I’m standing in front of a group of people who all seem to have forgotten how to form words. Their jaws are on the floor.

  The lineup: the King, Roka, Felmina, the doctor, a nurse, the Head Assistant, Shanon… and some old geezer I don’t recognize.

  The doctor recovers first.

  “How can you be—”

  “How can I be what?”

  I tilt my head. Is he mad I took the drip out?

  I rub the back of my neck and smile.

  “Ah—sorry I took the drip out.”

  I bow.

  “Forget the drip! How can you stand? Never mind stand—how can you move? Did we get the concentration wrong!?”

  He whips toward the nurse.

  “What was the concentration!?”

  The nurse fumbles through her chart in a panic.

  “Level 24 paralyzing solution, Doctor!”

  “But then—”

  He looks genuinely horrified.

  I raise my hand.

  “Uhm…”

  Both of them look at me.

  “I’m Level 27.”

  “Still!”

  The doctor regains composure and points at me like he’s accusing me of fraud.

  “Listen, Sir Hero. With MP Drain, you should not be able to move. Your mana core is empty. We were supposed to start you on a mana drip after you regained consciousness. For a Level 24—no, even 27—

  YOU.

  ARE.

  SUPPOSED.

  TO.

  BE.

  BEDRIDDEN

  for at least a week! Your mana core drains everything—”

  The king interrupts.

  “Thank you, Doctor. That’s enough.”

  “With respect, my king,” the doctor protests, “he can’t regenerate mana until the core is full. It takes time to—”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “My MP is full,” I say, raising my hand again with a nervous smile.

  The doctor freezes.

  “Impossible.”

  He steps closer.

  “Impossible! How did you—? Your status must be glitching. I refuse to accept this!”

  The Head Assistant takes the hint from the king and starts dragging him away.

  “We are not done here! We’ll talk later! YOU HEAR ME!?” the doctor shouts as he’s hauled out.

  The door closes.

  Silence.

  Then Roka and Felmina both rush to my sides and wrap their arms around me without saying a word.

  The king clears his throat and looks directly at me.

  “There are a few things I should explain regarding your marriage and—”

  “I know, King Raymond-sama. Felmina already told me.”

  The king nods, relieved.

  “That simplifies matters. Sir Kaijuu, you don’t look upset. I assume you accept that what we did was necessary?”

  “I’m not upset. It’s just… the Absolute Loy—”

  A loud throat-clearing interrupts me.

  Everyone looks at the old man.

  The king suddenly realizes something and turns to the nurse and Shanon.

  “Would you ladies give us the room, please?”

  They bow and leave.

  The old man glances at Roka and Felmina, then at the king.

  “They may stay?”

  “They have both already activated their seals,” the king replies. “They should hear this.”

  The old man bows slightly.

  “As you wish, my king.”

  He turns to me.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Sir Hero. I am Francis Mayburry—Duke Mayburry—and Head Administrator of the Royal Vault.”

  Duke Mayburry…

  Wait—Mayburry!?

  He bows deeply.

  “First, allow me to sincerely apologize for my son’s conduct.”

  He actually starts to kneel. I quickly stop him.

  “Hold on—your son?”

  He blinks, confused, then nods slowly as the realization hits him.

  “My apologies, Sir Hero. You were unconscious until this morning, so you would not know. The intruder in Princess Roka’s room was… my son.”

  My entire body tenses.

  He sees it. He swallows, but continues.

  “According to the interrogation report, he intended to use the Seal’s kill condition to blackmail the king and force the marriage.”

  My jaw clenches.

  He hesitates but presses on.

  “There is a detail about the Seal that is not written in the documents. It is passed down verbally to vault administrators only, for security.”

  He takes out a black cloth roll, hangs it on the door, and pulls it down.

  “All of you—feed mana into it.”

  We do.

  The seal glows red.

  Encryption complete.

  He continues.

  “These two ladies have the Seal. You are the owner, yes?”

  I hesitate. I don’t remember. A fog rolls in.

  The duke tries again.

  “Sir Hero?”

  I raise a hand.

  “I need a second.”

  I shut my eyes.

  Think.

  I remember pushing the guy.

  Roka’s seal glowing.

  His words…

  “She’s mine now.”

  Then—

  My blood boils.

  Wrong answer.

  My hand at his throat.

  Roka screaming.

  A flash of red.

  A stabbing headache hits.

  Then—

  Zero HP.

  My mana entering the seal.

  Blackout.

  Felmina screaming.

  I jumped at her too.

  I open my eyes, heart pounding.

  Everyone stares, worried.

  I breathe out slowly.

  “I’m fine. And yes—I am the owner.”

  The duke bows again.

  “Very well. Here is what remains: in private, you will speak to each lady separately and establish a kill phrase. Choose a phrase you would NEVER, EVER say by accident. You place your hand on their seal and speak it. From that moment on, if you ever utter those words again—even miles apart—the seal will activate. Instant death.”

  I swallow hard.

  “We used this in covert operations,” he continues, “to prevent captured operatives from being interrogated. Do it soon. The seal can be hijacked if someone gets to them first.”

  The king steps in.

  “As for my son… rest assured, he will be prosecuted fully. Treason. Blackmail. Assault. I only beg of you—if possible—spare him from execution.”

  Tension hangs thick in the air.

  The king claps his hands sharply.

  The mood dissolves instantly.

  “You three must have much to discuss. We’ll take our leave.”

  They exit.

  I exhale deeply.

  A phrase I’d never say, huh?

  Got it.

  I take Roka’s hand and gently pull her aside, checking the door lock.

  Still encrypted.

  I place my hand on her seal.

  “I hate you, Roka.”

  Then I pull Felmina close, place my hand on her seal.

  “I hate you, Felmina.”

  It takes them a moment to process.

  Then their eyes widen—

  And they both tackle me to the ground.

  “I love you too!” they shout in unison.