Chapter 9: A New Quest

“My my, If it isn’t Rin and Yume together.” A voice came from behind me taking me by surprise.

I turned around and to everyone’s surprise it was the Queen who had approached us.

“Your majesty, what brings you here to the academy?” I asked as I got down on one knee to bow to her.

I wasn’t the only one, everyone that was in the same building as us, except Yume, bowed down to her. Even Amster who is usually shameless in his pride quickly found his place and joined us.

“Oh stop that Mr. Hori, there is no need for you to bow down to the mother of a friend.” The Queen tapped her bottom lip with a finger as she spoke. Her gaze sending a shiver down my spine.

“Even so I would never go as far as to disgrace by acting casual. Your kindness coupled with your prestige should be met with reverence.” I spewed as I finally looked up and met her gaze.

“Oh Rin, rise please. With such words you could sway a poor woman’s heart if she wasn’t careful. After all you already have my daughter to grace your life.” She put a hand to her cheek. I could tell she was picturing something I definitely didn’t want to know about.

“Mom! You make it sound like we’re going to be getting married..” Yume protested as a hint of blush betrayed her stoic expression.

“Oh, is that not why you have had such an interest in the boy? I apologize Mr. Hori for reading the situation so poorly. And even more so if you have felt like you have been led on.” The Queen’s eyes scared me as they held a look of determination that was in contrast to her usual playful expression.

“There is no worry at all. Princess Yume has been such an outstanding friend and I couldn’t be more honored to be in her presence.” I bowed my head as I spoke in a show of honor.

“That’s just wonderful to hear.” The Queen responded as I raised my head. “Oh, I almost forgot. I came down here to invite you to come join us for dinner tonight.” I could feel the glares sent in my direction because of the invitation. Invitations for a Royal Family Dinner are seen as blessings graced upon the individual and their family. But to be personally invited by a member of the family has never been seen before let alone heard of.

“I am eternally grateful that you would grace me with a once in a life time invitation however-” I started before being cut off by the Queen.

“Once in a life time? I’ve been meaning to invite you sooner but it’s such a hassle to get away from my guards to come and see you.”

She’s been trying to do this sooner!? I know that Yume and I have gotten close but isn’t this a little much to just jump the gun and have a family dinner? This is why she scares me so much, I can never get a decent read on her or her intentions.

“I am honored to be considered in such a manner. However, won’t this dinner be held in distaste from my presence? This honor is usually reserved for guests from neighboring nations or to build relationships with favored suitors.” I don’t want to go! I’d rather admit Shiro is a genius than go to this dinner.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous. You are an esteemed guest of the kingdom and the royal family would be honored to have you join us. Or are you in the mood to hear a woman beg for you to come?” The Queen asked causing something in the atmosphere to change.

I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m so fucking dead. What kind of response was that? Is she actively trying to get someone to kill me in my sleep over this. Flirting with a married woman that is also the Queen is probably a crime forgiven with my head on a pike! To think I’ll die before ever seeing Ashley become a digital monster champion.

“I would never bring myself to dishonor you in such a way.” I said slamming my knee into the ground for this bow. “I have no room to refuse this amazing invitation.” I said pushing the thoughts of anime out of my head.

Hey system, how come you aren’t telling me that I’m in danger? Because I feel like I’m sat in the middle of a lions den here.

“Perfect! We will have Ms. Kimi help you get ready at seven and dinner will begin at seven thirty. I can’t wait to see you then.” The Queen informed me before making her leave.

She was gone like the wind. I couldn’t even begin to mutter a word of gratitude or apology for coming out all this way. It seemed like she was in a hurry and even excited to have me for dinner. Honestly, I shouldn’t think about it anymore for my health.

“You best not dishonor the kingdom during that dinner.” Amster growled, bumping into my shoulder as he left.

“I’m so sorry Rin. I didn’t think that she was going to come storming down here to the academy to come and invite you to dinner.” Yume apologized, obviously embarrassed by the whole ordeal.

“Oh so you knew about her wanting to do this?”

“Well I talk a lot with my mom and.. I talk about you a bit.” Yume explained as guilt tugged at her expression. “I knew she was interested in having you for dinner. But something of this extent, and her behavior.”

“You don’t have to be that embarrassed by your mom. She seems like an amazing woman and an even greater mom that just wanted to let her daughter spend more time with the guy she just can’t shut up about.” I teased before continuing our walk.

“Oh shut up, you like teasing me way too much.” Yume said as she caught up with me. A little bit of back and forth teasing being something common between us.

“Well when you act like that you make it so easy and worth while.” I never would have expected myself to be the teasing type. But I guess with all the time I’ve spent with her it just happened.

“Ugh, I’ll see you tonight okay?” Yume asked, standing still as she spoke.

“Yeah. Trust me, I’m not the type to run away even if I want to.” I joke in response. Which only received a smile in response before she went off on her own leaving me standing here alone.

If things were different and I was actually born here... Would the two of us have been childhood friends? Gahhh, what are you even thinking about? This is the girl that told me her family would be after my system. I guess a lot can change in two months.

“Have you been hanging out with the princess so much that you would forget your best friend’s face?” Asked Shin as he leaned against a pillar further down the hallway from me.

“You know I could never.” I said with a chuckle as I approached.

“Anyway what was all that?”

“The Queen decided to invite me to dinner with the whole family.” I explained as we walked together in the direction of my room.

“Hey. This better not be you forgetting about the plan.” Shiro tapped me with the back of his hand. His way of letting me know he was serious.

“You know for a fact I’m not. If anything this might be really good for us.”

“I know... I still can’t get rid of that terrifying smile you had on your face when you proposed it. Anyway I came here as a convoy to ask if you’re going to be joining us for training?” Shin asked, stopping in front of me.

“So the class has you running errands for them now?” I asked, my tone betraying me and showing my annoyance.

“Yeah since they don’t know what the plan is. All you told them was how you thought that it would be smart if all of us did special training to get stronger. Not the why part. Especially when the majority of them don’t trust you anymore.”

“That’s true. But tell them I have a dinner date for later so I can’t come. Plus, Kimi has been far more useful for my progress than any training could have been.” I said before trying to walk around him. Shin grabbed my arms and looked me in dead in the eye with an expression I’ve never seen before.

“Promise me you aren’t over doing it alright. It scares me that I can’t tell if you’re actually enjoying your time here or are still acting. Plus you’re my best friend man. Do you know how much it would suck for me if you died doing this dumb shit?” Shin asked in his usual tone but his eyes were so afraid. As if he saw my life as his responsibility.

I took my arm back from him and continued to walk back to my room. Leaving him standing there alone.

“There is only the plan. And nowhere in the plan does it say I die.” I called back.

Yeah.. A lot has changed in the last two months. I still remember that it had only been a few days of living here that Kimi exposed everything.

Apparently Princess Yume is an illegitimate child of the crown. She was born from an affair that the Queen had with a guy from the first group of Other Worlders. He was seen as the strongest of the bunch so she thought it would give them the highest chance of giving birth to a powerful prince. Instead she gave birth to Yume who is most likely the powerhouse she is because of that.

The only reason why she even tried something so reckless and wrong was because apparently the King is infertile. So once the first few groups appeared she kept trying and trying for a prince. However, Kimi told me that the King caught on to this scheme and killed off all of the kids other than Yume who he apparently grew attached to. Then sent the Other Worlders to fight impossible wars to kill them. Only making the Queen more desperate to fulfill her duty in giving birth to a new Heir to the kingdom.

Which if this was a light novel I would be cursing it for the semi-realistic but dumb and convenient plot device. In all of history the Kind and Queen are always obsessed with an heir. But this is taking things too far when Yume could lead a great Monarchy. She’s more than capable as a ruler.

However, when Kimi caught onto this series of crimes she grew to resent the crown. Saying that this was no longer the family she devoted her life to. I couldn’t find a counter argument to her statement since I could imagine feeling similarly in her shoes.

This was when Kimi approached me with the plan. To eradicate the King for his crimes against the Other Worlders and the innocent children she helped raise. Which I couldn’t help but agree but also unlock a new fear of maids who do insane spy work.

So to help this plan I enlisted the help of Shin, someone I can trust. To get everyone to train for the off chance where we get sent to war. Helping the odds so maybe some of us could come back safely.

*NEW MAIN QUEST*

*CONVINCE THE QUEEN TO JOIN YOUR MISSION AGAINST THE KING*

*REWARD: GAIN 4 LVLS*

*TIME LIMIT 30 DAYS*

*PENALTY: ????*