“Cheers!” Everyone shouted in unison. The Unnamed Team clanged their large glasses of ale together. Their partners followed suit. Liquor fell to the floor, but no one minded. This wasn’t the sort of place that worried about a little mess. All that mattered was that the alcohol kept flowing and the food stayed delicious. Each plate was filled with massive servings that no reasonable person could handle alone.

The tavern, Marigold’s Tank, was a low-scale establishment for where it was located. It was still within the capital’s main wall but resided on the far outskirts of the city. Most people ignore these areas, so the funding and flow of customers was limited. That much was obvious at a glance. Stained wooden floors were a far cry from their royal counterparts. The creaking furniture left much to be desired. All of the room’s lanterns flickered as if running low on fuel, forcing customers to rely on the open flame in the far wall for light. The only redeeming feature was the drinks and food.

Adding to the tavern’s atmosphere were the customers. That is, the few that were present. Aside from the main party of heroes and their partners, only three other patrons occupied the restaurant. Several staff members were assigned to keep the bar running, and an unknown number of cooks worked in silence while preparing the team’s food. In the back corner was an enthusiastic pair of bards who were playing their lute and flute. Before long, everyone was singing along to the classic tunes.

“We’re going to get in so much trouble,” Morgan said. He cradled his mug with a defeated face. This went against everything he knew. As a prince, he was given a fine education, many riches, and taught proper etiquette. None of that could help him now. He was in a scenario that he’d never encountered before. Morgan tried to be a man of the people and understand the lives of those beneath him, but actually living through it was a different experience.

“If it gets out that we left the ball early, we could be tried for abducting the prince,” Emma said. She was also worried but to a lesser degree. The ball was an event that many nobles went to. The monarchs of three different nations were present. Skipping such an important gathering would ruin the team’s reputation. They’d never be taken seriously again. Then again, most didn’t take them seriously because of how they acted. The Unnamed Team didn’t worry about their predicament.

“Lighten up, you two. When’s the last time you let loose?” Lust asked. She was the only partner of a team member that was having fun. There was never a dull moment with her around, for better or worse. Alcohol probably had an effect on that. The other two guests weren’t as eager to drink. One was raised on weak drinks that could easily be mistaken for juice, and the other never cared to drink in the first place.

It was then that the music started to pick up. Another bard had entered the fray, adding a much-needed beat to the song. The room’s mood suddenly changed with the new anthem. It was a special song requested by The Unnamed Team, The Song of Heroes. Most bards kept this song reserved and only played it for soldiers or on a battlefield. It was typically performed to rally troops, but it also worked well at simply raising a room’s morale. Because of this, the bards decided to make an exception. It wasn’t every day that they’d be able to play for actual heroes. Plus, the bards were paid a great amount.

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Now, The Unnamed Team could show their partners how they let loose.

Each member grabbed their other half and moved the dance floor. Tables were cleared out and space was made for the lovely couples. Claps and stomps added emphasis to the beat, and the tavern felt all the lighter. The room’s spirit was high. Fun and love were in the air. Smiles were on everyone's faces. It was fantastic. Sure, it was nothing like the Annual Winter Ball at the castle, but this had its own charms. Only one person wasn’t captivated by the action. He had something more important on his mind. Another figure appeared next to him, using their exemplary stealth to bypass the room’s collective perception.

“I’ve secured the area. Most of the guards are still at the ball. They shouldn't bother us for the time being.” Eins, the Demon Slime, said. The familiar had inherited the power of two sins. They were the highest evolution of slime. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that they prominently stood among the world’s strongest. Checking on the royal ball while avoiding detection was child’s play for them.

“That’s good. I was worried the prince’s absence would cause problems.” Nicholas said. The nation would be in an uproar if the prince was hurt while under The Unnamed Team’s watch. They’d be chased out of the country, if not executed. Thankfully, there were far too many people at the ball to notice a few missing persons, but some were catching onto the team’s plan. After all, they were all the nobles could talk about. It was obvious that some would note the lack of heroes at the ball and potentially announce the discovery.

“It seemed like only a few people noticed you’re gone, but word will soon spread. What’ll you do?” Eins asked. It was best to plan for any situation. They were learning that quickly. The Unnamed Team always found themselves in tricky situations. They had to be ready for anything.

“Have fun for the time being. We’ll go back after a while.” Nicholas said. It was a problem that the team was gone, but the team never swore to stay the entire night. They were free to leave with their partners if they wanted to. The only problem was the prince. He needed to be returned before it got too late. In the meantime, the team could still have their fun. There was no rush.

“Sounds good. These people are much more willing to party with a couple of demons than the nobles were.” Eins said. Commoners had much more open minds than nobles did. They understood that people came from all walks of life. Best of all, they had a tendency not to ask a lot of questions. Nobles were the nosiest people. They wanted to know everything and hated anything different from them. It was why Lust had to hide her identity and Eins couldn’t enter the ball.

“Demons…” Nicholas said, mumbling to himself. The word jogged his memory. Tonight was a night full of laughs and love. They were all together despite their differences. Eventually, they’d become enemies, but that should be far in the future. At the moment, Lust and Xander were dancing together with wide smiles. Their hearts burned with passion. It was hard to believe they’d ever attack each other. It was hard to believe they’d ever be on opposite sides.

Unfortunately, Genesis forced everyone to face that cruel reality.

“NOTICE. YOU HAVE ENTERED THE VICINITY OF [LUST]. CLARITY OF THOUGHTS AND RATIONAL BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN REDUCED.”