Chapter 34 – Promises and Preparations
[KUTO – PALACE OF ZORDIS, NIGHT]
The moonlight bathed the palace in a silver glow, reflecting off the cold stones of the courtyard and the corridor windows. Kuto walked alone, his footsteps echoing over the polished marble, his mind still processing everything that had happened in the past few hours.
Fiancé. Future king. Yutuko blood.
Tools. All useful tools.
He turned the corridor toward his chambers but stopped when he heard voices coming from the dining hall. Warm light spilled from beneath the carved double wooden doors. Laughter. The sound of glasses clinking.
He hesitated. Then pushed the door open.
---
The room exploded in celebration.
— CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT! — they shouted in unison.
Gunja raised a goblet with exaggerated enthusiasm, already visibly affected by the wine. Selina smiled — rare for her, but genuine. Romeu, his face red and laughter loose, staggered toward Kuto and slapped his shoulder with unnecessary force.
— Finally that thick head realized what he was losing! — he mocked, his voice slurred. — I thought I'd die single watching you reject princesses!
Kuto merely snorted, looking away, but something at the corners of his mouth almost formed an involuntary smile. Sônia, Sensi, and Célia had already surrounded Raimi — who entered right behind him — with hugs and sweet words.
— Congratulations, Your Highness! — Célia said, holding her hands with maternal affection.
— Thank you... — Raimi replied shyly, blushing to her ears.
Kuto observed the scene in silence. The group was happy. Relaxed. Laughing as if the outside world did not exist.
NPCs celebrating NPCs.
But then Zenk appeared beside him, a mischievous smile on his lips.
— You were a gentleman, weren't you? — he commented, lightly patting Kuto's shoulder.
Kuto slowly turned his face, black eyes fixing on the mage coldly:
— What was the idea of teleporting me without warning?
Zenk laughed, scratching the back of his neck:
— Hey, it worked out, didn't it? That's what matters.
Before Kuto could respond with something sharp, Raimi pulled at his shirt sleeve, dragging him to the center of the room. Musicians began to play — harps and flutes filling the air with a soft melody. Flickering chandelier light danced on the walls. The scent of flowers scattered throughout the hall mixed with wine and food.
For a few hours — against all instinct, against all logic — Kuto allowed himself to exist in that moment.
Not because he believed. But because strategically, he needed to.
A king without the people's loyalty is a dead king. A king without an army is an easy target.
If I'm going to use this kingdom as a base... I need them to believe I care.
Raimi did not take her eyes off him, absorbing every gesture, every rare but calculated smile.
When the party began to slow — musicians playing softer, conversations turning into tired whispers — Zenk approached again.
— If you'll excuse us — he said, his voice returning to a serious tone — I will take my sister. We have family matters to discuss.
Raimi nodded, casting one last look at Kuto before following Zenk through the corridors.
The hall fell into an odd silence after they left.
Kuto slowly stood, adjusting his posture:
— I suppose it's time for me to sleep as well.
But before he could take two steps, Jack blocked the path. Not aggressively — just firmly, his eyes too serious to be casual.
— Hold on, Kuto.
Kuto stopped. Waited.
Jack took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully:
— Look... I understand what you said earlier. About wanting to go back. About the objective.
Heavy pause.
— I just want you to know that I also have someone waiting for me out there.
The others slowly approached, forming a semicircle around Kuto — not threatening, but heavy. Like silent witnesses.
Jack continued, his voice lowering:
— My sister is in college. I'm the one who pays her bills. I've worked since I was fifteen for that. — Pause. — And my wife... she's six months pregnant.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Kuto said nothing. He only looked at Jack with an empty expression.
Célia stepped forward, her voice trembling but firm:
— Me too. I have a seven-year-old daughter. — Her eyes shone with moisture. — I'm a single mother. Her father left when she was born. Everything I do... every mission, every risk... is for her.
Sensi lowered her gaze, gripping her own hands tightly:
— My grandmother is my only family now. My parents died when I was ten. She raised me alone. — Her voice cracked slightly. — She's seventy-two. And she's sick.
Gunja crossed his arms, jaw tense:
— I have someone special waiting. I promised I'd come back.
Sônia discreetly wiped away a tear, her voice thick:
— My parents and my three siblings... I miss them every day. My youngest brother is nine. He must be looking for me.
Haru remained silent for too long. Then he spoke, his voice lifeless, without emotion:
— I don't have anyone out there. My half-brother died years ago. — Pause. — But even so... I want to go back. Because here I don't have anyone either.
His gaze met Kuto's for half a second — silent accusation — before looking away.
Dimitri and Selina exchanged a knowing glance. Dimitri spoke first:
— Our parents died a long time ago. Car accident when we were twelve and fourteen. — He looked at Selina. — The day Nexus started pulling people in, I hugged my sister trying to protect her. We got taken together.
Selina finished, her voice firm but carrying weight:
— He's all I have. And I'm all he has.
Everyone turned to Romeu, who had remained silent until now — unusual for him.
— And you, Romeu? — Jack asked.
Romeu blushed deeply, looking away:
— I... entered this game because of a girl.
Silence.
— She said if I participated and won, she'd go out with me.
The silence that followed was awkward. Dimitri muttered:
— Only you would risk your life for a date.
Romeu shrugged, a forced smile appearing:
— My mom and stepdad are out there. — Pause. — I doubt they miss me.
The pain in his voice — hidden under self-deprecating humor — was unmistakable.
Jack took a deep breath, facing Kuto directly again:
— When you see us smiling, acting like nothing matters... it's not because we forgot everything we left behind.
Pause.
— It's to lighten the burden. To keep standing. Because if we stop and think too much... we break.
Kuto remained silent for too long.
The part of him that saw everything as a game — NPCs, tools, temporary obstacles — screamed to ignore it. To turn and leave without saying anything.
But another part — smaller, weaker, one he preferred not to acknowledge — processed every story. Every name. Every face waiting on the other side.
They came from the same place as me. The real world.
They're not NPCs. They're... players. Like me.
If I were left behind... my mother. My sister.
They would be waiting too.
Finally, Kuto spoke — his voice lower than intended, but still controlled:
— I understand.
Pause.
He did not apologize. He did not promise to save everyone. But he looked each of them in the eye and said firmly:
— The objective doesn't change. We need to get out of here. Reach level 100. Go back.
He took a deep breath:
— But broken tools are useless. If we're going to survive... we need to survive together.
It was not an emotional declaration. It was strategic acknowledgment. Pure logic applied to the situation.
If I'm going to be king of this kingdom... I need an army. And this group is the best I have.
Gunja approached, placing a hand on his shoulder:
— Relax. We understand what made you say that earlier.
Célia raised her glass — still half full of wine — with a tired but sincere smile:
— Then let's make a promise. If someone manages to return and another is left behind... whoever returns tells the world what happened here.
One by one, they raised glasses, cups, or simply their empty hands.
— Promised — they said together.
Kuto raised nothing. He only nodded once, brief and dry.
But it was enough.
---
Later, alone in the room assigned to him, Kuto stood before the window.
The full moon illuminated the capital of Zordis below — lights blinking like earthly stars, carriages moving silently through lit streets.
He lay on the bed, staring at the dark ceiling, and murmured to himself — so quietly he wasn't sure whether he spoke aloud or only thought it:
— I'll get them out of here. All of them.
Pause.
— My mother. My sister. And... them too.
It was not an emotional promise. It was a strategic decision.
Because a king without people is a target. And I will not be anyone's target.
He closed his eyes.
Sleep came slowly, heavy, carrying dreams he did not remember upon waking.
---
[KUTO – PALACE OF ZORDIS, MORNING – 156 DAYS REMAINING]
Dawn brought a clear golden sky.
In the royal hall, everyone was already gathered when Kuto arrived — the full group, Raimi beside Zenk, and the regents seated on temporary thrones.
Zenk was the first to speak, his voice echoing clearly through the hall:
— Your Majesty, we may proceed with the ceremony.
The regent raised his eyebrows, confused:
— So you decided to marry her, Zenk?
— No, Your Majesty. — Zenk smiled lightly. — But I found someone.
Dramatic pause.
— A direct descendant of the Yutuko.
The silence that fell over the hall was absolute. Heavy as lead.
The regent rose abruptly from the throne, eyes wide:
— What?! That is impossible! Where is this descendant?
Zenk slowly turned, pointing.
— He is here.
All eyes turned to Kuto.
He stepped forward, posture firm, cold eyes showing none of the discomfort he felt under so many stares.
The regent descended the steps quickly, studying Kuto with a mixture of disbelief and hope:
— How can we be sure?
Zenk gestured with his hand. Two servants approached carrying velvet boxes. When opened, two ancient necklaces were revealed — dark metal engraved with runes Kuto did not recognize.
— These are the Recognition Necklaces — Zenk explained. — Forged a thousand years ago by the first Yutuko. They react only to blood of the lineage.
The necklaces were placed on cushions before Kuto.
For three seconds, nothing happened.
Then the runes began to glow.
Not faintly. Intensely. Golden light burst from the engravings, filling the entire hall with blinding brilliance that made everyone instinctively step back, shielding their eyes.
The entire hall knelt.
Guards. Servants. Nobles. Even the regent and the regent queen bowed.
— Welcome, Your Highness — they said in unison, voices echoing against the marble walls.
Kuto looked around — everyone on their knees, heads lowered, waiting.
Something inside him revolted against it. He did not like forced submission. He preferred earned fear, respect gained through strength.
— Rise — he said, voice firm and clear. — There is no need for that.
Slowly, everyone stood. Looks of respect, admiration, some of relief.
The regent approached, his smile returning:
— Then... when will the wedding be?
Zenk answered before anyone else could speak:
— Today.
— TODAY?! — nearly everyone exclaimed together.
Raimi crossed her arms, indignant:
— Brother! We need to prepare clothes, inform the people, organize the ceremony!
— It is already done — Zenk replied with irritating calm. — The city was informed during the night. The priest is waiting. The clothes were ordered days ago.
Raimi's eyes widened:
— Days ago?! Since when were you planning this?
Zenk smiled slightly:
— Since I discovered who he was.
Kuto frowned:
— Why the rush?
Zenk's expression turned serious:
— Because messengers from Killvis have been sighted two days away. If we do not marry you now, they will arrive before the seven days and demand Raimi's hand by law.
Heavy pause.
— But if you are already married when they arrive... they will be able to do nothing. The law will have been fulfilled.
The silence that followed was slow understanding spreading across the hall.
Political strategy. Kuto recognized immediately. Fait accompli.
Zenk is not just a mage. He is a chess player.
Raimi sighed, resigned but understanding the necessity:
— Very well. Today, then.
---
Soon after, trumpets echoed through the capital.
Ornamented carriages — golden, pulled by white horses with silver harnesses — crossed the main streets. The people crowded the sidewalks, shouting, waving, throwing flower petals that covered the ground like colorful snow.
Raimi wore a delicate white dress with silver embroidery that shimmered under the sun. The veil floated softly behind her. Her blue eyes caught the light, radiant.
Kuto wore a black ceremonial uniform with golden details on the shoulders and chest — the Yutuko symbol engraved in relief. The ceremonial sword hung at his belt, gleaming.
During the procession, Kuto saw familiar faces among the crowd.
Mr. Beltron — the merchant who had helped them when they first arrived. His daughter and son-in-law waving enthusiastically. The innkeeper girl where everything had begun, smiling with tears in her eyes.
NPCs who remember. Interesting.
---
In the cathedral, the priest awaited them beneath gigantic stained-glass windows that cast rainbows over the white marble altar.
The ceremony was long. Words in an ancient language Kuto did not fully understand. Blessings. Vows.
When the moment came, Raimi held his hand — small, warm, trembling slightly — and said in a firm but emotional voice:
— I promise to walk by your side, even if shadows try to separate us.
Kuto looked at her. At the blue eyes shining with contained tears. At the nervous but genuine smile.
NPC. Just code and pixels. Not real.
But her hand was warm. Her grip was firm. And something inside him — small, irritating — recognized that she believed every word.
He answered in a controlled voice, with no apparent emotion, but clear:
— I promise to protect you. Even if the world turns against me.
Because a king needs a queen. And well-maintained tools last longer.
The kiss that sealed the marriage was brief, chaste, but accompanied by an explosion of applause and cheers that echoed through the cathedral walls.
In the back, Romeu sniffled dramatically:
— Selina... we'll be next!
— In your dreams — Selina replied without looking at him.
---
The banquet was worthy of kings.
Long tables covered in food. Live music. Dancing. Laughter. Wine flowing freely.
Kuto allowed himself to relax — not genuinely, but enough to keep appearances. Raimi did not let go of his arm, smiling at everyone, answering greetings, shining as she should shine.
Later, when the moon was already high and the party began to thin, they spoke briefly under the moonlight in the gardens.
— It was... a good day — Raimi said, looking at the stars.
— It was — Kuto agreed, without elaborating.
She looked at him, waiting for more. When nothing came, she smiled lightly, sad but understanding:
— I will sleep in my room tonight. We need... time.
Kuto nodded, relieved but not showing it.
— Good night, Raimi.
— Good night... my king.
She walked away, white veil floating behind her like a gentle ghost.
Kuto remained alone in the gardens, looking at the moon, thinking about nothing and everything at once.
King of Zordis. Yutuko blood. Married.
Tools acquired. Position established.
Now... I use all of this to get out of here.
He returned to his room and slept heavily for the first time in days.