AI: Artificial Isekai

While we are running back to the city, Khi asks me, "Would you like to join us for lunch?"

"I could eat."

"Great. With everything set up, the chef can make us a traditional meal. We brought ingredients, too." Her happy smile sours a touch. "Do you disapprove?"

"No, I've wanted to try beastfolk cuisine for a while now. Especially—"

Khi harshly interjects, "That's not what I asked."

"A nuanced question requires a nuanced answer. While I think the concept of royalty is antiquated, I do not disapprove of Sovereign Rak'Na's rule thus far. But I do not have an opinion about the privilege your status brings you, simply an unavoidable consequence, and entirely dependent on your approach. What do you think?"

Khi hisses out, "I despise it." Kor'To lets out a small sigh. Khi attempts to say something more, but a low growl is the only thing that comes out. The sight of the city gate conceals her growing anger. "Forget I said anything."

"We need a harder dungeon for next time. I find smacking monsters very therapeutic in cases like this. You might too."

She moves her gaze to me. Instead of anger there is only surprise. "You still want to continue your duty?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Her gaze is quickly averted again. "I'm sorry. I hope lunch will be a sufficient apology for my rude behavior."

"Nothing to apologize for. I get it," I say. The frantic waving of her tail slowly relaxes.

The Princess starts to laugh. After she gets back under control, and a tear is wiped away, she says, "Your Guild really knows how to pick them. Are all adventurers so casual and unconcerned?"

"Hmm. Only when it calls for it, Your Highness," I say.

She shakes her head in amusement. "I appreciate it. Now, come on. I think this is enough whining out of me for today."

We enter the city and quickly reach the beastfolk's house. The three-story building is smack-dab in the center of the city, pretty close to everything. Including a fairly big yard, it also contains a fair number of magical barriers. They didn't actually buy the house, just borrowed it for a substantial amount of coin per month. Substantial for a person that is, not a nation. Would it even make sense to liken the amount to a rounding error? Probably not.

The Princess, Kor'To, and I get seated around a large table in the dining room. The other beastfolk wander off, either going to rest or directly to the kitchen, not too keen on waiting for any grub.

A beastfolk wearing a white apron soon arrives, levitating a lot of items and deftly dispersing them on the table.

I take in the aroma. Salty, sweet, and sour, with a touch of sea. There's some fried shrimp equivalent, though much longer, as sides. The main dish is noodles with all manner of shellfish, some mundane and others from dungeons. The salad also has a similar theme, consisting of various edible seaweeds. Everything looks delicious.

Tasting the dishes confirms that observation. Too bad seafood is quite hard to source.

"What do you think?" Khi asks.

"We might have a real contender on our hands," I reply. After thinking for a bit more, and eating a couple additional bites, I continue, "It's close, but I wouldn't declare it the winner just yet."

"That is a very diplomatic answer."

"Nah, it just means I want you to invite me again." A slight chortle escapes from Kor'To. The beastfolk tries to conceal the show of whimsy, but his attempts are fruitless.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Khi joins him with a chuckle of her own. "Certainly. If only to give my favored cuisine a better chance, of course."

"Of course," I reply back with a smile.

After taking a bite, Khi changes the subject, "I hear you are under the tutelage of an Archmage? One Elisa of Deepgrove."

"That's right. Teacher Elisa's been a great help with my spellcasting."

"It shows. Your metal spells were exemplary. Especially for someone that was not able to spellcast until recently."

I smile. "You read her paper? All that technical stuff goes right over my head."

"I did. It was interesting. Do you think I could meet her? It would only be proper for me to host your teacher and yourself for dinner, no?"

I reply enthusiastically, "Definitely. I'll ask her when she's free, and we'll schedule something. I'm sure Teacher would like to meet you too, Khi."

"Marvelous."

***

Elisa asks, "What do you think of the Princess?"

"I like her. She's a good person."

"And her mom?"

I clear my throat. "Well, I disagree with some of her decisions and some of her plans."

Elisa winces. "Huh... So, you hate her guts?"

"No, Elisa. I do not hate anyone." She frowns slightly. "I don't think I ever will. Does that make me a fool?"

"I... No, of course not."

"But it does. I will always see the good. Even if it never reaches the surface. Even if..." I sigh. "Can I get a hug, please?" Before I can react, a swift elf collides with me, squeezing tightly. "Thank you."

"Mm-hmm."

"Is this a good time to ask if you are free for dinner anytime soon?" I get squeezed tighter.

"Acting was not in the job description," she says.

"What is politics but acting?" And tighter.

Elisa grumbles out, "Fine. But you owe me a—"

"No."

"Aw... Okay. Only because I like you, though. Just send me a script of what to say. You can do that, right?"

"You can unlock that functionality for the low, low price of—" She lightly bonks the side of her head against mine, interrupting my absolutely hilarious joke.

Elisa then lets me go and says, "What do you wanna do? Talk about politics or play some games?"

My answer is immediate. "Games." She smiles happily and rushes for the interfaces. I follow.

***

"Almost... there..." Elisa strains out the words with great effort. "Ha! Eat that, eldritch monstrosity from beyond reality! No more eating dimensions for you."

"Did you have to steal the killing blow?" I ask.

"Obviously."

I start chuckling, shaking my head. In the meantime, Elisa is happily going through the loot. Until a cutscene interrupts her.

I turn to the elf. "Looks like the cultists aren't as grateful as you thought, Party Leader."

"Shit. We can salvage this. You take over."

Elisa passes the interaction to me, and I can see her subtly positioning the rest of the party away. An eventuality I could have never predicted...

I start following a very particular branch of the dialogue tree. Time to mask my devilish scheme. "Hmm. Do you think Princess Khi'Na will invite us to a restaurant, or will she host us at her temporary home?"

"Probably a restaurant. I have experience with the whole posturing game they all play." Elisa is turned to me. My hands are still subtly issuing commands. "I'm sure she, per directions from her mother, would want to be publicly seen socializing with me. Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but we both have pretty important mothers."

A few more commands. "Don't forget the Archmage part."

"That too. Either gain a few more allies or project the illusion of that happening. It doesn't really matter in the short term," Elisa says and glances back at the display. "How do you want to— Hey!" She whips her head back to me, glaring. What greets her is the smuggest smirk I can manage without breaking the laws of physics. She whips back round, frantically starting to issue commands.

"Your misdeeds have finally caught up to you, Party Leader Elisa. The cultists and I had a fruitful discussion, and I think I am going to be joining them."

She lets out an exasperated groan. "You scoundrel."

"Let's get 'em, boys."

Elisa starts pleading, "We can talk this out, Lucius. Come on. We've been traveling for three years. We've shared so much. Doesn't that count for something?"

"Three years of misery and humiliation. No more. The cultists understand me. They understand what's it like to be under someone's boot."

She makes a performative wince as an attack connects for a devastating result. "Don't do this. It's not too late."

"Oh, but it is. I..." I make a show of clenching my fists and start thinking. Soon, another command is issued.

She asks, surprised, "What?" There is an opportunity for the party to escape.

"Go. This is a final gift. Next time we meet, there will be no more chances. One way or another, this will end." The rest of the party escapes.

Elisa bursts out laughing. When she calms down, she turns to me. "Oh, man. That was great," she says. "I guess all that acting experience has paid off, huh? Perfect application of your talents, if you ask me."

I chuckle too. "Glad you enjoyed."

"So, you'll be the next boss?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"Ooh. How foreboding." She stands up and pulls me to my feet as well. "Let's go have dinner. I made your favorite."

"I don't think I've ever mentioned a favorite dish, nor do I think I actually have one."

"It's about to be the one I made. You'll see."

"Can't wait."