After Kevin and Hinata left, the king sank into deep thought. In a hushed tone, he muttered, "Divine Fire… That power belongs only to them…" But midway through his words, he shook his head, dismissing the thought.
While the king remained lost in contemplation, Kevin and Hinata made their way toward the technique vault, located on the third floor of the royal palace.
As they walked side by side, Hinata glanced at Kevin, her curiosity growing. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke, "Kevin… You never really told me about yourself. Where exactly are you from? And who is Karishma?"
Kevin, hearing this, abruptly turned to look at Hinata. He stared at her as if she had lost her mind. Then, with a smirk, he said, "It seems like the royal princess has a poor memory! I literally told you in the forest a few hours ago where I came from! And you've already forgotten?"
Hearing his response, Hinata's face flushed red with embarrassment. She hadn't expected him to react like that. In truth, she was only interested in knowing more about Karishma, but asking directly felt improper. If she asked outright, Kevin might misunderstand her intentions. That's why she had framed her question carefully. But instead of getting a proper answer, she ended up getting scolded!
Feeling flustered, Hinata looked away. Noticing her reaction, Kevin chuckled and said, "Relax, I was just messing with you. Can't I joke around with you, Princess?"
Hinata saw his playful smile and couldn't help but grin as well. "Oh, so you've started teasing me, huh? Don't blame me later, because I can be just as mischievous!"
Kevin laughed at her response, and they continued their banter as they walked.
Just then, Kevin's attention was drawn to a stunning young woman approaching them. She was dressed in a white saree, her eyes lined with dark kohl, a delicate bindi adorning her forehead. A silver-and-pearl waist chain accentuated her slender figure, adding to her charm.
Kevin couldn't help but admire her beauty. "Wow… what a gorgeous woman!" he thought aloud.
Hearing this, Hinata immediately frowned. She was undoubtedly more beautiful than this girl, but right now, she was dressed in her warrior outfit, her hair disheveled from all the battles. Annoyed, she muttered internally, "Looks like he's never seen real beauty before. Just wait… I'll show him who's truly stunning!"
No matter what Hinata thought, Kevin's eyes remained fixed on the woman. It wasn't that he was staring at her in a lustful way. It was just that she carried herself so well. Unlike the girls on Earth who wore all sorts of revealing outfits just to appear beautiful, this woman radiated elegance and grace. To him, nothing compared to the beauty of a saree.
As he pondered this, the beautiful woman finally reached Hinata and spoke, "Sister! Where have you been? Do you know how worried Grandfather was?"
Kevin's eyes widened in realization. "Sister?" He now understood who this woman was.
Hinata simply smiled and responded, "Where I went doesn't matter. What matters is who I've brought back with me!"
The woman looked at her curiously, her eyes filled with excitement. Hinata then turned to Kevin and gestured toward him. "Meet him! This is Kevin! He has come here to design your wedding dress!"
The woman's eyes sparkled with joy for a moment before she suddenly turned serious. Kevin found her reaction a bit odd.
Hinata continued, "Kevin, meet my younger sister, Natasha!"
Kevin extended his hand with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Natasha."
Natasha also smiled and replied, "Nice to meet you too, Kevin… but…" She hesitated, glancing toward Hinata as if seeking permission. Hinata, however, shook her head in response.
Kevin frowned, noticing their silent exchange. "Is something wrong? If there is, just say it outright! What's with all these secret glances?"
Hearing that, both sisters' faces turned red as they awkwardly looked away. Finally, Natasha mustered the courage to speak.
"Well… don't you find it strange? I mean… we are from the royal family… yet we don't have a personal tailor?"
Kevin couldn't believe what he was hearing. The granddaughter of the king is getting married… and they can't even find a tailor? That was beyond absurd. Before he could question it further, Natasha continued,
"Actually, we have a stepsister—Hela. We've always had conflicts with her. One day, during her wedding, I set her bridal dress on fire. Since that day, she swore that no tailor would ever make my wedding dress. And if anyone dared, she would have them killed. That's why no tailor is willing to make my dress."
Kevin's jaw nearly dropped. "What kind of insane feud is this?! Burning wedding dresses? Hiring assassins over a dress?" His head started aching as he turned toward Hinata. There's no way she dragged me into a death trap… right?
Meanwhile, Hinata avoided his gaze, feeling an overwhelming urge to find a corner and hide. Natasha, noticing their reactions, hesitated before speaking again.
"Please don't misunderstand my sister. She cares about me deeply… that's why she brought you here without telling you everything." Then, with a sad smile, she added, "If you want to leave, we won't stop you."
Natasha didn't want to say those words, but she couldn't put someone's life in danger for her sake. Hinata also lowered her gaze and spoke softly, "She's right, Kevin. You can leave if you want. This is my fault. I should have told you everything from the start. But… I let my love for my sister cloud my judgment. I'm sorry."
Seeing her like this, Kevin sighed. He understood now—Hinata wasn't trying to trick him. She genuinely loved her sister and was willing to go to any lengths for her. And honestly, if Kevin were in her place, he would have done the same for his sisters.
With that thought, he took a deep breath and said, "It's fine. What's done is done. No point dwelling on it."
But then another thought crossed his mind. The king had already given him Power Supplement Pills and was even granting him access to Technological Knowledge. If he left now, his chances of entering Nalanda University would become even slimmer.
Deciding his path, Kevin smirked. "I'll make your wedding dress, Natasha. After all, how can such a beautiful bride sit at the altar without a proper dress?"
Both sisters lit up with excitement. Natasha blushed but smiled brightly. "Thank you, Kevin! No one has ever done this for me. If you ever need my help, just say the word."
Hinata nodded firmly. "Natasha is right! Kevin, if you ever need anything, just come to me—no questions asked!"
Watching them so happy, Kevin also smiled, but deep down, he was screaming. "Where the hell am I going to get a wedding dress from?! I don't even know how to sew! Sheshnaag, you've put me in a huge mess!"
Hearing his frustration, Sheshnaag chuckled in his subconscious. "Relax, hero. You'll figure something out. No need to fry your brain over it now."
Kevin sighed again but made up his mind—no matter what, he would find a way to get Natasha's wedding dress.
Just then, Hinata nudged him. "Come on, Kevin, let's go!"
He jolted out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh, yeah! Let's go." Hinata smiled knowingly before leading the way.
Natasha also insisted on coming along, and after some persuasion, Hinata agreed. With that, the three of them headed towards the Tech Vault.
—
Moments later, they arrived in front of a massive door. Above it, in bold letters, was written: "The Royal Treasury of Technology."
Kevin read the inscription before stepping inside. As soon as he entered, his eyes widened in surprise.
The entire hall resembled a library, with rows of shelves stacked with books. Each book contained knowledge of different technologies. Seeing this, Kevin was immediately reminded of Earth's libraries.
Hinata smiled and gestured around. "Kevin, these books contain various techniques. Take your time and choose whatever suits you best. Natasha and I will help you."
Kevin nodded and began browsing the shelves.
The first book he picked up was titled "The Attack of Three Shadows." Just from the name, he put it aside.
The next book read "Vajra Claw." Again, not what he was looking for.
Then, he found another book named "The Thunderous Stars." He grimaced and shoved it aside.
Kevin kept going through book after book, but nothing caught his interest. Time passed, yet he still couldn't find what he was looking for.
Then, suddenly, his gaze landed on an old, dusty book in the corner. He could feel a strange, cold breeze emanating from it. Intrigued, he started walking toward it.
But before he could reach it, Hinata stepped in front of him, holding a book with a proud smile.
"Here, Kevin! I found the perfect technique for you!" She handed him the book.
"It's called The Attack of Seven Hands! With this technique, you can attack in seven different ways, confusing your opponent and gaining an advantage in battle! Isn't it amazing?"
Kevin took the book and flipped through it. After reading a bit, he sighed. "This technique is cool, but… not for me."
He needed a technique that relied less on physical combat. After all, he wasn't a fighter. Training for battle would take time, and he wasn't willing to waste that time.
Handing the book back, he said, "I need something different."
Ignoring Hinata's disappointed expression, Kevin continued towards the mysterious old book.
—
Will Kevin find the technique he's looking for?
How will he manage to get Natasha's wedding dress?
And who exactly is Hela, the stepsister?
Is she a real threat to Kevin?
Find out in the next chapter!