Chapter : 12

  Eighteen years ago, he remembered living on a different planet called Earth. He remembered watching anime, reading manga, and understanding the logic of stories. When he was born into this world of Lumina, he kept those memories.

  While other kids were learning basic fire spells by chanting boring words from a book, Ken was experimenting. He realized that magic in this world responded to imagination. If you could picture it clearly, and if you had the mana, you could do it.

  And Ken had mana. He had too much mana.

  By the time he was ten, he had accidentally blown up a mountain range while trying to recreate a "Spirit Bomb" from a show he liked. He realized then that he was too dangerous. If the world found out about his power, he would never have a quiet life. The Emperor would try to use him as a weapon. The enemies would try to assassinate him in his sleep.

  So, Ken developed his greatest technique. It wasn't an attack. It was a seal.

  He created a complex magical lock inside his own body. He took 99.9% of his mana—an ocean of power deep enough to drown the entire continent—and compressed it into a tiny, invisible box deep within his soul.

  He left himself with only a tiny trickle of magic, just enough to light a candle or lift a spoon. That was the "Ken" everyone saw. That was the "Ken" who got average grades and looked tired all the time.

  "She says she trusts her instincts," Ken thought, looking at Iris’s hopeful face. "Her instincts are actually terrifyingly accurate. She senses the power leaking from the seal. But she misunderstands it. She thinks it's 'potential' that needs to be trained. She doesn't know it's a nuclear bomb that I’m trying to keep turned off."

  If he accepted this job, he would have to walk a tightrope. He would have to fight monsters without using his real power. He would have to survive assassination attempts while acting like a coward. He would have to protect this Princess without her ever knowing that he could snap his fingers and solve all her problems.

  "What a pain," Ken lamented internally. "I just wanted to farm potatoes. Why do I have to be the secret bodyguard for an underdog Princess?"

  But as he looked at Iris, he felt a small twinge of something else. Pity? Respect?

  She was the 13th Princess. The lowest rank. She had no money, a crumbling headquarters, and no political support. Her brothers and sisters were wolves who wanted to eat her alive. Yet, she was standing here, asking a "weak" commoner for help because she believed in his good heart.

  "Fine," Ken thought. "I guess I can play along for a little while. I’ll make some money, keep her safe from the shadows, and then retire when things settle down. I just have to make sure nobody finds out I’m the strongest being on the planet."

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  Ken let out a long, dramatic sigh. He slumped his shoulders even more.

  "Okay," Ken said out loud. His voice sounded defeated. "You win, Princess. Since you asked so nicely, and since the big guy at the door is looking at me like he wants to turn me into a pretzel, I’ll join."

  He reached out and shook her hand. "But I’m warning you. I am going to be the laziest servant you have ever seen. I need regular snack breaks. And I don't work weekends."

  Iris’s face lit up. She smiled, and for a second, the gloomy office looked a little brighter.

  "Thank you, Ken," she said warmly. "And don't worry. We will train you. Grandmaster Finlay is an excellent instructor. He will whip you into shape in no time."

  Ken turned to look at Finlay. The giant armored man was cracking his knuckles. A scary grin appeared on Finlay’s bearded face.

  "Oh yes," Finlay rumbled. "I look forward to it. We start at dawn. 4:00 AM. Running drills. Then sword practice. Then mana endurance."

  Ken’s jaw dropped. "4:00 AM? That’s illegal! That’s in the middle of the night!"

  "It is morning for a warrior," Finlay said.

  "I’m not a warrior!" Ken cried. "I’m a potato enthusiast!"

  Iris laughed. "Welcome to the 13th Unit, Ken. I think you will fit in just fine."

  She walked back to her desk and picked up a bell. She rang it once.

  "Now that that is settled, you need to get settled in," Iris said. "You will be staying in the East Wing of the estate. That is where the Servant Quarters are."

  "East Wing," Ken repeated. "Is the roof leaking over there?"

  "Only a little bit," Iris admitted with a sheepish smile. "We are working on repairs."

  Ken rubbed his temples. "Of course. Leaky roofs. Early mornings. Scary knights. This is officially the worst day of my life."

  "It is the first day of your new life," Iris corrected him. "Finlay, please show him to his room. Let him get some rest. Tomorrow is the orientation."

  "Yes, Your Highness," Finlay said. He opened the door and gestured for Ken to leave. "Move it, Recruit."

  Ken grabbed his bag. He felt heavier than before. He dragged his feet toward the door, giving the Princess one last look. She was already back at work, reading through the mountain of papers on her desk. She looked small behind the big piles of documents.

  "She really works hard," Ken thought. "Maybe… just maybe… she isn't so bad."

  He walked out into the hallway. Finlay closed the door and began to march down the corridor.

  "So," Ken said, trying to make conversation as he jogged to keep up with Finlay’s long strides. "Who else is on this team? You said I was the ninth servant. That means there are eight others, right? Are they all scary like you?"

  "You will meet them tomorrow," Finlay said mysteriously. "They are… unique. The Princess has a habit of collecting strays."

  "Strays?" Ken asked. "Like cats?"

  "Like you," Finlay said. "People who don't fit in. People with odd talents. But make no mistake, Eliot. They are dangerous. Do not annoy them, or they might kill you before the enemy does."

  "Noted," Ken said. "Don't annoy the dangerous roommates. Add that to the list of survival rules."

  They walked deeper into the estate. The hallways became darker and colder. The carpet disappeared, replaced by bare stone floors.

  "Here we are," Finlay said, stopping in front of a heavy wooden door. "This is your room."

  He handed Ken a rusty metal key.

  "Sleep well," Finlay said. "And remember. 4:00 AM. If you are late, I will drag you out of bed myself."

  The Grandmaster turned and stomped away, the sound of his armor fading into the darkness.

  Ken stood alone in the hallway. He looked at the key in his hand.

  "Well," Ken whispered to the empty air. "Here goes nothing."

  He unlocked the door and pushed it open.

  The room was small. It had a single bed with a thin blanket, a wooden wardrobe that leaned to the left, and a small window that let in the moonlight. It was simple. It was plain.