It has been a month since I received my knight’s title.
It’s a period that could be considered long or short,
And during that time, I have truly felt the responsibility that Minister Herness mentioned.
[We hope Yuren Maker can attend the opening event for the new orphanage.]
[It would be an honor for Yuren Maker to attend the Southern Nobility meeting.]
[Please give a speech on behalf of the royal family at the Empire Cultural Museum.]
The flood of insane event invitations and contacts poured into my home without pause.
Like inviting a star who won a gold medal at the Olympics to elevate the status of an event, I was invited, and I had no choice but to attend the event to avoid losing face for Irene School and to not offend other nobles.
On top of that, the workload at Irene School was breaking records.
Not only was there game development, but also the construction of the ‘Capsule Monster’ theme park in Irene Land along with the sequel developments for countless games like Tetric, Legend Fighter, Super Thomas, and Eternal Fantasy—things were getting out of hand.
Even though all the basic planning was outsourced to other schools, at the very least, we had to manage the quality, and that management was quite a burden.
In other words, everyone was on the verge of death from overwork.
“Uuuhhhh…”
“It’s tough, my disciple…”
“Zzz…”
“I’m sorry, Yuren. I’m at my limit too…Zzz…”
After work, I would come home exhausted, collapse, and fall asleep.
Days went by like this, and this time, Irene School became the top tax-paying school in the Empire thanks to the ‘Capsule Monster.’
But it was all futile.
What good is having a lot of money if there’s no time to spend it?
“This is not right… this isn’t living…”
Lying on the floor at home,
As I was desperately trying to think of a way to break this cycle while my fading brain slipped into sleep,
Something caught my hand.
“This is…”
It was a small dragon fragment, a red gem the size of a thumb, given to me by Prince Lethers long ago.
This must have been from Prince Lethers…
‘(Hahaha! If I show this in the Kingdom of Ra, they will guide me immediately. I look forward to the day we meet in the Kingdom of Ra, my dear friend, Yuren.)’
“Yeah, this is it!!”
If I use this, I can finally take a break!
Having found a way to rest, I hurriedly woke everyone up.
“Get up! Get up! Everyone, pack your things.”
“Ugh… What’s going on, disciple? Why suddenly packing?”
At my words, everyone began to wake up groggily.
Especially Julia, who had recently returned from a business trip with me to the Nova family, exclaimed in shock.
“Don’t tell me we’re going on another business trip? I don’t want to anymore. I’m tired. I want to rest.”
“I’m not going to work.”
The face of fear everyone shot my way made it clear how much they had suffered from work.
I calmed everyone down and said,
“Let’s all go on a trip to the Kingdom of Ra!”
“To the Royal Palace of Ra?”
If we stayed within the Empire, we’d be buried in work.
However, if we went somewhere outside the Empire, that would solve the problem.
If we traveled for a month or two, the knight title debacle would surely calm down, and nobody would be calling for me.
“Can we really go on a trip so suddenly?”
“Yeah. I’ve heard it takes a long time to obtain a travel visa for the Kingdom of Ra.”
“Don’t worry, I have this!”
“What’s this?”
I showed everyone the dragon fragment I received from Prince Lethers.
Later, when I asked Mineva about it, she told me the dragon fragment was called [Ragnix] and was a symbol indicating a royal guest of the kingdom.
With this, I could freely roam the Kingdom of Ra and receive royal treatment, as Mineva explained to me.
At that time, I was too busy developing other games and had little interest because of my martial arts trauma, but now this token looked like a ticket to heaven.
They say this world is a series of inevitable coincidences.
Is it a coincidence that I found this dragon fragment given to me by Prince Lethers at this moment?
No, this was definitely an invitation ticket for me.
So, to finally have a real rest and create joyful memories,
We set off for a journey to the Kingdom of Ra.
*
The Kingdom of Ra has a tropical climate.
It felt like a blend of Indonesia and Thailand in a past life, with a design that fused Southeast Asian culture into its architecture and atmosphere.
In other words, it’s a fantastic vacation spot.
Splash!!!!
“Wow!! Yuren! The sea water is so refreshing!!”
In the royal capital of the Kingdom of Ra, Hamont,
With the sapphire-clear blue water and fine sandy beaches where palm trees grew, we were having a great time there.
Sora jumped into the sea wearing a tube-top bikini she had worn the last time at the swimming pool, and Sylvia, Julia, and everyone else brought swimsuits from our previous outing.
It seemed everyone had a lot of pent-up feelings from not getting to play last time.
As I was enjoying the beach scenery and the long-awaited leisure, I heard a voice.
“Haha! So, Yuren, are you enjoying yourself?”
It was Prince Lethers Ra Dragonheart,
The second prince of the Kingdom of Ra, who had once faced off against me in a duel and was now graciously inviting us as royal guests.
After arriving in the Kingdom of Ra, we contacted the prince using the dragon fragment.
When I expressed my desire to connect with a friend while on vacation, the prince joyfully invited us to the royal villa in Hamont.
Prince Lethers, who welcomed us to his royal villa, pointed out the Kingdom of Ra’s tourist attractions and treated us like state guests.
Upon hearing from his aides, it turned out that not only was it because I was genuinely a friend of the prince, but also because I had received a knight’s title and was a distinguished guest of the Zers Empire, which afforded me such treatment.
Once again, I learned that a person’s reputation has its benefits.
So, there we were, using the wide and beautiful beach to our heart’s content.
While thinking that connections are indeed the best currency in this world, I got up quickly to pay my respects as the prince approached.
When a water bearer arrives, a certain level of etiquette is basic.
“Yes, Prince Lethers, thanks to you, I am having a wonderful time.”
“This much is nothing. You’re my dear friend, after all! Hahaha!!”
Prince Lethers hadn’t changed since our last meeting.
But something felt different.
How should I put it? It felt more profound.
Like he had transitioned from a youth to an adult.
While pondering this, Prince Lethers spoke again.
“However, killing Aerith was a bit much, Yuren.”
Ah… Could it be because of that?
I remembered that Prince Lethers had been part of the Eternal Fantasy’s [Aerith] faction.
“W-We had no choice for the story’s completeness.”
“I understand now. There are stories that can only be completed through death… But even after playing ten times, it’s still too harsh that you killed Aerith.”
“Haha…”
Could it be that he was still miffed because I didn’t write to save Aerith?
At my troubled expression, the prince laughed cheerfully and said,
“Just kidding! Hahaha!! Now, have a good time, and if you need anything, just talk to my aide, Ryumin.”
“Thank you very much, Prince Lethers.”
Saying that, the prince departed with his attendants.
That expression from just now… It really didn’t seem like a joke…
*
Meanwhile, while Yuren’s party was enjoying their time,
From a distance across the pavilion, a man was watching Yuren.
He looked similar to Prince Lethers, but older, perhaps in his fifties, radiating nobility as he observed Yuren intently, and at that moment, Prince Lethers approached.
“So… that man is the wizard who defeated you and created the game called Capsule Monster?”
“Yes! Honorable Ragnix, this man is my ‘dear friend’ and the wizard behind the game magic, Yuren!”
His true identity was the ‘Guardian Beast’ protecting the Kingdom of Ra in polymorphic form,
And he was the ancestor of the Kingdom, the legendary Fire Dragon Ragnix.
Among the other guardian beasts, Ragnix was the only one who directly participated in the birth of the country.
He married the ancestor of the Kingdom, and a half-dragon, half-human child was born.
That child was Phoenix, the Fire Dragon King, who founded the Kingdom of Ra.
Since then, he had barely involved himself in worldly matters, often falling into slumber in the celestial realm, but occasionally he polymorphed and visited the Kingdom of Ra.
Naturally, as the kingdom’s ancestor and protector, his power was formidable.
Even Prince Lethers was like his errand boy.
“I want to meet that wizard once. Lethers.”
“Yes! I’ll arrange a meeting, my ancestor!”
Unbeknownst to Yuren, the shadow of the black dragon began to draw closer.
