Demi Human Princess

The moonlight filtered through the large glass windows of the royal guest chamber, casting silver beams across the polished stone floor. The room was lavish, too luxurious for Kaito’s taste — gold-carved pillars, velvet drapes, and a bed large enough to sleep five kings.

But Kaito ignored all that.

He collapsed face-first onto the plush mattress, burying his head into the pillow with a long sigh.

“Luxury’s wasted on the wrong guy,” he mumbled, voice muffled. “I don’t need silk. I need answers.”

He rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on knees, eyes locked on the ground.

“The king didn’t say everything. He’s playing cautious. And those so-called heroes… Some have talent, but no spine to use it.”

Kaito stood up and walked toward the window. He gazed at the moon hanging high above the courtyard like a pale eye watching the world suffer.

Then he spoke — calm but pointed.

“So… how long are you going to keep lurking out there? Your hiding technique is good. Much better than most. But not good enough to hide from me.”

There was silence.

Nothing moved. No breeze, no sound, no reply.

But Kaito smiled.

Behind the curtains to the left, in the shadow near the frame, a figure stiffened.

“He didn’t see me… he can’t see me,” the figure whispered to themselves. “My stealth technique is flawless. No tool or spell should detect me.”

Then Kaito’s voice turned sharp — like a blade sheathed in politeness.

“You can come in now. I’m not going to sting you. Unless you try something stupid. Which I really hope you don’t. I’ve had a long day.”

The figure tensed.

"He saw me? How? Even the royal mages said this cloak was undetectable…”

The girl took a cautious step backward, ready to escape. But then Kaito's voice dropped, firm and final.

“If you take another step, I’ll turn your next breath into ash. So be a good cat and climb in already.”

The figure froze.

Her heart pounded.

Then, with a long sigh of resignation, she opened the window and stepped into the room, landing with graceful silence. Her figure was cloaked in black cloth, face hidden beneath a half-mask, tail swaying gently behind her.

Kaito had already thrown himself back on the bed, one arm behind his head like he hadn’t just threatened someone’s life.

“Smart choice,” he said with a yawn. “I hate killing people on the first day back. It ruins the mood.”

He sat up slowly and pointed a finger lazily at her. “Now. Take off the mask.”

She didn’t move.

“You’ve been tailing the heroes since they arrived,” Kaito continued. “I noticed your scent the moment we got summoned. I just didn’t feel like chasing you through rooftops.”

The girl’s shoulders tensed. She hesitated, then reached up and pulled down her mask.

Her face emerged from the shadows — sharp amber eyes, short ash-blonde hair, and tall pointed ears that twitched involuntarily. A long, fur-covered tail curled behind her as if annoyed.

Kaito grinned.

“Oh. You’re one of those floppy bear types.”

Her expression immediately twisted in rage. “We are not floppy bears! Warbeasts are warriors bred for the front lines. The pride of the battlefield!”

Kaito leaned forward, elbow on his knee, chin on his palm.

“Sure. And those twitchy ears are for tactical advantage. Not to make you look adorable, right?”

She bared her fangs and hissed. “I’ll rip that smug face in half!”

She lunged, claws glowing faintly with aura — Furry Claw, a warbeast combat technique.

Kaito didn’t even blink.

With one finger, he deflected every strike with surgical ease, moving just enough to avoid her claws while still lying on the bed. Her speed was impressive, but to him, she was moving in slow motion.

As she went for a final lunge, he flipped her wrist mid-air, spun her around, and pinned her arms behind her back — gently, but unshakably. She squirmed as he pulled her close, his voice brushing her ear.

“How many times do I have to say it? Don’t do anything stupid.”

Their faces were inches apart now. His eyes burned with a lazy kind of power — not boastful, just… unshakable.

She blinked quickly, heart racing. “I–I’m not afraid of you!”

“Sure,” he said with a smirk. “That trembling in your tail is just… wind?”

She scowled and struggled until he let go. She stepped back, cheeks flushed, brushing down her sleeves as if regaining dignity.

“I’m the princess of the Warbeast Kingdom,” she said, voice firm now. “My name is Zephira Leontau. I came to investigate the summoning ritual.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow.

“Princess, huh? What kind of idiot king sends his daughter on a stealth mission into enemy territory?”

Zephira snapped. “Don’t you dare insult my father!”

She lunged again, but he simply raised a finger — a soft crackle of energy in the air stopped her cold.

He didn’t even need to move.

“You’re brave, I’ll give you that,” Kaito said. “But also reckless. You don’t have backup. You don’t have escape. You’re lucky I’m in a good mood.”

Zephira’s tail stiffened, but she backed down.

Then, after a pause, she said quietly, “My father didn’t send me. I came on my own. I want to prove I’m more than just a royal pet on a throne.”

Kaito sat upright, eyes serious now.

“I see.”

She didn’t expect that response. She expected mockery. But not… interest.

Kaito leaned back again, crossing his arms behind his head.

“So. Tell me everything. Why you're really here. Every detail. And if you lie—” his smile turned razor-sharp, “—you’ll be the first casualty of my second visit to this world.”

A long silence followed. Only the ticking of the large clock near the wall filled the room.

Zephira swallowed her pride. Then began to speak.

And Kaito listened.

Closely.

Because something in his gut told him… this Warbeast wasn’t the only one watching the heroes.

And whatever was happening in this world — whatever Freya and the King were hiding — was much darker than a summoning ritual gone wrong.

And he hated being in the dark.

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