Alpha turned back once more, glanced at the fading small town behind her, and tightened the bundle on her back.
Inside the bundle were a few accessories taken from Jiefulun. A ring inlaid with a ruby, a delicately crafted necklace, and a pocket watch that looked expensive.
She could no longer stay in the kingdom. Jiefulun was dead, killed by her hands. Although no one knew she did it yet.
But what if? What if someone eventually discovered that basement and traced it back to her? If people found out she had allied herself with a demon and gained the power it bestowed, she would surely be seen as a public enemy.
Although she knew the Demon Lord was not the evil, soul‑corrupting monster of legend, the world would not see it that way.
Alpha looked down at the back of her right hand. There, a crescent moon was quietly branded into the skin. This was the blessing the Demon Lord left her before departing—her capital to continue surviving in this world.
Alpha took a deep breath and headed toward the larger city to the north—Castello.
—
The market in Castello City was bustling with people. Alpha stood at the entrance of an unremarkable pawnshop for a moment. After seeing no one was paying attention to her, she walked inside.
“Young lady, here to sell something?”
The shopkeeper was a shrewd middle‑aged man. He saw at a glance that she wasn’t there to buy.
Alpha nodded, placed her bundle on the counter, and untied it. The accessories inside scattered across the counter, refracting dazzling light in the sunlight.
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up instantly.
“A—selling these?” He first picked up the ring, scrutinized it against the light, his fingers trembling slightly.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk… This is top‑quality ruby. Even in the royal capital, it would be considered a valuable treasure.”
“Where did you get this?”
Alpha pressed her lips together, trying to keep her voice calm. “Do I need to tell you that? Give me a straight answer: Are you buying or not?”
The shopkeeper stared at her for several seconds. Then, the shopkeeper suddenly laughed. “You jest, miss.”
He put down the ring and picked up the necklace to appraise it, continuing, “Normally, items without a clear origin are risky to take—people are afraid of getting burned.”
“So, I can buy these, but as for the price… I might have to cut it in half.”
Alpha frowned. “What’s the final offer?”
The shopkeeper raised one hand, all five fingers spread. “Fifty gold coins. For everything.”
Alpha was taken aback. She didn’t know how much these items were worth, but she had a feeling… it should be more than that.
“That’s too little,” she said.
The shopkeeper narrowed his eyes. “Young lady, think carefully. Other than me, no one would dare to take these items. Fifty gold is enough to live on for years.”
Alpha was silent for a few seconds. Then she reached out, took the pocket watch from the bundle, and set it aside.
“The ring and necklace for fifty gold. I’m keeping the pocket watch.”
The shopkeeper opened his mouth to say something, but Alpha had already pushed the ring and necklace toward him.
“…Fine, consider it a favor to you.”
He counted out fifty gold coins, put them in a small cloth pouch, and handed it to Alpha. Alpha took it and turned to leave.
The moment she stepped out of the shop, she vaguely heard a suppressed chuckle behind her:
“Hehehe, I’m rich, this is a huge profit…”
Alpha had anticipated this, but didn’t really mind—after all, she was selling things that weren’t hers.
With sufficient coins in hand, Alpha first went to a clothing store to change her outfit. Although it was just an ordinary cheap dress, it transformed her from an ugly duckling into a pure and cute girl‑next‑door.
Besides that, Alpha’s bundle was full again. Inside, she had added a set of black tight‑fitting night clothes, along with a hooded black robe and a mask. This was an outfit specially prepared for escape in case her identity was exposed later.
Next, Alpha searched the city for a while and finally found a merchant caravan wagon heading to the Empire. The wagon was piled with goods, and beside it stood several burly men equipped with various professional weapons—clearly adventurers who had taken a commission.
The caravan boss was a chubby middle‑aged man, sitting on the wagon shaft, chewing on dry rations.
“Heading to the Empire?” He looked Alpha up and down. “Young lady, all alone?”
Alpha nodded.
“Not safe.” The boss shook his head. “The roads are dangerous, full of bandits. We have guards, but they’re protecting the goods. They won’t have time to look after you.”
“I can pay.”
The boss paused mid‑bite, glancing at Alpha. “How much can you offer?”
Alpha took out five gold coins from her pouch and laid them in her palm. Seeing the gleaming coins, the boss’s eyes widened and his breathing grew heavy.
“F—five gold?! You—you sure?”
He didn’t earn that much in a month.
Alpha nodded.
“Deal! More than deal!” The boss snatched the gold, his smile nearly overflowing. “Don’t worry, miss. Ride with me, and I’ll get you safely to the Empire!”
The adventurers exchanged glances, and one frowned.
“Boss, if something happens to this little girl on the road, we’re not responsible.”
The boss waved his hand. “It’s fine, it’s fine. The girl’s had it tough. One more person won’t crowd the wagon.”
The man was about to say more, but Alpha had already walked up to him. She took out a few silver coins and handed them over.
“I’ll trouble you brothers to look out for me on the road.”
The adventurer was taken aback. He looked at the silver in his hand, then at Alpha’s calm face, and suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.
“Ahem, indeed, the boss is right. It’s just one more person. Please rest assured, miss. Since you’re on this wagon, we’ll protect your safety too.”
Alpha nodded, gave the man a sweet smile, and then climbed onto the wagon.
The Empire was her destination—a place where strength reigned supreme. Alpha rested her chin on one hand, leaning by the wagon window, gazing at the world outside. On her still‑youthful face, her eyes had washed away their former weakness, revealing a tenacity beyond her years.
The weak Daibi of the past was dead. Now she was Alpha. She was the Demon Lord’s possession.
In order to follow that Demon Lord—she still needed to grow, to become stronger. Until she was strong enough to serve, until she became its right hand.