Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill Chapter 61: To Morningstar Castle

Max stood at the entrance of the inn in the morning.

Fresh air.

Silence... for now.

Standing.

Cloak on.

The infinite backpack slung over his shoulder.

Ready.

Everything ready.

Except him.

Dark circles under his eyes.

Empty gaze.

He blinked slowly.

Yawned.

’...I want to die.’

Footsteps were heard.

Two figures.

Sophie.

Moonlight.

Arriving together.

Moon looked at him.

Stopped.

Tilted her head.

"...Did sothing attack you last night?"

Pause.

"Or why do you look like that?"

Max looked at her.

Expressionless.

Sophie let out a small laugh.

Covering her mouth.

"Did you at least sleep a little?"

Max yawned again.

Long.

"No."

Silence.

"Not a minute."

He rubbed his face.

"Dorian and Varis threw a party..."

He stretched a bit.

"...in the room next door."

Moon’s eyes widened.

Interested.

"They didn’t invite you?"

She smiled.

"Sounds fun."

Max shook his head.

"...I wouldn’t have gone."

He crossed his arms.

Annoyed.

"I’m sure those two idiots spent half the gold."

Pause.

"There were like ten demon girls going in."

Another voice.

From behind.

"Eleven."

Max closed his eyes.

"...Of course."

Dorian appeared.

Smiling.

Proud.

"It was eleven."

He adjusted his hair.

"And I didn’t pay for any of them."

Silence.

Max looked at him.

Soulless.

Dorian continued.

"The ones from earlier spoke so well of ..."

He pointed to his chest.

"...that the others ca on their own."

Bright smile.

Absolute pride.

Max stared at him.

"...Incredible."

More footsteps.

Heavy.

Neros appeared.

With Varis hanging over his shoulders.

The dwarf... destroyed.

Unconscious.

Drooling a bit.

Dorian saw him.

And burst out laughing.

"He passed out before even touching one of the demon girls."

He crossed his arms.

"How sad."

Neros adjusted the weight.

Looking at Max.

"Is it wise to carry him like this?"

Max sighed.

"Dorian."

He nodded toward Varis.

"Fix him."

Dorian smiled.

"Of course."

But before—

He looked at Max.

Up and down.

"...Although it seems like you need help too."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Have you seen your face?"

Silence.

Max stared at him.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Dorian...

Laughed.

"Alright, alright."

He raised his hands.

"First the dwarf."

He extended his hand.

Soft light.

Glow.

Varis trembled.

Coughed.

Blink.

"...Huh?"

He looked around.

Confused.

"...Did we win?"

Dorian laughed.

"You lost before it even started."

Without waiting, he turned to Max.

Again.

Light.

Stronger.

Max felt his body relax.

His head... clearer.

The dark circles... lighter.

He blinked.

"...Okay."

He stretched a bit.

"...That was nice."

Dorian smiled.

"It always is."

Sophie stepped forward.

Serious.

"We’re running late."

She looked at the group.

"Are you ready?"

Brief silence.

One by one, they nodded.

"Yes."

"Yeah."

"Of course."

"Let’s go."

Max adjusted his backpack.

Turned around.

"Then let’s move."

And they started walking.

Toward the tavern.

But behind them, female voices—

"Dorian!"

"Co back soon!"

"What a great staff you have!"

"We want another magic lesson!"

The group slowed slightly.

Max turned his head.

Eleven demon girls, barely dressed and ssy-haired.

At the inn’s entrance.

Waving.

Smiling.

Blowing kisses.

Dorian raised his hand.

Confident smile.

Waved back.

Proud.

Varis let out a laugh.

Still dizzy.

"What an elf..."

Max shook his head.

"...I can’t believe it."

Moonlight raised both hands.

And waved enthusiastically.

"Byeeee!"

Innocent smile.

Happy.

Sophie was already walking ahead.

Without looking back.

Her brother at her side.

Silent.

Serious.

The rest followed.

***

The group arrived at the tavern.

Door open.

Noise inside.

And outside was Abel.

Dragging a drunk demon.

Asleep.

Almost dead.

He dropped him against the wall.

Sighed.

And when he saw them, he smiled.

"You made it."

He wiped his hands.

"My wife is waiting for you around the corner."

He gestured with his head.

"They’re finishing preparing the carriage."

Sophie stepped forward.

"Thank you very much, Abel."

Abel nodded.

The smile... remained, a bit forced.

"Thank you."

Pause.

"...for daring to go save my daughter."

Brief silence.

Max looked at him.

Quick thought.

’We don’t have a choice.’

He said nothing.

Just nodded slightly.

The group moved on.

Turned the corner.

And there it was.

The carriage.

Huge.

Twice the size of Varis’.

Black.

Elegant.

Imposing.

Varis saw it.

Stopped.

Eyes wide.

"...This..."

Pause.

"...this is art."

From above, an elegant figure appeared.

Lamia.

Impeccable suit.

Perfect.

A lit cigar between her fingers.

Calm smile.

"Good morning, boys."

She looked at the group.

"You’re right on ti."

Pause.

"We were about to leave you behind."

Behind her, small imps.

All in suits.

Serious.

Like a little mafia.

One stepped forward.

"We are ready to depart."

The group boarded.

One by one.

Spacious interior.

Comfortable seats.

Max looked around.

Then at Lamia.

"...And how are we supposed to enter in such a flashy carriage?"

Lamia smiled.

"I have my contacts there."

Simple.

"For them, we are rchants."

She pointed behind.

"And workers."

Pause.

"We’re carrying fresh beef."

A faint smile.

"Our cover."

Silence.

Grrr...

Everyone looked.

Neros.

Still.

Unmoving.

As if nothing happened.

Dorian laughed.

"Better not talk about food near him."

Sophie was already moving.

She took out supplies.

Fast.

Efficient.

Made a sandwich.

Gave it to Neros.

Moon raised her hand.

"Can I have one?"

Sophie nodded.

No problem.

Made another.

Moon smiled.

Happy.

The group settled in.

Varis felt the seat.

Fascinated.

"...This material..."

Pause.

"...is incredible."

Lamia smiled.

Proud.

"I know. One of the best in the world."

She snapped her fingers.

Signal.

Outside, the imps reacted.

The horses began to move.

The carriage advanced.

Steady rhythm.

They moved onto a stone road.

Straight.

Direct.

Toward a bridge.

Large.

Below it, a deep red river.

Moon leaned forward.

Surprised.

"Is that blood?"

Dorian shook his head.

Relaxed.

"No."

He looked at the water.

"It’s sap."

Pause.

"From the trees... like the drops that fell before."

Moon nodded.

Impressed.

Lamia moved.

Took out a large bottle.

Wine.

And sothing else.

Juice.

"Sothing to drink?"

Max shook his head.

"I’m good."

He raised his water.

But didn’t stop looking at her.

Analyzing.

Thinking.

’Can I trust her...?’

’Why doesn’t the system want them to succeed...?’

’What’s wrong with them...?’

’They just want to save their daughter...’

He didn’t understand.

Sophie noticed.

His fixed gaze.

Unsubtle.

And—

Smack.

She slapped him.

Sharp.

Max froze.

"What?!"

Sophie looked at him.

Annoyed.

"You are Princess Elanor’s fiancé."

She crossed her arms.

"You can’t go around staring at other won like that."

Max turned red.

"That’s not what it looks like!"

Lamia let out a soft laugh.

"Relax."

She took a puff of her cigar.

"My husband isn’t jealous."

Max...

Even redder.

"I’m a one-woman man!"

Silence.

Lamia laughed.

Amused.

Dorian raised his hand.

"I’m not."

He smiled.

"I’m a many-won man."

Pause.

"In case you’re interested."

Lamia looked at him.

Raised an eyebrow.

"You haven’t even told your na."

Dorian took her hand.

Gently.

Bowed slightly.

"Allow to introduce myself."

Elegant smile.

"I’m Dorian."

Pause.

"The royal healer."

Another small pause.

"And a great adventurer with many stories to tell."

He kissed her hand.

"A pleasure to et you, miss."

Max covered his face.

"...Please behave. This isn’t the ti to flirt."

Lamia laughed.

"It was a joke."

But she winked at Dorian.

Moon looked at both of them.

Confused.

"I didn’t get the joke."

Neros spoke.

Calm.

"It’s nothing."

Pause.

"Adult stuff."

Moon nodded.

"Ah."

And kept eating her sandwich.

Happy.

As if nothing happened.

The carriage slowed down.

Outside, a voice.

One of the imps.

"We’re arriving."

The sound of gates opening.

"At the rchant entrance of the castle."

Silence.

The mood shifted.

Everyone got ready.

Now... it was ti to begin the real mission.