A/N (Chapters with no mention of someone's perspective are from the protagonist's point of view. )
I ran out to hunt because Amaterasu was not good at dealing with people, and she would be awkward in a fight.
After I hunted for a week and stored everything in my shelter, I ran towards Amaterasu.
Isabela insisted on coming with me, while Stella stayed behind to prepare the meat. I could see it in her eyes that she was discontent, but there was nothing that could be done.
I promised to reward you later, but nothing can be done, sorry.
When I encountered Amaterasu, she was fighting with a woman. I only found out who she was when Isabela called her 'mother.'
It was then I decided to scream in order to grab the attention of these people.
"It's great that you came so quickly," Amaterasu said to me.
"Why are you two fighting?"
"She is here to use us as pawns."
"My mother doesn't want that," Isabela tried to defend her mother.
"I am here to negotiate with the boy who lives here. In this case you, Adam!" The Queen ignored Isabela as she exclaimed.
"That old witch wants to hurt you," Amaterasu huffed in an angry tone as she grabbed my arm.
Things were spinning out of control here and needed to be calmed down.
"Let's speak calmly." I added before taking them to the camp.
Since Stella had already finished slicing and storing the meat, she joined us too. She seemed pleased when she saw me, as she grabbed my arm.
"Could you please release my husband?" Amaterasu's cold voice with a polite face crashed in our ears.
"Leave her alone, she's been alone for a while." Amaterasu was determined to separate us but she gave up after I stroked her head.
"Could we please get to the point?" The Queen then proceeded to ask.
"Yes!"
It took me a long time to mediate the struggle between these two, until I forgot that the Queen was here.
"I would like to extend my gratitude for saving my daughter. Her recent exploits have even reached my attention," The Queen was polite with her words of gratitude. There was even a hint of pride on her face.
"And you're looking to use this to assassinate the King," Amaterasu was still suspicious of the Queen.
"Let her complete her statement." I interrupted.
Amaterasu made a face that made me feel guilty, but I had to stop her. It may be too hard, but I had to do this so that the Queen may finish her statement.
"I would like to adopt you as my son."
What?
"She will use you as a political pawn, Dear. He is not like the group of stooges who came from another world!" Amaterasu shouted at the sudden proclamation of the Queen.
"Let me explain it in a better way. The King needs the people to accept them, so as soon as he finds out that Hero and his party has been defeated, he will begin looking for new Heroes–"
"He will either try to eliminate us or use us as the Hero's to spread the news," Stella completed the Queen's sentence.
"And if he finds out that a Cat Girl was the one to defeat the Leader of the Heroes, I don't think he'll choose the second option." The Queen further added.
"Where does it get to the adoption part?" Amaterasu immediately asked about the matter she was worried about.
"You will be adopted as a friend's son, I shall claim that your father died in an accident. Forging such an identity would be easy." The Queen explained her plan in a calm manner as if she was stating something ordinary.
"What do you get from it?" Amaterasu increased the grip on my arm as she went to her point.
I could sense her agitation and fear from the tone of her voice.
"A gifted son!" There was a slight gleam of expectation flashing past the Queen's eyes as she said those words.
"I know, she wants to take advantage of you, Darling!" Amaterasu seemed to have sensed it too as she hurriedly tried to persuade me.
"No, my mother would like to help us," Isabella seemed to be hell bent on defending the Queen.
"I'm not going to lie and your talent was definitely an important factor that I had to take into consideration before reaching this decision. I'm not going to use you as an object, I promise! All I want is for you to help me with something." The Queen finally let out her real motive behind this action.
"It seems I am only left with two choices: I can accept your proposal, or we can deal with the King." It was my turn to speak.
"The King will not find out anytime soon. I know the person in that group, and they would not want for someone to find out that they have been defeated by a Cat Girl and a Princess that was deemed useless." Amaterasu was definitely not willing to trust the Queen.
"You are correct, but the Old Master is quite confident that he will count one day, as he told me." The Queen explained calmly.
"So you were the one who requested the ransom?" Amaterasu narrowed her eyes before asking.
"All I wanted was my daughter to be alive, and I somehow was able to get more than that." The Queen answered in an unflustered tone.
The conversation I had with Amaterasu suddenly came to mind. This was my chance to see the world.
'Are you serious about going out? Are you genuinely willing for all that to occur?'
I began to tear up as an image of destruction appeared in my mind. I could see, at a glance, what looked like a city being destroyed by something strange.
But I still had that feeling which was making me leave, or else I would be locked up forever.
"I will do that."
'You made the wrong decision.'
I heard a voice again in my head.
We grabbed our suitcases and headed towards the edge of the forest. The closer we got, the more monsters appeared.
Even if it cost me everything, I must leave.
After several unsuccessful attempts, we finally succeeded in leaving the woods.