Alice's return
When Marco fell unconscious in Alice's arms, she carried him in princess-style towards the inn where Sara was hidden, the monsters that tried to attack them were all taken down from Alice, who fell either unconscious or dead, but she didn't cared much about strangers.
When she reached the room, which was able to find through mysterious methods, she put Marco in the bed and sat at the end of the bed, before she turned towards the wardrobe.
Alice: Come out.
From the wardrobe came out an armed Sara, who looked at Alice with narrowed eyes, and got a bit angry when she saw Marco unconscious in the bed..
Sara: Get away from Marco!
Alice: *Sigh* Don't worry, I am with him…
Sara: ...Huh? Wait… Are you perhaps "Alice"?
Alice frowned and asked with a cautious tone.
Alice: How do you know my name?
Sara rubbed the back of her head and said.
Sara: Well, I heard it between Tamamo and Marco before Tamamo left.
Alice: …
She sighed and facepalmed.
Alice: 'Goddammit Tamamo… I told you to spy him, not traveling with him…' And who are you?
Sara: Oh, I'm Sara, the princess of Sabasa Kingdom, Marco was asked from the king to rescue me from a kidnapper, but it was a misunderstanding, now we are resting here for the night and then we would take our leave.
Alice: ...He really accepted the request to rescue you?
Sara: ...He asked for money in return…
Alice nodded in understanding, and then glanced to Marco, before caressing his body a bit, and asked with a little smile.
Alice: So… Can you tell me what did Marco during the time I wasn't with him?
Sara smiled too and said.
Sara: You really care for him, don't you?
Alice lightly blushed and said with a frown.
Alice: No, I don't…
Sara giggled and replied.
Sara: Alright, well, I met with him in front of the pyramid because I was running from a Mummy Girl…
And so, Sara told Alice everything he did during the journey with her, from their meeting to the moment he left her in the room.
[Tomorrow]
Marco felt weakness washing over his body, and tried to stand up while groaning.
Marco: Arrgh… What… What the hell happened…?
Suddenly, he felt someone supporting him, and turned towards the person that was helping him, he could only see a white silhouette due to the blurriness of his vision, he blinked a few times and got shocked, finding Alice in human form.
Marco: A-Alice…? Wh-What…
Alice: Yeah, I came here before you were going to a rampage…
Marco: Huh? Rampage? W-What are you talking about? I didn't used Berserk…
It seems that Marco forgot about the strange behavior of the System, the strange corrupted voice and the Nine Tails mode. Alice didn't really knew of what happened so she just sighed and shook her head.
Alice: Don't worry… Everything was resolved anyways… The citizens were talking about how the Lord kneeled over them and apologizing for something, it seems that you left a deep scar on her life... And now they wanted to thank you.
Marco: ...What? 'What the hell happened?'
Alice: *Sigh* It's better if you go see for yourself…
Marco hesitated a bit before he shrugged and slowly stood up, before seeing Sara that was waiting for him to the other bed, already prepared.
Sara: Oh, good morning Marco.
Marco: Mornin'... We will go to Sabasa Kingdom now.
Sara nodded and stood up, before she and Alice followed Marco outside the inn, and were immediately surrounded by citizens…
Citizens: He's awake!!/ Our Hero is here!!/ Thank you to help my family!/ Thanks!!
Marco received many thanks from the citizens, there were some who missed their family members and friends because they already died, but they still thanked him anyway.
It seems that Lily wasn't killed even after everything she did, but she just received punishment because they "Didn't want to continue the cycle of hate".
This reason was just as much bullshit as Kaguya's appearance in Naruto Shippuden or Yhwach's powers from Bleach, but Marco didn't gave a fuck and just left them with Sara and a still human Alice, since Sara was there she couldn't transform back at her monster form without scaring the shit out of her.
When they were a bit away from the village, a sudden roar could be heard, scaring Sara while Marco was getting ready for the fight, he turned and unexpectedly found Alice blushing, he understood what happened and started to laugh.
Alice: S-Shut up!! I didn't ate anything since yesterday…
Marco: Hehehe… Don't worry, I'll make something for you…
Alice: B-But…
Marco: Shhhhh…
Marco put a finger over Alice's mouth, and said with a small smile.
Marco: Forget about everything I told you the last time, I really missed you… So let me prepare something for you, alright?
Alice was silent for some seconds, then she let out a smile too and nodded.
Alice: Alright…
Then Marco set up his items for cooking and turned on a fire before cooking some dishes for Alice, which she ate together with him and Sara.
[Later]
It was afternoon, and they reached the Sabasa Kingdom without any problem, now they were in front of the satisfied king sitting in the throne.
King: Traveler! You saved the Princess! As King of this country. I give you my thanks!
Marco: Mh.
Even if Marco might not be gentle in their first meeting, a thank you is still a good thing for his job, even if he is waiting for the money. Now the King stood up and slowly walked towards Marco.
King: ...And allow me to thank you again as a parent. Marco, thank you! Thanks to you, my daughter was saved!
Marco nodded with a satisfactory smile, and the King nodded while walking back to the throne and sitting.
King: Now, as I promised…
The doors opened behind Marco and Alice, showing some servants carrying a big bag of gold coins, Marco's eyes shined with a strange glint while Alice watched impassive.
Marco picked the bags and checked inside, finding around 2000 Gold coins, they would last for the entire journey until Hellgondo, and then the King coughed a bit, attracting Marco's attention.
King: I seen that Sara has a small bond with you… Why you do-
Marco: No.
Marco knew that the king was asking for marrying his daughter, but Marco didn't want to be the future king of a kingdom in the middle of nowhere, and if he really wanted to settle somewhere he would have chosen either a peaceful place or he would stand over the entire world.
King: *Sigh* Alright… Still, she is really taking her time…
Indeed, Sara wasn't in the room, which made Marco suspicious about this, and heard the king talking while smiling.
King: Hey, Crimson Fucker… Why you don't help her with anything she needs?
Marco flinched at the nickname, and Alice's eyes narrowed when it was mentioned before looking at Marco asking for explanations.
But Marco just used this chance to leave from Alice, even if he knew it was a trap.
Later, Marco reached Sara's room, and knocked lightly before entering the room.
Marco: Hey Sara, are you alright there?
Sara: What? I was finished a while ago. My father told me to wait here until I was called…
When she finished talking, the door behind Marco was forcefully closed and the doorknob broke, trapping Marco and Sara inside the room, then they heard the voice of the king.
King: Oh, I'm sorry. It appears as though I crushed the doorknob. It looks like we'll need to repair the door before we can open it. I'll get a craftsman, so please wait one hour.
Marco: 'How the fuck did he sneaked behind me…?'
Sara: Father!? What are you doing!?
King: I'll say it again. Please wait one hour while I get the craftsman. Oh what bad luck. For a young man and woman to be alone in a room with nobody able to enter it no matter what.
But I'm glad it's Marco with you. Absolutely anything he does would be forgiven, since he's the Hero who saved you. Well then, I won't be back for an hour!
Then they heard the king loudly stomping away, and Sara said with an apologizing tone.
Sara: I'm really sorry, Marco. It just seems as though my father really likes you.
Marco just laughed at her words, surprising Sara.
Sara: What happened?
Marco: No, it's just that this situation is funny…
Sara: Huh?
Then Marco let out an evil smirk and said with a dark tone.
Marco: ...He really thinks I would not break the door since it is just a broken doorknob…
Sara: W-Wait Marco! He's the king! It would be disrespectful doing this!
Marco: You heard him, whatever I do will be forgiven, because I am the Hero… So…
Then Marco raised a foot and used 'Start', covering himself in crimson aura, and said.
Marco: ...There isn't any problem with this, is there?
When he finished talking, Marco kicked down the door, breaking it in two, then he put his hands in the pocket and said to Sara.
Marco: If he asks you why I was not here just tell him that I left on my own, and that my actions are always forgiven… Bye Sara.
Sara: Huh? You are leaving?
Marco: Yeah, I rescued you, I picked the reward, and now I could just leave, I only need to search for Gnome, and I already know where she is… 'Thanks god no one has proof that I already knew since the start… If Illias is watching me… Who cares, she can't do nothing from there…'
Sara: Oh… Then… Goodbye, and thank you for traveling with me…
Marco: Don't worry, one day I'll come back…
*Ding*
*Special Quest: Turn back to Sabasa Kingdom*
Then Marco walked away, while Sara watched his back and thought with a determined gaze that she would get stronger for a certain dragonkin.
[SPECIAL QUESTS]
1st. Kick Gabriel's ass
2nd. Achieve coexistence between Monsters and Humans
3rd. Kill Illias
4th. Return to Lucifina's grave
5th. Visit every places in Illias Continent, Sentora and Hellgondo
6th. Slap Lazarus' face
7th. Find and make a contract with Gnome
8th. Turn back to Sabasa Kingdom