Level 0 Master

"Huh? I was busy training and studying. Wait, watch out!"

In a second, a few dozen pieces of wood hit Ereka's whole body.

"Ahh."

With a short scream, Ereka fell down

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Princess!"

Sungjin ran to her to hold her up, while Jenna was looking at her, worried.

"I'm… okay."

"Hey, do you have a fever? Your face is red."

Sungjin checked Ereka's forehead, and her face became even hotter and redder.

"You really have a fever. I know you are working hard, but why don't you take a day off?"

"Oh… no. It's not that…"

Ereka shook her hand.

"Ah, I need to go! I need to work! I also need to prepare lunch! Enjoy your training."

Ereka pushed Sungjin back to walk away quickly.

"You should take a break for at least one day."

She is cute when she is a bit off-guard, but I feel bad for her when I see her trying too hard.

Ereka stirred up his protective instinct.

"She seems to have a lot to do since she has to deal with the castle things… That makes sense. I can't stop her."

Sungjin nodded.

He wanted to tell her to take medicine but dealing with her period was something she knew better than a guy like him, so he decided not to tell her anything.

For a fight, he was an evil god who studied and knew everything, but all he knew about a girl was a few pages he read with no experience. Naturally, he had no idea what was wrong.

Jenna was moving her tail.

Wow. He really doesn't have a girlfriend. I like this guy more and more.

This kind of guy wouldn't try to get with endless girls but only a few that he loved.

He's passed. Hmm, no. Maybe, I should learn more about him.

At the same time. Ereka checked her burning cheeks as she ran.

Sungjin… so you are still single.

She couldn't believe he had no one.

That means you have been focused on your training. I was busy learning martial arts as a knight and studying on how to rule a kingdom as a princess, so I never had a boyfriend before. But I didn't think you were the same, Sungjin.

She was not feeling bad but was actually happy.

Oh, then maybe…

She didn't see a pillar in front of her, and she ran into it.

Ouch. This is not the time for this! I need to take care of the state affairs. The state affairs…

The kingdom is in danger. She couldn't understand what she was thinking.

But… it is good news that you never had one.

Her mind was everywhere in a second while she was running towards her office. She kept tripping over her steps.

* * *

Chapter 9

Unlike the flowery air on the princess' side, the Blood Ruler's side was experiencing a heavy and uncomfortable air.

As they lost the castle that they used to use as their headquarters, they all gathered temporarily in Rangrian Castle, the second castle in the South. The heroes were in fear of the punishment that would come from the Blood Ruler, especially those three who lost the battle.

"I came back awakened, you have given back the capital to that novice b*tch," Riad said quietly in a low voice. Her voice held much anger. The air of blood from the awakened Riad was even stronger. It was filling up the air and suffocating the heroes.

"Pardon us all to hell," the three knights begged for forgiveness.

"Then go to hell." Riad's answer was as cold as ice.

"Please… forgive us."

"Please, give us one more chance."

"A chance? You couldn't even deal with the remnants, what could you possibly do with another chance?"

"Please consider our contribution and give us one more chance. This will never happen again."

"Your contribution? Okay, if you want to prove your worth, all three of you fight against me, and if you can hit me at least once, I'll forgive you," answered the Blood Ruler.

The three knights felt relief.

Is she forgiving us!?

That makes sense. Although we made a huge mistake, without us, the next battle will be a problem.

It wouldn't look good if she pardoned us like this, so she made this condition of only "one hit."

Everyone knew the Blood Ruler was the strongest fighter, but there was no way all three of them attacking her together would not yield even one hit. Winning and hitting someone once were completely different conditions.

They were relieved to have a chance to save their lives.

"Come to the training hall. Do your best if you want to save yourselves."

"May it please you, Your Highness."

The three knights bowed and followed Riad into the training hall. The other heroes followed to see the match.

A few moments later… the three knights were passed out on the floor in a bath of blood.

They looked miserable with fractures all over their whole bodies, and torn flesh and ripped muscles.

They were barely alive only because the Blood Ruler didn't want to kill them.

Their torn pants smelled like a disgusting mix of blood and urine, but the other heroes watching from a distance couldn't laugh at them.

They were almost the same as the three knights—afraid. What they saw here was something incredible. Of course, It was the ultimate skill of the Blood Ruler.

The three knights couldn't hit or take a hit from the Blood Ruler. Out of the six classes, knights had the highest defense force, but one skill slew all three of them. This wasn't because they showed any weaknesses, but because this was the strength of absolute power that overruled everything.

No one would have believed this without seeing it. Even those who saw couldn't believe their eyes.

This is… the awakened Blood Ruler's new power.

Fearful. Scary. She was their ruler, but they were terrified.

For the princess and her team, their happiness from one victory will only last until next month. They will be destroyed in their next battle. The three knights will not be needed, for the Blood Ruler alone was more than enough.

"Useless things. Can't even take one hit," said the Blood Ruler.

The three knights used their last strength to beg for their lives.

"Sa… save us."

"You guys couldn't even defeat the remnants of the princess. You guys are useless."

Bloody energy spewed from the magical sword of the Blood Ruler.

"They used a trick!"

"Yes. They were so cunning and cowardly!" Firgrine and Angrasil shouted together.

"Huh?"

For the first time, Riad's face showed something other than anger. She was curious.

Realizing that this was their last chance to beg for their lives, the three knights started to shout out loud.

"That is the truth! If not, we would have won!"

"Tell me the details of the battle. According to that, I will decide what to do with you all."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The three knights described the fight with the princess. Of course, they added in how hard they fought with their loyalty to the Blood Ruler while how sly and cunning the acting of the princess and Jenna was.

"That is what happened."

"Ho. Ignoring your useless flowery words, it was a fight with a very capable military strategist."

Riad put away her magical sword.

"Are you forgiving us?"

"Although you guys were defeated this time, you've done some good in our previous battles. I will give you one more chance to be useful. Bring in the healer."

"Thank you, thank you."

The three knights cried with happiness.

After dealing with the situation, Riad sat on the throne and asked the heroes again, "There's really no one new on the princess' side?"

"The princess, Rittier, and the baby wizard were fighting in the battle. That was everyone in the battle."

"Maybe there was a VIP guest who didn't come out onto the battlefield."

"We would have reported that you if there was another high-level hero."

"What about a low-level one?"

"There was none."

"That doesn't sound right. It is impossible for them to come up with a brand new tactic like that. There must be someone," Riad said with confidence.

Then one hero from the corner started talking.

"Ah… there was… Somehow, the princess kept the extra level, con man. They provided him a good chamber and food."

"Why you didn't you mention that until now!"

Riad's angry voice shook the hall.

"Because he was a level 0 extra… rumor has it that the princess is keeping him because he is good in bed."

"Stupid idiots. Blind with eyes. Def with your ears."

Riad sat back on the throne.

"Bring in all the intel about this extra. Don't miss anything. I will check everything, even the smallest details."

"You don't need to spend time to take care of an extra…"

"Bring it!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

After getting intel about Sungjin from the heroes, Riad started to laugh.

"Ah, haha. So that's it?"

Why is she laughing?

"Fun. Okay, I will go and see him."

"What? Your… Your Highness. Why would you go see an extra…?"

"Idiots! Level 0, so what! If you can bring victory, that is an ability! Having an ability means you are useful!"

"B… but."

"I will see him in person. If he was the real source of their plan, then it'll be worth taking him."

"Your… Highness."

The heroes couldn't stop her. They were deeply unsatisfied in silence.

I'm sure it was not the work of the extra. It was the three of them who struggled to find inspiration by chance.

A stupid, low, useless extra couldn't know anything about a battleground meant for heroes.

People put their jewels in a jewel box, not in the trash can. God would put power, intelligence, and character in a hero's body, not an extra's.

They couldn't understand why the Blood Ruler was ignoring common sense.

It was obvious that she was going to waste her time, but they decided to stay in silence as to not provoke her anger.

* * *

Chapter 10

Sungjin was relaxing in a bathtub.

It was a good way to call it a day and to relax his muscles after sweating in the training room.

The bathroom in the castle was luxurious. Nothing could compare with it, not a single a sauna in the neighborhood or a spa from a luxury hotel on earth. Magic was controlling the water to change the temperature as he wished, and it created a new flow when he wanted a massage. And there were also various bath herbs lined up in stacks for him to use, and there were maids outside to serve him any time.

He didn't use them because he thought it was all a bit over the top.

I didn't look for luxury, but the reward of the winners in this world make the prizes of a pro gamer look like a joke.

That was why national heroes joined battles and put everything in their all. There were way stronger and cool enemies here than on earth.

One of them was Riad.

When I saw her through the screen, I felt the incomparable power equivalent to everyone on the world champion team.

That was before her awakening. She must be stronger now that she came back as level 8. A tyrant's bath of virgin blood—from a humanitarian point of view, she had to be eliminated.

But from a gamer's point of view, her ruthlessness and strength made her a great opponent.

What is she like?

Enemies had a very similar curiosity, just like lovers. One wanted to know everything their counterparts liked and hated. One can't stop thinking about their counterpart or thinking of making their heart beat fast.

Information on the surface was not enough. To set up a perfect strategy against her, he had to understand her inside and out.

Sungjin's head was full of Riad, the Blood Ruler.

That moment, one side of the bathroom wall started to crack. Bloody energy oozed out from the crack, and a heavy sensual scent spread out.

The next moment, the wall completely burst.

Standing there was a body with a confident posture and arrogant eyes that showed vigor. Her bouncy breasts and breathtaking body showed her fatal charm. Her red hair was glamorous and sexy, and her toned arms and legs showed a peak at pleasure.

She looked like a spider queen who ate men, and also a bloody rose that made people want to be eaten by her.

It was the Blood Ruler, Riad. The owner of the magical sword. A witch queen who gained strength by taking a bath in the blood of virgins. She was the strongest in the kingdom, and even male heroes couldn't look her in the eye without kneeling.

Ereka was an edelweiss with morning dew, blooming on the side of a cliff. Riad was a bloody red rose that sucked up the blood of a thousand dead bodies.

Sungjin grinned towards her.

"Ho? Riad?"

Leaning in the bath, he relaxed. He was confident and didn't try to cover up his naked body. His attitude without fear or humiliation made Riad laugh.

"Haha. I just came to see you."

"You should have sent a note. Obviously, I'm not in a situation to greet a guest."

"Hmph. That is great. Being naked is the best status to have an unfiltered conversation. I will join you."

She stepped in confidently. She disarmed her armor and showed her naked body. Her charming mature body uncovered its charm. With every step, she revealed her private parts. She walked in and sat in the bath, facing Sungjin without any shyness.

"Why not. Have fun. I won't charge you," Sungjin greeted this uninvited guest nonchalantly,

Their gazes clashed passionately. Their fierce, burning eyes respected each other. Others might have thought they were a passionate couple.

They both scanned each other's body from head to toe, and neither of them flinched.

"Hahaha. Now I see. You've got the body of a trained martial artist."

Riad burst into laughter.

"Your eyes have the insight for fights."

She pointed at Sungjin with her finger.

"You are ambitious. Hahaha. I thought there were no real men in this country, but you were here. You are from elsewhere. You are level 0 but not a real level 0."

As a royal, she knew about the forbidden summoning ceremony hidden in the secret chamber.

"Hmph. You are better than I thought. You must be a fun opponent."

Sungjin respected Riad. She was the real deal, totally unlike the three knights. She had to be defeated, but that wouldn't be easy for him. His blood started to pump faster at the excitement.

Their eye contact became even hotter. Then the door opened and Ereka rushed in.

"What are you doing, Riad! I knew you had no manners but don't you have a sense of humiliation? What is this… obscene…!"

As soon as Sungjin's naked body came into her sight, she turned her head. She became red and couldn't finish her words.

"This is a conversation between someone who knows about the fight for supremacy. You don't belong here," said Riad. She didn't even bother to look at Ereka.

That provoked Ereka.

I also gave up being a woman and trained with a spear and shield. Nothing different from you! And that has nothing to do with… being naked.

She turned her head upon seeing Sungjin's naked body.

"The conversation between warriors is a battle. You are a novice to worry about such a thing."

"E… e… eh. Do you think I can't? I can't let you talk nonsense to Sungjin. I will join you!" said Ereka as she walked into the bath so as not to look weak.

But she couldn't sit next to Sungjin and went to another corner. She wouldn't go in naked, so she covered herself up with a gown while avoiding eye contact with Sungjin by continuously looking at Riad.

Sungjin tried not to laugh out loud. It was in the middle of a fight with Riad, but Ereka trying hard was too cute for the situation. He wanted to tell her to go back outside and that he will take care of it, but that would hurt Ereka's pride, so he decided not to.

Riad ignored the princess and kept looking at Sungjin.

"I like you. Be mine."

"Ha?"

"I will give you more than whatever the princess offered. Refuse, and I will kill you."

"She promised half of her kingdom. You can multiply that?"

"Hahaha. That's a breeze."

The water in the tub made waves with her laughter.

"I will give you the world."

"The world."

"I will march you to the center to become the third Kaiser who conquered the world. I will let you stand by me. You can't compare that with half of a miserably tiny kingdom."

"The world? Hmph, now we are talking."

Sungjin showed a small grin.

His goal was not just becoming a Kaiser, the conqueror of the human world, but to become an Arc Master by conquering the sacred territory protected by God's guardians.

"Hahaha. Now we are talking? I like you more. I will take you. I'm the only one who can bring you to the top."

"Well, I'm okay with the princess."

"Bullshit. She can't embrace a man like you."

"Are you bragging your level? She can catch up to you if I let her win a few times."

"Don't play innocent."

Riad's red eyes shone sharply. Her eyes were piercing reality.

"The rule of the princess will limit you from taking all the measures you need to take. That will stop you from using all of your power. I'm not like that"

The bloody aura rose into the air from her body. Her bloody energy sucked up all the air and filled up the whole bathroom.