The Hero's Despair

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Penny scrutinized the rather unkempt man in front of her for a while, but no matter how she looked, she couldn't recognize who he was. "What's your name, mister? I'm very familiar with every single person scheduled to meet the princess today, and you… don't seem to be a part of that group, no?"

Not being recognized by the ponytailed girl was both relieving and disheartening, a testament to how far he had fallen, but the silver-haired boy knew that there was no point in dwelling on such thoughts now.

He had many questions that only Emilia could answer, and there was no way he was leaving this place without meeting her, regardless of the means he had to use.

"I—"

Just as he was about to put his rather reckless plan into motion, however, he was rudely interrupted once again, this time by a girl he really didn't want to meet at all.

"Penny!"

Crystal Miller.