Player's Journey In Anime World

The short knife scraped across Ryou's abdomen with a soft tearing sound, "Ssssh!"—ripping a large hole in his clothes. But it didn't even leave a mark on his skin, let alone cut him. Even more absurdly, with a "Crack!", the knife snapped in two.

The assassin, whose real name was Elsa, looked completely baffled.

Immediately afterward, with a "Boom!", Ryou's iron fist drove hard into Elsa's soft abdomen. The force blasted through her body, tearing a massive hole in her clothes and cloak. A clear fist imprint even appeared on her back.

"Ughwaa!"

Elsa crumpled to her knees, vomiting dark red blood mixed with bits of her internal organs. Her entire body slumped over. Ryou's punch hadn't only pulverized her insides but also shattered her spine. Now lying helplessly on the ground, Elsa couldn't feel her lower body. Her brain had lost control over it entirely, even over her sphincter muscles.

Soon, the area of her dress between her legs was soaked—she had wet herself.

"Ah... Ahh, the pain! It hurts so much! But why can't I stop craving it!?"

If this were a doujin, this seductive assassin would likely have heart-shaped pupils, her tongue hanging out, and an ahegao expression. But unfortunately, this is a serious story. Even so, Elsa was crying, sniffling, her cheeks flushed, and her gaze dazed—she looked as if she'd been through a brutal seggs.

"You!?"

Finally, Felt recognized the woman who had just tried to ambush her—it was her employer.

"Now do you understand? She was planning to kill you to cover her tracks after you stole the insignia. Yet you still walked right into this trap. Is your head made of titanium?"

"Unbelievable! She was going to kill me over just ten gold coins? These damned nobles don't see commoners as human, do they?"

Felt exclaimed in shock.

Ryou looked at her with the kind of pity reserved for fools.

"What!?"

Felt bared her teeth angrily.

"Think about it—would anyone hire a thief for a mere trinket? This insignia represents eligibility for the royal selection. You've been dragged into royal selection conflicts. Do you think that's enough reason for someone to want you dead?"

"I just wanted to make a little extra money! How was I supposed to know all this?"

Felt pouted.

"Felt, you idiot! You took on a job without even investigating your client's identity!?"

Old Rom roared furiously. Being a giant, his voice was already loud, and now, in his anger, it boomed like thunder.

"I get it already~ Geez, Old Man Rom, you're so annoying. I'll be more careful next time, okay?"

Felt quickly covered her ears, looking more annoyed than concerned.

"You ungrateful child! You're going to be the death of me!"

Old Rom fumed, heartbroken at her carelessness.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Felt muttered a few words under her breath but didn't argue back.

Just then, Elsa, still lying limp on the ground, looked up at Ryou.

"You certainly know a lot, don't you, boya~"

At this moment, the seductive assassin was regaining her composure. Her face was slick with sweat, her body trembling slightly, and her mouth twitched as she spoke, clearly struggling to endure the pain from her shattered organs and spine.

Ryou couldn't help but be impressed by her resilience. An ordinary person would be long dead from such injuries, but Elsa's being a cursed doll (Vampire) had kept her alive, allowing her to speak even in this condition. She was indeed exceptional material for training.

However, he had other priorities for the moment, so he set those thoughts aside temporarily. A mysterious smile crept across his face.

"Not only do I know that," he said, "but I also know your employer is Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers. Oh, and you have a partner, a beast tamer named Meili…"

"That's impossible!"

Emilia interrupted, her violet eyes widening in disbelief. Margrave Roswaal was her only supporter in the royal selection. If she couldn't trust him, she didn't know who else to rely on.

But Elsa's next words plunged her into despair.

"Looks like you do know a lot…"

This was as good as Elsa admitting that Ryou's claims were true.

"How... could this be…?"

Emilia's body swayed, and she clutched a nearby table for support.

Puck flew out from her hair, looking at her with concern.

"Lia, are you alright...? Don't worry too much, maybe they're just working together to deceive you…"

Puck didn't know how else to comfort her, so he could only lie, trying to cast doubt on Ryou's words. After all, this guy had been manipulating his beloved daughter from the moment they met, so Puck took this chance for a little fatherly revenge.

Ryou ignored Puck's interference—he had plenty of ways to make Emilia see the clown's true colors. He turned his attention back to Elsa on the floor.

Noticing his gaze, Elsa, though paralyzed from the waist down, managed to move her upper body. She straightened her chest and smiled provocatively.

"So, boya, how do you plan to deal with me? Hand me over to the city guards? Execute me on the spot? Or perhaps…"

Elsa extended her delicate tongue, licking her red lips.

The same action would have a completely different effect depending on who did it. If a little girl did this, she'd simply look hungry. But when a seductive, voluptuous woman like Elsa did it, it brimmed with temptation, conjuring all sorts of unspeakable images—bondage, blindfolds, whips, candles, gags…

Ryou had to admit, this woman was a real enchantress, and she knew exactly how to wield her allure.

Unfortunately for her, Ryou was no inexperienced virgin. Her antics didn't work on him—in fact, they only made him want to consume her whole.

He silently communicated with Semiramis in his mind.

"Semiramis, I'll leave her to you. Find a place in the city to keep her hidden for now."

"Ara~ Are you asking me to properly train this wild little kitten for you?"

"What, don't want to?"

"Why would I refuse? I'm quite looking forward to it."

Semiramis's face lit up with excitement.

Ryou knew from her response that Elsa was in for a rough time.

In a low voice, Semiramis murmured, "For those who've been waiting for the story to get 'plump,' isn't it about time to dig in?"

With that, Semiramis took Elsa away. Ryou then turned to Emilia.

"Since we've got what we came for, let's head back now."

"Wait, you're saying you're coming back with me?"

Emilia looked at him in surprise.

"Of course. My goal hasn't been achieved yet. Leaving you alone to face that cunning clown wouldn't sit right with me," Ryou replied matter-of-factly.

Emilia opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. Naturally kind-hearted, she instinctively didn't want to doubt Roswaal, who had been so supportive.

Ryou sighed inwardly. Such a good-natured personality was hardly suited for royalty. Unable to help himself, he reached out and patted her head.

"As they say, 'Facts speak louder than words.' I'll reveal the clown's true nature. Until then, you don't need to do anything—just watch from the sidelines and don't overthink it."

"… I understand," Emilia agreed reluctantly.

"Lia has me to protect her, so you stay away from my daughter!"

Puck flew between Emilia and Ryou, waving his tiny paws defensively, looking very much like a protective father scowling at his future son-in-law.

"Puck…"

Emilia, amused and helpless, scooped him up into her arms. She gave Ryou an apologetic look.

"Sorry, Puck doesn't mean any harm."

"No worries; I don't hold grudges against cute pets," Ryou replied with a mischievous smile.

"You brat!"

Puck nearly flew at Ryou but was held back by Emilia, who seemed to fear he'd cause trouble.

Soon, the group left Old Rom's hideout and made their way outside the city. In the distance, a cute maid with a bobbed blue haircut stood next to a dragon carriage. As they approached, Ryou took a moment to observe this fan-favorite character from the original story. She had a bob cut, sky-blue eyes matching her hair, and a fringe that covered her right eye. Her black and white maid outfit had been slightly modernized, enhancing her petite and adorable figure.

"Rem, I'm sorry for the wait. Something unexpected happened…"

Emilia apologized as they drew near.

"It's no problem, Lady Emilia. And this is…?"

Rem's gaze shifted to Ryou, her one visible eye filled with suspicion.

"Ah, this is Ryou-sama. He helped me retrieve my stolen insignia. And this person…"

When Emilia looked at Anastasia, who was dressed in formal wear, she felt a pang of embarrassment; she'd forgotten to ask her name during the journey.

"Anastasia," she introduced herself coolly, offering no further explanation. She had shown warmth only to Ryou, remaining aloof toward everyone else.

Emilia smiled graciously.

"I'd like to invite them to the mansion to properly thank them."

"Understood. This way, please."

Rem opened the door to the dragon carriage.

As Ryou walked past her, Rem's nose twitched, and her expression changed. She glared at Ryou with thinly veiled disgust and killing intent. Her hostility was so obvious that, aside from the oblivious Emilia, everyone else noticed. Puck, naturally, was delighted by the tension.

Ryou's expression remained impassive as if he hadn't noticed. But Anastasia's gaze grew colder, and the shadows behind her silently writhed before her face returned to calm.

With each person lost in their thoughts, they set off toward Roswaal's mansion.

Since Roswaal was a margrave, his mansion lay some distance from the royal capital. Though they had left just after sunset and the dragon carriage moved swiftly, they didn't arrive until late at night. From afar, they could see a grand mansion. Near the entrance, a soft light glowed. As they approached, they spotted a girl who looked nearly identical to Rem, except for her pink hair and red eyes, holding a lantern as she waited by the door.

The dragon carriage stopped at the entrance, and everyone disembarked.

"Sister, you waited out here so late? You've worked hard!"

Rem said with a warm smile.

"Don't worry about me, Rem. You must be tired from traveling all night. Go rest."

"Yes, Sister."

The twin maids exchanged smiles. Ryou thought that with some flower petals and soft lighting, this scene would be perfect for a yuri moment.

Noticing his odd gaze, Ram's eyes flashed with suspicion as she quietly observed the group.

"Welcome back, Lady Emilia," Ram greeted.

"Ram, I'm sorry for keeping you up so late," Emilia said apologetically.

"It's no trouble. It's my duty," Ram replied, before turning to Ryou and Anastasia.

"Lady Emilia, may I ask who these guests are?"

"They're my benefactors, so I took the liberty of inviting them back to the mansion. I hope it won't be too much trouble?"

Emilia's face showed an apologetic look as she took responsibility for the decision, seemingly forgetting that it was Ryou who had insisted on coming along. Her good-natured personality was beyond saving.

After brief introductions, and under Rem's barely concealed hostility and Ram's probing gaze, Ryou followed Emilia into the mansion.

As they stepped through the front door, a strange voice greeted them.

"Honored~ guests~ welcome~ to my humble abode~. I am Roswaal L. Mathers~"

The bizarre, sing-song voice came from a man dressed like a clown who approached them.

The moment Ryou laid eyes on him, his gaze narrowed. This was the Margrave of Lugunica's borders—Roswaal, a man with terrifying power, capable of single-handedly defeating an army. He was also the disciple of the Witch of Greed, Echidna—an ancient being over 400 years old, just like Puck. A man who had survived by taking over the bodies of his descendants.

Ryou thought that this clown had a lot in common with Zouken Matou from the Fate series.

And the fact that Roswaal was still awake so late to greet them confirmed something for Ryou.