Craftsman Cheat System
Chapter 36 - Friends & Farewell

Clay was surprised to not believe, he did not expect that Ariana was a royal princess all this time.

"Wait Clay... I'm not lying to you. I am indeed the son of a rich merchant in this kingdom." Ariana tries to explain to Clay so that Clay is not disappointed because he feels lied to by himself.

"But... See everybody? They kneel to you and call your name 'mistress'." Said Clay while pointing to everyone kneeling down.

"Give me time to explain..." Ariana stopped saying for a few seconds and Clay cut him off. "Well, I'll listen to your explanation."

"My father was a Kayaraya merchant in this kingdom and of course I was the son of a rich merchant... But I am also a grandson of the king of the Grandle kingdom."

Clay's disappointment starts to decline, but he now knows that Ariana isn't completely lying to him.

It's just that Ariana hasn't told me fully about her belonging to the royal family.

"means... Your grandfather was the king of the Grandle kingdom?"

"Hehe yes." Ariana replied with a small smile.

"Then, Max and the others were not Guild members? But except for the royal guard?"

"real Clay... Coincidentally they were the royal guards my grandfather chose to escort me outside the territory."

"What did you do before you met me?"

"For that story, I made up nothing... We went to the neighboring kingdom and while on the way, we were betrayed by one of the soldiers." Ariana told me the truth.

"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning? If I had known in the first place that you were the princess, maybe I would have treated you very well." Clay asked who was still a little unacceptable because he was late to find out the identity of Ariana.

"What difference does it make if I'm a commoner or a royal? We're all the same Clay... I also don't like being treated differently than others. Besides it would be very dangerous if I showed my true identity when I was outside the realm of the kingdom." Replied Ariana who now began to dare openly with Clay.

Hearing Ariana's answer, made Clay more amazed by the nature of Ariana.

"Not only beautiful... But he was also humble and not arrogant. She's the man's dream! But... We have a different caste, he has the title of royal family, whereas I am just an ordinary person who has lost both parents... How could I have it." Clay said in his heart with a sense of inferiority because he was aware of the caste differences between himself and Ariana.

Right after Clay said inwardly, suddenly a royal siren lit up and the siren sounded quite loud in everyone's ears.

*Niiiii.... Niiiiiu... Niiiu...*

"What is this sound? What's gonna happen?" Clay said to himself while paying attention to the circumstances around.

Hearing Clay's words, now Ariana also explained the meaning of the siren that currently reads it.

"This is the signal to summon the royal warrior."

"Why did they call soldiers here?"

Ariana started to pout. "Of course they'll pick me up... That's why I don't like being treated like this... Everything must be controlled and guarded. It's so complicated and I can't be free to do the things I like."

"Haha haha... Also true. Please be patient, princess... Haha." Clay replied with a big laugh with joking intentions with Ariana who now showed her pouting expression.

"Basic... Clay's!" Ariana was a little anxious because Clay was flirting with her, while Clay was still laughing because he saw Ariana's adorable funny behavior with her beautiful face.

After a while, hundreds of soldiers came to the gates of Sier.

They all lined up neatly like trained soldiers.

At the same time as the soldiers came, Clay tried to observe the iron robes and weapons of equipment that the royal soldiers were wearing.

"They all seem strong... But it didn't seem like a single warrior was using magic Equipment or high-level Equipment." Clay said inwardly while observing the hundreds of soldiers who had just come.

"Clay, looks like we're gonna have to split up... They've already picked me up." Ariana smiled at Clay.

Clay also smiled as he looked into Ariana's eyes, then he nodded his head as if Clay agreed with Ariana's words.

After Clay nodded his head, Ariana said. "Clay's... Do you know what? You are my first friend in this world."

"Yes too... But they're not really friends. We are only friends because of the political relationship between the kingdoms. With you, I feel like I consider myself a sincere friend. Right, right?" Ariana said with a cheerful look and a beautiful smile.

Clay also understood what Ariana meant by the relationship of friends in political relations.

Political friends that Ariana means are good relations between the two sides of the kingdom that really must be maintained so that the two kingdoms get various things that are profitable.

The benefits derived from this relationship are usually in the form of benefits in terms of the kingdom's economy and military assistance when one of the kingdoms is in a desperate condition.

"Oh well then... I understand." Clay said with a friendly smile.

Ariana nodded at once and replied. "He'em... Isabel and the others are my friends... I'm glad to meet you all."

"I'm also happy to be friends with you, brother..." Saut Isabel who heard Ariana's words.

Shortly after their conversation took place, now hundreds of royal soldiers had arrived around the city gate.

Then one of the soldiers in the front row approached Ariana on his knees and said. "Welcome, princess..."

"Yes, thank you for welcoming me." Ariana replied in a friendly tone.

"We've come to pick you up princess... Your Majesty has been waiting for your arrival."

"Hm, okay fine."

Ariana leaves Clay and the others for her horse-drawn carriage.

Then Max approached Clay and the others, saying in a formal tone like a soldier. "Thank you for all of your kindness... I promise to repay your kindness at a later date."

Clay seemed a little upset to hear Max's words.

"Max, aren't we friends, too?" Clay asked with a smiling face, though he did not like Max's current way of speaking.

Max was surprised for a few seconds, he did not expect to get such a question from Clay.

"But-but... I'm just a soldier."

"Why indeed? I'm an ordinary person too... Again I asked, are we friends?" Clay remained with a smiling face.

Max smiled at Clay and then replied. "Of course, Clay. We're friends."

"Hahaha good... I look forward to our meeting next time. I will challenge you to eat as much monster meat as possible hahaha."

"Hahaha I'm not afraid."

The two of them finally laughed for a while, until finally Max again said while stepping away from Clay and others. "I have to leave immediately. Again, thanks Clay."

"Yes, you're welcome." Said Clay as he waved his hand.

After all the soldiers had prepared and Ariana had boarded her chariot, they had now left.

When the group of soldiers who escorted Ariana stepped a few steps, now Ariana was removing her body half through the window in the horse carriage, then she shouted towards the guard of Sier city.

"Hey guard... They are my friends! Don't make it difficult for them and let them in easily. I dare to guarantee that they are good people."

The guard of Sier city near Clay also answered Ariana's words. "Okay, princess."

Then, Ariana shouted again, but now she shouted at Clay. "Oh yeah, Clay... I'll tell my grandfather all about you... And I look forward to our next meeting..." Ariana shouted with a happy smile while waving her hands.

Once again the look of Clay's face reddened made, he blushed in shame because of Ariana's speech that sounded so loud that everyone's eyes were now only on Clay.

"Damn! Why is he screaming like that... I-i'm embarrassed..."