"Thank you Bazett. Your tea always goes nice with any book." My compliment is met with a few points going up in our relationship. I don't bother looking up from my book, digesting the words on the page quickly.
"T-Thank you, Lord Fujimura." Judging by the sound of movement from her direction, I can only assume she is shifting around nervously like she always does when complimented. Closing the book in my hand, I move onto the next one as according to my studies. Not only was I reading about this world, I was also learning how to manage a kingdom, which is a long and hard process.
Holding out my cup for a refill, the sound of the cup being filled reaches my ears but doesn't seem to last long. "My apologies Lord Fujimura, but it seems we're out of tea."
"That's fine, just go make some more." I replied uninterested.
"We're out of tea, Lord Fujimura. There is none to make." My eye's finally leave the book they were stuck to, opting to look at the maid in confusion.
"How? Why are we already out?"
"I'm not sure if you realized this, but you've drunk all of the tea supply. Both Lord Reinhard and Lady Felt have expressed great concern for your wellbeing, and I can't help but to agree with their worries."
"Thank you for your concern, but it doesn't change the fact that I need to learn all of this quickly. Felt and I are the last candidates, I don't know how much time I have until the selection starts, so until then I'm not done." Drinking the last of the tea, I continue reading, but now with a slight irritable attitude.
"But…You need to rest! You haven't slept in 3 days! This can't be good for you!" She pulls the book out of my hand, and that was all it took for me to snap.
"You don't think I know that?! If I had any other choice, I'd be lazing around doing nothing! But I don't have that freedom! If I were to give up on this…do you know where I'll end up? On the street, that's where. So, don't tell…" I stood up too quickly, making my already shutting down body use too much energy. The darkness consumes my vision, finally allowing me to get some much needed rest.
Chapter 3
Flashback - 4 Days Earlier
"Royal Selection? But why was I chosen?"
"I don't know…From what I understand, there isn't a reason. The Divine Dragon simply chooses whoever, foreign to Lugnica or not." The Sword Saint explains, his brows furrowed at the end. "But that doesn't explain why there is an extra candidate…"
"Then I quit! As if I'd become Queen of this shitty country!" The brash and vulgar announcement from the small girl surprises the two.
"You quit? You're giving up before the selection has started? Hmm…either way, you need to stay here until the selection starts, so that you can announce your resignation."
"What?! How long will that take?"
"Anywhere from a month to a year…"
Pissed at the thought of staying with her kidnapper, Felt jumps off her seat and throws her body at Reinhard. Her foot was aiming at his face, only for it to be caught. "Like hell I'll stay here any longer! And don't catch my kick, you bastard!"
"Miss Felt, please calm down and try to act more ladylike." Reinhard pleads with the golden haired girl, Ren keeps quiet as he goes over the information given.
"I'll act however the hell I like!" She answers back with another kick, just like the other one, it is blocked by the knight. "Tch!"
A few hours later
Finding himself staring at the Castle again, Ren can only laugh at the coincidence. 'Who could've guessed that I was a candidate. Maybe that childhood dream isn't so far off, but…Is this really what I want?'
Taking his eyes off the Castle, he starts pacing around the room. '...What I want? What do I want?' Coming to an abrupt stop, his eyes would meet with his only shadow. 'Revenge…That's what I want.' Despite his stress relief the night before, Ren still had this burning hatred inside of him he couldn't let go of.
"Didn't I say to stay in my shadow?" He whispers heatedly, glaring intensely at the Bowel Hunter. The Shadow would stare back impassively for a short moment, but would eventually listen to his command.
Pacing around again, Ren contemplates his plans. 'If I do become king, then that means all of my time is going to be used up managing this place…'
"Why are you walking around like that? Gotta go use the toilet?" An unexpected visitor snaps him out of his thoughts. His now resigning political rival, Felt. "Nevermind, I need your help with something." Closing the door behind her, she makes sure to lock in case of any unwanted interruptions.
Silently staring at her, Ren's mind is forced to reboot at the unexpected meeting. Felt doesn't bother with making sure that Ren is paying attention, but she does speak a little more hushed so that any eavesdropping would be nearly impossible. "Can you help me escape this place? I'm not sure about you, but as if I'd stay here with that bastard."
Feeling her expectant stare on him, he asks a simple question. "Why?"
"You know why! He kidnapped us! Or what? Did you forget or something?" Throwing the quiet thing out the window immediately after. "So are you helping or not?"
"What are you going to return to? The…loot house as you called it, is no longer a thing. And any other safe house of yours has probably been raided by other thieves. By the off chance that Reinhard doesn't go to the slums to search for you, what exactly is your plan?" He answers back with questions rather than answering the question.
"..." Giving her side glance, he sighs at the usually loud girl going silent.
"Felt, other than being a thief, do you have any working experience?" He doesn't bother waiting for an answer, the way Felt ate answered it for him, using her hands to eat instead of using silverware. "I'm not sure if you know this, but one day you will bite off more than you can chew. No matter how fast you are, this life will catch up to you."
"So what? I'll deal with it when I get there!"
"By yourself? Felt…" Thinking it over, Ren finally comes to a decision. "You owe me for yesterday, so stay here for a month, and if you don't change your mind by then…I'll help you out with your grand escape."
"What?! You can't possibly think I…" She's quick to argue against him, but is inevitably caught in Ren's pleading gaze. "...Fine, but if I don't change my mind by then, I'm gone and you're coming with me, got that?"
"Yeah…" He gives her a happy smile, which she can't help but return with a kick. "Gyah!"
"S-Stop smiling like that, you idiot!" She checks his condition for a second, but quickly storms off in embarrassment, only saying this as a goodbye. "And…Thanks for saving me…"
Slam! Picking himself off the ground, he makes sure that she's gone before giving an annoyed "Tch!"
'Who the hell kicks someone for smiling!? Damn brat…' Sighing at the idiotic logic, he approaches the desk buried under all of his studies. 'Study time…'
Present Time
"Ugh…" Waking up from a dreamless sleep, a feeling of nausea and dizziness hits me. "...What the hell happened?" My eyes were still adapting to the…setting sun. 'I slept through the whole day?!'
Attempting to stand up results in a second, more intense wave of nausea. By all means It should be impossible for me to stand, but I use whatever strength I have left in me to stand on wobbly legs.
It's a small struggle getting out of my room, but thankfully I manage. Walking, no, practically hobbling down the hall, In the pursuit of finding one of the residents, I come across two children.
Identical Twins, if their appearance is anything to go by. They stand in the middle of the hall, eyes closed, facing me in silence. None of us speak a word as I continue observing them, their only difference being how their pink hair is styled, and even that is barely different.
Opening my mouth to speak, I'm stopped as they finally say something. "Good evening, Lord Fujimura." They greet me in a quiet whisper. "We are Grassis and Flam, recently employed to assist both you and Lady Felt."
"Right…Do you two think you can get me something to drink and eat? I'll be in my room."
I don't bother waiting for their response, turning back to the direction my room is in, and walking back. Opening the door, I am mildly surprised to find an even more surprised Bazett. "Good evening, Bazett, can I help you with anything?"
"Eh? There you are! What are you doing out of bed?! You still need to rest!" She scolds me, grabbing and pulling me back into bed. I somehow am able to shake myself out of her grasp, despite my very weakened state.
"I'm fine, I just need some breakfast -er…Dinner and then I'll be ready to go back to studying." Giving her a reassuring smile, I turn to my now barren desk. "Speaking of…Where are my studies?"
"A-As per Lord Reinhard's orders, he shall now oversee your studies alongside Lady Felt's." She explains, not noticing my annoyed look.
"Hmm…Alright." Taking a few seconds to calm myself, I turn back to the maid with an apologetic smile. "Bazett? I'd like to apologize for my outburst, I let my emotions get the better of me, and for that I'm sorry."
Like always, Bazett gets too flustered from any form of praise or apology. "Uwa-wa…It-It's no issue, Lord F-Fujimura."
I find myself entranced by her beauty especially when flustered, but not for too long. Opting to stare out my window instead, so as to not be caught staring. My eyes always seem to land on the Royal Castle, finding it appealing.
'King of Lugnica? I find it hard to believe. A foreigner with absolute zero talent in managing a country doesn't seem like someone who can be king. But, I could use the other candidates as stepping stones…That only leaves one issue, I don't necessarily want to be King.' Humming in thought, I don't notice the disappearance of Bazett. Not that I cared too much about her whereabouts, my thoughts were more than enough company.
I find a platter of food on my desk, unsurprised, I eat at a slow pace, mulling over my next action. 'Why not leave?' The stray thought befuddles me, as if I had never considered it. 'But, I'd give up the good life…' After finishing my meal, I came to a decision as well.
"Out." On my command, Shadow Elsa is at my feet, Bowing. "Get me out of here, I need some air." I have some reservations as to her methods, but don't bother saying anything as she carries me like a princess. Jumping out the window, she jumps with enough force to leap over the fence. Landing on a neighboring building, she puts me down. "You couldn't have landed on the ground?" Jumping off the relatively small building, a shop perhaps? I don't bother checking as I take to the alleyways.
If it wasn't obvious, the difference between the Alleys and the Main street are night and day. Walking towards nowhere in particular, I take in the sights along the way.
The state of the back alleys were horrendous, trash littered all over the walls and ground. The putrid odor of said trash made me feel nauseous, more than I already currently am. I watch my steps, I make sure to avoid stepping on anything less than desirable.
After nearly 20 minutes of slow walking, I am freed from the horrible stench, only to catch a whiff of another odor. Well…Odor isn't really the word I would use, but the smell of smoke fills my nostrils. The quiet sound of crickets and nighttime silence is soon replaced by the crackling of fire and distant screams.
Running out of the alley, I find myself staring at a disturbing scene. A green haired man laughing maniacally as three headless bodies float in the air. "HAHAHAHAHA! YES! SLOTHFUL INDEED!" He yells out as the bodies drop, finishing it off by mutilating his own fingers with his teeth.
A hooded figure walks up to the maniacs side, whispering something into his ear. "Ah. Yes, The Gospel's Instructions! …There you are…Pride to be." His maniacal ramblings send a shiver down my spine, as we make eye contact.
I suddenly feel a hand grip my throat, as I'm raised up in the air. Coughing as I try to speak, Elsa suddenly appears from my shadow. Killing whoever got in her way as she ran towards the green haired maniac. "Oh? One of Lust's Children? And you're protecting him? He doesn't seem to have any of her love with him…So you are a traitor? How slothful."
Before Elsa can even get close to the maniac, her torso is impaled by thin air? Soon enough, she's in the same position as me, but instead of being left alive, her limbs are torn off one by one. They would regenerate, only to be torn off again.
Trying to struggle out of the grip of the invisible hand? I try to pry myself out, to no avail. Looking back at Elsa, her head was already crushed, she had vanished already.
Player has run out MP
Shadow "Elsa" has Died…
'What..?' I fall into unconsciousness before I can finish reading, but I read more than enough to understand what happened.
To Be Continued…
Hmm. This chapter feels weird, almost unnatural. I wrote all of this in the span of 1 month. I might have to put some stories on hiatus, because I can not handle having to consistently write three different stories.
Also, since this chapter feels weird, I will upload chapter 4 tomorrow so that it feels less weird. That also means it's been stuck in my drive for 1 and a half months, oof.
Not a lot of System Moments, but what can I say? I love me some good character interactions.
I don't really have much else to say. Uh…The Spirit is still here, just isn't doing much at the moment. Oh, and like I said here is the Canon Divergence.
One other thing, there has been this inconsistency I've seen in other fics, where Rem or Ram still dies to a curse even though Subaru/MC never made it to the Mansion. The only reason they get cursed is if Roswaal gives the order, and that's only if Subaru/MC makes it to said Mansion.
So the Maids are safe for now, too bad Ren PROBABLY won't like either of them too much if they meet. Or maybe he will, we'll get there when we get there.
Didn't show it but Ren is doing the dailies as well. He has 60 AP now, his status hasn't changed and neither has his skills. Refer to Ch 2 for his Status.
Also he still hasn't finished Tutorial Quest 1, "Where am I?!". So he's still stuck in the tutorial.
Also RIP Elsa you will be missed…Except she won't be. BTW I do like Elsa's character, unfortunately she is a villain, and villains are bad…she just happens to be bad in two different ways. Lol
Uh, Ren as a cultist? Not happening as much as I'd like to have it that way, I can't write the Archbishops all that well. Who knew writing maniacs could be so difficult.
That's All For Now, Buh-Bye!