The next day, I went to the capital’s shopping district, accompanied by Emori. I couldn’t keep relying on my nature wand forever, and I need different wands if I want to wield different elements. Maya and Solicea had some club business, so they didn’t come with us.

“Is it alright for you to be out and about like this?” I asked to make sure. Normally, a princess going into town meant legions of knights surrounding her. Well, maybe not legions, but she should have at least a couple of guards. It was just the two of us, though. I tried looking around, and Asytelar wasn't following us.

Maybe she's trying to look for other adventurers as well?

I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Nothing good could come from placing the entire world's fate on the shoulders of four students.

“It’s fine.” Emori reassured me. She seemed very casual for a princess. Granted, this world has magic, so she probably had some kind of defense on her.

Still, I was surprised she even wanted to accompany me. I was originally planning on going alone. I ran into her near the gate, and she said she wanted to accompany me.

“Why not come to the castle?” she suggested.

“No thanks. I’m just looking for a wand.”

Luckily for me, the shop I headed to hadn’t changed. It was still the same weapons’ shop in the center of the shopping district. I pushed the doors, a bell ringing announcing my arrival.

“Welcome.”

The person behind the counter was different from the blacksmith in the game, but that was expected. Admittedly, it’s a bit sad that I couldn’t find any familiar faces from the game, but a long while had passed ever since the time the game was set in. Even if there was someone I know, not like they would recognize me.

“How can I help you?”

“I would like some magic wands.”

“Which element?”

“Which one do you have?”

The blacksmith went behind the counter and picked up a crate full of magic wands. Unlike swords that had unique decorations and fancy hilts, the wands consisted of a simple metal handle with a magic stone on its tip.

The blacksmith had all of the major elements in his store. I chose fire, steel, and rock as my three wands. I would use my nature wand for nonlethal attacks and healing, while the rest I would use for attack.

I could use other elements as well, but I commonly used those three elements in the game, so I decided to go with what I was used to. Plus I knew some quad-casting spells using those four elements.

I reached into my pocket and paid using the money Prilus gave me for my help yesterday.

“Thank you very much.”

After the purchase, we left the shop.

“Where should we go now?”

“Hmm…” Emori pondered my question. “How about we test your wand?”

“You sure?” It was a weekend. I'm surprised she has free time in the first place. I thought, as a princess, many would be flocking around her, inviting her to tea parties and such.

Emori nodded.

“Well, if you're fine with it.”

I extended my hand.

“Wh- wh- what? You want to hold my hand?”

“Ah, sorry! I wanted to use Teleport, that's all.”

“Oh…” she looked a bit relieved as she took my hand. I closed my eyes, bringing the picture of the dungeon into my mind. I then cast Teleport, then the next second, we were already standing at the dungeon’s entrance.

“Impressive…” she murmured.

I let go of her hand. “Let's head in.”

We both went inside, walking toward the auditorium where we fought the tiger yesterday. The monsters hadn't reoccupied the place yet. After we arrived, I began blasting various spells while Emori watched me from the sides. Most of the spells I knew worked. I then attempted quick switching, a move I often used back in the game. It allowed me to quickly switch between elements.

Out of five attempts, I managed to do it twice.

“Woah.” Emori did little claps as she watched me. “I don't know you can do quick switch.”

“Quick switch?”

“Ah, I mean switching spells so easily.”

So the term exists in this world as well.

“I can't do it consistently yet.”

“You can do it, though, and that's a start.”

She had a point. Quick switching was easier compared to double casting, as only one spell is active at one time.

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Mastering quick switching would allow me to go to the second phase, double casting, which was a bit more complicated.

“I want to be like you…”

“Are you a mage as well?”

Emori shook her head. “I don't have anything I'm good at.”

I was talking about her role in the party, though.

Still, I couldn't say I agree with her. “Why do you say that?”

“Unlike you, I'm not good at magic. Unlike Maya, I'm not strong. Unlike my brother, I'm not high level. There isn't a thing I'm particularly good at.”

It reminded me of my past life. Unlike her, I didn't excel at anything other than Mimosa. At the time, I didn't know that my skills would be the reason I was chosen for this task.

I had given up on life back then. Unlike me, she hadn't reached that stage yet. She also had her responsibilities as a princess to keep her going.

“I think it's not that you didn't have anything you're good at. Rather, you haven't found that thing yet.” I returned to her side.

“You think so?”

“Yeah. What do you want to do? What is your dream?”

Emori pondered the question. “I don't know.”

“You don't?”

“My brother… he has a purpose. He will soon be king.”

That Prilus? King? I guess he did have a bit of charm.

“I… I don't think I have one. I'm shy, I get scared easily, I don't act like a princess.”

“You don't look shy to me.”

“That's because you're kind to me, Fortis.” She put her hand on her chest, taking a light breather. “You don't see me as a princess, do you?”

“Sorry.”

In the nation where I came from, monarchy no longer exists. We didn't respect politicians the way we respected kings. Heck, we didn't respect them in general. All throughout my previous life, I lived as I pleased, not bowing down to some higher authority.

In this world, no one tied me down, either. My parents were kind, the local baron respected me. I wasn't used to respecting authority.

Probably why Mister Prince was pissed off from the way I acted. But I was stronger than him, so he couldn't say much.

… If I challenge him to a duel everytime we meet, can I get away with messing with him forever?

“Fortis?”

“Ah, sorry. I got distracted.”

“It's fine.”

She looked at her fingers. There was a bright ring in her right index finger. The Ring of Protection. It's a ring that is capable of protecting you from attacks. High level ones can go as far as neutralizing poison and healing wounds.

“That's a pretty ring.”

“Tha- thank you. My father gave it to me.”

“Are you close to your family?”

She paused, turned to me, then shook her head. “I don't know. They're kind to me, but… we don't talk much. They talk with my brother more often.”

Was it because she wasn't in line for the throne, that they didn't put much attention to her? Maybe it was because of that that she didn't have much confidence in herself.

I was blessed with kind parents after reincarnating to this world, but my parents in my previous life were worse. I could understand her pain somewhat. She probably didn't have anyone that loved her just for her.

Or maybe that person didn't tell her that they love her, leading her to mistakenly believe that she wasn't good enough.

“I… I see… it must be lonely in that castle by yourself.”

“A bit… But I still have that friend from Nanawak, so I'm grateful.”

It was good to know that she had contacts outside of our group. But more allies wouldn't hurt.

I held her hand and closed my eyes.

“Fortis?”

I painted the picture of my room back home in my mind, then cast Teleport. We were instantly whisked away back home.

“Whe- where are we?” Emori looked around in panic.

“Don't worry, we're in my home.”

“Yo- your home?” she looked at me in disbelief.

“Yeah? Why so…”

…

I just took a girl home, didn't I? The princess no less.

I looked away from her and walked to the door.

“Mom, Dad?”

“Fortis? Is that you?” Mom peeked through the door. Her eyes traveled to Emori, who stood by my bed. My Mom’s eyes widened, then she turned around and ran back to the living room.

“Honey, Fortis brought home a girl!” She screamed as she ran.

Oh dear.

* ••

My plan was to have Emori enjoy dinner with my family. Now, you may think it as some ‘romantic move’ or something, but let me reassure you, that did not cross my mind, okay?

I didn't know what her family was like, but if I could show her that some people were willing to treat her well, just for her, I may be able to boost her confidence. If I could boost her confidence, she would take grinding more seriously. She would become more powerful, and we would fare better against the demon king.

It's purely for the sake of this world, okay?

On a side note, I probably should be careful with using Teleport. People would misunderstand me as a kidnapper.

“Don't be shy, Emori. There's more where that came from.” Mom pushed a large bowl of soup her way.

“These deers have been freshly hunted by the neighbors. They've given it to us as a gift. Come on, eat more.” Dad gave her a large piece of meat.

“Umm… are you sure it's okay?”

“Of course,” my parents answered at the same time.

“Thank you very much!”

Surprisingly, neither Dad nor Mom realized that she’s the princess Emori when we arrived. After they first saw her, they thought she was a random girl that I brought home. The baron, who happened to be visiting them for some field related matters, shouted in shock when he saw her.

After a little explanation, the baron agreed to keep silent, while we decided on having dinner before teleporting back to the capital. Like what happened with me, Emori asked my parents to just call her by her name. Even after they knew her status, they treated her with the same kindness.

“What do you think? Do you like it?” Mom asked in regards to the food.

“It tastes… different. But not in a bad way.”

“Good to hear.” Mom clapped her hand and smiled. They continued spoiling her, and what was supposed to be a quick, half hour dinner, ended up going for a whole hour. Even after we finished eating, my parents kept Emori around, asking various things like how school was going and what life in the castle was like. Emori herself lived in a special room in the dorm, so she talked about that as well.

It went on until nine in the evening.

“We really need to get going.”

“My. Come visit often, okay?” Mom said, Dad nodding in approval.

“Thank you very much for accepting me today.” Emori bowed her head.

“It's great having you. Feel free to come again.”

“I will.”

I held Emori’s hand and cast Teleport. By the time I opened my eyes, I was inside the school’s walls, behind the gate. Soldiers surrounded us, with Prilus in the center.

Oh… yeah…

The Ring of Protection tracks where you are.

I probably should have thought about it more before I teleported her.

“... Sorry.”

Emori turned to me and whispered, “I thought you said to not apologize if you're not wrong.”

“I'm pretty sure I made a mistake.”

Prilus stepped forward. “Fortisbel Baskator, you are invited to meet the king.”