Max felt his feet touch the ground again, and he opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was an incredibly high ceiling, adorned with colorful stained glass and carved white marble columns. Soft light filtered in, filling the hall with golden and green hues.
'…This isn't any Eldoria map.'
He pushed himself upright——and realized he wasn't alone.
In front of him, seated on a small, elegantly decorated throne, was a young elf woman with intense red hair. Long, brilliant, cascading over her shoulders. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain, and her green eyes watched him with a mix of curiosity and surprise.
Beside her, on a larger throne, sat an elf with hair white as snow, a severe expression, and an imposing presence. The king.
Around the hall stood several motionless maids, a butler with clearly faun-like features—curved horns and hooved legs—and two royal guards in finely crafted armor… staring at him like he was dangerous trash.
'What…?'
The murmuring began.
Voices overlapped, fast, filled with words he couldn't understand.
"—— —— ——— —?"
"—— —— ——."
Max swallowed.
He looked around desperately.
'This isn't an event. It's not a cutscene. It's not a boss room.'
His gaze dropped——and he saw his clothes.
Soft fabric. Loose.
He was wearing his pajamas.
'…No.'
A wave of discomfort washed over him.
'I'll worry about that later.'
The voices continued. The king said something in a grave tone. One of the guards stepped forward.
Max felt pure panic.
'The book.'
He remembered the item in his inventory.
'Please… please let it be Elvish.'
As if by instinct, he opened his mental inventory and activated the consumable.
"Use book."
[Executing item effect…]
'Please be Elvish... please be Elvish...'
[New notification]
[Passive skill activated]
"Huh?"
[Interaction detected with learning-type object]
[Applying modification…]
Messages began appearing one after another, far too fast.
[Notification 1: Orc Language learned][Notification 2: Dwarven Language learned][Notification 3: Beast Language learned][Notification 4: Ancient Draconic Language learned]
"WHAT—?"
[Notification 5: Elvish Language learned]
Max's heart leapt.
'Yes!'
But it didn't stop there.
[Notification 6: Demonic Language learned][Notification 7: Celestial Language learned][Notification 8: Arcane Language learned]
The screen filled with text.
[Special condition fulfilled]
[All world languages have been learned]
[Achievement unlocked: Impossible Polyglot]
[Reward: Massive EXP granted]
A bar appeared before his eyes.
[Level 1 → EXP 52%]
Max stood frozen.
'…Half a level? From reading a book?'
The voices around him continued.
And then—
He understood them.
"—Father, are you sure it's safe to keep him here?" said the princess, tilting her head slightly.
"He was summoned correctly," the king replied in a firm voice. "The ritual did not fail."
"But… he looks so fragile."
One of the guards snorted.
"Whatever he is, he doesn't seem dangerous."
The faun butler stepped forward.
"With your permission, Your Majesty. The princess's gift has already awakened."
Max slowly raised his head.
His eyes met those of the elven princess.
She smiled.
"Happy birthday to me," she said with a light laugh."He's adorable."
Max opened his mouth.
'…Ah.'
"Excuse me."
Everyone fell silent at once.
All eyes locked onto him.
Max swallowed, feeling the weight of the entire room pressing down on him, but there was no turning back now.
"Could someone explain… what I'm doing here? And why I was summoned?"
The elven king's eyes widened slightly.
The maids glanced at one another.
One of the guards took a half step forward, clearly shocked.
"…He's speaking."
"He's speaking Elvish," one of them murmured.
The princess tilted her head, blinking.
"Father… does he understand our language?"
The king studied Max with renewed attention, as if only now truly evaluating him.
"Curious," he said at last. "The ritual did not indicate advanced intelligence."
Before Max could respond, the faun butler approached. He bowed slightly—and without moving his lips, whispered:
"I recommend you don't raise your voice too much."
Max barely turned his head.
"Why?"
The faun continued in the same low tone.
"Princess Elanor cannot leave the castle. She doesn't have many friends. His Majesty… thought a companion from another world might brighten her days."
Something clicked inside Max.
The butler straightened and spoke aloud.
"Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen. The summoned being will, as of today, become the official pet of Princess Elanor. His role will be to accompany her, entertain her, and remain by her side within the castle."
"Pet…?" Max repeated quietly.
The princess's smile widened even more.
"Then he's mine," she said with obvious enthusiasm. "Can I name him?"
The king nodded.
"Of course."
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the arm of the throne, studying him like a new toy.
"Hmm… what would you like to be called?"
Max didn't hesitate for even a second.
"Max," he said firmly. "My name is Max. And… I'd prefer to be called that, please."
Silence settled once more.
The princess watched him for a few seconds longer… then laughed softly.
"Max," she repeated. "I like it."
The king exhaled slowly.
"Then it is decided. From today on, the summoned shall be known as Max, personal pet of Princess Elanor."
One of the guards frowned.
"And if he turns out to be dangerous?"
The king glanced at him.
"Then we will find out soon enough."
Max smiled awkwardly.
'Great.'
At that exact moment, something appeared before his eyes.
A translucent blue rectangle.
[New notification]
Max opened it.
[Title obtained]
[Title: Princess Elanor's Pet]
He froze.
"…"
The description unfolded on its own.
[Passive effect: Slightly increases affinity with members of royalty][Passive effect: Reduces initial hostility within the royal castle][Special condition: This title cannot be rejected]
Max squeezed his eyes shut.
'No.'
'No no no no no.'
He opened them again.
The title was still there.
Shining.
Perfectly clear.
'Pet.'
He felt a sharp pain in his chest that had nothing to do with HP.
'I died, got reincarnated into my favorite game…'
'…and this is my first title.'
The princess watched him curiously, tilting her head.
"Is something wrong, Max?"
He slowly raised his gaze.
He smiled.
A tight smile. Forced. Worthy of someone who had just hit rock bottom.
"No," he said."I'm fine."
'Perfect.'
'Absolutely perfect.'