"..."

Olivia rested her forehead on her hands as she faced her table bitterly.

Her table was covered in different kinds of documents like usual, however, on top of these was one letter.

Said letter contained the message that Wendy and Zack died. According to the report, they were attacked by a horde of monsters while they were on their way to Stakew. Sadly, their bodies could not be recovered because the monsters devoured them.

The one, who made the report and sent the letter, was their carriage driver. He managed to survive thanks to Wendy and Zack who stalled time for him to escape.

"How should I tell her...?" Olivia muttered with a trembling voice.

Zack was her cousin’s husband and even had a child with her.

During her reign as the queen, she experienced the deaths of many comrades but each death affected her like the previous one. And it hurt her even more when she had to tell the family of the deceased about the news.

"...?"

Suddenly, someone knocked on her door.

She did not respond but the door slowly creaked open.

"Did I come at a wrong time?"

It was Mika who just returned from his week-long trip.

"It’s fine."

Olivia quickly hid the letter under the scattered documents.

"Were you successful?" she asked indifferently.

"Yes."

Mika began to report to her about the village, his confrontation with Cres and the outcome. It was a short report as Mika kept it at a bare minimum while keeping it precise.

"I see. Good work out there."

She heaved a small sigh.

"It’s good to hear that you helped the people in the village but couldn’t you have at least tried to find out about that demon’s other victims?"

Olivia knew that it was harsh to criticize him but due to her position, she had to think about everyone.

"I don’t trust a demon’s word. Knowing him, he could have lied to me."

"..."

Olivia massaged her forehead with her fingers.

"I’ve done my part now." Mika stated, staring directly at her.

"I know, I know..."

Then, Olivia stood up from her chair and straightened her posture.

"From now on I, Olivia Rostanta, will join your squad and obey your orders." she stated formally as she put her fist on her chest.

That moment also marked the official birth of Mika’s squad which aimed for the hunt of demons and threats.

"Alright then."

Mika walked towards the table.

"Here are my first words as the leader of that squad."

"Don’t you have a name yet?"

"I have a rough idea but I’m still thinking about it."

"Anyways, listen now as my subordinate." Mika continued.

"I don’t like that..." Olivia murmured slightly taken aback.

In her entire life, she was never called a subordinate before.

"I may be the leader on paper but I want you, the former captain of the Grand Order, to take care of all the paperwork and the other organizational stuff."

"H-huh? Are you kidding me?"

"I will leave it in the hands of someone with experience. If I had to do it, then we’d only waste time. Instead, I want to use every single second to subjugate my enemies."

"You really stay true to your words..."

Her shoulders sagged in disbelief.

"Fine... I will do it..." she gave in easily.

Mika turned his back on her as he was about to leave.

"We will depart in two days for our first official mission. Prepare yourself until then."

"What? That soon already?"

"Like I said. I don’t want to waste time."

Mika closed the door behind him.

"Just what did I get myself into...?" Olivia sighed as she slumped down on her chair.

She stared at the pile of papers.

"Whatever... I should do my work as the queen first..." she stated unmotivatedly.

Meanwhile, Mika came across a friend in the hallway.

"I heard that you arrived today." Ophelia said with a faint smile.

"Yes."

"It’s been a while since the two of us had a normal conversation."

Mika nodded his head.

"Do you have time for a small stroll?"

Ophelia already turned around and walked.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about?" Mika asked after he caught up to her.

"So you’ve noticed, huh?" Ophelia replied softly.

Her faint smile remained on her face but her expression turned gloomy.

"What happened on the day before our departure from Youra?" she asked.

"I..."

Mika’s eyes averted her.

"I used an ability to get home. There was an emergency..." he replied.

Instead of sounding indifferent like usual, he sounded bitter.

"..."

Based on his choice of words and his reaction, Ophelia understood that Mika did not want to talk about it yet. But she already connected the dots.

"You see, our group encountered Leviathan on the sea." she said.

Respecting his feelings, she did not ask him anything nor did she show any signs of knowing.

"We..."

Ophelia’s lips began to shake.

"..."

Mika glanced shortly at her. He knew about their encounter. After all, he had to choose between the demon in his village or Leviathan. In other words, he had to choose between his friends and his family.

"It was... It was..."

She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand. Her head was dizzy and stung while she felt a faint urge to throw up.

"Don’t say anything."

Hearing the stories about Leviathan was enough for Mika to imagine their confrontation with it.

"Is everyone safe?" he asked.

That was everything he needed to know.

"That’s the point I’m trying to make..."

Ophelia took deep breaths to calm down.

"..."

Mika turned to her.

"A girl named Raspalia with the same eyes, hair and halo as you came and rescued us. However, from the people you know, only Dura Waret and Sylvia didn’t make it... Leviathan swallowed them..." Ophelia said with an even more trembling voice.

Her throat began to sting as well as if she was about to cry. But she managed to control her tears for now.

She looked at Mika.

"..."

He was stunned.

He just looked at her back with wide-open eyes.

"I see..."

He picked up his pace.

"Ophelia. Train a lot with Olivia and get stronger. I will talk with you again then."

"M-Mika...?"

She reached her hand out to him but could not get a grasp on him as he was too far away from her. Furthermore, her legs weakened, making it impossible for her to go after him.

"So she died, too..."

Mika covered his face with his palm while he gritted his teeth.

"Damnit..."

He thought that everything would be fine after Mikaela told him that a colleague of his would come to their rescue.

"Sylvia..."

But that was not the case.

"..."

Mika found himself in a deserted hallway, void of any people.

He slammed his fist against the wall.

Mika did not just lose his entire village, including his family, but also Sylvia, a dear friend.

His sorrow only accumulated and yet, his expression remained mostly blank. Only his eyes were filled with slight sadness.

If it was him back then, then he would have surely cried and screamed like a child. However, he could not let a single tear drop even if he wanted.

"Ugh...!"

His head began to hurt from all the thoughts flooding his mind which was already filled with hatred, sadness and bloodlust.

Images of the days he enjoyed with Sylvia and everyone else tried to force themselves in his mind but were only repelled by the other thoughts. Or rather, they were overwritten with the desire to take revenge.

"Leviathan... I will add you to my list..." Mika muttered calmly and yet menacingly.

And while Mika was fighting with his chaotic thoughts, a storm was brewing in Avagan, the capital of Malnor.

"Do you care to explain your sudden and tactful visit?" Norman Milar, the king of Malnor, asked.

His gaze was sharpened and his tone was anything but happy.

Norman sat on his throne, whereas Louis, Lily’s father and the court mage, stood beside him.

"..."

Tensed up and slightly nervous, Zhen, who came a few days ago to visit Avagan, stood between Norman and the visitor.

He readied his stance to protect Norman.

Every single person inside the castle, including guards and even non-combatants like maids, was already slaughtered.

Behind the visitor another individual appeared and three round objects to Zhen’s feet.

"!"

Zhen jumped back out of reflex but he quickly widened his eyes in shock.

"Y-you..."

Even Louis was at a loss for words.

On the red carpet were the heads of Norman’s family. Everyone, his wife and his young daughter and son were dead.

"It was truly unfortunate. If they had been outside the castle today, then they would have been still alive." the visitor put on an act, trying to show pity.

Norman suddenly stood up and charged up a magic attack in his hands.

His eyes were bloodshot and his veins were about to burst from the rage.

"Your Majesty! Don’t!"

Zhen tried to hold Norman back by tackling him down.

"Let go of me! I will kill that bastard!" Norman screamed, losing his usual calm composure.

The other person, who was in black armor, turned to the visitor and opened his mouth behind his helmet.

"Should we kill them now, Lucio?"