The capital of Aerth rose from the horizon as if it's existence were painted.
White stone walls. Sapphire banners snapped in the wind. Spires that pierced the sky as if trying to compete with the twin moons above.
And beside me.
Seraphina Valcrest.
She walked with the calm confidence of someone who belonged at the center of it all.
Her crimson hair caught the wind, glinting like fire against polished silver armor. The closer we got to the gates, the more the guards straightened.
They weren't reacting to me.
They were reacting to her.
"Captain Valcrest!" one of them called. "You're back sooner than expected."
His eyes shifted to me.
Paused.
Narrowed.
Ah. There it was.
Suspicious Background Extra Detection.
Before I could say anything, the System flickered to life.
[Social Encounter Detected.]
Objective: Enter the capital without losing face.
Reward: +5 Affection (Seraphina)
Failure: Minor Electric Shock.
"I'm starting to think this thing enjoys threatening me," I muttered.
Seraphina glanced sideways. "Hm?"
"Nothing."
The guard stepped forward. "Captain, who is this man?"
She didn't hesitate.
"He is under my protection."
Oh.
Wait wasn't I the one that saved her? Why am I the one under protection?
That did something to my heart.
The guard blinked. "Under your protection?"
"Yes," she said evenly. "He slew a Thunderfang."
That's more like it.
Silence.
The name hit like a thrown brick.
"You're joking," another guard whispered.
"You know I do not joke."
All eyes turned to me.
This was it.
First impression inside the capital.
Do not fumble.
The System shimmered.
[Charisma Passive Activated.]
I stepped forward just slightly, not cocky, not submissive. Controlled.
"Kael," I said simply. "I didn't really do anything. Seriphina did most of the work."
Seraphina's eyes flickered at that.
The guards exchanged glances.
Humility. Strength. Backed by the Captain.
After a moment, they stepped aside.
"Welcome to Aerth."
[Affection Increased!]
Seraphina Valcrest: 35 → 40
Status: Respect Growing
Okay.
Max Charisma was actually unfair.
...
The capital was alive.
Merchants shouted over each other. The smell of roasted meat drifted through the streets. Children ran between stalls with wooden swords, reenacting exaggerated monster battles.
And everywhere we walked, people bowed to Seraphina.
"You're popular," I said.
"I am a Royal Knight Captain," she replied. "It comes with responsibility."
She said it plainly. Not proudly.
Interesting.
As we turned down a quieter street leading toward the inner district, I noticed something else.
Whispers.
Eyes lingering.
Not on her.
On us.
[Notice Level: 12%]
"…System," I muttered internally. "Define Notice Level."
[Notice Level measures public awareness of Host's abnormal presence.]
High Notice increases opportunities.
High Notice also increases danger.
"Ah. So fame with consequences."
Seraphina slowed slightly. "You look troubled."
"Just thinking about how great my life is," I said wistfully.
Her expression shifted at that.
"The court has waited years for a sign," she admitted. "If you truly were summoned…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Instead, we reached a set of towering gates.
The Royal District.
Guards opened them instantly at her approach.
Inside, the atmosphere changed.
Less noise.
More pressure.
The kind that presses against your skin and reminds you that powerful people live here.
And then,
A ripple.
Mana.
Heavy. Refined. Controlled.
Someone strong.
Very strong.
A figure stood at the top of the palace steps.
Long silver hair.
White and blue mage robes trimmed in gold.
Cool violet eyes watching us descend into her territory.
[Target Detected!]
Name: Lyriana Aerthiel
Class: Crown Princess / Archmage
Affection Level: 0/100 (Disinterest)
Capture Condition: Prove worth beyond brute strength.
Oh no.
Mage Princess Flag acquired.
Seraphina bowed slightly. "Your Highness."
So this was her.
The one who, in the original story, fell for the protagonist after a magical duel and shared trauma.
Lyriana's gaze moved to me.
Sharp.
Assessing.
"Captain," she said calmly, "why have you brought a civilian into the Royal District?"
"He isn't just a civilian."
Lyriana's eyes narrowed
"He defeated a Thunderfang."
A pause.
The princess's eyebrow lifted ever so slightly.
"Is that so? Even then, that doesn't justify bringing him to the Royal District.
Seriphina lowered her head more.
"I believe he's the prophesized hero "
"Seriphina Valcrest, vouching for a man. That makes it a little believable." Her tone was dismissive.
"I'll have to check him out myself."
She descended the steps gracefully, mana swirling faintly around her like mist.
When she stopped in front of me, I felt it fully.
Pressure.
This wasn't brute force like the wolf.
This was intelligence sharpened into a weapon.
"You do not look like a summoned hero," she said.
"That's because I'm not the pro—"
I stopped myself from almost slipping up.
Instead, I smiled lightly. "I get that a lot."
Seraphina shot me a confused look.
Lyriana's eyes narrowed.
[Dialogue Challenge Initiated.]
Impress Lyriana Aerthiel without arrogance.
Reward: +10 Affection
Failure: Public Humiliation (High Notice Increase)
Of course.
Why would it be easy?
The princess extended a hand.
A small sphere of condensed mana formed above her palm.
"Touch this," she said. "If you are lying, it will react."
Ah.
A truth detection spell.
Ah, I had absolutely no idea how this would turn out.
Well.
Here we go.
I reached forward.
The moment my fingers brushed the sphere
The world stuttered.
The mana didn't flare violently.
It didn't reject me.
It pulsed.
Softly.
Then it bent toward me.
Lyriana's eyes widened.
Seraphina inhaled sharply.
The sphere dissolved into threads of light that wrapped briefly around my hand before fading.
Silence.
[Affection Increased!]
Lyriana Aerthiel: 0 → 15
Status: Intrigued
Lyriana stepped back half a pace.
"…Fascinating."
Seraphina looked between us. "Your Highness?"
The princess didn't answer immediately.
Instead, her gaze sharpened in a new way.
Not dismissive.
Not hostile.
Curious.
"You will remain in the palace tonight," she said finally. "As our guest."
Oh.
That escalated quickly.
Seraphina looked pleased.
The System chimed again.
[Main Quest Updated.]
Build Your Harem of Destiny.
Current Members: 0/???
Potential Candidates: 2
"This is so shameless," I whispered.
[Reminder: Electric Shock.]
Right.
Right.
I straightened as palace doors opened before us.
Two heroines.
One capital.
And somewhere out there.
The original protagonist.
If he showed up and saw me standing where he was supposed to stand…
Yeah.
This was going to get complicated.
And judging by the way both women were now looking at me.
This story was already off-script.