Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill

The carriage came to an abrupt stop.

Heavy.

Silence.

Voices could be heard outside.

Guards.

The faint clink of their armor.

Max didn’t move.

He just listened.

Lamia stepped down from the carriage.

Her voice... calm.

Confident.

"Good morning."

Pause.

"We’re the town’s butchers."

Brief silence.

"We brought this week’s fresh meat."

A guard responded.

Dry.

"Open the carriage."

Inside, the atmosphere shifted.

Tension.

No one spoke.

Then Sophie moved.

Fast.

She pulled out small seals.

Paper.

Marked with symbols.

She placed them.

One by one.

On each member’s forehead.

Max felt a faint tingling.

"Optical illusion."

Sophie whispered.

"We can only see each other."

Pause.

"They can’t see us, but they can still hear or touch us."

Max nodded.

Slowly.

Outside, the knights’ footsteps approached the door.

The imps opened the carriage.

Light.

The guards looked inside.

Only silence.

One frowned.

"...Smells weird."

Lamia didn’t hesitate.

She pulled out a sack.

Meat.

Fresh... but not quite.

The smell spread.

Strong.

Heavy.

"It’s the meat that’s not so fresh."

She said naturally.

"We need to get inside fast or it’ll rot."

The guard wasn’t convinced.

He leaned in further.

Inhaled.

"...No."

Pause.

"There’s another smell."

Silence.

"...A cat."

Inside, Neros placed his hand on his sword.

Slow.

Precise.

Ready to kill.

Max saw him. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Shook his head.

Slowly.

"..."

No.

Dorian covered his mouth.

Trembling.

Holding back nervous laughter.

Moon had fallen asleep.

Sitting.

A half-eaten sandwich in her hand.

Completely out of it.

Lamia reacted quickly.

"It must be the smell of my cats’ urine. They like sleeping inside the carriage."

The guard observed a few more seconds.

Long.

Tense.

Until finally, he stepped back.

"Go ahead."

The door closed.

A dull thud.

Outside, papers were taken out.

Signatures.

The scratch of a pen.

"Hand it in at the exit."

Said the guard.

Lamia replied,

"Yes, I know."

Pause.

"And the other guard?"

Brief silence.

"The one with the gray beard."

The guard scoffed.

"He was fired."

Pause.

"He was working with smugglers."

Silence.

Lamia smiled.

"...I see."

She slightly lifted her chin.

"He seemed like a very honest guard. Who would’ve thought he’d work with smugglers?"

She turned.

Got back into the carriage.

Thud.

Door shut.

And the carriage moved.

Inside the castle.

Footsteps.

Wheels over stone.

The atmosphere... heavy.

Sophie raised her hand.

Snapped her fingers.

The seals deactivated.

They peeled off.

The illusion disappeared.

The group became visible again.

Sophie looked at Lamia.

Clear anger on her face.

"...What was that?"

Lamia let out a soft laugh.

Adjusted herself.

"What remarkable magic your papers have, dear."

Max frowned.

"We almost got caught."

Pause.

"What happened?"

Lamia sighed.

This time... less relaxed.

"My contact."

Silence.

"Was caught."

She looked toward the door.

"If I had known..."

Pause.

"...I would’ve gotten you in another way."

She shrugged.

And smiled.

"Less dangerous."

Silence.

Then she leaned back in her seat.

Calm.

"But we’re already inside."

Neros spoke.

Cold.

No humor.

"Next time..."

Pause.

"...you put us through something like that..."

His hand returned to his sword.

"...I’ll cut your head off."

Silence.

The carriage kept moving.

And now there was no turning back.

***

The carriage stopped again.

This time... deeper inside, in a large courtyard.

A wide corner.

Filled with crates and barrels.

Other carriages.

Merchants and workers moving around.

Constant noise.

But controlled.

Lamia leaned slightly toward the group.

Low voice.

"This is the spot."

Pause.

"I’ll distract the guards."

She pointed ahead.

"If you go straight down that hallway... you’ll find William."

Max raised an eyebrow.

"William?"

"Lucifero’s butler."

Lamia replied.

"My contact inside."

Pause.

"...He’s Abel’s brother."

Sophie reacted.

"Abby told me about him."

A faint smile.

"She said he was her best friend in the castle."

Max nodded.

"Then he can definitely take us to her."

Lamia didn’t respond.

She just smiled.

Then stepped down from the carriage, calm and confident. She adjusted her clothes. Then loosened her shirt slightly. A visible neckline. She took out a small bottle of perfume and sprayed it. A sweet, intense scent filled the air.

Max watched.

From inside.

He saw her approach the guards.

Talk.

Smile.

Laugh.

Lean slightly.

Just enough.

The guards...

Fell for it.

Eyes drifting.

Attention lost.

Then, from behind.

Without them noticing.

Lamia made a signal.

Quick.

Clear.

"Now."

Max reacted.

He woke Moon.

"Hey."

He shook her gently.

Moon opened her eyes.

"...Is it time to eat already?"

"Let’s get down, Moon. We’ve reached the castle."

Moon nodded.

Confused.

But obeyed.

She got down first.

Then Sophie.

Then Dorian.

The three entered the hallway.

No problems.

Varis’ turn.

The dwarf stepped forward—and tripped.

Hard.

CLANG!

Metallic noise.

Loud.

Silence outside.

Neros reacted instantly.

He partially closed the door.

Covering the interior.

But it was too late.

The guards turned their heads.

Looked at the carriage.

One frowned.

"...What was that?"

They let go of Lamia.

Started walking toward it.

The succubus moved fast.

She stepped in front.

"It’s fine."

Charming smile.

"It’s just my workers unloading the meat."

One of the guards grabbed her arm.

Firm.

"You’re quite strong."

"Do not approach."

Pause.

"It’s protocol."

The other kept moving.

Straight to the carriage.

Inside, Varis whispered,

"Sorry..."

Neros tightened his grip.

Sword ready.

"No other choice."

Max shook his head.

Quick.

"No."

Max activated his silence ring.

An invisible field surrounded them.

Isolating them.

He reached into his backpack.

Searched.

Found the core.

The giant slime core.

He held it.

Thought.

Imagined.

The object changed.

Transformed.

A sphere.

Compact.

Strange.

Varis looked at it.

"...What is that?"

Max didn’t hesitate.

"When I throw it..."

Pause.

"...run to the hallway."

Neros nodded.

Varis too.

The guard was about to arrive.

One more step.

Max shouted,

"Now!"

He threw the sphere.

Impact.

The carriage filled with smoke.

The guard opened the door—but found only smoke.

Nothing else.

Max, Neros, and Varis were already running.

They burst out.

Straight to the hallway.

The other guard let go of Lamia.

Drew his sword.

"What the—?!"

He ran to the carriage.

The smoke began to fade.

Slowly.

Revealing two imps.

On the ground.

Unconscious.

Meat scattered around.

A mess.

Silence.

Lamia sighed.

Crossed her arms.

"I told you."

A faint smile.

"My workers are a bit foolish."

Pause.

"Sometimes they fight over the goods."

The guards hesitated.

Looked at each other.

Then nodded.

"Understood."

One lowered his sword.

"Apologies for the inconvenience, miss."

Lamia smiled.

"It’s alright."

Meanwhile, in the hallway—

Varis looked at Max.

Eyes shining.

"That was incredible."

Pause.

"You’re a genius!"

Dorian smiled.

"This lad never ceases to amaze."

Max shook his head.

Serious.

"Praise me later."

Pause.

He looked ahead.

"...Now’s not the time."

Silence.

"Let’s stick to the plan."

Further down the hallway, they saw a well-dressed figure.

And moved toward him.