Lucian walked barefoot through the soft moss and dirt, trying not to trip on roots while covering himself with both hands. Andd behind him, Guinevere kept glancing away with her entire face red.
"You could've at least waited until I gave you something to wear," she muttered, hand half-shielding her eyes.
Lucian sighed. "Yeah, well, knights weren't exactly handing out cloaks."
"You're impossible."
Then the air cracked.
A sharp pulse echoed through the clearing—quick and clean, like the world had been sliced in half. Lucian spun, instincts flaring, but it wasn't a knight.
A girl stepped out from between the trees.
She moved like wind, quiet and precise, dressed in a skintight black combat suit with white trim down the sides and a crisp white coat flowing behind her.
Twin katanas rested across her back in a perfect X, and her silver hair was tied in a high, no-nonsense ponytail. Her violet eyes locked onto Lucian instantly.
Then the System lit up.
[New Companion Detected]
[Initializing Bonded Profile Interface…]
A clean, bright HUD slid across Lucian's vision. It was slick, modern, trimmed in silver lines and soft glows.
---
[Name:] Airi
[Age:] 19
[Class:] Silent Blade – Assassin Variant
[Abilities:] Shadow Step | Blade Recall | Kill Mark
[Likes:] Tea, discipline, silent mornings
[Dislikes:] Loud men, arrogance, cold food
[Loyalty Modifier:] Direct Orders + Respect = Loyalty Growth
[Bond Status:] Unlocked – First Companion Registered
[Quality of Life Features:]
Combat Sync: Enabled
Inventory Access: Shared
Safe Zone Alert: Enabled
Title Interface: Locked
---
The screen faded out. Then she spoke.
"Master."
Lucian blinked. "Wait, what?"
She bowed her head just slightly. "I am your first girl. My blade is yours."
"Okay, hold up. You're saying… this is real? You're part of the harem thing?"
She looked him dead in the eye. "Correct."
He turned to Guinevere, who was still covering her face and peeking between her fingers.
"She's calling you master," she said. "And you're naked."
"Yeah, I noticed."
Lucian stared at Airi, who hadn't even blinked. Her gaze was sharp, calm, deadly.
She's serious. The system actually created her… or summoned her. Whatever this is—it's real.
Lucian blinked in surprise as Airi, his first harem girl summoned by the system, suddenly appeared beside him. He cleared his throat and asked nervously, "Now what?"
Without hesitation, Airi reached out and began touching his private part. "Oh, you're naked? Do you want me to assist you, Master?"
"No!" Lucian shouted, covering himself as fast as he could, his face flushing deep red.
Even Guinevere, standing nearby, looked shy and embarrassed, biting her lip and blushing fiercely.
Airi grinned mischievously and pulled out a crisp white suit. "Here, take this."
Lucian quickly grabbed the suit and tied it around himself, grateful for the modesty. Finally, at least something was covering his private part.
[Harem Count: 1 / ???]
Alright!
---
As they walked through the forest, Guinevere's cheeks burned bright red, and she suddenly blurted out, "Lucian, are you a pervert? Or… are you trying to kidnap me?"
Lucian blinked, caught off guard, and quickly shook his head. "No, obviously not. Why would you even think that?"
She bit her lip nervously but didn't answer. Instead, Lucian asked, "Then why were the knights chasing you back there?"
Airi quietly followed behind them, her eyes alert as Guinevere took a shaky breath and began to explain. "Another candidate in the royal selection tried to assassinate me. I barely escaped, and it was because of you."
Lucian listened closely as she continued, her voice tinged with both fear and bitterness. "The entire kingdom is against me now. My father just died, and I was his favorite. Everyone—my sisters and brothers—they all hate me."
He looked at her steadily. "Then let's defeat all of them."
Guinevere's eyes flickered with a mix of hope and disbelief, but something shifted in her expression as she nodded slowly.
Lucian led the way through the thick forest.
Guinevere's voice broke the silence as she glanced nervously at him. "Where do you think we should go now? Everyone is trying to kill me... I don't even know who to trust anymore."
Lucian pondered for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We need somewhere safe, a place off the grid where no one knows your face or your name." He glanced around, then added, "Tell me more about this kingdom we're in. Maybe understanding it will help us figure out where to hide."
Guinevere sighed deeply, her shoulders sagging as she began to explain. "This is the Kingdom of Eldoria, a land ruled by the royal family for centuries. It's rich in magic and tradition, but politics here is brutal. Since my father's death—the old king—power struggles have erupted everywhere. My siblings all want the throne, and they see me as an obstacle."
She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "The royal selection isn't just a contest; it's a fight for survival. Assassinations, betrayals—it's how the kingdom decides who lives and who dies."
Lucian frowned. "So the entire court is against you because they think you're the favorite to take the throne?"
She nodded, eyes filled with pain. "Exactly. They don't want me to inherit anything. They want me gone."
Airi, walking silently behind them, glanced up with a small smirk. "Sounds like you've got quite the welcoming committee." Her tone was light.
Lucian managed a weak smile. "Well, lucky for you, I'm here."
Guinevere gave a small, tired smile. "I hope so. I don't think I can run forever."
They walked a little more, the forest growing darker with the setting sun.
Finally, they found a small clearing and started a fire. Guinevere sank to the ground, exhaustion washing over her. Lucian sat nearby, staring into the flickering flames.
Why the hell did I just die for? he thought, watching the shadows dance on her face. To protect her?
Airi settled beside Guinevere.
Lucian felt his face heat up instantly.
I could just order her to do something… But the thought of doing that in front of the sleeping princess made him hesitate. Should I? No, that would be too weird. What if Guinevere wakes up?
He shifted awkwardly, trying not to look so flustered.
Just then, the system notification lit up before his eyes with a soft chime.
[New Quest: Save the Princess]
[Death Limit: 10]
Huh? Lucian blinked, confused but alert.
Suddenly, a spear whipped out from the darkness, landing just inches from him with a sharp thud.
"Don't move!" a harsh voice hissed.
Instinctively, Lucian tried to dodge, but the world went black instantly.
"AHHHH!"
[Death Detected. Death Count: 1]
[Restarting Loop…]
Lucian gasped as air rushed back into his lungs. His eyes snapped open to the familiar flicker of the campfire and the faint rustle of leaves overhead.
The night was the same. The position was the same. But now, everything felt wrong.
Guinevere was still awake, and Airi sat nearby, her head tilting slightly as she noticed him stir.
"Master?" Airi moved instantly to his side. "You passed out for a moment. Are you okay?"
Guinevere's brow furrowed. "You looked pale… Did something happen?"
Their voices echoed in the air, but Lucian barely registered them. His breath came fast and shallow. He clenched his fists against the cold dirt beneath him. No. No no no. I just finished a quest. I just died. That spear—
His vision swam.
Why again? he thought bitterly, his heart pounding. I protected her. It should've ended. Why is there another quest already? Why the hell is this happening so soon?
Airi touched his shoulder gently. "Master…?"
"I… I can't—" Lucian's voice cracked as he stumbled to his feet.
He looked at the girls, both of them staring at him now with confused, worried expressions.
"We need to go," he said abruptly. "We need to run."
Guinevere blinked. "What? Run where?"
"Anywhere!" Lucian's voice rose. "I don't care! I'm not dying again! I just died, and now I'm stuck in this nightmare again—"
He didn't wait for a reply. He turned and bolted into the woods, feet crunching over leaves and twigs.
"Lucian—wait!" Guinevere called after him.
"Master!" Airi leapt up and chased.
But Lucian didn't stop. His mind was spinning. The pain of the spear, the helplessness of dying without control, the system's cold indifference—Death Limit: 10—all of it clanged in his skull like a warning bell.
Ten times, he thought grimly. I've only got nine left.
He pushed through the brush.