Unexpected Reunion

Currently, only the four of us remained in the main hall: myself, Yui, the princess, and Lord Jia Mo.

The princess looked flustered, while Lord Jia Mo maintained his composure after the discussion between me and King A Gu Te.

"So, Lord Jia Mo secretly reported to the Royalty after seeing the two of us?" I spoke up, my gaze as sharp as a blade piercing straight through Lord Jia Mo, causing him to gradually lose his calm.

"And Princess, what do you wish to see me for?" I proactively created pressure in the hall, causing both of them to fall into silence.

"I didn't originally believe the princess's story about you, but after witnessing you two talking with Mei Lin and Jia Bin, I became quite convinced," he spoke up, aiming to break the quiet and pressurized atmosphere.

"Mei Lin and Jia Bin do not reveal their current identities to anyone, including the Royalty; only a few people know. Therefore, if you two already know that, it proves they have placed their trust in you."

"Wait, Lord Jia Mo, are you referring to Grand Mage Jia Bin and White Jade Mage Mei Lin? I heard those two had already left this country." The princess was quite surprised when Lord Jia Mo mentioned those two.

"Ah, you still didn't know? They are currently running a hotel in the capital and are husband and wife."

The princess was extremely shocked, her face completely different from the brave, cold demeanor usually seen on the battlefield.

"So, why did the princess summon the two of us here?" After receiving a rather vague answer from Lord Jia Mo, I asked the princess once more.

"I... I just wanted to confirm if you were the ones who defeated the Demon Race."

"Just for that reason, the princess wanted to summon us here?"

The princess became even more flustered, even somewhat panicked after giving such a flimsy reason.

"Fine then, since the matter is settled, may we tour the Royal Palace?"

"Huh? Ah, yes, if anyone asks, just say the princess permitted it; father will surely approve as well," the princess stammered in response after I asked for permission to tour the Palace.

"Well then, I shall return to the Adventurer's Guild. Oh, a banquet will be held in the main hall tonight; Suo Qi and Yui, you two should attend." Lord Jia Mo stood up and left after finishing his sentence.

Yui and I also stood up and left the room. Walking down a vast corridor, outside was a lush green garden, obviously meticulously cared for.

Around us were exquisite carvings by Royal artisans. The rooms were all spacious, each serving a different function.

On the way, from a distance, I saw the figures of two soldiers on patrol. Noticing that Yui and I were unfamiliar faces, they blocked our path.

"What are you two doing here?" one soldier began to ask the reason for our presence.

"I was permitted by the princess to tour the Royal Palace."

"From the princess? Do you have any proof to demonstrate that?"

Proof? She didn't give me anything, and I had forgotten about this situation.

"I permitted those two to tour the Royal Palace, do you have an objection?" From behind, the princess stepped forward, with a cold and majestic appearance.

The two knights were startled upon seeing the princess and began to feel flustered.

"We apologize, Princess, and we apologize to you two; we have caused trouble," the two knights bowed in apology.

"Take this item; if anyone asks, just show it," the princess handed me a gold ring, a token allowing free passage within the Royal Palace. Afterward, the princess and the two knights left, and we continued our tour.

It was just an ordinary ring, with only a magic spell used to identify the item placed upon it; otherwise, it was completely normal. I also put the ring on my right hand.

Leaving the corridor, we decided to go to a slightly higher floor to observe the surroundings more closely.

Going up a bit higher, I saw several carriages approaching the Royal Palace. These carriages were incredibly luxurious, pulled by White Stallions, with extremely exquisite carvings and patterns completely different from this nation's style.

"The heroes seem to have arrived," I thought to myself.

Yui now looked as if she wanted to attack those carriages; I could sense her killing intent directed toward them.

"Come on, Yui, let's go inside!" I urged Yui to enter; otherwise, I feared those carriages might be destroyed.

We continued touring the Royal Palace. Suddenly, we came upon a weapon production area. I was curious because I had never witnessed how a weapon was crafted, so I wanted to see it clearly for once.

There were many guards outside, but when they saw the ring, they all let us pass. Stepping inside, an atmosphere hotter than the outside rushed in, surely due to the forge.

Inside, many craftsmen were actively working. Most of the products made were high-end, proving there were many skilled and veteran smiths here. We continued to the weapon display area and saw several swords of Legendary rank; their stats were quite high, and they were placed in isolated areas.

If that was the case, was there a famous Legendary Blacksmith here? Yui and I continued further inside and saw a place containing some rare metals and materials like tungsten, spirit steel...

An old man was diligently working by a grinding machine and forge. The old man continuously sharpened the swords; any that didn't satisfy him were tossed aside.

I checked him and discovered a title: Legendary Blacksmith. So, he was one of the few famous Blacksmiths in the world. He worked for the Royalty, no wonder this country was so prosperous.

Afterward, I left the production workshop. Outside, I encountered the butler from earlier walking toward us.

"The King invites Young Master Suo Qi and Miss Yui to the hall for a meeting," the butler bowed, inviting me to the hall where those people were waiting.

Yui looked quite uncomfortable at the thought of meeting them, so she asked me to let her tour and get some fresh air a bit longer. Seeing this, I didn't force Yui; I gave her the ring and went with the butler.

I was led by him to a very large room, but I was invited to enter through the entrance reserved for the Royal Family, or more accurately, the host. That passage was located at the back of the room.

I stepped into the room, drawing everyone's attention, but then they returned to their business. In the room were quite 'familiar' faces.

Those who had once tried to harm me: Emi, Suo Kai, Yi Si Kai... There were also people I had met since coming to this kingdom, like the King and the princess.

I approached King A Gu Te, where opposite him sat King A Di Si and the 'heroes' I had met before.

But the truth was, it seemed those people didn't recognize me at all. I had also changed quite a bit, from my clothing to my appearance. Surely that was why those people didn't recognize me, focusing only on the discussion between the two monarchs.

Not seeing Aruto anywhere, I whispered to the butler. He replied:

"A hero has just left here to stroll in the grounds."

I began to hope he wouldn't run into Yui.

The two monarchs continued their discussion, with others standing by listening. King A Gu Te also introduced me as a special honored guest. I didn't know what he was thinking, but I just went with the flow.

Yui's perspective:
I was walking around; I didn't want to meet the people who had tried to harm Brother Suo Qi.

On the way, I sensed a massive magical source moving; I guessed it belonged to a powerful member of the Royalty.

But in front of me, a man appeared in shiny, incredibly expensive-looking armor, walking toward me.

"Hey lady, are you from the Royal Palace?" Aruto asked.

"No, I'm just here for a tour!" I replied to him coldly.

After Analysis, I realized he was the hero and the one who had once tried to kill Brother Suo Qi. Truly, I just wanted to kill him and be done with it.

"Ah, I'm also here for a tour; I'm the hero who just arrived," he laughed disgustingly, as if he wanted to devour me.

Suddenly, another person approached him, said something, and then he left.

"Ah, I have some business; we will surely meet again," he winked at me, which only made me want to vomit on the spot. Truly a despicable person.

"Report to the King, Lord Aruto has returned," someone was saying to King A Di Si.

Afterward, the name I hated most appeared—Aruto. He stepped into the main hall with an arrogant face, not regarding the people opposite him at all.

A moment later, Yui was also led to the room and stood near me. According to Yui, he had tried to flirt with her but failed and had to leave. This made me truly want to kill that guy immediately, but I told myself: "The fun is just beginning!"

Those heroes didn't recognize me at all and seemed to consider me dead. As for the one standing before them now, I was just a nobody. I guessed they had also used Analysis on us but couldn't see our true stats.

The two monarchs finished their business, and both sides agreed to meet at the banquet tonight. Yui and I were also invited as special honored guests.

They would stay here for a while, likely a month, while King A Di Si would return to his country in five days. They would be taught some new secret arts and engage in more practical combat. All for the cause of fighting the Demon King.

Everyone left the main hall, and suddenly Aruto approached Yui.

"Tonight, I hope you will appear at the banquet," he was trying to flirt with Yui, which I found quite amusing. He was flaunting his arrogant face, boasting about his status.

"Ah Yui, tonight you will wear some of the clothes I chose; they finally have an occasion to be used," I interrupted the atmosphere between him and Yui, stepping between them.

"Yes, brother! Tonight I will wear some new clothes," Yui replied sweetly, also aiming to provoke that 'hero'.

"Who are you?" Aruto flared up because he was interrupted and pushed aside; a 'hero's' pride did not allow such a thing.

"Just a commoner who recently entered the Royal Palace," I replied, with a hint of killing intent.

Suddenly realizing the lady he was trying to flirt with was taken, he was quite disappointed but then had the idea to hit me, to prove his strength to Yui.

Right after Yui and I turned to leave, he immediately moved to strike me. But before the blow could touch me, he was sent flying back, with a dent appearing on his armor.

He was still dazed, not understanding what had happened, while Yui and I had long since left.

"That guy must have used some trick to blow me away; he used all his strength to run away," this hero was trying to make himself believe he hadn't failed, and that Suo Qi had only run away.

He was sitting on the floor, looking quite pathetic, his full-body armor also slightly dented. He was extremely furious.

"I swear, I will make you regret this, you damnable commoner!"

- Elsewhere:
"Does everyone find the face of the guy standing next to the King quite familiar?" Emi spoke up, asking Yi Si Kai and Suo Kai as the three walked down the corridor back to their rooms.

"Now that you mention it, that guy looked at us quite closely, but he's just a useless commoner; his stats aren't even equal to the soldiers here," she laughed loudly while talking about the guy from earlier.

"Do you mean the guy dressed in black from head to toe with two swords on his back? His style is quite like a rookie Adventurer, and he's also weak." Suo Kai said.

"His face is familiar but quite lowly. I must have seen wrong; we couldn't possibly know such a lowly, weak guy, right?" Emi said.

The other two agreed with Emi's opinion and changed the subject to the new things in this Royal Palace.