It was a dark night. No stars in sight. No clouds either. The only sound was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Huff! Huff!"

Behind some trees, several figures were hunched over, looking towards the small town of Brackenford Cross.

"It's Brackenford Cross… but is it safe?"

"We've somehow not been caught by hunters just yet. I think we should just find some food and water, then steal a few horses!"

"That's right. Brackenford Cross is not safe either, so we should get enough food and water for the journey. We should head straight to Lantenford Market!"

Several of the rabbit-costume-wearing figures nodded in agreement and ran down the hill towards the crooked town.

…

At the surrounding forest of the Hauwnted family estate, the bodies of guards were strewn across the forest floor.

Legs twisted, heads snapped, and blood pooled around them in the moonlight, a gruesome sight.

With a cold gaze, Jupiter sat on his wheelchair, staring over to the dark forest, and his body was shuddering because of the cool night air.

Tap~ Tap~ Tap~

In that moment, he heard slow footsteps, and momentarily, his body turned cold like ice, and he didn't dare to turn his head.

"Tch, tch."

The terrace shook under the weight of Perverted Justice, and he stopped behind Jupiter, touching the wheelchair's handles.

"S-Sir…"

Jupiter whispered in fear.

It was genuine fear, much greater fear than he felt during his encounter with Aren.

"Sorry, but I finished dining just now."

Perverted Justice pulled out a dried handkerchief with dried-up blood staining it and wiped the corners of his fat mouth with it.

"You failed to deliver me the necessary sacrifices to quench my hunger, so I had to do it myself, and I must say, I am quite satisfied now."

Perverted Justice said.

"I-I can explain. A-A problem arose, but I also have good news. There will be much more food coming here. Blessed Ones, many of them!

"They are coming for you, and it will be a feast like no other!"

Jupiter said with a nervous look.

At that moment, Perverted Justice appeared before him and grabbed his old face with his big fatty hands.

He moved his hands across Jupiter's face, rubbing his thumbs over the burns, stretching his skin in an unnatural way, and pulling his ears until they were nearly ripped from his head.

Jupiter was in immense pain, but he kept a twitching smile on his face and just swallowed all the pain into his stomach.

"If that is the case… I don't really have any need for you anymore, now do I? They will be enough to feed me for a long time, and I get to return back home."

Perverted Justice smiled, drool dripping down his chin, and his mouth started stretching open into a wide-open bite.

"No, please, sir!"

Jupiter screamed.

At that moment, Perverted Justice started sucking on the air. A vacuum of air formed around him, pulling everything in its path towards his gaping mouth.

Jupiter struggled. Trying to pull away. It was all to no avail, as in that moment, his bones started cracking and breaking.

"Aaaargh!"

Through his mouth, his soul was being sucked out into the vacuum. It entered Perverted Justice's large mouth. He then closed his mouth.

The vacuuming ended.

In that moment, Jupiter hunched over, his limbs tangled, and blood poured out of his orifices.

"…Hmm~"

Perverted Justice pulled out his handkerchief, took some of Jupiter's blood, and added it to his collection of bloods in the handkerchief.

…

A horse galloped down the streets of the Lanternford Market, and the pedestrians hurried out of the way.

"W-Wait, isn't that…"

"It's Miss Ashley! She is back!"

"She has been found. That is so great!"

The horse came to a stop in front of the Butcher manor, and the guards were alert at first, but then they saw Miss Ashley and looked genuinely surprised.

Aren hopped off the horseback and helped Ashley down from the back. She thanked him with a shy smile and then excitedly started walking towards the manor.

"Miss Ashley!"

The guards saluted with hands raised.

At that moment, the doors of the manor opened, and the head butler of the Butcher family walked out with a couple of servants.

"M-Miss Ashley?"

The head butler said with a genuine smile and hugged the young lady tightly.

"Where is dad?"

Ashley asked.

"In his chambers. I am sure that he is delighted!"

The head butler said with a smile.

With a smile and nod, Ashley began to make her way towards her father's chambers, and outside, the head butler looked at Aren with an amazed expression.

"I had my doubts, but I shouldn't have. You Blessed Ones of the Guild are indeed impressive. It had been many days since you left Lanternford Market, and we already thought that there was no hope of either of you returning!"

"It took me longer than anticipated to retrieve her, but it's all good, and I'd like to get my payment now. I can't remain here, as I have duties elsewhere."

Aren said.

"Definitely. Walk with me while we go have a talk with Lord Butcher. If I may ask, where did you find Lady Ashley?"

The head butler asked while walking beside Aren.

"…Over in the Hauwnted family estate. They abducted her."

"W-What? That's terrible! I don't think there has been any bad blood between our two houses, so this is completely unexpected!"

The head butler said with a shocked look.

…

"Dad!"

"Ashley!"

With a warm fatherly love, Ronan Butcher embraced his only daughter as she sobbed into his shoulder, feeling scared and vulnerable.

He could barely believe that his daughter actually returned home!

Through the door, Aren and the head butler waltzed in. They waited as the father and daughter finished their reunion.

"…You."

After a while, Ronan Butcher turned to Aren, looked at him sternly, and then gave him a strong pat on the shoulder.

"I thank you with all my heart for bringing back my daughter. I will never forget what you've done for us."

"No problem… I'd like to get my payment."

Aren said.

"…No problem."

Ronan nodded, went to his desk, and took out a brown pouch. It was heavy and clinked with the sound of coins.

He handed it to Aren.

"I must get going now. Take care."

Aren bowed with his hand against his chest and then turned around to leave.

"Already? You've been moving non-stop. I am sure my father can arrange a guest bedroom for you for a few nights."

Ashley said with a soft tone.

"…I have duties elsewhere. I guarantee you, Ashley, that the Hauwnted family will not get away with what they've done. I must report my findings to the Guild."

Aren said, tipped his hat, and then left as quickly as he arrived.

Ronan, Ashley, and the head butler watched his retreating figure in stunned silence. He didn't care about a hero's welcome.

Without a doubt, they could've had an entire festival prepared in his honor, but it was obvious that he did not care about any of that.

He was extremely professional.

Came to do his job, did that job, and left without any need for recognition or praise.

This was Aren Meredica, a name they would never forget.