Captain Yuro

With the energy running low, everyone grew tired after the long battle. The king’s body endured an entire fight and a training session beforehand to put the icing on the cake. He even skipped dinner! He needed his rest, just like everyone else.

Without saying a word, we agreed to postpone the training session until the next day.

I wanted Hinabe to heal everyone’s injuries. Sadly, she hit her cue and fell asleep when we needed her the most.

Everyone who could stand lifted the injured back on their feet. I glanced over at Anojin, who lay flat on the ground. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I complained as I slouched my shoulders.

Since Amada could not carry him, I was forced to take on that task. I carried the paralyzed crusader over my shoulder, despite feeling drained. Amada carried the sleepy Hinabe on her back.

Garlan and Kaito escorted the king back outside, taking him into the mansion. Everyone else followed shortly behind.

The moon dawned over us after we left the training ground. The heavy metal Anojin wore weighed my shoulders down. I did not have the energy to deal with him. I had never craved relaxation this much in my entire life!

Eventually, the crowd entered the mansion through the back door. We cluttered the hallways, trying to find our beds to rest.

Suddenly, one of the servants working in the mansion, named Petri, approached King Endo and me. He sprinted towards us, excessively sweating.

“Mr. Satori… My king…. There’s… an emergency!” the servant panted while holding his knees as support. “One of Satavio’s Captains is at the front door and wants to summon you two.”

One of the demon king’s captains was here?! At the front door?! How did he get here?! What did he want?!

…

Minutes before we returned to the mansion…

The servant, Petri, guarded the door of the royal mansion outside. He sensed his shift almost ending. He lifted his head and yawned in preparation to rest once he finished work.

He reopened his eyes after yawning and noticed a mysterious figure descending from the sky. Their large black wings gave their silhouette a sinister look.

Petri rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating. Once his eyes adjusted, the figure appeared in front of the door. He had a similar build to the king, tall and lean. His blazing red spiky hair matched his red and black attire.

The servant sensed a sinister, dark aura emanating from the man’s body. Even the strange man’s fangs, which were exposed, terrified him.

The mysterious man pointed to the door, hitting a dynamic pose. “My name is Captain Yuro, the third captain of the demon king’s army. Bring me King Endo and Mr. Satori!” he announced with an arrogant tone.

“Yes, sir. I will let him know. Please wait here.” Petri’s bones shivered. He stiffened up and immediately entered the mansion.

Surprisingly, Yuro waited patiently outside, awaiting Petri's return with an answer. For someone with an evil appearance, he had some manners.

…

Back to the present…

Judging from the visitor’s title, they must have wanted to battle the king and me, well… Mr. Satori specifically, since we are worthy opponents.

I carefully gazed at the king to see his reaction. Knowing Endo’s personality, I figured he would defend his place and title as king.

However, nothing would have prepared me to see the king smack his lips and shut his eyes.

“I don’t have time to deal with him! Tell him to scram!” The king shouted, uninterested in the threat at the front door.

Garlan advised Petri to send Yuro away.

My eyebrows arched up, showing my confusion. There’s no way one of Satavio’s captains would be obliged and leave after coming all the way here. The king's face changed once he heard that Yuro was there, revealing a smug look.

I subtly touched Prince Kaito’s arms, trying to grab his attention in secret. “Why is he pushing a captain of the demon king’s army away like that?”

Kaito exhaled a light sigh before explaining. “Captain Yuro has been consistently visiting us for the past two months. We don’t know why he comes, but he always wants to battle older brother.”

“Endo doesn’t take Yuro seriously and always denies his duel. Despite being rejected, he continues to show up. It’s basically a running gag.”

The king persisted in denying Yuro’s challenge, “Tell that demon to get lost!”

I respect that captain’s determination to challenge the king, but he needs to learn how to take the hint. I briefly remembered Petri telling me that the captain wanted to fight me for some reason. Well, if the king was rejecting him, then I should follow along.

“Yeah, tell him to get lost!” I shouted at Petri.

Petri nodded his head and left us be. The servant opened the front door. He quickly closed the door behind him as he approached the captain.

Yuro sat on the steps facing away from the door, fidgeting with his wings as he waited for Petri. As he heard the sound of the door opening, Yuro snapped his body behind him, like a child waiting for his parents. “Soooo?”

It was Patri’s first shift working in the royal mansion, so he had never encountered Yuro before. The captain’s aura did startle him. However, after seeing the king’s reaction and Yuro’s childish behavior, he calmed down.

“I’m afraid King Endo and Mr. Satori are refusing to challenge you,” the servant informed Yuro. “They said, specifically, to get lost.”

“Aw, man.” Yuro frowned upon the disappointing news. “Okay…”

The air in front of the mansion turned gloomy. Petri clumsily watched as Yuro flew away with his head lowered.

…

Back inside the mansion, we followed the king to a room on the first floor. The red double doors stood out, showing the room’s importance. This was the king’s bedroom.

Kaito advised the princess to show us our rooms while he stayed with his older brother. She happily listened to the prince and encouraged us to follow her.

We ascended the stairs and strolled down the hallway. We walked past the dining room, strolling to the other side of the building.

The hallway looked too symmetrical. It was impossible to tell the doors apart.

Luckily, the princess was familiar with the building. She presented us with two rooms, side by side. The left one was for the females, while the right one was for me and the crusader.

“Thank you, Princess Kiriko, for helping us.”

“Hmpf. Don’t get it twisted.” Kiriko clarified. “I was helping Amada, Hinabe, and the guy on your shoulder. You attacked older brother! He’s hurt because of you.”

Her voice softened as she thought of the prince. “However, Kaito seems to like you. If he likes you, then I will try to like you.”

“Alright, I understand.” I awkwardly smiled at her. Why does everyone have a problem with me? Is everyone in this world just so dense?

The princess left us alone as she also headed to bed.

Amada and I exchanged good nights with each other and entered our rooms. The room was spacious, almost as big as my one-bedroom apartment. There was a king-size bed in the distance, with enough room to play a full-court basketball game.

With all my might, I roughly threw the crusader into the bed. He landed with his feet lying on his pillows, but I couldn’t care to rotate him. The bed had enough space for about five people, so sleeping in the same bed would not feel weird.

Without hesitation, I rested my weapon near the drawer, jumped into the bed, and tucked into the thick blanket.

Today was a brutal day. From completing quests, meeting the prince in the streets, fighting the king, and then retrieving the Tri-Carver.

As I closed my eyes, I couldn’t hide my excitement. I had seen the main characters from the manga doing a training arc. I always thought how cool that was. And when they returned in a time skip, they showed up twice as strong. Now I’m about to enter my own training arc!

I lay awake, unable to rest, and prepared myself for the upcoming training that awaited!

…