Infinite Skill Devourer

Chapter 22: Duties Of A Princess's Body Guard

"Come at me," Ryuen said as he created more distance between them, tossing his dagger aside.

He straightened his posture and cracked his knuckles. "Fists only."

Yuta blinked, sweat already dripping down his forehead.

Exhausted from the earlier sparring session, he refused to back down.

Gripping his staff tightly, he hesitated, with his gaze fixed on it.

"Drop it," Ryuen ordered, gesturing at the staff. "You don't need it."

Yuta exhaled.

He reluctantly tossed the staff to the side.

Yet his fingers trembled as he steadied himself and raised his fists.

Ryuen smiled. "Good. Now focus on your movements. And stop overthinking—you're overanalyzing everything, Yuta."

'Yeah, no kidding. You don't expect me to throw a punch without thinking,'

Yuta thought, irritation flickering beneath his calm façade.

Ryuen's tone annoyed him—who wouldn't be?

He had expected them to be on the same level since they were both human.

He even suspected that Ryuen hadn't acquired a skill yet.

After all, there was nothing noticeably different about Ryuen—except for the faint blue hue at the center of his eyes.

Other than that, Ryuen didn't even act like he was being attacked.

Yuta charged at him, closing the distance in a few quick strides.

He threw a punch aimed at Ryuen's chest, but Ryuen dodged easily and slapped his hand away.

Before Yuta could recover and attempt another attack.

Ryuen stepped closer, a wicked smirk spreading across his lips.

Yuta sucked in a breath and clenched his fists, preparing another punch, but Ryuen grabbed his hand, pulled him down, and kneed him in the gut.

"Too slow," Ryuen said, stepping back with ease.

"Attack me again. This time, aim for my face—but don't limit yourself to it."

Gritting his teeth, Yuta felt his frustration grow.

Memories of his father's humiliating comments rang in his head.

Ryuen was no different.

The only difference was that Ryuen pitied him, which, to Yuta, was just another form of humiliation.

No one from his family was supposed to be weak, and no one had the right to treat him like a rag doll.

He charged again. Once close enough, he leaped into the air and spun around.

WHOOSH!

He swung his leg toward Ryuen's face, but as expected, Ryuen leaned back just far enough to dodge the strike.

Then, crouching swiftly, Ryuen swept Yuta's legs out from under him.

Causing him to crash to the ground with a grunt.

"Sloppy footwork," Ryuen said, extending a hand to help Yuta up.

"Your stance isn't balanced. You keep attacking every opening you see."

Yuta swatted Ryuen's hand away and sat up.

"I'm done. You keep dodging my attacks like it's nothing. We should be on the same level."

Ryuen raised an eyebrow.

"The same level?" he asked, chuckling softly after a brief silence.

"Don't tell me you think assassins don't fight hand-to-hand."

"Isn't your job to snipe from a distance or poison your targets? You're not supposed to make physical contact with them."

"Believe me, I fight most of my targets before killing them," Ryuen replied with a sigh.

"I have far more experience than you. Don't expect us to be equals."

Yuta exhaled. "I'm tired."

"How do you intend to raid dungeons like this?"

"I have a skill, remember?"

"Every ability or skill has a cooldown. It won't last forever. That's why you need to improve your combat experience and physical strength."

"Fine," Yuta muttered. He rose to his feet, shook the tension out of his hands, and charged again.

This time, he didn't charge recklessly.

Approaching with caution, Yuta hurled a punch at Ryuen's jaw.

As expected, Ryuen was ready to dodge.

But Yuta was prepared, he immediately shifted his stance and aimed a second punch at Ryuen's abdomen.

For a brief moment, a glimmer of satisfaction crossed Yuta's face as he believed his attack had landed.

However—

BAM!

Ryuen's fist collided with Yuta's gut out of nowhere.

He had already dodged the initial strike and anticipated Yuta's follow-up move from the shift in his gaze.

Yuta stumbled backward, his breathing paused momentarily as pain radiated through his body.

He collapsed to his knees, panting heavily.

Three attacks—and he was already down.

He tried to stand, intending to charge again, but Ryuen's blow had temporarily paralyzed him.

Ryuen crouched before him, studying Yuta's pain-stricken face with a small smile.

"You doing okay?"

"Yes," Yuta mumbled, his breathing still ragged.

"That's good. Want to keep going—or rest?"

"Rest... please."

Ryuen's smile widened as he stood, giving Yuta a moment to recover.

Ryuen smiled warmly as he unbuttoned his shirt halfway.

And made his way to the stream, where the cooler breeze provided some relief.

Yuta managed to crawl to the same spot, still in pain from the hit he had taken earlier.

He regretted agreeing to train with Ryuen.

If he hadn't, he would be in his room, enjoying the company of the maids and the warmth of his bathtub.

Silence settled over the garden. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The only sounds were the rustling of leaves, the gentle flow of the stream, and the distant chirping of birds.

Peace.

It was something Ryuen wouldn't trade for anything.

Though he preferred solitude, he didn't mind Yuta's presence.

Among the four, Yuta was the only one with a good personality and manners.

However—

"Yuta!"

A familiar voice echoed through the quiet garden.

Haruka appeared, holding Ryuen's dagger in one hand and a basket in the other.

"You forgot this," she said, flipping it between her fingers.

Ryuen leaned back, his gaze darkened as he noticed the dagger in her hand.

"Put that down. It's not a toy."

"You're no fun, always so serious," Haruka pouted but obeyed.

She placed the dagger on the ground beside the basket she had brought.

Ryuen turned swiftly, narrowing his eyes. "Why are you here?"

She sat cross-legged beside him. "The guards told me they saw you both come here."

"I see..."

"...Is that food?" Yuta interrupted abruptly, eyeing the basket from the corner of his gaze.

As soon as Haruka nodded, Yuta turned and immediately picked up a plate and chopsticks.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she lowered her gaze, starting to unpack the food she had brought.

"Let me feed you?" she asked, moments after arranging the food.

She watched Yuta out of the corner of her eye, noticing how he ate like nothing else mattered.

He dared not interrupt her, to avoid her wrath.

"No, thank you. My hands are fine," Ryuen replied flatly, popping a piece of meat into his mouth.

Haruka raised her hand to touch him, but he flinched, leaning away from her fingers.

"Relax," she said, leaning closer. "You know you're actually cute when you're annoyed."

Yuta and Ryuen both stared at her in disbelief before exchanging glances.

Yuta snickered and returned to his food, leaving Ryuen to deal with her.

'Traitor!'

"Don't worry, Ryuen. Ignore him. Let me feed you," Haruka insisted.

Ryuen frowned. "Haruka, I'm warning you..."

Before he could finish, another figure emerged, stomping down the path leading from the palace.

She wore a simple, loose dress that exposed her shoulders and thighs.

That wasn't actually her style, yet she didn't seem to care.

"I see you're busy," Aika said, her tone laced with disdain, though this time it wasn't directed at Ryuen.

She crossed her arms under her breasts, glaring at Haruka.

Who had taken Ryuen's dish and placed it on her lap.

"I need you, Ryuen. Right now."

Haruka smirked, leaning closer to Ryuen as she glanced at Aika. "He's really busy right now."

Aika hesitated for a moment before blurting out.

"He's my bodyguard. I need him to... uh... bathe and wash me."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Even the birds seemed to stop chirping, and the wind stilled.

All eyes turned to Aika, including Ryuen's, whose initially cold gaze was now filled with disbelief.

'Eh... How? When did I become her maid?... Wait why me?!'

He screamed internally, still shaken by her statement.

But before Haruka could retort, Aika grabbed a fistful of Ryuen's hair and yanked him to his feet, dragging him along.

"Uhm... Your Highness?" he asked hesitantly.

She didn't respond.

"Aika."

"Shut up and do as I say, idiot."

'But I didn't do anything?!'