I slowly opened my eyes to the sunlight seeping from the opening between the curtains.

"It's morning huh."

As much as I wanted to immediately stand up, an uncomfortable feeling was preventing me from doing so.

The only thing I was sure of is that this feeling originates from my dream, but I can't seem to remember it.

"..."

Giving up on the thought, I finally got out of bed and took my morning bath.

The attendant from yesterday came to personally guide us around the castle, and by us, I meant each and every one of that arrived yesterday.

There were around twenty of us, with varying looks, ages, and pedigree, but everyone was near the age of the prince.

My mother wasn't with me as she was the only noble who came with her child, and she has already been here multiple times so it'd be pointless to give her a tour.

We gathered at the entrance hall before starting the tour, it was quite similar to a museum tour for kids if one were to look from afar.

Everyone was looking around, surveying the surroundings like a country bumpkin's first time at the capital.

Looks like they hadn't had much time to see this yesterday.

"Before we start, why don't we make four lines so it'd be easy to move around?"(Attendant)

Yep, definitely for kids.

"Why should we listen to you?"(Noble Kid)

Huh?

"Yeah right, you're just an attendant right? How dare you order us around like that?"(Noble kid 2)

Wait what?

Everyone began to follow suit afterwards.

I'm pretty sure she was just making a request.

Sure I do like to abuse my power as well, but I at least pride in making reasonable complaints, unlike these kids getting to ahead of themselves.

Seeing as they would just delay the tour...

"Would you brats just shut up?"

I decided to talk.

"And who are YOU to order us around?"

A boy around my age who seems to have started this mess began to talk.

With short red hair and round, yellow eyes, he was holding his chest high in pride as he faced towards my direction.

He suddenly stuttered and cowered in fear after realizing who I was.

"L-lydia Arima, of the Arima H-household..."

That was redundant, dumb ass.

After looking at him carefully, I realized he was of the Fiora Household, famous for being the kingdom's strongest flame magicians.

And based on his age, I realized that he was Aur Fiora, one of the characters whose route was available in the game.

Not that it matters though, since he doesn't have much effect on my route.

Seeing as everyone was looking at him as he shivered in fear, I glanced at the attendant and gestured the time.

"S-so let's just start making lines now to finally start the tour."

The attendant then smiled at me as everyone finally began forming lines.

Piss off, I'm doing this for myself.

As we finally stared moving, we first went to the royal library.

At first I thought it was a bad idea, but I realized it was best to start off with the most boring and annoying places before moving to the good ones.

Nobles are both easy to please and easy to annoy, this might have actually been the best course of action rather than moving to the nearest areas.

That is, if we weren't kids.

The tour took way longer than expected, it was already afternoon and we've only reached the library, the ballroom, and we're currently at the dining hall along with the king.

Along with the king, I know I just repeated this but this was out of my expectations.

It was the around the time of lunch when we arrived at the dining hall, and most of the children were surprised to see the dining hall, especially the king's chair, which was filled with gems and decorations peasants would only dream of having.

One of the us suddenly tried sitting on it, I thought that that kid'd be stopped but the guards near the door just let him be.

I found out why when I saw the child struggling to pull the chair from the table.

Even with the comfortable cushion, it's interior was composed purely of mithril, and only the strongest of warriors or perhaps...

"!?" (Noble Kid)

I knew it.

The chair moved on its own as a faint blue light can be seen in its surface.

The noble kid immediately stepped back and ran towards his personal maid.

The one who moved the chair sat on it and, while smiling, he invited us to take a seat.

"Young children like you should experience this while your innocent."(King)

He said as he smiled towards us.

Bitch I'm 21, if I add both my current age and my old one, but I obviously can't say that.

Even if I wanted to, his presence was strong enough to leave me speechless.

With his hair and eyes glowing the same color as that of mana, the only trait that made him seem old were his wrinkles.

He was powerful, even without the crown and palace it was obvious that he was indeed the ruler of the neutral Artifa Kingdom.

This was a famous trait among the descendants of the Artifa family, born with silver hair and blue eyes which then turn into a permanent color of glowing mana, it was similar to the transcendent magi, but with clear differences.

Transcedent magi are known to be the strongest magicians in this world, and only those chosen by the gods of magic can reach this.

They usually have the color of their elemental traits glowing but it all turns into the color of mana when they unleash their power, no warrior, soldier, or magic could ever harm them if it is not equal to their power.

Except for the Artifa family.

As lame as their name's origin sounds, the powers brought by the magical artifact they own, is absolute.

Even in the game, the only reason Lydia, I won in the bad end was due to the curse I placed on the artifact that slowly corroded their mana cores.

There's no way, in my current age, even if I get stronger, can I fight them.

The difference was obvious just by feeling the pressure he emits.

My palms are sweaty, they were shivering like crazy, I can feel my heart beating faster than I could ever imagine, and I felt like a cornered rat, waiting for my life's judgement at any given notice.

My meal tasted bad for the first time in my life...

(Author note-knees weak arms are heavy

-why no chapt yesterday? most authors/translators gave extra chapters cuz' it's christmas, I'm just on the receiving side as well :3

-actual side stories incoming! (crucial ones at that)

-first normal length chapter! Is this real life? nope, I just decided to do this in the morning (usually before midnight, and I try posting chapters before it reaches 12, which is apparently, dumb, I'm lazy busy, you know?

-will post more today as a late present

- belated advance merry christmas, I'm the earliest to greet :p, or not)

P.S. I dare you fakken continue the song