Piya, fully recovered, brought a new quest while singing cheerfully.

You must depart for ! In every heroic epic, there are companions who share trials and glory! Register as your companion!

▶Reward: Experience +1000

“A quest to register Klaus as a companion?”

―Don’t worry. Since you already have a master-servant relationship, the failure rate is zero!

“Right. It should be, considering how hard I worked to recruit Klaus.”

Piya continued to explain as I grumbled.

―Each time you complete a main scenario, an assistance slot opens. By registering a companion, you can share quests, experience, and various effects!

I half-listened to Piya’s explanation while looking at myself in the mirror.

In the reflection, instead of a dress, I was wearing a short red jacket and high-waisted white pants reaching above the waist, with the sword received from my mother at my waist.

Today was finally the day I would leave the Ajester Empire for .

Thanks to my inventory, I had only a few belongings.

The maids, unaware that I had crammed everything necessary into the inventory, lamented, “Our Princess, how can you travel with so little luggage.”

When it was time to leave, Anselot naturally came to escort me.

“I’ve come to escort you, Princess. It’s an honor to accompany you.”

“Thank you.”

I placed my hand lightly on his, and the maids followed us, chattering excitedly.

“Princess, take care on your journey!”

“Twist the dragon’s neck!”

“If the neck is too hard to twist, go for the tail!”

Leaving the maids’ casual farewells behind, as if I were just going for a walk, I walked towards the Imperial Palace with Anselot.

Piya sat proudly on my left shoulder.

“Did you hear that, Princess? They said to twist the dragon’s neck.”

Anselot chuckled and whispered, amused.

“Is that really funny to you?”

“Don’t you find it funny, Princess?”

“No, not funny at all.”

Instead of being amusing, the thought of facing that terrifying dragon made me feel uneasy.

“Will I be able to defeat the dragon and return safely?”

Even though the decision was irreversible, I was still worried.

“Don’t worry. Even if our Princess’s wrists are slender, you can at least twist a dragon’s toe.”

Anselot chuckled and pulled my hand.

Squeak! Squeak!

―Don’t worry, Lu-Lu! Piya will serve you faithfully and help twist the dragon’s neck!

Piya flapped her wings, proclaiming loudly.

Anselot glanced at Piya and muttered,

“Well, as long as the bird doesn’t become just a mouthful for the dragon.”

Soon, we entered the corridor of the Imperial Palace where the Empress’s audience chamber was.

Klaus was waiting for me in front of the audience chamber.

He had replaced his broken shield from the space with a golden one on his back.

The golden shield, adorned with the emblem of Ajester, was one of the royal treasures awarded by my mother for saving me.

Squeal!

―Princess, now’s the time! The quest!

Ignoring Piya’s shout, I approached Klaus.

“Hello, Knight Klaus.”

“Have you arrived, Princess?”

Klaus bowed gracefully to me.

I looked at him with a sense of pride.

‘Now I am of a higher level than Klaus.’

I felt that it should be that way since I’m the player.

Until recently, my level was lower than Klaus’s, but after receiving the blessing from the priest, it increased to 29.

In contrast, Klaus’s level was not 20… but 25.

‘Huh? Klaus’s assistance level has increased?’
Indeed, if Klaus’s level remained stuck at 20 while we set out to defeat the dragon, that would be problematic in its own way.

It seemed the system adjusted the levels of surrounding characters as the scenario progressed.

‘Well, I’m still higher.’

Approaching Klaus, a blue window appeared.

Register as a companion.
Give an item.

I chose the first option.

Without my control, my lips moved on their own and said,

“Knight Klaus, I’ll ask you once again. Will you depart with me for The Proof of a Hero?”

“If it is Your Highness’s command, I will follow wherever it may be.”

Simultaneously with the quest completion notification, Klaus’s name window displayed his companion level.

Light’s Shield

‘What? Why is he higher than me?’

I blinked in disbelief at Klaus’s level for a moment before noticing the words ‘Blessed State’ underneath.

―When you register a companion, you can share quests, experience, and various effects!

I recalled Piya’s words about sharing various effects in a companion relationship.

‘Ah, the Priest’s Blessing’

It seemed the effects of the blessing I received from the priest were shared when I registered him as a companion.

I felt somewhat disappointed.

“……”

“Your Highness……?”

Klaus, noticing my dejected expression, called out to me with a puzzled voice.

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go greet Her Majesty.”