Anomaly Who Broke The Game Prologue

[TenaciousJay002]

In a far-flung realm, shrouded in the mists of a world not our own, a creature staggered in a tangled forest, his breath ragged, his heart pounding like a war drum.

This was no ordinary man—his skull had just been cracked open by the crude, splintered club of a snarling goblin. Blood trickled down his temple, matting his unkempt hair, and yet, there was something peculiar about him.

Something that made the very air around him hum with an heaviness.

Who was this being, stumbling through the underbrush, his tattered cloak snagging on thorns? He was no hero, no warrior clad in gleaming armor. He was no human either, He was a homunculus—a wretched, artificial creation born from the twisted ambitions of alchemists in a clandestine laboratory.

Crafted to be a vessel for a *****, a ***** spark meant to ignite within his frail form. But he was deemed a failure.

His makers sneered at his imperfections: his uneven gait, his too-human eyes that flickered with something dangerously close to a soul. They called him a mistake, a taboo, a mockery of life itself.

Why did they call him a mockery when they were the ones to create it to begin with?

Yet, despite their scorn, one truth burned brighter than their cruel words: he had escaped. And that, by all the stars in this alien sky, was fucking glorious.

The facility he fled was a nightmare of cold stone and flickering alchemical flames, hidden deep within a mountain's belly. Its walls echoed with the screams of other failed experiments, others like him their voices taunting and haunting his dreams as he plotted his escape.

He was tired, so one moonless night, he slipped through the shadows, past guards drunk on mead and arrogance, and out into the wild unknown.

The forest greeted him with a chorus of nocturnal whispers—crickets, owls, and the rustle of leaves like secrets being shared. Freedom tasted sharp, like iron and pine, but it was his.

He hadn't been free for long when the goblin ambushed him. The creature was a wiry, foul thing, its skin like moldy leather, its eyes glinting with malice under the moonlight. It wasn't alone—two others lurked behind it, their jagged teeth bared in grotesque grins.

The homunculus froze, his breath catching as he met the leader's gaze. In those hideous, green eyes, he saw a hunger that mirrored his own—a raw, gnawing need, not for food, but for something deeper.

Anger. Vengeance. A primal urge to lash out at a world that had starved them in cruelty. The goblin saw a reflection of its own torment in the homunculus, and it drove the creature into a frenzy.

The homunculus, though no warrior, felt a spark of defiance flare within him. He was no vessel for a *****, but he was alive, damn it, and he would not go quietly.

He raised his fists, trembling yet resolute, ready to fight for his fleeting taste of freedom. But the goblins were faster, their movements feral and precise. As he dodged a swipe from the leader's claw, he was too slow to notice the second goblin circling behind.

A sharp, searing pain exploded at the back of his skull. The world tilted, colors bleeding into a dizzying blur. He crumpled to the forest floor, leaves crunching beneath his weight, his vision swimming with stars.

The last thing he saw was the goblin's club raised high, its crude wood stained with his blood, descending like a guillotine. Darkness swallowed him, and he plummeted into oblivion, the echo of his own heartbeat fading into the void.

Yet, even as he fell, a single thought burned in his fading consciousness: he had tasted freedom, if only for a moment, and no goblin, no alchemist, nor god could take that from him.

Just as the goblin, its jagged maw dripping with anticipation, leaned to tear into the lifeless prey it had felled, something stirred in the shadowed air. A ripple, unseen, unnatural, coiled through the forest's heart.

A scream—raw, unearthly—shattered the silence, not from the goblin's throat but from the broken form at its feet.

The homunculus's body twitched, then thrashed, as if seized by some vengeful spirit clawing free. Its limbs jerked in a grotesque dance. As if rearranging themselves.

And by the time the goblin came into its senses, it was already too late.

Then a fire came —wild, searing, alive. It erupted from nowhere, from everywhere, a blue-white inferno that devoured the goblin's snarl and turned its hunger to shrieks.

Fire and fire and fire, relentless, spiraling, consuming everything—flesh, bone, the very darkness of the night itself. The forest groaned, its ancient boughs curling to cinders, the ground scorched to a whispering wasteland.

And when the flames faded, only darkness remained.

…………………………….

Sequence Initiated: Reconstruction Protocol Alpha-7

……………….

This was no ordinary corpse, but a bioengineered shit.

Its heart, torn open, twitched with faint alchemical isotopes.

The brain, revealed by the cracked skull, pulsed with fading activity.

Bite marks—serrated, inhuman—oozed bioluminescent ichor on his limbs.

Syringe punctures glittered like stardust, remnants of experimental serums. This homunculus….

………

A being watching the data scroll with curiosity. "This body's perfect." And decided to take over. WHY? YOU ASK? Because he was driven more by boredom than by desire.

 

[TenaciousJay002]

It was a weird world, and in this world two moons hung in the sky.

One glowed a ghostly white, casting an eerie shimmer over the twisted landscape below, while the other burned a venomous green, pulsating faintly as if alive. Have you ever witnessed anything so hauntingly bizarre, so beautifully wrong? I doubt it—your world probably doesn't have skies that scream, Splendor.

Also Orbiting the green moon, is an asteroid, lazily looping around, a jagged chunk of rock that laughed in the face of gravity.

How the hell did that stone evade the pull of this planet's gravity? Bahh whatever.

But let's not get lost in that weird thought. Let's now talk about—a homunculus, which was still alive, still breathing, still existing.

This grotesque little man scuttled through the world like he owned it, his beady green eyes glinting with a lifeful spark, as if he'd just caught his reflection mid-sneeze and couldn't unsee it.

His silky brown hair fell in unnaturally perfect waves, like he'd spent hours coaxing it with a comb forged in some fire.

His outfit? Absurdly pristine. Baggy blue pants swayed like they were mocking the wind, paired with a loose red T-shirt that looked like it had never met dirt or sweat. His skin, a sickly brownish-white, was marred by jagged stitches around his eyes, each one a testament to some holy craftsmanship.

He strolled through a forest of gnarled, whispering trees, their branches swaying.

His casual swagger suggested this was just another Tuesday, as if this woodland was some trendy hiking trail. "Hmm," he muttered, his voice a low rasp. "Was it a mistake to let them live?"

His thoughts drifted to a shadowy figure who'd been trailing him—a man who called himself a saint, cloaked in tattered robes, muttering prophecies under his breath. The homunculus smirked, his stitched face twisting. "Eh, who gives a damn if he lives or dies?" After all, he had given that man a beating he would remember for a lifetime.

He paused, realizing he'd wandered to the edge of a strange road. It wasn't your average dirt path—this was a highway of massive, weathered stone slabs, Concrete? Stone? Something older, maybe.

The homunculus tilted his head, scratching at a stitch near his eye. "Now, where the hell am I going?" he mused. The road stretched in two directions: one toward a horizon where the white moon loomed larger, bathing the path in a cold, sterile light; the other toward the green moon's domain, where the air seemed to shimmer with a sickly, emerald haze. A choice, and no damn clue which way to go.

He chuckled, a dry, unsettling sound, and clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's settle this the old-fashioned way."

His beady eyes gleamed with a childish mischief as he began to chant. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" ………………..

……..

….

His finger landed on the path towards the green moon's sickly glow.

That's the one, he thought with a smirk. The green moon's light seemed to pulse, almost like it was calling him. Something about it felt… alive. So, with a shrug, he set off in that direction, his boots crunching against the strange, glittery dirt of this alien world.

As he walked, a weird sensation tingled around him, like static electricity but softer, almost cozy. What's this? he wondered.

It felt like an energy buzzing in the air, wrapping around him like an invisible cloak. Hmm, I've felt something like this before… in that other world.

There, they called it mana—a magical energy that powered spells. But here? It was different.

The mana wasn't soaking into his body like it did back then. Instead, it just floated around him, thick in the atmosphere. Maybe it's this body I'm in, he mused. It's not built to absorb it. Or maybe… I need to figure out how this world works. He made a mental note: Gotta run some tests later. Maybe poke the other person with a stick or something.

He was in his thought but suddenly, a women's scream shattered the quiet night. "AAAAAA!"

He froze, then chuckled. Oh, a scream in the middle of nowhere? That's so cliché! His mind immediately jumped to every fantasy story he'd ever read.

Bet it's a princess in distress. Classic. I'll swoop in, save her, and—ka-ching!—she'll shower me with gold. Who doesn't love a fat stack of coins? His grin widened. Time to make some princesssaving money!

With a playful leap, he launched into the air. Why jump? Because he could fly, of course! Well, sort of. It was more like a super-powered leap that let him glide through the air like a superhero in a comic book. Pretty cool, right? Just kidding, I can actually fly, soaring over the treetops with the wind whipping through his hair.

The dense forest below gave way to an open clearing, and he landed lightly on the ground. His eyes widened at the scene before him.

A fancy carriage, all polished wood and gold trim, sat in the middle of the clearing. Next to it, a small child huddled, looking terrified. Standing in front of the kid was a woman in light armor, her sword gleaming under the green moonlight as she fended off a group of shadowy figures in cloaks.

And these weren't just any cloaks—they were magic cloaks, because the figures were hurling magics around.

Fireballs? Seriously? He couldn't help but laugh. It reminded him of that hilarious YouTube video he'd seen ages ago, where some wizard dramatically shouted "FIREBALL!"

Okay, focus, he told himself. Time to jump in, save the day, and maybe earn some of that sweet, sweet reward money. With a confident grin, he stepped forward, ready to join the fight and see what this strange, magical world had in store.

 

[TenaciousJay002]

This wasn't your typical fairy-tale story where a princess travels from one town to another in a fancy carriage. Oh no, this was way more intense—and way more complicated.

The little princess, with her bright red hair that glowed like a sunset under the green moonlight, wasn't just out for a stroll. She was running for her life.

She'd escaped from her home in the Kingdom of Lawerence. Why? Because her world had turned upside down in the last month. Her older brother, had just been crowned king, but the way he got that crown was twisted and dark.

For two long years, the Kingdom of Lawerence had been caught in a brutal game of succession—a deadly contest to decide who would rule. It wasn't just a polite debate or a vote.

No, this was a ruthless power struggle, with scheming nobles, secret alliances, and a lot of bloodshed. The Third Prince, the third sibling in line for the throne, had a powerful ally: Duke Sebastian, a cunning and wealthy noble with an army of loyal followers.

With the duke's backing, The Third Prince played the game like a master chess player, eliminating everyone who stood in his way. One by one, every other contender for the crown was killed—ambushed in dark alleys, poisoned at feasts, or betrayed by those they trusted. All except one: the red-haired Princess.

-----------

"Princess, duck!" the swordswoman shouted, her voice sharp with urgency. The Princess dropped to the ground just as the knight's gleaming sword sliced through the air, striking all the cloaked assassins with a clean, deadly blow.

All the enemy crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Princess heart raced, hoping for a moment that the fight was over.

But that hope vanished in an instant.

A dark, swirling mist of black mana—a creepy, unnatural energy—poured from the fallen assassin's body. The air grew heavy, and with a sickening lurch, the dead enemy twitched and stood back up, as if nothing had happened. In the blink of an eye, every assassin they'd just defeated was on their feet again, their eyes glowing with an eerie, empty light, ready to fight once more.

"Black magic freaks!" the black-haired swordswoman, spat out a curse. She was exhausted, her armor scratched and dented from two days of relentless fighting.

These weren't ordinary enemies—they were abominations, brought back to life by dark magic. She had been battling them non-stop, only stealing brief moments to catch her breath or sip water when the attacks slowed.

But those tiny breaks weren't enough. Her arms ached, her eyelids felt like lead, and her strength was fading fast. Still, giving up wasn't in her nature. But will she give up, NO SHE WILL NOT!

She tightened her grip on her sword, its blade catching the green moonlight, and took a steady stance. Her sharp eyes darted to Princess first, she saw her legs behind the carriage thinking that the princess was still safe behind the half-split carriage.

Stay strong, Your Highness, she thought. Then, she turned her gaze to the enemies, ready to face them again, no matter how many times they'd rise.

But just as she braced for another attack, something caught her eye—a figure descending from the sky. A man, gliding down like a hawk, his silhouette framed against the glowing green moon.

His eyes gleamed with a strange, intense light, and for a split second, her heart skipped. Is he a devil sent from the heavens? she wondered, her grip on her sword tightening. His presence felt otherworldly, like he didn't belong in this chaotic scene.

And then, before she could process what was happening, something unbelievable unfolded right in front of her eyes—something that would change the course of this desperate fight.

…………..

Seems like things were getting rough for the black-haired swordswoman with the big boobs— and it showed.

Her armor was scratched, her breaths came in heavy huffs, and her arms trembled from fighting off those relentless, cloaked assassins.

Man, she's tough. Watching her stand protectively in front of the overturned carriage, heaving so loudly—it was clear that is tired, very tired.

Also, her figure was striking... Wait, this isn't the time to be staring at someone's boobs. You bitch.

Before the five cloaked figures could make their next move, The swordswoman sprang into action. "Princess, duck!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the tense air.

In a flash, she was in the center of the group, her sword a silver blur as she unsheathed it. With one clean, lightning-fast swing, she sliced through all five enemies, splitting them in half like they were made of paper. Their bodies hit the ground with dull thuds. Wow, she's incredible, I thought, impressed by her speed and skill.

But —a thin, glowing cord of dark mana snaking through the air, connecting to the fallen bodies. That's why she's so exhausted, I realized.

The cord was pumping black mana into the corpses, fueling their unnatural regeneration. Sure enough, the sliced bodies twitched, their wounds knitting back together as they began to rise again. This is bad. The mana wasn't just dark—it felt wrong, like it was whispering secrets in a language you will not be able to understand.

Swordswoman, panting heavily, didn't seem to notice the mana cords. She was too busy fighting, her face set in a determined scowl. "Black Magic Fuckers."

She's not giving up, even now. She's tough alright.

But my attention shifted to the carriage, where the Princess—my ticket to a fat stack of reward money—lay slumped against the broken wood. Wait, why isn't she moving? My heart sank. My piggy bank's out cold! This was a problem.

If there was No princess, there will be no payout. NOOOO I can't allow that.

The situation was getting worse. The regenerated assassins were glowing now, their bodies pulsing with energy as if they were about to explode. The big boob swordswoman charged toward them again, sword raised, ready to take them on. She's got guts, but this is about to go south, It was time to step in.

I leaped into the air, gliding down with a grin. I was gleaming with anticipation. After all, I was practically buzzing with excitement to test this new body of mine.

I landed right in front of the cloaked figures, cutting off their path to the Sowrdswoman. She froze, her sharp eyes locking onto mine, trying to figure me out. Enemy or ally? her gaze seemed to ask. I could tell she didn't trust me, especially with the wild, probably terrifying grin plastered on my face.

"Who are you?" The Sowdswoman demanded, her voice hoarse but firm. She wasn't expecting an answer, not with that crazy smile on my face.

I didn't answer right away. I'm neither enemy nor ally, I'm just here for the money. But as I faced the glowing, regenerating assassins,….

 

[TenaciousJay002]

The Red Haired Princess has ruled over Laboon for 2 years, a bustling port city she'd been given when the brutal game of succession for the Kingdom of Lawerence began.

Laboon wasn't just any city—it was a fortress, a vital shield against naval threats like ferocious mermen, ruthless pirates, and even colossal titans that rose from the sea.

For two years, She and her loyal knight, had defended the city against all kinds of monsters. Some were simple to defeat, like swarms of sharp-toothed mermen. Others, like the towering sea beasts, seemed impossible, but somehow, they always pulled through. Laboon stood strong, its people safe under the Princess care.

But when news arrived that her father, the king, had been murdered, everything changed. Assassins, sent by her scheming brother, flooded into Laboon, targeting The Princess before she could even grieve. She was the last threat to her brother stolen crown, and he wasn't taking any chances.

Before the assassins reached her castle, a letter arrived, sealed with the royal insignia. But When she opened it, her heart sank, she realized too late it wasn't from him at all.

It was a trap, crafted by her brother, now King. The letter wasn't just paper—it was a cursed summoning scroll. The moment she broke the seal, a monstrous beast materialized, its jagged teeth and glowing eyes fixed on her. It lunged, ready to devour her whole.

"Mana!" cried The Princes, calling her Knight, who was always by her side. In a flash, her sword sliced through the scroll, and the beast vanished in a puff of dark smoke. And that dark smoke got into her body.

Red haired Princess gasped, thinking they'd escaped disaster. But The third princes plan was far crueler. The beast hadn't truly disappeared—it had burrowed into her mind, a presence waiting for its chance to take over.

She could feel it sometimes, clawing at her thoughts, whispering in the dark corners of her soul. She fought to keep it at bay, but she didn't know how much longer she could hold out.

As if that wasn't enough, the castle began to shake violently. The walls rattled, the ground quaked, and a searing, mind-bending pain shot through her head. Her vision blurred, and before she could call out again, she blacked out, collapsing to the cold stone floor.

When she came to, flickering in and out of consciousness, she caught glimpses of something horrifying.

A monster towered over Laboon, so massive it blocked out the Sun.

It was Tarturas, a titan-class beast from ancient legends, said to slumber at the Earth's core, waiting for the mythical world serpent to rise.

Its body was like a living mountain, Her heart sank upon seeing. This is the end, she thought, her hope for Laboon crumbling as the titan rampaged through her city, flattening homes and docks with ease.

She didn't know how it had spared the rest of the kingdom, focusing its wrath only on Laboon. All she saw, in those fleeting moments when she couldn't even move was the glimpses of this beast.

And after she lost conscientiousness, was the summoned monster that would haunt her nightmares forever.

When the Princess woke up, she wasn't in her grand castle in Laboon. Instead, she found herself lying on a bed of soft moss in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees with leaves that shimmered under the eerie green moonlight.

The air smelled of pine and earth, a far cry from the salty breeze of her port city.

She blinked, trying to piece together what had happened, but her mind was a foggy blank. Where am I? her heart racing. She was still in her torn royal gown, her red hair sprawled on the ground.

A sudden sound snapped her out of her daze. She shot to her feet, her head spinning, and saw her knight—Mana, standing at the edge of a clearing, with ocean on the view.

Her Knight's dark hair was messy, her armor scuffed, but her eyes were sharp and steady. The princess had thought she was deep in the forest, but it seemed they were just on the outskirts of Laboon's territory.

"Mana…" Red princess voice came out hoarse, her throat dry as sand. "What happened? I can't remember anything."

Mana didn't flinch. She'd clearly been already knew that she had awoke. So She got down on her one knew, her sword resting at her side, and spoke softly but firmly. "After you passed out, Tarturas attacked," Mana said.

The Princess eyes widened. So it wasn't a dream. The memory of the colossal titan, a monster straight out of ancient myths, flickered in her mind—its massive form crushing Laboon like a child's toy.

"Casualties?" she whispered, dreading the answer.

Mana face darkened. "Everyone. Everything."

"Everyone?" The Princess Voice echoed, her voice breaking. She was only eighteen, yet she'd been tasked with protecting an entire city. The weight of it all—her people, her home, her responsibility—felt like a boulder crushing her chest. Tears stung her eyes, but she held them back. lost so much in such a short time.

She stumbled forward, pushing through the trees until she reached a hill overlooking what was left of Laboon.

Her breath caught. Where her bustling port city once stood, there was nothing but ruins— crumbled stone, charred wood, and the faint smell of smoke lingering in the air. Her home, her people, gone.

"There's more," Mana continued, her voice heavy. "You've been branded a traitor and a heretic. They're saying you destroyed Laboon."

"What?" Princess head snapped toward her Mana. "That's… that's impossible!"

"It's signed by your brother," Mana said grimly. "King Teodor Valeria. After Tarturas attacked, royal enforcers came. I thought they were here to help, but no—they were looking for you. They handed me this."

She pulled out a crumpled wanted poster with Red's face on it, accusing her of treason and destruction. "They didn't even listen when I told them it was Tarturas. They demanded to know where you were, said you fled after destroying your own city. I was I was able hid you before they could find you, but they ordered me to hunt you down and… kill you."

Mana eyes flashed with a fierce, protective anger, her hand tightening on her sword as if daring anyone to try.

The Princess legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground, her mind reeling. My own brother… he's framed me for this. The cursed scroll, the beast in her mind, the destruction of Laboon—it was all Teodor doing, his plan to erase her from the picture.

"Then why haven't you?" Red whispered, her voice hollow. "Why not just kill me?"

Mana face twisted with frustration. She marched over and, with a swift motion, smacked Red on the back of her head. "Don't you dare say that!" she snapped. "When I was alone, you told me never to give up. You gave me a reason to keep fighting. So why the hell should I let you give up now?"

Red winced, rubbing her head. "Ouch…"

"We can't stay here," The Mana said, pulling The Princess to her feet. "We need to move." They hurried to a hidden boat docked at a nearby river, big enough to carry a month's worth of supplies and a small carriage.

It wasn't much, but it was their ticket out of Laboon's ruins. As they pushed off, the boat rocking gently on the water, Red glanced back at the destroyed city one last time. I'll come back, she vowed silently. And I'll make Teodor pay.

That's how they ended up fleeing, with nothing but a boat, a carriage, and Anger and little bit of hope to guide them.

 

[TenaciousJay002]

The strange man landed in front of her with a thud.

His clothes were odd—and his eyes were much odder. With patches under it.

Mana gripped her sword tighter, her heart pounding. Friend or foe? she wondered, her eyes narrowing as she tried to read him. She hoped he was an ally—gods knew she and the princess needed one right now.

And he is "I'll help you out," he said casually, "but it'll cost you. Pay me, and I'm all yours." A mercenary. Of course.

Mana's shoulders relaxed slightly, but she stayed on guard. He's in it for the money, she thought. But if he can fight, I don't care why he's here.

Mana looked at this with a flicker of hope. Maybe the gods have provided this opportunity. And I'm not about to waste this chance.

"Fine," Mana called out, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "One gold coin for your help."

She knew a single gold coin wasn't much in the grand scheme of things—barely enough to buy a S-Class mercenary. If the boy could hear it, he will have said "Bitch, You Broke."

But right now, with assassins closing in and the princess's life on the line, she'd grab any straws, no matter how shaky the straws were.

"Great!" The man's grin widened, almost too cheerful for the grim scene. Without another word, he leaped into the fray, moving so fast he was practically a blur.

The five cloaked assassins, their bodies pulsing with dark mana, didn't even have time to react. He raised both hands, slashing them through the air like he was cutting invisible strings.

A sudden gust of wind roared through the clearing, sharp as a blade. The cloaked figures froze, then slumped to the ground, lifeless, as if the magic holding them together had been snuffed out.

Mana's jaw dropped. "Wha…" she whispered, speechless. What kind of power was that? Mana thought, her mind racing. What have we gotten ourselves into? she wondered, unease bubbling in her chest. -------------

I jingled the single gold coin in my hand, feeling pretty good about my quick payday.

But something was off, and it wasn't just the green moonlight or the pile of defeated assassins lying in the clearing.

The red-haired princess, still slumped against the broken carriage, wasn't waking up. Her chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths, so I knew she was alive, but her eyes stayed shut.

The swordswoman, knelt beside her, her voice cracking with desperation. "Princess, please wake up!"

Tears streaked down her face. She could fight for two days or however much longer to protect her, but seeing her princess like this was breaking her.

"Hey," I called out, trying to get her attention. No response. She was too focused on the princess, her hands gently shaking the girl's shoulders.

"Oi!" I tried again, louder this time.

"You bitch," Mana snapped, her head whipping toward me, eyes blazing with anger. Okay, now she notices me.

I raised an eyebrow, pointing at the princess. "So… what's wrong with her?"

"None of your business!" Mana growled, her voice sharp enough to cut. "You got your stupid coin, so why don't you just leave?"

Whoa, rude much? I hadn't done anything to deserve that.

I stared right into her eyes, not saying a word, just letting her feel the weight of my gaze. I'm not the bad guy here, lady.

She stared back, her face a mix of fury and exhaustion, but after a few seconds, she broke.

"What the hell are you doing? Are you stupid or something?"

I ignored her jab. "Let me take a look at her," I said calmly.

Truth is, I've got a soft spot for kids, and this Princess was just a kid.

Mana's eyes narrowed, her expression screaming, What are you even talking about? She clutched her katana tighter, ready to defend her princess from me, a stranger with weird patches around his eyes. Okay, that must be pretty weird to see.

To show I meant no harm, I grabbed her katana—gently, but fast enough that she flinched. Before she could yank it back, I held the blade to my own neck. "If I do anything weird, cut my head off," I said, flashing the most reassuring smile I could muster. It was a risky move, but I needed her to trust me, even just a little.

Mana froze, her mouth slightly open.

Something about his smile—crazy yet reassuring—seemed to calm her. She didn't know why, but she felt she could give me a chance. Albeit, it was the only chance she had.

With a grunt, she relented, carefully laying the princess down on the soft grass and gripping her katana, she was ready to kill if I did something wrong here.

I knelt beside the princess in a seiza position, my knees tucked under me, and placed a hand on her forehead. Closing my eyes, I focused, letting my senses reach beyond the physical world. Let's see what's going on here.

The moment my eyes shut, I was somewhere else—a vast, shimmering world of water, rippling and endless. This was her mind palace, a place where her thoughts and soul resided.

And there, in the center, I saw her: the red-haired princess, her figure faint and trembling, trapped in the jaws of a monstrous beast. Its shadowy form loomed over her, its eyes glowing with malice.

Well, that's interesting…..

 

[TenaciousJay002]

The first thing that hit me was the wetness. It was like stepping into an ocean that wasn't just water—it coated everything, the air, the ground.

When I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but an endless shimmer of water stretching in every direction, rippling under a dim, ghostly light. No land, no sky, just liquid everywhere. What a sad place. It reminded me of an orange-haired kid who also had the same inner world.

In the distance, something caught my eye—a dark shape at the center of this watery void. Curious, I flew toward it. Despite all the water, my body didn't become weightless in this strange inner world.

As I got closer, I saw it: a massive, dog-like beast, its crimson fur glowing faintly against the water's sheen. Its arms were pitch black, tipped with silver claws that glinted menacingly. A strange, kite-shaped golden gem pulsed on its chest, and its pure white eyes stared blankly ahead, radiating a chilling aura.

That's one gorgeous monster. Almost admiring its deadly beauty. But then I saw her—the redhaired princess, trapped in its grip.

The beast wasn't just holding her by the throat; it was devouring her soul.

The princess's form was faint, almost see-through, her body trembling as she gasped for air that didn't exist in this place. The creature's aura was suffocating, a dark force trying to consume her entirely.

Ooo, that's a nasty move. But, hmm… hehehehe. A grin crept across my face. Let's make this interesting.

----------------------------

Outside, in the real world, Mana stood frozen, her katana still in her hand and at his throat.

She stared at the weird-eyed man, kneeling beside the unconscious Princess, his hand on her forehead.

Should I just end this? she thought, her fingers twitching.

She was exhausted—Two months of running since they'd fled Laboon's ruins, dodging assassins and monsters, had led them to the foreign Kingdom of Javel.

Two days without sleep, guarding the princess non-stop, had left her on the verge of collapse. But something told her to hold back, to trust this weird man just a little longer. Maybe he can actually help, she hoped, clinging to a flicker of faith.

Then the princess's body began to convulse, her limbs jerking wildly. Mana's heart sank. I knew it! He's a bastard! She tensed her muscles and was ready to slash his throat with her katana, but before she could move, the Princess's shaking slowed.

Her breathing steadied, and her eyelids fluttered, trembling as if she were fighting to wake up. Is she… okay? Mana's eyes widened, hope surging through her. She's waking up!

In her relief, Mana didn't notice the faint white light glowing from the princess's stomach, pulsing softly like a heartbeat.

She was too overjoyed to see her princess stirring, tears of exhaustion and gratitude welling in her eyes. She also didn't notice that the man has also opened his eyes.

The princess's eyes fluttered open, just for a moment. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice weak but clear, before her head lolled back, and she slipped into a peaceful sleep—no longer tense, no longer haunted by the beast inside her.

Mana, overwhelmed with relief, felt her own strength give out. Her vision blurred, and she collapsed to the ground, fainting from sheer exhaustion after two sleepless days.

"What the fuck is this? Do I look like your nanny?" Before falling into slumber, she heard these words.

-----------------

As I stood there, staring at the two exhausted brats sprawled out on the grass like a pair of worn-out ragdolls, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

The red-haired brat, I got why she will be out cold. But that Big Booby swordswoman too. I guess she was exhausted too.

I scratched my head, muttering to myself, "Do I look like a nanny to you brats?" I mean, seriously, I'm no babysitter!

I was half-tempted to just walk away and leave them to their dirt-nap. "Ugh, Fuck Me," I grumbled, but then… sigh. I decided to let them crash for the night. Yeah, I'm a softie deep down, but don't spread that around.

Then, a brilliant idea sparked in my brain. A gold coin! Oh yes, one shiny gold coin to play nanny for these two. I could already hear the sweet clink in my pocket. "Muahaha," I chuckled, probably looking like a cartoon villain. "That's the price for my generosity!"

Without wasting another second, I hoisted the two brats up like sacks of potatoes, one over each shoulder. They groaned in unison, but didn't wake up.

I marched over to the half sliced carriage— I reached for the door, only to realize… it was just the top half of the door. The bottom half was still stubbornly attached, swinging uselessly in the breeze.

Now, you might be wondering, "Hey, how'd you open the door with both hands full of brats?" Easy. I've got a third arm. No, really! I'm not lying. (AN: He totally did not just set them down and opened the door like a normal person.) Don't go spilling my secrets, Bitch!

Anyway, I opened the lower half of the door.

It was a clean cut. So powerfull, Guess those "boobs" aren't her only weapon!

I tossed the brats inside the carriage, where they flopped onto the seats like grumpy cats. "Well, well, booby swordswoman," I muttered, sizing her up. "You're full of surprises. We'll see what you're made of soon enough." I rubbed my hands together, grinning like a kid who just stole a cookie. "Muahaha! And now, I've got myself a carriage and a gold coin coming my way!" This was turning out to be one heck of a day.

 

[TenaciousJay002]

The next morning, the first to stir was the swordswoman, Mana.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she immediately felt like the world was shaking—rattling, actually, with a weird, clunky rhythm. She blinked, confused, trying to make sense of it.

Then it hit her: they were in that busted-up carriage! The one she'd sliced clean in half during yesterday's wild ambush. The bottom half was somehow intact, but the top was destroyed? How did this carriage look so new now? (AN: Question? Question?)

"Ohhh!" Mana gasped as the memory flooded back: how they were attacked, and how that mercenary saved them.

Instinctively…. she clenched her hand on her waist, but there was nothing. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked down to where her sword should be.

There was nothing, but her eyes fell down on the downside of her seat and she saw her trusty blade lying on the ground. She heaved a sigh, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

How could I be so careless? she thought, snatching it up and clutching it close. A warrior like her, sleeping so soundly next to her weapon? Unacceptable!

Then she remembered the Princess again; her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes darted across the carriage, landing on the red-haired Princess curled up on the opposite seat, snoring softly.

Hah, what is this weird, fuzzy feeling? Is this how embarrassment felt? Again her cheeks flushed. But as she looked at the princess. Mana's heart softened.

The princess looked so peaceful, her fiery locks splayed out like a halo. When was the last time she slept this well? Mana wondered, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Without the princess, Mana would been lost—adrift without a purpose. She shook her head, pushing away the gloomy thoughts. No time for that now. (AN: woman's sure are weird.)

But then, the carriage lurched with a loud thunk, nearly tossing Mana off her seat. "Augh!" she groaned, grabbing the wall for balance. "Who the heck is driving this thing?!" Her mind raced.

Wait… who was driving? That shady mercenary guy? She frowned, trying to piece it together. And another thing—where were the horses? She was pretty sure they didn't have any, and that mercenary didn't strike her as the type to have a stable hidden in his back pocket.

Curiosity got the better of her. Mana stood, wobbling a bit as the carriage rattled along. With her katana in one hand for balance, she took a few careful steps toward the front of the carriage, where a tattered curtain hung over a small window slat. Let's see what's going on, she thought, brushing the curtain aside to peek through the slat.

But instead of a clear view of the road—or even the mercenary—she locked eyes with two glowing green beads staring right back at her. Her heart skipped a beat. "KYAAAA!" she screamed.

Her shriek jolted the princess awake. "Wha—what's happening?!" the princess yelped, bolting upright, her red hair a wild mess. The carriage rocked again, and both Mana and the Princess got thrown up in the air as Mana wondered what kind of bizarre situation they'd stumbled into now.

------------

---------

----

After some time, the carriage stood quietly by the lake.

The air was thick with tension, the kind that makes your heart race and your senses sharpen. From inside the carriage, a figure emerged—a fierce-looking woman with big boobs named Mana, gripping a katana tightly in her hand.

Her intense gaze caught the attention, scanning the surroundings like a hawk.

As soon as her boots hit the ground, Mana shouted, "Where in the fuck are the horses?!" Her voice echoed across the lake, sharp with urgency. "Princess, get out here quick—it's not safe!" Mana shouted again for her highness.

Mana was on high alert, and for good reason. Perched on the driver's seat—where the coachman should have been—sat a man with beady green eyes and weird patches beneath them.

His stare locked onto her, unblinking, like a predator sizing up its prey. Of course, Mana thought, her grip tightening on her katana. It's that fucking mercenary. She'd had a bad feeling about him from the start—his demeanor, his too-casual attitude. Something about him screamed weird.

Mana caught those beady green eyes glinting through the carriage's window slat earlier, and it had set her nerves on edge. She couldn't quite place why, but now, seeing him lounging there so confidently, she knew he was dangerous. Sure, he'd helped them escape a band of pursuers the night before, but that didn't mean she trusted him. Not one bit.

From entrance of the carriage, a second figure can be seen—a young woman with fiery red hair that cascaded down her shoulders like a blazing sunset. She tilted her head, confused by Mana's outburst. "Mana," she said, her voice soft but firm, "is that how you speak to someone who saved us?" She pointed at Mana, then at herself. "He saved me, and you, too!"

Mana's jaw dropped. "But, Princess—" she stammered, her cheeks flushing. The princess still hadn't fully stepped out of the carriage, and instead of backing her loyal knight, she was scolding her? Mana's instincts screamed that something was wrong, but maybe she was overthinking stuff.

"No buts!" the red-haired Princess snapped, her tone sharper now, her eyes flashing with authority.

The mercenary, still lounging on the driver's seat, smirked. "Yeah, big-booby warrior lady, listen to your princess," he said, his voice dripping with annoyance.

Mana's face turned redder than the Princess's hair. "Who asked you to speak?!" she barked, her katana twitching in her hand.

The mercenary muttered something under his breath—Mana could've sworn she heard the word "bitch"—but before she could react, she turned to Princess, pleading. "Princess, please, listen to me. This man—he's a mercenary. You know how we met him last night!"

She quickly recounted the events of the previous evening: how they'd been ambushed by shadowy figures in the forest, how this mysterious man had appeared out of nowhere, cutting down their attackers with terrifying skill. He'd saved them, yes, but Mana didn't trust his motives. Mercenaries always had a price.

Princess listened carefully, her brow furrowed. When Mana finished, the princess stepped fully out of the carriage. She stood between Mana and the mercenary, her gaze fixed on the man's strange, almost hypnotic green eyes.

There were odd, dark patches under those eyes, like they were sewed shut rather than fully healed they were just there—it's like he wasn't entirely human. "So," the Princess said slowly, "you are a mercenary?"

The man leaned back, his grin widening. "Guilty as charged, Your Highness."

The Princess's mind raced. Mana's story confirmed it—he had saved them. But why? Mercenaries didn't work for free. They were hired blades, loyal to coin, not kindness. She narrowed her eyes, trying to read him. "Why did you save us, then? Why help me… for free?"

She's sharp. I like her, "Free? Nah, I want a gold coin for my troubles."

Red blinked. "A single gold coin?" She couldn't believe it. A wizard or a witch would've demanded a thousand coins, maybe more, for such a feat. This man had fought off a dozen armed men single-handedly, and all he wanted was one coin? And on top of that, he had helped her seal that beast, too.

"That's all?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

"That's all," he replied smoothly, his green eyes twinkling with something Princess couldn't quite place—amusement, maybe, or something deeper.

Red haired princess turned to Mana, giving her a look that said, Give him the coin. But Mana's expression was grim. She shook her head slightly—they didn't have any coins. Not a single one. Princess heart sank. They were royalty, but their escape from the Port had left them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

"Well, Mr. Mercenary?" Red said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Yes?" he replied, tilting his head.

"We, uh…" She hesitated, searching for the right words.

"You don't have any coins, do you?" he finished for her, his tone almost playful.

Princess sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Yes," she admitted. No use pretending otherwise.

"Well, that's a problem," the mercenary said, standing up suddenly. His movements were quick, almost unnatural, and before Mana could react, he leaped down from the carriage and strode toward Red. His hand shot up, and the red-haired Princess flinched, squeezing her eyes shut, bracing for a blow.

"Princess, I'll save you!" Mana shouted, lunging forward with her katana—only to freeze midstep.

Instead of striking the princess, the mercenary gently placed his warm hand on her head, and started stroking her red hair. She opened her eyes, startled by his warm hand, and found him smiling down at her—not a smirk, but a genuine, almost kind smile.

"Don't worry, Princess," the Princess's heart fluttered. A warm, fuzzy feeling bloomed in Red's chest, catching her completely off guard. She'd never felt anything like this before—a strange mix of warmth and her own confusion. As if recalling a distant memory. he said softly, "You're free to go."

But just as quickly as the fuzzy feeling came, it faded, and she pouted, annoyed that it was gone. "Are we really free to go?" she asked, still skeptical. Could someone be this generous? Were there truly people out there who'd help without expecting anything in return?

The mercenary's smile turned mischievous. "You? Yeah. But not her," he said, pointing at Mana.

"What are you saying?" she protested but Princess, to Mana's shock, didn't protest.

Instead, she smirked, her eyes glinting with something playful. "Well, Mana, maybe you do deserve it," she teased, crossing her arms. Enjoying the expression on her knight face.

Deep down though, Red haired princess instincts were buzzing.

Mana gasped and her eyes widened, her katana trembling in her hands. "What?! Princess, you can't—"

This mercenary was trouble, sure, but there was something about him—something that made her want to keep him close, to figure him out. That warm, fuzzy feeling… she wasn't ready to let it go just yet.

Mana's jaw dropped again. "Princess?!" she cried, betrayed. Had her princess just thrown her under the carriage for a mercenary?

If you ask the princess why she had thrown her knight under the cart, the princess will probably say the warm and fuzzy feeling …hehehehe…Princess giggled, unable to help herself, but to tell you the truth it was her intuition that she is following that's all.

 

[TenaciousJay002]

The carriage sat quietly by the edge of the lake, its polished wood gleaming under the eerie sunlight overhead. This world, unlike the previous night, has only one sun.

The water lapped gently against the shore, reflecting the strange, calm this world has to offer.

But something interesting was happening: two people were sprawled out on top of the carriage, lounging as if they were on a tropical beach.

Beach chairs, of all things, were perched on the carriage roof, their bright stripes clashing with the grim, medieval vibe of the forest. Where in the world did those chairs even come from? (AN:Homunculus knew) They looked ridiculously out of place.

One of the loungers was the mercenary, a peculiar man with whitish-brown skin that seemed to glow faintly under the sun.

His beady green eyes glinted with mischief, and his silky brown hair swayed gently in the breeze, looking way too perfect for someone who'd been fighting goblins and got his head split open.

He stretched out lazily, one arm behind his head, one hand over his mouth as he yawned "AAAA" loudly.

Next to him was the red-haired Princess, just eighteen years old. She lay on her back, twirling a strand of her fiery red hair around her finger.

Her yellow eyes stared off into the clouds, unfocused, as if she were lost in thought—maybe about something. Her skin was pale but tanned on her shoulders and arms, and her breasts were draped in a tattered but regal gown. She seemed calm for once, almost content, despite her situation.

Down by the lake was another person, and it was of course the Big Booby Swordswoman, Mana, sitting on a weird chair that looked like it was cobbled together from clothes and wood. Her katana rested beside her, its blade catching the sunlight. Mana's fair skin, like the Princess's, had a slight tan on her exposed arms and legs.

Her black hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her sharp blue eyes were fixed on the water. In her hands was a fishing rod— metallic, and totally unlike anything she'd ever seen in this world.

She had no idea where the mercenary had gotten it, but it was as strange as the chair. Her armor was scuffed, her muscles ached from days of fighting.

"Oi, katana bimbo!" the mercenary called from the carriage roof, his voice dripping with annoyance. "Can't you catch a single fish? What's the holdup?"

A vein pulsed on Mana's forehead, her free hand twitching toward her katana. She shot a glare at him, her blue eyes blazing. The Princess was right there, so she couldn't just slice this annoying jerk in half, tempting as it was. "Shut up!" she snapped, gripping the fishing rod tighter. "It's not my fault these stupid fish aren't biting!"

The mercenary leaned forward, his grin widening. "Sounds like you're just lousy at this."

Mana's face flushed red. "Lousy?! I was the best hunter on the seas back in Laboon!" she shot back, her pride stung. "I've caught mermen, sea beasts, you name it!"

"And yet here you are," he said, waving a hand dramatically at the empty bucket beside her.

"Zero fish. Zilch. Nada."

"Ugh, Fuck you!" Mana growled, her voice low and embarrassed that he was right. She was about two seconds from chucking the fishing rod at his smug face.

The mercenary laughed. Suddenly realizing something, he hopped off the carriage with a nimble leap and landing right beside her. The Princess, curious now, rolled onto her stomach to watch, her yellow eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Hey, why'd you come down here?" Mana asked, eyeing him suspiciously. "Weren't you just lounging like some lazy king?"

The mercenary crouched beside her, his green eyes glinting with a playful, almost dangerous spark. "I've got a theory about why you were such a great hunter at sea," he said, his smirk growing.

Mana's gut told her this was going to be trouble, but she couldn't resist. "Oh, yeah? Enlighten me, O great hunter," she said, sarcasm dripping from every word.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I think it's because of those." He pointed at her chest, his grin turning downright devilish. "Your melons were probably bouncing around, luring all the fish right to you."

Mana's jaw dropped, her face turning as red as the Princess's hair. "What the—?! My boobs have nothing to do with this!" she shouted, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. The Princess stifled a giggle from the carriage roof.

"No, no, hear me out!" the mercenary said, barely containing his laughter. "Did you ever use bait when you hunted on the ship?"

Mana paused, her brow furrowing as she thought back. "Well… now that you mention it, I didn't need bait. I'd just stand on the deck, and the fish would leap out of the water, practically throwing themselves at me. But what's that got to do with anything?"

"Exactly!" the mercenary said, snapping his fingers. "Your, Mellons were the bait! They couldn't resist!"

Mana shot to her feet, her katana hand twitching again. "What kind of fucking nonsense are you spouting, you fuck?!" she yelled. This guy was unbelievable!

"Let's test it!" the mercenary declared, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Before Mana could react, he lunged forward, hands outstretched toward her.

"Hey, wait—don't you dare touch—!" Mana started, stumbling back. But he was too fast, and in a flash, he was playfully grabbing her chest, aiming her toward the lake and fondling them in the process as if to "present" her to the water. "Stop it, you creep!" she shrieked, swatting at him.

The Princess, now sitting up on the carriage, was about to jump down and scold the mercenary for harassing her knight. But before she could, a deafening BOOM echoed through the clearing. All three of them froze, their heads snapping toward the lake.

A massive fish—bigger than the carriage itself—burst out of the water, its silvery scales glinting under the sun.

It soared through the air, its jaws open.

The Princess's eyes widened, her mouth hanging open. "No way…" she whispered, barely believing it. Mana stood frozen, her face a mix of shock and embarrassment. The mercenary just laughed, clapping his hands like he'd planned the whole thing.

"See? Told you!" he said, grinning at Mana. "Your fishing skills are legendary." Using her own words with sarcasm.

 

[TenaciousJay002]

The massive fish—still steaming from the mercenary's quick cooking—lay gutted and sizzling on a makeshift grill over a crackling fire.

The air smelled of charred scales and delicious meat. The trio sat around the flames near the lake's edge: the Princess cross-legged on the ground, Mana slumped against the Princess's stomach, and the mercenary sprawled out with a skewer of flaky white meat in hand.

Chunks of the carriage-sized catch were piled high beside them—enough food to last weeks. But the mood wasn't exactly celebratory.

"Princess... how can this be true?" Mana wailed, her voice muffled as she buried her face in the Princess's lap, Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking the red-haired girl's tattered gown.

Mana, the unbreakable swordswoman who'd faced sea monsters and assassins without flinching, was blubbering. "How can my boobs be the bait? That's... that's humiliating!"

The Princess, only eighteen and still adjusting to her life on the run, patted Mana's black-haired bun awkwardly.

Her yellow eyes darted between her loyal knight and the mercenary, confusion written all over her face. Can fish even get... attracted to humans like that? she wondered silently. The idea was ridiculous—fish didn't have the brains for lust. Or did they in this weird country? No matter how many days passed, always something weird happened. It is as though the whole country is after them? She thought about that as she slid her fingers through Mana's hair, trying to soothe her. "There, there... maybe it was just... good timing?" she offered weakly, not sounding convinced herself.

"Want my opinion on it?" the mercenary chimed in, his mouth full of fish. He tore off another bite with his teeth, fish juice dripping down his whitish-brown chin. His beady green eyes sparkled with amusement over the stitches around them.

"Shut up!" Mana snapped, lifting her head just enough to glare daggers at him. Her blue eyes burned with fury, and if looks could kill, he'd be filleted next to the fish. "Nobody asked you, you... you dog!" She hugged the Princess tighter, cheeks flaming red.

The memory of his hands—playful—grabbing her chest and "angling" her toward the lake still made her skin crawl. Defiled by a pervert mercenary. In front of the Princess, no less!

"Mana, don't squeeze too hard," the Princess said with heavy breaths. At this rate, she might just die because of her knight.

The mercenary swallowed his bite and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Come on, I didn't know it'd actually work," he said, his raspy voice softening a tad. For once, he looked almost genuine—his perfect brown hair tousled by the wind, his red T-shirt smeared with fish juice. "I'm sorry, alright? My bad."

Mana narrowed her eyes, wiping her nose on her sleeve. "You're lying. You're not sorry at all." She stared him down, searching for any hint of insincerity in those eerie green eyes.

At least she's looking at me now, he thought, noting how her gaze had shifted from the Princess to him. He could see the hurt beneath her anger—the betrayal of trust from someone who'd saved their lives. But apologizing twice? No way. His pride wouldn't bend that far.

The Princess caught his eye, her yellow stare intense and unyielding, like a cat spotting a mouse. Apologize properly, it said without words. Or else.

"Fine, I swear I won't do it again," he grumbled, his green eyes resolute as he met her gaze. The fire crackled between them, casting flickering shadows on his stitched face.

Mana huffed, her shoulders starting to relax. "Okay..."

"But one thing I must say," he added with a devilish grin—unable to resist. "They were so soft."

Laughter burst from him, his whole body shaking as he clutched his sides.

"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Mana exploded, leaping to her feet. Her hand shot toward her katana, fingers brushing the hilt. Sparks of rage flew from her blue eyes—she was done playing nice.

"Mana, stop!" The Princess grabbed her wrist, pulling her back down with unexpected strength. Her voice was firm, royal authority cutting through the chaos. Mana froze, caught between fury and loyalty. She plopped back onto the ground, huffing like an angry bull, muttering "greeneyed bitch" under her breath.

The Princess turned to the mercenary, her yellow eyes narrowing to slits. "You. Apologize. Now." Her tone was ice-cold, no room for jokes. This wasn't a request from a scared runaway—it was an order from Her/Royalty.

"Oh yeah? Make me," he shot back, a cocky smile spreading across his face. He leaned back on his elbows, challenging her.

But the Princess didn't blink; she just stared. Those golden eyes bored into him.

(- -)

(-‿-")

(- -)

(ᵕ,—ᴗ—,)

(0 0)

(ᵕ,,¬﹏¬,,)

Ugh... is she a witch? he groaned inwardly. The gaze was relentless—piercing, judgmental, making his skin crawl. No spells, no threats, just silent pressure. Seconds stretched into eternity.

"I'm sorry, alright? Just stop looking at me like that!" he finally caved, throwing up his hands in defeat.

"What was that just now?" Mana teased, her tears forgotten. A giggle bubbled up from her chest, turning into full-blown laughter. "Hehehe, you deserve it, you molester!"

The mercenary rubbed his temples, grumbling. But he accepted this outcome. But there was a faint smile on his face.

Mana was lucky—Princess had her back. Without that stare-down, he'd never have folded. But as the Princess smirked in victory, twirling a strand of red hair, he couldn't help thinking: These two are just brats, chuckling to himself. But why the hell were they being attacked by those Undead when I found them?

Curiosity got the better of him. He leaned forward, his beady green eyes sparkling with mischief over the stitches beneath them. "Hey, I don't mean to pry, but… why were those cloaked freaks after you two last night?"

The air turned heavy, like a storm cloud had settled over the campfire.

Mana froze, her hand tightening on her skewer, her earlier giggles replaced by a tense scowl. And the Princess's playful smirk vanished, her fingers pausing mid-twirl. The relaxed vibe they'd just enjoyed—thanks to the mercenary's fish-cooking skills—shattered like glass.

He'd poked a sore spot, and he knew it. Their faces said it all: pain, secrets, and a whole lot of baggage.

The mercenary raised his hands, his raspy voice softening. "Alright, alright, forget I asked. You don't have to spill now. I get it—complicated stuff." He flashed a lopsided grin, hoping to lighten the mood.

"I…" Red exhaled. For some reason, she was just about to tell him, her shoulders loosening slightly as the tension left her. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft but carrying a weight, her golden lips barely moving.

Mana glanced at her princess, then shrugged. "If Her Highness is cool with it, I'm not gonna make a fuss," she muttered, grabbing a fish skewer and chomping down with exaggerated gusto. Happy-go-lucky when she's not swinging that katana, the mercenary thought, amused.

He reached for a glass bottle of soda—some fizzy, sweet drink he'd "bring out of thin air" (AN: just like all the other things). With a dramatic gulp, he chugged it down in one go, the bubbles tickling his throat.

The Princess, watching him, grabbed her own bottle, her eyes wide with curiosity. She'd never tasted anything like this in her royal life. She sipped a little earlier, it was Sweet, bubbly water? Weird, but… fun! She tilted her head back and chugged, mimicking him. The carbonation hit hard, building pressure in her chest. She tried to hold it in, but—

BBBBUUUURRRRPPP!

A monstrous burp erupted from her mouth, long and loud, echoing across the lake like a monstrous roar.

Mana and the mercenary froze, their jaws dropping in perfect unison, forming twin "O"s of shock. The Princess's cheeks flushed as red as her hair, and she shot them a glare. "Not. A. Word," she hissed, her royal dignity in tatters.

Mana snickered first, covering her mouth. The mercenary joined in, his laugh a raspy cackle. "Nice one, Your Highness!" he teased. Her glare intensified, but she said nothing, but pouted and her pout almost comical.

Trying to salvage the moment, the mercenary cleared his throat, his grin softening. "Sorry about the heavy question earlier. I was being insensitive. But… can I at least get your names?." He winked, hoping to keep things light.

The Princess relaxed, her anger fading. "I'm Beatrice Valeria," she said curtly, brushing off the earlier topic. Her tone was regal, but her eyes held a flicker of warmth, maybe liking that fuzzy feeling she got from this sweet bubbly water.

"Wow you have such a mature sounding name. even though…" The mercenary nodded, then pointed at her Boobies with a playful smirk. "They are so small. I can hardly even tell if it is flat or road."

Beatrice's eyes widened, her face turning scarlet.

"You bas..cough…d!" Mana, who'd been mid-bite, choked on her fish, her own anger flaring. This guy just doesn't quit!

"Mana, cut him down!" Beatrice ordered, her voice loud enough to jolt Mana. Mana blinked, stunned by the Princess's fury—she'd never seen Beatrice this mad. "Y-Yes, Your Highness!" she stammered, fumbling to her feet, her katana gleaming in the firelight.

The mercenary, unfazed, just leaned back with a nonchalant grin. "Petty," he muttered, not even giving a fuck as Mana's blade swung toward his neck. The katana moved like lightning, a gust of wind roaring from the sheer force of her swing.

His head lopped off, tumbling through the air, blood vessels glinting in the firelight as crimson Liquid began to ooze—

Mana, seeing this, was horrified. She didn't even mean to swing that hard, let alone cut his head off! She stumbled back, her katana slipping from her trembling hands. She hadn't meant to swing that hard—her exhaustion must've thrown off her control. But why the hell did I swing that hard?

Beatrice stared, her own heart racing, she didn't order mana to kill him. Only beat him a little bit. But now seeing his head falling towards the ground, and his blood just about to be spilled on the ground. But…

A his hand shot up, and caught his own severed head that was in the air. And He plopped it back onto his neck, and the cut around his neck started regenerating.

No blood, no gore—just that same, weirdly beautiful smile, that terrifying smile. "My name's Aether Veridian," he said, his voice smooth and terrifyingly calm. "And it's very nice to meet you both."