The Princess

“Man, that was way too close. What the hell was that thing, anyway?” Ignis let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair. His usual confident smirk was nowhere to be found; instead, he looked relieved, almost rattled.

Melissa groaned, throwing her arms up. “I’m done. I swear, I’m not raiding any more dungeons after this. Forget it.”

That earned a round of laughter from the group. Even Kazuma, still clutching his stomach, cracked a grin.

Marie shook her head, adjusting her glasses as she pulled out the dungeon map, now dim and useless. “Well, we couldn’t clear this dungeon, but at least now we know what kind of nightmares are hiding in there. That thing wasn’t normal.”

Magnus tilted his head. “Hey, Ren—how did you even handle the other shadows you ran into before? If one of them turned out to be that strong, how are you still standing?”

Ren stood quietly near the back, his arms crossed, gaze distant. Before he could answer, Marie jumped in, her tone thoughtful. “Those other shadows weren’t as strong, were they? This one was different. It copied you perfectly. Stronger, faster—even more dangerous than the original.” She turned her eyes to Ren, sharp with curiosity. “Makes me wonder… exactly how strong are you, Ren?”

The question hung in the air. Kazuma, Alex, Melissa, and Rachel all glanced at Ren. They already knew the answer, even if Ren never bragged about it—he was the strongest person they’d ever met, and now they’d all seen why.

Rachel broke the silence, arms folding as she frowned. “Whatever that was, that dungeon’s hiding more secrets than we can guess. That wasn’t some ordinary mimic or shadow.”

Kazuma straightened, brushing the dust off his cloak. “What’s your plan now? Don’t you dungeon raiders make your living off this stuff? Or is this the part where you retire early?”

Sakura gave a short laugh, though her voice was still a little tight. “Yeah, we’ll keep raiding. It’s what we do. But I’m praying we never see your shadow again, Ren. Once was enough.”

Marie crossed her arms, her tone sharp but steady. “Then we make sure no one else does, either. Whoever enters this dungeon will have to face what we did… your shadow. We’ll spread the word—it’s not safe.”

That broke the tension. The group chuckled, the adrenaline slowly fading, replaced with the relief of survival. It had been close—too close—but it was a story they’d never forget.

Marie looked at the others, her expression softening. “So this is it now, huh? Guess we part ways here.”

Alex nodded. “Seems that way. Still… it was good working with you all. Even if it was for a short while.”

Kazuma adjusted his grip on his sword, his voice carrying a spark of excitement again. “We’re heading to the capital next—to enter the Tournament of Power. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a real fight outside these walls. It was great knowing you guys.”

Magnus chuckled, throwing a glance at Ren. “If Ren enters that thing, I’m putting all my money on him. No contest.”

Rachel smirked. “Why don’t you guys enter too? Could be fun.”

Sakura shrugged. “Maybe. Who knows? We’ll see what happens.”

And that was that. They exchanged farewells, brief but sincere, wishing each other luck on the roads ahead. The dungeon raiding group turned back toward their village, carrying with them a story their guildmates would talk about for months.

Meanwhile, Ren, Kazuma, Rachel, and the rest of their team set their sights on the northern continent’s capital, the Tournament of Power looming like a challenge on the horizon. Whatever came next, none of them were planning to slow down.

They kept moving forward, traveling through lands they had only heard about in stories. Some nights they stayed in small towns, eating whatever the local inns served—hot stews, roasted meat, bread still warm from the oven. Other nights they just shared drinks under the stars, laughing about close calls and stupid mistakes. The road was long, but it was full of moments like that, and each one brought them closer to their goal.

Days later, they finally reached the northern capital. The first thing they saw was the gate—a structure so huge it looked like it could let giants walk through without ducking. And beyond it, dominating the skyline, was the royal castle. It wasn’t just big; it was overwhelming, rising higher than anything they’d ever seen, with gleaming towers that seemed to pierce the clouds.

“Wow…” Ren stopped for a moment, eyes wide. “How would it even feel to live in that castle?” His voice carried a rare note of amazement.

The city itself was alive. Tall walls surrounded it, the streets buzzing with activity. Vendors shouted from their stalls, exotic goods hung in every corner, and the air smelled of spices and roasted food. Travelers from every part of the world had gathered here—the upcoming Tournament of Power had turned the capital into a sea of voices and faces. Compared to every other place they had been, this city felt larger than life.

Kazuma grinned, taking in the crowds. “So many people… Ren, I swear, if anyone from your bloodline’s still around, this is the place we’ll find them.”

Rachel glanced around, already scanning the streets. “First things first. Let’s find an inn, drop our stuff, and then we can explore.”

They walked down the bustling avenues, distracted by everything—bright shop signs, strange foods, performers on street corners. More than once, they almost forgot they were supposed to be looking for a place to stay.

Then, the noise around them shifted. A group of royal guards was making its way through the street, clearing a path. People stepped aside immediately, some bowing their heads, others just staring. In the middle of the group walked a girl—no, not just any girl. She was strikingly beautiful, elegant in every step. Her long blonde hair shone under the sun, and though she carried herself with grace, her expression was tinged with something almost sad.

When a man accidentally stepped too close, one guard stopped him with a single arm, firm but not cruel, letting the girl pass unhindered. The crowd kept its distance.

As they moved closer, Ren and the others found themselves right in the group’s path. The princess’s gaze lifted, and for some reason, it locked onto Ren. She slowed, her blue eyes fixed on him like she was seeing something no one else could. Ren, caught off guard, blinked and quickly looked away, suddenly feeling awkward under the weight of that stare.

“Princess Ariel,” one of the guards said firmly, “we must keep moving. Sir will not be pleased if we’re late.”

But she didn’t move. Even as the guards urged her forward, she remained where she was, still looking at Ren. The others noticed too, exchanging curious glances as the two groups passed each other.

Then, she spoke, her voice soft but clear, cutting through the noise around them. “Excuse me… will you be my friend?”

Ren froze mid-step. “Uh… are you talking to me?”

“Yes,” she said, with a small smile. “I’m talking to you.”

The street seemed to pause for a moment, everyone watching.

To be continued...