Chapter 21: One Of A kind
Prince Nathaniel sat at his desk while his tutor droned on endlessly about the marriage customs of neighboring kingdoms.
"In the northern duchies, engagements are often sealed with ceremonial jewelry, while the western empires value military alliances above bloodline—"
What a hassle.
Nathaniel stared out the window with half-lidded eyes, resting his cheek against his hand. He already knew all of this. He had spent years overhearing nobles gossip during banquets and political gatherings. Half the aristocracy repeated the same information over and over anyway.
His intelligence had always been considered abnormal. He could memorize books after reading them once, master sword forms after seeing them demonstrated a single time, and adapt to court etiquette faster than seasoned nobles.
Yet despite all that, his father still insisted on tutors.
"Knowledge without discipline becomes arrogance," the king would always say.
Nathaniel personally thought it was just another excuse to torture him with boredom.
Compared to other nobles his age, he was an anomaly. While young heirs obsessed over inheritance, status, or romantic scandals, Nathaniel found himself detached from all of it. Conversations about politics and social standing felt painfully repetitive.
Most noble ladies weren't any better.
Some desperately tried to impress him with fake refinement. Others practically threw themselves at him for the sake of becoming crown princess.
It was exhausting.
"How bleak…" he muttered under his breath.
"There's truly nothing interesting left to do."
The book in his hand felt almost insulting.
He had already finished it three days ago.
Ever since his debut into high society, Nathaniel had earned the reputation of a cold-hearted prince. Elegant. Perfect. Untouchable.
A man who smiled only out of courtesy.
He excelled in swordsmanship despite barely training. Politics came naturally to him. Magic theory was laughably simple.
Most people envied his talent.
None of them understood how suffocating it felt.
"My greatest fear… is spending the rest of my life trapped in this dull, colorless routine."
The sound of hesitant footsteps interrupted his thoughts.
"U-Um… excuse me, Prince Nathaniel…" a servant spoke nervously from outside the door.
"You have a visitor."
Nathaniel blinked slowly.
A visitor?That alone was unusual.
Aside from a few noble acquaintances and overly eager marriage candidates, hardly anyone came to see him personally.
"Who is it?" he asked, finally sounding mildly interested.
"It's Lady Shiori."
Silence.
Then, for the first time all day, Nathaniel's eyes brightened.
A genuine smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it.
"She came to see me…?"
The thought alone sent an unfamiliar warmth through his chest.
…No. Impossible.
His expression immediately flattened again.
"She's probably here to see Father about the tutoring position," he sighed quietly.
Still…
"But no matter," he murmured, standing from his chair. "I shall do my best to keep her company."
His smile returned, though this one was slightly forced.
Lady Shiori.The strange fox girl who constantly disrupted his composure.
Ever since their first meeting, she had fascinated him. At first he assumed she would be another arrogant noblewoman. The disgusted look she gave him after he kissed her hand certainly didn't help.
But then she continued ruining every expectation he had of her.
She never tried to gain his favor.
Never flirted.
Never acted graceful.
Never even attempted to behave like a proper noble lady.
The day he visited her estate only to find her wearing pants and a loose shirt instead of a dress, Nathaniel nearly suffered emotional damage on the spot.
At one point, he had genuinely wondered if proposing to her had been a mistake.
…And yet he still found himself thinking about her constantly.
The doors opened as Nathaniel stepped into the receiving hall alongside his butler.
Then he froze.
Shiori stood near the entrance, absentmindedly staring at a decorative suit of armor.
Today, unlike usual, she was actually dressed properly.
A flowing silver-gray dress layered with soft purple accents draped elegantly around her figure. Her snow-white hair had been woven into a loose braid tied with a simple ribbon.
No excessive jewelry.
No heavy makeup.
Simple.
Natural.
Beautiful.
Nathaniel completely forgot how to speak for three whole seconds.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head.
"N-Not at all!" he answered far too quickly.
"My father is currently occupied with national affairs, however… I would be more than happy to accompany you until he becomes available."
"Thanks, that's nice of you," she grinned casually.
Nathaniel nearly twitched.
What is with her vocabulary?!
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness," would've been the proper response!
Still…
Somehow, hearing her speak so naturally felt oddly refreshing.
They soon sat together on the terrace while servants prepared tea and elegant desserts.
Nathaniel quietly observed Shiori from across the table.
More specifically—
He stared at the way she was practically drooling over the cupcakes.
Despite clearly wanting to grab one immediately, she sat stiffly in place like a well-trained puppy desperately waiting for permission.
…So she does have standards.
He almost laughed.
"It's alright," Nathaniel said, hiding his amusement behind his teacup. "The snacks were prepared for us."
The moment permission was granted, Shiori immediately grabbed a cupcake.
Nathaniel watched in disbelief as her fox ears twitched slightly in satisfaction.
Dangerous.
That was genuinely dangerous levels of cuteness.
"I'm surprised you came alone," he said, attempting conversation.
"It wasn't easy," she admitted while chewing. "Ryu and the others were super skeptical about me visiting by myself. Something about not wanting me alone with a man."
Nathaniel nearly choked on his tea.
For some reason… that statement irritated him slightly.
"I see…"
"So," Shiori continued casually, "I actually came to talk to you about something."
Nathaniel straightened immediately.
Her tone had suddenly become serious.
"…Go on."
"I know you still feel guilty about my injury, but it's already healed. So if you ever want to annul our engagement, I'm perfectly fine with that."
Nathaniel blinked.
"…What?"
"You're basically a first-rate princely protagonist type," she continued confidently. "You need a first-rate heroine type by your side. Meanwhile, my ambitions are completely different."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"I plan to carve my name into history as a first-rate villainess." She nodded proudly.
Nathaniel stared at her in utter silence.
…What in tarnation is she talking about?
His eye twitched slightly.
That only happened whenever he was trying to process something absurdly complicated.
Meanwhile Shiori maintained a calm smile internally.
Take the hint and end the engagement already, you sparkling prince protagonist. You may be a first rate otume love interest but I don't need a side character like you in my story. I refuse to spend my life dealing with accidental white lotus drama during political meetings.
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
A villainess…?
Either she had a deeply bizarre imagination…
…or she was trying to scare him into breaking off the engagement.
Ah. Reverse psychology.
Yes. That had to be it.
"And what exactly," Nathaniel asked carefully, "does this villainess persona entail?
To his surprise, Shiori's eyes sparkled immediately.
"Someone imperious. Mesmeric. A sovereign with a Machiavellian mind," she explained enthusiastically. "A sultry yet insidious enchantress who's both alluring and merciless. An enigmatic, baleful woman whose presence alone is utterly formidable."
Nathaniel blinked again.
…Excuse me?
So she does possess an excellent vocabulary.
And strangely enough…
Those traits weren't necessarily bad qualities for a future queen.
In fact, many rulers throughout history possessed those exact characteristics.
"Is something wrong?" Shiori asked again.
Nathaniel snapped from his thoughts.
"Are you certain that's the role you wish to pursue?" he asked quietly. "It sounds rather lonely."
For once, Shiori's expression softened.
"To most people, maybe," she admitted.
"And honestly, a lot of women who walk that path do end up isolated."
Her gaze drifted toward the sky.
"But I'm different."
The playful grin faded.
"I don't want to control people like chess pieces. I want loyalty given willingly. Genuine friendships. Honest connections."
Nathaniel fell silent.
"In my previous life…" she continued quietly, "I hid too much of myself because I thought it was safer that way. I convinced myself it was enough to just stay beside someone important."
Her smile became bittersweet.
"But now I realize how narrow-minded that was."
A gentle breeze swept across the terrace, her hair swaying like fine silk.
"I'm choosing this path because everyone fears it," she said firmly. "People hear the word villainess and immediately assume evil. But sometimes… villainesses are just women who refuse to let the world chain them down."
Her eyes gleamed with determination.
"That's the kind of person I want to become."
Nathaniel stared at her quietly.
No calculation.
No manipulation.
No rehearsed noble speech.
Just honesty.
Raw and sincere.
And somehow…
That sincerity struck deeper than any elegant words he had heard in years.
It felt like color had suddenly returned to his world.
"…If you'll excuse me," Shiori said abruptly, standing up. "My followers are probably wondering where I disappeared to."
Before leaving—
She discreetly stuffed two extra cupcakes into a napkin.
Nathaniel watched the entire thing happen.
He said nothing. Once she disappeared from sight, his butler finally spoke.
"What do you think of Lady Shiori, Your Highness?"
Nathaniel remained quiet for a moment before smiling faintly.
"She's fascinating."
The butler blinked.
"I can barely understand half the things she says," Nathaniel admitted honestly. "Yet somehow… speaking with her never feels boring."
His gaze lingered where she had left.
"She says exactly what she feels without hesitation. Something even I struggle to do."
A softer smile appeared.
"That honesty is what makes her so entertain—"
He coughed.
"—endearing."
The butler hid his amusement professionally.
"As for the engagement," Nathaniel continued calmly, "I have no intention of ending it anytime soon. That decision was finalized the moment I proposed."
His smile sharpened slightly.
"All I need to do now is properly monitor her before high society notices how abnormal she truly is."
The servants nearby nearly dropped everything in shock.
Because for the first time in years—
Prince Nathaniel was genuinely smiling.
Shiori's POV
I sat at my vanity table staring at the mountain of gifts Prince Nathaniel had sent over the past few days.
Jewelry.
Hair accessories.
Expensive pastries.
More pastries.
An alarming amount of pastries.
"He actually remembered what I liked during the visit…" I muttered while inspecting a ribbon. "Not that I'm complaining. This saves me from buying jewelry for noble events."
Honestly, rich prince perks were pretty convenient.
"Lady Shiori," Elliot called while entering the room. "The affairs regarding the Ethereal City embassy require your immediate attention—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes landed on the pile of gifts.
The atmosphere darkened for exactly two seconds. Then Elliot immediately smiled again like nothing happened.
"What is it?" I asked cautiously.
He sighed.
"There's a situation involving the adventurer guild…"
A few minutes later, after hearing the explanation, I stared at him blankly.
"You want my party to help stabilize the guild?"
"Yes," Elliot nodded awkwardly. "Some human adventurers still distrust your policies regarding demi-humans. Others are demanding ridiculous payment increases for simple quests. Meanwhile many non-human adventurers are leaving entirely." He rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"With fewer adventurers protecting Melvia from monsters… the citizens are beginning to panic."
Absolutely not.
I already had enough responsibilities.
An idea hit me.
"Lila's party."
"Hm?" he stared at me confused
"They're strong enough to grow quickly," I said thoughtfully. "And they'd make good public examples for the guild."
Elliot nearly teared up in relief.
"That would help tremendously!"
Ethereal City
"Huh? You want me to train Lila's party?" Ryu asked.
"Yes please," I nodded. "They'll probably learn better from someone familiar."
Ryu folded his arms thoughtfully before nodding.
"Very well. I shall undertake this mission."
"Thanks, Ryu."
As I walked away, Ryu quietly watched my retreating figure.
Judging by her reaction during Lila's kidnapping… it clearly stirred painful memories.
His expression darkened slightly.
And that strange device she constantly carries around only reinforces it.
He exhaled quietly.
I've only known Shiori-sama briefly… but these days beside her have been brighter than anything before.
If she still remains attached to her former world…
…it may become a problem someday. His eyes narrowed with determination.
"Then I'll finish this training quickly," he muttered. "So Shiori-sama's heart can finally rest."
A Few Days Later
Lila's party stood beneath a freezing waterfall while shivering violently.
Meanwhile—
Ryu calmly sat nearby eating cookies.
"I think my soul is leaving my body…" Blaze wheezed.
"Good," Ryu replied casually. "That means the training is working."
The group nearly cried.
For days, Ryu forced them through endurance drills, strength training, and combat exercises so brutal even veteran adventurers would complain.
And now—
They stood face-to-face with an entire pack of Thunder Bears.
"…What the hell?!" Lila paled.
The monsters roared loudly.The party immediately panicked and charged recklessly.The bears swatted them away like annoying insects.
"GET BACK!" the healer shouted while desperately healing everyone.
Ryu sighed deeply from his tree branch.
Honestly hopeless.
A barrier instantly surrounded the bears, trapping them temporarily.
"What exactly was that?" Ryu asked flatly.
"Reckless attacks without strategy?"
"We didn't want to become lunch!" Blaze yelled defensively.
"And you," Ryu said while turning toward Almon, the healer. "Why are you limiting yourself to support magic when you can also use dark and earth magic efficiently?"
Everyone froze.
"…Wait," Lila blinked. "You can use those elements?"
Almon scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Yeah… but healing four suicidal teammates already drains most of my mana."
Ryu smirked slightly while the others lowered their heads in shame.
"I'll teach you something simple," he said.
"First, create a trap."
"A trap?" Lila asked.
"That's right. Almon, turn the ground into mud."
The healer obeyed immediately. Ryu then handed him a vial.
"Mix this into the mud."
Almon blinked.
"…Poison?"
"A diluted paralysis agent," Ryu corrected.
"You're welcome."
The barrier vanished. The Thunder Bears charged—and immediately sank into the poisonous mud.
"This slows movement and weakens their muscles," Ryu explained calmly. "Now, Archer."
The elf girl released multiple arrows.
Direct hits.
Several bears collapsed instantly.
"We can actually win!" the healer gasped.
"Don't get careless," Ryu warned. "They're smarter than they look."
Almost immediately, the remaining bears stepped over their fallen allies to avoid the trap.
The party paled.
"Marksman," Ryu ordered, "draw their attention."
Blaze grinned nervously.
"Come here you oversized Pikachu!"
He shot one directly in the face before sprinting away screaming.
"And finally," Ryu continued, "Lila—ambush from behind."
She moved instantly. One clean strike.
The Thunder Bear collapsed.The team stared in disbelief.
"This… actually works," Almon whispered.
"Of course it does," Ryu smirked. "Strategy matters more than raw levels."
"But I can't cast powerful offensive spells," Almon frowned.
"You don't need massive attacks," Ryu replied. "Behind the claws and fur, they're still living creatures. Suffocation, poison, fear—everything works."
He cast a simple illusion on one bear.
The creature suddenly began thrashing wildly as if drowning before collapsing unconscious.
The team stared at him with horror.
"…That's terrifying."
"Thank you."
By sunset, the entire pack had been defeated.
"We did it!" Lila cheered.
"Thunder Bear hide sells for a fortune!" Blaze cried happily despite looking half dead.
"Excellent work," Ryu nodded. "Now raid the Eastern Dungeon tomorrow."
Silence.
"…What?"
"The Eastern Dungeon," Ryu repeated casually.
The party collectively turned pale.
"But our levels aren't high enough!" Lila shouted.
"Levels are merely numbers," Ryu replied. "Teamwork and planning matter far more."
The group looked moved for exactly three seconds.
Then realization hit.
"WAIT YOU'RE SERIOUS?!"
"My work here is done," Ryu declared while walking away dramatically. "Good luck tomorrow."
The party stared at him like he was a demon.
{Location: melvia guild}
...
A few hours later
"Huh?! You did what?!"
Eliot's face drained of color so fast it looked like his soul had momentarily left his body. The papers in his hands slipped from his grasp and fluttered onto the guild counter as he stared at Ryu in disbelief.
The usually noisy adventurer's guild had gone strangely quiet. Even nearby adventurers paused their conversations, sensing incoming chaos.
Ryu, meanwhile, remained completely unfazed.
"I said," he repeated calmly, "I sent them to the Eastern Dungeon."
The receptionist nearly choked.
"Are you insane?!" she shrieked, slamming both palms against the counter hard enough to make the ink bottles rattle. "That place is practically a death zone! Adventurers over level one hundred die there all the time! You need to be at least level three hundred just to survive the outer areas!"
Tears actually welled in her eyes from sheer stress.
Eliot grabbed his head in his hands "Why would you send teenagers there?!"
Ryu crossed his arms casually.
"Because they needed real combat experience."
"That's not a valid reason!"
"It worked, didn't it?"
"That's not the point!"
Before the argument could continue—
BANG!
The guild doors slammed open with enough force to make everyone jump.
A cold gust of wind swept into the hall as five exhausted figures staggered through the entrance.
Their clothes were torn in several places, dirt and dried blood covered parts of their bodies, and they looked one step away from collapsing entirely.
Yet despite their miserable appearance…
None of them carried fatal injuries.
The entire guild froze.
"Ryu-dono…" Lila wheezed while trying to stay upright. "We've… returned…"
The silver-haired girl looked moments away from passing out on the spot.
"We used up all our mana…" Almon groaned dramatically while dragging his staff behind him. "And all the healing potions too…"
"My entire body hurts…" Blaze muttered hoarsely. "I can't even feel my shoulders anymore…"
The remaining two members didn't even bother speaking. They simply dropped several massive sacks onto the guild floor with heavy thuds before collapsing into nearby chairs.
The receptionist blinked.
Then blinked again.
Slowly, trembling slightly, she approached the bags and opened one.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"T-Thunder Bear claws…?!"
The surrounding adventurers gasped. She hurriedly opened another sack.
"Viper scales…?! Crimson Hind antlers too?!"Her voice rose higher with every item she pulled out.
"You… you actually raided the Eastern Dungeon…"
The guild exploded into noise.
"No way!"
"They survived?!"
"A rookie party did that?!"
"Those materials are worth a fortune!"
Even veteran adventurers stared at the group with stunned expressions.
Lila weakly puffed out her chest despite looking half-dead.
"We nearly died…" she mumbled proudly.
"You absolutely nearly died," Eliot replied instantly.
Ryu, however, looked thoroughly pleased.
"Good work, everyone," he said with a grin.
"As a reward for passing your training, you're now permitted to use the hot springs to soothe your aching bodies."
The exhausted teens collectively blinked.
"…Hot springs?" they echoed.
Later that evening…
The group returned to the Ethereal City.
Ever since Shiori-sama introduced concepts from her previous world, many fascinating ideas had spread throughout the territory. Seasonal festivals, modern recipes, entertainment rooms…
And perhaps one of the most beloved inventions so far—
Hot springs.
The followers had practically become obsessed with recreating them.
As a result, a large open-air bath had been constructed in the eastern section of the new mansion that would eventually become Shiori's official residence. Most of the building was already complete, though workers were still adding luxurious furnishings and decorative finishing touches.
Steam drifted gently into the cool evening air as the teens stared at the springs with sparkling eyes.
The atmosphere was beautiful.
Stone pathways surrounded the water, soft lanterns glowed nearby, and the faint scent of herbs floated through the air.
"…Whoa…" Blaze whispered.
"So this is a hot spring…" Lila muttered in awe.
"It feels kinda fancy…" Almon added nervously.
"It's separated by gender," Ryu explained while nodding approvingly. "Go enjoy yourselves. You earned it."
That was all the permission they needed.
Within minutes, the exhausted teenagers hurried off to change.
Soon—
Splash.
Collective sighs of relief echoed throughout the bath.
"Aaaaaah…"
"This feels amazing…"
"I think my soul just came back to life…"
"My muscles are crying tears of joy…"
The boys leaned against the rocks with expressions of absolute bliss while steam rose around them.
For the first time since returning from the dungeon, everyone looked genuinely relaxed.
Ryu smiled faintly while watching them chat happily.
They had improved far more than expected. If they couldn't survive this much, they would never survive the world Shiori-sama is preparing them for
Perhaps Shiori-sama truly had an eye for talent after all.
Just as he prepared to enter the bath himself—
A telepathic connection suddenly activated inside his mind.
"Ryu."
His entire body stiffened instantly.
Shiori's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I heard everything about how you sent Lila's party on a dangerous quest."
…Damn you, Eliot. Snitch.
Ryu scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Umm… yeah…
He silently prepared himself for a long lecture.
Shiori sighed softly.
"They've really become stronger," she admitted. "So… thank you for training them."
Ryu blinked in surprise.
"…Then does this mean I can—"
"Don't push your luck."
Her tone immediately turned serious again.
Ryu laughed awkwardly.
"Right…"
There was a brief pause before Shiori spoke once more.
"You may watch your anime," she said, sounding mildly resigned, "but don't let it distract you from your duties."
Ryu froze.
Then his eyes widened with pure joy.
"Shiori-sama…!"
But before he could continue rambling—
The telepathic link ended.
Silence.
Ryu smiled faintly before running toward the media room.
She always acted strict…
Yet somehow, she never stopped looking after everyone" he snickered.
Without another second of hesitation, he immediately dashed off toward the media room like an excited child set free.