The World Is Mine For The Taking

"You've finally arrived," exclaimed Professor Irene as Titania and I emerged from the academy gates. Her eyes widened slightly behind her glasses as she scrutinized me. "Wait, is that truly you, Shredica?"

"What do you mean by that?" I questioned, shooting her a stern look.

Professor Irene glanced at Titania, who was grinning beside me. With a subtle "Ah, I understand," she murmured before continuing, "Well, since you're appropriately attired for the occasion, I suppose we should depart immediately."

Titania turned to me, her expression thoughtful. "Now that you're departing, I presume this is where we part ways. Please do remember to reach out to me once your meeting concludes, and do share with me your discussions with the King."

I wasn't keen on divulging my intentions to Titania regarding what I planned to ask the King, but I certainly intended to contact her once the meeting was over. Titania had been immensely helpful; not only did she assist me in selecting an appropriate dress for meeting royalty, but she also aided in enhancing my appearance.

While I wasn't entirely convinced of the necessity of cosmetics for this meeting, her assistance was appreciated nonetheless.

As I assured her of my call after the meeting, Titania made her way back to the academy grounds, glancing back and waving at me. I couldn't help but notice her risky behavior; she seemed dangerously close to tripping with each backward glance.

Sure enough, moments later, she stumbled over her own feet without any apparent obstacle in her path. I inadvertently caught a glimpse of her underwear as she fell headfirst. Yet, with surprising agility, she quickly regained her footing, turned back with a mischievous grin, and waved once more.

Following her stumble, blood began to trickle from Titania's nose, prompting her to hastily conceal it with her hand. Upon realizing our continued gaze, she flashed another grin and waved once more before disappearing back into the academy grounds.

"Princess Titania is quite amusing, Shredica," remarked Professor Irene. "I'm pleased to see you forming friendships at last."

Though I wanted to deny any close association with Titania, I found myself strangely unable to speak.

"In any case, let us proceed. I'm certain you wouldn't want to keep the king waiting," Professor Irene urged, gesturing for us to continue on our way.

***

It took us a mere 30 minutes to reach the heart of the kingdom, where the royal castle stood proudly. The rhythmic clapping of the horses' hooves against the smoothly paved roads beneath us echoed in the carriage.

"It appears the kingdom is embracing modernization quite earnestly. These well-paved roads certainly make travel much smoother for our equine companions," remarked Professor Irene as she peered out the carriage window. "With Leonamon leading the charge in innovation, the world is undeniably progressing towards modernity.

And if it's benefiting the populace, then perhaps it's not such a bad thing after all."

I've heard that Leonamon has swiftly risen to the forefront of modernization, surpassing all other companies worldwide. In less than a year, they've developed groundbreaking devices and crafted unparalleled wines. Not stopping there, they've also made significant strides in both medical and engineering fields.

Rumor has it that they're even behind the engineering of these remarkable roads and are delving into creating new modes of transportation. It's truly astonishing how much Leonamon has accomplished in such a short span of time, reshaping this world.

I found myself increasingly curious about the mastermind behind Leonamon's transformative impact on this world. Part of my intrigue stemmed from the profound modernization they've spearheaded, but another part arose from the uncanny resemblance between Leonamon's creations and items from my own world.

It seemed plausible that the individual orchestrating these advancements hailed from a similar reality as mine, perhaps even finding themselves in a comparable predicament.

"Here we are," announced Professor Irene, drawing my attention to the window.

As I peered out, I beheld the castle for the first time in my life. Though I had imagined what a castle might look like, the reality surpassed my expectations. Its exterior was truly breathtaking. How could someone conceive of and construct such a colossal structure?

It seemed almost impossible, yet the intricately detailed sculptures adorning its halls spoke volumes of the creator's unparalleled skill.

We entered the castle, and as anticipated, the interior was just as stunning as I had imagined. Luxurious carpets adorned with golden embroidery graced the floors, while painted walls and expensive pottery adorned the corridors.

Accompanied by knights clad in gleaming golden armor, we made our way through the halls. Among them, one knight stood out, donning a distinctive suit of magical armor that set her apart from the others. I recognized her immediately.

"It's you," she remarked, fixing her gaze on me. "So, you're the one who emerged victorious in the game."

"You're the one in that..."

"I half-expected that boy to win, but I suppose it's alright that it was you instead. I'm not disappointed," she remarked before striding ahead of us, leading the way.

Professor Irene leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "It's quite rare for Miss Veronica Eclair to engage with someone, so I'm rather surprised. Do you two know each other?"

"To be honest, I don't really know her. We've only met once, that's all," I replied softly.

The only time we met was during that arson incident.

"This is the audience chamber."

After leading us down a lengthy corridor, Miss Veronica halted by the door at the end, where dragons were painted on either side. The door itself was sturdy, adorned with silver and gold. Miss Veronica rapped three times on the thick door, and it swung open from the other side.

Upon the opening of the door, we were greeted by a vast chamber, comparable in size to the training courtyard of the academy. A red carpet adorned with golden embroideries stretched across the expanse, leading directly to the throne. Flanking the carpet were royal knights and magic knights, standing tall and resolute.

Seated upon the throne, crafted from rare and opulent materials, was the King himself, an elderly man appearing to be in his seventies. Beside him stood a woman exuding elegance, seemingly in her thirties.

Veronica continued her stride, and I followed suit. Meanwhile, Professor Irene positioned herself at the rear of the rows of knights, aligning herself with them. As I approached the throne, Veronica bowed.

"I have brought the winner of the King's Game before you, Your Highness," she announced.

"Umu. Well done, Veronica," acknowledged the King. Despite his royal status, there was a distinct lack of regality about him. While he exuded an air of authority, it seemed to be the extent of his kingly demeanor. Nonetheless, I deemed it appropriate to kneel before him. Regardless of his worthiness to be a king, he still held the title.

Veronica then took her place at the forefront of the knights, evidently holding a high rank among the magic knights.

"State your name," the King commanded.

"Shredica, Your Highness," I replied.

"Shredica, hmm?" The King regarded me with a gaze that seemed to look down upon me. His eyes bore into mine with an imposing intensity. "Very well, you may rise."

I obeyed his command and stood upright.

"I have observed the game through a magical device, allowing me to witness the events on the island remotely. I witnessed your perseverance in overcoming the challenges and emerging victorious. As a reward for your triumph, I offer you a wish, provided it is within my power to grant," declared the King.

His delivery seemed practiced, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't actually watched the game firsthand. It was evident he had no inkling of my struggles or the circumstances that led to my victory. Nonetheless, I decided to seize this opportunity to fulfill my own desires. Meeting the King's gaze, I held his eyes.

In that moment, I noticed a subtle hint of desire flickering in his gaze as he scanned me from head to toe.

"Oh, you're quite stunning. While you may lack ample bosom, your beauty is more than sufficient," remarked the King crudely. "Would you consider becoming one of my concubines? Although my royal member may no longer function due to age, I can still produce semen to father a child with you. What say you?"

The King's vulgarity nearly caused me to recoil in disgust, but I managed to conceal my revulsion.

"As tempting as that offer may be, I must respectfully decline. That is not the purpose of my visit here," I replied calmly.

The King appeared disappointed by my refusal to become his concubine.

"What is it that you desire, then?" inquired the King, leaning his elbow on the armrest of his throne and propping his fist against his cheek.

There was only one thing I truly desired: to return home to my old world. It was the driving force behind all my efforts. My answer was resolute.

"I seek knowledge of the magic used to summon heroes from other worlds," I stated firmly.