Inverse System

Chapter 81 - Fallen Princess

As he walked up the stairs to the dorm room, he checked the notifications he had previously gotten on his system.

[You have received 5000 exp!]

Level 123

Exp: 5400/210000

Speed: 327.2 ? 328.5

Strength: 411.3 ? 412.5

Defense: 334.5 ? 336.6

Intellect: 301.4 ? 301.8

[New Passive Skill] - Fire Affinity: Resist

[New Passive Skill] - Significant Regeneration ? Extraordinary Regeneration

"That's a lot of exp for just a match… What's up with that?" Rein thought in his mind.

"When you win a battle, I can recognize it through your feelings, and grant you some exp based on your opponent's strength. You didn't gain any exp during the preliminary matches because you were so confident, but you had to win without any weapons this time. You weren't sure of yourself, so winning gave you more of a sense of accomplishment, thus more exp," Versys explained.

"I see. Maybe I should've fought him with my inventory filled too… How can I handicap myself as much as possible…" Rein began thinking, Versys quickly trying to stop him from his reckless thoughts.

He finally arrived at the top floor and stopped in front of the door of his room. He looked around the lobby, remembering the fight he had with sho in that exact spot. The red carpet still slightly wet from the residue, the plant in the corner of the foyer receiving its first sip of water in weeks.

After idling around for a few seconds, he finally took a deep breath and opened the door, being met with a pleasant smelling breeze as he did. He saw Chloe's red boots at the front entrance as he closed the door behind him. He could feel the wind hitting his face from the bedroom side of the room, and as he turned his head to it, only one door out of the three bedrooms was open.

As he peeked in, he saw a girl sitting on the side of her bed, her golden hair flowing in the breezing gale provided by the window through the cavern's ventilation system. Her shimmering black horn sparkled as the light of the cavern invaded the room, swinging her legs back and forth as they didn't reach the ground off of the bed.

Rein stood at the door in awe, staring at her with his yellow eyes widened. She eventually noticed him and turned around pleasantly, smiling as she saw him at the door.

"Rein…"

"Hey, Chloe. So, what'd you think? Was that the result you wanted?" Rein approached her and sat on the bed beside her, leaning forward on his arm propped-up on his knee.

"Well, if it were up to me, you two wouldn't have fought in the first place. Still though… I'm happy you won," Chloe remarked, Rein couldn't help but crack a smile of relief.

There was a pause of silence for a few seconds as they listened to the wind whistling in the room.

"Hey, Rein… You don't hate me, do you?" She asked, those words making Rein's heartache.

"Huh..?" He reacted.

"Haha… I know it might be selfish of me to ask, but I can't get it off my mind. The way you looked at me… I can't help but think—"

He grabbed her arm and pulled her into an embrace, hugging her tightly as he apologized.

"I'm sorry Chloe… There's no excuse for the things I told you, and for the way I treated you. I got caught up in myself when you were only trying to look out for me. I'm so sorry," he expressed as he held her tightly, their chests pressing up against each other.

"So you don't hate me..? You really don't hate me?" Tears began forming in her eyes as she gripped his shoulders.

"I'm sorry for making you think that. I'm truly sorry," he continued as she sniffled, turning her face up as she looked him in the eyes.

"It's okay, Rein. I forgive you. I'll always forgive you. It was you who saved me from despair. It's you who broke me out of my shell. It's you who always makes me feel safe. I'm the happiest when I'm with you…"

Rein's eyes lit up as he heard her say that, the same words she said in his dream. At this time, he had momentarily forgotten about his worries, his anger, his struggles. He was truly happy, akin to the times he used to spend with his sister. He held the back of her head, caressing her smooth, silky hair as they stared at each other, their faces slowly inching closer and closer.

"Rein… I—"

"BREAKING NEWS! BREAKING NEWS!" They heard a loud voice intrude through the open window, which startled both of them, breaking away in embarrassment.

Rein stood up and looked out the window, seeing a man with news articles running through the area under them, handing out the papers to everyone he passed.

"BREAKING! BREAKING! Citizens, come get your news! Students, check your tablet devices!"

Confused, Rein pulled his tablet out of his pocket and turned it on, Chloe standing up and peering beside his shoulder at his screen.

"Press on the envelope icon. It should be in the top left over there," Chloe pointed, her face getting dangerously close to Rein's. 

As they realized their position, they looked away from each other, Rein slightly blushing, Chloe's face flushed red. Rein sighed and pressed on the mail envelope in the top left. An article popped up, taking up the entire screen with a large, red headline. Chloe's eyes widened as she saw the words, her heart dropping to her stomach.

"ORTHLYS ANNOUNCES THEIR NEW QUEEN. PREGNANT WITH KING FREDRIC'S BABY."

"The hell..? A new queen? Does that mean the king's planning—" Rein suddenly stopped talking, his stomach jerking as he continued reading, his face overridden with pure terror and shock.

"On the afternoon of tuesday November the 27th, king Fredric had announced his engagement to a noble woman of prestigious background. The current duchess of the family overseeing the Kanirah province, Melina Alister."

A picture of the king and the woman was displayed on the screen. With sheer trembling anger, Rein cracked the tablet in his hand and dropped it on the ground.

"That woman…" He hissed with pure, enthralling rage. "She's gotten to the king… Just what the hell does she think she's doing?" His voice was radiating unbound fury as he glanced over at Chloe, who looked as pale as a ghost, her mouth gaped as she broke out into a cold sweat.

"No way… It's her..." Chloe stepped back in shock, then tripped clumsily, Rein catching her before she hit the ground.

"Do you know… that woman, Rein?" Chloe asked, terrified as her frightened eyes looked at Rein.

"What? You know her Chloe?" Rein reacted in shock.

"She… She's the one who killed mother… It was her and another man… They killed her in front of my eyes…" Chloe's eyes swelled up in tears, the color fading as she recalled traumatic memories.

Rein's eyes were refilled with rage, hearing Chloe's story as she grabbed onto his shirt after he caught her.

"I need to show you something, Chloe," Rein uttered, picking her up and jumping out the window, landing on the ground then running out of the north tunnel that lead to the north end of the gulf.

(click to see visual)

Rein exited at full speed and ran towards the north, eventually stopping at a hill overlooking the ruins of a town. This was the first time Rein had seen it in recent years as well, and his stomach also turned as he saw the monster-infested crater that it had become.

"Is this… Your village?"

"That's right. That's also Leona's grave. My aunt, the woman who married your father… The woman pregnant with your father's child… she's the one who caused this. She's the one I've been after this entire time," Rein set her down on the ground and allowed her to observe the sad remains of a ghost town.

"Are you serious..?  She's the one who attacked your village? It's because of her that Leona's dead? And now she's trying to use my father?" Chloe clenched her fist in anger as she gazed upon the monster-infested hole in the distance.

"You're serious, aren't you?" Her voice grew a sense of conviction as she spoke, still trembling in unshakable anger and fear.

"Dead serious," Rein assured.

"I won't forgive her… I won't let her manipulate father… I won't let her get away with murdering my mother and my master… Hey, Rein? You said you were after her, right? Let me join you," she turned around to face him, Rein seeing her make the most twisted face he had ever seen her make.

She looked sad, angry, confused, and in shock all at the same time, yet her innocent face still shone in the cloudy rain, Rein not being able to take his eyes off her. He slowly approached her, looking down on the shorter girl with a frowning expression.

"Are you sure? Are you ready to take on that kind of life? Are you prepared to end a life? Are you up to the task, princess?" Rein made sure.

"It's exactly because I'm the princess that I have to do this. But… more than that… it's something I want to do. Please, just let me stand by your side, I'd be useless by myself…" She tugged on his shirt.

"Useless?" He sounded.

"Yes… But with you Rein, I feel like I can do anything. I feel like I can attain any happiness, I feel safe, I feel confident. So, if it's with you… then I'm sure I can accomplish my goals. And I'll make sure you accomplish yours, standing side by side," she poured her heart out as Rein grabbed the hand that tugged on his shirt and moved it away.

"Heh, well if you say that, then how the hell am I going to refuse?" He swiftly pulled her in and approached his face to hers, putting his arms around her waist as their lips came into contact.

They embraced each other, kissing as the rain continued battering against their connected lips, until they eventually broke away, Rein sticking his forehead against hers.

"Welcome to the party, my fallen princess."