It was now fall, and the wild grass and weeds that had been growing along the street with reckless abandon had all wilted. However, they would grow to become even lusher in the coming spring.

  The plaque that read “Fifth Street” was barely recognizable with its dilapidation. A black cat was huddled up in a corner, licking its fur, which had become matted from the rainwater. All of a sudden, it turned its gaze into the distance, and its green eyes lit up as if it had seen something that it felt very close to.

  There, in the distance, an elf in a long white dress was slowly approaching.

  The faint golden light shimmering around her body seemed to possess some kind of mystical property, sending all of the rainwater pouring down from above cascading down around her, but none of it actually fell on her body.

  With each and every step she took, a patch of young green leaves would sprout beneath her feet. Even though the road was a borderline muddy swamp, her beautiful white shoes remained completely pristine and spotless.

  Her long silver hair almost hung down to her calves, and she wore a tranquil expression on her exquisitely beautiful face. The faint golden light around her lit up the surrounding darkness, making her appear as if she were a deity that had descended from above.

  Irina paused in her footsteps, and her gaze fell on the black cat cowering in the corner. Her brows furrowed slightly as she raised a hand, materializing a large patch of leaves that just shielded the cat from the rain.

  “Meow~”


  The black cat meowed in elation and gratitude.

  “Heh, you sure are kind, Princess.”


  A sinister voice sounded from within the darkness, following which a tall and broad black-robed figure slowly emerged from the shadows, creating splashes of muddy water with every step it took.

  The street was completely empty a moment ago, but countless black-robed figures suddenly appeared. All of them had their features obscured under black cloaks, and their shimmering weapons created a stark contrast with their dark clothing as they closed in soundlessly on Irina from all directions.

  Chilly killing intent surged forth from their bodies without any inhibition.

  Irina wasn’t flustered in the slightest upon seeing this. She looked at the first black-robed figure that had appeared, and a derisive sneer appeared on her face as she chuckled. “Gajeel, do you think that unsightly cloth can obscure your hideous appearance?”


  The black-robed figure looked back at Irina with a sinister smile, and replied, “So what if it can’t? All I have to do is cover up my face. First thing tomorrow morning, news of the elven princess being brutally slain on this cursed fifth street will spread throughout the entire continent. However, the ones who killed her will be a bunch of unidentifiable black-robed figures, and that’s all anyone will know about this incident.”


  All of the other black-robed figures also burst into laughter as if they had just heard a hilarious joke. Their sinister eyes shimmered with killing intent as they stared at Irina under the cover of their dark cloaks.

  Irina swept her gaze across the black-robed figures before her with furrowed brows as she said, “Demons, orcs, trolls…… Looks like you’ve always been allies, after all. You must be prepared to start a second war among species.”


  Gajeel twisted his neck from side to side and chuckled coldly. “The law of natural selection should reign supreme on the Norland Continent. Why do weak and pitiful humans and elves deserve to own such vast territories? You should all resign yourself to being food and playthings; that’s how the natural order of things should be.”


  “That must be why you had to gather 12 of you before you had the courage to challenge a weak little elf like me,” Irina retorted with a mocking smile.

  “Heh, three years ago, Alex also tried to talk tough like you; this time, we’re not going to spare you, though.” Gajeel’s voice was tinged with a hint of fury.

  Irina’s expression darkened as she said coldly, “Who else was involved in the incident three years ago aside from the 12 of you?”


  “Heh, I bet you would’ve never thought that the mastermind behind the assassination three years ago was not us, but your beloved second prince instead. He had the same objective as we did, so we were happy to collaborate with him and get rid of Alex.” Gajeel’s voice was becoming rather worked up, and even his saber-wielding hand was trembling slightly.

  “So it really was him.” Irina wasn’t very surprised to hear this. After all, she had already suspected that Josh had been the mastermind behind all this. Thinking back to the letters that Josh had written to her, claiming that he had been looking for Mag and Amy this entire time, her resentment for him was further accentuated.

  “Of course, we’ll be pinning the blame for this incident on Josh as well. We’re also going to reveal the truth behind the incident three years ago and completely destroy his reputation! The alliance between the humans the elves will crumble, and both races will be divided and conquered! It’s a pity that you won’t be alive to witness this grand undertaking. Slaughter is the most interesting and beautiful activity there is. The Norland Continent has lain dormant for over 100 years, and it’s time things changed! Weak races should cower at our feet! We are the beings who stand at the top of the entire continent’s food chain!” Gajeel’s voice was becoming rather deranged, and his red eyes were like a pair of dancing flames beneath the dark hood of his cloak.

  “Looks like you’re also turning on Josh.” A contemplative look appeared on Irina’s face.

  “Humans are always so near-sighted. In order to achieve their objectives, they’re willing to do anything, yet they never consider the welfare of their entire race.” Gajeel chuckled.

  “Does this mean you’re working with someone else on this occasion?” Irina’s eyes narrowed. She felt as if she was onto something.

  “You don’t need to know about that. I’ve already said too much, and I’m a little worried that my big mouth will get me killed someday. In any case, it’s time for you to die.” Gajeel raised his left hand before swiping it downward.

  The rainwater was sliced in half as several dozens of sharp arrows hurtled through the air in a line. All of the arrowheads were stained with lethal green poison.

  An orc strode forward as his body began to drastically expand, growing taller while his previously loose and baggy black robes threatened to burst at the seams from its bulging muscles. It raised a thick metal club over its head before bringing it down on Irina with devastating force.

  At the same time, countless vines erupted from the ground to bind Irina’s legs and body. Some of them had transformed into poisonous thorns that stabbed toward Irina in a frenzy……

  “Ding!”


  The notification tone from the freezer sounded, and both Mag and Amy’s eyes lit up in unison.

  “Father, Father, it’s ready! The ice cream cake is ready!”


  Amy had a dollop of white cream on the tip of her little nose as she clapped her hands with elation. This was the dish that she had had to wait the longest for, and she was convinced that this was going to be an extremely delicious food item.

  “Alright, let me take out the strawberry ice cream cake,” Mag said with a smile as he opened the freezer.

  Right at this moment, the system’s voice sounded within Mag’s mind. “Ding! Important notification! Would you like to purchase a piece of urgent information from the system?”


  “Why don’t you go rob a bank, system? You’re even selling information now?” Mag pursed his lips and didn’t pay this “important notification” any heed. Amy was still safe and sound right beside him, so what urgent information could the system have to share?

  “The elven princess is in danger, and there’s a 100% probability of death!” the system disclosed in a grave voice.