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 intercepted by Tisse.

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, while Theodora and Albert observe them invisibly; but this Danan is a fake, as Red finds out when Rit later tells him about her earlier encounter with Danan. Meanwhile, the imposter Danan guides Ares to Red’s shop, which Ares demolishes 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. Bui is also looking for these ruins, and it is revealed that he is responsible for the recent magic drain 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 wakens after being treated, he says that Ademi came to their house and attacked him and his parents with an axe. Good thing Al’s parents are alive by the time Red and Dr. Newman arrived at their home. News that Ademi vanished after the attack surfaced, rousing the people of Southmarsh in protest, claiming he’s being sheltered by the townguard led by Moen, Ademi’s father who is also the captain of the guard, especially that he remains quiet over the matter. Al is kept at the apothecary for safekeeping while his parents recover, where Rit helped him with his swordhandling skills, though she has doubts in her teaching skills since she hasn’t taught anyone before.

Later, they hear the news from Gonz and Nao that Tanta was taken away by the townguard for questioning. Red and Rit had to pull strings to arrange a meeting with Moen and visit Tanta, since the guards won’t allow them. Moen lets them in, apologizing for handling Tanta roughly and not knowing his father arranged for a visit. Moen says that, according to his men, it may not have been Ademi who did the attack on Al and his parents, thinking that the attack was staged. Al protests, but Tanta defends Ademi, since he approached him before to apologize, saying his bullying on them before was just his Bar Brawler Blessing influencing him, and stating he won’t hit anyone again for no reason, as he knows the job of a townguard, which is his dream. Moen then asked Rit for assistance. He also vehemently denies that Ademi may be using the new drug when asked by Red because of its similarities with the attacks done by Campbell. Moen, though, says that it’s possible that the drug can give a person another Blessing. As Al is in the apothecary tending to it, someone comes in to give him a red-bladed shotel. He talked to Red about it after helping him with his weapon-handling skills, saying it’s from Bighawk, the leader of the Thieves’ Guild. Meanwhile, Rit goes around and catches a drug dealer, but when she apprehends him, he explodes–it’s actually a trap meant to spray her with some sticky substance that disabled her use of her weapons. Just as she is pinned down, someone comes to the rescue–it was Danan. He tells Rit that, although he wants him back into the Party, he can’t, seeing his current status. Danan was content with exchanging info with Rit. They also find out that one of Rit’s attackers was a Stalker Demon. “Danan” wanted their help, but preferred not to let Red know that he is nearby. Rit later gets to analyze the sword given to Al, and says it has a “Locate” spell cast on it, meaning whoever is in possession of the weapon can be tracked down by whoever cast the spell. This made Red raise some questions, as he calms Rit’s anxieties down. As they go into town to find Al a suitable weapon for him, protests against the townguard that began in Southmarsh heat up. Maya says Bighawk himself is paying people to stage these protests.Meanwhile, The Hero’s Party has found one of the weapons of the former Demon Lord: an airship. They take possession of it after defeating a gargantuan demon. Ruti’s disdain for Ares is a bit evident, as she says she cannot provide cover for him like they usually do with Red–practically telling him to defend himself. Ares acknowledges that Red’s absence is hampering him, then quietly blames Danan and Yarandrala for this. Tisse asks Ruti where she wants to go, but Ruti, though has a place in mind, says they shouldn’t.

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 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.

Life at Red and Rit’s apothecary shop goes on with the occasional surprised group of adventurers shocked with seeing Rit–Zoltan’s most formidable adventurer–in Red’s shop helping about the business and living with him. Just then, Rit had a sudden craving for mead, so she went to town to buy some. Just then, Albert came to the shop berating his life choices and demands answers from Red about who killed the owlbear. Red denies any involvement with what happened to the owlbear, provoking Albert to attack him, but is foiled by Rit’s timely arrival. She is so angry she could kill Albert, who is shocked at the sight of Rit in Red’s shop, as well as Red’s quickness (he came near them in a split second, bottle of mead in hand). Later, as they visited Zeff’s sauna, they notice a real lack of customers. It is because of new competition–a bigger, fancier sauna built by the nobles. Nao scolded Zeff for his defeatist attitude, stating that they will keep coming back to his sauna. Later in Red’s house, as Rit, Red, Nao, and Tanta met over tea, Red had an idea of using a potpourri sack in the sauna itself. The idea is a success and earned the place a lot of customers. They even tested the sauna with the potpourri sack in place, with hilarious results. Later that afternoon Red revealed the reason for her getting a bottle of mead that day: it reminded her of an old tradition in Loggervia about a married couple traditionally taking time off and drinking mead together. Meanwhile, Theodora asks Tisse if she feels that joining the party was a mistake as The Hero’s Party is encountering failure after failure, causing squabbles among the party and causing it to fall apart. Something that, according to Theodora, is nonexistent when Gideon (Red) was still around.