Whatever the reason may be, he acted on his own. But since he did it for Fluffy, his punishment was light. He was not allowed to eat dinner, only for today. Deen, the other rabbit-kin butler, was to make sure Chen doesn’t eat, but I doubt there’s even a need to.

One look at Chen’s eyes was enough to see that he’s willing to kill himself if Fluffy ordered him to, so I don’t think he’ll run away from his punishment. What did Fluffy do to get such a loyal servant? I don’t believe simply accepting someone to the house is enough to get one.

Now I’m interested. Probably because I never had a loyal servant before...and because he has rabbit ears. It’s all about the rabbit ears.

Fluffy and I were at the garden. I was sitting on the bench, shaking my body upper body side to side, with Fluffy on my arms. I can do this all day!

There’s a week before I get dragged to the war...speaking of that, how strong are the enemies? “Fluffy, how strong are the enemies?”

I didn’t get a response so I asked again, this time while looking at him. “Fluffy?”

He was already asleep in my arms, so I immediately stopped shaking my body. I slowly raised his body to have a good look at his sleeping face, before I hugged him again and bit one of his ears. I used my lips, not my teeth.

[]

When I opened my eyes, I could see the sky and Fluffy who was in his real form, staring at my face with a smile on his face. “Did you sleep well master?”

When did I fall asleep?.. And why am I sleeping here?

I realized that I was on the bench, using Fluffy’s lap as a pillow. I slowly rose and asked “How long was I asleep?” I know he’s not the type do anything in my sleep, so there’s no need to overreact in this kind situation.

“I’m not sure master, I just woke up two hours ago when master fell to the ground.”

“...were you in my arms when I fell? Were you hurt?”

“I’m fine master. I could endure a fall of that level anytime.”

“...” I felt sad that I wasted two hours in sleeping when I could have played with the sleeping Fluffy more.

Fluffy reverted to his rabbit-form and spun around.

Look master, look. I’m completely fine so master shouldn’t be sad. Master should be happy and smile, and also hug me.

Him continuously spinning activated my switch. I hugged him and shook my body from side to side. You’re just too cute!

While happily playing with Fluffy, I noticed the sound of clashing metals outside the garden. It was faint, so it was a bit farther from our location.

“What’s that sound?”

The guards are training right now, master.

If it’s just the tiger-kins, I’m not interested...speaking of which, how strong is Fluffy right now?

It would be a good idea to compare my strength to his, since that will give me an insight on what this world considers strong. “Fluffy, is there any place where we could fight-”

I won’t fight master.

“I haven’t even finished talking-”

I trained for master. I won’t use my strength to harm master. I’ll never change my decision.

“Just a little spar-”

No

“I’ll hate you if-”

No

“Sigh, you’re one stubborn servant...” I changed my mind. I’ll go and watch the tiger-kins train.

I stood up from the bench, with Fluffy in my arms, and walked out of the garden. A little later and a faint smell of blood entered my nose.

[]

Calamity Queen, Twisted Alchemist, Three-armed Gambler, Undying Beast, Phantom Wanderer, and Master of a Thousand Blades; those were the six entities that were considered to be the strongest.

Among those, one has officially joined our forces, along with another entity that could rival any of the six entities except for the Calamity Queen.

Since I was small, even before father became the king, lord Fluffy, the Master of a Thousand Blades, has always mentioned that he has a master. No one believed in that, except now. Earlier, my father and I met lord Fluffy’s master.

I am considered to be the second strongest beast-kin after lord Fluffy, but even I felt fear just by looking at lord Alice, lord Fluffy’s master. Her strength was definitely something that should be fear, but it’s not only that.

She was smart. Her plan may not be perfect, but to think to that degree and to do it in a short span of time...she may have prepared it before hand, but it’s still a good plan nonetheless.

She has strength and intelligence, she’ll be a dangerous enemy in the battle field. I’m glad we got her to our side. With her and lord Fluffy, our success is set on stone.

Father, mother, my older brother, my younger brother, and I; all of us were happy. How could we not be when two powerful entities promised to help us in the war?

We are inside our private carriage, heavily guarded by the royal knights. Were are on our way back to the kingdom, which is a week away from our location. Father already sent a letter to the kingdom, so general Lyle should start his journey to get here a few days from now.

My family was happily chatting, like they were free from all problem; I was included. We talked about things that wasn’t even connected to the war, but it should be fine. We have accomplished what we came here to do, so just for one day, I want us to be like a normal family.

While conversing, I felt a chill on my spine, and so did the others. I grabbed my sword and dashed out of the carriage, only to see the corpses of the royal knights.

Aside from the bodies, there were deformed humans covered in blood, and based from the smell, it was the blood of the royal knights.

My father rushed with his rapier, and so did my elder brother with his great sword. My younger brother stayed inside the carriage with mother.

The deformed humans were strong, strong enough to defeat me if they all ganged up on me, but I wasn’t alone. My elder brother is the leader of the royal knights, and my father was also strong on his own. I don’t know when and how these monsters appeared, but they can’t kill us-

My whole body froze from the blood lust emitted by someone walking closer to us. “It’s good to see you, your majesty.” Said a human with silver hair. He wore a neutral smile which gave a sinister vibe.

Humans were weak, just a bit stronger from the rabbit-kins. They have to rely on their weapons; but the one in front of me was different. He wasn’t at the level of lord Alice or lord Fluffy, but I can tell he was stronger than me.

“They look ugly don’t they? And they are supposed to be my seniors? Uck, disguisting.”

“F-father...run...” I said while trying to move my body.

“No can do, you have to defeat them first.” He said while waving his index finger. “Worry not, I won’t join the battle.”

Whether he was telling the truth or not, with the deformed humans attacking us, we had no choice but to fight.

I covered my sword with lightning, slightly extending its reach. Whenever I swing, I create a charge on my next trajectory, which attracts the lightning on my sword, making my sword move faster.

Whenever an enemy gets to my blind spot, I discharged a lightning field which paralyzes the enemies for a few seconds, so I could safely move away.

With my father and elder brother, we were able to kill all deformed humans with minimal injuries. With the three of us, maybe we can win against the silve haired man.

“Worthless, they couldn’t even kill one?”

“Who are you!?” I said while pointing my sword at him.

“I don’t have a name yet. My master is too busy to give me a name. Maybe he hates me? I hope not.” He said as his arms and legs became steel. “Even if I had one, why would I tell it to people that are about to die?”

He disappeared from my sight, but with my reflexes, I was able to block his punch. “I thought you wouldn’t fight us?”

“Did I say that? I’m sure I only said I won’t join the battle. I never said I wouldn’t start my own battle.” He said as he kicked me with his metallic leg. At the last moment, I pulled my sword to hit his leg, lessening the power of his kick.

“Aria!” My father wanted to jump in, but my elder brother stopped him.

I lessened the impact, but it still broke a few of my ribs. “*cough*father...*cough*run...”

“I told you before, no one can leave this place alive...or did I not? I think this is the first time I’ve said that. Ah well, it matters not.” He said as he disappeared from my sight again.

He appeared near my elder brother and pierced his heart. “or does it?” he said with his neutral smile turning in to a wicked grin.

This is no time to be sad, I have to make sure my father stays alive, or the kingdom will fall.

A red shard tattoo appeared on my forehead. My hair turned red, and my body started generating red lightning. Even if it costs me my life. I will protect father!

I lunged to the silver haired man and sent my sword downwards. He blocked it with his arm, but my increased force gave me the upper hand. I was able to push him back, making a small cut on his metallic arm. “Father! Take mother and Leo back to the city!”

He wanted to help me, but he knew himself why he had to run away. The kingdom needs him, and if he falls, the kingdom will follow.

Before I could make a deeper cut, the silver haired man kicked my stomach. I was pushed away but I shoved my sword to the ground to stop, and returned quickly to the man trying to kill father. “Don’t look away. I’m your enemy.”

“Oh sorry” He said as he sent a kick. “I didn’t think you like me that much.”

I blocked the kick with my sword and said “You understand? Great!” I spun around and swung my sword to his neck. “Now join me in the after life!”

He blocked it with his arm and said “Ladies first.”