Sitting on a chair made from rock sculpted into a rudimentary shape, Dan's face bore a listless, some would say bored expression.

“Does something displease you...Master?” Linda.

“...you could say so, Linda.” Dan was operating his human body, his Demon form having been stored in the not-realm that his Crystal Core interacted with. His former body of a human was more akin to a living marionette operated remotely. 'He' was the Crystal Core now, and his 'body' was a 'living corpse'.

“...Its just...there is something missing you know? I won against my would be murderers...”

“I apologize again for being involved in that,” May nervously piped in.

“Forget it already, I've already punished you two with those,” he gestured casually at the collars around their neck. May felt for sure that she had traded death for a lifetime of suffering, but Dan saw it as giving her a job.

“...Perhaps Master was not satisfied with the level of punishment given to us?” May shot the older girl a look. That look said to shut up now!

But Dan ignored it. “No, that doesn't sound right.” Dan glanced at them, evaluating them and his situation.

“Could it be master is uncomfortable having slaves? I've heard that some worl...Cultures view owning slaves as a great taboo?” May covered up what she was about to point out his otherworlder status. A brief glare from him told her she had failed, but mercifully he considered her statement at face value.

“No, well maybe I do feel somewhat conflicted? I mean, you two would have killed me. Did, actually. So this is kinda a nice vengeance.”

“Why did you spare us?” May.

“...” Dan wasn't sure how revealing that he was disturbed by his lack of emotional reaction to killing three men consecutively would affect his reputation with the girls. “For now, suffice it to say I could get more use from you alive than dead.”

He had probably meant that in a 'I was looking for reasons not to kill them', but May of course shivered slightly.

“Master is still a man with a man's desires and needs. If Master orders it, of course this servant must comply. But please give myself time to ready to receive Master properly.” Linda had merely sighed resignedly with a look of 'As expected Master would want this'.

“What are you two thinking? Actually, what am I thinking?” Dan scratched his head as he looked around. His gaze returned to the two girls. “Actually, Linda, you may have stumbled onto something.”

“That's what I've been 'missing'! Desire! Passion!” Dan tried to get across the disconected feeling he's been having. Without a physical 'human' body responding to emotions caused by hormones he's been unable to feel like he is disconnect from the reality all around him.

“I've been kidnapped to another world died, become an inhuman crystal, killed three men in my first combat experience ever, and actually enslaved people...its so bizarre...”

May scrunched up her face “...its so bizarre it feels unreal? Like you aren't sure that its really happening?”

Dan nodded as he got out of the chair. “Like, I don't know what kind of reaction to make. This melancholy feeling...” Moving his human body around and feeling stimuli, he forced himself to focus on the human senses and ignore or shut out the crystal senses. “Having my consciousness split between a floating gem and my human body is not helping matters either!”

It was having some effect, he was feeling alive and human again! This was amazing!

“I'm really happy that you figured out what you were 'missing', but, uhm, what do you really understand? About this world I mean?” May asked. “And what is it you want to do?”

Dan sighed in his heart as he remembered the question he could never really answer: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Dan stretched his neck.

Meanwhile...

Sparkling in a pulsating manner, a pendant levitated. A girl, of around 18 years in fine traveling clothes held the pendant suspended in front of her, examining the glowing jewel with a frown. “Eastward more?”

“The only thing further east is a failing kingdom.” A woman knight reported in a crisp manner. The failed kingdom inquestion was one of many low-ranking domains who was failing and would soon be replaced by a new lordship. Such things were common and had no impact on the suzerain Imperial Domain.

“...if memory serves beyond that kingdom is a mountainous region and wastelands. If the failed Kingdom isn't the source of these readings...” the well dressed girl frowned at the peendant, “then isolating the source of this reaction in the terrain beyond may not be possible.”

“But you must,” replied an old man with a long grey beard. “Failure at this stage would be disastrous, Princess Chesarie. It is your sworn duty to locate this potential threat and eliminate it at the source!”

“I know, Highmage Cantred.” Imperial Princess Chesarie couldn't allow her eyes to roll at the oldman, but her voice had a hint of unyielding patience. Since her 'advisor' had been forced upon her his dire and pessimistic warnings of failure and doom had become less and less welcome.

The Knight, Rosalia, was also annoyed at the 'adviser'. Was he actually so pessimistic or was he being a toxic acquaintance for some other purpose?

“Highmage, that was not my quest, nor my sworn duty.” Princess Chesa contradicted the old Highmage.

Cantred's wrinkles and bushy white brow almost hid the brief irritation. High status be damned, as a Highmage he was not used to being rebuked by someone many decades younger than him. “Is that so? I thought for sure it was...”

“Attempting to explore every cave and valley, every mile of wasteland beyond, would be a fools errand. If the hero summoning was complete, we must anticipate where they will go, rather than where they 'were'.”

Knight Rosalia smirked. Princess Chesa didn't deign to continue with talk of responsibility.

“Then who did summon the hero? And for what purpose?”

“...That is what we must find out. Rosa, what have we learned of the 'failed kingdom'?”

“The lord is old, and lame. His rule is almost non-existent, allowing a few local guilds and merchant houses to amass greater power. For now, none are making a move to seize power for themselves.”

“...Interesting, why not?” Highmage Cantred seemed surprise. Rosalia might have made a comment about his usefulness as an adviser, but wisely held her tongue.

“Through unspoken agreement, they are happy with the current situation and wish not to jeopardize it with a mere title...”

“Mere Title?!” Cantred's eyes lit up. “Good Knight! As the Imperial Princess's guard to say such things—to disparage the concept of Titlements is to question the very glue that holds our Empire—All Empires—together!”

Rosalia flustered a bit. “I didn't mean it in that way, Highmage! Forgive me, Princess I misspoke!”

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Rosalia continued “From the perspective of these wealthy merchants, attempting to seize control of the failed state would offer them far fewer profits than the current situation, while at the same time incurring more costs. Whoever steps up would ultimately be commiting suicide for themselves and their family.

“...Whereas for now, they are highly successful?” That explanation appeased Cantred, somewhat. “I see your point now, but you did indeed mispoke earlier. Be more mindful of your duty to the Imperial Familiy!”

“...more like the pricness and everyone around her is being watched for excuses...” Rosalia muttered under her breath.

“Did you say something, Knight?”

“...no...” Cantred had heard her mutterings. Rosalia offered her arm gallantly for the princess returning to the carriage. As the personal bodyguard Rosalia joined her in the carriage, which was a convenient way to also double as the princess's secretary instead of her Highmage Adviser.

“...Rosalia is far too honest,” the princess said as the carriage picked up speed. The rumbling of gravel and dirt underneath the wheels providing a screen for eavesdropping.

“...I'm very sorry. I shouldn't have misspoken so...”

“Never mind.” Princess Chesa continued, “The local lord is lame and most of the influence of the domain is decentralized. What of the Lord's family?”

“None remain, all died years ago through sickness or accident. None of the nearby lords want to be seen taking pity, lest they find themselves dragged down.” Rosalie sighed going through some reports. “The Lord's Manor is reported to be abandoned despite him still 'living' there. The more affluent members of the domain are the more likely suspects.”

“What about any news of the wastelands? What is they're status?” Princess Chesa's casual air belied her growing worry that her current quest might be the end of her career.

“If the summoned hero appeared in the wastelands...things might be much more chaotic.” Rosalie frowned, before optimistically pointing out “It might even resolve itself in this chaos.”

“What chaos, Rosalie?”

“Several Domains along the border of the wastelands in question,” Rosalie inhaled deeply “have begun...ethnic purging of demihuman tribes.”

Princess Chesa examined her confidant. No wonder, since the term 'ethnic purge' was not the way people of this world referred to it. 'Cleansing' or 'Pogrom' was the term.

“Even those that haven't officially suggested they would do like wise in their territories have begun mobilizing their troops to deny refugees into their area.”

“The only place left is in the Bastille Mountains and the barren wastelands.”

“Your saying that the area in question is being flooded with...demihumans and our target might be in the middle of this mess?” Princess Chesa's forehead did crease finally.

“They may flush out the target, or heavens forbid kill this person before we even meet them.” Rosalie frowned. “Certainly, if this person died before they began to grow that would...not be bad from the Empire's perspective,” obviously this wasn't her perspective “but at the very least the new hero would make his way to the nearest settlement which would be the very kingdom we are heading towards.”

“Rosalie, my knight. Do you know what is worse than a Hero being summoned without permission by another kingdom?” Princess Chesa asked.

Rosalie knew, but the Princess wanted to make a point so she dutifully responded with “Please tell me, my Princess.”

“A rogue hero. Someone from another world becomes confused, scared. Their 'common sense' is built from what the experienced from another world, not this one. Whether they are ill or not, their decisions will be as disconnected from the common sense of this world as someone who simply went insane.”

“If they were Civic-minded and community oriented, they are now operating in a society completely alien to them. Even if they don't work for chaos, they will be viewed as 'revolutionaries.”

“If they followed the will of the gods, it is not the gods of this world. The religions of this world have their own dogmas as do the ones they are from. They are by definition 'heretics', 'blasphemers', and 'apostates'.”

“If they were 'moral' individuals the morals they upheld and the morals achieved in this world might not be the same. Hmph! Even if the they were the same, if emphasis or priority was different the 'Hero' might fight for a cause no one wants to fight for and destabilize the region.”

“And, worst of all, they will grow stronger swiftly in magic, and physicality, and luck. Within a brief span of time they may grow stronger than a knight, and more powerful than our Highmage out there.”

“I understand, My Princess. For all intents and purposes, your saying that a Rogue Hero may as well be an insane, revolutionary, heretical, and powerful being. Certainly, they would be a destabilizing individual at best, or a frightful terrorist at worst.”

Princess Chesa frowned “Terrorist? Hmm...I suppose so, but Rosalie that is only if this person is unable or unwilling to integrate into society of this world, or if he or she suffers some kind of traumatizing event that needs to be avenged...”

Knight Rosalia lowered her head. This person hadn't done anything yet, but will undoubtedly become stronger.

Rosalia heard Heroes described in the same terminology as WMDs, they were deterrents which may tip any battle without consideration of the odds. To have one unaccountable to any kingdom, is similar to a loose nuke.

“...My knight Rosalia, what interesting thinking you have.” Princess Chesa.

“...My Princess?”

“Mere Titles, ethnic purging, terrorists, and even the way you speak of borders and dominions has a strange sound to it,” Princess Chesa's gaze pierced Rosalia. As Rosalia's sweat ran down her back. “These words and phrases you slip in are most unusual.”

“Uh, My p...p...Princess,” Rosalia stammered. “You see, I can explain...”

But Princess Chesa interupted her.

“No, My Knight Rosalia is far too honest. When she tries to lie it is too obvious.”

“Its painful to hear. I'd rather hear nothing than hear you lie to me, and besides I don't care to hear an explanation in the first place.” Chesa's expression remained still and Rosalia always found it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

It was hard to believe that Chesa was so many years younger than Rosalia yet the Imperial Princess was able to make Rosalia into a fool on command.

“On the other hand,” Chesa tilted her head like a small animal. “It didn't feel wrong at all when Rosalie swore to become my knight.”

“...Princess...?”

“That's why, as my knight, just continue to serve by my side.”

“Yes! Princess.” Rosalia answered with all sincerity.

“Good.” Although Princess Chesarie didn't break eye contact.

As the carriage ride moved along, the green fields of the south western plain regions of the Empire gave way to more rocky and hilly terrain. The two tried to relax as the world outside of the window drifted by.

The roads would continue to get rocky, although they were still fairly well maintained by the caravans who traveled between the various mining villages and the capitol.

Rosalie glanced enviously at the Princess, who was relaxed in a calm and dignified manner, nibbling at the small travel snacks.

The Knight of the princess, on the other hand, felt like a kid fidgeting as she adjusted her knight saber and plate armor. At first it wasn't so uncomfortable, yet as the silence stretched everything became more uncomfortable.

“...Rosalie is too honest.” The princess murmered under her breath. Before Rosalie could reply the Princess's gaze had turned to the window. Sputtering internally Rosalie also turned to the window seeking distraction.

“...chance.”

“Did you say—hmph?!” whatever had been said was sealed with soft warm cherry flavored pressure on Rosalie's mouth. Can a heart stop and speed up at the same time?

As the Princess parted from Rosalie, the Knight's face was made sloppy. Instinctively her mouth puckered an instant too late, seeking to reconnect. If Princess's scary perception didn't detect one thing Rosalia prayed to whoever that it was that.

“P...Princess?!”

“What is it, my Knight?”

“What was that?!” Rosalia couldn't remember courtly etiquette that had been drilled into her at the moment, but whose fault was that?! WHOSE?!

Expressionlessly Princess Chesa touched her lips with the tips of her fingers. “Wasn't it a kiss?”

“Why did you Kiss me?!”

“I tripped.”

“While sitting? In a carriage with a low ceiling?”

“Please conduct yourself with more decorum, My Knight. It wouldn't do for an Imperial Princess to be heard to be shouted at by her own Knight.”

Rosaria was now almost as red as her namesake. Swallowing further hysterical outburst she managed to plead out a final calmer “Why?”

“...” studying her knight for some time Princess Chesa responded with “Why not?”

This most logical and philosophical argument was countered by Rosaria in the following rebuttal: “Give Up!” Rosaria knew her friend, she was always extremely serious, as befits her station and the situations they find themselves in.

Imperial Princess Chesarie was a model princess to Rosalia, not in a 'Save me, Mario!' meaning, but in a Future Empress of the World in waiting. But she was still a teenaged girl.

Rosaria accepted the teasing with this in mind. “Princess, you shouldn't do such things so easily...”

“Very well, I apologize. That My Knight values my kiss so highly, I'm happy a little...”

“...princess...mou...” Rosaria didn't ever want to do anything but support her Friend and Princess, but some how she had the feeling that she will always lose against this fiendish girl.