"A demon subjugation?"
"Yeah, it looks like one has been spotted in Verdant Oakwoods."
"So close by? These demons have been getting really cocky recently, haven't they? Well, their numbers have been growing, it's only natural."
"It looks like we qualify, you in?"
"Should be easy money; I don't see why not."
Two C-rank adventurers eagerly chatted about a request they had seen on the bulletin board of the adventurers guild.
On missions like this, where large-scale requests were distributed just for the subjugation of a demon that was not even of noble blood, even low-ranking adventurers like themselves would qualify, and they often carried hefty rewards due to the importance of the location the demon was stationed at, which in this case happened to be Verdant Oakwoods, where most of the lumber and magic stones the capital used were obtained.
If the demon was not struck down immediately, profits would inevitably tank for those relying on the forest for their livelihood, and the economy would stumble. Anomalies could not be allowed to exist for long in Verdant Oakwoods.
Coincidentally, a little over a few kilometers away, in a castle of white and gold, King Thorian had requested that a certain group of novice heroes participate in the subjugation as adventurers. It was certainly not a subjugation that needed the help of the 4 novice heroes. They were being sent out for the sake of gathering experience.
Through this subjugation, the heroes would learn what it meant to confront an enemy with real stakes attached, as well as the most common strategies that the warriors of this world deployed to work together to hunt down prey that may be stronger than them individually.
The king was secretly prepared to 'convince' them to participate even if he had to resort to the use of women or drugs, so it was quite a pleasant surprise for him to hear the heroes volunteer as soon as he informed them about it, as they felt that they had no real practical experience. The four heroes, having been subjected to the rigorous permeation of technology of the modern age, had watched enough movies to be familiar with the difference a rookie soldier had compared to that of a veteran, and they expected that the difference would be greater in a world of swords and sorcery.
That being said, a certain doll-like girl was livid upon hearing the quest that she believed had been forced upon the four. Having lived in the palace with no real friends her age, the princess, familiar with politics, had gotten quite close to the four of them. Hearing the words that spilled out of their mouths, detailing what their first subjugation would be so innocently, ignited her desire to do what she could to protect her first real friends. The Princess instantly grasped the real intent of the king in issuing the request.
Considering that their very first quest was unnecessarily dangerous, her father, the King, likely planned for the heroes to be squeezed out of every drop of their potential with requests that would get increasingly dangerous without regard for their safety. After all, the heroes were supposed to be legendary. In the eyes of nobles, all they would see were the successes, and they would think 'as expected of the heroes'.
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In the event of failure where the four were killed, the king would be instantly cleared of any liability once he revealed that the four were 'fake'. Thus, the king had come to the decision that he would ruthlessly push missions onto them until they died, buying time against the demons by pushing the 'fakes' as far into demon territory as possible.
This was unforgivable to Princess Elara, and it was not just about having become closer to the four. She understood that the four were just ordinary teenagers who had been thrown into another world. It was absurd to have them fight their wars in the first place, and it was simply unforgivable to cast them aside as tools if they were not 'useful'. She got out of the bed that she had been sitting on to notice that she had crumpled the bedsheets in anger. After smoothing it out roughly, she then left her room in a brisk walk, heading towards her father's study, determined to change the king's mind.
As Princess Elara stormed the King's study after having made up her mind to protect her new friends, the King looked up, surprised by her sudden rude intrusion. She was not the kind of person to act in such a way, and his displeased eyes narrowed at her.
Just this was too much for her. Instantly shriveling up under the gaze of the King as soon as he laid his eyes upon her, in the next moment, she apologized and left quietly. She was unable to stand up to her father's gaze. Her heart pounded as she slammed the door to her father's study shut and stumbled onto the corridors.
Being the fourth child of the King, she had never really been exposed to her father's disappointment, as he never really had expectations of her in the first place. As her rabidly pounding heart slowly calmed down, tears leaked from her eyes. How useless she was to be unable to protect her friends! How cowardly of her to flee from what was no more than a gaze! At the very least, she should have squeezed out some words from her mouth, even if she was unsightly while doing it.
Hearing the footsteps of a maid about to turn the corner of the corridor, she sprinted to the nearest room she could think of. Her self-loathing attitude was quickly vanquished by Evan, whose room she found herself to have instinctively run into.
"I mean, at the end of the day, isn't he a king with a history on the battlefield? It makes sense for him to be able to pressurize you with just his gaze; I don't think you have too much to feel guilty about.
"But…"
Having listened to Princess Elara recall the events of the past few minutes, Evan could sympathize with Elara. Sure, she was a princess, but she was also just a teenager. It was ridiculous to expect her to be able to turn over the King's decision singlehandedly with an emotional response. She knew this as well, but Princess Elara was a person who cared about her first friends and felt afraid to lose them.
"Also, the four of us understand the fate forced upon us, so you don't have to worry too much. We're happy enough to know you cared enough to try. At the very least, I am. So chin up, Princess; you look a hundred times better that way."
When faced with what was a common cheesy pickup line in modern times, the naïve princess unused to having such words thrown at her, immediately broke into a fluster.
"Wh-Wh-Thank you very-"
"Also, did you walk here on instinct after that happened? It's cute how you've come to me to comfort you."
Nope, the roller coaster of emotions, from fear of her father to self-loathing to whatever Evan was doing to her, was too much. In an explosion of steam from the top of her head, Princess Elara dashed out of her room and slammed his door in a panic. Upon this sight, Evan chuckled.
The four had taken a liking to teasing the princess. Even Evan, who usually never engaged in such antics and had done so to cheer up the princess to distract her, found himself chuckling in amusement. Neither the man who plopped himself on his bed nor the Princess that slid down Evan's door outside his room were aware of this budding emotion that caused such uncharacteristic behavior from either of them.