Infinite Skill Devourer

Chapter 19: Unusual Special Treatment

The ray of sunlight slipped through the high windows of the guest chambers.

Its golden hue casting faint patterns across the walls and Ryuen's face.

This was his room for the meantime.

He stirred awake as the soft rustling of footsteps in the distance and the faint ruffle of clothing pulled him out of his dreamless sleep.

The bed beneath him was far too luxurious compared to what he was used to.

Memories of his simple life returned—the moderate-sized bed with plain white and black sheets.

It was a painful reminder that he was far from the life he once knew.

Before he could fully process his surroundings, a soft knock came from the door, echoing through the quiet room, followed by the creak of the door swinging open.

"I... didn't... say... come in," Ryuen mumbled, his voice low and deep as he cracked one eye open.

Two maids entered the room, their steps careful yet deliberate.

They wore traditional Japanese-style maid uniforms—sleek black dresses with fitted bodices, with white aprons on top.

Ryuen groaned lowly, shutting his eyes.

He was mentally drained, irritated that his quiet morning in bed was about to be disrupted.

"Good morning, Lord Ryuen," one of the maids said softly as she moved closer to the bed.

Ryuen instantly raised an eyebrow at the title once he heard it.

Lord?

Sitting up slowly, his white hair fell messily over his eyes and down his back.

"Lord?" he repeated under his breath, though he didn't bother correcting them. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The title felt usnual, yet he wasn't in the mood to argue.

The second maid stepped forward, neatly placing folded clothes at the foot of the bed.

"His Majesty has requested your presence at breakfast with the royal family," she explained and stepped back.

Clasping her hands in front of her, she kept her head low as well, to avoid his gaze

Ryuen blinked, still processing the sudden formality in their treatment.

It felt strange. Especially when, most people in the palace treated him like a mere mortal, some even with disdain.

He nodded silently, swinging his legs over the bed and rising to his feet.

As the maids stepped back, Ryuen ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

'Why the sudden change in attitude? You girls were staring at me like I was a strange animal yesterday, and now you're flushed in my presence,' he thought.

Still, he decided not to dwell on it. After all, he had learned not to question things that worked in his favor.

"Lord Ryuen, please allow us to bathe you," the first maid suggested, bowing deeply. Her tone was polite, but the gesture irked Ryuen.

"Tsk,"He clicked his tongue in annoyance, scoffing as he turned toward the bathroom.

His hair swayed lightly behind him, glistening under the sunlight as he moved, but then he paused.

"Leave my room," he ordered in a warning tone. "I'll take care of myself. Alone."

Without sparing them another glance, he disappeared through the bathroom door.

---

An hour passed since the maids had woken Ryuen up.

Despite his reluctance, he eventually allowed them to dress him, oil his hair, and style it neatly.

The clothes they provided were made perfectly, exuding an air of sophistication that made him uncomfortable.

Once ready, they escorted him to the dining hall.

The grand hall was a spectacle, with ceilings adorned with chandeliers that sparkled like constellations.

His footsteps were soft against the polished marble floor, the coolness of the ground seeping through his shoes and chilling his feet.

At the center of the hall stood a long dining table, around which the royal family sat, talking quietly amongst themselves.

Jun, unusually lively, glanced at Ryuen as he entered but quickly turned away, avoiding eye contact.

Althea, followed Jun's gaze, only to turn to see Ryuen, causing frown to appear on her face.

Their eyes met briefly before she scoffed and looked away.

And she did not make any attempts to hide her annoyance.

Erina, however, did not spare him a glance, keeping her gaze fixed on her food.

Aika, on the other hand, side-eyed him, a glint of mockery flashing in her eyes as she set them on him.

"What is a peasant like you doing here?" she asked, her voice tinged with contempt.

It made Ryuen wonder what he had ever done to earn such hate from her.

King Arel raised his head from the book in his hands, and a warm smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Ryuen," he called out excitedly, gesturing for him to come closer.

"Your Majesty," Ryuen replied with a polite bow as he stepped forward. "Why did you summon me?"

King Arel smiled and gestured to an empty seat at the end of the table. "Join us first, and then I'll explain."

Ryuen bowed once more and took his place at the table.

The sudden silence made him very aware of every movement around him.

The royal family began eating without saying another word to him, leaving him with no choice but to eat as well.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

He felt as though he was being watched—not with contempt or hostility, but with an odd sense of curiosity, or was it pity.

The silence was broken when King Arel addressed him directly.

"Ryuen, I trust you've rested well. We have an urgent matter to discuss."

Setting his spoon down gently, Ryuen leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed, though his mind was working harder than ever. "I'm listening."

"There's been a dungeon break in the city," Arel began, his tone serious, carrying the weight of a king's authority, like it was supposed to.

"Two Class B beasts escaped their dungeons and are wreaking havoc on the outskirts of the city."

"The barriers protecting the area need to be dropped temporarily for repairs, but I'm not confident the soldiers can manage the beasts and maintain the barriers at the same time."

Ryuen's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained unreadable.

"And you're telling me this because...?"

"Because we need someone with the instincts of a beast," Jun interrupted before the king could respond.

"I observed you during the last battle. With your experience and abilities, I see only ten percent of your potential."

He paused, placing his fork down. "For a human, your mind is akin to the beasts you faced. And you're incredibly fast for your kind."

"Not to mention, you could serve as bait," Althea added with a sinister smirk, her words laced with subtle hatred.

"Am I wrong, Your Majesty?"

"Unfortunately no, she is correct," Arel admitted, clasping his hands together.

He leaned against the table and closed his eyes briefly.

"Beasts tend to target mortals because of the scent of their blood—and the taste."

The king's tone softened, his expression growing apologetic.

"We understand this is an inconvenience. Your original purpose here was to protect my daughter, and now you're being dragged into a raid."

Ryuen remained silent, processing the situation.

The fact that they would openly consider him as bait left him both shocked and annoyed.

But what did he expect, mortal, Immortals, they were all the same. Selfish and inconsiderate.

'I think its high time I stop being considerate as well,' Ryuen thought, even though he hated it.

"This city has not yet been permitted to establish guilds for these raids.

So the royal family must handle them directly," Arel continued. "Your potential is a bonus."

A soft chuckle escaped Ryuen's lips, a faint smile forming.

"Flattering. But I assume there's more to this than you're letting on."

He was certain of it. There was no way they would treat him so well unless something larger was at play.

Aika scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You should be grateful my father allowed you to sit at this table."

'Like I'd want to share a meal with a spoiled brat like you,' Ryuen thought, casting a brief glance her way before shifting his attention back to the king.

As his gaze wandered, it briefly landed on Erina, who looked unsettled.

'The Yandere knows something, don't you Erina?'

He chuckled softly to himself before focusing on King Arel again.

"I'll be bringing one of my students along," he announced, rising from his seat.

"I'll do my best to be of use during the strike, Your Majesty." He gave a short bow before turning to leave.

As he walked away, his eyes met Erina's for a brief moment.

He mouthed something that only she could understand, and she quickly averted her gaze.

Now, Ryuen's main goal before the strike was clear, to train Yuta to develop at least basic combat skills before utilizing his unique abilities.

If his instincts were correct, Yuta would be an ideal scopes man, able to attack from hidden spots.

This would create openings and opportunities during the battle.

As he exited the hall, Ryuen smirked. 'I'm really starting to get the hang of this abnormal world.'