“Nia?” I looked at her to see she was avoiding eye contact while her tail hung low on the ground.

  “Ho?” The King started, drawing my attention. He had a large smile on his face that made my skin itch, and his amber eyes glowed as he looked at me. “I’ve never seen that before.”

  My heart sank as I realized what he was doing. I could see it in his eyes as they darted left to right constantly. Shit. He had a similar ability to Sora and was reading my information. His statement was a result of my stats decreasing in front of him.

  “To answer your question,” he blinked, and his eyes stopped glowing. “I brought you here to discuss an important matter.”

  “With me?” I tilted my head.

  “Well, the news was for Sabrina. I had no knowledge of her choosing a Successor.”

  “Huh…”

  “You mentioned in the letter that you heard something that could change the course of our future as we know it,” Sabrina started. “What exactly is it?”

  “Well,” the King looked at the doors as they opened. We all turned our attention to the trio that walked through. I scowled upon recognizing them. “You’re aware of the dungeons and how they have never been cleared, correct?”

  “I am,” Sabrina turned her attention back to the King after nodding to acknowledge Han. I scowled after noticing he was staring at her ass.

  My eyes darted to Rubellia, whose eyes were on the floor. She looked nervous, unlike Sora, whose eyes met mine with a burning curiosity. I recognized the look on her face all too well. It was a face that said, Who are you, and why are you here? I shifted after her eyes glowed briefly, only to stop as she cocked her head, seemingly even more confused than before.

  The trio stopped next to me, and I turned my gaze forward. I could still feel Sora’s eyes staring holes in the side of my head, and Rubellia, who was closest to me, was still staring at the ground. Nia looked at Rubellia’s chest, which I had taken the liberty to stare at, and stepped between us. In the act, her tail brushed against Rubellia, who looked at Nia.

  Their eyes met, and Rubellia’s eyes widened as she spoke. “You’re so pretty.”

  “Nya?”

  I nudged her gently. “She’s right, you know.” I smiled.

  “Not as pretty as Sabrina…”

  “Nia….” My eyes softened. “That’s not-“

  “I’m proud to say that we are the first Kingdom ever to have cleared a dungeon.” I turned my attention back to the King.

  “What?” Sabrina’s eyes widened.

  “That’s right,” the King stroked his beard with a smile. “This party, the hero's party, has cleared the Gilgamesh Dungeon in the Forest of Gilmesh.”

  “Really?” Sabrina looked over at Han.

  “I told you I’d impress you,” Han grinned.

  “Yes, but I never thought you’d achieve something as grand as clearing the dungeon.”

  “So, I impressed you?” Han stepped forward. “That means you’ll make me your Successor, right?”

  “What?” I glared at Sabrina.

  “Oh, don’t look at me like that,” she waved a hand dismissively. “I was never going to make him my Successor. There’s no need to be jealous.”

  “What!” Han stepped closer. “But you said-“

  “I said I would think about it.” Sabrina’s eyes stared coldly at him. “I never was. I knew you didn’t have what it takes to become my Successor, and I thought no one did. That is,” she slapped my back, making me stagger forward. “Until he showed up.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “What!? You made this toothpick doctor your Successor!?”

  “Doctor?” I cocked my head. Ah, the coat.

  “Why didn’t you say anything about the toothpick part?” Sora asked with a soft smile. “You’re clearly not.”

  “Was that your attempt at hitting on me?” I frowned. “Sorry, but I don’t like whores.” It seemed like she flirted with everyone.

  “What did you just call her!?” Han stepped up to me, towering over me by a good eight inches.

  I looked up at him, my gaze never faltering. “You heard me.” My eyes glowed, and he took a step back as he averted his gaze nervously.

  “I wouldn’t mess with him, Han,” Sora said. “I can’t get a read on his information. That means he’s stronger than us.”

  “That toothpick!” He snapped. “Maybe stronger than you, but not me!”

  “Egh. You’re one of those guys, huh?” I gnarled my lip as our eyes met again. Mine glowed once more as I continued. “The kind that needs to be put in their place.”

  “Tsk.” A sweat bead appeared on his cheek, and his face twisted, showing mixed emotions. He was trying to act tough, but he was scared of me for whatever reason.

  “That skill,” Rubellia tugged my sleeve.

  “Hm?” I looked down at her.

  “You have Charm, don’t you?”

  That’s the skill that was used on Lilith that one time, right? I had yet to see a message about it being used since, though, and I had no idea how to use it.

  “The skill? Yes.” I answered.

  “Amazing.” She touched my cheek with her hand. “I’ve never met anyone with that skill before. It’s extremely rare.”

  “”HISSSSK!!”” I heard both Nia and Sabrina hiss behind us.

  “I-Is it now?” I laughed sheepishly as I backed away.

  “And for it to be effective on one of the heroes…What level is it, if I may ask?”

  “Er…” I scratched my cheek. “It’s max.”

  “wHaT!?” Her voice cracked. “Max? Who are-“

  “I did not summon you here to speak of the boy's skills and stats.”

  “No one said anything about his stats,” Sora commented.

  “I suppose not.” He smiled.

  “Mmm…” I shifted uncomfortably.

  “I brought you here to congratulate you on clearing the dungeon.”

  “Yeah, it was no big deal.” Han shrugged. “It was pretty easy, in fact. I don’t know how anyone died in it before.”

  You almost did.

  “It’s remarkable. Just the three of you cleared the dungeon on your own?” I leered over to them as they answered without hesitation.

  “Yep. Just the three of us.”

  Eh?

  “Truly remarkable.” The King stroked his beard.

  “Hold up, weren’t there four of you.”

  “Huh?” Han looked at me with narrowed eyes. “What are you talking about?”

  “W-Well…Y-You’re the Hero of Knowledge, right? Word about you and your party was all over town. D-Didn’t there used to be four of you?”

  NICE SAVE!

  “Rubin…” Sora’s eyes fell. “He died fighting the final enemy in the dungeon.”

  Eh.

  “He was a true hero.” Han continued.

  “I see. The loss of a comrade can be hard indeed. But to stick out that pain and still emerge successful in battle is the sign of a true warrior.” Han straightened himself at the King's praise.