Leon’s POV
An uninhabited island of perpetual green stretched out before me, as far as the eye could see. Endless azure skies hung above a clear, boundless ocean. This island was undeniably vast. Even from our position on the large boat, occupied by us students of the academy on our way to participate in the King’s Game, we could feel the intense heat of the sun beating down upon us. It was evident that its blazing rays were scorching the sandy beach. Understandably so, as summer was nearly upon us. On this particular day, the temperature had to be nearing forty degrees Celsius.
“I wonder if people used to live here… a long time ago,” remarked Johanne, who stood beside me.
“Perhaps,” I replied, lacking any certainty. It could have been an uninhabited island for many millennia. Or perhaps it had inhabitants once, who had long since departed. There was no way to know for certain.
We gradually approached a well-maintained harbor, which stood in stark contrast to the rest of the island. Many participants had already gathered there, preparing to venture into the dense forest. The game had yet to commence; this was merely the preparation stage. Participants would scout for the perfect base within the forest to maximize their chances of survival.
Despite the calm expression on his face, Johanne gripped the deck railing tightly. We were on the brink of the game’s commencement.
In the days ahead, we would compete against other participants, eliminate them, and fight tooth and nail to survive. It was, essentially, a battle royale.
Killing wasn’t a requirement for the game, but it wasn’t off-limits either. There were always participants who joined just to indulge in unrestricted violence, as past King’s Games had shown.
This prospect weighed heavily on Johanne’s mind. With the Princess by his side, he was undoubtedly concerned for her safety. No wonder he unconsciously clung to the railing so tightly.
Finally, the boat driver announced that it was time to disembark.
“Are you ready, Johanne?” I inquired.
“Yeah,” he replied.
With that, we stepped off the deck.
***
It was 8:40 in the morning, and the large boat began its slow docking process. In other words, the curtain was about to rise on the King’s Game on the uninhabited island. There were a total of 100 participants in the game, although that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be others besides those 100 in the island. Magic knights were also present.
We placed our participant tickets on the designated spot for confirmation. I glanced at the paper first. It stated that once we were on the island, everything was fair game and entirely our responsibility. The King wouldn’t intervene in any way. Essentially, if we were killed, it would be considered an accident rather than murder. Furthermore, it mentioned that by participating, we acknowledged the possibility of death, and confirming this meant I accepted the risk of being killed. It felt surreal, like signing my own death warrant.
“It’s finally starting, huh,” remarked Shredica, now beside me.
“Feeling nervous?” I asked.
“No way,” she replied confidently. “I’m certain I’ll emerge victorious, so why would I be nervous?”
She was definitely brimming with confidence. “You could try being a little more humble, you know,” I said.
Behind me, I heard a disapproving tongue click. It was Hereon. Seems like he was getting jealous with me chatting up Shredica. Deciding it was best to create some distance, I moved away from Shredica. But just as I did, someone else approached from the side. It was Hertrude.
She strolled along, engrossed in her phone, texting away. I wasn’t sure who she was messaging, but it presented a perfect opportunity for me. Hertrude was one of the women I had my eye on dominating.
And this one seemed like a piece of cake. I’ve heard she’s quite the serial dater, always hopping from one fling to another. She’s had more boyfriends than I can count, so you could say she’s a bit of a free spirit. Currently, though, rumor has it she’s single. I’ve got no clue about her preferences, but judging by the fact that her exes were all good-looking, I’d say that’s her type.
It’s a bit disappointing she’s not a virgin anymore, but who cares about that now?
She must’ve felt my gaze because she glanced over and greeted me with a simple “Hi” before returning to her phone.
“What are you typing?” I inquired.
“It’s none of your business,” she retorted.
“Is that so?”
“Yep.”
Despite hearing rumors about her being easy, Hertrude’s guard was surprisingly high. Even though she shot me down, I heard a mechanical sound echoing in my head.
—
You’ve captured the interest of Hertrude Getrada. You can now proceed to dominate her.
Name: Hertrude Getrada
Race: Human
Requirements to dominate Titania:
1. Ask Hertrude about her opinion on teaming up with you
2. Unlock
3. Unlock
4. Unlock
….
—
Well, that sounds simple enough.
“Can I ask you something?” I queried.
“Hm… Sure, go ahead,” she replied, her eyes still fixed on her phone screen.
“What’s your take on me joining your team for this game?” I inquired further. “Considering the hostility Sir Harold displayed earlier, it seems he’s not exactly thrilled about the situation. I couldn’t help but wonder what your thoughts are on it.”
My question caught her attention, and she stopped typing to look at me. “Why do you care what I think?”
“Well, I suppose you find it tough too, having two skillless on the team?” I pressed.
Hertrude resumed typing, “It’s not really bothering me,” she admitted. “I mean, winning isn’t my top priority. I was actually planning to sell my ticket, but then the Princess asked me to join her, so I went along with it. I mean, who would turn down a chance to connect with royalty? Coming from a low-class noble family, practically on the verge of being commoners due to our low rank, forging a connection with the Princess could be a game-changer for us. I hope to get even closer to her during this game. As for not being bothered by two skillless teammates, well, my mother is skillless too. I can’t bring myself to despise people like her, can I? It would be like hating my own mother.”
That response caught me off guard. I had expected her to be the type to disdain skillless individuals and simply ignore us, but it seems I was mistaken.
“Also,” she continued, pausing her typing to look at me, “You’re hot. You’re exactly my type. That’s probably another reason why I wasn’t bothered.”
With that, she returned to her typing. Wow, this woman really knows how to quicken someone’s pulse. If I were still a virgin, I might have been tempted to ask her out.
“Can I ask you something too?” she inquired, still focused on her typing.
“Sure,” I replied.
“Are you really dating the Princess of Bethlan?” she asked.
“I am,” I confirmed.
She came to an abrupt stop, and I followed suit, turning to face her.
“What’s up?” I inquired.
She seemed hesitant, then shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she replied. “Anyway, let’s head to the forest now. Our team is already ahead of us.”
“Okay,” I agreed.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that she had something to say but held back. Oh well, best not to dwell on it too much.
***
The forest was dense, shielding us from the scorching heat outside. As we ventured deeper, the cool breeze offered a refreshing respite from the sweltering weather. It was already 9 o’clock, indicating that the King’s Game had commenced. Nearby, we could hear the sounds of skirmishes, but we opted to steer clear of the fighting for now, intending to prolong our participation in the game. Thankfully, during our search for the perfect hideout, we hadn’t encountered anyone.
By 9:30, we stumbled upon the ideal base. It was concealed by thick foliage, making it difficult to spot. Additionally, there was a cave nearby, its entrance small enough to go unnoticed. We sealed off the entrance to prevent unwanted visitors. Inside the cave, there was a river system, providing us with a water source. It was the perfect hideout.
“Now all we need to worry about is food,” Princess Myrcella remarked.
“We men can go hunt for something,” Johanne suggested.
Immediately, Harold snapped, “Can you quit ordering us around like that, Johanne? You’re not fucking the boss of me. And why just men? Are you implying the women in the group are useless and can’t hunt too?”
“I’m not saying that at all,” Johanne countered. “I’m suggesting it because men typically have more stamina than women. Since we’ve just found a hideout, it makes sense to let them rest first.”
“Tsk! I’m not buying that. I can’t accept the women staying here while us men go out. What about me? I’m tired too from following you around as you scouted for this damn hideout.”
Princess Myrcella clapped her hands. “Okay, enough of this,” she interjected. “I won’t tolerate any infighting in this team. Besides, Harold has a point. Drawing distinctions isn’t helpful. Even if women sometimes have less stamina, that doesn’t mean they’re useless.”
Johanne hung his head, visibly ashamed. “Y-You’re right, Princess. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” the Princess reassured him. “Now, with food as our only concern, I’ll volunteer to find some.”
Johanne and I exchanged surprised glances. It was unexpected, to say the least, hearing those words from a literal princess.
“Why are you all so shocked?” she questioned. “Didn’t I say we’re all equals in this partnership? Being a princess doesn’t entitle me to special treatment, you know.”
