As Ryu sheathed his sword, he held out his hand towards the three knights.

In an instant, the three knights, whose limbs had been severed, were restored to their original state as if nothing had happened. Ryu had used space-time magic to rewind time to before their bodies were cut.

Aiga and his comrades were stunned, checking their limbs in disbelief.

Ryu had read the knights' minds with his divine eye, knowing that they couldn't disobey orders but secretly didn't want to carry out the task. That's why he decided to save them. His usual rule was to kill anyone who tried to kill him, so saving them was a rare act of generosity on his part.

Ryu: "You're lucky you didn't get killed. I'm telling you, I won't hesitate next time. If you oppose me, be prepared to die."

With those words, Ryu teleported himself away, disappearing to his home.

(Scene Change)

Aiga and the others returned to Prince Harris and reported that their attack on Ryu had failed.

Harris: "You mean that man is so powerful? Just a mere commoner adventurer kid?"

Aiga: "We apologize, Your Highness. But that man's skills are real. I believe even an ordinary knight wouldn't stand a chance against him."

Harris: "But you guys are uninjured, right? You said your arms and legs were cut off, but they're unharmed?"

Aiga: "Well... Everything returned to normal when we regained consciousness. Perhaps that Ryujiin used healing magic..."

Harris: "Instantaneously healing severed arms and legs with no scars... That's a top-level healing magic only the Pope or those with the Elixir can perform. You're saying that kid did that? Impossible. He probably used illusions to trick you and ran away."

Aiga: "No, Your Highness, it didn't seem like an illusion..."

Harris: "Silence. A knight who can't even carry out a simple order to kill a commoner kid isn't needed in my knights. And to make excuses like you were tricked because the enemy was strong is unforgivable! I'll behead you immediately..."

Mashu: "W-we apologize! Aiga, it was an illusion, right? There's no way we'd get beaten so easily! Your Highness, please give us another chance! We'll definitely take him down! Please have mercy!"

Harris: "Hmph, well, commoner adventurers are known to resort to dirty tricks. He probably used a little trick we didn't expect. Alright, I'll give you one more chance. But if you fail again, I won't just take your heads, I'll demolish your families. Make sure you put your heart into it."

"Yes sir! ...We will!"

Harris: "But do it out of Sophie's sight, alright? She'll be angry if she finds out."

The three knights bowed and left.

However, Aiga couldn't shake the feeling that it was an illusion. If that was Ryu's true power, they would surely die if they fought him.

But if they couldn't carry out the order, they would be executed by the prince. No, execution wasn't the worst part, their families would be implicated.

Aiga, Galteo, and Mashu were trapped in a no-win situation.

(Scene Change)

(Ryu and Sophie went shopping in the city the next day. Marie, Betty, and Alice, Sophie's guards and maids, accompanied them.)

Of course, Prince Harris objected to Sophie going shopping herself. However, Sophie became furious, forcing Harris to promise to wait at the Lord's welcoming villa.

Thanks to that, Sophie's first shopping spree went smoothly without any interference. However, the others were surprised by Ryu again.

Ryu had been too busy lately to shop, so he took the opportunity to do some shopping for himself.

Ryu: "How much do you have available today?"

Shopkeeper: "I have 50 dishes prepared today, so I can give you about 20."

Ryu: "Alright, that'll do. Oh, and I'll return the dishes when I'm done."

Ryu visited restaurants, ordering dozens of dishes from each.

Sophie and the others were initially surprised if he was going to eat all of that, but Ryu simply stored everything in his spatial dimension.

They were surprised again to hear that time stopped inside his storage space.

Normally, magical bags that expand with storage magic allow time to flow normally within them, so food would spoil if left inside. However, Ryu's spatial storage space stopped time. So he could store food and eat it fresh whenever he wanted.

Sophie: "I see, so that's how it is. So Ryu, how much can you store? Is there a limit on size or weight?"

Ryu: "I don't know. I've never tested the limits. Maybe it's infinite?"

Betty: "That's impossible. How much magic do you think you're using?"

Ryu: "I have zero magic."

Betty: "That's a lie. Whether it's teleportation or storage, how can you use magic with no magic?!"

Ryu: "I wonder? How do you think?"

Betty: "Let me measure your magic later. You can get it measured at the guild."

Ryu: "I've been measured many times."

Betty: "Then the measuring device is broken. Maybe you should get measured with the device at the palace?"

Ryu: "I don't think I'll have the opportunity to go to the palace."

Sophie: "But... Just being able to teleport and use storage magic, it's practically invincible if you use it right. It would change how wars are fought."

Marie: "It's true that transporting large quantities of supplies would make logistics easier, but I doubt it would change warfare that drastically..."

Alice: "You could teleport and assassinate enemy commanders with pinpoint accuracy."

Marie: "Oh..."

Sophie: "Storage magic can also be used in combat! What if you stored a bunch of large rocks and released them above the enemy? What if the capacity is truly unlimited..."

Ryu: "I still have that fireball Betty cast during the mock battle stored. I can take it out whenever I want."

Betty: " ...!"

Sophie: "If Ryu's abilities were known to the public, wouldn't noble scouts try to recruit him?"

Ryu: "Not yet. But I'd refuse anyway."

Sophie: "Ryu, what do you think about coming to the palace? I think Father would offer you exceptional treatment with your power."

Marie: "Sophie-sama, it's unwise to bring someone of unknown origin into the palace..."

Ryu: "Unknown origin, you say? That's true. (laughs) I'll pass. I have no intention of serving in the palace."

Sophie: "That's a shame. With that power, you could even become the captain of the Royal Knights."

Ryu: "Why should I be exploited by the royals? It's not beneficial for me."

Sophie: "Of course, we'll pay you appropriately."

Ryu: "My creed is to live freely. I don't want to be tied down. I'm not lacking in money either. I'll decline."

(Scene Change)

(After shopping, Ryu and the others arrived at the Adventurers' Guild.)

They were supposed to go their separate ways and rest after finishing Sophie's dungeon attack shopping, with plans to head to the dungeon tomorrow morning. But because Betty insisted, they ended up going to the guild to measure Ryu's magic before disbanding.

(Scene Change)

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(Text: Ryu's Magic Measurement and Sophie's First Time. Don't miss it!)