How strong are the ties of destiny? How certain is the pull of fate?
Those that are destined to be together, is it certain they’ll meet? Those destined to die, is it inevitable they’ll face the reaper? Is life truly unpredictable? Or does it follow an unbreakable string?
With both the fated couple receiving suspicious invites, it makes one think if there’s a greater force intervening. Or, it could just be the insane Princess and her idiotic band of knights sending invitations to everyone…
“What’s going on in front!? This is the sixth time now! The horses are getting impatient!”
Today, the story officially begins! Followed by a group of knights, most travel on horseback, while several travel on foot. I’m one of the several, and it’s safe to say, I’m beginning to feel a little guilty.
“Knight… I’d choose your next words very carefully. If my partner wishes for all of us to wait and watch a snail cross the road, then that shall happen.”
“I-I… m-my apologies, Your Highness. O-Of course, there i-is no hurry—”
“Ouch! Whatcha do that for?”
“Moron! You’re lucky she didn’t skin you for that.”
I’m feeling even more guilty for the knight getting whacked. The entire reason we’re stopping is because of me.
There are reasons for it at least. First, horses are evil. Seriously though, they can kick you off whenever they want and crush your head like a grape! They’re far too unpredictable for my liking.
Also, I’ll have to ride with Ashia because I’ve never ridden before. Being that close to her will get me worked up.
The second reason? I’m levelling… or trying to level at least. We’re finally outside the city in a place with wild animals. Before the event starts and most of them are killed, I want to try taming one.
But of course, things are never that easy.
“Screw this, I’m done! I’m only going to get rabies if I keep this up… one more?”
“Heh, just give it up, Frost. They don’t like you.”
“How can you say that!? Just look into their sweet-innocent eyes and tell me they don’t love me!”
…
“Heh, they don’t love you, Frost. They only want the carrot.”
Raccoons, foxes, pheasants, hares, some of them even have horns! Regardless of the species, none like me. This trait is useless.
I can approach any creature with food in hand, but if I get close, they’ll bite. I try to pet one, they’ll take off a finger!
But I’m stubborn, it’s the first time I’ve been outside the city so this trait has to have some use. Even if it’s just a lousy rodent and not an ancient spirit or magical beast, level one should allow me to get something, right?
‘Those singing fairytale Princesses make this look far easier than it is…’
Eventually giving up, the convoy gets moving again. Before we know it, we’re looking at a huge lodge in the middle of the forest. This place is gigantic.
To the left, a fenced-off area connected to a large stable sits. To the right, another fenced-off area with dozens of dogs. Retrievers, foxhounds, terriers. If it can run and rip a fox in half, the breed is here.
Immediately, our presences are noticed in the crowd as we approach, all who see us take the time to curtsey or bow. It’s honestly a little overwhelming having this much focus on us.
But only a few nobles stand out. While Ashia is getting down and ignoring an offered hand by one of the faceless knights, a few nobles dare to even approach us.
“Your Highness and Lady Frost! What a delight it is for you to finally show!”
Spoiler
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Reynold][Family Name: August][Affection: -25/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Male][Class: Nobility][Age: 34][Trait Rarity] [»][Businessman] [Þ][Evil] [Þ][Lucky] [Þ]
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[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
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“We couldn’t start the hunt without your participation! How rude would that be to start an event without the backers? It’s inconceivable!”
Spoiler
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Aaronhart][Family Name: Tobias][Affection: -15/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Male][Class: Nobility][Age: 27][Trait Rarity] [»][Beautiful] [Þ][Selfish] [Þ][Perceptive] [Þ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
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“Is everything okay with the King and Queen? To think they couldn’t make the time to attend this year.”
Spoiler
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Arnolt][Family Name: Dickerson][Affection: -45/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Male][Class: Nobility][Age: 32][Trait Rarity] [»][Misogynist] [Þ][Frugal] [Þ][Corrupt] [Þ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
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‘Ain't these three potential antagonists in the making? I wonder if Ashia would take their heads if I asked...’
Now on the ground, the same level as these men, Ashia immediately puts on her unamused game face and addresses the nobles directly.
“They’re busy and don’t have the time to attend something they can’t enter. You three needn’t wait for our attendance; this should’ve started hours ago.”
“Of course, the Princess of this great nation would understand everyone’s eagerness to get started! While you’re getting settled, I shall take the time to address the guests! Feel free to drink and eat as much as you can…”
It’s only just now I’m realising how supplied this place is, we're in the middle of a bloody forest! Inside the lodge, it’s like a buffet!
Unfortunately for my sake, I'm not allowed to eat or drink any of it. At least Anna packed us some lunches, I guess.
“Hear thee, hear thee! Now that the graceful and elegant Princess has made her appearance, it’s time to get started! I’ll begin by making a toast…”
Seeing that Reynold noble is now addressing the crowd and frankly, his boring speech is giving me a migraine, I should get around to explaining what this event really is.
Once a year, the royal Koenig family hosts a hunting event for the sole purpose of charity. For every animal killed, the carcass is donated, as well as a single golden coin, to the people in the slums. That might not sound like a lot, but a golden coin is worth a thousand regular coins. The whole concept is to bring the slums out of the dark ages.
The problem? This charity event is a complete sham.
Before the animal even sees a butcher, anything meat-wise is spoiled long before seeing the capital. What’s worse, the donations end up going to a charity owned by the donor.
You see the problem? The donor donates to a charity owned by themselves. It's clearly fraud, used as a way of bypassing taxes. Charitable organisations are tax-exempt.
But it can’t be prosecuted because it’s a legal loophole. We were discussing this at great lengths the other night. As long as even a minuscule percentage goes to the slums, the charity can do what they want with the rest.
‘Just like Earth, money always corrupts. The mega-rich will always find a way to avoid tax.’
So, what’s the actual reason we attend? To see the fated couple of course! There’s one thing reading a story, but actually seeing it come to life is a different matter…
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Cecilia][Family Name: Magnolia][Affection: 0/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Female][Class: Common][Age: 24][Trait Rarity] [»][Divinity] [ℑ][Defender] [†][Healer] [ℑ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
Perfect timing as the woman with emerald green eyes and golden locks appears briefly within the crowd. She draws a fair amount of attention. Some of it good, some of it bad…
“She’s really quite stunning, huh. She’d never fall for a guy like me.”
“There’s a great deal of participating women this year. It makes me think what path this kingdom is going down.”
“It’s absurd, right? Women holding swords and bows? Not cooking utensils!? Our forefathers would turn in their graves.”
As a true believer of gender equality, I wish to butt in, only for the Princess to lightly grab my hand and calm me down.
“Not the right time, Frost. You’ll get used to comments like that…”
‘For someone who doesn’t care about reputation, she really can hold herself back.’
“But if you can’t get used to it, I can always rid them of their heads instead. Just say the word.”
…
‘Okay, my wife is insane…’
“…Let the hunt commence!”
‘Poppycock! I’ve lost her now!’
In my haste to destroy misogyny, the Saintess disappears, and the noble finally finishes his ungodly long speech. Now, I’m worried because I know what’s happening next…
“Who wanders into the forest alone anyway? And where is that bloody bastard!?”
My outburst is ignored by practically everyone; it’s almost odd how much we’re being avoided. Is it fear? Or are we just considered crazy? Either way, this is far more important!
“Relax Frost. She can handle herself.”
“I know she can, but the entire point is for him to save her. If he’s not here, shouldn’t we intervene?”
Both of us whisper, but my voice gradually gets louder again due to my stress. I don’t remember the whole of the story, but the start I do remember. If things go wrong, I’ll feel unimaginable guilt.
“I’ve already confirmed he’s here. There’s bad blood between the family; he wouldn’t want to be seen. It’s a good thing mother isn’t here; she’d sniff him out a mile away.”
“Is your mother a bloodhound then?”
“Heh, in a sense. Just relax. A romantic might say they’re destined to meet.”
“Or an author.”
The cynic inside me still hates this blasted novel. It’s only going to get worse from here on out.
"Correct. It’s for the best if we don’t get involved with those two. She’s the only one who can tame the beast. Plus, the more hardships they face, the stronger they’ll grow.”
She’s completely right. The original plot demands that those two grow together. We’ll need them at full strength when war breaks out.
I’m still not happy leaving a woman alone in the woods to fight off predators though.
“Her blood is on your hands if this goes wrong.”
“Heh, you continue to underestimate me. Even if "fate” resists, I’ll just force it if I have to.”
No more needs to be said because I know this Princess too well by now. Even if those two don’t naturally meet, she’s the type to have a plan B, C, D, and E. She’s probably got hooded figures watching them even now. I could even see her being the type to kidnap both of them and forcing them to meet that way.
But enough distractions... it’s time to hunt. All the nobles surrounding this area have collected their dogs and horses. It’s our turn to get ready and join in.
“So… we making a move or what?”
“About that... Frost. We royals aren’t supposed to get involved.”
“You’re kidding, right? We’ve gone hunting… not to hunt?”
Back on Earth, I’ve no experience in hunting, but the Frost deep within me wants to shoot something! How is it she got so good with a bow in the first place? It’s the only way to survive across the northern ocean.
You hunt, or you don’t eat.
“You already know this is a sham. Besides, there’s a different reason behind it. We’ve been barred from competing.”
“What? Why? How can anyone stop you?”
“This decision is best for everyone. You see… we tend to get carried away when it comes to hunting…”
‘I know exactly where this is going.’
“We used to rotate venues, but options became limited with our involvement. Eight years ago, father was banned after accidentally burning down half a forest.”
‘Yep. Called it.’
“Five years ago, mother was removed after allowing her poisonous fog to spread into the neighbouring wheat fields. That incident nearly crippled the treasury.”
“Two years ago, I was barred after burning down an ENTIRE forest. Best not discuss that too much… that honey bear that got away still haunts my dreams.”
‘Hehe… I’ll never understand why I like her insanity.’
“And last year, my younger brother was banned after he had an idea to turn the predators into prey. After netting a dozen nobles, that was the final nail in the coffin.”
The royal family of Koenig, absolute monsters in mind and flesh. To think this sham of an event has such a disastrous history. These are the types of situations the novel should've focused on!
Despite me wanting to know more, my brain itches for something else. I'm not like my wife and her family.
“Seeing that I’m sane and technically not of noble birth...”
“Heh, of course you can, Frost. Please note I’ll be following behind. There’s no way I’m allowing you to go in there without guaranteed safety.”
‘She’s so overprotective, I love it! Screw the Saintess’s protection, I’m taking it all for myself…’
‘Poor Bambi, a different deer I'm referring to that has NO legal relationship to any of the same name. Looks like your mother WILL be coming home tonight.’
The idea of being overprotected has a few drawbacks, the main one being all the trampling and noise from behind.
If it were only the Princess on her horse, it might be alright. But when we’re being protected by a legion of knights, and we keep coming across other huge hunting parties in this forest, it makes hunting a near impossibility…
But after several hours, I’m finally on the trail of something! The tracks lead forward into a small clearing on the left. What’s more, it’s also just left behind a fresh pile of droppings. How do I know they're fresh?
It steams. You didn’t think I planned on touching it or something, right? It’s literal crap.
Now on its trail, I slow myself down further and basically crawl just above the ground. Even with the ghastly amount of noise behind me, I ease on closer and soon enough, the target stands in sight.
‘Bloody hell, look at the size of that thing! We don’t have ostriches in this kingdom.’
The deer stops to sniff the egg; its brief moment of pause makes me hesitate. Instead of drawing an arrow, I become unstuck. There’s a feeling deep within me… it’s telling me to stop.
No, it’s not guilt from killing a defenceless being. The idea of eating venison far exceeds my dislike of blood. But why is it telling me to stop? The novel never said anything about a gigantic egg. There must be something special about it…
“Motherfucker!”
A flock of birds fly into the lush canopy of the forest, sending twigs and leaves everywhere, also causing the deer to abandon his eggy friend. Now, I guess we’re not having venison for dinner.
‘At least this will make a nice meal, I suppose. Let’s hope it’s not fertilised—’
[Congratulations!][»][Tamer has progressed to the next tier.]‘Huh? Just touching it had that effect? Did I level it up a load earlier? But it feels like I was just gifted power...’
All I do is bend down to poke it, and my Tamer trait upgrades!? It took me over a hundred hours to level Archer, but this happens like this? I was barely progressing, then an egg appears?
It’s a sign! It makes me think, what would happen if I helped it hatch? This world does have spirits and magical creatures, although they are rare to come up in the novel.
‘I guess I’m raising a child then. To think I was going to eat my baby a minute ago…’
[MIND'S EYE][First Name: Frost][Family Name: Muntjac][Affection: 100/100][Traits] [»][Gender: Female][Class: Merchant][Age: 23][Trait Rarity] [»][Archery] [†][⇑] [Tamer] [Þ][Mind's Eye] [Þ]
Spoiler
[TIER][Legendary] [5*][Excellent] [4*][Great] [3*] [Good] [2*] [Average] [1*] [TYPE][Combat: †][Magical: ℑ][Passive: Þ] [collapse]
Lah lah lah lah! Just a simple girl roaming the huge forest! Plucky in spirit, fiery in temper, she skips along the grass in search of medicinal ingredients. All alone out here, far away from the designated hunting grounds, this forest is ripe for the picking!
‘I might as well make the most of this… ptooey! I’d have skipped this if I could!’
The forests east of the capital are filled with all kinds of wonders for an alchemical mind. Leaves, berries, mushrooms, roots, nectar, sap. Silver lining, considering how much the woman hates these sorts of get-togethers.
The plucky adventurer had no desire to ever visit such a pompous event. Just a simple alchemist descending from an unimportant family, there’s no reason why she’d ever be invited to something only nobles attend. Unless someone longed for her hand in marriage…
So she allowed herself to be seen, then swiftly disappeared to not draw attention. Unbeknownst to her as she picked several mushrooms, she had drawn attention long ago…
“Well well well. What do we have here? What’s a beauty like you doing on your own?”
“Strayed a bit far from the main hunting party, have you? All lost and afraid out here?”
“Someone like you must be terrified! It’s a good thing three strapping men have come to the rescue.”
Three slimy men approach, all with more on their minds than just wanting to help a lost traveller.
“You... shouldn’t do this.”
“Do what? Save a poor and innocent woman from dying on her own out here? We’re so far away… no one could ever hear you scream.”
“Our generosity comes with a cost, ya dig? It’ll be a secret just between us.”
“Care to guess what our price is? Tee-hee, we promise we’ll be gentle!”
All three of the slimy men slowly approach the lonesome woman, now with their intentions fully erect and showing. Whatever will she do!? Call for help? Run? Hide? Fight?
Except, she doesn’t need the chance to decide…
Slash! The bearded man’s head rolls to the floor and his body freezes in place, only to collapse a second later.
Fear rushes on the remaining predators' faces when they see a dark abomination, burning and consuming the forest around it. This man is insane with bloodlust!
“Cousin Davey! What have you done—”
“ARGH! Die, you scumbag!”
Stab! The attacker rams his sword through the chest of the blonde man just as he is trying to raise his own blade!
Tossed to the ground like a sack of potatoes, only a single cousin remains. His however stomach rapidly fills with anxiety. Now, he doesn’t know what to do!
“S-Stay b-back! I-I’m w-warning you!”
Slowly backing away, his blade may be raised, but knowing the hunter has become the hunted shakes him to his very core.
Clash! The attacker slices towards the cousin, only to find steel clanking against steel.
He’ll take the very next moment to counter, but before he can blink, his entire world turns to the side. One is vastly superior in speed to the other, and one now only possesses a head...
…
The forest grows quiet when all three men are cut down with three separate swings. In under the space of a minute, only two of the five continue to breathe.
The entire time, the woman doesn’t get a glimpse of the stranger’s face, only ever seeing the back of his burgundy-coloured hair. His performance was inspiring, albeit barbaric.
“Thanks for the help, stranger.”
“…”
Instead of a response, he doesn’t even acknowledge the woman, instead grabbing a handful of leaves and wiping his blade clean with them.
Once the sword is put on his back, he finally takes the chance to show off his bloody face. The lifelessness behind those eyes, that cold and heartless expression, it could cause many hearts to throb.
Then, he speaks…
“Are you retarded or something? What is the matter with you?”
What a disgusting personality! He instantly insults the damsel, then barges into her, basically throwing her against a tree! Some might call this a kabedon, but not a single moment of this is romantic!
“What creature disappears into the middle of the woods knowing full well this place is dangerous!? It’s absurd! It’s moronic! It’s idiotic! It’s—”
So many insults within his ranting! The poor woman in distress was taking her time to consider her actions, but now she realises there’s no need to change her plan.
A saviour? Please! He’s no better than those vermin!
“OOMPH!”
…
Has one ever heard the tale of the nutcracker? A tale of the wandering eunuch, perhaps? Or the exploding gonad? With a power rivalling the strength of a bull, a part of the man’s body is attacked… hard.
He immediately collapses on the ground, desperately holding something that may never work again.
“My dear saviour. If you throw a woman into a tree like a predator, you’ll be treated as such.”
“W-W-W-Why…”
“Why? I’m not weak enough to allow scoundrels to take advantage of me. The moment one of them lowered their pants, they’d discover an intimate experience with this!”
With a smile that sends shivers down the wounded man’s spine and what’s left of his scrotum, she reveals a small but sharpened dagger within her purse. His help… was unneeded.
“But I digress. Thank you for your assistance, kind sir! Just in the future, don’t force women into trees, okay? Oh, and do be careful! It’s awfully dangerous out here…”
[Crown Jewels]
Spoiler
‘I need another hour… ohhhhohhhoh...'
'Fuckkk... what is that bitch’s problem?’
The future of the kingdom depends on the Bastard’s royal jewels, yet they’ve been treated so poorly by this scoundrel! This is an affront to the kingdom! It’s an attack! It’s war! It’s treason!
‘I’ve never been defeated this badly. Whatever it takes, I’ll show that harlot the error of her ways…
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