Shino and Princess Azalea are getting along so well, despite Shino real identity are mystery on Princess Azalea she shows trust to him
She even talks about her daily life and Shino got a good glimpse of Azalea's past through her story
Princess Azalea loves to read books, she even have an actual library inside the castle, and mostly spend her free time reading books, she also took a liking in making food and have her maids taste it for her and serve it to her father, King Herald
As Princess Azalea share her past and Shino's battle experience of the demon, they have grown to each other despite only meeting and talking to each other today, and Princess Azalea also ask Shino to stop calling her princess as she views him as a friend
With the trust Azalea put to Shino, Shino decided on something without her consent
"If you are going to call me by my name, calling you Mr Fox will be weird, besides why do you want to hide your identity?" Azalea asked
"I want to hide my identity because I might attract some awful enemy during my journey, I don't want that, also I agree about calling me Mr Fox is a bit weird, you should call me Kitsune, it means fox in my country"
"Kitsune? What a strange name, anyway you mention journey, where are heading to?" Azalea asked
"I don't really have any destination, I guess to where my feet bring me, I want to see the world as long as I live" Shino replied
Azalea slam the table with excitement and said, "Then why not stay here in the kingdom of Megiddo? Our kingdom will need a strong mage like you, I can even hire you as my personal body guard so we can chat more"
Shino where overwhelm by Azalea's excitement and nervously replied, "I'll think about it, It is my plan to travel around world after all, so I might refuse"
Azalea was about to cry and said, "You don't like to be here?"
Shino panic and said, "No princess, you got it wrong, it is not like I don't like this place, it is just that I want to live a full filling life, and traveling is what is in my mind currently"
Azalea sat down and wipe her tears as if nothing happen and said, "So, then why you help with the aftermath of demon attack?"
Shino was confused and Azalea added, "According to report you help with the healing of the injured adventurer because the medical team was short on staff and mana, some citizen even report they saw you on their roof saying, a person in white clothes are traveling roof to roof also along the street, watching over them, it was you right? The citizen where able to sleep the nights at ease because of you. Your reputation with the people of Lafoes are great, they respect you more than the Duke of this City"
Shino laugh it off and said, "Well that is quite flattering of them, that explain why you put your trust to me so much, Thank you for your compliment princess"
Azalea blush and said, "still I don't understand why you want to leave this place, you created a reputation and yet you throw it away, you are contradicting your goal of living a full filling life"
"A life without happiness is not full filling, or so I say" Shino said
"Having a reputation means people expect something from me, and meeting that expectation means you need to throw your own goal, so I cannot be happy if that is the case" Shino added
"You are quite knowledgeable aren't you?" Azalea asked
"Thank you for the compliment Princess" Shino replied
Azalea stand up and said, "Anyway the preparation should be done by now, and stop calling me princess, Kitsune….san"
Shino giggles and said, "As you wish Azalea-san"
A guard open the door and said, "Sir Fox, the King are ready to meet you"
Shino then stood up and said, "Well I guess this is it, now if you excuse me Azalea-san"
Azalea just nod and was disappointed that they will part ways and Shino notice it
"Azalea, I like your name" Shino said as he about to leave the room
Azalea was surprise and Shino added, "Where I came from, we have what we call flower language, and in that language Azalea means, take care of yourself for me"
Shino look at Azalea and with a happy voice he said, "We will meet again princess, so take care of yourself"
Azalea smiled and said, "Yes, I'll be waiting"
Shino followed the guard and temporarily part ways with the princess
Shino said to himself, "God, is this the regret you are talking about? If it is I'll use every ounce of the power you gave me to protect what I couldn't protect before, this time for sure, no matter what, I'll protect her"
In the end of the hall way Shino saw god with a thumbs up and was shocked by it and suddenly stop
"Mr. Fox? Is there something matter?" the guard said
Shino look at the guard and when he look back at the hall way, god was gone and said to the guard, "Nah… it is nothing"
◊
With Shino's arrival on door of a massive room, a Herald loudly shout, "The person who defended the king and the princess along with the adventurers and people of the kingdom on the recent demon attack, Sir Fox has arrive"
As the door open, Shino walk towards the King and notice the structure of the massive room
The room has two floors, on the first floor are a bunch of soldier and the King on his throne with three people beside him, the Pope of Bastille Church, Pope Sixtus, The Duke of the Lafoes City, Averio Lafoes, and the head Captain of the Royal Army, Richard Ishin, and on the second floor are a bunch of spectators from every Noble family
Shino stop with a good distance between him and the king and gently bow and Said, "I shall introduce myself, It is nice to meet you King of Meggido, King Herald III Megiddo, Duke of Lafoes City,Averio Lafoes, and Pope of the… Bastille Church, Pope Sixtus Marcellus, My name is Kitsune, a traveller"
"Hmmm, your name is heard, Raise your head" the King said
Shino raise his head and put his arms behind him
Before the King said his next word Averio interrupt and said, "Traveller you are in front of the king, why have you not remove your mask?"
Richard was about to say that he is disrespecting the king but King herald stop him
"I'm terribly sorry, but I can't allow to show my face, even if it is the King request I will respectfully denied it" Shino said elegantly
Pope Sixtus shouted, "Insolence! Soldiers! Pull your weapons"
The soldier draw their sword and surrounded Shino
"You disgrace the King along with the god, show your face or you will face judgement here" Sixtus Added
The King look at Shino without uttering a word, showing complete authority
"I don't condemn Violence, I like to fix the issue as peaceful as possible, but a simple refusal of taking my mask off cannot possible led to my execution" Shino said
Sixtus and Avelrios grin and with ferocity in their voice, Sixtus said, "Then saviour or not, you shall die now peasant. Soldiers, kill him"
All soldier attack Shino while screaming but before their sword even landed a hit Shino utter a word, "˹Ice Burst˼"
His surrounding froze instantly, creating some Ice spike that even reach the second floor, stopping every soldier from their movement, and the temperature of the room suddenly drop and it was freezing cold
But despite that, everyone on the room was shocked, even King Herald, Sixtus and Averio was cover in fear and utter only one word and it is "Monster"
Richard can only said, "He is definitely stronger than our court Mage my King"
King Herald stand up and said, "Forgive this people's Ignorance Sir Kitsune, They will be discipline later, if you please release the soldier from their frozen state, we will hold burial for those who died"
"Don't worry my King, I am not a ruthless murderer, none of the soldier died, they are just being hold down by the Ice" Shino replied
With a single tap of his shoe, all the Ice started to cracked, and the soldier are freed dropping their sword and fearing him
"Let's forget this Mishap, Minister of treasury! Hand over the reward" King Herald said
A person walk in front of Shino and handed a pouch full of gold coins, Shino then take a look at the pouch and was amazed
"Is that not enough Sir Kitsune? We can arrange bigger reward especially now when my people attack you so carelessly" King Herald said
"This is more than enough my King, no need to worry" Shino replied
"But money is not enough for your accomplishment, it is only for your deed of protecting me, with the demon you defeated, I shall grant you anything you want, state it and you shall have it, title, money, beautiful girls, anything" King Herald said proudly
"My king this is more than enough, I don't require anymore reward" Shino said
Shino then look around and added, "But that is not going to be acceptable is it? Then I have a few question can you please answer it for me? And also from this point on until I leave this door, please forgive for what I am about to do"
King Herald was wondering why he propose that proposal and Head Captain Richard replied, "Your request is absurd, and how we can assure that you won't hurt the King or anyone in this room?"
"Please don't misunderstand me, I am no savage, but hurting someone is necessary for discipline, but I can assure you that I won't kill anyone and I will heal their wounds immediately" Shino replied
The King approve and said, "Very well, State your question and us in here will answer you"
Shino then thank the King and asked his first question, "The demon I fought, is he something that you encounter for the first time?"
Richard answer the question, "No, we encounter them before but this is the first time that a demon with title leave their territory, you are probably wondering why does adventurer in Diamond rank was defeated. The weapons and magic that the adventurer are using was weaken once they enter the arena to avoid casualties, but those only work only on humans not on demons, and we can't exactly deactivate the magic that time probably because the Demon's Magic also affected those who control the magic barrier"
Shino then think and said to himself, "A weakening barrier, so that explains why I was exhausted while I was fighting, my mana regeneration was decreased"
Shino then state his second question, "As I mention earlier, I am a traveller and I came from far away, and I am not accustomed to this currency of yours, can you please explain it to me"
Averio step up and said nervously, "Well, you must have travelled far, the currency we have here are, copper, bronze, silver, and gold, 1 Gold is equal to 100 silver, 1 silver is equal to 100 copper, and 1 bronze is equal to 100 copper, each coin also has their own animal imprinted on them so we can avoid fraudulence, they are rare cases of mages but there is some what we call 'Alchemist' out there who can make gold out of some rock"
Shino said to himself, "Okay, I got understanding on their currency, and there even a bonus, Alchemy, I wonder if I can do that"
Shino then ask his third question with a smirk, "Then this my final question, who organize the tournament?"
Everyone suddenly shivered and hold their breath
The king then replied, "This two you see in your front, Duke Averio and Pope Sixtus, the kingdom funded their expenses, why did you…"
Before King Herald finished talking two ice spike stab Averio and Pope Sixtus in their shoulder and pinned them to the wall behind the King, everyone was shocked and Richard and King Herald eyes are wide open staying still with their heart beating fast
Shino is standing still and not even moving a single muscle, While Duke Averio and Pope Sixtus was screaming in pain
Shino then said, "The demon's Interference was something you can't control, but even without it, the medical staff to participant ratio was to less, if I didn't help many adventurer would die, and what I notice most is the fact that some of the healer you have are those who in beginner level, is the fund to low my king? Depending on your answer you may be next"
Richard was shaking as he pull his sword and whisper, "My king, you should run"
King herald whisper back, "Stand down Richard, in this kind of situation saying the truth is the only option"
King herald then said while shaking, "The Fund we gave is more than enough to hire about 50 High-class healer and 100 Mid-class healer along with some Mid-tier potions, I just simply trust them to spend the fund wisely, but it looks like they didn't do it"
Shino then angrily said, "Ahh.. So you are not in fault, Greed is a dangerous sin, but every living thing has it, so I won't say to stop your greediness, but I'll give you this as a warning, once that greed affected innocent people, I'll come after you and destroy what you build"
The Ice spike crack and left Duke Averio and Pope Sixtus in pain, bleeding badly their attendee approach them to help them get up and applied ˹Heal˼ on them
Shino snap his fingers and both Averio and Pope Sixtus was cover in golden light and their wounds are healed.
Shino then said calmly, "I have done what I need to do and said what I want to say, now if you excuse me, I shall take my leave my king"
The King stop him and said, "Wait, Sir Kitsune, there is still one more thing"
"Huh? More? Like I said I don't need any more reward" Shino said with annoyed voice
"It is about the tournament, technically you won it, and so you are chosen as a hero for our kingdom" King Herald said
"My King I am not fond of being a hero, besides I was not a participant of that tournament I just happen to join in, so if you are going to pick one, then pick that guy who was last standing" Shino said
"Hmm… I guess your reasoning is true, very well you may go now" King Herald said
Shino open the door and leave the room but didn't notice Azalea that was listening behind the door
"He can be scary when triggered huh?" Azalea said to herself
Meanwhile in the room where King Herald is…
"My king you have forgotten to ask that question" Richard said
"I did didn't me? Well after that terrifying show of power I forgotten to ask it" King Herald replied
"So what do you think Richard, do you think he is immortal?" King asked
"An immortals body is like a crystalized mana, tore their limbs or chop their head they will just regenerate it overtime, we clearly saw his leg being torn off and yet he acted as if it never happen, There are only two possibility, A mage who can restore his lose limbs or an immortal" Richard replied
"As detailed as ever, keeping his real identity means we cannot monitor him, such a clever man indeed" King Herald said
◊
˹Ice Burst˼: An Area of Effect skill, a blast of Icy wind that can freeze even the air are blasted around the user, the blast can create Icicles and froze the target in place; Large mana consumption
˹Ice Manipulation˼: can manipulate or create Ice out of thin air; Shino used this skill to punish the Duke and the Pope