“Stop Calling Me Weak!” (Level 2 Reached)
Jayden—no, Prince Caelus of the Broken Spine and Even Worse Reputation—was not having a good morning.
He had woken up to the sound of a rat chewing on his boot. Again.
He had attempted a morning stretch and nearly pulled his soul out of joint.
And now he was limping across the palace courtyard for mandatory family attendance at the “morning judgment ceremony,” whatever that meant.
His legs still ached from yesterday's workout. His dignity still hadn’t respawned.
“Don't pass out,” he muttered. “Don’t vomit. Don’t die.”
It was a simple mantra.
It was also immediately shattered.
Because halfway across the courtyard, he heard it. A low growl. A click of claws.
And then… barking.
A beast emerged from the hedges, frothing at the mouth, glowing red eyes, fangs like daggers.
Well, okay, it was technically a small palace guard dog.
But to Caelus’s noodle-weak body and fear-addled brain, it may as well have been Cerberus’s cursed cousin.
“AHHHHH—!”
The dog lunged.
Caelus screamed. Arms flailed. Reflexes kicked in.
He punched it.
One shaky, panic-fueled jab to the snoot.
And by some miracle of bad physics and pity from the gods… he connected.
The dog squeaked, whimpered, and skidded back a few feet.
Then it sat. Eyes wide. Tail drooping.
And then… it ran away.
Caelus stood frozen, fist still raised like some shaky champion of the weak.
A nearby maid dropped her tray in slow motion.
A young knight gasped, whispered, “H-He defeated Beezlefluff…”
From a balcony above, a court lady fanned herself and swooned.
[Critical Hit!]
> You have defeated a Tier 1 Beast-Type Enemy: “Palace Guard Dog – Beezlefluff.”
[Unarmed Combat Lv. 2] → Lv. 3
> Fist of fear now has 3% chance to cause intimidation. 100% chance of confusing everyone.
[Local Reputation: +25]
> You are now considered “mildly threatening” by the palace staff.
> Nickname unlocked: “The Dog-Slayer Prince”
Caelus blinked. “Wait, what? I just panicked!”
The system pinged again.
[LEVEL UP – Level 2 Reached!]
> STR: +1
> AGI: +1
> HP: +10
> You are now slightly less embarrassing! Marginally stronger! Still a disaster!
>
> Title Bonus: [Trash Prince] - “Against all odds, you still exist.”
> New Perk: “Coward’s Reflex” – +5% chance to dodge when terrified.
Caelus doubled over, panting. “Did I just... win a fight by accident?”
[Yes. And we’re all just as surprised as you are.]
[New Achievement Unlocked: “Blunder Into Glory”]
The knight who had gasped earlier now approached in reverent awe.
“Your Highness… I had heard the rumors. But I see now—they were wrong.”
Caelus looked up weakly. “Which rumors?”
“That you were weak,” the knight whispered. “But you punched a dog. With honor.”
The maid from earlier clutched her apron and added, “No nobleman’s ever hit Beezlefluff before. You may be the strongest of them all…”
“Beezlefluff? That’s the name of the palace’s vicious guard hound?” Caelus flickered.
She nodded solemnly. “He’s bitten six viscounts and a duke’s cousin. Once, he stared down the Emperor’s war horse.”
Caelus stared at his trembling hand (body reflex). “What is my life?”
Word traveled fast. As in, frighteningly fast.
By the time he reached the Judgment Hall, every noble under the sun had already heard about his “feat.”
Whispers followed him as he limped through the massive golden doors.
“That’s him!”
“The Trash Prince… who bested the Beast of the Courtyard!”
“They say he used a secret technique passed down through fallen houses…”
“Or maybe he’s possessed by a god of fists!”
Caelus trudged to his designated corner behind a marble pillar and muttered, “I was just… well, startled. I didn’t even mean to hit it. It was a freaking dog. I’m a scum!”
[To be fair, that thing looked like a beast. But it doesn’t matter. You’re a legend now. Roll with it.]
[Or trip over your ego. Either way, content will be generated.]
He crossed his arms and tried to look regal. Failed. Then tried to look mysterious. That mostly just made his eye twitch.
The Emperor entered, flanked by gilded guards, resplendent in his oversized throne of judgment.
Caelus immediately lowered his head. Eye contact with Emperor Dad was the quickest way to trigger a new trauma quest.
The Emperor's voice thundered. “Let judgment begin. Bring forth the complaints.”
As various nobles whined about property taxes, goat feuds, and a suspiciously smug pigeon who kept pooping on a baron’s hat, Jayden drifted off slightly—until someone mentioned him.
“My Emperor,” a duchess said, “I would raise a concern about your son, the... Trash Pr—er, I mean, His Highness Caelus.”
Caelus’s spine snapped straight. Here we go...
The duchess continued, “Word has spread that he assaulted a palace animal—”
“In self-defense!” Caelus blurted.
All heads turned.
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed like an executioner spotting a rusty axe.
Caelus stood up straighter and raised his chin. “With respect, Your Radiance... it was either me or Beezlefluff. I chose me.”
Silence.
Then...
Someone coughed. A chuckle escaped a guard. Another noble let out a scandalized “Heavens!”
And then… laughter.
Not mocking. Not cruel. Genuine amusement.
The Emperor’s lip twitched. “You struck down Beezlefluff?”
Caelus gulped. “Yes, Father.”
A long pause.
Then the Emperor said, dryly, “Well. He bit my favorite general last week. Consider it... justice.”
Gasps.
Caelus (again, body reflex… as much as Jayden on the inside was a tough nougat) almost fainted on the spot.
[Royal Favor: +5]
> The Emperor now sees you as “mildly interesting” instead of “deeply disappointing”.
> Pretty cool, huh?
> You may live to see next week. Probably.
Later, back in his chicken-coop manor, Caelus collapsed on the straw bed and stared at the ceiling.
He'd somehow survived judgment, punched a beast—dog, gained a level, and become a weird folk hero in the span of six hours.
His life made zero sense.
But he was stronger now.
A little.
Tiny, rather.
And no one had called him weak today.
Well… not to his face.
“I’ll take it,” he whispered.
>> You punched a dog.
>> You scared nobles.
>> You impressed the Emperor.
>> Today was a win.
>> Try not to ruin it tomorrow.
Caelus grinned.
“I’m not weak anymore.”
Pause.
“…Right?”
[…]
[Let’s not get ahead of yourself.]