For Mo Wang, today was probably the worst day of his life.
And it wasn't just him. The other recruits were on edge too. It was like having your girlfriend or your parents watching you during a training exercise, their eyes boring into your very soul.
A Certain Dumb-faced Rookie Knight Who Loves the Little Princess the Most: Bros, save me! I can't take this anymore!
During a break, Mo Wang, unable to bear the princess's intense gaze, frantically typed on his phone, summoning his brain trust.
[A Certain Hyperion's King of Slacking]: What's up? What's the tea? As the number one gossip hound, I must be on the front lines!
[A Certain Teyvat Blondie]: Slacker King, you're gossiping again~ Take a break, will you?
[A Certain Hyperion's King of Slacking]: So annoying~! You're so naggy.
[A Certain Savior of Human Order]: These two are seriously messed up.
[A Certain Video Store Owner]: Currently at work, do not disturb.jpg.
[A Certain Train's Trash King]: Huh? The Boss is still working? If I remember correctly, he's been working his ass off all week. What's up, is he that broke?
[A Certain King of Kivotos]: Work? Never. Not in this lifetime.
[A Certain Mankind's Strongest Martial Arts Genius]: Hey, aren't we missing the classic group chat intro for the new guy this time? What's going on? Is this not a group chat novel anymore?
[A Certain Strongest Demon Lord]: Can you even call this a group chat novel? What kind of group chat goes silent for over a hundred thousand words?
[A Certain Ark's Succubus]: To be precise, it usually resurfaces every one hundred and twenty thousand words.
A Certain Dumb-faced Rookie Knight Who Loves the Little Princess the Most: So, is anyone going to help me?! There's a poor, helpless newbie here waiting to be saved by the pros!
[A Certain Soul Player Aspiring to be the King of Games]: Oh, oh, go on. What kind of weird stuff is happening this time? Did aliens invade? Or is a beautiful girl trying to kill you?
A Certain Dumb-faced Rookie Knight Who Loves the Little Princess the Most: In a way, it's both.
[A Certain Little Red Cap Destined to be a Chick Magnet]: What? The main story has already started?
A Certain Dumb-faced Rookie Knight Who Loves the Little Princess the Most: Not really, but the Future Princess just showed up out of nowhere, and she's right in front of me.
Mo Wang sent a memory file to the group chat, explaining his predicament.
But instead of sympathy, he was met with a chorus of schadenfreude.
[A Certain Most Hype Pokémon Trainer]: The Future Princess is so beautiful! Damn it! I, a white-hair connoisseur, have been captivated by a blonde! Is this the power of a top-tier blonde?
[A Certain DFO's Salted Fish]: What is this guy talking about? It's true that Durandal used to have white hair, but don't you like her blonde version the most?
[A Certain Monster Musume Slayer]: Yeah, now that you mention it, we've always thought you were more of a blonde-con than a white-hair-con.
[A Certain Teyvat Blondie]: Nani? A traitor among the Mo Wangs?! Off with his head! White hair is number one!
[A Certain Savior of Human Order]: What is this sis-con spouting now? Aren't you a blonde yourself?!
A Certain Dumb-faced Rookie Knight Who Loves the Little Princess the Most: Why are we off-topic again?! Help me think of a solution!
[A Certain Hyperion's King of Slacking]: Ah, I get it. It's that awkward feeling when a beautiful girl you like is watching you, right?
[A Certain Hyperion's King of Slacking]: Just throw away your pride. Trust me, as long as you're not embarrassed, the other person will be! Towards a brighter tomorrow, cast aside all your inhibitions! Mo Wang
What the hell are they talking about? Mo Wang thought, staring at his phone. This bunch was only useful for sending him cheat items. The rest of the time, they were just a bunch of gossip-loving trolls.
"Mo Wang! Help me!" Bob staggered over, his face pale and clammy. "Senior Bob?! What happened to you? Don't tell me... you've been bewitched by a succubus?!"
"Bah! I'm loyal to Linda, thank you very much! I'm like this because of your girlfriend!" he said, and pointed at the princess, whose dark aura was now manifesting as a giant, shadowy figure behind her.
"Ah, well, in that case, I can't help you," Mo Wang said with a shrug.
"Don't say that! What are we going to do during the sparring session later?!"
"The Queen and the Little Princess are here!" someone shouted, and all eyes turned to the entrance.
Queen Camilla, in a magnificent gown, glided in, with the Little Princess and Eva by her side.
"Ooh~ Her Majesty..." the soldiers swooned.
But as the Queen's gaze swept over the crowd and landed on him, Mo Wang took two steps back.
(Damn it, why is she looking at me like that? What is she planning this time?)
(Wait! That look... it's the 'you haven't come to see me in so long, do you want to die' look!)
(This woman is definitely up to something!)
The dark memories of his childhood in the castle, under her tyrannical rule, came flooding back.
And then, she smiled. A smile that, to the knights, was as radiant as the sun. But to Mo Wang, it was as terrifying as Beth's.
(Gah! This woman definitely wants to beat me to the ground and drag me back to the castle!)
"Your Majesty, is something amusing?" Eva asked.
"Nothing, I'm just happy to see a lost puppy has found its way back," she said with a gentle smile.
"A puppy?"
Just then, her eyes landed on the Future Princess.
(Sister is here?! Is that really the past version of my sister?) the Future Princess thought, her heart pounding.
The Queen's gaze was drawn to the intense stare. "Oh, that girl? I heard she's Mo Wang's girlfriend. She came to watch the training today," Eva said, and then immediately regretted it as the two royal sisters turned their icy glares on her.
"You said... that's Mo Wang's girlfriend?"
Camilla's voice was dangerously soft. "How could that child possibly have a girlfriend? He doesn't even come to training. He's a lazy good-for-nothing. What girl would possibly like him?"
At that moment, the past and future princesses' eyes met, and an unspoken rivalry sparked between them. The air crackled with a palpable tension.
"What's going on? Is it going to rain?"
"I don't know, but it suddenly got really cold."
"Yeah, it feels like winter is coming."
"What are you talking about? It's the middle of summer!"
Eva, caught in the middle of the storm, was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Someone, anyone, please get me out of here!
Mo Wang, meanwhile, was slowly backing away from the Queen, her gaze now promising not just a beating, but something far, far worse.
Mo Wang: This woman is terrifying!