Back in town, the League of Hero had set up a gathering hall resembling a guild. Here, Heroes who passed identity verification could receive various forms of support—intelligence, assistance with leveling up, food, lodging, and even a stipend for expenses above a certain level. Stone Hero’s team explained these details to Elza on the way.

"Exterminate Hero-sama hasn’t officially registered with the League of Hero, right?” asked Bottle Hero, the only woman in the group, her voice full of curiosity.

Elza, weary from her long days in the jungle, only wished for a place to sleep. League registration and other formalities were the last things on her mind. “No,” she replied indifferently.

Her apathy made the four Heroes stiffen, shoulders bracing as if for a blow. Stone Hero gathered his courage, gritting his teeth. "Ah… Well, maybe it would be good to register with the League. That way, you could access shared intelligence and receive benefits… like combat uniforms, unlimited food and drink, and a secure place to stay. I hope Exterminate Hero-sama will consider it.”

Elza’s eyes lit up, the mention of “unlimited food” catching her attention. Stone Hero, however, mistook her interest for a fierce glare, as if she were demanding, 'Why didn’t you mention this sooner?!'

"Y-Yes, that’s right," he stammered, feeling a cold sweat trickle down. Her gaze seemed to carry a thick, unshakable aura of death, a testament to the untold number of monsters she had felled in her time.

But their mission was progressing as hoped. If they could bring the Exterminate Hero to the League, they would forever be known as the ones who guided her back to civilization! Stone Hero puffed out his chest with pride, envisioning the tale he would tell future generations: '“That year, the Exterminate Hero lost herself in bloodshed, and we brought her back to the human world, helping her rediscover her humanity!”'

As they walked, the two men in the team, noticing her tattered clothes, offered their own. One shirt went to cover her shoulders, the other tied at her back. Elza’s striking crimson hair drew the eyes of onlookers, only adding to her enigmatic presence.

Upon entering the League building, which doubled as a guild for monster hunters, Stone Hero immediately raised his voice. “Exterminate Hero-sama has arrived! Clear the way!”

“Exterminate Hero?! She’s here?” All eyes turned to the red-haired girl with an intense mix of awe and disbelief.

“Red hair—yes, it’s her!” someone shouted, igniting the room into fervent excitement.

“Ahhh! I can’t believe we’re seeing the strongest Hero of our age!”

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

The crowd burst into cheers, admiring the Hero who had famously slain two Goblin Centurions with the Steel Hero. Even the Holy Maiden herself, a celebrated figure in the League, had barely managed to fight a single Centurion with her team. Yet the Exterminate Hero, with the help of just one other, had taken down two without injury.

To Elza, the noisy reception was tiresome. Her expression darkened, her brow creasing. “Too loud…” she muttered.

Her voice was soft, but it carried like a chill wind, freezing the room into sudden silence. The building felt colder as tension coiled through the crowd.

One Hero swallowed nervously. 'Did… did I just offend the Exterminate Hero?'

Breaking the quiet, a man stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Exterminate Hero-sama, I am a believer of the Aldrich Sect and the one overseeing the League of Hero in this region. Your visit is an unexpected honor, and if our welcome has been lacking, I beg your forgiveness.”

“If it’s convenient, would you mind registering first?”

Elza gave a nod. “I came for this.”

The person in charge sighed in relief. It was fortunate she agreed; if she’d found the scene too noisy and left, he wouldn’t know how to report to the higher-ups. Exterminate Hero wasn’t just any warrior—she was the Holy Maiden’s savior. If those two Goblin Centurions had returned to their camp, Ariana-sama would have surely perished.

Guiding Elza to the registration area, the believers respectfully placed a form on the table before her.

“Please, Exterminate Hero-sama, could you fill in some relevant information?” The person in charge offered her a pen, but as Elza looked at it, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.

From a young age, she’d been battling slimes, never taught to read or write. Even holding a pen felt foreign. Writing? She didn’t even know how to hold it properly.

“Information? What?” Elza asked, frowning at the strange symbols on the page.

A chill ran down the person in charge’s spine. 'Could she be unwilling to share personal information?' After all, when she saved Steel Hero, she left without so much as a word.

Before he could speak, Elza took the pen from him—gripping it like a dagger. In his mind’s eye, he could already see her plunging it into his neck, leaving a bloody mess.

“At least… please write down your name…” he managed, teeth chattering as he pointed to the blank space on the paper. Typically, Heroes would also present a piece of equipment to confirm their identity, but he wasn’t about to insist on formalities with her. Not today.

Elza stared at the space, her mind blank. She didn’t know how to write her name but recalled a childhood friend who’d once shown her the symbols for its sounds.

“Where?” she asked.

With trembling hands, he indicated the spot. Holding the pen in her awkward grip, Elza slowly scrawled a few hesitant symbols from memory. Satisfied, she put down the pen with an unsure look, hoping she hadn’t misremembered.

...

Meanwhile, in a palace, Anyi and his group entered the king’s grand hall. The king, dressed in white with a red coat, a golden crown, and a graying beard, sat majestically on his throne.

Except for Ariana, who held an exceptionally high rank, the other three knelt on one knee in respect before him. Heroes might enjoy noble status within the Aldrich Theocracy, but here, they were simply commoners.

After a brief exchange, the king spoke earnestly.

“Heroes, I have a task to entrust to you.”

He paused, meeting their gazes.

“Can you… help me reclaim the castle our ancestors left behind, now overrun by the undead?”