Red manages to disarm Ruti, freeing her from the Sacred Blade’s influence, but her Blessing has been nullified. As an act of repentance for her stubborn adherence to her belief in the Hero’s Blessing, Theodora heals Tisse’s mortal wound, and all assembled come to the realization that being the Hero is not dictated by one’s Blessing, but their own choices. In the aftermath Ruti and Tisse relocate to Zoltan, where Ruti has been bestowed with a new Blessing which supresses her previous Hero’s Blessing. Red now fully accepts Rit as his wife, and except for the occasional emergency which Ruti chooses to resolve, his life in Zoltan returns to normal. And somewhere in the wilderness, Yarandrala encounters Godwin, who tells her about Red and Ruti’s whereabouts, prompting her to rejoin them in Zoltan.

Upon discovering what Ares is up to, the heroes converge upon his position. Bui is attacked by Danan, whom he critically wounds with Ares’ help, and reveals himself as Shisandan. They reach the chamber containing the artefact they’re looking for: Five sword blades, siblings of the Sacred Sword wielded by Ruti and – like Ruti – renmants from the time of the first Hero. When Red’s group reaches them, the two attack, attempting to kill Red and use the Sacred Swords to sway Ruti back to her role as the Hero. Theodora appears and attacks Ruti to steer her back onto the Hero’s path. Rit protests against this, pointing out that the one carrying the Hero’s Blessing is not the world’s sole savior, but it is really the will of the people that makes somebody – anybody – a hero. Red, Ruti, Rit, Tisse and Godwin rise against their enemies; Red kills Ares, but Shisandan tricks Ruti into touching one of the Sacred Blades, subjecting her to her Blessing’s compulsions. Under this urge, she attacks Red, but her blow is taken by Tisse, critically wounding her.

Tisse shares what she has learned about Ruti with Red and Rit, who conclude that, while Ruti’s immunities protect her from the Devil’s Blessing for now, she will eventually succumb to it if she continues to take it to negate her Hero Blessing. While Red and Rit prepare to travel to the elven ruins to interrogate Godwin, he encounters Danan, who is ecstatic to see him; but another, fake Danan also makes an appearance. Meanwhile, Ares demolishes Red’s shop in his obsessive jealousy of Red. Red travels to the elven ruins (actually an abandonded base of a more advanced, long-gone civilization), where he meets Ruti and Godwin and encourages his sister to live her life as she wants, not as her Blessing dictates. As they later discuss the effects of Devil’s Blessing, Ruti notes that an unprecedented Blessing Without Name seems to have emerged in her. Right afterwards Ares attacks them, but Ruti defies and abandons him. Ares is then met by Bui, an Asura demon; Bui reveals that the ruins shelter an artefact left behind by the first Hero, which Ares could use to win Ruti back to his side. Meanwhile, the real Danan meets up with Theodora and Albert, and they continue to hurry to catch up to Red and Rit.

As Red and Ruti catch up, Ares’ treachery comes to light, and Ruti announces that she wants to stay with Red, thus giving up on her being the Hero. As she returns to the inn, Ruti experiences a sudden spell of sickness, compelling her to look for a set of elven ruins rumored to be in the area to serve as a secet laboratory for making the Demon’s Blessing. Bui is revealed to be responsible for the recent magic drainage in the area through the use of an enchanted crystal heart. Ruti tries to settle in Zoltan, but her formidable personality hampers her attempts at inconspicuousness. While taking a bath together, Ruti explains to Rit and Tisse how much of an emotional support her brother is for her, especially since her Blessing as a Hero has made her inured to feeling any joy. Tisse quietly resolves to save Ruti from her forced destiny in the Hero’s role. Meanwhile, Ares and Theodora use Albert to track Ruti down. During a break, Theodora explains to Albert that people are not shackled by their Blessings from determining their own destiny.

As Rit and Red starts marketing hand warmers for the winter, Bui applies as a B-ranked adventurer in Zoltan. Ruti receives some Devil’s Blessing from Belial, and, wanting more, abandons the Hero’s Party and departs for Zoltan in the airship with Tisse, masquerading as simple adventurers. Tisse chances upon Red at a roadside food stall; they recognize each other as seasoned adventurers, which Tisse reports to Ruti. Later, Red and Rit are led to a fairy dragon hamlet to see a patient, an archfay named Undine, who is affected by a magical drain spreading in Zoltan due to the presence of a very powerful entity. Ruti and Tisse break Godwin, the creator of the Devil’s Blessing, out of prison, and in order to treat the injuries he sustained in the process, they seek out the local apothecary – which leads to an unexpected reunion with her beloved brother.

As Rit deals with Dio and the people who sent the red shotel, Bighawk’s henchmen kidnap Al. Al finds out that Bighawk is responsible for distributing the Devil’s Blessing, the narcotic plaguing Zoltan. Bighawk wants to use Al for his own agenda by having him execute Ademi, whom he has in his custody. Al instead frees Ademi, and they are rescued by Red. Red confronts Albert and Bighawk’s gang, and finds out that Bighawk has been taken over by a contract demon named Belial. Albert, consumed by his ambitions to become a member of The Hero’s Party, tries to attack Red, but Red cuts off his swordhand. Albert and Bighawk are arrested by the townguard, and Al and Ademi reveal Bighawk’s plan to the public, alleviating the crisis. A few days later, however, Bui visits the possessed Bighawk in prison, revealing himself as Shisandan, the Demon Lord’s general supposedly slain by Ruti, who scolds Belial for making humans aware of the hidden potentials that the Devil’s Blessing could unleash in them. After making a new contract with Albert, Belial breaks them both out of jail to join The Hero’s Party, only to have Ruti drawing her sword at them.

When Al recovers, he says that Ademi came to their house and attacked him and his parents with an axe; but luckily, Al’s parents are found alive by Red and Dr. Newman. News that Ademi vanished after the attack rouse the people of Southmarsh in protest, claiming he’s being sheltered by the townguard led by Moen, Ademi’s father. After they hear the that Tanta was taken away by the townguard for questioning, Red and Rit pull strings to arrange a meeting with Moen and Tanta. Moen apologizes for Tanta’s treatment, but vehemently refuses to consider that his son might have become a potential murderer due to the urges of his Blessing, and commissions Rit to find the source of the drug. While Al is in the apothecary, a stranger arrives to give him an red-bladed shotel enchanted with a Locate spell. On Moen’s request, Rit catches a drug dealer but is caught in an ambush from which Danan saves her. Danan respects Gideon’s desire for a quiet life and thus tells Rit to keep quiet about his presence. They also discover that the assailants are disguised minor demons. As Red and Rit later go into town to find Al a weapon suitable for his Blessing, protests against the townguard are heating up, likely staged by Bighawk himself.Meanwhile, The Hero’s Party has found one of the weapons of the former Demon Lord: an airship. During the fight with its demon guardians, Ares proves his inadequacy as a party member, but refuses to acknowledge his shortcomings. While the airship gives Ruti the chance to retrieve her brother, she refrains from doing so.

While on a medicine delivery to Dr. Newman’s clinic, Red saves Jackson, a victim of poisoning, which the doctor diagnoses as a narcotic drug overdose caused by the recently approved painkiller. Red decides against investigating. After taking a swimming picnic break with Rit by the river, which is a chance for them to get closer, Al, Tanta’s friend, reveals that she has unlocked her Blessing, that of the Weapon Master, which drives her to pick a weapon to train with. Red suggests a knife since it can be a weapon but also a useful tool. Ria, also of Albert’s Party, came by to apologize to Rit for what happened earlier when members of Albert’s party, goes berserk before Albert kills them. Ria reveals that Albert is frustrated since the standards imparted by his Blessing, Champion, makes him strive for greatness, seems too high for his party members with mundane Blessings to match. Meanwhile, Danan reaches Zoltan looking for Red and meets Bui, also looking for Red. Red remembers how, as a kid, he would invent reasons to hold Ruti’s hand and promised to become a knight so he could adventure with her. Dr Newman suddenly arrives with an injured Al. Meanwhile, as The Hero’s Party is resupplying at an oasis in the Bloodsand Desert in preparation for another quest, Tisse learns of Ruti’s misery: her Hero abilities negate almost everything, such as the need to sleep, eat, grow tired or even feel the emotions caused by Red’s absence.

The Adventurer’s Guild attempts to bribe Rit to return to adventuring, but Rit refuses. Red refuses a similar bribe from the Thieves Guild. Red gives Rit an amber bracelet and hints his next gift will contain a gemstone. The Thieves’ Guild is afraid Rit might view them as an enemy and sends Dia to blackmail Rit by threatening to reveal her location to her royal family, but this fails as Rit doesn’t care about her royal status. Rit remembers before the Hero Party vanquished the Demon Lord’s Army: she and the Party wanted to ask the Duchy of Sunland for help, but had to cross the Bewitching Woods, a dangerous magical area, with the help of Red’s friend Yarandrala, a High Elf immune to the magical effects. Rit thought Yarandrala liked Red, but was surprised when Yarandrala told her to pursue Red herself. However, seeing how close Red was to Ruti, Rit decided not to come between them and left the Party to rebuild her homeland. Ruti misses Red terribly and remembers shortly after Red left she became aware Ares did something to make him leave, causing her to beat Ares almost to death, but she healed him in time.

Many are shocked that Rit, Zoltan’s most formidable adventurer, is working and living with Red. Rit has a craving for mead and leaves to buy some. Albert visits the store and accuses Red of killing the Owl-Bear. Red denies any involvement, provoking Albert to attack him, but is foiled by Rit’s return. Albert is shocked at Rit working in Red’s store, as well as Red’s speed, moving across the room to catch the mead Rit dropped before it hit the ground. Red and Rit visit Zeff’s sauna and notice a lack of customers due to a competing bath-house built by nobles that includes a restaurant and massage parlour. Zeff is certain he will go out of business so Nao scolds his defeatist attitude. Red suggests using a potpourri of medicinal herbs in the sauna itself to tempt customers back. Later Rit revealed the reason for her wanting mead: it reminded her of a tradition in Loggervia about newly married couples drinking mead together. Meanwhile, Theodora asks Tisse if she feels joining the party was a mistake as The Hero’s Party is encountering failure after failure, causing squabbles among themselves, something that never happened when Gideon (Red) was still around.