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A Century Later
#11 Adventurer | A peaceful ending for a turbulent beginning

#11 Adventurer | A peaceful ending for a turbulent beginning

"You... A mere child of this era... How do you know who I am...? Explain this instant."

Vixella blinked as a green magic circle blew a wind to knock back her hood.

This then allowed the necromancer to get a better look at her appearance.

"You... No... Impossible--- Xiveall-dono...!?" (Dono = Sir // Weeb Speak Moment)

He arched back in a panic before quickly freeing Vixella from his dark magic shadow restraints.

"-dono my ass... Speak normally, please."

Vixella sighed, "So, why did you do this?"

The necromancer's story went along the lines of this:

On this fateful day, he decided to carry out his plan that had been postponed beyond a deadline for way too long.

Despite his efforts, his army of undead still wasn't able to win, if looking at the development in the background.

But little did he care as he had already made the defenders waste all their potential attacks that could hurt him.

Why? Because confronting melee combatants head-on would be a piece of cake for someone like him.

Getting a hailstorm of magic and projectiles raining down on him, on the other hand, was troublesome.

The final act was to take it to himself to demolish the city and perhaps sacrifice himself in the progress.

"Hm, to forsake your humanity just to exact this revenge for me- no... don't tell me... everyone...?"

"Yes... unfortunately... On that day, we were unexpectedly surrounded by the allied imperial forces..."

Vixella traced her eyes at the ground with a slight frown before looking up, "and... only you made it out?"

"Yes, although gravely wounded. We weren't able to put up any resistance. It was a one-sided slaughter."

"That's," Vixella closed her eyes, "Let's not worry about the past... I've died a couple of times, y'know?"

"But unlike me, you are still perfectly human? Might I infer that you have also found the cure to old age?"

"Well, I'm a summon. Not exactly human but still human. That aside, let's save this talk for later."

"Understood, Commander."

"Pfft...! Our official ranks are long gone! Just call me what you want."

"Ah, but to think that you were a woman, Lady Xiveall."

Vixella smiled wryly at that comment, not knowing what to say but simply accepting it as it is.

After all, who would believe her if she said she was a guy who somehow swapped genders.

She coughed, "I have a new name now, it's called Vixella."

"Then, Lady Vixella."

"Hm," she swirled her finger round and round, "how about we fight before people get suspicious-!?"

POOF! The necromancer was sent tumbling away by an intense forward-funnel of amplified wind magic.

Vixella then stomped the ground as multiple dirt mounds popped up in his trajectory, busting him through a few of them.

Despite the enchanted robe taking most of the impact, it sure did hurt Xenthur quite a good bit as he got back up and laughed.

The necromancer stomped the ground as shadow spikes erupted below Vixella who got tossed into the air despite blocking it.

Xenthur then raised himself with an earth pillar and slammed Vixella back to the ground with a briefly conjured shadow hand.

She coughed out blood as her form crumpled off the dirt. Vixella sprung back up with a grin, blood trickling down her face.

"Hm... These protective runes suck ass," she then leaped away before a boulder slammed upon where she was standing.

Whilst kicking away with wind magic and avoiding the various incoming projectiles, Vixella coated her whole body with Healing Magic.

This was quite an effective way to fight... But even more so since it was the mana-cheap low-tier healing magic boosted by holy spirits.

Holy Spirits were able to greatly boost the power of low-tier spells to match that of mana-taxing high-tier spells without wasting mana.

If needed, Vixella could go on like this for about a day without food and rest... And then, she would pass out from magical exhaustion.

The two continued going at each other as they traded attacks, preventing each other from doing anything significant.

Vixella who tried to get close was annoyed as Xenthur kept making the distance to not let her get any melee advantage.

"Tis' unfortunate that I remember your tricks very well from our former spars."

"Hm, I'd say the same- And if I remember correctly the next move-"

Both of them then fired off a beam of their mastered element.

It was an intense clash between Light and Dark Magic Beams!

But then, a group of adventuring boys ran up to the scene.

"Vixella! We're all here to help!" It was Sova and the boys!

A few other adventurers were also closing in from the distance.

Despite wanting to warn out them, Vixella stayed quiet as she watched all of them run past her who pretended to stagger back.

Xenthur then lifted his right hand and swished it down as a larger shadow hand appeared to swipe at the boys who ran at him.

Verd cast a protective barrier with nature spirits to their left, protecting them as the shadow hand simply swiped through.

However, the hollowed shadow hand that passed them reformed and came rebounding back in the opposite direction!

The Dark Magic phased through their bodies, causing all of them to immediately tumble and collapse.

Vixella then ran up close and threw a wide slash, giving Xenthur the chance to back away on purpose.

"You have my thanks."

"No worries. To keep them alive was but a simple task-"

His sentence was cut off as a few stray fireballs from the background swallowed him.

It seems like some other adventurers had made it to the fight, much to his annoyance.

Vixella then spoke with her lips at Xenthur, telling him to make the distance and end the mock fight quickly.

Shifting the ground below him with ground magic, Xenthur moved much further away and away, much further from the adventurers.

Vixella slouched herself down and boosted after him with wind magic as she slashed down his Ice Javelins which came at her in rotary.

"Hm, they've given up chasing? We're too fast for the people of this Era."

Vixella who was still in flight after Xenthur looked back at the adventurers.

"So it may seem." Xenthur suddenly stopped his momentum and shot at her with a Dark Beam.

The two proceeded to continue their fight without any pauses, circling each other whilst forming various magical attacks.

The power they put in was equal, and since they knew each other so well, none of their significant attacks went through.

From other points of view, this might very well be a decisive fight between two legendary combat mages.

On the other hand, for the friendly two, it was just a non-lethal spar meant to celebrate their reunion.

"You've gotten pretty rusty, old man!"

"Ah, back at you, Miss Reverse Trap Saint."

Vixella's face twitched slightly upon hearing that, and she began to amp up her mana for the next attack.

Her light beam which was equal to his dark beam outclassed it this time, forcing him to dodge out of the way.

"Ah, foul play? Very well then. Can you handle this edge that I've sharpened for over a century-!?"

Xenthur shouted out as he planted his feet and branched his form by raising his arms high up.

Vixella paused slightly before quickly breaking off her advance with a few backsteps.

"This is my greatest----- AAACK-!?"

Before Xenthur could finish his sentence, he was struck by a Light Beam.

He who crumbled down in pain coughed and slowly got back up to his feet.

"Behold my--- OOF-!?"

Vixella then began to lift her arms with a wry look.

"Come on now, don't make me dab on you-"

The necromancer who was on the ground gasped for breath as he raised a hand to gesture her to stop.

"W-Wait...! A-Anything but that... And enough with you... Ugh... Please let me-" he coughed, "Cast this thing...?"

An even bigger sphere of Howling Shadows then formed above Xenthur as it suddenly dispersed and homed in at Vixella.

"It looks pretty weak, maybe I can just tank it--- Aaah-!?" she squealed upon being struck by some of the shadows, "That burns a bit-!?"

Vixella had no time to hesitate as she quickly kicked herself to safety with wind magic, lined them up, and got rid of them with a Light Beam.

Above Xenthur was now an overly large pitch-black sphere that no light could escape from.

This caused the adventurers who were about to reach their location to halt with hesitation.

"Such a flashy move-" Vixella blinked, "Wait... You're... You're compressing it-!?"

"To beat the impossibility, one must exceed the possibility! Magic Overload---!!!"

Vixella gawked up to see the gigantic ball reform into an egg-sized projectile which began to accelerate towards her.

Nearly falling over, she flinched and clasped her hands multiple times, forming multiple light magic circles around her.

"H-Hey...!? I-I might die from this...!?" she grimaced as the shadowy projectile came closer, "Here goes nothing...!"

The multiple light magic circles then combined into a very large one, which immediately blasted away upon fusing.

A bright flash occurred as the ground around them collapsed down, crumbling chunks of dirt high into the blinded vicinity.

The magnitude of their elements colliding deafened everything as they mutually endured against the intensifying pressure.

There was then an aftershock that sent a seismic wave in all directions as the bursting debris and smoke fumed high into the sky.

All the nearby adventurers and undead who had rushed to meddle in their fight lost their footing and were tossed into the background.

Those intense winds could be felt from the palace of Devankul as some of the thinner glass windows cracked.

The background fighting immediately fell silent after both the undead and living witnessed such a scene unfold.

...

In the aftermath laid both Vixella and Xenthur on the ground, deep inside the thick cloud of debris that had formed up.

Gasps for breath then came from the two of them as they mutually tried to get up from the ground whilst groaning in pain.

"Aaah-!?" Vixella who was unable to get up screamed out, "Who the hell overloads magic in a friendly spar-!?"

Xenthur, who laid beside her, was unable to move an inch of his body that was aching all over.

"You surely jest... This was inevitable... But in the end... Even with that, I still cannot best you."

After long seconds of tending to herself with Holy Spirit Healing Magic, Vixella finally got up.

Her spider-silk armor was ripped to shreds and her face was smeared with a streak of crimson.

Right then, she was thankful that her soul-bonded clothes were intact so her body wasn't exposed.

Xenthur, on the other hand, was too battered and torn up to even move a finger.

He laid there as Vixella slowly limped towards him with her arm-blade strung out.

She jammed the blade deep into the ground beside Xenthur's face.

"Aaand... I killed you--!!!" She said so before falling flat against the ground beside him.

" "We suck at this." " The both of them said simultaneously.

"But," Xenthur winced with a smile, "You're as reckless as usual... Fusing magical formations without preparation..."

"Hm... Why would I need to prepare? If it worked on an archdemon then why wouldn't it work on humans...?"

"And I suggest you keep that mindset in check... The people of this era are rather... Fragile, per se?"

"Yep, talking about the people... Before this dust around us clears up... What should I tell the others?"

"W-Wait... D-Did you not think this outcome over...?"

"Looks like I'll have to kill you for reals so it's not sussy..."

Vixella reached for Xenthur's face with her hand coated in Holy Spirits.

"W-W-Wait-- Just tell them that I transmuted into ash... I'll leave quietly..."

"Should I heal your injuries before you go? It'll be easier, no...?"

She then showed both hands with bubbly formations and holy spirits.

Xenthur grimaced at the sight. "You want to kill me, don't you?"

"All of your magic... No, your existence is my natural enemy!"

"Right... How about draining my vitality? Is that how it goes?"

"That... Ah, yes... You've always had an absurd amount of Life Force so it should be fine."

She nodded in return, "Yep... Let loosen this useless piece of metal first so you can..."

"Why are you undressing...!?"

"Hm? I've read somewhere that undead drains best near the heart..."

Vixella casually dragged his right hand under her soul-bonded tunic.

Xenthur seemed a bit unsure, "Is that how it is...? I haven't tried this myself..."

"Then again, I've never gotten injured this badly after becoming undead..."

"It's fine, just- ...Aaah-!? W-Why does it feel...!?"

"My lady-!? Should I stop?"

In return, Vixella winced slightly with a soft gasp before smiling a little.

"No~ Continue~ Haah~ Women are sure sensitive to this kind of stuff~"

Xenthur threw a disgusted look before averting his eyes.

"Why... For some reason, I don't think this is a good idea."

"Shut up and keep draining...! Hnng-! Just a bit more...!"

"My lady... I did not expect you to be... Such a vulgar person...?"

Xenthur threw a look of disbelief at Vixella who was now drooling.

...

Many long seconds later, Vixella fastened back her armor and helped Xenthur onto his feet.

After saying their short goodbyes, Xenthur paced away and disappeared beyond the dust.

A CENTURY LATER

(Dust Clearing Transition)

After 'cleansing' the ancient necromancer, Vixella returned to the group of four that were still busy fighting.

She then paced over to where the clash between Alexei and the Elite Death Knight was still going on.

Celine and the others nearby seemed to be at quite a loss. Andre was unconsciously resting on Celine's lap.

She, on the other hand, looked as if she would pass out soon due to magical exhaustion.

Despite all that, Celine was still desperately healing Andre with High-Tier Healing Magic.

"A-Andre... Andre...!"

Celine threw off her non-existent eyeglasses and shed away the oncoming tears with her forearm.

(She has the habit to think that she's still wearing glasses even though she's using contacts XD)

Vixella walked over, presuming a surprised look.

"Woah, not feeling like being a tsundere today?"

"This isn't the time to be joking around-!? Andre's is...!"

"Asleep. Look carefully, he's simply... Sleeping."

"What are you talking about-!? You're-"

Celine's sentence was cut off as Vixella splashed her with a ball of water magic.

"Eeh...!?" She who got drenched finally snapped out of it.

"Calm down, you've healed him more enough... Yes?"

Celine's teary eyes grew wide as she glanced down at Andre who was softly breathing on her lap.

"Oh... Andre...! He's... He's fine...!!!"

Celine then began to shed more tears as she leaned over to sob with hands covering her face.

The Guild Master, on the other hand, had run out of arrows and was sitting there somewhat silent beside them.

No one could do anything other than watch Alexei fight alone against the Elite Death Knight from a safe distance.

"This does... prove faulty... his outdated gear...", the guilder master coughed, "You argued... for him... back then..."

"But of course? A man such as me never tells any lies!"

She pointed at herself with a brimming smile of confidence.

"Hmmph-!?" the guild master became woke, "You're a man-!? Are you a trap-!?"

"Oh, please... Don't mind her... Vixella says weird things... Sometimes..."

Celine laughed, reassuring him whilst sniffling away the last of the tears.

"And... Vixella... Thanks for snapping me out of it."

"Hm, can't have you getting out of character now, can we?"

"You're right. Then how about you stop uselessly standing around and go help Alexei out!?"

"Aye aye, ma'am." Vixella waved goodbye and paced over towards Alexei.

She formed hands akin to a megaphone, "ALEXEI, DO YOU NEED HELP-!?"

But before Alexei could say anything, the Elite Death Knight charged in to clash with him once again.

Upon getting no reply, Vixella simply sat down on the spot, overlooking Alexei who continued to fight.

Alexei backed off with quick half-steps before sliding his kite shield further up the left arm.

The Elite DeathKnight in return stopped in its pursuit upon realizing Alexei's intentions.

He was about to bet it all in a single decisive exchange of blows.

Now gripping the bastard sword with both of his hands, Alexei steadied his stance.

His knees shifted down slightly. He then began to steadily calm his breathing.

The Elite DeathKnight, in return, planted its two spiked great shields and braced itself.

This was a fight between two formidable warriors.

It didn't matter if they were undead or human.

A mutual understanding occurred between them.

The view then shifted high into the evening sky as Alexei paved forth into that courageous charge.

...

...

...

By the time the sun had set, the last skeleton fell over as cries of victory sounded the epilogue of that battle.

Andre who woke up was confused upon seeing Celine seemingly worn-out beside him.

When he asked why she was like that, Celine began to smack him many times for it.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Alexei, on the other hand, had broken a few bones here and there basically everywhere.

Vixella slouched down by him who was lying flat beside the Elite Death Knight's body.

"Heya~ Doggy~ Your owner is very proud of you today~"

Alexei had no strength left to speak, grumbled a little, and strung out his fist which softly nudged Vixella's cheek.

It seems like he wanted to throw a punch at her but he was completely out of strength even for that easy punch-

Vixella shuffled over, carefully took off Alexei's helmet, and gently placed his head onto her supple thighs.

Well... Whatever Alexei thought he felt, it was nothing but her soft spider-silk paddings.

He couldn't care less and took a deep breath before closing his weary eyes in relief.

After being healed by Vixella, Alexei's face flushed slightly upon realizing the position they were in.

"Hm? What's wrong? I think this is how men who try their best are supposed to be rewarded, right?"

When the healing session was over, Alexei limped back after Celine, Andre, Vixella, and the Guild Master who had walked ahead.

Stumbling towards the makeshift palisade, the crowd of fighters cheered softly at the prominent figures who stepped onto the stage.

Vixella who was up the top of the wooden steps reached out a hand to help Alexei up. "Come on...!!! You're the real hero here~!"

"Ahm... I don't think a hero would get hurt this bad though..." Alexei took her hand and pulled himself up.

Vixella was then reminded of the countless pain she as Xiveall had gone through, "Hm, you think so---!?"

But by not expecting Alexei to put on so much weight, Vixella tumbled off the stage and into him.

CRASH...!

Opening her eyes, she soon realized that the fall had perfectly placed her in a mounting position.

She then laughed happily at Alexei's face which had twisted in a panic due to the unexpected fall.

The two then took slight glances at everyone who was watching over them in silence.

A voice from somewhere in the crowd then broke the silence. "They're a couple, after all..."

A short while after that, Vixella and Alexei were seen on the makeshift palisade (stage) in front of everyone.

The combined forces who participated in the battle were all listening to a long speech held by the Guild Master.

"Everyone... As you can see... These two brave adventurers," he coughed slightly, "Saved the day for all of us."

The crowd started cheering as a few whistles came here and there.

"Shall we make them... Ligindiry Advinturirs-?!"

His voice squeaked due to old age. (( 'i' = 'i' ))

The crowd went silent for a few moments as they glanced at each other with unsure faces.

Just as the guild master became somewhat disappointed in himself, many cheers and whistles sounded!

"Wooohoooooooo~!", "Yeahaaaa!", "Vixella!" , "Alexei!", "LEGENDARY ADVENTURERS--!", "Let's goooooooooo!"

The presumed couple was then stripped of their Platinum-Plates (Master, S) and given Crystal-Plates (Legend, S+).

They were now the first people to be named Legendary amongst all Adventurers in this new era without demons.

Celine, Andre, and the Guild Master, on the other hand, were at much still only Platinum-Plates (Master, S).

The three of them who stood by the side then shed tears of joy and came over to hug both Vixella and Alexei.

The crowd cheered even louder as they also began to shed tears whilst hugging one another at random.

Some of the adventurers down below were still crying about how they had survived this gruesome battle.

The others who lost their cherished ones in the fight tried their best to stay cheerful and move on with life.

For whatever reason, everyone's tears, at that time, just didn't stop coming.

When Alexei was asked how it felt to defeat an Elite Death Knight alone, he answered like a true warrior.

"Ahm... It gave me a few broken bones here and there but right now? I FEEL GREAT-!!!"

The crowd laughed and cheered at his statement. To go along with it, Vixella gave him a pat on the back.

But unlike usual, due to how injured and weak Alexei was, her pat ended up tumbling him off the stage.

THUD! His head plowed first into the dirt.

The crowd then all gasped at him who rolled over and spat out the soil.

"Ack... Gah... Don't worry guys, I'm... I'm used to this kind of thing...!"

...

Some commemorable adventurers who contributed greatly to the battle were then brought onto the stage after that.

In that blissful evening... Laughter, whistles, and applauses had deafened every other sound by the Gates of Devankul.

The town then threw a nationwide celebration, inviting people from all over the land to attend within that night.

Everyone drank and eat to their heart's content... Their lives moved on once the next dawn rose upon the horizon.

Vixella was then granted a combined wagon load of gold coins. Many sources throughout Elderia, including the guild, funded it.

Being respected as the Legendary Adventurer, she was commemorated as the main heroine who saved Elderia from its downfall.

Every single town and village in Elderia, within the month, had at least one sculptured monument of Vixella raised at their square.

Stuff aside, Vixella's dream of settling down happily finally came to light.

It was time for her to start a business! Then settle down! And the end...?

There wasn't much thought to be put in except for the start-up process of her mastermind business.

What to do? What to sell? It must be something unique that only she could do! Something only she could achieve!

Something that no one of this age shall understand! Something super duper revolutionary beyond anyone's mind!

Perhaps changing the laws of nature itself!?

That sounds impossible, even for Vixella.

Like a certain intellectual once said, big dreams tend to fall short.

Magic had always been applied directly.

The formation could also be somewhat delayed to activate the magic later, at the risk of inefficiency and instability.

Even Vixella herself, as someone who had mastered Light Magic, could not hold back a Beam for too long after preparing one.

Upon calling forth a magical formation, if one stopped applying magical power, it would disperse and go to waste.

If one delayed the formation for too long, the said formation would then become unstable = MAGICAL OVERLOAD.

This scales in severity the longer you attempt to hold back the size, amplitude, and complexity of an activated formation.

Not everyone had the sheer focus to repeat the visualization and understanding of the same magical formation rapidly.

Even if you did, extreme mental fatigue would surely occur after a certain period... This was, however, dependant on the caster.

Throughout history, no one was known to be able to hold back a magical formation for probably longer than a minute or two.

But was there any way to separate and sustain formations so one would be able to apply it with some sort of delay for later use?

Maybe something that constantly provided magical power in dedicated amounts without the reliant of a mage or caster present?

Something that could rejuvenate, dissipate, and concentrate the magical power... All at once-!?

Vixella decided to come up with a visionary dream in which she called... Magical Induction Jar.

She began asking around and ended up hiring the clumsiest herbalist in Devankul City, Luna, for help.

Luna then became extremely motivated to help upon hearing that she would be branded a genius.

After all, Vixella bought the plot for her industry right across Luna's shop... On the same popular staircase landing passageway.

Being the guinea pig herself, Vixella wasted massive amounts of magical power into Luna's brew which they perfected by the day.

The usual scene at Luna's herbalist shop would be the two of them gathering around the distillation equipment.

Across each said day, Vixella would deplete her magical power and collapse onto the bed nearby.

And just like that, the insect which got hit by bug repellent came back to try again each peaceful day.

Some days when she was out gathering herbs, Vixella would also have to beat down some unknowing bandits.

Confusing her for some helpless beauty, they surrounded her... Just to be put in the gallows within the next hour.

Based on Magic Poison, the concoction was diluted with herbs that contained the properties to sustain magical reactions.

After about a month or two, thanks much to Vixella's efforts, the working prototype was shortly completed before schedule.

This feat wouldn't have been possible if someone wasn't willing to deplete their Magical Power daily for two months straight.

Well, who would've known?

Vixella does indeed exist...

The induction liquid was able to contain a significant amount of Magical Power before overloading and going to waste.

If one dipped their hand into the jar, the poison would drain their Magical Power at a safe rate depending on the caster.

The herbs that were mixed in delayed the said reaction and condensed the Magical Power, sustaining it inside the jar.

However, this 'Magical Induction Jar' can also slowly discharge small amounts of magical power constantly or periodically.

Being an inanimate object that leaked magical power, the jars were thereby capable of providing mana to a magic formation.

To boost it, one can apply the 'Release Mixture' that would reverse the process, pouring out fast Magical Power within an hour.

This 'Release Mixture' was hardened and strapped onto the lid and was to be included with the final packaging of the products.

This created a 'Magical Battery' that could be utilized to sustain magic for long periods or to quickly unleash/restore magical power.

The magical quantity and quality were also dependant on the aptitude and amplitude of the person filling the jar.

The better you were combined with how strong you were, the better the Magical Power inside your jars will be.

This made Vixella's invention a great hit with many proficient magicians throughout the whole continent.

They would've never imaged that it was even possible to restore their magical power within just an hour.

And also to be able to sustain drawn formations for long periods by using just a simple convenient item.

Wait, so anyone can infinitely use magic as long as they have a lot of jars nearby?

Nope! In the end, a magician would still collapse from the mental exhaustion of receiving too much outer magical power.

Why? Well, their bodies wouldn't be able to handle such a harsh process of force inputting magic flow from an external source.

Since the magical jar's release formation was fixed, it couldn't adapt to the ever-changing flows in the bodily magic circuits.

If an uncontrolled amount of water were to rush through a dam, it would eventually crack over time and burst apart before long.

Bodily magic circuits run through the same sort of system in every single being that existed in the plain realm.

To do it, one would have to invent something that perfectly controlled the constant intake of magical power.

A subtle mistake can lead to lethal overflows or underflows of magical power into someone's bodily system.

Little did Vixella know too much about these facts as Luna handled the harder bits that required precision.

Upon discussing the hard topic on how to handle rejuvenating with the jar, Vixella told Luna to go with the average rates.

Thus, the jar's concoction was tuned to release magical power at a rate that an average magician and person could handle.

This would prove to be fair as even the greatest or weakest magicians would still be able to use it at the same mentioned potential.

Despite her usual clumsy and rustled state, when it came to herbalism, Luna was indeed a true genius if she became serious.

A month had already passed since the Magical Induction Jars had become popular among the mages and the public majority.

The details of how to create such an innovation were kept with great secrecy... Thanks to Xenthur getting rid of the rats for them.

Anyone who tried to find out or copy the exact details of 'Magical Induction Jars' stopped pursuing it overnight.

Vixella never really questioned how Xenthur handled it but it wasn't her problem as long as everything worked out.

Luna was also appointed as the Lead Herbalist managing the brewing section for the thriving business company.

She ran the main headquarters of operations in the back of her store and home... Until it became a bit crowded.

Artisans were then hired to expand the building further to fit the workshop to be able to use automated processing.

The main headquarters was Vixella's storefront on the opposite side and was also where one would drop in to buy the jars.

The other herbalists of Devankul then proceeded to sign contracts to help brew, agreeing to keep the recipe safe if there was profit.

It posed no problem to Vixella since she wasn't planning to monopolize but rather to get a steady income in case she needed it for later.

The majority of the blacksmiths present in Elderia were then also paid to supply the business with various sizes of glass jars.

Alexei, eventually feeling lonely after Vixella left to handle her thriving business' start, later asked to join and help the company.

Luna, still doubting him since then, hesitated at first, but eventually agreed and appointed him as branch manager in Devankul.

Carpenters were also contracted to set up an export depot by an abandoned warehouse strung up on the outskirts of Devankul.

Trusted peddlers who were friends of Mr. Qatar did their best on the supply routes and delivery handling part as well.

Mr. Qatar, on the other hand, was too busy to visit personally due to some fluctuations within Merhcantia's market...

Merchantia was a country on the flatland plains aligning the southern coast of Afria.

It was a neutral Trade Center for the entirety of the continent... A free neutral nation.

((Map of the whole revised+ world areas will come later in the next chapter(s).))

Vixella sure took it easy as she slowly built up her reputation alongside the company name itself.

Mainly exploiting her status as the Greatest Adventurer, she went on and advertised her jars everywhere.

About three months had passed since the day the capital of Devankul was saved from the unexpected undead crisis.

A well-dedicated spy network created by Xenthur seeped through the continent with the magical jar company as a cover.

The business had by then also expanded greatly in just a short amount of time with little to no incident.

It was all thanks to Vixella's reliable connections and great assets that dedicated themselves to the cause.

The curtains swiped open as Alexei flinched to the sunlight.

"Ahm... Morning Vix..." He yawned tiredly and shuffled to sit up on the bed.

It was the usual scene at the couples' inn, after another long and steamy night.

"Alexei, tell me. What have we been doing for the past few weeks?"

"We did our best to handle your company business...?"

Alexei was unsure why she was asking the obvious.

"Right, but what have we been doing?"

"Well... You tell me..."

"Eat. Sleep. Sex. Eat. Sleep. S-"

"Ahm... Right... I'm ashamed of myself."

"Then be ashamed, because I'm moving out!"

"What-!?"

Vixella who had her belongings in a sack walked past the doorway leading outside.

"You heard me, I'm moving out...! But I guess we can still 'wrestle' from time to time?"

"Wait, what are you talking about---"

But the door had already shut before he could ask.

Little did Vixella hesitate upon being able to move out of the 'inn for couples' after voiding and resigning her Adventurer Contract.

Retiring, she had moved into one of the mansions that a company investor had bought for her, situated finely in the noble district.

The façade of the 'Adventuring Couple' quickly went away after the news flushed out.

As a memento, her adventuring gear alongside the crystal plate was allowed to be kept.

Enchantia had also recently ordered a bulk purchase of Magical Induction Jars for purposes stated unknown.

Xenthur told Vixella that he wasn't too sure of what they were planning but it was something related to a 'barrier'.

Enchantia, a cold barren nation up the far north-west snow mountain range where many great mages reside for research.

Everything aside, money was not much of a problem for Vixella anymore... It was all thanks to her Magical Induction Jars~!

It had been another whole two months of the never-ending troublesome work yet worthwhile time investment to secure everything.

Today was finally the day she had planned to give her thanks and repay the Adventurer's Guild before retiring with an official parting.

Alexei tagged along upon deciding that he would devote himself to Vixella's company as a branch manager for the time being.

However, when the two neared the guildhall around the corner, they were confused by the bundled-up crowd present outside.

Vixella seemed a bit uneasy as she stepped forth alongside Alexei... Sova and the boys, now Gold Plates, ran up to greet them.

Alexei, somewhat bothered, pointed at the crowd over his shoulder. "Hey, Sova... Do you know what's going on right now?"

"Oh, right! I think the Royal Family wants to meet you guys? Isn't that great?"

"Hm, not at all...!? That's bad... Very bad...!"

"Ahm, Vix? What's so bad about that?"

"Then let me ask you, Alexei... What's not so bad about that..."

She groaned, "How bothersome... The royal family again..."

"What do you mean, again-!? You've met them before-!?"

Sova and the boys all bundled up to ask her to which she nodded.

It was a direct summoning from the Elderian King!

A pair of Royal Guards then escorted them away.

Reluctantly following the two Royal Guards and Alexei through town, Vixella sighed.

"Aah, let's just hope the royalty have something less troublesome in store this time."

"Vix... I've been wondering for a while... You even met the royals...? Who are you?"

"That's nice coming from someone who said they'll try their best to get to know more about me."

"Ahm... At this rate, it'll take forever... I've been barely getting anything out of you recently...!"

"Hm, that's because I don't say much about myself. But still... What's the rush in knowing~?"

After walking up to the noble district, they then passed a gigantic decorated marble archway that led into the royal palace district.

A finely decorated courtyard came into view as they were led up a long, polished stairway with rows of Palace Knights on the sides.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

"Alright, I wouldn't be surprised if you're a princess from somewhere-"

"What. Do I look like one?"

"Uhm, maybe if you wore a dress?"

She tilted back her head and grinned at him,

"Ooh~ Do you got a fetish for princesess~?"

"Ahm- No...!? I take back what I said--!!!"