Asphayren Loarkin lay alone in a stark white room.

Clutching his slightly foggy head, he rose to his feet. Unfamiliar white walls filled his vision. An unfamiliar space.

Why am I in a place like this?

Asphayren then looked down at his own clothing.

A thin white shirt, comfortable black trousers, and a simple robe of muted color—it was exactly what he’d changed into after finishing his official duties and returning to his bedroom.

A frown briefly crossed Asphayren’s brow. There’s no way I’d have left the palace like this.

But what would change by simply sitting here pondering? Asphayren sighed softly and got up. He intended to investigate this place.

Asphayren adjusted the hem of his robe and moved. Or rather, attempted to move.

Until he sensed a presence behind him.

The detected presence was so minute and insignificant that it was miraculous he noticed it at all. And yet, it was rushing toward him.

He felt like the being was so fragile it would be swept away by a breath, but Asphayren did not let his guard down. He immediately turned around to see what it was.

And there…

“My Lord!”

…was Shuria, bouncing around, her head and body in a 1:1 ratio, both the size of a human head, and her arms reaching toward the ceiling.

“…?”

Shuria?

Why is Shuria here? And before that, why is she so small? And what’s with the ratio?

It felt as though his already foggy mind was further cluttered with tangled threads. A pounding headache was setting in.

In the meantime, the small Shuria fluttered toward him, and Asphayren unwittingly took a half-step back.

This was the first retreat for Asphayren, the Heroic King who never backed down even before a ferocious horde of monsters.

As he moved back, he felt something bump against his heel and heard a tiny “Ouch!”

Asphayren slowly turned his head.

“…”

There, another miniaturized Shuria was looking up at him with tearful eyes, having fallen on her backside.

“What is this…”

His mind felt increasingly distant. His neck was stiff. Meanwhile, the fallen mini Shuria energetically got up.

Then, she clapped her tiny hands forcefully. It was a signal.

From all sides, tiny Shurias started popping out one by one. They were variously shaped.

Shurias covered in white fur, Shurias with squirrel tails and ears, Shurias with rabbit ears, chubby-cheeked Shurias, Shurias gripping large walnuts with their small hands…

Countless Shurias rushed straight toward Asphayren. They clung to his trousers, incessantly chattering.

“My Lord!”

“My Lord! You’re amazing!”

“My Lord! You’re cool!”

“My Lord! You’re handsome!”

“My Lord!”

“My Looord!”

The number of small Shurias was increasing. Asphayren panted heavily. What is this, what on Earth is this?

He wanted to escape, but he was stuck, as if someone had tightly bound him. His body was damp with cold sweat.

Shurias were falling from the sky. Cackling laughter filled his ears. He was dizzy.

Countless Shurias grabbed his leg and shook it, and finally, Asphayren lost his balance and fell backward. However, there was no pain upon hitting the floor.

In a daze, Asphayren looked up at the being cradling his head.

A smile that smelled like a spring breeze. Brilliant golden eyes shining like the sun.

Yes, those golden eyes.

As if entranced, Asphayren reached out his hand. And finally, when his fingertips touched her rosy cheek…

“Heugh.”
Asphayren jolted upright. Instead of white walls, a canopy of dark blue and gold came into view.

His own bedroom, his own bed.

Was it a dream?

“Damn, damn.”

With hands dampened by cold sweat, Asphayren repeatedly rubbed his face.

The dream he had was the most humiliating, embarrassing, and horrendous one he had ever experienced.

Annoyed, Asphayren threw the blanket aside and got out of bed. Falling back to sleep in this state was impossible.

Crack.

In his hand, Asphayren violently threw the twelfth pen to a corner of the desk. The trembling aide standing next to him quickly prepared a new pen.

Normally, His Lordship’s ferocity would be enough to make one’s mouth sore just talking about it, but today, it was unusually intense.

Look, he can’t even control his strength, smashing everything in sight!

‘He must be really furious!’

Thanks to that, the aides and servants waiting in the office were having a terrible time. Being thrown barehanded in front of a swarm of monsters would have been far more comfortable.

With a hand veined in tension, Asphayren slowly stamped the approval documents and handed them to his aide.

Finally able to leave the room, the aide looked ecstatic. He dashed out of the office faster than light.

The only one left by Asphayren’s side was the second captain of the guard, Tilis Garta, who was serving as His Lordship’s close escort for the day, substituting for Canis, who was on vacation.

Then, the pen in Asphayren’s hand snapped once more. Tilis quickly prepared another pen, and exhaled a deep sigh.

Asphayren’s malevolent gaze turned towards Tilis.

“Didn’t know you had a future in pens.”