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

The group stood in front of a rotten wooden door.

The guest room.

William entered first.

The rest followed carefully.

The door closed behind them.

The room was dark. No windows. No natural light. Only a small candle. Flickering on a side table.

Shadows filled everything else.

Max looked around. Evaluating. A simple bed. Hard. No decoration. No luxury. Nothing.

An empty, cold room.

"..."

Max turned toward William.

"...Is this the real guest room?"

Pause.

"...or the fake one?"

Silence.

William looked at him. Calm.

"This is the real one."

Pause.

"...the fake one is worse."

Max blinked.

"...great."

He exhaled.

Ran a hand through his hair.

"I like this place more and more."

Neros let out a laugh.

"I don’t see the problem."

He crossed his arms.

Relaxed.

"I’ve been in much worse places."

Pause.

"...this is almost luxury."

Max glanced at him.

"...I don’t want to know."

Sophie stepped forward.

Looking around.

Uneasy.

"..."

She didn’t speak at first.

But her expression said everything.

Worry.

William adjusted his gloves.

Calm.

"Make yourselves comfortable."

Pause.

"I’ll take a look around."

He turned toward the door.

"...I’ll see if I can find the others."

Silence.

"So they don’t get lost in the castle."

Max nodded.

"...thanks."

Then looked around again.

"...let’s try to get comfortable."

Silence.

"...even if it seems impossible."

William gave a faint smile.

"It’s the best I can offer you in here."

He opened the door.

"I’ll return as soon as I have news."

And left.

The door closed.

The room felt smaller.

More closed.

Neros leaned against the wall.

Relaxed.

"I could sleep here."

Pause.

"No problem."

Max looked at him.

"...you’re insane."

Neros smiled.

"Probably."

Sophie remained standing.

Still.

Looking at the candle.

Thinking.

"...I hope they’re okay."

Her voice was low.

Almost a whisper.

Max didn’t answer.

He just looked at her.

Sophie clenched her fists slightly.

"...and that they find Abby."

***

Time passed.

Slowly.

The candle burned down.

The silence too.

Until—

Knock.

Soft, but clear.

Max lifted his head.

Neros was already alert.

Sophie turned sharply.

Max walked to the door.

Opened it.

And—

William.

And behind him—

Moon, Dorian, and Varis.

Max exhaled in relief.

"...You’re back. All of you... in one piece."

Dorian gave a faint, tired smile.

"Yeah."

They entered quickly.

The door closed again.

Max didn’t waste time.

"...Did it go well?"

Dorian leaned against the wall.

Breathing like he had run a marathon.

"That kid..."

He shook his head.

"...he’s fast."

Pause.

"Too fast."

He looked at Varis.

"Even he couldn’t keep up."

Varis sighed.

Annoyed.

"...he got away."

Pause.

"...but not completely."

Silence for a few seconds.

Dorian spoke again.

"We think we found where she’s being held."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Full attention.

Moon stepped forward.

"We reached a huge hall."

Pause.

"...and there was a dog."

Silence.

"...giant."

Another step.

"...with three heads."

Sophie frowned.

"...what?"

Moon swallowed.

"...it was chained."

Pause.

"...but it could see us."

Silence.

"...even though we were invisible."

A chill ran through the room.

William nodded.

Serious.

"That’s Cerberus."

Pause.

"Lord Lucifero’s pet."

Silence.

"...if it’s there..."

He looked at Max.

"...then that place is important."

Dorian crossed his arms.

"That’s what we thought."

Pause.

"The kid..."

He gestured vaguely.

"...disappeared inside that room."

Silence.

"...but there were no doors."

Sophie smiled slightly.

Confident.

"That doesn’t matter."

Everyone looked at her.

"I can detect them."

Pause.

"I have seals that react to magically hidden doors."

Silence.

Max lowered his gaze.

Thinking.

’...This wasn’t in the game.’

Pause.

’You couldn’t even reach this part of the castle.’

He frowned slightly.

’This is unknown territory for me.’

Max felt it.

That advantage he thought he had—

Gone.

William broke the silence.

"...In a few hours, it will be dinner time."

Everyone looked at him.

"If you’d like..."

Pause.

"...you can make a list of what you want to eat."

Silence.

"...and I’ll bring it."

Moon raised her hand.

"...can’t we go eat somewhere else?"

Pause.

"...somewhere bigger..."

She looked around.

"...and cleaner."

Silence.

William let out a small laugh.

Polite, but genuine.

"That would be ideal."

Pause.

"...but you must not leave."

He looked at Max.

"You are supposed to be alone."

Pause.

"...making a map."

Max sighed.

"...right."

William nodded.

"Make me a list."

Pause.

"I’ll return with the food."

He walked to the door.

Opened it.

"Rest in the meantime."

And left.

The door closed.

Max dropped onto the bed.

Hard.

Uncomfortable.

"...tomorrow is going to be a disaster."

Neros leaned back against the wall.

"I like it."

Dorian dropped to the floor.

"I just want five minutes without running."

Varis nodded.

"I share that thought."

Moon sat near Max.

Calmer now.

Sophie sighed.

"...get some rest."

Pause.

"...we’re going to need it."

And one by one—

The group began to relax.

Even if only... a little.

***

Max was half asleep.

Mouth slightly open.

A faint yawn escaping.

Until—

Knock.

This time, firmer.

Max frowned.

"...mm..."

He got up from the bed.

"Coming..."

Dragging his feet.

"Probably William..."

Another yawn.

"...with the food..."

He walked to the door.

Without thinking much.

Opened it slightly—

And froze.

On the other side—

Azael.

Smiling.

A wicked smile.

Dangerous.

"...Hello."

Silence.

Max didn’t open the door any further.

Just stared at him.

"...what do you want?"

Azael tilted his head.

"I knew that smell..."

Pause.

"...felt familiar."

His eyes gleamed.

"When my father said the royal pet had come to the Morningstar castle..."

He smiled wider.

"...I couldn’t believe it."

Silence.

"...I had to see it with my own eyes."

Max clenched his jaw.

Didn’t open the door further.

Blocking the view inside.

Azael chuckled softly.

"...don’t worry."

Pause.

"...I already know you’re not alone."

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...what do you want?"

Direct.

No games.

Azael rested a hand on the doorframe.

Relaxed.

"I know why you’re here."

Pause.

"...and no, I’m not going to hurt you."

Max didn’t move.

"...I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Pause.

"...I’m making a map for your father."

Azael shook his head.

"...you can’t fool me."

Pause.

"I saw you."

Silence.

"...running."

His eyes sharpened.

"...to save Abigail."

Max clenched his teeth.

"...damn you..."

In a swift motion, Max pulled out his hammer.

Raised it slightly.

A clear threat.

But Azael laughed.

No fear.

"Relax."

Pause.

"...I’m not here to fight."

A crooked smile.

"I’m here to make a deal."

Max looked at him.

Tired.

"...what is it with this place?"

Pause.

"...everyone wants to make deals?"

Azael chuckled.

"Seems like it."

Max lowered the hammer slightly.

"...talk... what do you want?"

Azael looked at him.

Serious now.

"My father..."

Silence.

"...promised me something."

Pause.

"...if I brought back my sister."

He clenched his jaw.

"...to sell her to Dante, I would get my wife back."

Max frowned.

"So..."

Pause.

"...good for you... you got your wife back."

Silence.

Azael didn’t answer immediately.

His eyes changed.

Darker.

"...No."

Pause.

"...I didn’t."

Silence.

"My father..."

His voice dropped.

"...gave her to Dante."

Max blinked.

Surprised.

"...what?"

Azael let out a bitter laugh.

"...now she’s one of the Seven Hells."

Max went blank for a few seconds.

Then—

"...that Dante..."

He shook his head.

"...he just won’t stop."

Pause.

"...he’s taking all the women in this kingdom."

Azael exhaled sharply.

Annoyed.

"...that’s not the point."

Silence.

"...the reality is simple."

Pause.

"I don’t have a problem selling Abigail."

Max looked at him.

Cold.

"...you’re disgusting."

Azael didn’t react.

"...but I’ve already been told..."

Pause.

"...I won’t get her back."

Silence.

"Dante doesn’t let go of any woman."

Hard gaze.

"...unless death separates them."

Azael stepped forward.

"So... I want to join you."

Max didn’t answer.

Just watched him.

"I want my wife back."

Pause.

"...I don’t care about my father."

Another pause.

"...or this kingdom."

Silence.

"Only her."

Max studied him.

Slowly.

"...why would I trust you?"

Azael smiled faintly.

"Because I can help you."

Pause.

"...with the key to the collar that keeps my sister trapped in this castle."

Max tensed.

"And Cerberus..."

Azael continued.

"...obeys me."

Pause.

"...I raised him. I feed him. I control him."

Max thought. Fast. Cold. Calculating.

Then—

"...when you have the keys, we’ll make the deal."

Azael smiled.

Satisfied.

"Perfect."

He turned around.

"See you soon."

And left.

Silently.

Disappearing into the hallway.

Max closed the door. Slowly.

Silence.

A second later—

Knock.

Again.

Max opened it.

William.

With a cart full of food. A lot of it.

Max looked at him.

"...wow."

William nodded.

"The chef..."

Pause.

"...couldn’t believe a royal pet eats this much."

Max let out a dry laugh.

"...neither would I."

They entered.

Max turned.

"Hey!"

Pause.

"Wake up!"

One by one—

The group started moving.

Complaints.

Yawns.

Sophie was the first to get up.

She looked at Max.

Frowned.

"...you look terrible."

Pause.

"...did something happen?"

Silence.

Max hesitated.

He thought about Azael.

What he said.

The deal.

Abby.

Sophie.

’...she wouldn’t accept it.’

He exhaled.

"...no."

Forced smile.

"...nothing."

Pause.

"...just tired."

He looked at the food.

"...and hungry."

Silence.

But inside—

He knew.

He had just opened a door...

Far more dangerous than any other in that castle.