Chapter 15: Time to Teach the Princess Her Place!
Before me, as I explored the castle, appeared a beautiful girl with long, silver hair—Sophia von Solstia, the princess from «Altena Fantasia». Her practical attire and the sword at her waist suggested she’d just finished training.
“You! Don’t you know this area is restricted to royal affiliates? How dare you intrude! State your name and affiliation!” Sophia shouted, pointing at me sharply.
(…Now, what to do?) I mused.
I hadn’t planned to encounter a game heroine yet, but this could be a golden opportunity. If I revealed my identity, Sophia would likely develop a negative impression of me. After much deliberation, I decided to be upfront.
“I’m Klaus. Klaus Renford, head of the Renford House,” I declared, adding a touch of manga flair for effect.
But—
“So, Klaus… Klaus Renford…?” Sophia responded, ignoring my dramatic delivery.
Having posed so confidently, I felt a tad embarrassed. As I stood there, Sophia’s face lit up as if recalling something.
“You… Could you be the Klaus who single-handedly captured a Demon King’s army executive?” she asked.
It seemed my reputation had reached even the princess. I desperately wanted to deny it, but it was too late.
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s how it’s being spun.”
“Hmm. So, you’re that Klaus…” she said, eyeing me up and down.
After a moment, she tossed her long hair dramatically. “Hmph! If someone like you could defeat an executive alone, they must not be that impressive! I could’ve achieved the same in your position!”
I chuckled. “Heh.”
“What!? Did you just laugh at me!? That’s disrespectful! Utterly disrespectful!” Sophia’s face flushed with anger as she protested.
But my laugh wasn’t mocking her. Ignoring her complaints, I recalled Sophia’s role in «Altena Fantasia». In the game, she starts as a prideful, quintessential princess. After losing a duel to the protagonist early on, she undergoes a transformation, becoming one of the game’s most virtuous and powerful characters.
Her backstory reveals her prodigious talent in swordsmanship and magic, unmatched in royal history. Yet, she wasn’t naturally arrogant. The looming revival of the Demon King, requiring royal blood to defeat, placed immense expectations on her. This pressure led her to adopt a bold facade to cope.
Knowing this, I found her current bravado endearing. She’d eventually face reality and rise above it. Why not give her some advice?
“Sophia, forget the pressure. Live as you please,” I said.
“Calling me by name!? ‘You’!? And this random advice!? This is beyond disrespectful—I can’t even process it. Is this… reality?” Sophia clutched her head, wobbling as if she might collapse.
What a character, I thought, watching her barely stay upright. She placed a hand on her sword and glared at me.
“You’d better stop joking around. Or would you prefer I deal with you myself?” she threatened.
“You think you can beat me?” I asked.
“Of course! I’m destined to defeat the Demon King, so someone like you won’t trouble me!” she declared boldly, whether from confidence or bravado.
Impressed, I had a sudden thought. If the story followed the game’s path, Sophia would gain the strength to defeat the Demon King and possibly rival Luciel, the final boss. But there was a problem.
Why do I aim to be the Charisma of Evil? To surpass Luciel and stand as the ultimate final boss before Sophia and the others. But could they fight me on equal terms? I didn’t care about winning or losing—whether I defeated them or they me, as long as it was dramatic, I’d be satisfied. But a one-sided battle wouldn’t do.
For the greatest hero to emerge, the ultimate villain is needed. And for the ultimate villain to reign, the greatest hero is essential. Glancing at Sophia, I considered her trajectory.
“What?” she asked.
“…”
“Say something!” she demanded.
Even if everything went smoothly, she’d meet the protagonist and change her mindset months from now. Could she grow fast enough to match me, who aimed to surpass Luciel? The answer was no.
To avoid that future, she needed to face reality now. Decision made—
“Right, I’ve decided,” I announced.
“Decided what?” she asked warily.
“If you’re that confident, Sophia, I’ll teach you your place,” I declared.
“What are you saying!? So, you’ve finally shown your true colors! Fine, I have countermeasures!” Sophia shouted, reaching for her sword. “Right here, I’ll defeat—”
“«Spatial Freeze»,” I cast.
“—What!? M-My sword won’t draw! That’s unfair!” she cried, her clear blue eyes brimming with tears as she glared.
“Fine, I’ll call the castle knights—” she began.
“I’ve activated a silencing spell, so no one will hear you—«Transporting Wind»,” I added.
“Eek! The wind’s lifting me! W-Where are you taking me!?” she shrieked.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said.
“Of course I’m worried! You won’t get away with this! The moment I’m taken from the castle, a barrier alerts everyone—”
“I’ve disabled that, so we’re good. Let’s go!”
“Eek, noooo!”
Carrying Sophia with wind magic, I leapt out a castle window. Her screams were muffled by the silencing spell. As we flew, I pondered.
(Hmm, where’s a good place to teach Sophia her place? Right—the dungeon!)
Thus, Sophia and I set off for a night of dungeon delving.
About thirty minutes after leaving the capital, we reached our destination. I gently set Sophia down. She’d been screaming initially but now seemed calm—or perhaps resigned—sighing as she adjusted her clothes.
“I still can’t process this. Me, kidnapped…” she muttered.
“Hey, don’t make me sound like some kidnapper,” I protested.
“It’s absolutely kidnapping!” she snapped, brimming with energy.
Ignoring her, I turned my gaze forward. We stood in the «Forest of Eltria», near the capital. At its center was an open area with a lone pedestal bearing a majestic lion statue.
Approaching the pedestal, I touched the statue. “Let’s hope it opens properly…”
Though not in response, the lion’s eyes glowed red. The pedestal split, sliding apart toreveal a staircase descending below. I nodded.
“Looks good,” I said.
This was the hidden dungeon «Great Eltria Labyrinth» from «Altena Fantasia». Unnecessary for the main story, it housed powerful items and monsters. In the game, it required a protagonist level over 100 to enter. I’d been concerned about my eligibility, but it seemed fine.
“What is this place…?” Sophia asked, peering curiously down the stairs.
“A hidden dungeon,” I replied.
Clearly unprepared for this, she seemed intrigued. I continued, “Let’s head down.”
“What? Now!?” she exclaimed.
“Yeah. Or are you scared to dive in after all that bravado? I won’t force you,” I teased.
“What!”
As expected, her face flushed red. Placing a hand on her chest, she declared grandly, “Don’t mock me! I’m Sophia von Solstia, first princess of the Solstia Kingdom! I’ll conquer this dungeon in a flash!”
◇◆◇
“No more! I can’t do this! Klaus-san, do something!”
Ten minutes later, Sophia was desperately pleading for help as a horde of monsters attacked. This dungeon’s weakest foes were level 60 (B-rank) or higher, while Sophia, pre-story, was only level 15–20. She stood no chance.
Meeting her pleading gaze, I said seriously, “You’re fine! If you can defeat a Demon King’s executive, these monsters should be easy! You can do it, Sophia! Go, go!”
“I’m sorry! I was wrong! I admit it! I can’t beat an executive right now! Please, save me!” she cried.
“…Hmm.”
She’d reached her limit. I cast a few spells, annihilating the monsters. Freed from danger, Sophia collapsed to the floor. After a few minutes, she mustered enough energy to stand, her tired eyes meeting mine.
“I’m sorry, Klaus-san. Your strength is far beyond mine,” she admitted.
“Have you realized your current limits?” I asked.
“…Yes. From now on, I’ll train without overestimating myself. That’s what you wanted to teach me, right?” she said, her expression as refreshed as in the game after losing to the protagonist.
Satisfied, I felt bringing her here was worthwhile. As I thought this, she turned to leave.
“It’s late, so shall we head back—”
“Sophia.”
I grabbed her shoulder firmly.
“K-Klaus-san, why are you holding me…? We’ve achieved the goal, so we just need to return…” she stammered.
“What are you talking about?” I said without hesitation. “This is a rare chance. We’ll keep slaying monsters to make you stronger.”
“…Huh?”
“Specifically, let’s aim for ten levels today,” I added.
“Ten levels? In one day? Klaus-san, what are you—”
“Let’s go!”
“Noooooo!”
Sophia’s scream echoed through the dungeon. I began power-leveling her.
She fought wave after wave of monsters, though she couldn’t handle them alone. I supported her with buffs and magical assistance. Oh, right—speaking of leveling…
I pulled out the «Recoil Enhancement Ring» and «Fresh Blood Lure Lamp». “Hey, Sophia! Want to use a ring that boosts all stats but reduces HP to 10%, or an item that attracts monsters by covering you in blood?”
“No way!” she shouted.
Too bad—given the level gap, the risks were too high. I equipped the ring myself.
An hour later, we reached the tenth floor.
“K-Klaus-san, my legs won’t move…” Sophia groaned.
“…Hmm.”
She was utterly exhausted. The tenth floor, a multiple of ten, housed an 80-level floor boss, a Minotaur. I’d hoped Sophia could fight it, but she was done.
“«Hellfire»,” I cast.
“GRAAAHH!”
I took on the Minotaur alone, defeating it instantly with sword and magic. A reward appeared—a ring.
“This is…”
Searching my past-life memories, I recalled its details:
«Royal Family Ring»: S-rank
・When equipped by a Solstia royal, all stats increase significantly.
(Increase proportional to the wearer’s level %)
This was one of the game’s strongest items, boosting stats by 50% at level 50, 100% at level 100—a game-breaking piece of equipment. Unfortunately, only royals could use it, so it was useless to me. Not wanting to waste it, I glanced at the exhausted Sophia.
“Sophia, hold out your hand,” I said.
“My hand?” she asked.
“Yeah, take this—”
I tried to toss it, but she was too tired to lift her arm.
No choice. I lifted her hand and slipped the ring on, recalling a game detail: the ring’s effect only activated on a specific finger—her left—
Relying on my memories, I placed it on her left ring finger and smiled. “This will make you much stronger.”
“!?! H-H-Huh!?!?!?!?!?”
The shock overwhelmed her, and my words barely registered. Her mind seemed to short-circuit.
(A ring… on my ring finger!? What does this mean!? I can’t think straight…)
Realizing she couldn’t process it, she squeezed out, “K-Klaus-san… no, Klaus-sama. Does this mean… (Giving me the Royal Family Ring is a proposal, right!?)”
“? Yeah, of course,” I replied.
Her confusion deepened. “…T-Time! I need time! (I can’t answer something like this now!)”
“I get it,” I said.
“…”
Staring at me earnestly, she realized my sincerity. Still dazed, I led her out of the dungeon.
◇◆◇
A few hours earlier, despite the late hour, Sophia was training alone in the castle’s training grounds.
“Hiyah! Hah!”
Clang!
Perhaps from overexertion, her grip failed, and her sword fell. Wiping sweat with a towel, she crouched down.
“…Is this really enough?”
Her expression betrayed anxiety. As the first princess, Sophia was blessed with talent and had grown through relentless effort. Yet, unease swirled within her.
“My swordsmanship and magic improve daily, but is it enough to defeat the Demon King…?”
She recalled the expectations heaped upon her:
“Sophia-sama will surely defeat the Demon King!”
“Believe in your talent!”
“Don’t worry! It’s been decided since in the founding myth that the princess will defeat him!”
She’d heard these since childhood, driving her to train despite crushing fear and anxiety. Shaking her head, she steeled herself.
“No, no weakness! I’m Sophia von Solstia, first princess! I’ll defeat the Demon King with ease!”
She resumed training, finishing an hour later. On her way back, she encountered him.
“Hey, you there! What are you doing here!”
Seeing a boy in a royal-only area, she called out forcefully. He widened his eyes briefly before declaring, “I’m Klaus. Klaus Renford, head of the Renford House.”
The name was familiar—no noble in the capital didn’t know it. A young lord from a minor territory who single-handedly captured a Demon King’s executive. Even her father, the king, mentioned him often. Each mention sparked a burning emotion in Sophia—jealousy tinged with envy.
(His achievements should’ve been mine!)
So, she confronted Klaus boldly. That was her mistake.
“«Spatial Freeze»—«Transporting Wind»—Let’s go!”
“Eek, noooo!”
Angered by her words, Klaus kidnapped her from the castle in an instant.
He took her to a hidden dungeon she didn’t know. Provoked, she challenged it, but—
“No more! I can’t do this! Klaus-san, do something!”
The monsters’ strength overwhelmed her. After her pleas, Klaus drove them off with magic of unmatched skill and power.
(He’s… a true genius.)
Awed, Sophia realized her own mediocrity. Yet, she also thought, If he’s this strong, he could defeat the Demon King.
But Klaus insisted on pressing deeper, refusing to let her leave. With his support, she defeated numerous monsters. During a break, she asked, “…Why go this far for me? (With your strength, you don’t need to bother with me.)”
He answered earnestly, “I need you (to become the ultimate final boss).”
“…Huh!?”
Confused by what seemed like a romantic declaration, she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart.
(Calm down, Sophia. His behavior’s odd—you know that! He must mean something else!)
Concluding this, they descended further. When Sophia reached her limit, they hit the tenth floor, facing a Minotaur far stronger than the rest. Klaus defeated it effortlessly, and Sophia realized she’d been captivated by his swordsmanship and magic.
(Why does he care about me, when we just met today…?)
Then, Klaus called, “Sophia, hold out your hand.”
Lost in thought, she noticed him holding a reward item—a ring.
“My hand?” she asked.
“Yeah, take this—”
Too exhausted to lift her arm, Klaus gently raised it for her.
(T-Touching a boy my age—)
Flustered by the contact, she was even more shocked when she recognized the ring: a legendary item bearing the Solstia royal crest.
(It can’t be!)
As a child, her mother had told her about it during a reading of the founding myth. Long ago, a Demon King appeared. A hero and a princess defeated him. Afterward, the hero pledged his love, gifting her the «Royal Family Ring». They married, founding the Solstia Kingdom. Thus, the ring symbolized an engagement.
Lost during a past upheaval, its reappearance here was unthinkable.
(I need to explain and return it to the royal family—)
But before she could, Klaus slipped it onto her left ring finger.
“This will make you much stronger,” he said.
“!?! H-H-Huh!?!?!?!?!?”
The shock overwhelmed her, blanking her mind.
(A ring… on my ring finger!? What does this mean!? I can’t think…)
Unable to process, she stammered, “K-Klaus-san… no, Klaus-sama. Does this mean… (Giving the Royal Family Ring is a proposal, right!?)”
“? Yeah, of course,” he replied.
“…T-Time! I need time! (I can’t answer this now!)”
“I get it,” he said, gazing at her earnestly.
His sincerity sank in. Dazed, she followed him out. Seeing the sunrise, Klaus muttered, “Oh, it’s sunrise already.”
The dawn’s beauty captivated her, restoring her calm.
“I’ve never watched a sunrise outside like this,” she said.
“Really?” he replied.
As a princess, her life was confined to the castle. Sneaking out or seeing a sunrise was new. Today had taught her much. Despite some grievances, she wanted to thank Klaus.
“Klaus-sama, thank you for teaching me so much—”
But his profile in the dawn light stole her words, her heart pounding.
“Sophia? Did you say something?” he asked.
“N-No! Nothing!” she stammered, clutching her chest.
Touching the ring, she whispered in her heart:
(Thank you, truly—Klaus-sama.)
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