— “Huh? You what?” — Pikonota’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  Souta walked slowly toward her, spoon in hand, cold smile on his face.

  — “I killed that three-meter wrinkled mountain… and also the dragon Garra.

  If they fell before me, you don’t stand a chance.”

  Pikonota’s body trembled.

  — “He… killed Garra?! And Pantox too…?”

  Her icy aura spread through the air.

  Souta frowned.

  — “I hate insistent women…”

  She charged.

  — **Draconic Magic: Ice Scythe!**

  Souta replied firmly.

  — **Swamp Spoon: Flames of Malediction!**

  Two beams of destruction collided.

  The impact shook the entire hall.

  Souta gripped the spoon, ready to kill.

  But at the last moment…

  Pikonota fell to her knees.

  — “Mercy!”

  Souta stopped, confused.

  — “Huh?”

  — “I’m surrendering, can’t you see?!”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  — “I noticed. But didn’t you say you’d avenge your master? Where’s your pride? Your warrior’s honor?”

  Pikonota laughed bitterly.

  — “I work for a demon. I destroy villages, kill people. Do you really think we have honor?

  For me, the most important thing is staying alive.

  If you let me go now, I swear I’ll never come back…”

  Souta looked at her with disdain, almost comical.

  — “You just admitted you’re not trustworthy. After all the chances I gave you, now this?

  I’ll kill you and save time.”

  Pikonota threw herself at his feet.

  — “Please! I’ll do anything!”

  — “Get off me, brat…”

  — “Please, please! Don’t you have mercy?!”

  Souta sighed.

  — “Okay, okay, okay! Let go and I’ll let you live.”

  He exhaled, bored.

  — “Huh? You’re not going to kill me?” she asked, surprised.

  — “Thank you, sir…”

  But in the next instant, she attacked again with the Yakana.

  — “Got you!”

  Souta caught the blade with his bare hand.

  Before he could retaliate, Pikonota knelt again.

  — “Mercy!”

  Souta exploded in irritation.

  — “What’s your problem?! Get away from me. I’m leaving.”

  She smiled, almost childlike.

  — “Really? You’ll let me go? Thank you so much!”

  She ran off, stumbling among the debris, until she vanished.

  Souta sighed, dissatisfied.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  — “What a joke…”

  **In the forest.**

  Souta walked until he saw a line of warriors, knights, mages, and archers filling the horizon.

  Two figures stood out, mounted on a white horse.

  — “I am Termina Brown, the first princess of Termia.

  You made a grave mistake invading our kingdom.”

  Souta only laughed.

  ---

  **At Termia’s borders.**

  Souta examined his new trophies:

  - **Title: Invader** — increases escape chance by 45%.

  - **Title: Princess Breaker** — makes princesses uncomfortable when looked at indecently; increases victory chance against royalty by 12–30%.

  - **Title: Merciful** — increases luck and rewards when sparing enemies.

  - **Skill: Emanator II** — absorbs mana from nature and enemies.

  - **Skill: Spoon Foresight** — by looking into the spoon, can foresee the future 5 seconds ahead.

  Souta smiled.

  — “Interesting…”

  A notification appeared.

  — “Merge three titles? Merciful, Invader, Princess Breaker.”

  — “Of course.”

  **BZZZZZZZZZZ!**

  **New Title Acquired:**

  **Holy Charmer** — combines the effects of the three, multiplying them. Grants extra advantage against women.

  Another notification.

  — “Merge skills: Emanator II + Instant Step?”

  — “Of course.”

  **BZZZZZZZZZZ!**

  **New Skill Acquired:**

  **Shadow Step** — teleportation through shadows, faster and stealthier.

  Souta grinned.

  — “This one I like…”

  — “You can come out now. I know you’re following me.”

  From the bushes, Pikonota emerged, embarrassed.

  — “Sorry…”

  — “Why are you following me? I told you to go live your life.”

  She rubbed her hands nervously.

  — “Let me travel with you on your journe—”

  — “Don’t finish that cliché line,” Souta cut her off.

  — “This isn’t a journey. Don’t you get it yet? This is war.”

  Pikonota insisted.

  — “Please! I can’t go back to the Demon King’s castle. If they find me, I’ll be killed.”

  — “And what’s that to me?” Souta replied coldly.

  — “I abandoned my post. That’s treason.”

  — “I’m a renegade too. I was expelled. Doesn’t matter,” Souta justified without looking at her.

  — “You’re strong… you could protect me for a while,” Pikonota pressed, stepping closer.

  Souta laughed, sarcastic.

  — “If you walk with me, I could kill you anytime.”

  — “Don’t say that, sir… it hurts.

  Then come with me! With your power, you’d become a Celestial General in no time.”

  Souta spat on the ground.

  — “I’d never join anyone with ‘king’ and ‘demon’ in the same title.”

  Pikonota, almost crying:

  — “If I bring you, I might be forgiven. If I return alone, my mentor will torture me for millennia. I fear them more than you…”

  Souta stared at her.

  — “Then why didn’t you die trying to kill me, like the other generals?”

  She frowned.

  — “You killed Garra. He was like a brother. He raised me since I was little. Now… you have to take care of me!”

  Souta laughed, cruel.

  — “Garra was just a muscle-headed idiot. He chose his fate. And you… I can already see you’ll be a problem.”

  — “Wait, Lord Spoon! I’ll do anything! Anything at all!”

  She tried to seduce him.

  Souta rejected her with disgust.

  — “Disgusting. You look fifteen. The only difference between you and Meliora is stupidity.”

  He turned his back.

  — “If you want to follow me, do what you want. But don’t try that again.”

  Souta kept walking without looking back.

  Pikonota ran after him.

  — “What, Lord Spoon? I’m not your type?! Wait for me!”

  **Kingdom of Termia.**

  The kingdom lay in ruins.

  Debris everywhere.

  Most warriors, wounded or dead.

  Queen Termina II arrived, furious.

  — “What happened here?! Who did this?!”

  A guard answered.

  — “A mysterious warrior. He wore the royal mantle of Beeatrix.”

  — “Why would Beeatrix attack us out of nowhere?!” the queen demanded, confused.

  A minister approached, timid.

  — “My queen… a group of warriors attacked Beeatrix and killed their king. That’s why they retaliated.”

  The queen trembled with rage.

  — “Who gave that stupid order?! We were to attack in open field at noon! Who changed the plan?!”

  — “My queen… we thought it was Princess Termina who gave the order…”

  — “SONS OF—!!!” the queen roared.

  — “Bring her here at once!”

  The minister averted her gaze, voice trembling.

  — “About that…”

  The hall of Termia fell silent.

  Trays were placed before the throne.

  The severed heads of Princesses Termina and Rina still bled, eyes wide in eternal shock.

  The advisors recoiled, some fainted.

  The warriors present trembled, unable to meet the queen’s gaze.

  Queen Termina II rose.

  Her white aura, cold as snow, expanded through the hall.

  The wooden walls began to crack, as if the castle itself feared her wrath.

  — “Who dared do this?!” her voice thundered.

  — “I will rip the life from that bastard with my own hands!”