Glenn still remembered the boy he had once glimpsed by accident—the one performing on the street—back when the demonic invasion had ended and he returned to Duder with Luther and the others, visiting those children who had lost their parents.

  That godlike detachment—the gaze with which a deity regards the ants upon the earth—had been perfectly concealed by that youth. Glenn had assumed that after following the refugees to the Royal Capital, the boy would stir up some trouble. Yet now, to his astonishment, the same youth stood here as an official knight.

  Was he some powerful being merely amusing himself among mortals? Or was I simply overthinking it? Keeping his expression impassive, Glenn stood beside Hopdo before the Princess’s desk.

  "I hadn't expected the author of such enchanting tales to be so young. But thinking on it, perhaps only someone with your innocence of spirit could conceive stories so full of childlike wonder. Would you speak with me about your creative process?"

  Though the Princess maintained a courteous, approachable smile, her question made Glenn feel as though he were being interviewed by a journalist.

  "Of course—it would be my pleasure." Glenn answered with seeming humility. "Each of my stories is simple, their morals easy to grasp. Similar things happen around us every day—I merely shift the setting and the characters to retell them in another light..."

  He spoke whatever came to mind, and both the Princess and Hopdo listened with grave attentiveness.

  Hopdo, despite having heard much of this the first time they met, continued to react as if hearing it all anew.

  When Glenn finished, the Princess nodded as though something had just dawned on her. Glenn had no idea how she interpreted his words; he merely intended to muddle through.

  "A splendid explanation. It seems I shall have to reread your tales a few more times, Mr. Glenn," she said, lifting her gaze after a brief moment of reflection.

  "I never imagined my stories would draw the attention of Your Highness. To be honest, I am still quite nervous."

  "No need. We shall see each other often in the future—you will grow accustomed to my presence. I will never use my status to compel you to do what you do not wish to do. You may rest assured of that."

  See each other often? I plan to finish my business and go home. Aside from coming to collect funds, you won’t see me at all... Glenn thought this inwardly, while outwardly he continued his flawless performance.

  After answering a few more of her questions, the Princess finally shifted to the matter at hand:

  "Forgive me for talking so long, I nearly forgot the purpose of your visit. Here are the documents for your membership. I’ve handled everything else for you—only your personal information is needed."

  Glenn accepted the papers and skimmed through them. It resembled a simple registration form—name, address, and other basic details.

  Only the final signature section stood out—it was inscribed with arcane runes.

  With his rudimentary magical knowledge, Glenn recognized it as a form of high-level contract magic.

  He hesitated little, signing his name at once.

  A faint, nearly imperceptible shimmer passed over the runes, marking the activation of the contract.

  He handed the documents back. The Princess looked them over briefly, nodded, and smiled. "Then allow me to welcome you to the club, Mr. Glenn."

  ...

  Leaving the club, Glenn hugged a plump cloth pouch embroidered with a special emblem. It took considerable effort to keep the corners of his mouth from curling upward.

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  After he filled out the form, the Princess had someone escort him to receive his funds: a full fifty gold coins.

  For an ordinary middle-class family, it was a fortune. Even though Glenn was already somewhat well-off, the sight of such a large bag of gold still made his head spin.

  He spent the entire walk pondering how to use it.

  Should he buy a house in the capital city of Caladria? Or invest in expanding his farm? Both options were tempting.

  Hopdo rambled beside him about techniques in painting; Glenn offered polite responses.

  Then Glenn suddenly remembered the young knight by the Princess’s side. His excitement cooled as he turned to Hopdo.

  "The Princess’s two knights are both very young. Are they truly capable of protecting Her Highness? Are they strong enough?"

  Hopdo, who had been waiting for Glenn to comment on his thoughts about color transitions, froze at this completely off-topic question. "Why are you asking that? Is that something we need to worry about? All we must do is create art in peace."

  "I simply have other interests outside of storytelling. I’m curious by nature—I can never resist digging deeper."

  Hopdo nodded. He too had hobbies outside of painting, so he did not think much of it. After a moment’s thought, he shared what he knew:

  "As far as I’m aware, both knights by Her Highness’s side are at least third tier. More than enough in a place like the capital city of Bartsey. Don’t let their youth fool you—their strength is unimaginable.

  "The youngest of them—you must have heard his name—Cadmon Caro, also called the Sword of Divine Radiance. He is the most brilliant talent ever selected by the Knight's Temple. Can you imagine someone reaching fourth-tier knighthood in just a few months? My God! He surpasses even the kingdom’s legendary Second Princess! Even the most exaggerated rumors claim she took two full years to reach third-tier, yet this Sword of Divine Radiance... If I hadn’t seen the proof myself, I would have thought anyone telling me such a thing was mad!"

  The Second Princess—an enigmatic figure, hailed as the brightest genius of the Kingdom of Zehn’s younger generation—was the subject of countless legends.

  "You mean that one who still looks practically like a child?" Glenn asked.

  "Yes, that handsome young lad!" Hopdo confirmed.

  Genius? Hardly. More like a high-level player bullying beginners... Glenn curled his lip inwardly. He was nearly certain that boy was the incarnation of some transcendent being.

  "Someone like that must be heavily valued. Why would he serve as the Third Princess’s guardian knight?" Glenn pressed further.

  "That I don’t know. I was stunned the first time I saw him following Her Highness. Perhaps it was an assignment from the Knight's Temple—those tasks can be unpredictable. But enough about that—let’s return to our discussion on creation. Now, where was I...?"

  Glenn could only follow along as Hopdo veered back on track.

  They continued their lively conversation all the way back to Hopdo’s home, riding the deer-drawn carriage.

  Once Hopdo got down, Glenn said, "Thank you for everything today. I must be on my way now."

  "No need to rush, Mr. Glenn! Wait two more days—I’ve already written to Serrati. He’s eager to meet you!"

  "I’m terribly sorry, but I have many matters to attend to. I truly must go."

  With that, Glenn flicked the reins, and the Great Stag trotted off once more.

  Hopdo could only bid him farewell.