THE ADVENTURER OF EDEN
1.3 "Both Princesses"

Shiki's sailboat arrives at Star Island beach. With the anchor lowered, Shiki helps Reina through the coastal sea until she arrives at the white sand.

But there are certainly three people waiting. Shiki had already sensed their existence from earlier, but decided to be quiet because Shiki was waiting for them to attack.

"For a long time no see, Miss Stardust. It's been 3 years, hasn't it?"

Reina was surprised to see the woman who first greeted her. A beautiful woman and Shiki had suspected that she was also a royal noble like Reina.

And his name is... "Alicia-san!"

Ah... Shiki knew the name 'Alicia. It was unmistakable that she was a royal noble girl who appeared quite often in the star newspaper.

Alicia Romanova, the royal princess nicknamed 'Daughter of Genius'. A famous name and inexplicably Shiki knew it would be troublesome to deal with him.

"Why are you here, Alicia-san?"

"On that... I'm just here for a walk and you happen to be here too" Alicia replied seriously.

"...but I also want to deal with you here."

Shiki held back her laughter hearing that serious answer. "Wait... Are you tsundere or what, princess?"

"Who do you call tsundere! And who are you, a commoner?!" Alicia is upset of course, and Shiki's identity is the first thing she needs to know.

"Shiki, an adventurer."

Alicia blinked hearing that. It was unexpected also because he guessed that Reina would be escorted by the Priest Sanctum, but it turned out to be by an adventurer from the Guild.

"Adventurous... You mean you're one of those troubled people?"

"Huh?" Shiki raised one eyebrow.

"Yes, isn't your reputation bad enough? You guys help people with selflessness."

"Shut up! We're not heroes, so of course we help with the strings." Shiki was also exasperated the perception of her work as an adventurer was considered ugly by this arrogant girl.

"Huh! Adventurers are no different than bandits then, right?"

"You-you"

"Well, wait there! Don't be mad at her, ok? 'Shiki the Strongest Adventurer'..." The red-haired man tried to calm Shiki down, he knew Shiki's great reputation.

"Miss Princess doesn't know about you, that's why she dared to talk that way." This man named Kira, he is an aide to Princess Alicia.

"Daughter Lady, this man is Shiki the Strongest Adventurer. The man who was famous for his victory in the capital 2 years ago! You never heard of his name?!"

I thought it was trying to convince Alicia of Shiki's reputation. The girl closed her eyes and tried to remember, there was no way she didn't know the famous name.

"Ah right, Alfred did tell you a little about the 2-Star Tournament last year, but I don't care either." Alicia remembered, she was staring seriously at Shiki who was looking at her casually.

"Then I acknowledge your reputation. I understand you're not a reckless adventurer and that's why Miss Stardust is with you."

Shiki shrugged both of her shoulders, unconcerned and turned to something else, asking Alicia; "Then what is your business with Reina? Coming all the way here wasn't just a picnic, was it?"

"I'm here to help him find his missing father, but with terms and conditions."

"Eh." Reina was shocked to hear Alicia's intentions.

For Reina, this was surprising because Alicia and she did not have a good relationship. Of course with the attractive offer, Reina asked what the conditions were and Alicia answered him, saying,

"Well, you need to stop looking for your father with that adventurer. We can't let ordinary people interfere in the affairs of the royal nobility."

"Huh." Shiki found it funny, of course this girl would apply such conditions.

Reina looked at Shiki with a confused look, this woman felt bad for Shiki and the young man with black hair knew about it.

Well, the rewards Shiki got were still not certain and this quest was not a quest submitted directly to the Guild. So to stop it even though it is not finished, it will be as easy as turning the palm of the hand.

"There's no need to feel bad about me. Instead I am relieved that there is no need to interfere in your troublesome affairs" said Shiki scratching his hair.

"Sorry, Shiki-san." Reina smiled, this young man is quite understanding.

"I understand, don't worry."

Shiki looked to Alicia after that and asked something. "But there's one thing I need to ask you, genius princess..."

"Her father Reina's been missing for the past 6 months, and if you're serious about helping Reina, why don't you do it in the first place?" Shiki questioned that.

Alicia looked at it with annoyance, a piercing question from Shiki and was answered full of emotion.

"Shut up! I have my own reasons and it's none of your business! Get out of here, you fool!"

Hearing that in surprise, Shiki turned to wave her hand and left from there.

The dark blue hair lady near Alicia calmed the master. "Calm down, Miss Princess. You don't get provoked."

"Bikin's pissed! She is indeed handsome and cool, but this is the first time I have been made emotional by an ordinary person!"

Alicia sighed after nagging earlier. "Kira, Mira, keep an eye on the adventurer until he leaves. Me and Miss Stardust are going to the Great Star Temple in the middle of the island."

""OK!"" Kira, the red-haired man and Mira, the dark blue-haired woman understood, they went to watch over Shiki until they left this sacred island.

Alicia took Reina away, their next destination was the Great Star Temple in the center of the island.

***

The Great Star Temple was in the middle of the sacred island of these three royal families. A towering stone tower was quite tall, somewhat taller than the surrounding wilderness.

These two Princesses could arrive in front of this tower easily, there were no obstacles at all.

"Here we go, the Great Star Temple. Just a few more steps I will realize my ambition!" Alicia passionate.

"Ambition... Is it possible that the condition that you want to apply to me is to make you a 'King', Alicia-san?" Reina guessed that after understanding why Alicia brought her here.

"Right." the orange-haired girl nodded. "The Stardust family was able to create a regalia for the next king, right? I'm sure your father taught you that."

"Added, the next condition is "noble weapon" belonging to one of the families as a symbol of strength." Alicia took out a magic wand called "His Noble Weapon"

"In my case, this 'sun magic wand' is a symbol of the power of the Romanova family! That means the three main conditions for Romanova to become the ruler of this land are realized!"

Alicia said it with pleasure. Reina smiled, she understood Alicia's happiness. 

"I'm happy if you're happy, Alicia-san! I'm getting excited!"

"Go away, let me destroy it."

Alicia took out Apollon, and then...

"Oh, wait there, Miss Princess. One more step you take, your head will be separated from your neck."

"GOSH!" Alicia vomited a lot of blood from her mouth, with one hand from Kira sticking into her back.

Reina looked at it in shock and her loud screams sounded throughout the island.

"ALICE-SAN!!!!!!"

...

Death stayed one step ahead of Alicia after her aide to stab her in the back brutally.

Something like this, why could it happen to him? It's a bad luck. Betrayed and killed.

Kira pulled her hand from Alicia's back which immediately fell. Reina looked in shock, and seconds later a dazzling golden light shone from the crystal necklace of the 18-year-old woman.

"What light is this?!" Kira panics.

Mira doesn't believe it. "This magical energy...!"

Reina formed a round light in her hand and shot it at Kira. The man in red hair dodged quickly, and the explosion was the effect of Reina's attack earlier.

"Well..." Alicia was still alive, even though blood had come out a great deal, she was still able to survive for a reason.

Kira feels Reina's wrath, and finds a way to forcefully "stop" her. Kira recaptures Alicia and all five fingers of her right hand are on her ex-boss' neck;

"Stop being angry at me, Princess Stardust! As long as you're quiet, I won't stab this girl in the neck!"

"Alicia-san!" Reina panicked.

"Kira...!" Alicia's upset.

Kira nodded and said. "Oh, you're angry, Miss Princess. I've been planning this betrayal for the past 9 months and it's all according to plan until the Master orders us to execute this grand plan!"

"Your destination..what?"

"Capture Apollon of course!" Kira takes Apollon forcibly while injuring Alicia's right hand; "AAAAH!"

Kira gets Apollon, and says again. "Without Apollon, your regeneration will return to normal! You're gonna die losing a lot of blood and losing it all!"

"I'm. I won't..." Alicia was upset, her feelings were mixed. His entire body was injured and could not move to fight back Kira.

"Alicia-san...!" Reina is worried now.

"Don't overdue the pleasantries, Kira! Kill the woman as ordered - uh...?"

Someone appeared from behind Mira, and with his hind legs he kicked Mira's head to the point of being thrown.

"Huh?!" They're shocked.

Kira is more shocked when the man runs very fast and cuts off one hand of Kira who threatens Mira with his own knife.

"WOWOOO!"

Alicia managed to escape and Reina went straight to her.

"Hurry up and give him this." Shiki throws an elixir at Alicia; "That Elixir, it won't heal her wounds much faster, but at least it can overcome her pain and replace her blood that comes out!"

"Ba-good!"

Shiki looked at the retreating Kira and stood up with a face full of grin. Shiki's right hand quickly grew back, and her left hand held a wand that Shiki had first seen.

"So apparently, 'betrayal' is the worst, isn't it? I wish it never happened to me, but seeing someone betrayed makes me sick, too."

"Hehe." Kira just grinned.

Shiki prepared with both of his black blades. The legs were pressed, he darted to Kira.

Yet... Shiki noticed a large figure jumping at him, and immediately grabbed both of his legs. The huge figure was a stone creature that appeared to hit Shiki firmly with its fists.

"Gee!" Shiki held the fist of the stone with his body, but it was still thrown quite tight.

"What's that...?" Alicia was startled, she was already a bit quiet after being given Elixir by them.

"That's... The monster! Stone Golems." Reina knew the name of the creature that appeared, hearing that Alicia was shocked because this was the first time she had met a "Monster"

Mira appears, her face bruised from being kicked by Shiki. Kira scolded Mira of course for interfering with her fight with Shiki; "You like to disturb the fun, Mira!"

"Shut up!" Mira. "Our mission is done, Apollon has been captured, but Alicia is not dead yet."

"Indeed, and why did you even say our mission was over?!" Kira is annoyed.

The dark blue haired woman told Kira. "True, capturing Apollon alone is enough. That woman can be taken care of later."

"Damn it... How dare you!" Shouted Alicia annoyed. "I never forgive you! I hate you guys! Fucking traitor!"

"Hgm." Mira smiles, and prepares to leave with Kira. "Be angry as you please. Hate as you please, we don't care."

"You can't do anything, and all your foolish fantasies will never come true."

Mira left after saying that, with a face irritated Alicia showed.

Alicia was willing to give chase, but Reina kept holding back and asked him to calm down. When the two were at odds over that, the Stone Golem had appeared to attack them.

Shiki quickly helped the two princesses and scolded them.

"Stop fighting! You guys are.." Shiki's clasping calms both, but more trouble lies ahead for them.

"If you're going after them, we'll take care of this thing first. Otherwise, they won't be overtaken and it's not impossible that we'll die." Shiki said that, it had been a long time since he had been this wary of fighting the enemy.

And before him is a powerful enemy, Shiki believes they are creatures called "Monsters", the inhabitants of the Abyss and the nightmarish terror of mankind.

"I'll handle it, you two go"

"No need." Reina. "I alone am enough to destroy this Monster."

...Chapter 1.3: "Both Princesses" - finished...