It had all been so exciting when she first arrived. Life was full of new experiences and unfamiliar types of demonkin. It had all been fresh. But it had been a month already, and nothing could stay new forever. As every aspect of her daily routine lost its thrill, Mil’s life grew dull.
Back in the royal capital, she had royal duties to perform, diplomatic missions to meet, parties to attend, and other tasks that kept her occupied. Life in the Demon King’s Castle, however, was surprisingly uneventful.
“It’s no better than back home...” Mil sighed for the umpteenth time as she gazed at the night sky.
She recalled the faces of adventurers she’d seen in the royal capital. Each one filled with excitement as they imagined the caverns they’d explore, the monsters awaiting them, and treasure they might find. When parties decided how they’d work together and where they’d go, it always looked so fun.
“I still wish I could go adventuring,” she muttered softly.
I wanna go outside. I wanna experience more than what this little castle has to offer.
But Mil was a princess. As leader to the common folk, such selfish desires were... Wait a minute.
Mil reconsidered her situation. She wasn’t in the royal capital anymore, and her royal duties were going unfulfilled no matter what she did.
In fact, her father would be worried if she didn’t arrive home soon. But it was looking highly unlikely that anyone would arrive to rescue her. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I did sneak off and go adventuring?
But then Mil remembered that she was a prisoner.
The Demon King wouldn’t want me to go... But do I really have to stay here just to keep him happy? He kidnapped me without asking, so why should I ask him for permission to do what I want?
“But my level’s too low...”
Mil was too weak to stop demonkin from carrying her straight back to the castle the moment she left.
If only I could raise my level. But I already tried that in the royal capital. Without monsters to fight, I can’t... Oh!
Mil remembered that the Demon King’s Castle was different. There were no monsters here, only demonkin, but if she wanted to raise her level, there was no shortage of opponents.
“The demonkin here are all really strong...”
Fighting higher level opponents was the fastest way to level up. At just level 2, Mil had the potential to grow rapidly.
If only I had weapons to fight with. But how am I supposed to find any if I can’t go out exploring...? Oh!
“What if I took a good weapon out of the armory?”
If she could find a way to level up, all kinds of powerful weapons would be available to her. And with good weapons, she’d be able to defeat any demonkin who got in her way.
Could I escape? She wondered.
She remembered all the enchanted equipment she’d seen in the treasure vault. If she would be lacking for anything, good gear wouldn’t be it.
“Hmmm...” Then it dawned on her. I might actually have a chance!
✧✧✧
“Weapons. ♪ Weapons. ♪”
Mil skipped down the corridor imagining the adventures that might await her.
Although she’d explored most parts of the castle over the past month, she was yet to check out the armory because she hadn’t thought ordinary weapons would be interesting.
But now it was different. She might find a trusty weapon that would be at her side during all her upcoming adventures. Mil wondered whether adventurers felt this same feeling when they visited a weapons store.
When she arrived at the armory door, she opened it without any hesitation. “Don’t mind me... Oooh!”
As one might expect in a demon king’s castle, the armory was enormous—even bigger than the one in the royal capital.
Against the entire length of one wall was an array of battle axes and spears. Elsewhere there were shields and helms, and the floor was covered in boxes packed full of cannonballs, suits of armor, and other bits and pieces.
The long narrow room was so cluttered with equipment that Mil had to make her way in slowly and carefully.
“I wonder what’s in here... Oh.”
In a barrel in the center of the room were several iron rings large enough to fit an orc’s wrist.
Mil tried lifting one out “Ugh. That’s heavy...”
Mil needed both arms just to lift it. Looking more closely, she noticed text inscribed on the inner surface of the ring. She couldn’t read it, but she had a better way of examining items.
Mil put the ring on the floor and held out her hand. “Now if I use Goddess Eye... It worked!”
Enchanted Item: Sorcerer’s Ring
Required Stats: none
Description: Tear through your enemies with thunderous bolts of lightning.
Abilities: Fire a lightning spear.
Clearly this wasn’t just an ornament, but an enchanted item that fired lightning magic. It might have been useful if it wasn’t too heavy to carry around during an actual fight. It was probably better suited to some sort of large demonkin.
“Maybe there’s something else...” Mil rested the ring against the side of the barrel then began rummaging inside. “Oh, I could use this.”
She’d pulled out a dagger encrusted with jewels and examined it with Goddess Eye.
Dagger: Rune Edge
Required Stats: none
Stat bonuses: 35 STR, 15 INT
Special properties: Absorbs magic attacks.
Apparently this dagger could absorb magic. That was bound to be useful, so Mil decided to take it.
“The armory’s amazing, just like I thought! Now all need is—”
“Hey! What’re you doing in there?!” an angry voice called from outside the armory.
Mil turned and saw a lizardman holding a long spear. He must have been on patrol. She regretted not closing the door.
“Mwuh? Aren’t you His Majesty’s prisoner?” the lizardman said.
Is that how they think of me?
“I was just looking around... Heh heh...”
The lizardman glared at Mil with suspicion. “His Majesty’s orders say you’re to be left alone, so looking around is fine. But keep yourself out of trouble.”
He’s letting me go? That’s lucky.
“Now I don’t suppose you’ve seen the princess?” the lizardman asked. “I’m sure she was headed this way.”
“Princess...?” Mil thought for a moment and then pointed at herself.
“Not you. His Majesty’s daughter, Princess Mary. Have you seen her?”
“What?! The Demon King has a daughter?!” It was the first Mil had heard.