December. Year S1197.
I didn't think another year would pass by in a blink of an eye like that. Things took a while to settle down here back at Grancel Castle. By the way, everyone welcomed me with warm arms. They were shocked to discover that a second member of Liberl's royal blood existed. But me having that iconic violet hair was irrefutable proof of the blood I shared. It was almost scary how close I looked to Kloe, even if we are just cousins at best. I won't go into that convoluted mess, as my late mother is Her Majesty the Queen's undisclosed sister, Aurora von Auslese. Her Majesty simply addresses me as Kloe's cousin, while Kloe sometimes addresses me as Brother. It's easy like that.
To think an entire decade has passed since the initial events took place at Grancel castle...
That's right. I am now eleven years old. Almost turning twelve this next month! I have spent over a decade here in Zemuria. It still feels like a dream having participated in several events thus far, but at the same time, I know it is far from one. Many, many connections have been formed along the way. New friendships blossomed. Even a couple reached max Favorability!
Looking back to see how things progressed to this state, I submerged myself rather deeply, haven't I? I could have not chosen to reveal myself at Grancel back then. I could have become a nobody. Just a random person to live out their life here in this new place. And potentially become a worker, or a Bracer. But that clearly didn't happen. I followed in my Father's footsteps. And my mother's footsteps. I didn't follow Rean and become adopted into the Schwarzer Barony. I became Naoto von Auslese!
If there was one regret I had before coming back here, it was to check up on how Father is doing. I mean, he is the Blood and Iron Chancellor. Sneaking into Heimdallr to drop off Lechter and Rufus was already pushing it. In fact, Father likely knows I did that, even though I told the Ironbloods not to report me in. His network is that scary. I quite literally walked into a lion's den by doing that. I also wanted to see how the Imperial Family was doing. By extension, mother was part of House Phoenix, as am I. While it may be in name only now with no land to call my own, once upon a time, they served the Imperial Family. They all had the Vermillion Eyes, just like mine. They acted as the Imperial Family's eyes and ears. That's what I could tell from the family text that was rewarded to me.
It is a shame House Phoenix is no longer around. I really wish I could meet them. But that doesn't mean I can't do something about it. I can slowly rebuild it!
That also meant however so slightly, Arnor blood runs in my veins. That is why Testa-Rossa awakened inside me, wanting me to become its Awakener in the coming future. Seriously, how cursed is my blood? You got Auslese blood on one side, and Arnor blood on the other. Now it makes sense as to why I have both Fire and Water-type Skills and Magic.
And while we're on that topic, I am limited on time. I have another five or six years left to challenge Phase 1 of the Vermillion Trials. I had already completed Phase 0. It was a proving ground to unlock the true trials. Normally, it'd take you all the way under the castle, but to think it'd link to Emperor Dreichel's statue directly. How ironic. And that isn't the worst part. I'll need to learn an incantation later from Roselia called Lucifen Lied. To make Testa-Rossa mine, the Infernal Castle needs to rise. Thankfully, I still have some time for that to happen, and I'm already planning things out to carry that out safely.
As far as Quests go, I've completed quite a few, and so did my familiar, Tamamo. Three entire Instance Dungeons were cleared, and I can only imagine more are to come. Seriously, this function is cool. It turns my surroundings into dungeons, all the sake of growing stronger. I've progressed quite a bit since I first entered the DG Cult five years ago!
Now that things have quieted down, I now have more time to go over all of the Gamer Notifications that were sent my way. I'm still compiling them, but I think soon I'll be able to show how much I have improved from these last five years. I know just by looking at my own body, I improved leaps and bounds. And I know I can get stronger too. That does pose a question as well, is there a limit to the Gamer System? Or will I just continue to grow stronger indefinitely. That's a scary thought. There's a Level limit in Reverie, that being 250. I'm still far away from that, so only time will tell whether I have my own limits.
Before going over all of that though, I want to continue going through my current interests. I want to pay a visit to Crossbell City. The only time I went there was to do an immediate airship transfer to come to Liberl back then. I didn't get a chance to explore Crossbell City in person yet! Before I have Sherryl reunite with her family, it would be best for me to scope things out with how Crossbell State is doing. I additionally want to know whether a person named Lloyd Bannings is there or not. He is the only protagonist I have not personally encountered as of yet. Right now, he should be living with his Grandparents in Calvard, so it is unlikely Lloyd reached Crossbell City. In a few years, perhaps when he enrolls at Crossbell Police Academy to follow in his older brother's footsteps, Guy Bannings.
As I began to plan what is to come in these next few years, my mind was already wide awake. I felt the rays of the morning sun pierce into my room. Or perhaps it is better to say, our room?
Grancel Castle. Private Quarters.
"Mmm...", I uttered softly, and stretched my body outward. It was time to start another day!
As I slowly opened my eyes, a large, circular bed greeted me. Behind me was a large full-panel window that gave me an amazing view of Valleria Lake. The window had long drapes placed over them to shade us from the sun. But it was open enough to let sunlight peer into the room. A lot of blankets and fluffy pillows were currently wrapped around me.
I mean, seriously, this bed is huge. Several people could sleep inside it with more than enough room to spare. In fact, that actually happened!
I saw a few figures further away, but still on the bed. One was a plum-haired girl, calling one section her own. A violet-haired girl whose appearance was as canny as ever to mine also had her own section of the bed. As for me, I was in the innermost section. I am not sure why, but Kloe gave this bed to me, even though we're residing in her room. But it isn't her room alone anymore. We're sharing it now. Courtesy of Her Majesty the Queen, I take it. Who else would allow this?
Sadly, that thought was interrupted by something soft striking against my face, causing my current train of thought to end. Shifting my head a bit, I saw a black cat with a cute ribbon tied at the end of their tail. The cat was currently curled up into a ball of black fur. Seeing this cat, I laughed.
"Haha, I forgot you were here.", I said, and stretched a little. Next to this black cat, I saw a silver-haired fox who now had three tails. It was no longer two. She had gained another tail since the last time I saw her. Awesome! Three down, I can only guess six more to go.
Hearing me say that, I saw the cat's ears perk up, and their head turned my way, only to look straight at me.
"And what's that supposed to mean?", The cat said. You heard that right. This isn't an ordinary cat. No. Far from it. This cat can talk, for one. She's called Celine, who is none other than Emma's Familiar. She's the same as Tamamo! Unlike Tamamo, however, this cat already unlocked the human tongue. Like I said, Celine here, can in fact, speak. It totally isn't weird holding a conversation with a cat!
Still, I smiled at Celine after she said that.
"I didn't think you'd take this time to follow Emma. I take it your business with Rose is all wrapped up? You sure like to laze around don't you, Celine?", I said with a grin.
"Hmph. I AM a cat, you know. I sleep most of the day. Besides, I was made to support Emma. Rose currently doesn't require my presence, so it is in the right for me to follow Emma. I did not think she would be this foolish enough to stay here of all places. Seriously, can't you read the room?", Celine questioned me, only to see the two sleeping girls beside us. As for Emma, she currently held onto a pillow as she slept with a smile on her face. She was one year younger than me, so that meant she was ten now.
"I don't see a problem here.", I said, observing the situation before us.
"The problem is YOU. Couldn't you get a separate room for Emma? Or at least rent out an apartment inside the city? Why take her all the way here?", Celine asked, squinting her eyes at me.
"I'm just doing what Emma wanted. Why don't you ask her?"
"She requested this?", Celine said, only to sigh after. "Just so you know, I'm here to keep an eye on you so you don't do any funny business."
"Haha, I got you. You mean these, right?", I said, only to raise my hand toward my lips, and raise the upper lip. I bared my fangs at Celine. Remember when Roselia mentioned that the blood-sucking might fall onto Emma in the future? That's what Celine is referring to here.
"Yes, those!", Celine immediately answered. "I wasn't there when it happened, but I heard all about it. It's already bad enough you did that to Rose. Tama won't shut up about it.", Celine uttered, keeping her voice quiet seeing Emma and Kloe were still sleeping. While keeping her paws over her ears, we heard a soft voice speak out to us.
"Kyuu?", A different voice said, causing us to turn our heads toward the three-tailed silver fox resting beside Celine. We saw that her eyes were now wide awake, staring right at us. Seeing this, Celine sighed again.
"I just had to open my big fat mouth, didn't I...", Celine retorted with a sigh.
"Heh.", I replied with a chuckle. Even though Tamamo here couldn't speak the human tongue yet, just her gestures alone are enough to understand her. Besides, Celine seems to have a thorough understanding of what Tamamo can say most of the time, just like Vita. I think Emma can understand Tamamo pretty well now too. I for that matter can as well. I've learned more during this time. I didn't remain idle. Seeing Tamamo now awake, I reached my hand out, and rubbed her head. Her three tails started to thump happily.
"Kyuuu~", Tamamo happily said, enjoying my pat on the head.
"Anyway, what were we talking about earlier?", Celine decided to ask.
"Ah, right. This means the harem plan is officially a go.", I suddenly said, bringing a smile to my face while I continued to pat Tamamo. The moment I declared that, Celine froze.
"Wait. The what plan?", Celine asked, eyes full of doubt. She didn't believe what I just said.
"You didn't hear me wrong.", I said with a wide grin.
"Are you serious? No way in Aidios's name you just said that.", Celine retorted at me.
"I am being one hundred percent serious here.", I responded.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo also said, nodding her head up and down as if she was agreeing with me.
"Wait, you knew this too?", Celine asked Tamamo, shifting her eyes toward her.
"Kyuu.", Tamamo replied, acknowledging her. Hearing this, Celine looked back at me.
"Alright, it's time to spill the beans. Who all knows of this 'harem plan', as you call it?", Celine asked, wanting to know.
"Only Rose and Tama. I have not uttered a single word about it to others. So that means you're the third, Celine.", I answered. Seeing the serious look in my eyes, Celine let out a sigh of relief.
And yet, it was then we felt a gaze land upon us, only to realize there was more trouble about to be sent our way. Celine's body froze, causing her to look around. She looked past me. Lo and behold, we saw Kloe staring right at us, fully awake now.
"Ah crap.", Celine said, seeing Kloe looking at us with a look of disbelief in her eyes.
"Uhh...", I also said as a little bit of sweat dripped down my back. "How much of that did you just hear, Kloe?"