Piya, with her fully healed wings, excitedly sang and brought a new quest.

[Mandatory Quest: Assistance]

You must set off to prove yourself as a hero! Every hero’s epic journey requires a companion to share the trials and glory! Try registering as your companion!

▶Reward: Experience +1000

“Registering Klaus as a companion is a quest?”

―Don’t worry. You already have a master-servant relationship, so the probability of failure is 0!

“Right. If you have a conscience, you should. After all the effort I put into recruiting Klaus as a colleague.”

As I grumbled, Piya continued her explanation.

―Each time you complete a main scenario, a companion slot will open up. If you register a companion, you can share quests, experience, and various effects!

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

Unlike usual, the me in the mirror was wearing a short red jacket instead of a dress, with white high-waisted pants reaching above the waist, and my mother’s sword at my waist.

Today was finally the day I would leave the Azester Empire to prove myself as a hero.

Thanks to the inventory, my luggage was minimal.

The maids, unaware that I had stuffed everything I needed into the inventory, sobbed, “Our Princess, how can you have so little luggage.”

When the time came, Anselot naturally came to escort me.

“I have come to escort you, Princess. It is an honor to serve you.”

“Thank you.”

As I primly placed my hand on his, the maids squealed and followed behind us.

“Princess, have a safe trip!”

“Twist the Gloryong’s neck!”

“If the neck is hard to twist, at least twist its tail!”

Leaving behind the maids’ cries as if I were going for a light stroll, I walked towards the Imperial Palace with Anselot.

Piya sat on my left shoulder, looking dignified and chirping.

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

Anselot giggled and whispered as if finding it amusing.

“Is that so funny?”

“Doesn’t the Princess find it funny?”

“No, not at all.”

Far from being funny, the thought of facing that terrifying Gloryong made my stomach churn.

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

Although I knew it was a choice I couldn’t turn back from, I was still worried.

“Don’t worry. No matter how slender our Princess’s wrists are, you should at least be able to twist the Gloryong’s toe.”

Anselot chuckled and pulled my hand.

Chirp! Chirp!

―Don’t worry, Lulu! This Piya will sincerely serve you and twist the Gloryong’s neck together!

Piya exclaimed, beating her chest with her wings.

Anselot glanced at Piya and muttered.

“Well, as long as that bird doesn’t become a mouthful for the Gloryong, it’ll be fortunate.”

We had already entered the Imperial Palace corridor where my mother’s audience chamber was located.

In front of the audience chamber, Klaus was waiting for me.

Instead of the broken shield, he was carrying a new golden shield on his back in this space.

The golden shield engraved with the Azester crest was one of the imperial treasures bestowed by my mother for saving me.

Chirp!

―Princess, now’s the time! The quest!

Ignoring Piya’s cry, I approached Klaus.

“Hello, Lord Klaus.”

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Klaus bowed his head to me with a disciplined motion.

I looked at him with an inwardly proud expression.

‘Now my level is higher than Klaus’s.’

I had been thinking that since I was the player, my level should be higher.

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

In comparison, Klaus’s level was 20! …No, it was 25.

‘Huh? Klaus’s companion level has risen in the meantime?’

Come to think of it, if Klaus’s level remained at 20 when we had to leave together to defeat the Gloryong, that would be a problem in itself.

Perhaps the system allowed the levels of surrounding characters to change as the scenario progressed.

‘Well, I’m still higher anyway.’

As I approached Klaus, a blue window appeared.

1. Register as a companion.

2. Give an item as a gift.

I chose option 1.

Then, without my will, my lips opened on their own.

“Lord Klaus. I will ask you once more. Will you accompany me on my journey to prove myself as a hero?”

“I will gladly follow wherever my lord commands.”

[SYSTEM] Registering as a companion.

[Mandatory Quest: Assistance] completed!

[SYSTEM] Quest successful!

[SYSTEM] You have gained 1000 experience points.

With the quest completion notification, Klaus’s name window also displayed his companion level.

Light’s Shield

‘Huh? Why is it higher than mine?’

I blinked my eyes in disbelief at Klaus’s level for a moment, then discovered the words ‘Blessed State’ below it.

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

I remembered Piya’s words about being able to share various effects when becoming companions.

‘Ah, the priest’s blessing.’

The effects of the blessing I received from the priest must have been shared with him when I registered him as a companion.

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“……”

“Your Highness…?”

Noticing my gloomy expression, Klaus called out to me in a puzzled voice.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go pay our respects to Her Majesty.”

Well, it would be good for me if Klaus’s level was high.

Following the chamberlain’s guidance, I headed to the audience chamber, suppressing my unnecessary sense of superiority.

Upon entering the audience chamber, Mother, seated on the high throne, welcomed us.

“Are you leaving now?”

Mother scanned our attire and called out to me.

“Luibel Azester.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As I stepped forward, Mother spoke to me in a solemn voice.

“Never forget that you are an Azester.”

“I will not shame the name of Azester.”

Pleased with that answer, the corners of Mother’s lips curled up.

“To prove the prophecy, you must first meet the Pope.”

Mother gestured to the chamberlain standing behind.

“When you meet that b*stard, give him this.”

The chamberlain approached me and handed me something.

Flinch.

The reason I flinched in surprise was partly due to Mother’s harsh language, but more than that…

‘Isn’t this a cursed object?’

It was a suspicious-looking box marked with crimson stains and cursed inscriptions.

[SYSTEM] Quest arrival!

Ding dong!

[Sub Quest: The Empress’s Errand]

The Empress of Azester has entrusted you with a crucial task. Deliver the suspicious box that looks like a cursed object to the Pope.

▶Reward for success: (Unknown)

Delivering that cursed box to the Pope is a crucial task?

And why is the reward ‘Unknown’ again?

Surely the reward won’t be something like ‘The Pope’s Wrath’.

“Ah, I understand, Your Majesty.”

Suppressing my uneasiness, I received the box from the chamberlain.

“Hehehe.”

Mother’s eyes gleamed ferociously as she looked at the box.

It felt as if a hint of madness could be sensed.

I pointedly avoided those eyes and stepped back.

“Klaus Winster. You have been given a crucial task.”

Mother had already begun speaking to Klaus.

“You are the shield of Azester. Protect the Third Princess Luibel well.”

“I will stake my life and honor to protect her without fail.”

After a formal exchange with Klaus, Mother finally turned to Anselot.

“And, Prince Anselot Ruenhart.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Anselot stepped forward with a bright smile.

“You are also accompanying them on this journey?”

“Wherever Princess Luibel is, that’s where I should be.”

Mother showed a subtle expression at that answer.

“Luibel must not be harmed.”

“Of course. If anyone harms the Princess, I will kill them. So don’t worry, Your Majesty.”

Anselot replied with a cheerful smile, but Mother momentarily appeared at a loss for words.

She then slowly parted her lips and spoke.

“Ordinary knights stake their lives for their lady. Like Lord Klaus.”

“Then I will stake my heart instead of my life. What’s the point of taking a life you wouldn’t even accept?”

At Anselot’s snickering remark, Klaus showed a faint sign of irritation but couldn’t step forward in front of the Empress.

“Hahahaha!”

Mother burst into hearty laughter.

“You are amusing, Prince Anselot Ruenhart. Then, in that case.”

Mother scrutinized Anselot with sharp eyes and asked.

“If the Prince were to harm Luibel? Then, would the Prince take his own life?”

“It saddens me to have my sincerity towards the Princess doubted. Such a thing will never happen, absolutely not.”

Anselot spoke slyly with a deliberately sorrowful expression.

Anyone who saw us would think we were truly the lovers of the century.

“Good. Then you two may leave first.”

Anselot and Klaus withdrew from the audience chamber, leaving only Mother and me.

Just as I was wondering why she had kept only me back.

“Luibel.”

Mother calmly called my name and rose from her seat.

“Until now, I spoke as the Empress of Azester addressing the hero representing the empire. From now on, I will speak to you as your mother.”

Mother came down and stood before me.

Feeling a bit nervous and shy standing face to face with Mother like this, I was about to avert my eyes.

Pat―

A broad palm stroked my head.

“Don’t get hurt, Luibel.”

Huh?

‘Don’t be in pain, Luibel.’

I suddenly remembered Mother’s voice filled with concern as she nursed me during my childhood days when I was sick with a fever.

That kind and warm voice worrying about me, whether it was a dream or a feverish hallucination, in this vast imperial palace where no one paid attention to me.

“Be careful, and come back safely.”

“Yes!”

I nodded vigorously.

“And one more thing, as a mother’s advice to her daughter.”

Mother added with a gentle smile.

“You are an adult now, so it’s your choice who you meet. But always remember that responsibility comes with that choice.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She was referring to my relationship with Anselot.

In fact, Anselot and I had no relationship, but…

“And if that man betrays you, you strike him from the front.”

Mother advised me with a faint hint of emotion in her smiling tone.

“Yes…?”

For a moment, I blinked, wondering if I had misheard.

What did Mother just tell me to do?

“I have never told you about your father.”

However, my bewilderment vanished with Mother’s next words.

“Do I also have a father?”

As soon as I blurted it out, I realized it was a very obvious question.

“Of course. You didn’t fall from the sky, so you have a father too.”

“Do you… remember Father?”

I asked, swallowing nervously.

People said that Father was probably a lowly one-night stand.

So I thought Mother might not remember him.

“Of course. I remember him very well.”

However, Mother’s answer shattered my assumption.

“I remember him very well. I probably will never forget him in my lifetime.”

“…!”

My ears perked up involuntarily.

As I waited intently for Mother’s next words, she said with an elegant curl of her lips.

“Your father was the world’s most worthless piece of trash.”