"Again!" Filiola exclaimed the moment she laid eyes on Prince Arios, her voice a volatile cocktail of frustration and pure exasperation. Her fiery red hair seemed to catch the very light of the sun, glowing like embers, while her brown eyes launched invisible daggers straight at him. "Where did you disappear to this time, Prince Arios? And just look at you! You're absolutely covered in filth!"
Filiola was a disciplined young soldier whose immaculate appearance stood in sharp contrast to the chaotic disarray Arios always seemed to be tangled in. She followed strictly in the footsteps of her father, Andros, being so meticulous that some in the palace considered her bossy. Arios watched her and thought to himself: "She's barely a year older than me, yet she acts as if she were my mother."
"Well… just around," Arios replied with a carefree, lopsided smile, pointing vaguely toward the horizon. His blonde hair, shimmering under the sunlight, featured a single lilac lock that seemed to defy every known law of color. His eyes—one sky-blue and the other a vibrant leaf-green—sparkled with a dangerous mix of mischief and confidence. That mischievous grin, stretching from ear to ear, deeply irritated Filiola, who stared at him with her arms crossed and an expression shifting between fury and weary resignation.
"I can't exactly tell her I've been out there training and wiping out monsters beyond the walls; if I did, my father would lock me up for good," Arios thought, forcing himself to maintain an expression of wide-eyed innocence.
At that moment, General Andros appeared. His jet-black hair and thick beard, paired with his perpetually serious brown eyes, gave him an imposing aura even when he was trying to hide his amusement at the scene playing out before him.
"It seems you've finally found what you were scouting for, my Lord," Andros noted, crossing his massive arms as he watched his daughter literally dragging the Prince along.
"I suppose so," Arios replied, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish, innocent gesture.
"Well, we'd better return to the palace immediately, Sir. You must change and be presentable for your celebration," Andros indicated with a firm tone.
"I'm not a big fan of parties. I think I'll pass," Arios countered, trying to wiggle out of Filiola's iron grip.
"Pass?!" Filiola shouted, her face transforming into a mask of pure indignation. "Not a chance! You're going, even if it's the last thing I ever do!"
Arios suddenly remembered a vital detail: In case I didn't tell you before, today is my fifteenth birthday. Although Yuomo, in his past life, had a visceral loathing for parties due to his lack of friends and preference for spending time with his parents and animals, there was no escape now. Here, in this new world, celebrations were mandatory state functions, especially for the crown prince. Filiola, determined to fulfill her duty, didn't hesitate for a second. She produced a length of rope, tied it around his waist, and began literally towing him back toward the castle.
"Save me, Lord Andros!" Arios cried out dramatically, looking at the general with soulful, pleading eyes.
"I'm afraid I'm powerless here. When my daughter enters this state of mind, there is no stopping her," Andros replied, simply shrugging his shoulders as he nudged his horse forward. "Besides, she is your official Royal Bodyguard. I'll go scout the perimeter one last time," he added, though it was obvious he was just escaping his daughter's temper.
When they reached the castle, Claris was already waiting with a sharp, mocking expression on her face.
"Nice of you to show up, dummy. And what on earth are you wearing? Did something die inside that suit?" Claris remarked with biting sarcasm. She was Eleonor's second daughter—quiet and studious in appearance, but capable of becoming a literal demon when no one was watching. Arios thought to himself: "Ah, yes, my dear, insufferable sister Claris. Always seeking our parents' approval and looking harmless, but she's like a Tasmanian devil when she wants to be."
"I wouldn't know, little sister. Maybe you're just smelling one of those expensive perfumes you love to use," Arios shot back with a smirk, relishing the flicker of annoyance that crossed her face.
"Just because it's your birthday I won't mess with you today, but tomorrow is another day, dummy," Claris threatened, though deep down both knew they shared an unbreakable bond.
"Big brother! You're back!" a small voice shouted. It was Kei, running toward Arios with a radiant smile. His blue eyes shone with pure, childish curiosity. "What did you bring me? And… how far did you go?"
"Too many questions at once, Kei. Relax," Arios replied with a tired but affectionate smile.
"It's true, Happy Birthday!" the little one exclaimed, launching himself into an enthusiastic hug. To Arios, Kei's innocence was like a healing balm against the day's chaos.
"So, here you are," interrupted Eleonor, his mother, entering the room with a complex mixture of relief and reproach. Her violet eyes reflected a hint of irritation as she looked Arios up and down. "But… Arios, what is that smell? And why is your suit in such a state of total destruction?" she asked, wrinkling her nose at the mud-caked fabric and the small tears revealing reddish marks on his skin.
Then, her gaze fell on Kei, who was hugging Arios without caring about the filth. Eleonor pulled the child back with a protective gesture. "Come here, Kei. You've just been cleaned, and I don't want you getting filthy too."
"I don't care! He's my big brother and it doesn't matter to me!" Kei replied, clinging to Arios's hand.
"This is why I absolutely adore this kid; he's far too sweet," Arios thought, reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair with genuine affection.
While stripping off the ruined, mud-heavy suit, Arios reflected on his secret training. He had been sneaking out to face monsters and grow stronger for the challenges ahead. However, the royal attire wasn't designed for combat, and several beasts had managed to get within striking distance, leaving marks on both his clothes and his skin.
"I'm going to have to find—or create—something much more durable if I plan on surviving out there," he mused while watching his minor wounds heal. Arios was pulling on the heavy layers of the formal royal suit, though he didn't care for expensive things and vanity wasn't his style. "Wouldn't it be far more efficient to wear armor that functioned like a physical antivirus, blocking any threat before it could damage the system?" he thought, the IT logic of his past life bleeding into his current frustrations as he adjusted the uncomfortable garments.
"So, here you were," Balniac's deep voice boomed. He entered the room and grabbed Arios by the arm with a firm grip. "Where exactly had you disappeared to?"
"Dad, look… I was just… walking. Exploring," Arios replied, trying his best to downplay it.
Balniac looked at him with a severity that reflected the heavy weight of the crown he wore. "Remember that today is not just a party, Arios. It is the day you are recognized as an adult by society. It is the official beginning of your path toward becoming King."
Arios sighed internally. In this world, turning fifteen meant being a full adult. For the firstborn, it meant becoming a Double S-Rank Adventurer and mastering royal grace.
"It's such a hollow tradition," Arios thought with a surge of frustration. "But rules are rules."
"Maybe I don't even want to be King," he finally blurted out, meeting his father's eyes.
Balniac's brow furrowed, visibly annoyed. "What do you mean, you don't want to be King? This is not a choice, Arios. It is the law of the land. You will fulfill your duty."
The lecture continued, but Arios was no longer listening. His mind drifted, feeling trapped and caged just as he had been in his previous life. He yearned for the freedom to be an adventurer by choice, not by obligation. But as the eldest, he knew he had no alternative.
The official ceremony commenced in the Great Hall. King Balniac stood before the massive crowd, his voice filling the room with words for his son. Arios, uncomfortable and deeply embarrassed, tried to keep a neutral face. "I'm not used to this, not even in my old world," he thought, remembering how Yuomo always avoided being the center of attention.
The rituals continued with a grand offering to the Goddess Ravada. During the offering, Arios looked up at the towering statue of the Goddess and wondered if she was actually watching him. He questioned if the power she had granted him was truly a blessing, or merely a curse that pulled him away from the normal life he so desperately craved.
Then came the grand banquet. Tables overflowed with roasted meats and fresh bread. During a quiet moment, his mother Eleonor handed him a small, wrapped gift, whispering that he should open it later. Beside her, Balniac's expression softened for a brief second. He leaned in and spoke in a low voice: "Don't go and die out there. This kingdom might eventually need a King… but right now, I still need a son." The raw honesty in his father's voice made the thought of his departure feel like a physical wound.
When the noise began to fade, Balniac called Arios aside and handed him a sword wrapped in a heavy, dark cloth.
"I want you to carry this with you on your journey tomorrow," he said with solemn pride. "This weapon has been passed through our bloodline for generations..." Another long lecture on heritage followed.
Arios accepted the weapon out of respect, but in his mind, he knew this wouldn't be enough to face real enemies. He wanted to use his true weapon—the Brush. But he knew his parents would never understand. "It's like being forced to draw with MS Paint when you have the power of Photoshop at your disposal; a technical limitation that was almost insulting," he thought.
Later, he tracked down Claris to say goodbye. "If you happen to get eaten and don't come back, can I officially have your room?" she joked. "No!" Arios replied with a blunt laugh. They both knew the sarcasm was the only way they knew how to express the bond they shared.
Finally, Arios found little Kei dozing in a corner. He lifted the boy gently in his arms and carried him to his room. The child stirred for a moment, whispering sleepily: "I love you so much, big brother…" Arios tucked him in, watching his angelic face. Of everyone in this world, Arios knew that Kei would be the hardest to leave behind.
As Arios stepped out of Kei's room and into the dim hallway, a sudden, unnatural shadow surged out from the darkness. Its shape was shifting and liquid, but it radiated a sinister, cold energy that chilled his blood. A deep, distorted voice echoed through the air:
"That child… he belongs to me."
Arios froze in his tracks, his heart hammering against his ribs. The shadow advanced slowly. The torchlight on the walls began to flicker violently, the orange flames suddenly tinting into a sickly, dark violet. This wasn't a natural shadow born of light; it was like a massive blot of black ink spilled over the fabric of reality, actively erasing the details of the floor and the walls as it moved. The air became heavy, as if the resolution of the world had suddenly dropped, leaving behind only a cold presence—a glitch in reality that threatened to erase everything.