Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2001: Not hiding it at all

While I pondered over the fate of the egg that had been given to me, shock hit me as I noticed it starting to fade right before my eyes.

It looked like the egg was converting itself into pure energy, almost as if it were on the brink of vanishing completely from the world.

Yet, that didn't happen—instead, it morphed into a strand of energy that seeped straight into my palm.

Glancing downward, I spotted a soft light emanating from the Mark of God etched on my skin.

With my eyes shut and my awareness probing inward, I realized the egg had slipped into the Mark of God, now safely tucked away inside. A mere intention would summon it forth whenever needed.

Still, I chose not to retrieve it, allowing the egg to remain stored within the Mark of God.

I had no clue how the egg managed this feat, but summoning it now would be unwise. After all, folks lurking outside would surely covet it and try to claim it for themselves.

It was smarter to keep its existence a total secret from them.

Having resolved that issue, I pushed open the door and stepped out, where King Lune stood waiting patiently.

The instant I emerged, he rushed up and inquired, "Your majesty, how was the ancestor?"

His voice carried a pretense of concern for the phoenix, but I could sense the underlying truth—it wasn't worry for the bird that drove him. The subtle edge in his tone revealed a deeper fixation on something far more important to him.

Humans often let their desires run wild once they grasped certain truths, pushing themselves to the edge of self-destruction.

In this instance, though, fear gripped them because this boon had been theirs for ages. It felt like a sudden theft of something they'd long taken for granted.

Some of that stemmed from their failure to act despite receiving such a gift.

Thanks to the phoenix's blessing, countless opportunities had arisen for them to better their lot.

Evidently, they had squandered every single one.

"Your ancestor is fine." I replied in a straightforward manner.

This caught King Lune off guard, prompting him to squint suspiciously as if searching for any sign of deception. But I met his gaze steadily, unflinching.

Ultimately, King Lune could only force a grin and utter, "That’s good then."

I offered no response, knowing it served me nothing to engage.

Just the same, I hadn't anticipated he'd press so boldly without restraint.

"Your majesty, did the ancestor request you to relay any message to us?"

The intensity in his stare suggested he anticipated me producing some item right then.

His expression implied he viewed it as his rightful claim to seize.

Of course, I had zero intention of handing over a thing.

With the egg placed in my care, King Lune had no business even dreaming of it.

"No, there’s nothing." I answered evenly.

On this occasion, King Lune showed no sign of letting that slide so readily.

"Your majesty, please grasp that our ancestor has safeguarded the Solar Kingdom across countless generations. Thus, the reverence we hold for them surpasses all else."

He left his words hanging, yet the insinuation rang crystal clear.

A bit more prodding, and he'd shift from subtle hints to outright demands.

Still, such tactics wouldn't intimidate me in the least.

Upon hearing his plea, I locked eyes with King Lune calmly and declared, "I’ve already said that I haven’t received anything from your ancestor."

A flicker of astonishment crossed King Lune’s features, as if my words had thrown him completely.

Without another word to him, I pressed on, heading away from that spot.

Soon enough, King Lune trailed after me in silence. Even so, I felt the piercing stare he directed at my back.

The phoenix had foreseen every bit of this.

It made perfect sense, given how the phoenix had dispersed its essence throughout the realm. That very essence formed the core of the phoenix, binding it intimately to the land.

Observing the inhabitants via that connection wouldn't surprise anyone.

Having scattered its essence across the entire Solar Kingdom, the phoenix could effortlessly monitor every corner of the domain.

Such an idea painted the Solar Kingdom as a surveillance fortress, though nothing could be further from the truth.

I brushed aside that notion and shifted my focus back to King Lune.

Without turning, I easily picked up on his motives from that lingering gaze. It hinted at schemes brewing in his mind, though he wasn't prepared to act just yet.

Back at the group, the royal guards' wary glances toward me confirmed as much.

They'd clearly plotted this beforehand, hatching strategies in advance.

I gave a subtle shake of my head to Klein and the guards, signaling them to hold back.

The moment to shatter all pretense of courtesy hadn't arrived.