"That's the last one. With this, monsters should be returning here soon." I said as I put the last corpse of the people I killed in the forest. I was careful to not let the location I put the corpses near the main road to another city. But it took a while until I finished it.

"Roy, why do you have to do this? I don't think you're the kind that care much about other people not related to you." Victoria asked as she is on my shoulder in her small slime form.

"You're right that I'm not one to care about other people. Other than children. But this is related to my past regret after all. And despite my knowledge of the stampede, I let it happen. The result of my action should be better than if I stopped the stampede before it happened, but there are still casualties. I hope by doing this is enough for the survival of this city. We're leaving soon, right?"

"I don't know. At least Shirley and the agents will stay here for a while."

"Since I was asked to babysit Shirley, I'll stay as well until she is finished with whatever she's doing. Let's go back now."

After the stampede, the people will be busy rebuilding the city. As for the hunters, although they have the options to leave the city, there are still many of them who are residents of Melk city. That's why the returns of the monsters to the forest is important for the development of Melk.

The meat from the monsters can be shared to the people, and everything else can be taken care of by the guild and whoever will be in charge of Melk. I think that's what Shirley planning on doing here. Finding someone to be in charge of Melk temporarily until Albert decide it.

Let's hope the next person won't be anyone from the cult. If Albert the one who decide it, then I can trust this city to whoever the person Albert send.

We return to the city and see that everyone is already returned to doing whatever they were doing before Shirley's speech. The only difference is everyone stays away from me. No one dare to look at me. And when they see me, they escape as fast as they can, or pretend to not see me.

I'm being hated. But that's fine.

"Roy. You're crying."

"I'm not! These are… sweat!"

I denied that I'm crying. I'm fine being hated! It's true!

Let's quickly return to the hotel, change my clothes, then I can join everyone hating Shirley's guard.

I want to find an open restaurant and get some meals, but I don't think there are any business open today. I hope at least Lina is back at the hotel so she can cook me some foods.

Then I can wash my sadness away with food. Or is it digest?

I returned to the hotel, and as I opened the front door, I was greeted by two man.

"Hey! Been a while!"

I close the door instantly after seeing the face of the man greeting me and a smiling old man beside him.

I didn't expect this at all!

Because I thought that this city has been cleared out of the cult members, I let my guard down and didn't use my Divine Vision! That's why I didn't notice that these two are here!

Albert the king himself is here along with Ian the butler!

I'm fine with Ian being here, but Albert? Is he here for inspection? Or is it because he has another job for me?

Think, Roy! Think!

But you may suck at thinking as well, so enough with it and just escape!

That's right. Escape is always the best options.

I quickly turn away from the door, and before I even move one step, Candy is already there and stopped me with a hug.

"I won't let you go!" She said.

"I won't let you go either!" I hugged her back as tight as I could.

Then the door opened again. This time it was Albert who opened from the inside.

"Roy. You're so easy to capture." He said.

"Then what if you're in the same situation with Marie hugging you?"

"Then I will never let her go!" Albert said proudly

"Right?"

"Umm… Roy? You can let go now." Candy said as she patted my back.

"Never!"

"Hohoho… then please continue hugging inside the hotel. You're making getting too much attention standing here and hugging Ms. Candy." Ian said.

I agree with Ian, so I entered the hotel right away. While still hugging Candy.

"Roy! This is embarrassing!"

"You're the first one to say you won't let me go! And I comply!"

"Just let me go! I'm busy!"

Candy's face is blushing really hard. Her face, ears, and neck are red. I guess she must be really embarrassed by the situation.

Without any other choice, I let her go.

As soon as she left my embrace, she exits the hotel. Maybe her business isn't over yet. But I don't think she can concentrate on her job when she's humming so happily.

"You two are really close. What about your other girlfriends?" Albert asked.

"Of course we're all close."

I looked inside the hotel. And this time, my Divine Vision is activated. Unfortunately, I didn't see Lina in the hotel. But at least there's a substitute chef right now.

"Ian. I'm hungry. Please cook me some meal."

"May I presume your 'some' means 'lots'?"

"Yes, please."

Ian left to the kitchen, while Albert and I move to the dining hall and get a table. Victoria also transformed into her human form and sit with us.

"Now, what is your business here? When did you get here?" I asked Albert directly.

"I just arrived a moment ago. I ride on Ian's back as he transformed into a giant falcon and flew here from Cassau."

"You were in Cassau?"

"Yeah. I missed my daughter, Lana. I went there with Marie, and now Marie choose to stay there while I'm going here with Ian."

I think Albert arrived while I was outside the city. While I'm still busy placing the corpses of the stalkers and Luiz. Since Ian is flying, I might have noticed it. And it might be during the time when I was at the opposite side of where Cassau is so I didn't notice at all that he's here.

But the fact that he's here means that Sonia should have known about it, right? Why does she love to keep secrets from me?

"Where's Sonia anyway?" It was Victoria who asked.

"I think she's helping Shirley and the others. I heard from her about what happened here during our flight. You really did well making the cult as the enemy of the kingdom. I thank you for that. But to cut of someone else's ear in front of everyone is not something I'd like everyone to see."

"At least none of them would dare to go against the royalty now. Isn't that good?"

"Hah! As expected of you!"

Albert seems to have noticed that what I did is for the kingdom. It's something that I rarely do.

"So, what are you doing here? I don't think you're here just for greeting me, right?"

"Well, officially, I will arrive here in a few days after receiving letters from Shirley. When Migu-Mustache is nearby, I will have Ian take me there and then I will be arriving here officially." Albert said.

"You almost called his name correctly!"

"So you did remember his name!?"

"What? Who? Mustaguel?"

"Well, enough joking. I'll be staying here for a few days until Miguel arrive. Then I will handle everything. From what I heard, the burden of taking care of this city is too much for Shirley alone to bear."

"So, you're here because you're a doting brother?"

"I won't deny that."

"That mean you don't really have business with me, right?" I asked curiously.

I really don't want to take another job. I want to rest. No more taking job from Albert. It's fine to do that, right?

"Yes. You have been a great help. You deserve a rest. By the way, I heard that you made some friends here and play a new card game. What is it?"

Seems like he also heard about the hold 'em poker from whoever it is relaying a message with Sonia. I think it's Ms. Wendy. Was it necessary to tell him about that?

"Victoria. Explain it to him."

I found it a pain to explain it to Albert so I let Victoria do the honor. And once he understands the rule, we might be able to play some card game while waiting for the other.

During the time Victoria is explaining about the new poker game to Albert, Ian finished cooking. He seems to made some meal for himself and Albert. Well, after flying so far, of course they would be hungry.

After the meal, we chatted a bit and I finally return to my room and rest. We didn't play any games at all since I noticed Shirley and the others are arriving soon. I escape to my room before they gave me another task to do.