*ding*

Skill Created!

Skill Name: Skill Rank: Skill Level: Skill Exp: Slo-Mo* n/a n/a 0%

You have created a skill unlike all others within my known knowledge. This skill will allow you to slow time for everything within 6m of your location.

Cost: 30 MP (- 100%*) /per second

*Skill has been limited due to class restrictions: {element affinity won't affect skill cost}

*Skill is name is locked because you unnecessarily created an unknown skill. ~ Yours Truly

Quest Continued!!

Main Quest Continued: Royal Ties or Royals Die

You have safely escorted Princess Lisa back to her father and the Royal faction of this kingdom. This has also decided your side in this civil war. Was this the right choice? Will it be your final choice?

Goal: Make your choice, will you side with the Royal faction* or will you choose to side with the citizens of this kingdom*.

Difficulty: n/a

Reward: +15 Affinity w/ Nobles and Officials of the Stellar Kingdom*, +15 Affinity w/ Common Folk and Merchants of the Stellar Kingdom* , Inventory Ring, 70 Exp

This skill... is very similar to a 'move' I remember from back on my planet. This move if invested into could be incredibly effective on large crowds of grunts or elites equally. I'm starting to enjoy this op system more than the comfort of a relatively safe society.. Honestly.

On to this quest, I read the ominous question with probably the same expression as you, straight with little to no emotion..What the fuck did it mean was this the right choice..I'm just really not okay with being forced to choose between people I don't know and more people I don't know. There's clearly no right choice here.

Not to mention I haven't even met the supposed leader of the opposition for these so-called nobles... We haven't even walked into the castle yet.. I haven't even spoken with the king yet!!

I guess this would be a good time to bring her to her father though.. I am pretty sure he has aged a few years these couple of months. No I don't care for her or this kingdom, but I'm not okay with kidnapping... Unless it serves my purposes. This is simply a ploy to gain their trust.

Now, why would I want their trust? Simple if they don't see me as a problem now, when I raid their treasury and run off with their most precious valuables, they won't think it's me until i'm already gone.

"hey princess why don't we go see your father now." , I said using [Teleport] to appear beside the princess.

"S-Si-Sir Rallo, you used something different this time when you attacked didn't you."

'this bitch is very attentive for a dummy.. maybe she has been acting this entire time... but it's not like I haven't read a story with a character like this before though.'

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't..The question is should we go see your father or not.."

I said this with a flat tone and dropped my 'mask' of emotions for a second.

"guh- Ple- Sorry Sir. It was foolish as me to ask, I hope you didn't take offense due to my actions."

"yeah yeah..now can we go now, I get nervous in crowds."

"O-Of-course Sir, follow me."

I could hear murmurs from the squad of knights assigned to the princess, but I really doubt they would say anything to my face so I continue on behind the princess..

The castle interior was more spacious than I expected.. The large door we entered led to a huge room with many hallways spitting off in almost every direction. In the center of the hall, there was a huge pillar with several fine letters on it that glowed with the same weird feeling I felt when looking at the outside of the castle. The pillar seemed to hold the entire weight of the kingdom on its shoulders, which could technically be true. I witness that Officer Leestan guy get dragged down some stairs at a hallway on our left. I followed the princess down the largest and clearly the most obvious hall to an extravagant set of doors the most likely signified the king's audience room.

We were greeted by two heavily armored guards outside the doors who stood at attention similar to how the US military did on my previous world. I guess it is common throughout the multiverse.

The guards pushed the over-the-top doors inwards to reveal a lavishly decorated room with several people on each side on a red carpet that almost extended from the doors to the king's throne which was probably worth a certain online retailer several times over probably. I can sympathize with the commoners of this kingdom much more after seeing the inside of this castle.

"FINALLY!! My sweet daughter is home safe free from the clutches of those disgusting waste of Zaius's time."

The princess whom was literally a lost child a few seconds ago almost flew at the sound of her parent's words.

Now that I think about it, isn't kinda weird for the king to only have one child.. And that one child is a girl.. Not saying that I got anything against women rulers or the like, I'm just saying that it's kind of a weird situation to be in while ruling in a winner-takes-all type society. But what do I know..

"Come here my child, your mother and I have been worried sick."

They had their lovely little reunion just like one imagined they would. I continued to watch until they finished and waited until the king made his move. I also took this chance to catch a quick look of all the faces surrounding the king. I mean they weren't literally surrounding as if they were going to 'Ceasar' him, but you get what I mean. I didn't sense any mana going towards or coming from these guys, but if you looked closer you could tell these guys had some excellent physiques. Some were even better than those statues placed evenly around the room.

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"You there. What is your name and from where do you reside?"

"His name is Rallo, he said he was from a land far away from ours. He saved me from those peasants when they took me to the Great Forest. If it wasn't for him, I- i.. I. --"

"Enough of that, you are now safe at home. I just needed to know the identity of the person I will be personally thanking for saving your life and the future of this kingdom at this year's Festival of Steris. Since the festival is only a couple of days away, it would be a waste to continue on with such somber topics."

"B-b but he saved my life father!! Surely you can do more than just thank him for his deeds. He is an ex--"

"ENOUGH!! I will never do more for some peasant than what is rightfully deserved. The peasant did his duty as a peasant and served his superiors without fault, that deserve a thank you and nothing more. Guards!!"

'well damn, I'm not even gonna lie to you guys.. It kinda stings being called a peasant even though you lived in the most technological-advanced civilization that ever existed.. (on earth.. that we know of.. maybe I really am a peasant)'

"Your majesty, if I could speak for a moment."

"Of course"

"I sensed an incredible source mana within this young man, I believe with the proper training he can become an excellent mage to use as his majesty wills. Obviously, this is only if his majesty accepts of course. "

'huh, is it possible that she is sensing my MP without me noticing..... umm system-san that was a question for you..'

. . .

'I guess that means you don't know either...'

System: "or maybe that was just a really stupid question, you can do it can't you?" - honestly try harder kid.

'ouch man...'

~'[Identify] that woman by the king'

Status Name: Ari Vexx Class: Fire Mage HP: 240 MP: 480 Level 9 Race: Human Str: 14 Agi: 15 Vit: 24 Int: 48 Titles: [Royal Magician], [Heir of the Flame] Skills: [Strengthen], [Fire Conjouring], [Fireball], [Chosen by the Flame] Magical Affinity / Resistance Fire: 11% Water: 0% Earth: 0% Air: 1% Darkness: 0% Light: 0%

'dang... She is actually pretty strong. I gotta be careful with this one.'

Not to mention this is the first time I've seen unique looking skills using [Status] beside my own. Such a cool name as well...

"Hmmm, is that so? How can you be so sure?"

"I am using a skill called [Detect Presence] which allows me to see how mana in the surrounding areas is being affected by those who can store and manipulate it. Currently, I can see that maybe 30% of the mana in this very room gravitates towards him as if it is bound to him.. These sort of effects are usually seen when someone is casting an advanced level spell..."

The guards who I originally thought were statues immediately moved to cover every exit when the mage mentioned the mana thing. They moved pretty quickly as well.. I'm pretty sure this group would give me an excellent fight if I attacked them.. Maybe I should hold off on my little plan..

"A-advanced level!! *clears throat* Well, I supposed it wouldn't hurt to invest in such a person now that they are before me.. So tell me.. Rallo was it? Do you know anything about what our Royal Magician just stated, also don't think about leaving because as you've probably noticed by now, they won't be moving until I will them so."

'oh so now it's my turn huh... Well I would like to play along but in all honestly I probably shouldn't associate with these folks, it's just bad for my image overall and-- '

"Of course Sir Rallo knows what Miss Ari is talking about, he can do something she can't after all hehe~..."

'this girl really just doesn't know when to shut her fucking mouth..'

"Now this is a surprise, Please continue Young Miss..."

'I might as well just let this play out, surely she won't say anything that will hurt my plans....'

"He can use multiple elements in battle as if it is natural to him, and he can move really fast almost like a ghost. It's really amazing!!"

She playfully sneaks in a wink which I just completely disregard.

"Oh really, what else can this so-called 'genius' do that I, Ari Vexx, cannot?"

"He uses water element, earth element, wind element, and even fire element without lifting his fingers. He even disarmed that wicked traitor Officer Leestan, without any hesitation from said officer. He has also saved me twice today alone, and one of those times was from under the snout of Wereman. Can you boast that you could have done the same Miss Ari?"

I snap a quick glance in at the princess making sure this was the same person I escorted here. She was originally aloof, almost lost in the mental department. If it was an act she surely fooled me.

I overheard murmurs from the group of royals surrounding the king. They were reminiscing about Leestan's achievements before the civil strife began, the spoke phrases such as 'Top 3' in the younger generation of "cadets" in the Academy. You would think that someone more competent would be representing their kingdom's greatest of the youth but I digress. Also that academy came up a few more times while I assume they were refrerencing me. This continued until Ari had heard enough of the chatter I suppose.

The Royal Magician Ari then raised her hands and started casting a spell that which was probably low-leveled advanced rank since it had that effect on the mana in the environment surro- Hey wait a second... I can use the same skill she used earlier?

System: You have the skill [Threat Detection] you created during your fight earlier with Leestan..

That was hardly a fight but alright.

I heard the mage mumble more incoherent 'incantations' along the line of 'flame this' and 'bless that' before she walked down the stairs leading up to the king's throne leaving him surrounded by his posse.

Since I have not said a single word this entire time I am slightly confused as to why she decided to attack me, but honestly with the way they treat their own people, this confusion disappears. I should just find Leestan and get us both out of here. I mean he seemed to be with the 'good' guys after all.

The area around Ari radiated heat as if she would explode into a miniature sun. The group surrounding the king shuffled slightly before a roaring laugh began to emanate from this very group of people. It was as if they had just heard their favorite comedian tell them a brand new joke especially tailored specifically towards this crowd. It was deafening. My only guess for this laughter is that they take my inaction for fear or something along those lines.

Until...

"SILENCE!!"

Nope it wasn't the mage Ari, nor was it his majesty himself the King. You might be thinking 'the princess??', well even then you would be wrong. The person who had literally just silenced the group of hyenas surrounding the king was someone new!!