The King, not offended in the least, gazed into the distance where Zeun's back was still visible. "Lady Mira, you know my skill, right?"
Mira, the female Knight, frowned. Every talented and successfully awakened child receives a Magic Light Screen called "Status." It reveals the skills they've been blessed with, though the specific nature or type of skills they will acquire cannot be known beforehand. Those exceptionally talented are blessed with unique skills from birth. Additional skills can be acquired later through skill books, rigorous training, or other fortunate encounters.
Russel de Voldamort had been blessed with a skill called the "Eye of Doom." It lacked any direct fighting or attacking power. Instead, it revealed a person's future impact on him, indicating whether that individual would be a harmful influence or a helpful ally. The only significant downside was its personal nature: it only discerned his future in relation to the person in question, not their general destiny. Moreover, each use of this ability came at a steep cost, expending his life force by one year. The Eye of Doom only activated when the person in question inherently posed a threat to the King, thereby triggering the ability's use.
Upon seeing Zeun, King Russel's eyes started twitching, a clear indication that the skill had identified Zeun as a potential threat.
"The Eye of Doom... Then why did you let him go? Wouldn't it be better to kill him now and remove any kind of threat to your life?" asked Miraina, attempting to convince the King. Her tone suggested that killing was no big deal to her, akin to her daily chores. Given his importance to the Kingdom, protecting him was her duty as a Royal Knight.
The direct statement that the skill identified Zeun as a "potential threat" is a bombshell. It shatters the illusion of Zeun's successful manipulation, revealing that the King's special ability cut through his façade, at least concerning his potential future impact. This elevates Zeun's status from a mere commoner to someone of significant (and dangerous) consequence in the King's eyes.
"I think you should stop, Lady Miraina," Russel said in a chilled tone, sending shivers down her spine.
"Sigh... Sorry about my composure, but things aren't as simple as they seem..."
"Hah! That boy is anything but simple... I lost 100 years of my lifespan just to peek at the future relationship between me and that boy. I don't think I need to say anything more about his fate or strength."
The King paused momentarily, fatigue evident from the loss of a century's worth of lifespan. In this world, each increase in Rank extends one's lifespan by 100 years. Thus, people generally live for two centuries at minimum.
Mira, seeing the King's fatigue and mental drain staood silently, listened with full attention to each of her King's words before asking, "Okay. I understand that his fate is powerful, but he's nowhere near strong enough to even bat an eye. Why are you risking keeping him alive? Not only that, you also gave him 100 Platinum Coins, for God's sake! It's 3000 Gold Coins above the price, and permission to enter the Royal Library, a privilege not all Royals can enjoy. What... are you even thinking, Russel?"
Mira couldn't contain herself any longer as she lashed out at the King.
Russel didn't react to Mira's rudeness. Looking in the general direction of the Everlost Forest as if trying to perceive the unseeable, he felt an indescribable emotion gripping his heart. He continued, his voice carrying the weight of his realization.
"...Things aren't that simple, Lady Miraina...
Sigh...It feels like a Supreme Powerhouse is directly interfering with his fate. He is like a burning flame; if I touch him, I burn... but if I stay close to him, then even in the coldest winter, I survive... Doing him a favor now might help me in the future... So, no need to make an enemy when we can make allies."
Miraina: "....."
Both turned silent, each lost in their own world of contemplation.
~~
Walking through the garden towards his room, Zeun pondered, "Why is the King so kind to me? He not only bought the papers with 30 extra Platinum Coins but also allowed me to stay at the palace until my awakening ceremony. Not to mention, he even permitted me to enter the library." Looking at the heavy black wooden token in his hand, he wondered about the King's intentions.
"And what did he mean by his last words—'I hope you will remember this favor and not become my enemy.'"
'How can I, a mere 10-year-old boy, even dream of becoming an enemy of the King?' Zeun sighed, feeling perplexed. 'What's going on... And of course, I agreed to the King's request. After all, he helped me; he's my benefactor now. So, no need to become enemies.'
"Now, what should I do next? Shall I meditate, or should I visit the library? I can only use this temporary token ten times, and with each use, I can stay for 12 hours max.
-No, my mind isn't calm from everything happening around me. I must calm myself and improve my focus for the next two months, making my mind realm stronger. Only after that can I effectively enter the library and find what I need."
Walking through the large corridor, Zeun sensed many sneaky glances directed at him with malicious intent. Glancing around, he discerned the silhouette of a few maids; from their dress, he recognized the maid from the garden the night before.
A shiver ran down his spine as he turned and dashed towards his room. Closing the door, he huffed, leaning his back against it, and asked, "Huff... huff... huff... What was that? What was that feeling of suffocation? I felt like I would surely die at that moment."
"This castle isn't safe at all," Zeun thought. "I can't do meditation here. If I get caught forming a mana circle before my awakening, I don't know what they will do to me! The mages may dissect me to see and research." As he imagined the scene of being dissected, screams for help sent goosebumps throughout his body.
Requesting an audience with the King, he shared his concerns and goodbyes. The King was the only person in this castle who was kind to him and didn't look down on him or give him disgusting gazes.
~~
Inside the King's Office.
"Didn't expect to meet you again so soon," Russel chuckled, stopping his writing and looking in Zeun's direction.
Embarrassed and guilty about disturbing the King when he was busy, Zeun lowered his head and spoke his mind, knowing he couldn't afford to waste the King's time on minor reasons like saying goodbye.
Greeting with proper etiquette, recently learned, he said, "Your Majesty, apologies for taking your time again, but there is something I would like to tell you that I couldn't say before. I was actually doing a little research on that paper and stumbled upon a crucial new discovery."
The King raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Oh! Tell me quickly; I don't have time for formalities," he said, a bit impatient. He knew the boy before him wasn't simple, and now this boy was trying to prove his worth after witnessing the harsh reality of the world and the cruelty of nobles.
Zeun smiled as he said, "Then I shall be direct. I found that these papers react with mana dust (dust from magic/mana crystals). After writing, it forms a certain layer, but due to insufficient time and inks, I couldn't research further. This is the prototype I researched..."
He passed a clean piece of the lowest quality recycled mana paper to the King.
Russel took the paper in hand and frowned, feeling its texture. Nothing was different except its lower quality, and it was greasy and oily; he doubted whether this paper could even be used for writing.
"Are you sure this paper can be used for writing?"
Seeing the King's doubtful face, Zeun's expression transformed into a bright smile, radiating a sense of accomplishment as if he had achieved something significant.
Seeing the bright smile, Russel got a bit annoyed just as he was about to say something...
Zeun, understanding the King's annoyance, quickly spoke. "My King, please use the Mana Ink in your hand and write something on the paper... also, you may use the Royal Seal for better understanding."
As Zeun's voice resonated, Russel was genuinely tempted to try. But a delicate yet strong hand, encased in armor, stopped him.
Mira's voice cut through the air, "My King, please reconsider. Although I don't feel any malicious intent from the kid, it's better to be safe than sorry."
Zeun gasped, utterly surprised to see a person appear out of thin air. He had clearly seen nobody else in the room; how did she materialize? His mind went blank as he stared at the bewitching, hourglass-shaped beauty.
She was clad in tight attire that seemingly showcased her perfect physique, yet her face held a stern, unyielding expression.
Russel nodded at her, then delved into some random calculations, testing the Mana Ink. As they both turned their attention to the kid, he appeared mesmerized by Mira. The King chuckled and couldn't help but tease his personal Knight, resulting in a playful exchange.
King: "He he... Looks like aunt has another admirer on her list now. Aunt Mira, are you developing a new fetish for young kids now?" Russel whispered conspiratorially, before quickly ducking the inevitable armored hand coming for his head. "Oh, the violence! My personal Knight, ladies and gentlemen, a true paragon of grace and... blunt force trauma!
"Bam! Bam! (He catches the second one, but lets out a surprised "Oof!" as it connects harder than expected).
Mira simply fixed him with an icy stare that promised far worse than mere bumps if he didn't cease his antics. "Your Majesty, behave. Or I shall have to remind you of my full training regimen."
A bead of cold sweat immediately ran down Russel's temple. His playful smirk vanished, replaced by a momentary, wide-eyed terror. He subtly rubbed the twin bumps, muttering under his breath, "Full training regimen... Ugh, the memories. The push-ups in full plate armor... the 'friendly' sparring with a mace... No, no, I'll behave. I promise." He quickly cleared his throat, regaining his regal composure with a visible effort.
Zeun was dumbfounded, his mouth agape at this side of the respectful King. His mental image of the dignified and revered King, feared by millions, completely shattered. He awkwardly coughed twice.
Cough! Cough!
"Now, please submerge the paper in mana dust for 10 seconds before making any magical modifications," Zeun instructed.
Russel followed the guidance, thinking, 'I never expected them to be this close. "Aunt," huh? Whatever, not like it matters to me.'
Two simultaneous gasps echoed in the room, bringing Zeun back from his thoughts.
Mira exclaimed, "How is this possible?" Russel sighed, "If only it were a little better..."
Both of them were in awe of the boy before them. As a Grand-Master Mage, Russel found it very difficult to rewrite and modify the ink from the partially laminated paper, though it wasn't an impossible task.
They both looked at the seemingly normal kid before them, exchanging looks that conveyed, "Oh, my savior has come – a damsel in distress, finally God glanced at this damsel." A bright light covered Zeun in their minds.
Looking at the looks they were giving, Zeun thought, 'What the f**k? Why are you giving me that look of admiration..?'
Hearing Russel's words, Zeun replied, "My King, it's only a prototype of the paper. It requires more research and, most importantly, time. But once it's successful..."
---
END OF CHAPTER
Thanks for reading :-)
elab and expl
Interference by a "Supreme Powerhouse": The explicit mention of a "Supreme Powerhouse directly interfering with his fate" is a game-changer. This implies a higher-dimensional being or a cosmic entity influencing Zeun's destiny. This revelation immediately elevates the scope of the story beyond mere kingdom politics or individual strength, hinting at divine or primordial forces at play. It also justifies the inexplicable nature of Zeun's past life and reincarnation.
Relationship Between King Russel and Lady Mira (Based on provided text):As you noted, their relationship is clearly deeper than a mere King and Royal Knight.
Trust and Frankness: Mira dares to openly lash out at the King ("What... are you even thinking, Russel?"), which is unheard of for a subordinate, especially concerning state secrets and the King's personal decisions. The King doesn't react with anger or offense but instead offers a patient, profound explanation. This indicates a very high level of trust and a personal bond.Shared Burden: The King chooses to reveal highly sensitive personal and cosmic information (the cost of his skill, the Supreme Powerhouse) to Mira. This suggests she is his confidante, someone with whom he shares the immense burden of his visions and decisions.Mutual Respect: Despite the frankness, there's underlying respect. Mira's outburst comes from a place of deep concern for his safety, and the King's non-reaction shows he values her loyalty and perspective, even when it's expressed impolitely.
This scene masterfully shifts the narrative focus from Zeun's immediate challenges to the cosmic forces influencing his fate, revealing the King's strategic genius and hinting at a much grander story.
The King's Warning: King Russel's parting words, "'I hope you will remember this favor and not become my enemy,'" are profoundly significant. To Zeun, they seem bizarre and overblown for a child. However, the reader understands this isn't a mere warning but a direct consequence of the Eye of Doom's prophecy. The King is explicitly trying to steer Zeun's powerful future impact towards alliance rather than opposition.
Zeun's Naiveté (or Feigned Naiveté): Zeun's thought, "How can I, a mere 10-year-old boy, even dream of becoming an enemy of the king?" could be genuine youthful perplexity, or it could be Zeun deliberately downplaying his own significant hidden power and future importance, even to himself, to maintain his psychological guard. Given his earlier internal resolve to be more ruthless, this moment of "perplexed" sighing humanizes him but also shows a slight disconnect between his self-perception and the King's prophetic vision.
King's Annoyance and Anticipation: The King's annoyance at Zeun's smile, just as he's about to speak, creates immediate tension. This is a classic setup for a dramatic demonstration. The King is intrigued but also impatient and perhaps slightly irritated by Zeun's smugness, setting the stage for a compelling display of the paper's powers.
Zeun's Accomplished Smile: Zeun's "bright smile, radiating a sense of accomplishment" at the King's doubt is a fantastic character moment. It shows his confidence in his discovery and his enjoyment of the theatrical element of the reveal. It's a subtle defiance of the King's skepticism.