The first rays of sunlight filtered through the cracked window when Inosuke stirred from his sleep. As his eyes fluttered open, he immediately noticed something was… off.
Lying next to him was Kaena...completely unclothed, her back turned, and her breathing soft.
Inosuke's eyes widened.
"What the—?!"
He bolted upright, heat rising to his face as he realized exactly what he was looking at.
"I told Kael to take her to a different room!" he whispered, panicked. "Why the hell is she here?!"
Kaena shifted in her sleep, murmuring something unintelligible, her body curling slightly under the blanket.
Inosuke quickly turned his head, cheeks flushed red. "This is not how I planned to wake up…"
He slipped out of bed, pulling on a pair of beast-hide pajamas. As he stepped into the hallway, still rubbing the fatigue from his eyes, he ran into none other than the former king, Rathkar.
"Good morning, young king," Rathkar greeted with a small bow. "Did you sleep well?"
"I… don't know," Inosuke muttered, rubbing his temples. "Where can I find a bath?"
"Kael!" Rathkar called down the hallway. The general arrived within seconds, dropping to one knee.
"What is your command, my lord?"
"Former lord," Rathkar corrected with a smirk.
"I want a bath," Inosuke said bluntly.
"At once, Your Majesty. Please follow me."
They arrived at a door that looked like it hadn't been opened in centuries. Rust streaked the hinges, and the wood creaked ominously.
"This is the place," Kael said, stepping aside.
Inosuke sighed, pushing the door open and was stunned.
Inside, the bath chamber was spotless. The marble tiles gleamed. The large bath was already filled with steaming water. Golden pipes twisted along the walls, and a faint, calming fragrance filled the air.
"This… definitely wasn't what I expected."
He quickly stripped down and washed off the dust from the previous day. Then, cautiously, he dipped a foot into the bath.
"Hot!" he yelped, quickly retracting it. But then he narrowed his eyes at the steam. "Wait… this might be useful…"
Gritting his teeth, he jumped in and immediately regretted it. It felt like bathing in a volcano.
☆ [Heat Resistance Increased: +15] ☆
The familiar system voice echoed in his mind. Inosuke smiled through the pain. "Worth it."
Once finished, he stepped out of the bath, throwing on his robe. Kael stood by the door, holding fresh clothing made from dark beast hide.
"Your new attire, my king."
Later that day, Inosuke stood before a gathered crowd in the heart of the capital.
"People of Tharnak!" his voice boomed, carried by crystal amplifiers. "I stand before you not just as your king but as your future."
He paced slowly, eyes scanning the worn faces of the civilians.
"This land… no this world is falling apart. Death and bloodshed are the air we breathe. All you've known are broken promises from broken kings. But I've seen enough."
"I won't stand by while this planet dies."
A murmur went through the crowd, but no one spoke. No cheers. No applause.
Inosuke paused. "If any of you believe I'm not worthy of the throne, then come forward and challenge me. If not, then stand with me. We'll end the war. We'll unite the Four Nations."
Still… silence.
He looked around, frustrated. "Why are they just staring?"
"They've heard those words before," Kael said softly behind him. "Words mean little to people drowning in suffering."
Inosuke let out a sigh. He turned away from the podium and began walking back toward the palace.
"If they think I'm like the kings before me… then so be it."
He stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"Kael."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Are all beasts on this planet humanoid?"
"No, my lord. There are still wild, monstrous types in the untamed forests."
"Good. Take your strongest soldiers. Head to the Forest of the Strong Beasts. Slay them all."
Kael's eyes widened. "That would be a bloodbath… we'd lose good warriors—"
"Then let them die." Inosuke's voice was cold. "If they can't overcome those beasts, they have no place in the new world I'm building."
He walked away, leaving Kael stunned.
Back in his chambers, Kaena sat by the window in a simple dress, chewing on dried beast meat. She glanced over as Inosuke rummaged through the wardrobe for travel gear.
"You're heading out?" she asked, mouth full.
"You are," he replied, pulling out a dark cloak.
"Me?" she blinked. "Why, Master?"
"There's someone back home who'll need your protection. I have business to handle here."
He stepped closer, raising his hand. "Come on. Let's go."
She hesitated, meat still in one hand, but placed her other hand in his. "I'm bringing the meat."
"You really don't need to—"
"I want to."
He chuckled. "Fine."
A vortex of purple and white light began to swirl around them as the teleportation sequence activated. Kaena's half-eaten meat slipped from her hand and tumbled to the floor.
At that moment, Kael opened the door. The room was empty, save for the last bite of meat rolling across the stone floor.