First Preparation before the First Confrontation...

Ayato was training along the way after finding another sword, defeating a few zombies and skeletons as if he were "grinding."

"Now I feel more prepared for the next challenge! Although the strange thing is that these enemies don't drop items..."

"No, buffoon, that's not how the world works..." Isolde corrects dryly, partly enjoying Ayato's 'inefficient' mentality of assuming that everything still follows 'video game logic'.

"The only new item you got was that rusty sword from that Skeleton Knight I defeated..." Vera was the first to clarify where Ayato got that sword while she read the map.

Since the three of them were heading towards the Black Iriswood, based on the (brief) information that Rydia, the Melodramatic Succubus, had provided them...

"Guys, according to the map, it says we're near Black Iriswood, and there's a village called Toltus five kilometers away!" Vera's words indicated they could make a brief stop in that village to rest and prepare.

"Vera, I don't know how your congregation handles money... But it wouldn't hurt to ask if you have some coins to raise some resources..." Isolde took out of her coat a few jewels she had with her to sell when she had to rely on the human economy.

"Well, I have..."

"You're nowhere to be dead!"

Ayato was interrupted when Isolde explained that he had practically no valuables.

"Sure, in fact, I'm completely prepared!"

Vera took out a small personalized purse from her bag, which Ayato and Isolde looked at in disbelief, given that while the purse was shaped like an animal with ears, it did have a peculiar design.

"Is that a pig?!" Ayato said in an annoyed tone.

"Is it some kind of strange rabbit?" Isolde showed a hidden curiosity.

"It's... a... cat..." Vera gave a dead look with no apparent anger, as if she had already been through these situations before meeting the accidental summoned and the bitter vampire.

"Ouch!"

Then, the three of them started walking toward Toltus, preparing for their preparations.

***

Meanwhile, in that shadowy mansion hidden on the horizon, the elegant shadowy figure sits in the summoning room, watching Rydia fly through the window.

"The order of the factors doesn't alter the outcome..." said the figure sitting on a throne, only exposing his skeletal hands and gray lights in what are supposed to be his eyes as he spoke neutrally, accustomed to Rydia's demeanor.

"That's easy for you to say, Azrael! Unlike you or the Master, who can reincarnate countless times while retaining their memories, I have only one existence!" Rydia's words show indignation as the tall figure rises from his seat, revealing his formal attire under his long hood, revealing his skull-like face with an unnatural perpetual smile.

"At least I tried non-violent methods to keep Isolde from hindering this plan..." Azrael said, his empty sockets glowing green in mockery.

"If you mean using your power to strip her of her best arsenal and weaken her so she can't use her full potential? I suppose I should criticize you or applaud you?" Rydia was eager to rebuke the Count's right-hand man for that act, but she was indirectly thanking him, given that Isolde would have attacked her at the first opportunity if she were in full power.

"And what about the Lone Demon accompanying the Princess and God's Lapdog? You know, the one summoned at the Church a few days ago..." Azrael is referring to Ayato by referring to him as a "Lone Demon" and his status as a "summoning error."

"Ah yes! The Court Jester! Honestly, he's a walking disaster, but he can hide it with his efficient liar attitude..." the succubus turns it over in her right hand, condescendingly referring to the "worst summoning of her career as a necromancer."

"Now we shall witness what happens when a Lone Demon faces an Infernal Tyrant~" Azrael's gaze shifts to a large crystal sphere typical of witchcraft, watching Isolde, Ayato, and Vera leaving a shop in Toltus Village after acquiring items and weapons, its empty sockets glowing yellow.

***

While the quaint trio was walking through the village of Toltus, they were more prepared to go to the Black Iriswood, or at least in terms of weapons, equipment, and combat skills.

"Let's be careful, since this forest is characterized by a labyrinthine structure covered in a violet mist, where those who try to enter easily get lost..." Vera said, reading one of her books that explained the characteristics of the forest.

However, Ayato was distracted when he noticed a large house in particular with a very familiar design.

"Great, even in this world there are Adventurer's Guilds!"

"And as you see, humans managed to make a monster-infested world profitable, where a Vampire who owns a Demon Castle resurrects every so often..."

Isolde's words indicate that there are several factions prepared to deal with armies of monsters, from offering bounties for dealing with specific threats, rescuing people from being eaten, finding items and weapons on request, to training demon hunters outside the Church.

Vera approaches Isolde to ask her a question that's bothering her a bit.

"Miss Isolde, um, based on what that Rydia said when she referred to Count Dracula as you..."

"Yes, I am his daughter... Or at least the daughter from his first marriage before he became what he is now..." Isolde was very direct to the point, and while she is very distrustful of humans in general, at least she feels Vera isn't prejudiced.

"Perhaps you have your own reasons for being against him, like some ideological difference...?" Vera tries to put things right, although she respects Isolde's decision not to speak to her further about it, given that she gives off an aura of having lived more than she appears.

"Although I'm glad you cleared your doubts with me, since that crazy bitch isn't the most suitable person to give the benefit of the doubt either..."

The conversation between the witch cleric and the vampiress was interrupted by a shriek, which Ayato produced when he saw something he didn't like on the board outside the Adventurers' Guild where the "Wanted" sign is posted in the "Evildoers" division.

"It can't be..." Ayato looks at a drawing of himself that says 'Wanted Dark Lord Candidate: Preferably Dead' with the highest possible monetary offer, while Isolde and Vera look at Ayato with concern about his current situation.

"That's not my face..." He took his hand off the sign where the illustration was and definitely...

His face was either very poorly drawn, or exaggerated on purpose to make him look uglier than he already is.

"Is that all you're complaining about?!" Isolde facepalms at the sight of such a childish tantrum.

"Aren't you worried that you're not a hero, given that they're treating you like a criminal condemned to death?" Vera expresses legitimate concern about her partner's situation, even though the latter shows more trivial concerns.

"But look at how they draw the other evildoers, I mean, they look fantastic!" And while Ayato feels very downcast, at least he can use that to his advantage. No one but his classmates knows his name, he wears different clothes than he did a few days ago, and while he's not very attractive, at least he won't be easily recognized.

Then, dusk is falling, and the three of them head into the Forest to face their first challenge.

They are at a disadvantage due to the night-day cycle, but at an advantage given that they won't be pursued by knights or bounty hunters during this first self-imposed mission.