Player's Journey In Anime World

"What exactly did you say to my daughter?!"

The fluffy cat's face scrunched up in anger, and suddenly, a dozen ice shards appeared in the air, all aimed at Ryou. It was clear Puck was genuinely enraged now. His actions instantly turned the atmosphere in the room tense.

Anastasia remained still, yet the shadow beneath her feet twisted, transforming into a towering creature looming behind the three of them. Simultaneously, black ice mist began to gather in her palms.

Semiramis crossed her arms, casually lifting her prominent chest as she watched the drama unfold, a faint, purple glow flickering at her fingertips.

Ryou, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed and defenseless. He simply smiled at Emilia and Puck. The seed had already taken root and sprouted. Emilia wouldn't disappoint him.

Just as he anticipated, Emilia suddenly hugged Puck from behind.

"Lia!?"

Puck turned his head in surprise, but Emilia's face was hidden behind her bangs, her beautiful violet eyes obscured by shadows.

"Sorry, Puck. I need some time alone..."

Puck reluctantly retracted the ice shards, though he still looked furious, waving his tiny arms and legs at Ryou from afar.

"If you try to manipulate my daughter into doing something strange, I definitely won't let you off!"

Ryou shrugged, completely unfazed by Puck's threat. For this doting father, Emilia was the biggest weakness. As long as he won her over, Puck's resistance would be futile. In the end, Puck would yield to Emilia's wishes, no matter what.

Puck was exactly the kind of foolish dad who'd destroy the world if it meant protecting his daughter, so he was the easier one to handle. The real challenge lay with Emilia herself.

Despite her gentle appearance, she possessed a strong will. It made sense; in today's world, if a girl were cursed and insulted every day, most would either break down, run away or even turn bitter. But Emilia endured it all, standing firm in the royal selection despite the scorn and hatred.

Beneath that fragile exterior was a heart as strong and brilliant as a diamond. To persuade her, Ryou would need to be subtle.

"The power of the Witch of Envy in anyone's hands could lead to world destruction. So, why not take responsibility for it yourself? Emilia, remember my words: you are destined to become a symbol of fear for this world! This is a mission you cannot escape from."

Leaving these words behind, Ryou led the way forward.

"Think it over carefully. After all, this is a decision that will affect the rest of your life—don't make it hastily. For now, follow me, and we'll retrieve your gemstone. Though I think it's a joke, the thief who took it still needs a lesson."

From afar, Ryou's voice echoed.

"Lia, don't listen to his nonsense..."

Puck's fluffy face showed a trace of worry. He felt things were slipping out of his control, but he was powerless to stop them.

"I'm fine, Puck," Emilia murmured, biting her lip as she followed closely behind Ryou.

Watching her walk away, Puck felt as if his daughter was drifting further from him. He shook his tiny head and quickly flew over, hiding in Emilia's hair.

Anastasia gazed at Emilia's back, a dark glint in her eyes, while Semiramis wore a playful smile, her gaze shifting from Ryou to Emilia, then to Anastasia. With their thoughts, they ventured deeper into the slums under the setting sun.

They eventually arrived at a slightly larger wooden cabin. Its door was tightly shut, suggesting no one was home. But Ryou didn't care. He kicked it open with a loud bang.

Inside, the two occupants and Emilia, who followed behind Ryou, were stunned. Emilia, snapping out of her thoughts, looked at Ryou in shock.

"Th-this seems a bit... wrong, doesn't it? Breaking into someone's house like this..."

As a gentle soul, Emilia had never done anything as violent as kicking down a door, and she was so shocked that she stuttered.

Ryou shot her a look of disbelief.

"Are you telling me you're going to be polite to the thief who stole from you?"

"Who's the bastard that kicked down my door!? I'll twist your head off!"

An elderly giant with white hair and a beard stormed out, wielding a hammer larger than a human head.

Ryou, in a flash, kicked the old man in the stomach.

"Old Man Rom! Did you owe someone money and get beaten up for it...?"

At that moment, a girl's cheeky voice came from inside the house. Before she could finish, Old Man Rom's massive body was flung back into the house, smashing the bar counter to pieces, and burying him under stolen goods and wooden debris.

"Old Man Rom!"

The girl cried out, horrified.

As Ryou walked through the door, the blonde, red-eyed girl inside drew a dagger, baring her teeth like a kitten bracing to defend itself.

"Who the hell are you?"

Ryou strode into the room confidently, taking in its layout: a bar setup with shelves behind the counter filled with stolen goods—jewelry, weapons, armor, books, and more. Only then did he turn his attention to the blonde-haired, red-eyed girl, Felt, the royal family's last candidate for the selection and an orphan raised by Old Man Rom.

This time, Felt had stolen Emilia's insignia on a commission. Ryou admired her boldness—she didn't even know who she was dealing with.

If it weren't for her importance to the story, she wouldn't last beyond a chapter.

"What are you staring at?"

Felt glared as Ryou's gaze lingered, his expression condescending.

"Flat..."

A vein popped on her forehead as her frustration reached a boiling point.

By then, the others had entered the house.

"Ah! It's you who stole my insignia!"

Felt's expression soured immediately. First, her body had been insulted, and now the owner of the stolen item had shown up. If she knew a certain spiky-haired boy, she might have shouted toward the heavens—Fukou da!

"Please give it back! It's something very important!"

Emilia said, stepping toward Felt.

Ryou slapped his forehead in disbelief. This girl was beyond hope. Why be polite to a thief? Just knock her down and take it back!

"Hah! Once it's in my hands, it's mine. If you want it, pay for it," Felt scoffed, finally finding an outlet for the anger Ryou had sparked in her.

To Ryous surprise, the sincere Emilia started negotiating with Felt.

"But I don't have that much money on me right now. Could you give it back first, and I'll get the money for you later..."

"Hah! Who cares! It's cash on delivery. If you don't have money, don't ask for things. Do you think I'm stupid, you fool!"

Felt mocked, sticking her tongue out.

Emilia looked at Ryou helplessly.

Ryou shook his head; it seemed turning this innocent little flower into a world-ending witch was going to be a long, challenging journey.

He stepped forward, his voice cold.

"Hand it over."

"Hah~? Are you..."

Felt began, about to throw an insult, but a blazing ray of sunlight grazed her neck, slicing through a strand of her hair before piercing the full-body armor in the corner and the wall behind it. Cold sweat immediately broke out on her forehead. Without another word, she pulled a deep purple insignia with a ruby from her chest, bent over, and raised it above her head with both hands.

"Here."

Emilia stood in stunned silence, staring at Ryou.

"Go get it," he said.

"Okay... okay," Emilia replied, taking a deep breath as she walked toward Felt.

Just then, Old Man Rom, who had been kicked into the bar, began to stir. Rubbing a large bump on his head, he grumbled, "Felt, what are you doing? You let the owner find us? My poor old bones... that guy has no respect for the elderly."

Seeing that Old Man Rom wasn't seriously injured, Felt breathed a sigh of relief, and her hostility toward Ryou and the others lessened slightly.

"Tch~ Guess I've lost this time. Do what you want."

Before Ryou could respond, Emilia interjected, "I won't do anything to you. I just want my insignia back."

With that, Emilia reached for the insignia in Felt's hands. Suddenly, a dark figure crashed through the window, lunging toward Emilia and Felt.

In an instant, Ryou appeared beside Emilia, throwing a punch at the intruder, who swiftly drew a strange, bone-shaped short knife and slashed at Ryou's fist.

Clang!

A metallic sound echoed as sparks flew. The knife clashed with Ryou's fist. With a sharp crack, the blade's tip snapped and flew toward Felt, who ducked just in time.

The assailant finally spoke, their voice soft and seductively magnetic.

"Ara~ You seem strong, boya~"

It was a seductive, deadly beauty, like a poppy in bloom. She wore an extremely revealing black dress, with a deep plunge at the chest, exposing her pale, ample bosom and a small navel. A red-and-black cloak hung over her shoulders, and high heels accentuated her sheer tights, which outlined her legs from feet to waist, showcasing her alluring figure.

Her provocative dress and mesmerizing face, combined with black eyes that seemed strangely familiar to Ryou, and black hair tied into a ponytail adorned with a purple rose, made her a striking, mature beauty.

The moment Ryou saw her, he made up his mind to make her his personal plaything. She had no idea what he had planned.

She smiled at him.

"I wonder what your intestines look like. I'm looking forward to it~"

Dealing with a twisted woman like her required overpowering her, and then dragging her back to be trained properly.

Ryou stopped the others from intervening. Without a word, he used Shave to dash in front of her. Though she was momentarily shocked by his speed, her battle instincts kicked in. Despite her revealing outfit, she somehow produced another short knife and slashed it viciously at his abdomen.

Ryou's eye twitched. How obsessed are you with intestines!?

Even so, he didn't dodge. He aimed a punch at her stomach, ready to trade injuries. A normal person would never use such a reckless tactic, but the woman before him was far from normal—she was enthralled by twisted things. Her black eyes glittered with excitement and bloodlust, and Ryou even saw her subconsciously lick her lips.

Though a punch for a slash seemed unfavorable, Ryou didn't hesitate, letting the knife slice his abdomen while his punch landed unerringly on her stomach.