Chapter 82: The King's Quest and a Harem's Pledge

The tense morning at our cottage was interrupted by a sharp knock. Two Royal Knights stood at the door, summoning the Crimson Blades to the Royal Castle. An hour later, we stood in the grand throne room before King Theron and his sneering advisor, Baron Von Hess. My divine senses immediately picked up the faint trace of Isao’s corrupting energy clinging to the Baron. This was his new plan: political manipulation.

“The Crimson Blades,” the King boomed. “We have a task of the utmost importance. A great beast, the Crimson King, has laid claim to the Dragon’s Tooth mountains.”

My internal database supplied the horrifying information: The Crimson King was an S-rank threat—a suicide mission for our C-rank party. The King offered a fortune and a title of nobility for its head. Natsuki’s eyes lit up at the heroic challenge, but Lirael’s face went pale. “Your Majesty,” she said, her voice steady. “Such a task is… beyond our station.”

This was Isao's trap. The Baron stepped forward with a cruel smirk. “Indeed, a perilous quest,” he said, his voice oily. “We would understand if you refused. I am sure the ‘Valiant Vipers’ would be more than willing to accept the glory in your stead.”

The calculated insult, naming our arrogant A-rank rivals, was designed to prey on Natsuki’s pride. His jaw tightened as he looked at his companions. They did not fail him. Lirael placed a hand on her bow, Kaelen cracked her knuckles with a fierce grin, and Elara simply stated their odds were "low, but not zero." Their loyalty was absolute. They would follow him into the dragon’s maw. And I stood outside that wall of trust, a complete fraud.

The Baron’s slimy gaze fell on me. “And what of this… new addition?” he sneered. “Surely you don’t intend to bring a child who fights with glitter on a dragon hunt?”

This was Isao’s true goal: to separate me from Natsuki, leaving him vulnerable. Before I could respond, Natsuki stepped in front of me.

“Aki is a member of the Crimson Blades,” he stated, his voice ringing with conviction. “Her magic is unconventional, but she has already saved my life. She stays with us.” He turned to me, his eyes soft but firm. “Right, Aki?”

The weight of his trust was suffocating. I saw the fury on the other girls’ faces. They hated that he was choosing to trust me, the unknown variable, on this mission. A bitter wave of jealousy washed over me; they had earned the right to stand by him, while I had only lied.

But I couldn’t back down. If I left, Isao would win, and Natsuki would die. Swallowing my fear and pride, I met Natsuki's gaze. “I’m with you,” I said, my voice steady. “To the end.”

Natsuki’s face broke into a relieved, brilliant smile. “Then it’s settled,” he said, turning back to the King. “The Crimson Blades accept your quest.”

As we walked out of the throne room, the weight of the mission settled on my shoulders. I was now part of a dragon-slaying party, a fraud surrounded by a resentful harem, on a suicide mission engineered by a jealous god.

My ridiculously reckless, universe-breaking plan had just been upgraded from a comedy to a tragedy. And I had a sinking feeling I was going to be the only one who truly understood the cost of the final act.