Infinite Skill Devourer

Chapter 13: Hidden Yandere Personality I

The group made their way out of the dungeon just as the walls began to collapse.

The ground rumbled beneath their feet, urging them to move quickly before it was too late.

The purple glow that had once radiated brightly from the dungeon core slowly dimmed.

Fortunately, they escaped before it completely disappeared.

Leaving behind nothing but a wall sealing the dungeon's entrance.

Ryuen carried the core in his arms as he followed behind the others, his mind swirling with thoughts.

He couldn't believe it—he could gain the skills of beasts as well.

Shock mingled with a strange sense of relief.

At least killing the beast had given him something worthwhile.

As they reached their horses, the dungeon disintegrated into a fine silver dust, fluttering softly in the air before vanishing completely.

As if it had never existed.

Erina exhaled heavily, her ears drooping as she crumpled to the ground, weak and exhausted.

"That should be the last one within the city," she muttered, her exhaustion evident in her voice.

Aika scoffed, crouching down beside her. "Any wounds?"

Erina shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "You're more worried about me than yourself?"

"Yes I am...You haven't eaten, have you?" Aika pressed.

Erina's expression turned serious as she forced herself to stand. "Worry about yourself, Aika."

They mounted their horses in silence, still recovering from the nearly impossible task that had drained them.

Jun's silence was telling—he had exhausted so much mana and energy that he didn't even have the strength to speak.

Creating explosive blasts was a different level of mana using technique.

Compared to the others, it drains about fifty percent of ones mana pool for just ten balls.

And Jun created fifty.

The ride back to the palace was faster than their initial journey, though the atmosphere remained heavy.

As they neared the gates, they were greeted by a messenger clad in unfamiliar royal armor.

The man bowed deeply upon seeing the princesses and their brother. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Then turned to Ryuen and bowed as well, mistakenly assuming him to be one of their betrothed.

"Your Highnesses," the messenger addressed them urgently, his voice tinged with gravity.

Erina tilted her head. "Can we help you?"

"I bring word from the king—your father," the man began, "that more of the beast dungeons have appeared."

He paused, pulling down his hood to reveal a stern face marked by three vertical lines on each cheek.

"I was sent by the Queen of the northern tribe city regarding this issue," he continued, pulling a scroll from his satchel.

"This spell, mana-based, should be enough to protect your city for several months before the next replacement is needed."

Jun scoffed, his irritation evident and he made no attempt hiding it.

"Does she think it's easy to draw mana from within ones body and the environment?"

'Especially in a place where nearly everyone relies on mana!"

His voice was sharp, his anger directed at the audacity of stronger leaders.

Always making decisions without considering those with lower power level

The messenger simply bowed his head. He dared not exchange words with the prince.

He knew Jun's reputation for swift and harsh judgments.

For example, asking that he is thrown into a dungeon and killed the following day, by beheading.

"I apologize, Your Majesty," the man said humbly, bowing deeply as he awaited their response.

Aika opened her mouth to speak, but Ryuen interrupted her.

"Pardon their manners, sir," Ryuen said, shooting Jun a pointed glare before turning to the messenger with a warm smile.

"We'll do our best to create the barriers as suggested."

He stretched out and took the scroll from the man.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the messenger said, bowing again.

"The city would be very lucky to have someone like you as their king."

Before anyone could respond—or counter his statement—the messenger vanished into a cloud of black smoke, the same way he appeared.

Ryuen handed the scroll to Aika, who snatched it with a sharp glare.

"How dare he assume that a mere peasant like you could qualify as king," Jun spat, his tone laced with contempt.

The weight of Jun's words hung in the air, but Erina broke the silence.

"He made a mistake. Let it go," she said, nudging her horse forward, eager to leave to get home

Aika did the same, moving alongside Erina as scanned through the scroll.

"I wonder why the monarch still insists on letting the regions handle these problems themselves."

Erina quipped, her brows furrowing as the thought struck her.

"Have you ever considered that he simply won't help you?" Ryuen replied bluntly, leaping off his horse.

"He wouldn't dare, he's the overall leader."

Erina answered as he, he helped Aika off the horse's back, despite her protests.

Then turned to assist Erina, who had deliberately waited for him to do the same as well.

Jun, however, remained seated on his horse, his gaze fixed on Ryuen.

"What?" Ryuen asked, his brows knitting into a frown. "Don't expect me to help you down, too."

"You can't be that petty, or—"

Jun clicked his tongue and dismounted on his own, smirking as his golden eyes gleamed faintly.

"I'd advise you to keep your distance," Jun said coldly, his voice laced with disdain.

"If you value the lives of your students, that is."

Exhausted and still covered in ichor, Ryuen pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

Turning away, he muttered, "I'll let you go now because I need a bath. You three can deal with this political beast nonsense without me."

He waved them off casually and strode into the palace.

Aika rolled her eyes, scoffing. "Typical."

---

Ryuen stood in the grand bathhouse, steam curling around him as he gazed at the water before him.

A towel draped over his shoulder, another secured around his waist.

His hair was tied back in a ponytail, with a hairband and pin–that he has gotten from Akari, while a few strands fell over his face.

His face lit up as the water heated to just the right temperature, filling the room with thick, swirling steam.

The haze made it nearly impossible to see without concentrating.

He stepped into the bath, letting the hot water sink into his skin, and moved further up to his chest and he sank deeper.

To his right was a cart stocked with bathing essentials: shampoos, conditioners, oils, body wash, soft sponges, and brushes.

On the other side were two pairs of traditional hairpins, ones he recognized from a past encounter during his less-than-legal adventures.

The hot water was a welcome relief after the chaos of battle, washing away the grime, ichor, and lingering tension.

The marble floors and the intricate carvings on the walls reminded him of the throne room, their dark elegance lending the space a soothing atmosphere.

Leaning back against the bath's edge, Ryuen sighed in contentment.

Unbeknownst to him, Erina had entered, silently closing the door behind her.

She wore a white dress that stopped just above her mid-thigh, its revealing design leaving little to the imagination.

She turned to face the bath, her lips curling into a sly smile as her crimson eyes caught sight of Ryuen.

The towel draped over his face meant he hadn't noticed her presence yet.

Her ears twitched as she stepped into the bath, still fully clothed.

The water lapped at her legs, and her tail swayed lazily above the surface.

She moved cautiously, ensuring her steps were silent to avoid startling him.

When she was close enough, she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body firmly against his.

Despite the suddenness of her action, Ryuen's reaction was anything but surprised.

He raised a hand to lift the towel from his face, revealing one faintly glowing hazel eye.

"Oh, Erina," he said flatly, glancing briefly at the closed door before shifting his gaze back to her

"What are you doing here?"

Erina smiled sweetly, though her crimson eyes glowed faintly, a look he hadn't seen for a very long time

A possessive, almost unhinged look that sent a strange shiver down his spine.

A good one though.

It was strange. She usually acted composed, just simple and easy to get along with.

"I wanted to bathe, but when I saw you here, I thought I'd join you," she said, her voice soft and sweet.

Ryuen tore her hands away from his neck, but this only seemed to anger her.

Her smile turned into a frown, and she slapped his hand away.

She pushed him back against the raised platform in the bath.

"You're going to sit still while I wash you," she commanded, her tone sharp and unwavering.

"And maybe after that, I'll even please you a little."