from him." He turned his eyes to Lioness, "I know you have passed some orders for Vis to take care of the management.

But the hero has to deal with this by herself."

Maya stared at Reylin with big eyes, then nodded after he glanced at her, "I will do my best!"

Everyone agreed, then Steel Melody said, "I hope that the noble will be a prick! So we will fight him! Hehe!"

"So you want to make things harder for our hero? What a good friend you are," Reylin threw a glare at her.

"No... No! That's not it! I just want to fight! His knights will suffice!" Steel Melody quickly apologized and explained herself.

"It's fine! I know what you meant, Steel Melody! I want some real opponents too!" Maya didn't get offended, and she teamed up with the tank.

These two smiled widely and led the group to the city.

-

[Tathum City.]

A city located the furthest to the south from the beginner city and the capital of the Blue Rose Kingdom.

It was in the province of the same name and bordered the Brightdoom Kingdom. Many thought that these two kingdoms would give the territories next to the victors of the Guild Competition. Still, Lioness had confirmed that it wasn't the case.

Vis and her guild weren't any close nearby.

However, the whole province wasn't in a good state, and it had just one city functioning correctly.

The reason for it was the specters.

"The players! Please, enter the city quickly!" The guard shouted atop the wall.

On their signal, the other guards pulled the switch, and the gates opened loudly. The sound drew the attention of surrounding specters, and they all rushed in tandem toward the city!

Reylin and his party didn't dare to laze around, and they entered the city before the specters teemed the gates.

After the gates closed, Reylin turned his eyes toward the guards, "Good work."

The whole province was permeated by the ghastly mana. That mana belonged to specters, and it had shrouded the entire province!

It erased the sun, ushering the eternal darkness.

Darkness was the slightest problem, however. Yes, it had affected daily lives, but the coldness due to the ghastly mana was worse. It had been escalating ever since the whole province fell, and humans couldn't find comfort even in the thickest clothes available on the market.

Their noble also failed to get good clothes or means to appease the cold, and many residents blamed him.

His name was Natan.

"You don't have permission to see Master Natan," A knight in red armor said.

He was donned from top to bottom, and no one could glance into his face. Though others couldn't see his eyes, he could see the hero's token well, and it was obvious that she came here to take the territory for herself.

However, Master Natan wouldn't give up on his title!

[Master Natan's Knight Lv. 45]

The hero looked at his level, then around the street.

People made a big bonfire in the middle, then surrounded it while hugging each other. Those were mostly families, but even people without any relatives found someone to share some warmth with.

They were weak and exhausted.

Even the hero herself felt like she would soon begin to tremble. At least her defenses were higher due to her player status and the classes.

But other residents had no one of these!

"I insist," Maya said.

"If you keep insisting, we will use force to banish you from our city," The Red Knight replied, then bared his spear.

The hero's eyes rose, "Is that so? Then we will use strength! Seems like strength is really the only answer to such heartless people like you!" Her sword left the sheath, and the golden light rose from it!

"Presumptuous!" A spear charged at the hero immediately after the light shone!

However, it didn't meet the hero, but the steel shield!

"Haha!" Steel Melody added her own tune to the exciting sound of steel, then shouted, "So your master is a prick! Nice!"

Ah... No... That's wrong... Mmm...

The hero is here!"

"You aren't a hero," Reylin sneered from behind, "I've been itching to let out my flames in this pitiful city. But more importantly, you sound too fine, Knight." Reylin looked at Lioness.

She sneered as well and added, "You and Master Natan must have been doing pretty fine. Your reaction was also fast, meaning your body is surely in good shape."

The flames rose, and the Lioness' sword also let out its mysterious glow!

As those skills emerged, other knights joined the fray, and the battle within the city began.

Reylin laughed, "It's the hero's city, so keep the damage to the minimum."

The teammates threw him a weird glance, "Who said it?"