“BAAH! DAMNED THIS ETERNAL REGRET! I will practise! Come, Kuro! Let’s go and practice! I’ll use those trees as my target dummies and hit them using my bullets!”“Uh…. Chloe? Did you just…?”“DID I WHAT NOW, KURO?” Chloe narrows her eyes and growls at me.“N-Nothing. I’m aboard whatever you have in mind, princess.”And here, I think Chloe will sleep after our conversation ends. But I have thought wrong. Chloe picks herself from the ground, drags me out of my place, and rushes towards the trees. She then gapes at the plants for a few seconds before gazing back at me.“Tell me where to train, Kuro. The pain inside my chest continues to consume me, and I want to do something about it.”“Trust the gun… and respect the gun. And for that, you should-...”“I know!” Chloe says, as she encases her hand around the trigger... Around me. She then stares at the tree as if it is a creature heading toward her... It is as if this situation is a life-or-death situation for her. “I know… It’s just that,
The [Forest Cerberus] finds an opening and slashes Chloe’s left arm. Her non-dominant arm. Chloe recognises that she has messed up, so she darts away. But she couldn’t sprint for more. As soon as the princess glances at her back, the same [Forest Cerberus] catches up and plans to pierce her with its horns. Those four [Forest Cerberus] are also tailing behind, waiting for the perfect opportunity to gang up on her.If Chloe still wishes to improve, now’s the time. She aims the gun again at the creature, but her confidence diminishes. The princess isn’t sure if the bullets will hit her enemies… or if it will repeat the same mistake she did earlier. “I… I don’t know, Kuro… I can’t hit the enemy…” Chloe murmurs, and plans on accepting death as she slowly closes her eyes. Her hand shivers again. She is still trying, and Chloe would pull the trigger somehow or in some way. However, she already knows the conclusion. Some bullets would miss the [Forest Cerberus], or they would only hit their
“Did you just say ‘Game Over?’” I ask, trying to make sure I have heard the correct word. Chloe hardly bobs her head, avoids my gaze, and replies, “Y-Yes, Kuro… Because that is what you always say… And I want to mimic your way of speaking… You are somewhat having fun with it, and I also find it amusing to my ears. Hence, I said the word. I apologise if it does not suit me-...” “No, no, no, no, no, no.” I shake my head and continue. “As a matter of fact, that’s actually pretty dope, princess! You can copy whatever I’m saying, and I don’t mind a bit! It’s just refreshing, which took me by surprise to hear you say something out of the blue. And nice shot, by the way! We finally killed the [Forest Cerberus]!” “There you again, saying words that I do not know. What is a ‘Dope?’... Nevermind. I will learn it sometime soon. The terminologies you say always remind me that you do not come from this world but from another. Which is why I feel at ease when I’m with you…” “Anyhow, thank you fo
I leave the decision to Chloe. I have already made up my mind, but I am not alone in this fight. Chloe is with me, and it would be rude to decide whether to take the mission, although it would benefit the two of us. If there’s a decision to make, it is best to survey Chloe to see if she is willing to do it. And if she isn’t, we’d figure something out.Thankfully, the princess is up for the task. When she first hears my thoughts, Chloe contemplates for a second and agrees. But she looks at me with a worried look in her eyes. After a moment, she voices her concerns. “Are you sure we can win this fight, despite the fact that [Goblin Shaman[ is way above our level, Kuro?”Again, for the umpteenth time, I would’ve already shaken it from left to right if only I had a head. “To be honest, I don’t want to give you false hope, so… I don’t know. The best thing we can do is to try. And besides, your aim is becoming better than usual. That’s a start.”“The [Forest Cerberus] needs four bullets to
The fight finally begins. Shedding no fear, Chloe dashes out from the boulder and reveals herself in front of the goblins. When the [Goblin Shaman] and the small-fries notice her, the leader quickly raises their guard and orders its minions to batter us. But Chloe is faster than them. The moment Chloe lands on the ground, she grips me tighter in her hands, aims me at the goblins, and fires three bullets at each goblin at a time. Although a headshot could easily eliminate those goblins and lessen the usage of our ammunition, Chloe doesn’t want to risk it and plans on defeating this mob in a slow but steady fashion. I, too, prefer it that way for now.When Chloe first fought against monsters, she was terrified and lacked confidence. She always told herself, “What if my bullets wouldn’t hit my enemies?” and watched her hands tremble in fear. But all that changed when I deactivated my [Aimbot] and Chloe defeated five [Forest Cerberus] on her own. It was clutch, but she did the job. And no
I thought we had it. I thought this was the end of the line, and Chloe and I would resume our merry journey like a typical day. But it isn’t. Fighting bosses is never easy. And we’ve learned a valuable lesson that… we need to earn our win if we want to be stronger.[Enraged Form has been activated][Second Phase commences for [Goblin Shaman]]Suddenly, the atmosphere changes. Despite the lack of gusts blowing from the seams, there is also a tingling sensation in the air. The wind comes from the [Goblin Shaman]. Additionally, our opponent becomes taller, and its mass increases.And if my gamer senses are correct, this boss of ours is heading to the second phase, which is more powerful than the first one… of course..The [Goblin Shaman] increases its health, and I assume that the boss also gains more strength, leading to more damage than it could before. Not to mention, there is a forcefield-like glass emitting from the monster’s surroundings. Nothing happens when Chloe aims me at the [
Just like always, Chloe follows my command and waits out the [Goblin Shaman]. I have a feeling that this monster is just buying time for it to cast another spell, so it tries to taunt us into wasting our energy and mana on attacking. But Chloe doesn’t take the bait. The princess and I stare at the [Goblin Shaman], still waiting for it to make a move.And then it happens.The moment the [Goblin Shaman] finally assembles its inner mana, it raises its hand and casts its spell. A magical circle envelope at the creature’s head, showing that it would launch an attack from above. But most importantly, the tentacle-like limb created by the [Goblin Shaman] has emerged at the creature’s back, which is, I guess, the source of the monster’s overall mana.“That’s our target, Chloe. I think you could shoot the eye from here and test your luck, but… the monster could dodge it. Well, let’s give it a try! There’s no harm in trying!”“Mhm!”As soon as I say those words, Chloe doesn’t give any breathing
Chloe’s Perspective_____________________Whenever I am with Kuro, he always has a plan. And he always thinks about five steps ahead of me and my future. He is an otherworlder who came from the planet called Earth, making his mind more interesting than others. That is why I will always follow him around. Kuro knows what exactly I need, even though we would risk our lives to defeat this [Goblin Shaman].I hold my tears, thinking I am just pulling Kuro down. He doesn’t need me. But I need Kuro, regardless if he is a gun or just… him. And I can assure myself that if Kuro is a human with an average arcane, he could easily be the strongest adventurer despite living in this world for only a few days. And I am still a worthless princess stuck inside the Kingdom… I am just a weak mage who knows every magical element existing in this world…… So when I get myself injured and think it is all over for us, that is when Kuro creates an idea above his head and utters.“Chloe! I’ve finally got it! Fo
“LAUNCH YOUR MISSILES IN THIS DIRECTION!”“I’M ON IT!”“WHERE ARE THE MAGES?! WE NEED MORE MAGES ON THE SOUTHERN GATES”“I-I’M SORRY, CAPTAIN! BUT THEY’RE ALREADY DEAD!”“FUCK! CALL ALL KNIGHTS! RETREAT AND STAY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES! FALL BACK AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE! AND TO THOSE WHO WISH TO FIGHT, LET US GIVE OUR LIVES FOR THE CIVILIANS TO LIVE! LONG LIVE THE EASTERN REPUBLIC!”“LONG LIVE THE EASTERN REPUBLIC!” the crowd of soldiers shouts, as they charge to their ultimate demise.Those are the cries that can be heard in the distance. There is an old demi-human man, who is a warrior, leading the charge against the monsters. When he notices that these creatures are too much for them to handle, he snaps his finger and decides for the betterment of his people. Those who are fathers on the battlefield are advised to leave. And those who want to be alive have been suggested to run back to their families… to wish them goodbye. Even this old man right knows there is no stopping this horde o
Kuro’s Perspective__________________Even back in my world, the blaring sound of a horn just like that means that something is happening. And that something is most likely a war of some sort. And Chloe deduces the same thing.Just like what we have expected, that sound comes from starting a battle. And when I check my system, it appears that… dozens of red balls are blinking in the middle of the woods, telling us that there are multiple enemies heading in the Eastern Republic’s direction. Dozens of blue markings, indicating neutral individuals, are eliminated as soon as that happens. It just means that these scarlet hues are barbarians, bandits, or even monsters.But it seems it is the latter.Since we’re already here, we go to the highest cliff and witness what is happening. From where we are, hundreds… if not, thousands of beasts have already infiltrated the gates of the Eastern Republic, killing almost a dozen elven and demi-human guards protecting the post. Some even have committ
Prince Faelar’s PerspectiveJust before Chloe has left the Eastern Republic CastleBonus Chapter __________________________My father… has been a little harsh on Chloe, as well as my mother. I know what they want to tell, and it seems that Chloe is also misunderstood. But that’s… what she thinks is right. I don’t even know who to side with anymore.But even though I have promised Chloe that I will not help her, since my parents have different ideas compared to Chloe, I… I still ask them a question.“Father… Mother, why did you reject Chloe’s offer when an alliance can be beneficial for both parties? Why? Why did you reject such a wonderful offer that can help not only our people but also others? I thought that’s the reason why the Eastern Republic has been the lead country to develop dozens of things unrelated to military weapons… Chloe has said it herself! We are not going to kill or provide anything besides our word, and that should be enough to scare the Western Country and the So
Chloe also doesn’t beat the bush and tells exactly what she needs to say. She wants an alliance. And the only thing she can do is to beg on her knees, which… Chloe surprisingly does. Even I have been caught off guard about it, and I have not even begged for someone or go down on my knees.“Please… I’m not doing this for myself… but for our people… If we can somehow make an alliance, my brother will have to fall back and retreat. You won’t have to fight or anything. I just want your name listed on the alliance. I know, for a fact, that the Eastern Republic refuses to kill any individuals. Hence, your neutral state. But I can assure you that the only need is your word of alliance. Nothing more, nothing less… I’ll do anything you want. Just… I want my Kingdom back.”King Edwyrd pauses for a second as he scrutinise Chloe’s eyes. Now everyone knows this person right here is the princess of the Winfort, begging for an alliance with the Eastern Republic. I know that this is the last draw Chl
Once the gate has been shut and the people remaining in the place are just the five of us, the King and Queen finally rise from their seats and head towards us. They don’t have any malice in their eyes. But their glares are enough to judge whether someone is a traitor, a spy, or even an individual who wishes to wreak havoc against their Republic. But after a few seconds of scrutinising the hell out of Chloe, King Edwyrd and Queen Verrona finally give in and accept Chloe as a guest with hidden intentions. “I see you’re telling the truth, Zoe Sunstone… But it seems there is more than meets the eye…” the elf who has said that is the King. His eyes glues at Chloe. KLing Edwyrd desperately tries to see through the facial feature of Chloe from the hole of her hood, but… the ebony environment hinders his eyesight from peeking any further. These rulers of the Eastern Land do not have any abilities to check whether someone is lying or telling the truth. Their leers have just come from their
We don’t go through any meetings with Prince Faelar’s parents. Prince Faelar already knows Chloe has met dozens of nobles and leaders during her young age, so she shouldn’t be nervous at all. And if she is, Chloe is anxious not from the rulers but for what they are going to say.Prince Faelar also knows that I will be here with Chloe, suggesting the right thing to say. And even without my help, I too know Chloe. And she will not say anything rash, not unless the rulers of the Republic wish to provoke Chloe. This is the time we have been waiting for. The moment of truth is now in front of us. And the only thing for us to do right now is to let the guards know Prince Faelar and his guests, Chloe and I, would like to speak with the King and Queen. Usually, we need an appointment to meet the leaders of the Republic or Kingdom. But since we know Prince Faelar, we don’t have to go through that process.The only people standing before us are the pair of elven soldiers guarding their post. B
Throughout the meal, Dilya has striked a conversation with Prince Faelar and Chloe, asking about random things such as where he has been and what kind of event he has done. It’s not because Dilya is curious and worried about Prince Faelar. It’s about gauging and putting up the pieces if she trusts us or makes a mistake where our stories don't collide.But there’s nothing for us to hide besides me and the conversation Chloe has to do to build an alliance. Besides that, we disclose everything. Much to Dilya’s surprise, she believes it at the end of the day. However, she isn’t happy about it. As soon as Dilya is finished with her meal, she stands up, lets the servant take her plates, and leaves the room without a single word. But before she leaves the place, Dilya turns around and meets Chloe’s eyes. And then to Prince Faelar.“After what my brother has explained, I do not apologise for attacking you… since you’ve eaten our food and I believe you can stay for tonight… It’s not like ever
We are invited inside the castle. There are guards standing on their post, watching Chloe’s every move. They still suspect Chloe as someone else besides being a guest with Prince Faelar. These elven soldiers thought that Chloe is some kind of individual who would take advantage of the situation… or end up killing the royal family.“Why is Prince Faelar friends with… such a total stranger?”“Maybe he’s under a spell? That is likely the case… I think.”“Or maybe it has something to do with a bribe or forced deal that Prince Faelar had made… Maybe he has fucked up? I don’t know.”Those are the baseless rumours the soldiers have presented. But none of them are real. In fact, Prince Faelar is the one who made the request. And Chloe right here just accepted it. If it weren’t for Prince Faelar wanting to visit the Sanctum of Ugmjir, he wouldn’t be with the topic.But these royal members of the Elven Republic do not know a thing. And besides, Prince Faelar had a blast with us. Between Prince
As soon as the two show off their accessories, the three of us continue talking to each other, find a restaurant, fill our stomachs, and… end the journey right here.We continue the conversation until the three of us have reached the castle’s gates. It is a long walk. Fortunately, the sun is still out, and we still have a few minutes before the moon can rise again. There is a debate where we can meet with Prince Faelar’s parents tomorrow, but… we’re already here. Our group might as well talk to the King and Queen and get this over with.Besides, Chloe already knows what she wants to say. And so does Prince Faelar. Prince Faelar’s only request is that… he doesn’t want to be involved with this. And even if he does, he knows that this will just anger his parents. Chloe and I understand his circumstances, since in the beginning of this mission, we just asked Prince Faelar if we could meet his parents. And that’s going to be taken care of a few minutes later…“I guess… this is it, huh?” Pr