Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

  Beh a starry sky of picturesque nightscape, a symphony of hooves pounded along a gravel path as Virtus’s retinue made their way to Novus. Taking the se in, a red-haired archer hung to the back of the procession, bow and reins in hand.

  ‘The visibility is really good at night...’

  There were two moons in the sky, so despite the sun havihe brightness was still quite high; Max could make out the shapes of trees more than a hundred metres away. In front, Virtus’s retinue numbered close to forty people, most of them armoured knights. They were quite fearsome-looking and averaged a high strength in the level 50s.

  Virtus was easily identifiable in the tre of the formation, extravagant white-and-gold pte armour. This style also exteo the horse he was riding on, which was simirly armoured. Max actually expected Virtus to ride in a carriage, but it was being apparent that he was more of a military man who disliked those sorts of formal things. Regardless, he rode quite well.

  As for himself, Max was blessed with a great amount of horseback experience due to his time in Hero of Liberation, but most pyers would have all. Remembering this, he looked to the side, where Lemonade was currently sharing a horse with Dahlia... Maybe that guy was blessed in another way, because Max had never seen a man happier to anship ability.

  —That victorious smile lololol

  —Lucky b*stard

  —So, this was the true purpose of health potions...

  —I know how to ride a horse, but from now on I don’t

  Of course, the stream chat were still being themselves. Though, there were at least some viewers with sehe majority of them sharing a on topic:

  —PRINCE

  —Bro is just casually apanying the prince of a nation

  —??? Is it this easy to befriend royals? Ask him for money or something lol

  —Why aren’t you talking to the prince? Go talk to him! Bes!! Capitalize!!!

  —Gun, this is a royal decree: you shall ge your stream title forthwith

  Having a whole bunch of people providing information and suggestions was really helpful; it was like having a bunch of extra brains w for him. Max took one chatter’s suggestion (order) and decided to ge the title of his stream to attract more viewers.

  [ Apanying the Eleutherian Prio Battle ]

  ...He didn’t have much experieh making titles, so that would have to do for now.

  [ Current Viewers: 8,995 ]

  His and Lemonade’s viewerships were currently climbing rapidly after Lemonade had amateurishly photoshopped a lemon onto an antiquated U.S. Army recruitment notid uploaded the result to his social media ats. The post captions gave minimal expnation, only briefly mentioning the prind inviting pyers te-scale battle which would supposedly soon enside Novus Forest. heless, they would likely attract a rge amount of attention, since Lemonade had a rge following whiumbered in the millions.

  “Gun! Where are you?” A familiar voice called from ahead.

  ‘The prince?’ Max realised Virtus was calling for him. ‘Ah damn, I still haven’t thought of anything.’

  Max had been trying to think of ways to build a closer retionship with the prince, which would help him secure more missions iure, but his nature was that of a wholly unsocial person who only left the house for ies, so he didn’t really know how to do that. ‘Well, I’ll just try to make myself useful.’

  “Hup.” He spurred his horse to move forward. “I’m over here!”

  “Why are you hiding back there? Stay near me from now on.” Virtus ordered as Max pulled up, “For some reason, you’re strangely hard to locate.”

  Max looked around at the sea of brue knights. ‘I literally have red hair.’

  “You should wear a hat iure to make yourself more promi,” Virtus tinued, unaware of Max’s thoughts.

  ‘Red hair, no armour, and the only one holding a bow.’

  Max looked behind him to g Lemonade, eared to be listening in. Lemonade’s eyes widened and he vigorously shook his head, as if telling Max not to do something. Only then did Max fully register what the prince had just said, and a smile slowly spread across his face.

  “I do have a hat, but it’s irely proper. Is that still alright?”

  “Yes, whatever works; it’s just so you stand out a bit more.”

  Max took the hat out of his iory and slowly pced it on top of his head.

  “...Well, it certainly stands out.” The prince gave a wry smile.

  —LMAOO

  —Cowboy Gun?!?!

  —The way he moved it so slowly to his head, knowing he’s in the wrong lmao

  —What am I watg rn lol

  “Apologies, it’s all I have for now.” Max carefully cealed his delight. “That aside, did you have something to ask me?”

  “Yes, I have a few questions. First, how’s the bow? Is it to your liking?”

  “It’s fantastic!” Max smiled. “It’s much more powerful than my previous one. While it’s a bit difficult for me to ha my current strength, it should suit me well after I gain a few levels. In the meantime, I’ll work to uncover as it might have.”

  He recalled the bow’s suspiciously uninformative description:

  Item: ????

  Grade: ????

  Draw Weight / Damage: 200

  Durability: ????/????

  Description: A faded-red bow of unknown in.

  “Secrets indeed.” Virtus scrutihe bow. “Well, I’m gd you like it. You worry about using its full power yet, since I doubt that would be possible prior to reag level 20.”

  Max looked at him. ‘...e to think of it, just how strong is the prince?’

  He decided to take a peek at Virtus’s details.

  [ Human: ‘????’, Level: ????, Threat Level: ???? ]

  ‘...Well that was unhelpful.’ Max frowned.

  “Hm? Did you try to appraise me just now?” Virtus raised an eyebrow.

  ‘Wha-? He tell?!’

  Max fumbled for a response, “Ah, I’m sorry. That’s not sidered offensive in this world, is it?”

  “No, not particurly, but many people elect to keep that information private.” Virtus smirked and lifted a neckce from his colr. “I am one of those people; I wear a high-grade anti-appraisal artefact wherever I go, so my information ’t be seen by anyone – not even cowboys such as yourself.”

  “I see. That’s rather shrewd of you.” Max sighed in relief, thanking his lucky stars that the prince wasn’t an easily irritable person.

  “...”

  A short silenveloped the two, as her person spoke.

  ‘...Or maybe he is?! Urk. Topic ge... Topic ge... Bnk... Guh. Damn it, why is talking so hard sometimes when with Ro always feels so effortless?’ Max mented his ck of social skills. ‘No, wait, didn’t he say he has questions for me?’

  Beeeep!

  ‘Oh good, he got a phone call.’ Max exhaled. ‘...Wait, medieval people don’t have phohough?’

  Max watched on in fusion as Virtus took a crystal bead out of his pocket which shined a vivid red light in all dires. ‘ht. I fot about those.’

  “Drat...” Without any further expnation, Virtus tapped the bead with his finger and held it out in front of him. “Father! Wonderful that you called. How are you doing this fine evening?”

  “e baow.” A sonorous voice rang through the bead, loud enough for Max to hear clearly even from his position several metres away.

  “Ahaha. Father, you be like that. I’m sure Sophia has filled you in oails; it’s just a few weak orcs. Plus, I’ve already secured a great amount of-”

  “Virtus.”

  “...”

  “I kly what you’re doing, and I’m also aware of the reason you forwent my signature. You uand perfectly well that I would never have signed off on this.”

  Virtus’s expression hardened. “That doesn’t reason that you would be right to do so.”

  A loud sigh came from the other end. “It’s too far from the monoliths, Virtus. There’s nothing I do if things go awry.”

  “Then e lead the attack! You could annihite these orcs if you chose to; I don’t uand why you don’t just-”

  “Because I have aire kingdom to worry about. Should the stro batant abandon his post, it leaves every border town exposed to danger. Son, there are times when ing the few is necessary to safeguard the many – As my successor, you ought this.”

  Max shifted awkwardly. ‘Am I supposed to be listening to this right now, or should I like... leave?’

  It felt like he had actally tuned in to a TV political drama.

  “Spare me the sophistry! You could e here by fast horse while saving the monolith for emergencies, but you don’t. You don’t because you’re just a selfish coward who cares nothing for his subjects. You care only for your personal is.”

  “Is that... really how you see me?”

  “Am I mistaken?” Virtus spoke coldly. “Tell me right now that you would prioritise the lives of ten thousand is over my lone.”

  “.....”

  ‘Okay, I’m definitely not meant to be hearing this.’ Max pulled away from Virtus. Not so far as to be out of hearing range, since his chat would absolutely fme him, but just enough to be polite.

  Rather than eavesdrop on the royal family, he po read more of the forums but was distracted by an unfamiliar chime...

  g!

  [Oh, I didn’t realise you ehese. Hellun. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Also, check your damn titles.]

  An AI-geed voice spoke directly into Max’s head, like he was wearing some super high-quality headphones.

  “Eh? A meical voice? Oh!”

  Max realised what it probably was and brought up his streaming interface.

  [MightSmite has donated 5]

  A donation! He pletely fot that Rohose up. “MightSmite, thank you for the donation. Titles, you say?”

  ...e to think of it, he hadn’t checked those for a while. Maybe he had some new ones? In his mind, he hadn’t done anything hy enough to warrant earning aitles, but this was also the thought he had st time before unveiling about ten of them, so his judgement in this respect was entirely unreliable.

  He brought up the tab:

  Avaible Titles:

  10/10 Talent: Win a solo fight against 10 enemies who are all at least 10 levels higher than you. Effects: +10% all statsCould You Like... Die? – Inflict damage ten times on a single enemy. Effects: +5% damageOops, What A Shame: Cause ao fall to their death. Effects: -10% fall damagePung Up (Solo) (3): While alone, kill an enemy 30 levels higher than you. Effects: +30% damage against enemies more than ten levels higher than you.I Am The Boss (Solo) --> I Am The Boss (4) (Solo) (First): While alone, kill a BOSS monster 30 levels higher than you. Effects: All stats +30% (60%)No It’s Not: plete an ‘impossible’ ranked mission. Effects: +100 charmDisarmer – Knock a on out of an enemy’s grasp, Effects: +20% item durability damageAntidon’t (First): Prevent an enemy from drinking an antidote potion. Effects: +20% (40%) poisoance, +20% (40%) poison damage“...”