The heavy atmosphere inside the strategy hall was so dense you could cut it with a sword. The faint light from the torches played with the shadows, stretching the silhouettes of the captains gathered around a solid oak table.
At the head, standing tall and imposing, was the Knight Commander. He was a tall, burly man with a intense red mane that seemed to absorb the room's light, and his face, etched with the scars of battles, was tense with deep concern.
It was an emergency meeting, called at the most ungodly hour of the early morning. The echo of his boots against the cold stone floor had been the only sound to break the silence of the sleeping palace, until his voice, deep and full of authority, resonated through the chamber.
"Yesterday, five bodies were found in different areas of the capital," he began, and his words fell like slabs of granite upon those present. "And the day before yesterday, seven. So far this week, we're at nearly thirty people murdered."
He paused, letting the magnitude of the number sink into each captain's mind. The crackle of a tea cup was the only witness to the mute horror painted on their faces.
"Fear has begun to invade every corner of the capital," he continued, clenching his fists on the table. "People no longer dare to go out at night, shops close before sunset, and the rumor of panic spreads faster than the plague. The royal palace has issued a direct order: we must catch the culprit. Now."
With brusque movements, he unrolled a parchment on the table and flattened it with his hands. The drawing it revealed was crude, little more than a feverish scribble drawn by terrified witnesses.
"This is the only face we have," he said, pointing to the image of a man with strange, distorted, and barely recognizable features. "He calls himself Zadu. We have no information about his origins, his motives, or his allies. We only know he used to hunt on full moon nights... but something has changed. His pattern has shifted. He now attacks on random, unpredictable nights. He is a shadow that vanishes before dawn."
He raised his gaze, and his eyes, hard as steel, scanned the circle of his best men, searching for the same fierce determination that burned in his own chest.
"We cannot allow a single person to steal the peace from an entire city. We must capture him as soon as possible. For the capital, for its people, and for the oath we have sworn to uphold."
◇
This day was special; for the first time this semester, we were going to a dungeon.
In the game, these excursions were for obtaining materials and upgrading weapons—all the typical stuff. In real life, the purpose was similar: to test our skills against monsters and gain experience in real combat.
The guys and I, along with Lillie, formed a group out of obligation since no one else wanted us. Although a team of five or more was recommended, there were only four of us. Our attire was the typical adventurer's gear, but in a school uniform version. We were preparing with the rest of the regular class, as we would be entering before the advanced class.
Standing in front of us was none other than Ricky, the "capture target." With a condescending look and his hand outstretched, he addressed us in an arrogant, falsely friendly tone.
"Listen up, dear classmates, it is my pleasure to inform you of the rule that governs entering a dungeon," he announced with a mocking smile. "You must give the dungeon's owner—that is, me—ninety percent of what you obtain, and you'll keep the rest. But, since you are classmates, I'll give you a five percent discount. Just don't forget that the Merchant's Guild keeps its usual ten percent."
We were all horrified. Many of us hung our heads; some wanted to protest, but the words got stuck in their throats. In the game, Ricky was a jerk, but in reality, he was much worse.
To make matters worse, a select group of students was designated as escorts for the advanced class. And guess who was assigned to the "capture targets" and the heroine's group? That's right, me.
Once Ricky finished extorting all of us, we met up with our predetermined groups. When the supervising professor blew the whistle, each team took a different path.
The dungeon was like any other cave, but being close to the academy, it was modified for students. There was a defined path and the monsters were weak; it was a simple training exercise, nothing to worry about.
Since I was the most experienced at hunting animals, they put me at the front. The others from the regular class were in the rear, so the main group advanced behind me. And I could hear them. It was disgusting.
"Lydia, how's your gear? I bought you the most expensive and safest one there was," a sweet voice said.
"Thank you very much, Your Highness."
"Lydia, His Highness could buy you the best gear, but you need the best map to guide you. I studied this place before we came, so we'll go through the safest spots so nothing happens to you."
I couldn't understand how these guys could flirt so openly when they had fiancées. It was similar in the game, but there, they were charismatic. Maybe because it was a game, you ignored it, but in reality, it was repulsive.
Suddenly, I heard a effeminate voice coming from Keith.
"Hey, commoner, we're taking a break since it's teatime. Go ahead and check if there's any danger up ahead; according to Matt's map, there are often monsters there."
The advanced class students began pulling tables out of who knows where. Since I was the lowest rank, I had to obey. I reluctantly moved forward.
I reached an entrance that led to a huge space. There were several paths, and as I went in, I heard a voice behind me.
"Wait there."
I turned around. It was Zach, who had come up behind me.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I want to see your skills. I'll just watch."
I took the opportunity to ask him.
"One question, if I may... Oh, they've arrived."
A group of giant ants, the size of a motorcycle, was approaching. But I had fought them before, back when Jason threw me into a dungeon once.
"This will be easy," I said, dodging a mandible. "But, can I ask you something?"
"...Go on, speak."
He seemed amazed that I could fight the ants and talk at the same time. And it was true; as I dodged them and counted, the conversation flowed.
"Aren't you guys supposed to have fiancées? Especially His Highness, Prince Kyle. Why are you flirting with that girl?"
Zach seemed taken aback by the question, but after rubbing his nose proudly, he replied:
"I can't speak for the others, but in my case... it was when I was going through a moment of emotional weakness. She filled that void and that's why I fell for her. As for my fiancée, let's just say I've got it sorted out. I'll say it when the time is right."
After killing another monster, I was lost in thought.
Did this guy say what I think he said?
I decided to ask him directly.
"Hey, Zach, don't tell me... are you planning to break off your engagement?"
Suddenly, his smile vanished and he fell silent. In the game, the "capture targets" breaking off their engagements happened on every route, especially in the reverse harem one, but that was at the end of the year, not two months after the start.
It's true that the heroine needs to fall in love with the five of them to save the world, but... aren't they going too far? They're practically committing infidelity, and instead of paying for it, they're rewarded. Even their fiancées are punished for being "villainesses." Especially Ellie, whom I was supposed to have saved, and now she acts indifferently toward me.
It's not just that. This world is very indifferent to those with few resources. In my previous world, even third-world countries allowed people to live with some dignity; here, not even that.
I hate that these people treat me like a pawn, and I hate that these idiots, who don't deserve it, have to save the world in the future.
While I was seething with anger, Zach threw powder in my face. I couldn't see anything.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Luckily, I had already exterminated the ants. Through the dust cloud, I saw him lunge at me to attack. I barely managed to cover myself, but his sword cut my left arm. I fell to the ground and used my own sword to block the next blow.
"I'm sorry, but I won't pass up this opportunity to return the humiliation you gave me!" he shouted.
"Didn't you say you wanted to teach me a lesson in a place with people?"
"I wasn't lying! But I felt an impulse, a voice in my head that told me to seize the opportunity. And I did. Please, don't make it so easy."
He started hitting me furiously. I managed to dodge a punch and hit him back with all my strength. My muscle mass was superior, so I pushed him away from me. I wiped my face, grabbed his shirt, and looked at him with rage.
"Are you crazy? You could have killed me, you huge idiot! The academy will hear about this!"
My words were cut short by a fireball that came from the entrance. I barely managed to dodge it, but my already wounded left arm took part of the impact. Then I saw them. The "capture targets" were in front of me, with their weapons pointed at me.
Among them, Prince Kyle stepped forward.
"What do you think you're doing to our comrade?" he said with a glacial voice. "Violence between classmates in the dungeon is forbidden."
"Wait a minute! I wasn't—"
I tried to explain myself, but Matt suddenly fired a rifle-like device that grazed my cheek.
"What the hell was that?" I exclaimed, touching my face.
"That should be my question!" Matt yelled. "What the hell are you doing answering His Highness as if you were someone of his level? Or even worse, me. You are a simple commoner and we are nobles. He is the crown prince of this country. You should prostrate yourself and beg for him to listen, not try to talk as if you were equal to a dirty peasant like yourself."
I had forgotten. That's how commoners must address nobles. But the way they act infuriates me. I have so much anger inside that I feel like I'm going to explode.
"Oh? Look at him, baring his teeth like a stray dog," one of them mocked. "It shows that commoners don't miss the opportunity to show their fangs if we give them a chance."
It was just as Ricky said. I didn't realize I was so angry that I showed my teeth like a wild animal. This was never my behavior, not something I would do. Why am I acting like this?
Wait a minute. When I went to the forest in the principality to get a weapon against the Demon King, the red dragon there put a curse on me. It said I would turn into a dragon if I didn't satisfy an internal desire. Could the anger inside me be a desire to kill them all, and that triggered the curse?
I can't kill them. These idiots are important for the future. I immediately tried to quell my fury.
"I-I'm very sorry, but please listen to me. In reality, I wasn't attacking him; I was defending myself from him, who attacked me first for no reason."
"Don't lie, commoner!" Zach intervened, with a voice full of false indignation. "You attacked me because you spoke ill of Lydia, and I was just defending her."
"...Huh?"
I was speechless. I stared at him, incredulous. Apparently, he understood the situation and his desire to get revenge on me was so great that, upon mentioning the heroine's name, it made them completely irrational.
"You spoke ill of Lydia?" The hostility emanating from the four of them was palpable, almost physical.
The prince took a step forward.
"For speaking ill of my beloved Lydia, you deserve a punishment befitting that blasphemy. Matt, gather everyone!"
"At your command, Your Highness."
Matt ran to inform my classmates. After a while, everyone was gathered in the chamber. I was to the side, guarded by the prince's group, hoping they wouldn't do anything stupid.
Once gathered, the prince made an announcement.
"Dear classmates, it is the opposite of a pleasure to announce this to you. He, the student..."—Matt came close to whisper to him—"...the scholarship student Alex Ford Lyones, dared to commit three crimes today."
"The first of them was to attack my comrade Zach. For a commoner to attack a noble, it deserves the death penalty according to our country's laws."
"What?!" I protested, horrified.
This information didn't exist in the game!
"Silence! The second offense was daring to speak to me, the crown prince, as if I were some acquaintance of yours. Addressing royalty as someone of a low class is also a crime punishable by death. But the worst of all crimes, witnessed by my comrade Zach, was that he dared to speak ill of..."—An expression of intense hatred took over his face—"...of Lydia! This is the crime that deserves the maximum penalty, reserved for traitors."
"It's true that no one died, but he is marked as a criminal against royalty, nobility, and the peace of the students."
Matt came closer to whisper something else. Suddenly, the prince showed astonishment and stared at me.
"... "—He made a theatrical pause—"The logical thing here would be to make him clean the entire school for a month."
"That's an abuse of power!" I protested. "The worst part is you don't take my opinion into account and only believe what Zach says!"
The prince and the others looked at me as if I had said the earth was square. Suddenly, Matt butted in.
"Do you dare speak ill of your future king? Do you understand that, besides being a scholarship student, you are a foreigner who was given asylum in this country? If I were in your place, I would bow my head and keep quiet—"
Suddenly, he was interrupted by the prince.
"You didn't let me finish, Matt... Coff. But that would serve as punishment, wouldn't it?" he said, resuming his speech as if nothing had happened. "But it would be a very comfortable punishment and he wouldn't learn anything. Therefore, I have decided to change it."
He pointed to the ground and said with a grin from ear to ear:
"You must pay the consequences of your actions. Right now, strip naked and walk that way back to the academy."
I wanted to complain, but Zach put his sword to my neck.
"It's an order from His Highness. Disobeying it will be harmful to you," he whispered maliciously.
I got so angry at these guys, who started mocking me.
"It's a very merciful punishment from His Highness."
"You should be thankful he isn't cutting off a finger."
I muttered to myself: "I don't understand how a bastard like that could come out of the womb of such a beautiful woman."
Suddenly, Ellie burst into the chamber, flustered.
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?" She was sweaty because she had been running. "Your Highness, something like this is unacceptable! You cannot use your authority to give a punishment openly without a trial. It just makes you look like a tyrant, and that is bad for you!"
"Shut your mouth, witch!" The prince walked up to her and pushed her hard. "Do you dare to challenge my authority? You are only my fiancée; you are nothing more. Don't you dare question my authority!"
Seeing him yell at Ellie, an irrational anger flooded my whole body. I wanted to hit him, I wanted to beat him to a pulp.
(That's it, don't let yourself be humiliated. You are the vessel of the Crimson King. Being humiliated by others is a dishonor.)
(Get angry, release your rage. Show them that a king is not to be humiliated. Finish them!)
Suddenly, I heard a voice. I turned to see who it was, but there was no one there. Although I could recognize it. It was Lint, the dragon that cursed me. Since that day, he hadn't spoken to me again. I didn't have time to think about it.
"Enough!" I shouted, making everyone look at me. "Okay. I'll do it."
After saying that, I started to take off my clothes.
"I swear if you weren't important for the future, I would cut all your heads off."
As I undressed, I felt the gazes of everyone present. After taking off my shirt, only my pants were left. I paused briefly and, with a resigned movement, I pulled them down.
After opening my eyes, I saw that all the men were horrified. The girls, on the other hand, were blushing; some were looking at me, others weren't, or pretended not to see me. Without fully understanding their reactions, I decided to cover my private parts with my clothes.
◇
Once we returned to the academy, I headed straight to the backyard where the foundry furnace was located. I needed to destress, to release the fury boiling inside me like red-hot metal.
The rumors had spread immediately. Whispers and snickers followed me through the halls, and many began to mock me behind my back, with scornful looks and comments I tried to ignore. My friends asked me if I was okay, and with a clenched jaw, I told them I was. I didn't even change my clothes; the rage was a fire I needed to extinguish in another way.
I grabbed some pieces of wood cut for the furnace and squeezed them with all my might. The wood cracked and split under the pressure of my fingers, splintering into tiny pieces. I didn't know humans could do this, but every time I did it, I felt a deep, primal satisfaction.
I want to destroy those idiots. I want to turn them into mincemeat. I want to show them what happens to those who mock me and prove to them that life is a gift they don't deserve.
"Rex-san?"
A voice jerked me sharply out of my trance. I was so lost in those thoughts of blood and vengeance that I had almost forgotten where I was. I felt an intense thirst, a primal need that scared me.
I turned around, and there was Lillie. I looked at her, my knuckles still white from gripping the wood.
"What's wrong?" I asked, trying to make my voice sound normal.
"Are you okay?" she repeated, genuine concern in her large eyes. I reassured her with a gesture.
"I'm fine. I'm just, umm… letting off steam with this."
"I know it was a bad moment. I don't know what to say, but I saw you have a wound on your arm and, umm…"
I checked my arm, and it was true. It had stopped bleeding, but the deep cut was still there, a purple, inflamed line. She approached me shyly and asked in a whisper:
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Huh? Sure, what is it?"
"Only my mom knows, and she told me never to show it to anyone…"
She placed her delicate hands on my arm, and a warm white light enveloped them. It only lasted a few moments, but when she withdrew them, the wound had completely disappeared, as if it had never existed. It was incredible. It was almost as if she were the healing heroine from the game.
"Was that… healing magic?"
Lillie, looking a bit embarrassed, lowered her gaze.
"My mom said the Church takes you if you possess healing magic, or they buy you. I don't want to be separated from my mother, so I keep this a secret… but I saw you were hurt and didn't go to the infirmary. I didn't want it to get infected. Did I do wrong by helping you?"
Her gaze was so sweet and full of innocence that it instantly relaxed me. The anger consuming me diminished just by looking at her.
"No. I thank you very much. And don't worry, I'll take this secret to the grave."
"Thank you. Um… when it's time to leave, how about we go to eat, the two—four of us—so you feel better?"
When she said "the four of us," it seemed forced. Could it be that her finances are so tight she thinks the other two won't chip in?
"Sure, no problem. See you tonight."
"It's a promise."
Lillie's smile completely calmed me. Seeing her, I felt a warmth I had only ever felt with the twins and their mother. Before I realized it, my arms moved on their own and I hugged her. Immediately, I pulled away, embarrassed.
Her face turned completely red. I ran out of the backyard, feeling the heat of shame burning on my cheeks. What the hell came over me? Hugging someone like that, for no reason…
◇◇◇
After Rex left, Lillie stood still, her hand on her chest, feeling her heart pounding wildly. She touched it and murmured to herself, confused by the intensity of a feeling she didn't understand.
"Why do I feel like I really liked that hug?"
◇◇◇
Once night fell and the students went home, Heidi and her entourage headed to an exclusive, high-class bar. The place was permeated with the scent of expensive perfumes and fine liquors, with dim lights that created elegant shadows on the velvet upholstery.
Heidi, reclining in an armchair, was engrossed in making a meticulous list of the "lessons" she would impart to Lillie during the month. The tip of her expensive pen glided over the paper with cruel precision, each stroke a reminder of her dominance.
As she wrote, one of the girls from her entourage approached with silent steps and leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Heidi's eyes widened slightly, a spark of malicious interest igniting in them.
"Really?" she asked, her voice a thread of poisonous curiosity.
Suddenly, she became thoughtful, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"I can use this. It's the perfect way to annoy that girl. I was already getting bored with her, and I think changing targets is the best thing."
She snapped her fingers with a dry, authoritative sound. Instantly, another of her followers handed her paper and an even finer pen. Heidi wrote a few lines with quick elegance, folded the paper precisely, and gave it to the same girl who had whispered to her.
"Take this to him. I'm sure he'll love my offer," she ordered, with the confidence of someone who never expects a no.
One of the other girls, watching the messenger leave, dared to ask in a cautious voice:
"Excuse me, Heidi-sama, what did you send?"
The young woman looked at her subordinate with disinterest, but answered anyway, secretly enjoying her own cunning.
"The sale of a toy... to a noble bastard."
The reason for all this was simple: her fiancé was getting too close to a certain girl, and she hated that with all her soul. Since she couldn't vent her fury directly on the true cause of her irritation, she took it out on Lillie, the weakest link in the social food chain.
"Tomorrow," Heidi murmured, bringing the glass to her lips with a cold smile, "things will get really interesting."
◇◇◇
Lillie arrived at her small dorm room and closed the door with a sigh. She needed to change for dinner. As she undressed, her mind couldn't stop replaying what had happened in the academy's backyard.
Rex's hug had been strong, almost brusque, but undeniably warm. In the back of her heart, a small, confused desire longed to feel it again. Thinking about it, she shook her head hard, as if she could shake off those imprudent thoughts.
She dressed carefully: a simple one-piece white dress, long-sleeved and of a modest fabric, that reached just below her knees. Over it, she put on a long, comfortable gray cardigan-sweater, the kind of practical garment women wear to protect themselves from the night's cold.
With her outfit ready, she left her house with a light step, so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the two male figures watching her from the shadow of a nearby alley.
Meanwhile, the guys were already ready to go eat. Donny, unable to contain himself, kept bothering Rex about what had happened that afternoon.
◇◇◇
"For the last time, stop talking about my private parts! It's weird that you're so persistent," Rex protested, frowning with slightly flushed cheeks.
"I know, but I want to know if you eat something special," Donny insisted, ignoring his discomfort. "What's down there wasn't normal, you know? I don't think someone has it that way naturally."
Hearing him talk so familiarly about his anatomy infuriated Rex even more. He was about to retort when a familiar voice interrupted them.
It was Lillie, standing on a corner across the street, extending her hand in a shy greeting.
They hurried to cross to her, but suddenly, an unmarked black vehicle slammed to a stop right beside her. The back door swung wide open, and two burly men, with hoods hiding their faces, got out with quick, efficient movements. They took her by surprise, covering her mouth with one hand to muffle any scream before she could utter it. They forcibly shoved her inside the car.
Some knights were patrolling nearby, but just as they were about to act, one of the captors turned to them. A single look, a barely perceptible gesture, was enough to make the knights turn pale, turn around, and go back the way they came, pretending they hadn't seen a thing.
The car started with a screech of tires and sped away.
The boys stood stunned, paralyzed by disbelief for a crucial second.
"What the hell was that?!" Donny shouted. "Lillie!!"
Rex reacted first. Without a second thought, he ran at full speed after the receding vehicle. Patrick and Donny followed him immediately.
"Hey!" Donny gasped, running next to Patrick. "Why didn't those knights do anything?"
Patrick, his face serious and his breathing short, replied:
"I think they're from a criminal gang. I had heard rumors that abductions of women on the outskirts of the capital are more frequent lately. Those knights surely recognized one of them and got scared."
"Damn cowards!" Donny spat, with rage.
The three boys ran with all their might, desperate to save their friend. But in their pursuit, they didn't realize they were being watched from a nearby balcony.
Ethan, the prince, was there, next to a tall figure in the darkness of the night.
"It seems there's trouble," Ethan murmured, without taking his eyes off the boys running away. "I'm sorry to bother you, but could you lend them your assistance?"
The figure beside him let out a deep, resigned sigh.
"...Are you seriously asking me that? I must protect you above all else."
"I know," Ethan calmly nodded. "But believe me, they'll need you more than I do, especially that one boy," he added, looking at one of the boys running at full speed.
The mysterious figure sighed again, accepting the inevitable logic of the request.
"Alright. But stay safe."
Without losing another instant, the figure jumped from the balcony with a supernatural agility, landing silently on the empty street, and slid into the darkness, following the trail of the young men.