《Project C.O.D.E.》 Chapter 0. The Last Day on Earth You know, I''ve always dreamed of entering another world. The bluish glow of a monitor screen reflected on the face of a young man surrounded by posters of anime girls. His fingers flew over the keyboard with incredible speed, typing lines of code while his eyes behind black-rimmed glasses carefully followed the symbols appearing on the screen. --------------------------- @create_essence[familiar] bind_core{ form: digital_cat; soul{ loyalty := infinity; bond := eternal; nature := { love: true; protect: true; understand: true; } } } --------------------------- "If only I could create a real familiar..." sighed Maxim Kuznetsov, or just Max, a third-year programming student and a hopeless otaku. "You know, one like in anime. Loyal, understanding... preferably in the form of a cute cat girl." He leaned back in his computer chair and looked at the clock. 3:47 p.m. Another day spent writing useless code instead of preparing for tomorrow''s software architecture exam. "Not that it matters. I''ll pass anyway. Maybe not with flying colors, but I''ll pass." This wasn''t empty bravado¡ªdespite his fascination with anime and manga, Max was a genuinely talented programmer. Perhaps it was in his genes, with both parents being programmers, or maybe it was an innate ability to see code as the living fabric of reality. His gaze wandered across his room''s walls. Posters of characters from his favorite anime: Rem from Re:Zero, Asuna from Sword Art Online, and his beloved Raftalia poster from Rising of the Shield Hero. On the shelves, a collection of figurines purchased with carefully saved scholarship money. In the corner, a neatly alphabetized stack of manga. "I know, I know, a typical otaku''s lair," Max smirked to himself, imagining the reaction of an unsuspecting observer. "But hey, everyone has their weaknesses! At least I''m not deluding myself that I''ll wake up one day in another world with a harem of beautiful girls and superpowers..." His eyes returned to the screen, where the unfinished code for his "familiar" shimmered. --------------------------- @bind_soul[protect] eternal_loop{ scan_surroundings(); if(danger_detected){ invoke shield_master; channel power_maximum; } express affection; # A familiar should do more than just protect } --------------------------- "Still, it would be nice..." he added a few more lines defining the basic behavior of the digital pet. "I wonder what the perfect familiar would look like? Definitely a cat... but not an ordinary one. Something unique, digital... A pixel cat? Oh, that would be cool!" Suddenly, his stomach growled loudly, reminding him that his last meal was... when was it, anyway? "Right, I should eat something. I think there''s still pizza in the fridge... No? Okay, guess I''ll have to go to the store." Max stretched, his joints cracking, and stood up from his chair. His eyes fell on the unfinished code. "Save? Eh, whatever..." He pressed Ctrl+S more out of habit than necessity. "It''s just another silly fantasy anyway." If only he knew how wrong he was. If only he knew that these few lines of code would become the foundation for something much greater. For someone who would stand by him in the toughest moments... But that would happen later. For now, Max pulled on his favorite hoodie with a print from My Hero Academia, slung his backpack with his laptop over his shoulder (because a true programmer never parts with their weapon), and headed for the door. "I wonder, do other worlds have 24-hour convenience stores? And pizza delivery? God, I hope so¡ªotherwise, how do their protagonists even survive?" He chuckled at his own thoughts and stepped out the door, not knowing it was the last time he''d see his room. In the darkness of the turned-off monitor, something resembling a pixelated cat flickered for a fraction of a second... The daytime air was unexpectedly cool for a Japanese summer. Max shivered slightly and wrapped himself tighter in his hoodie, silently thanking himself for wearing it. The streets of Akihabara were lively, people hurrying about their business, paying no attention to yet another otaku in an anime-printed hoodie. Max walked along, replaying the plot of Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu in his head. Before starting to prepare for the exam, he had watched the final episode of the season. So engrossed was he in his thoughts that he didn''t notice the approaching figure until he literally bumped into them. A sound of falling books filled the air, accompanied by pages scattering everywhere. "Sorry!" Max exclaimed, immediately stooping to pick up the scattered books. "I wasn''t looking where I was going..." The girl in oversized glasses and baggy clothing silently gathered her things. Max noticed that some pages had scattered quite far and, without hesitation, dashed after them, jumping over puddles, muttering numbers under his breath, and dodging passersby. When he returned with the last of the pages, slightly out of breath but satisfied that he had rescued all the papers from the puddles, the girl was looking at him with an odd expression. "You didn''t have to trouble yourself," she said quietly, taking the papers from him. "Of course, I did!" Max smiled. "Books are someone''s work and knowledge. They need to be preserved." For a moment, he thought he saw an unusual light flicker in the girl''s eyes, but she had already turned away and hurried off into the crowd without even thanking him. "Strange one..." Max thought, watching her retreating figure. "Though if this were an anime, she''d definitely turn out to be a mysterious sorceress or a goddess..." Max shrugged off the odd encounter and continued on his way to the convenience store. Inside, it was empty and quiet, with only the hum of refrigerators and soft music playing from the speakers. Max wandered between the shelves, meticulously choosing his dinner. Ready-to-eat meals or ramen? Or should he just heat up some pizza? "I should''ve ordered delivery," he thought, studying the labels. "Though... then I''d have to wait. And I''m hungry now." A sudden chill ran down his spine. Max spun around sharply¡ªit felt like someone was watching him. But the aisle was empty, and only the curtain over the ventilation window swayed slightly. "What''s wrong with me today? Too much anime, maybe..." He filled his basket: a couple of containers of ready-made food, a pack of onigiri, a bottle of tea, and, of course, a chocolate bar¡ªsomething to snack on during another late-night coding marathon. After paying, Max stepped outside. The day was in full swing, and people were bustling about their business. Some were returning from work, while others were just starting their day. A typical weekday in Akihabara. And yet... something felt off. Max couldn''t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Suddenly, a warm hand touched the top of his head. It felt as though his thoughts and memories flashed before his eyes, like the moments of joy and disappointment one might see just before death. He jumped back sharply, startling the nearby passersby, and turned around. But there was no one behind him who could''ve touched him like that. "Strange..." Max thought, his eyes darting around nervously. But pretending to adjust his clothes, he continued walking. "Must''ve been my imagination. It happens." He stopped and turned around several times but saw nothing suspicious. Only the usual passersby: schoolgirls in uniforms, office workers, tourists with cameras... "Maybe it''s just sleep deprivation," he pondered, turning onto a quieter street. "Two days without proper rest, plus all that coding..." Suddenly, the screech of tires broke the silence. Max turned to see a massive truck barreling toward a young girl on a crosswalk. Only one thought raced through his mind: "This time, it''s real!" The bag of food flew from his hands as Max dashed forward. The girl stood frozen in place as the enormous dark mass bore down on her. "Hah, it''s probably some slow tractor, like in that episode of KonoSuba!" flashed through Max''s mind. "No way I''ll be an idiot like Kazuma! I''m going to be a real hero!" The screech of brakes was deafening, the smell of burnt rubber filled his nose, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. Max managed to push the girl aside, and they both tumbled onto the sidewalk as the massive truck roared past them, missing them by mere centimeters. The driver didn''t even stop. Max froze, slowly processing what had just happened. His whole body started to shake. "Oh God... OH GOD! That was a real truck!" He grabbed his head. "I almost died! Really died! This isn''t KonoSuba, oh my God..." "KonoSuba?" the girl asked with genuine confusion. "Huh?" Max stammered, only now realizing he had been mumbling aloud. "No, no, nothing! Just... uh... a Japanese proverb! Yeah, a proverb about trucks and heroism!" "What an interesting specimen..." an odd thought crossed the girl''s mind as she observed his panic. "Forgive my rudeness," Max adjusted his glasses, trying to hide his embarrassment. "I''m Maxim Kuznetsov. You can just call me Max." "And I..." the girl hesitated for a moment, glancing around. Her eyes fell on the sign of a store. "Sakura... Mizuki Sakura." "Huh, odd..." Max thought. "She introduced herself like a foreigner¡ªfamily name first, then given name. Japanese people usually do the opposite... Though who am I to judge? I''m a gaijin myself." He chuckled at his thoughts and was distracted by the scattered groceries. As he gathered his scattered groceries, Mizuki "accidentally" dropped her wallet. Naturally, Max immediately bent down to pick it up. "Ah, thank you!" she accepted the wallet with a slight bow. "I''m so clumsy today¡­" At that moment, a man with a knife burst out from an alley. "Seriously?" ran through Max''s mind, but his body acted on instinct, shielding Mizuki. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. By some incredible coincidence, the thief slipped on the spilled bottle of tea from Max''s bag and crashed straight into a passing police patrol. "What the¡­" Mizuki''s eyes momentarily flickered with irritation. "Your groceries¡­" she glanced at the spilled items and puddle of tea. "This is all my fault. Let me make it up to you! There''s an MgRonalds nearby." "MgRonalds?" Max nodded. "I was just thinking of grabbing something to eat. I''ve been wanting to try their new burger." The walk to the burger joint turned out to be... eventful. It started when a flower pot fell from the fifth-floor balcony directly in front of Max. "Ah! A falling flower pot! Classic trope!" flashed through Max''s mind. But the pot got caught on a clothesline and slid down like a zipline, landing perfectly in a wheelbarrow filled with dirt below. "Wow, lucky!" Max exhaled. Mizuki''s lips pressed together almost imperceptibly. A block away, someone had spilled a pile of thumbtacks on the sidewalk. Max, deep in a story about his favorite manga, miraculously avoided stepping on them¡ªhis years of dodging flying cosplay props at conventions had paid off. "And then the protagonist¡­ Oh, sharp!" he gracefully leaped over the thumbtacks. "So, as I was saying, the protagonist¡­" A flicker of irritation flashed in Mizuki''s eyes. Near the burger joint, an advertising sign nearly toppled over them, but workers rushed in to catch it just in time. "Sorry about that!" one of the workers called out. "We just installed it; must''ve been faulty brackets!" "What a safe day," Max chuckled nervously, adjusting his glasses. "So many close calls, but nothing happened!" "Yes¡­ nothing happened¡­" Mizuki''s voice carried a strange tone. Inside MgRonalds, it was warm and bustling. They took a table by the window, with a view of the street. Max enthusiastically browsed the menu while Mizuki gazed out the window, occasionally glancing at the staff in their bright red uniforms. "You know," she suddenly said, "you''re surprisingly lucky." "More like the opposite," Max laughed. "I always get caught up in weird situations. Like today¡ªa truck, a flower pot, a sign¡­" "And yet, you always come out unscathed," she smiled faintly. "As if¡­" "As if it''s straight out of an anime, right?" Max laughed. "Although no, if this were an anime, I''d have died ten times already and ended up in another world!" Mizuki coughed. "All these isekai stories are the same," Max continued, oblivious to her reaction. "Truck-kun, falling objects, silly accidents¡­ Although I must admit, today feels like a day full of classic isekai scenarios!" "How¡­ well-read," Mizuki said, her voice taking on a peculiar tone. "It''s cozy here," Mizuki smiled, and for some reason, Max''s heart skipped a beat. "Y-yeah!" he nervously adjusted his glasses. "I come here often. They have great burgers and¡­" He trailed off, realizing that praising fast food might not be the best way to impress a girl. Mizuki tilted her head slightly. "And?" "And¡­ the atmosphere! It''s like something out of an anime!" Max blurted out, instantly regretting it. "Great job, genius, all you can talk about is anime!" But instead of rolling her eyes or looking puzzled, Mizuki unexpectedly leaned forward. "Oh, I noticed you like anime. Tell me more." Max''s eyes lit up. "Really? You''re interested? Usually, people¡­" He paused, but Mizuki encouragingly nodded. "Of course! Especially about¡­ what do you call them? Isekai?" "Oh-ho-ho!" Max nearly jumped out of his seat. "That''s when the protagonist ends up in another world! Usually after dying, but there are other ways. For example¡­" He launched into an enthusiastic explanation of his favorite anime, gesturing animatedly and occasionally adjusting his glasses. Mizuki listened attentively, occasionally asking surprisingly insightful questions. Her smile grew more and more enigmatic. "And what would you do if you ended up in another world?" she suddenly asked. "Me?" Max thought for a moment. "Well, first, I''d try not to die¡­ again. And then¡­" He blushed. "This will sound silly¡­" "Tell me," her voice carried a peculiar warmth. "I''d want¡­ to help people," Max said quietly. "I know, I know, it sounds clich¨¦! But really¡ªwhat''s the point of power if you don''t use it to protect others?" He laughed nervously. "Though what kind of hero would I be? I can''t even talk to a girl without mentioning anime!" "Oh, I wouldn''t say that," Mizuki smiled mysteriously. "You did save me without hesitation." "Ah, that¡­" Max rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I guess I just got lucky watching so many action anime! Reflexes kicked in¡­" "Still," she leaned closer, and Max felt his breath catch. "You''re quite¡­ interesting." "No way! Could it be I actually have a chance?" Max''s mind raced. He tried to strike a cool pose like Sakuta from Bunny Girl Senpai, only to nearly knock over his cola. "You know," Mizuki chuckled at his attempt to act cool. "Why don''t you try their signature spicy burger? They say it''s¡­ special." "S-sure!" Max attempted a confident smile, which ended up looking more like the awkward grin of a protagonist in an ecchi comedy. "I love spicy food!" "Interesting¡­" Mizuki thought, signaling the waiter. "He''s kind of cute when he''s nervous¡­" The MgRonalds was unusually quiet for lunchtime. Max enthusiastically talked about his favorite anime, waving his half-eaten burger around. "¡­and then the protagonist ends up in another world through a portal in a bathroom! Can you imagine?" He laughed. "Although that''s nothing¡ªthere''s another anime where a guy dies slipping on a banana peel. Now that''s what I call an epic death!" "Truly¡­ epic," Mizuki murmured, stirring her tea thoughtfully. "And how would you want¡­ to end up in another world?" "Well, definitely not through a bathroom!" Max took a big gulp of his cola. "Though honestly, even dying from a truck is better than choking on a burger. Imagine the headline: ''Otherworldly Hero¡ªVictim of Fast Food!''" Mizuki''s lips curved into an odd smile. "Speaking of spicy¡­" She gestured toward his burger. "Do you taste anything unusual?" "Huh? No, it tastes normal¡­" Max took another bite and suddenly started coughing. "Whoa! This is¡­ really spicy¡­" "Oh, they must have mixed up the sauces," Mizuki remarked innocently. "It happens¡­" At first, it looked like an ordinary scene from a comedy anime¡ªthe main character running around the caf¨¦ with bulging eyes, waving his arms, and shouting, "Spicy! Spicy!" Max even thought for a moment that steam might start coming out of his ears, like in his favorite cartoons. But then something went wrong. "Cough¡­ cough¡­" He clutched at his throat. "I can''t¡­ breathe¡­" Everything blurred before his eyes. The last thing he saw was Mizuki''s face shifting, transforming back into the image of the nerdy girl he had bumped into earlier. "Wow¡­ so this kind of thing really does happen in anime¡­" was his final thought before the world plunged into darkness. --- --- A bright light blinded him, and Max found himself seated on a chair on some kind of stage. Multicolored lights flickered around him, and upbeat music¡ªsuspiciously similar to the opening of some anime¡ªblared from speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen!" boomed a voice that seemed oddly familiar. "Welcome to our weekly show ''Congratulations, You''re Dead!''" Max squinted. Behind the massive host''s table sat¡­ an absurd figure. An oversized suit collar, clearly fake mustache, and a hat pulled low¡ªall screamed that this was a woman desperately trying to look like a man. "Just like in that episode of Ouran High School Host Club¡­" Max noted automatically, and then it hit him. "Wait. WHAT?" "And now, we have a very special guest today!" the host continued, using a ridiculously deep voice that occasionally broke into higher tones. "Let''s welcome Maxim Kuznetsov! Our hero not only saved a girl from a truck, stopped a thief, and survived a falling flower pot and a collapsing sign, but he also set a new record in our ''Most Ridiculous Death'' category!" "Death?" Max looked around and nearly fell off his chair. In the audience sat¡­ characters from famous isekai stories. All of them. Kazuma lazily waved, Subaru nodded sympathetically, Ainz from Overlord tried to display an expression (which was difficult, being a skeleton), and Mamako from Do You Love Your Mom discreetly dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Don''t sweat it!" Kazuma shouted. "I died stupidly too! At least you had a tasty last meal!" "Oh, yes," the host sighed dramatically. "Death by anaphylactic shock caused by a rare type of spicy sauce! A first in the history of our show! Let''s watch the replay!" On a giant screen, Max''s last moments replayed¡ªhim choking at MgRonalds as Mizuki¡­ transformed into the nerdy girl. "Wait a minute!" Max jumped in his chair. "Was she¡­?" "And now it''s quiz time!" the host interrupted, with a gesture that reminded Max of both Mizuki and the girl he had bumped into earlier. "What will our guest receive: a) a standard isekai starter kit, b) a unique overpowered ability, or c) an entire harem?" "Harem! Harem!" chanted the audience. "Hey!" Max protested. "What about asking me?" "Oh, believe me," the host smiled strangely, a familiar glint in their eyes. "We already know what you''ll choose." Suddenly, the lights became unbearably bright. "Good luck, hero!" the host said, their voice unmistakably feminine now. "I hope you live up to my¡­ our expectations." "Wait, what does that mean¡­" But Max didn''t get to finish his thought. A bright flash consumed everything around him, and he was sucked into a vortex of light and sound. The last thing he heard was the host''s laughter, like the tinkling of bells, and Kazuma''s shout: "Hey! Why does he get a harem, and I¡­" And then everything went silent. Chapter 1. Awakening in the Snowfields Cold. A biting, relentless cold was the first thing Max felt as he drifted back into consciousness. Snowflakes, driven by a fierce wind, lashed his face like tiny icy needles. Somewhere in his head, the unnaturally cheerful voice of a game show host still echoed, but the reality around him was far less welcoming than the brightly lit studio of his memories. Max struggled to his feet, sinking ankle-deep into the snow. His worn Naruto hoodie was woefully inadequate for the freezing weather. As far as his eyes could see through the blizzard''s veil, an endless snowy wasteland stretched out in every direction. "Okay, stay calm," Max muttered to himself, trying to piece together his situation. "In any decent isekai, the protagonist gets at least a basic starter pack of abilities. There must be a status menu, or an inventory, or..." He waved his arms clumsily, attempting to summon an imaginary menu. The storm only intensified, as if mocking his efforts. "Status! Open menu! Settings!" he shouted, his voice swallowed by the howling wind. "Come on, give me something!" Nothing happened. No floating windows, no character stats, not even a cheap deity offering cheat powers. Just the bone-chilling cold and the sobering realization that this wasn''t some anime where everything was handed to the protagonist on a silver platter. "Hey, whoever''s in charge of isekai logistics!" he thought bitterly. "I demand my standard starter abilities! At least give me basic magic or¡ª" A howl. A long, soul-chilling howl cut through his inner rant. Somewhere in the white haze, a shadow moved, and Max felt a sudden pang of regret for wishing for an authentic "hero''s journey." "Please don''t tell me that''s..." Out of the storm emerged a wolf. Enormous, with shaggy gray fur crusted with ice. Its yellow eyes fixed on Max like he was the main course of a long-awaited feast. "Alright, I take it back!" Max began backing away slowly. "I''ll settle for smartphone cheats! I''ll even take D-tier light novel powers!" The wolf crouched low, preparing to pounce. Its bared fangs gleamed menacingly in the pale light. "At least give me a basic running skill!" Max pleaded aloud, spinning on his heel and bolting into the snow. The snow betrayed him with every step, collapsing underfoot and making his escape agonizingly slow. Behind him, he could hear the guttural growl and the pounding of heavy paws scattering snow in every direction. The predator was relentless, and Max was quickly running out of time and stamina. "If I survive this," Max thought desperately, lungs burning from the frigid air, "I swear I''ll never laugh at overpowered isekai protagonists again! They don''t know how good they''ve got it!" Every step was a struggle. His legs felt like lead, weighed down by the deep snow. The wolf was gaining on him; he could hear its labored breaths growing louder, closer. "Think! Think!" His mind raced, fumbling for a solution. "Every good anime hero has a trick up their sleeve¡ªwhat''s mine?" Suddenly, the world flickered. For the briefest moment, strange symbols appeared in the storm¡ªa cascade of unfamiliar characters resembling lines of code. They wove through the air like translucent ribbons, forming intricate patterns. Max stumbled to a halt in surprise, falling face-first into the snow. The wolf seized the opportunity, leaping at him. Time seemed to slow. Panic surged through Max as he instinctively threw his hands up in a feeble defense. The symbols flared to life, glowing red as if reacting to his desperation, pulsating with an eerie energy. "If this were a glitch, I could just..." the absurd thought flashed through his mind. The wolf''s fangs were inches from his throat when a piercing whistle sliced through the air. Something silver streaked past Max''s face, and the wolf let out a chilling yelp as it was hurled aside. "Don''t move," commanded a cold, feminine voice from above. Max froze, still sprawled in the snow. Through the storm, he saw the silhouette of a rider on a massive black horse. Her long, pale hair flowed in the wind, and a naked blade glinted ominously in her hand. "So... I really am in a fantasy world," Max thought as exhaustion and cold overtook him. "Too bad it''s not the kind with a harem..." Consciousness returned slowly. Max felt strong arms lifting him before his world tilted¡ªhe was draped unceremoniously over a saddle like a sack of potatoes. "Hey, take it easy!" he groaned, struggling to reorient himself. "I''m still a person, not a bag of cargo." "Be quiet," the rider snapped coolly. "You nearly became a snow wolf''s dinner. Complaining about your rescue seems ungrateful." "Of course," Max thought, trying to shift into a less humiliating position. "Classic tsundere vibes. Except these scenes are supposed to be more romantic in anime." He managed to turn his head enough to catch a glimpse of his rescuer. Long silver hair tied in a high ponytail, sharp features, and piercing blue eyes. She wore a white and blue military uniform¡ªsomething more reminiscent of a high-ranking officer in a mecha anime than traditional fantasy armor. "My name''s Max," he ventured, deciding to introduce himself. "And you are...?"The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Princess Arianna von Frosthart," she replied curtly, her eyes fixed on the snowy expanse ahead. "And you should focus on explaining why you''re in the restricted lands of Frostmark instead of worrying about introductions." "Frosthart? Frostmark?" Max smirked internally. "The creator of this world didn''t exactly strain themselves coming up with names." The storm began to subside, revealing the surrounding landscape. They were crossing a snow-covered plain bordered by towering mountains. Their jagged peaks pierced the leaden sky, and their slopes were blanketed in dense, dark forests. The horse transitioned to a trot, and Max, jolted by the movement, instinctively grabbed at Arianna''s coat for support. "Hands off!" she barked sharply. "Sorry!" Max hastily withdrew his hands. "It''s just... I''ve never been on a horse before and¡ª" "This isn''t a horse," she corrected, a note of pride in her voice. "It''s a northern battle steed. Stronger and hardier than any ordinary horse." "Right, of course it is," Max thought wryly. "Because why wouldn''t there be special mounts? Though I''d prefer a dragon or at least a griffon..." The road snaked down toward a valley where the capital of Frostmark, Valderia, sprawled majestically. The city was protected not only by massive stone walls but also by the natural barriers of its rugged surroundings¡ªsheer cliffs and eternal snowfields. Rising above the snowy rooftops was the imposing Frosthart Castle, its towers seemingly piercing the steel-gray clouds. As they approached the city gates, the guards immediately snapped to attention, saluting Arianna with military precision. Their armor bore the marks of wear and use¡ªscuffed leather and scratched metal, evidence of frequent training or battle. "Princess!" barked the commander of the gate guard, his gaze quickly shifting to Max. Suspicion flickered in his eyes. "A guest," Arianna stated firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "Inform the city commandant." The gates swung open silently, operated by an unseen mechanism. For a fleeting moment, Max thought he saw the faint shimmer of symbols in the air¡ªlines of code similar to those he had seen during the storm. But the vision vanished before he could fully grasp it. Valderia''s streets exuded an aura of strength and tradition. The stone and timber houses bore intricate carvings that resembled ancient runes. Snow never turned to slush here; Max noticed how strange markings on the cobblestones caused it to vanish as soon as it touched the ground. The townsfolk, wrapped in heavy furs, bowed respectfully at the sight of Arianna. Yet their reverence was devoid of fear¡ªit was the admiration reserved for a warrior, not a ruler. Many of them carried weapons, and their confident postures suggested these weren''t mere accessories. "This feels more like a Spartan polis than a typical fantasy kingdom," Max mused, his eyes catching sight of a training ground where young soldiers were sparring even in the bitter cold. The road spiraled upward toward Frosthart Castle. Its design was clearly military, with every curve and rise engineered for defense. Noble estates lined the final stretch before the castle gates, their heraldic crests proclaiming the lineage of their inhabitants. The castle courtyard welcomed them with a fountain whose water flowed freely despite the freezing temperatures. Statues of ancient warriors stood vigil around it, clad in weathered armor¡ªthe founders of Frostmark, the first conquerors of the northern lands. Arianna dismounted with practiced ease, her movements fluid and precise. There was a subtle shift in her demeanor¡ªgone was the cold warrior, replaced by the commanding presence of a noble heir. A groom rushed forward to take the reins, bowing deeply. Max, inspired by countless anime scenes, decided to make a gallant impression. "Time for a smooth dismount and a chivalrous gesture," he thought, preparing to slide gracefully off the steed and offer his hand. Reality had other plans. As he swung down, his numbed legs buckled, sending him toppling forward. Arianna reacted instantly, stepping in to catch him¡ª And they ended up in a pose straight out of a romance anime. Max hovered over her, their faces mere inches apart, his hands braced against the wall behind her shoulders. Time seemed to freeze. "Like a shojo manga," Max thought, half-dazed. "Cue the sparkles and flower petals..." Arianna''s chuckle shattered the moment. Her icy blue eyes held a glint of amusement. "Either you''re the clumsiest assassin I''ve ever met," she said with a faint smile, "or you really are new to riding." Max flushed crimson, scrambling to right himself and nearly losing his balance again in the process. "Y-your Highness, I didn''t mean to¡ªI mean, I wasn''t trying to..." "Princess," she corrected, her tone softening slightly for the first time that day. "Princess Arianna. And judging by your reaction, you''re not an assassin. They usually have better balance." "And don''t blush like tomatoes," Max thought, trying to salvage what little dignity he had left. "Captain!" Arianna''s sharp command rang out as a stern officer emerged from a guard post. He straightened immediately, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Prepare the guest chambers in the northern wing," she ordered. "And summon a healer¡ªI want to ensure our guest hasn''t suffered frostbite." "It will be done, Princess!" the captain replied crisply, though his keen eyes lingered on Max, taking in his strange attire and the unusual backpack slung over his shoulders. "Follow me," Arianna said, turning toward the castle''s heavy oak doors. They were ornately carved with depictions of ancient battles, their craftsmanship a testament to generations of skilled artisans. "It''s time for you to explain yourself. And I sincerely hope your story will be worthy of these walls." "Captain," she added, her tone abruptly steely, "make sure our guest doesn''t leave the castle. And convene the war council." Max barely registered the captain''s brisk acknowledgment. His thoughts were still scattered, filled with fragments of recent events¡ªand the faint scent of Arianna''s hair, cool and fresh like a frosty morning with a trace of wildflowers. It was such an odd contrast to her fierce demeanor. "She''s like Saber from ''Fate/stay night,''" Max mused, following her down the castle''s corridors. "That same icy beauty and¡ª" "What are you thinking about?" Arianna''s sharp voice broke into his thoughts. She had turned to look at him, suspicion etched into her features. "I... uh... was admiring the architecture!" Max stammered, blurting out the first excuse that came to mind. "Is that so," she said, her tone colder than the mountain winds. "I hope you''re not studying the guard positions or the thickness of the walls." "Does she really think I''m a spy?" Max swallowed nervously. "Okay, sure, I probably do look suspicious. Especially after that whole falling-off-the-horse fiasco..." A fresh wave of embarrassment washed over him as he recalled their earlier encounter¡ªtheir faces so close, her faint blush barely visible in the icy light. "This way," Arianna said abruptly, pushing open a pair of heavy oak doors. The room beyond was a large council chamber dominated by a long table. Banners and maps adorned the walls, and a grand chair near the hearth resembled a throne. Around the table sat several stern, bearded men in military uniforms, their expressions grim. "Now," Arianna said, seating herself in the chair by the fire. The flickering flames made her eyes glow an almost menacing red. "Tell us who you are and how you came to be in the restricted lands of Frostmark." Max opened his mouth to begin explaining, but his gaze was drawn to the wall behind Arianna. The ancient tapestries adorning it rippled as though caught in an invisible breeze. A familiar shimmer of symbols, like lines of code, appeared across their surface. Only now, the symbols glowed with an ominous crimson light. "Oh, crap..." was all Max managed to think before reality itself seemed to warp and twist around them.