Reincarnated as a Princess's Pet: With Trash Stats, but SSS-Rank Skill-Chapter 46: Preparing to Rescue Abby

Max, Elanor, and Moon walked through the castle corridors.

Moon walked a few steps ahead, glancing back every so often.

"Are you sure this is going to work?"

Max sighed.

"I told you I don’t think this is a good time."

Elanor frowned slightly.

"We need to talk to him."

They arrived in front of the large doors of the royal hall.

But someone was already there.

Don.

The butler stood beside the door with his usual impeccable posture.

When he saw them approaching, he slightly bowed his head.

"Princess."

Then he looked at Max and Moon.

"The king is currently occupied."

Max crossed his arms.

"See?"

He looked at Moon.

"I told you."

Elanor stepped forward.

"Don."

The butler lifted his gaze.

The princess spoke calmly, but firmly.

"Please. We need to speak with him."

She paused briefly.

"Abby has been kidnapped."

For the first time, Don’s expression changed slightly.

His eyebrows frowned just a little.

"...I see."

He stayed silent for a few seconds.

Then he opened the door.

"Very well. You may enter."

The three of them walked into the hall.

The great royal hall was silent.

The curtains were half closed.

And on the throne...

The king was lying sideways on his seat.

One hand hung toward the floor.

He looked completely asleep.

Moon whispered,

"...Is he dead?"

Max shook his head.

"No. He just lost against breakfast liquor."

Elanor walked to the center of the room.

"Father."

There was no response.

"Father, we need to speak with you. It’s urgent."

The king opened his eyes immediately.

As if he had been awake the entire time.

"...Good morning."

Max blinked.

Moon did too.

Don silently appeared behind them.

In his hand was a small bottle.

"Your Majesty."

The king took it without looking. He uncorked it and drank the entire content in one gulp.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then he slowly stretched. His posture straightened. His eyes regained their brightness.

"Ah."

He sighed.

"Much better."

Moon looked at Max.

"...That was weird."

Max leaned toward her and whispered,

"It’s medicine for when you’re poisoned."

Elanor let out a small laugh.

The king looked at his daughter.

"Forgive my previous condition."

Then he looked at Max.

"Did you come to talk about what I asked you?"

Elanor tilted her head.

"No. In fact, I don’t know what you asked him."

Then she spoke more seriously.

"But this is more urgent."

The king rested his chin on his hand.

"I’m listening, my daughter."

Elanor took a deep breath.

"Abby was taken by a devil."

Max added,

"Her brother."

Moon raised a hand.

"And she’s also a princess."

The king raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Max continued.

"Abigail Morningstar. Daughter of Lucifer, king of the devils."

The king stayed silent for a few seconds.

Then he slowly nodded.

"That explains quite a lot."

Elanor continued,

"We want to organize a group to rescue her."

Max stepped forward.

"I’m going."

Moonlight immediately raised her hand.

"Me too!"

The king looked at both of them.

Then he sighed.

"Then my ritual will have to wait."

Elanor blinked.

"...Ritual?"

The king shrugged.

"I was planning to summon another human."

Max froze.

The king continued completely naturally.

"So it can become my own pet."

Elanor looked at him completely surprised.

"Father...?"

The king pointed at Max.

"I asked him to train it."

Then he waved his hand.

"But there’s no rush. As long as he returns safe and sound."

Max didn’t know whether to feel flattered or worried.

The king continued,

"In fact... this excursion could be useful."

He adjusted himself on the throne.

"We need grated devil horn for the ritual."

Moon tilted her head.

"...Grated?"

The king nodded.

"It works better than powder."

Don sighed softly behind them.

The king continued,

"In any case."

He looked to the side.

"I think it would be wise if someone accompanied you."

He made a small gesture with his hand.

A figure that had been standing in the shadows stepped forward.

A tall man.

Covered in black armor.

His gaze was cold and calm.

"Captain Neros."

The king smiled.

"My personal guard."

Neros bowed his head.

"It will be an honor."

Don brought a hand to his forehead.

"I can’t believe I’m going to ask something like this..."

He sighed.

"But given the circumstances... it is reasonable."

Elanor smiled slightly.

"Thank you very much, Father."

The king looked at Max.

"Before you leave, ask Frida for any weapon, armor, or item you need."

Then he added,

"I want you to come back in one piece."

Elanor raised a hand.

"I’ll also ask Sophie to go with them."

The king looked at her closely.

Elanor sighed.

"Relax... I know I can’t go."

The king slowly nodded.

"Good."

Then he smiled.

"Well then, it seems you will have a small expedition."

Moon raised both hands.

"Let’s rescue Abby!"

***

Moon still had her hands raised when they left the hall.

Max sighed.

"Well."

He ran a hand through his hair.

"I guess now we need to prepare."

Elanor nodded.

"I’ll go find Sophie."

Then she looked at Moon.

"Take care."

Moon made a small military salute.

"Yes, mommy!"

Elanor smiled slightly and walked away down the corridor.

Max looked at Moon.

"Let’s go see Frida."

Moon jumped excitedly.

"New team!"

***

The castle forge was full of metallic noise.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

Frida was standing in front of the anvil when they entered.

She didn’t even lift her gaze.

"You’re here."

Max blinked.

"...Huh?"

Frida placed the hammer on the table.

"The king already informed me."

She wiped her hands with a cloth.

"Take whatever you need."

Moon’s eyes widened.

"That sounds expensive!"

Max smiled.

"First things first."

He pointed at Moon.

"We need armor for her. And if possible... a helmet."

Frida raised an eyebrow while looking at the little draconian.

Moon lifted her arms.

"I’m ready!"

Frida slowly nodded.

Then she walked to a corner of the workshop.

There was a huge metal chest there.

She opened it.

Inside were all kinds of items.

Max leaned forward to look.

"Magic items too?"

Frida answered naturally,

"Of course."

Max started looking through them.

And then—

A small hammer.

It was short.

Not too heavy.

Max picked it up.

And the system appeared.

[ Small Blacksmith Hammer ]

[ Type: Throwing weapon / tool ]

[ Effect: If thrown, it can return to the wielder’s hand once every 24 hours. ]

He equipped it.

The system appeared again.

[ Effect Improved ]

[ New effect: The hammer always returns to its wielder’s hand when thrown. ]

[ Cooldown removed. ]

Max blinked.

"...That’s broken."

Moon looked at him.

"What does it do?"

Max spun the hammer in his hand.

"It’s basically a boomerang."

Then he looked at Frida.

"Do you mind if I keep it? I think it could be useful."

Frida shrugged.

"It’s an old work hammer. I don’t use it anymore. Keep it."

Max smiled.

"Thanks."

Frida reached into the chest again.

She pulled out a shield.

It was round.

Made of dark steel.

Several runes were engraved on it.

"Take one of these too."

Max took it.

The system appeared.

[ Countercharge Shield ]

[ Defense: +25 ]

[ Effect: When blocking an attack, it generates a counterforce that pushes nearby enemies away and protects the wielder within a small area. ]

Max equipped it.

The system shone again.

[ Effect Improved ]

[ New effect: The protective barrier covers the wielder and party members within a 20-meter radius. ]

Max stared at the window.

"...Twenty meters?"

Moon tilted her head.

"Is that a lot?"

Max sighed.

"Moon. With this ability..."

He looked at the shield.

"...platinuming the game would be ridiculously easy."

Then he muttered,

"If I had better stats."

Frida didn’t understand anything, but nodded anyway.

Then she took a ring from the chest.

"This will help you too."

Max took it.

[ Fire Resistance Ring ]

[ Effect: Reduces fire damage. ]

Frida crossed her arms.

"Moonlight doesn’t need it."

She pointed at the little dragon girl.

"Draconians have natural resistance."

Then she looked at Max.

"But you do. Devils use a lot of fire magic."

Max equipped it.

The system reacted again.

[ New effect: Fire damage received restores the wearer’s HP. ]

Max looked at the ring.

"...Now fire heals me."

Moon opened her mouth.

"That’s cheating!"

Meanwhile, Moon was already searching through the chest.

Suddenly she lifted something. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Papa!"

It was a silver armor.

It shined brightly under the forge light.

And it looked exactly her size.

Moon equipped it.

It fit perfectly.

Frida nodded.

"That one doesn’t have magical effects. But it increases the wearer’s defense by thirty. And it’s light."

Moon spun happily.

"I like it!"

Frida took out a small helmet.

"And this."

Moon put it on.

Suddenly—

Clink.

Clink.

Two openings appeared on the top.

Moon’s small horns passed through them.

The helmet adjusted itself to her head.

Moon touched the sides.

"Magic!"

The system appeared.

[ Concentrated Impact Helmet ]

[ Defense: +10 ]

[ Effect: Allows the wearer to double the damage of a single attack. ]

[ Cooldown: 48 hours. ]

Moon raised her fists.

"I’m going to hit really hard!"

Max looked at the equipment.

"...Not bad."

Then he looked at Frida.

"Hey. Don’t you want to come with us?"

Frida laughed softly.

"That would be useless."

She leaned against the table.

"I’ve never been in a fight in my life. Not even in the Devil Kingdom."

Then she looked at Max.

"Besides. Someone has to keep this forge running."

She paused briefly.

"But I trust you. Bring Abby back."

Max nodded.

"We will."

He turned toward the exit.

Then he raised a hand.

"Thanks for helping us."

Frida smiled.