Melissa Eisenhower. I hated that surname.

My family wasn’t royalty, we were only nobles who happened to be extensions of the Royal bloodline.

My cousin, the prince, was fated to succeed the throne after my uncle.

And of all the things, I was forced to become his fiancé. I was to marry him once I graduated from Grimphon—but that won’t happen. I will make sure it won’t.

In the first place, Royal inbreeding was a thing of the past due to all the potential birth defects. So why was the tradition being revived now? Why? Just why? I don’t understand it at all. Why does it even have to be me in the first place? Is it because I happened to catch his eye on the day of his mandatory birthday party?

And father, he was greedy like all my other relatives. He didn’t care about my marriage at all.

In the end, if I do become the queen, I won’t spare him a glance.

But that won’t happen. I will make sure of it.

If I am chosen as one of the heroes by the church, not even the royal family will be able to intervene.

So I have to, and I must. I will get into the Combative Team no matter what. Even if it doesn’t guarantee that I am chosen, even so…

For that tiny chance of freedom, even knowing that it was against the odds didn’t matter. I will do anything to make it happen with absolute certainty.

No matter the cost.

Be it, my father’s head; his hands and legs.

On a lovely platter topped with apple roast.

Bake it low and slow,

Dressed with Soul.

"But the cake isn’t mine."

Lick the drippings.

How does it taste?

Tell me.

They will grasp my throat.

Snap my spine.

And I laugh,

As I come out at last.

You shouldn’t have given me,

the chance.

—Daniel—

“Run!” A whole group of people who were in different teams, scrammed upon sight of a single girl.

“Eh? Why is everyone running away?”

“Daniel, what are they running from?”

‘A monster.’

I thought that, but no sane person would say that out loud after her masterclass in the art of killing.

“The boogeyman…”

“The boogey-what?”

I looked at her with eyes of pity. It didn’t look like she was going to make any friends apart from Melissa. Speaking of that person, she rushed off before we could say anything. She was in a real hurry for some reason as if her life depended on it.

‘Have fun.’

Those words from that woman’s mouth were still ringing in my ears.

It took me a while to fathom what she meant by “fun.” I guess it was because this exam was useless for the two of us, me and Sam. Essentially, if what I heard from Scarlet was correct, the only people who needed to try in this exam were those who wanted to become members of the club that Eigenvalue was setting up. I didn’t really get the hype, and some of the other students seemed to agree with my thoughts as a couple groups just sat and talked with each other as if the exam wasn’t even happening.

Breaking down what I eavesdropped on, it would appear that being a member of the combat whatchamacallit club was a big deal. It apparently had something to do with becoming a hero or whatnot. I hadn’t the faintest idea of why people wanted to become these “heroes” other than the possibility that it was a valuable position like that of a knight or something. Was it similar to the knighting ceremonies I have seen in cartoons where people are conferred titles by the king?

‘No use thinking about it.’

“Say, what do those coins look like?”

‘Did I hear that correctly?’

I turned to look at Sam, finding a legitimate face that rivaled a cuckolded man in terms of ignorance.

“It looks like this,” I said, raising my hand.

I proceeded to make a ring with my thumb and pointer finger while sticking the other three fingers out. Once I made sure she got a good look at it—

‘Got Em.’

Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud. That would be the equivalent of saying lmao or lol in real life. It was the stupid kind of gag that was so bad it was good. And the moment it was spoken, the order of balance would disintegrate as you are collectively agreed on to be the weirdo among your social group.

“So it’s circle-shaped?”

I nodded.

“Then is this a coin?” She bent over, grabbing for something beneath my crotch.

“That is a ball,” I said, while glad it wasn’t my pair of b—No no. I’m particularly dirty-minded today, aren’t I? I’m so glad that I can’t get hard as an eight-year-old.

‘...’

What the fuck is wrong with me?

‘Yeah, what the fuck bro.’

I swear I’m becoming more and more pedo each day I spend with this girl.

It was better than losing brain cells I guess.

“YOU GET BACK HERE!!!” A loud scream came from the miniature forest.

In the distance, Melissa was running toward us with…

‘What the hell?’

Why was there a giant zombie horde rushing over here? What’s up with the sudden plot progression? That’s not supposed to happen!

‘Just what the hell did you do?’

“Keep running! We’ll catch up eventually!” shouted someone within the horde.

“SHE CAN’T RUN FOREVER!!!” Chanted someone, effectively encouraging the stampede.

“Sam,” I said with the most decisive voice I have ever mustered. It was the same confident and musky voice that was uttered by major generals.

“Yeah?” She looked up from the rock that she was oddly infatuated with.

I pointed in the single most deadly direction, without a word.

She turned to look at the horde, and then back at me before fully deciphering my intent.

“Okay!” And like a trained dog, a nuclear warhead was sent their way.

“You brave men have my condolences...” I could only pray under my breath that they didn’t experience the same pain as I did.

Some dogs were just good at biting ass.