Three days that was all the time Yuuya had left before transferring to Ousei Academy. Three days before classes, three days before meeting new people. Three days before his life in Japan became busy again.
Which meant—
He had exactly four days to get even stronger. The thought made Yuuya laugh quietly. A few weeks ago, he had been worrying about finding a job.
Now—
He was planning how to optimize his monster hunting schedule before school started.
Life really was strange at this point, money wasn't even a concern anymore. Thanks to [Money Conversion], monster materials had turned into an absurd amount of cash.
Fangs, magic stones and rare materials.
By continually converting the items he didn't need, Yuuya had accumulated more money than he had ever imagined possible.
"...I don't think I'll have to worry about finances for a while."
Not that he planned to spend recklessly.
Still—
Having money was a nice change inside the cabin, Yuuya changed into more comfortable clothes. Loose white sweatpants, comfortable sneakers and a form-fitting black T-shirt that hugged his athletic frame.
Even now, seeing his reflection still felt surreal.
"...I still can't get used to this body."
With one final stretch, he headed outside the morning sun filtered through the trees surrounding the cabin.
Cool air brushed against his face; the forest beyond waited silently.
Today—
He wanted to do more than just fight, he wanted to explore and learn and discover what this world truly had to offer.
Before leaving, Yuuya opened his status window.
[Tenjou Yuuya]
Occupation: None
Level: 233
Magic: 6000
Attack: 8200
Defense: 8200
Agility: 8200
Intelligence: 6000
Luck: 9500
BP: 0
Skills
[Appraisal][Endurance][Item Box][Language Comprehension][True Martial Art: 6][Presence Detection][Fast Reading][Cooking: 4][Map][Dodge][Weakness Detection][Pain Nullification][Instant Reaction][Flash Step][Artisan 3] [Limiter]
Titles
[Master of The Door][Master of The House][Otherworlder][Person Who Visited A Different World For The First Time]
"...Level 233."
Even now, the numbers looked ridiculous becoming something far beyond normal human limits. His eyes lingered on one skill in particular.
[True Martial Art: 6]
Yuuya smiled. This skill was absurd. Sometimes he found himself laughing because he could perform movements straight out of manga and anime.
Impossible footwork, unreal weapon techniques, attacks that defied common sense.
And somehow—
The books he bought in Japan had become real combat experience through [True Martial Art].
If his old self could see him now—
He probably wouldn't believe it as he walked toward the forest, Yuuya thought about the techniques he had developed recently.
[HELLISH AX CLEAVE]: A powerful axe technique that focuses all momentum and strength into a devastating strike capable of splitting through multiple targets.
[SPATIAL PIERCE]: A spear technique that compresses force into a single thrust, allowing attacks to bypass armor and strike directly through an enemy.
[AIR WALK]: A movement technique that creates footholds in midair by stepping faster than the surrounding air can disperse.
"...Yeah."
Even saying them out loud sounded ridiculous.
And yet—
Yuuya looked up toward the canopy overhead.
Then—
He bent his knees.
Step.
His foot pressed against empty air.
For a moment—
The air beneath him hardened, like an invisible platform.
"...Still weird."
He took another step and another walking through the sky itself. Far below, the forest stretched endlessly.
Ancient trees, rivers and mountains in the distant ruins he had never seen before Yuuya's eyes widened slightly.
"...This world is bigger than I thought."
Excitement rose within him, not the excitement of battle but of discovery. There were still monsters to fight, skills to gain and levels to earn.
But for the first time—
Yuuya realized something: this world wasn't just a place to grow stronger. It was a world waiting to be explored and a smile appeared on his face.
Then—
Using [Flash Step] in midair—
Yuuya shot toward the distant horizon ready to see what lay beyond the forest.
[Lexia von Alceria]
Branches whipped past her face and thorns scratched her skin sharp rocks dug into the soles of her bare feet.
Yet she kept running because she had to.
"Haa… haa…!"
Her breathing was ragged, every breath burned her lungs. The elegant white dress she wore—once fit for royalty—had become stained with dirt and torn by branches.
Her beautiful golden hair, radiant like sunlight itself, now clung messily to her face but she couldn't stop.
If she stopped… She would die.
"Someone…!"
Her voice trembled.
"Please… help me…!"
Only silence answered the forest and swallowed her cries whole.
Behind her—
Footsteps and many of them are steady and relentless; several figures hidden beneath dark hoods pursued her through the woods.
They moved with frightening discipline not once had they slowed, not once had they spoken. Lexia bit her lip, her jade-colored eyes trembled the scene from earlier replayed endlessly in her mind.
Her guards, the royal knights sworn to protect her falling one by one all somehow buying time for her escape.
While they stand their ground until the very end all so she could live.
"…No…"
Tears threatened to form but she refused to let them fall. The princess of Alceria did not abandon her dignity, not even now.
"Haa… haa…"
Her body screamed in pain; she had never run like this in her life. Raised in the royal palace, she had trained in etiquette, politics, and swordsmanship—
But not for fleeing through a monster-filled forest barefoot.
Then—
Her foot caught on something.
"A-ah!"
A tree root her tattered dress snagged against it her exhausted body lost balance.
Thud.
She hit the ground hard and pain shot through her legs.
"No…!"
Lexia quickly tried to stand—
But it was too late the hooded figures had already caught up.
One by one—
They surrounded her, cutting off every escape her breathing stopped. No path remained, no allies remained, only enemies.
Yet—
Princess Lexia von Alceria did not lower her head; she slowly rose to her feet then her jade eyes sharpened and she glared at them with all the pride of royalty.
"You people!"
Her voice rang through the forest.
"Do you know whom you pursue?!"
She straightened her back even though it was covered in dirt, even exhausted. She still carried herself like a princess.
"I am Lexia von Alceria!... First Princess of the Alceria Kingdom!"
The hooded figures exchanged glances then laughter erupted cruelly, mocking and disgusting.
"Hahaha! Of course we know."
The leader stepped forward.
"Lexia von Alceria."
Lexia frowned.
"Then why?"
The man's grin widened beneath his hood.
"Why?"
His voice dripped with contempt.
"What a foolish question."
"T-Then..."
"Should I explain it to you personally?"
Several of the men laughed again and Lexia's face paled; she understood exactly what they meant.
Her hands clenched into fists, the men continued throwing insults toward her insults she had heard countless times before.
Half-blood Princess, elf, slave's daughter every word was another reminder of her birth. Another reminder of why some people hated her.
Lexia lowered her gaze briefly her mother had been a High Elf, a woman renowned for beauty and magical talent. The King had fallen in love with her immediately; their love had resulted in Lexia's birth.
But her mother died shortly afterward, leaving Lexia alone, just leaving only memories and stories behind.
The King loved her dearly, raised her personally and protected her whenever he could but even a king could not see everything.
Especially what happened behind closed doors, especially what happened when powerful nobles whispered among themselves.
The incident years ago only made matters worse; her magic had lost control and the First Prince had been injured.
He recovered completely yet many never forgave her.
Or perhaps—
They had simply found an excuse since then, countless nobles had viewed her as a threat. An outsider, someone who should never have stood within the royal family.
And now…
Someone had finally acted Lexia looked around at the circle of assassins surrounding her. No guards, no knights, no escape and now only enemies.
For the first time since the chase began—
A small part of her wondered if this was where her story would end as the forest grew quiet. The assassins began stepping forward one after another. Closing the distance Lexia tightened her fists.
If this truly was the end—
Then she would face it standing not kneeling, not begging standing as a princess of Alceria.
Then—
A sudden breeze passed through the clearing and several assassins paused when something felt wrong.
The forest had become strangely silent even though the birds had stopped singing and the leader slowly turned his head toward the trees.
"...Who's there?"
No answer came.
Yet somewhere deep within the forest—
Something was watching and it was getting closerand hope flickered within Lexia's heart.
End of Chapter 11