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

The hallway outside the door filled with noise. Metallic sounds. Rhythmic. Ordered. As if dozens of footsteps were moving in perfect unison just beyond the door.

Max opened his eyes slowly.

"..."

He blinked.

Neros was already awake, sitting silently in a corner of the room.

Sophie woke up with a start.

"...did you hear that?"

Moon mumbled something unintelligible, half asleep.

Dorian grumbled from the floor.

"...five more minutes..."

But the sound didn’t stop.

Max got up. Walked to the door.

He opened it slightly and looked outside.

"..."

His expression changed.

’...what the hell...?’

The hallway was completely different.

Rows of guards. Perfectly aligned. On both sides of the corridor. Firm. Motionless. Like statues. Forming a path.

Max frowned.

"...what’s going on?"

No one answered. Not a glance. Not a gesture. Nothing.

They ignored him completely.

Max clicked his tongue.

"...okay..."

He looked up. And then he saw it.

At the far end of the hallway, a golden carriage was slowly advancing.

Pulled by—

Skeletons in black armor. Identical to the guards. Their bones creaked with every step. The gold of the carriage gleamed even in the dim light. Too ostentatious. Too out of place.

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...who the hell rides a carriage... inside castle hallways?"

Moon appeared behind him, curious.

"Let me see—"

Sophie grabbed her arm firmly.

"Moon, don’t go out."

Pause.

"...stay inside."

Moon pouted, but didn’t insist.

The carriage kept moving. Slow and heavy.

Until it passed in front of Max, and he managed to look inside.

A devil.

Impeccable gray suit. Covered in jewelry. Rings. Necklaces. A cane encrusted with gems. Excessive. Ridiculous.

The devil turned his head. Looked him straight in the eyes and smiled.

"..."

Max froze.

His mind clicked.

’...I don’t know him from the game...’

Pause.

’...but—’

The words from the past few days.

The stories.

The name.

Everything clicked into place.

’...there’s no doubt. That must be Dante.’

A chill ran down his spine.

’...this guy... is trouble.’

The carriage kept going. Without stopping. The skeletons dragging it through the hallway. Until it disappeared.

Max shut the door abruptly.

He took a deep breath.

"...he’s here."

Everyone looked at him.

Moon tilted her head.

"...what was all that?"

Max looked up, serious.

"...Dante."

Silence.

"...I’m sure of it."

Sophie clenched her fists. Her expression changed instantly. Pure anger.

Neros spoke calmly.

"...his time will come."

Pause.

"...when we face him."

From the back—

RRRRRRRR

Varis. Sleeping. Snoring like nothing mattered.

Dorian sighed.

"...what matters is Abby."

He pushed himself up slightly.

"...Dante doesn’t matter right now."

Max shook his head.

"...he does."

Pause.

"...if he’s here..."

He looked at him.

"...it means we have less time."

Silence.

"...we don’t know when Lucifero will hand her over."

Dorian froze.

"...right..."

Pause.

"...didn’t think about it like that."

Knock.

Everyone turned.

Max opened the door.

William. Holding a pile of clothes. And several bracelets.

"...good morning."

He walked in without waiting.

"This will help you."

He placed everything on the bed.

"...worker uniforms."

Pause.

"...and illusion bracelets."

Max picked one up.

"...they change appearance?"

William nodded.

"Temporarily."

One by one, everyone except Max put them on.

And the change was immediate.

Neros. A castle knight. Impeccable.

Dorian. A skinny devil. Way too skinny.

"...seriously?"

He looked at his arms.

"...I look sick."

Sophie—

Max blinked.

"...you look..."

Almost identical to Abby.

Sophie noticed it too.

"..."

Moon. A winged devil child.

"Look at my red wings!"

Varis—

Silence.

A child.

With a beard.

Dorian looked at him and burst out laughing.

"...HAHAHAHA."

He pointed.

"...what is that?"

Moon tilted her head.

"...kids don’t have beards..."

Neros sighed.

"...we’ll have to shave it."

Varis stepped back. Alarmed.

"...no."

Pause.

"...NO."

He grabbed his beard.

"...it took me 230 years to grow it like this!"

Dramatic silence.

"...it doesn’t grow like the others of my race..."

Dorian unsheathed his sword.

Smiling.

"...I promise it’ll be quick."

Varis went pale.

"...it’s my dwarven pride..."

Dorian shrugged.

"I’ll give you a magic tonic afterward."

Pause.

"...it grows fast."

Varis narrowed his eyes.

"...this isn’t another one of your jokes?"

"It’s real."

He smiled.

"...the king uses it."

Varis hesitated. A lot.

But—

"...fine..."

Pause.

"...but be careful."

Neros stepped closer.

"...close your eyes."

Varis obeyed.

Three movements. Fast and precise.

"...done."

Varis opened his eyes. Looked at the floor.

His beard. Cut. Lying there.

"..."

And he burst into tears. Like a child. Devastated.

"...my beard..."

Dorian couldn’t hold it in.

"...HAHAHA."

Pause.

"...I guess now I really have to invent that tonic."

William cleared his throat.

"...if you’re done..."

Everyone looked at him.

"...you can come to breakfast."

Pause.

"...to the workers’ wing."

Max adjusted himself.

"...let’s go."

One by one, they left the room, following the butler toward the workers’ wing.

***

The group moved through the corridors following William.

The contrast was obvious. The farther they got from the main areas of the castle, the more neglected everything became. The walls lost that dark, elegant tone... and turned into bare, dirty stone.

Even the air changed. Heavier. More humid.

Moon wrinkled her nose.

"...it smells weird..."

William didn’t respond. He kept walking as if nothing.

They turned a couple of corners, went down a narrow staircase... and finally arrived.

A large hall.

But far from impressive.

The walls were covered in accumulated filth. Dark stains. Remains of something no one wanted to identify.

The floor... barely better.

And the worst part—

It was full of devils.

All kinds. Some with twisted horns, others with deformed wings, some small, others huge. All mixed together. Talking, laughing, growling.

Chaos.

In one corner, there was a long line.

Max narrowed his eyes.

"...is that for food?"

William nodded slightly.

"Yes."

He gestured.

"Grab trays and serve yourselves over there."

Moon raised her hand, curious.

"...and where do we sit?"

William looked at her.

"...wherever you want."

Pause.

"...on the floor, against the wall... wherever you find space."

Sophie frowned.

"...no tables?"

William let out a small laugh.

"...this is the workers’ wing."

Pause.

"...not a luxury hall."

Max sighed.

"...yeah... makes sense."

His gaze began scanning the place. Evaluating. Looking for familiar faces.

And then he saw her.

In a corner.

Sitting with several small devils around her.

Lamia.

Eating some kind of... green paste.

Max grimaced.

’...that doesn’t look good...’

At that moment, Lamia looked up.

Their eyes met.

She smiled. Raised her hand, waving from afar.

Then made a clear gesture.

"Come."

Max tilted his head slightly.

"...it’s her."

The group nodded.

William stopped.

"...I’ll leave you here... don’t draw attention."

Max nodded.

"...thanks, William."

They split.

The group walked toward Lamia.

As they approached, she looked them up and down.

"...well..."

She smiled.

"...you’re infiltrating quite well."

Pause.

"...although—"

She looked at Max.

"...you stand out too much."

Max shrugged.

"...I didn’t need a disguise."

Lamia raised an eyebrow.

"...oh really?"

Max sighed.

"...I presented myself to Lucifero."

Silence.

"...we made a deal."

Pause.

"...I can move freely through the castle for a few days."

Lamia stared at him. Then smiled wider.

"...I don’t know if you’re very brave..."

Pause.

"...or very stupid."

Max tilted his head.

"...not sure if I should say thanks..."

Pause.

"...or get mad."

The group let out a small laugh.

Lamia rested her elbow on her knee.

"...take it however you want."

Then she gestured toward the line.

"...go get food, luckily it’s from two days ago."

Dorian looked at the green paste.

"...that looks disgusting."

Lamia glanced at him.

"...I didn’t mean that."

Pause.

"...it’s still good."

Awkward silence.

"...food in the workers’ wing is made once a week."

Pause.

"...and distributed throughout the week."

Dorian blinked.

"...oh."

Pause.

"...good thing we arrived today then."

His tone was completely sarcastic.

Neros turned.

"...let’s go."

He pointed at Varis and Dorian.

"...let’s get food for everyone."

Sophie shook her head.

"...not for me."

She reached into her belongings...

And pulled out a small piece of bread.

"...I’m fine with this."

Lamia watched her. Interested. But said nothing.

Neros, Varis, and Dorian headed to the line.

The rest sat with Lamia.

The floor was cold. Uncomfortable. But no one complained.

Lamia looked back at Max.

"...looks like that idiot Dante already arrived."

Max nodded.

"...we saw him."

Pause.

"...in the halls."

Lamia made a face.

"...perfect."

Pause.

"...that means we can move forward."

Her eyes glinted slightly.

"...and I hope you don’t forget..."

She looked at the group.

"...who helped you get in."

Max shook his head.

"...we won’t."

Lamia tilted her head.

"...did you see the Seven Hells?"

Max frowned.

"...no."

Pause.

"...he came alone... covered in jewelry... escorted by skeletons."

Lamia let out a low laugh.

"...then he left his wives stored away."

Pause.

"...as always."

Sophie looked up.

"...stored?"

Lamia nodded.

"...yeah."

Pause.

"...probably in some private room."

Sophie hesitated for a second.

"...we..."

Max turned quickly.

"...Sophie—"

Too late.

"...we think we know where Abby is."

Max closed his eyes briefly.

’...damn it...’

Sophie continued.

"...in the east tower."

Pause.

"...in a room with hidden doors."

Lamia smiled.

"...interesting..."

Max watched her. Analyzing. Distrustful.

’...we’re saying too much...’

Lamia straightened slightly.

"...I’ll investigate that."

Pause.

"...with my people."

Max hesitated.

But then spoke.

"...if you find anything..."

He looked straight at her.

"...let us know."

Pause.

"...we’ll do the same."

Lamia nodded.

"...deal."

At that moment—

Neros, Varis, and Dorian returned.

Each carrying several trays.

Filled with that... green thing.

Dorian placed one in front of Max.

"...enjoy."

Max looked at it.

"...this could be poison."

Varis sighed.

"...I don’t care anymore..."

Pause.

"...they cut my beard..."

He sat down. Defeated.

Neros got comfortable.

"...bon appétit."

And without hesitation, started eating. Fast. Too fast.

In seconds, his plate was empty.

Everyone stared at him.

Neros wiped his mouth.

"...not bad."

Max looked down at his plate.

Then at Neros.

Then back at the plate.

"...okay..."

He picked up the utensil.

"...if I die, it’s your fault."

And took a bite.