"Ah, I'll be off then. Thank you for all your help."
With a polite bow of her head, Charlotte hurried ahead. The thugs watched her go in silence—as if completely frozen by her words.
"Phew. Well, that worked out somehow."
"Ah, you...!"
When Allen emerged from the shadows, Groh and the others flinched in surprise. In an unruly chorus, everyone stood and began booing.
"What have you done to our goddess?"
"Honestly, I’d rather die than fight you again, but… if it’s for the goddess, I’ll charge in headfirst—even if it means getting obliterated! Damn it!"
"HISSSS!"
"Whoa, whoa! It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"
Even Groh's snake lashed out at Allen in open hostility. Consequently, Allen had no choice but to roughly explain the situation.
"So, yeah. Thanks for cooperating. I’m heading back to watch over Charlotte, so do whatever you want."
"You really beat us up just for the goddess's sake... I can't believe it..."
"But, well… I do get it. She’s someone you’d fight for."
"Yeah… totally."
The members of Viper's Fang exchanged knowing nods, their responses few and simple. Allen gave them a reassuring smile.
"If you lay a hand on her... you know what'll happen, right?"
"Ugh… Forgive us, goddess…!"
"We can't save you from the hands of the Great Demon King...!"
"Fwahaha! You’re a hundred years too early!"
Allen laughed triumphantly. At this point, it was getting hard to tell who the real villain was.
"Alright, enough of this nonsense. We need to move, Erica! Miaha!"
"Coming. But— which way did Charlotte go again?"
"Ah, I saw her turn left just ahead, nya."
The moment Miaha mentioned it, the thugs’ faces went pale. Allen tilted his head in confusion as Groh hurried over.
"This is bad, Great Demon Lord! It's dangerous up ahead!"
"... What do you mean?"
"The ones controlling that area aren’t just some small-time gang like us… It’s a dangerous group called the Puppet Family!"
Groh explained that various groups were fighting for territory in the area, clashing daily. Among them, the Puppet Family was one of the most formidable—rumored to be in the top five and even known for taking on assassination jobs. At this revelation, Erica let out a shriek.
"Why the hell did you let her go that way!?"
"Like we had a choice! After what she said, we totally froze up!"
Groh glared in the direction Charlotte had taken.
"Damn it… we have to go bring the Goddess ba—"
"No, wait."
Allen grabbed Groh's shoulder as he started to run, then slowly shook his head.
"There's no need for that."
"Bro… No way…!"
"Yeah. This is a simple matter after all."
Allen smiled, the corners of his mouth curving upward into a wicked grin that drew high-pitched screams from the surrounding thugs—yet he paid them no mind.
If this area was too dangerous for someone as delicate as Charlotte to navigate, then Allen had only one course of action. Clenching his fist, he declared boldly,
"All I have to do is bring this whole area under my control!"
"Are you stupid!?"
"I mean, he is competent, but…"
"That makes it even worse, nya."
Groh recoiled in horror while Erica and Miaha exchanged exasperated glances.