Reincarnated Debugger: The God-Tier Programmer in a Fantasy World

The preparations for the competition were finally completed. Kaito had instructed Nova to arrange for carriages to be sent to the borders of Neonexus so that the envoys and royals from other nations could travel comfortably to the palace. Everything was set, and now it was just a matter of welcoming the guests.

While overseeing the final arrangements, Nova said to Kaito with a concerned expression. "Master, there's a small issue with Renji and the nation he's accompanying."

Kaito immediately turned his attention to Nova, sensing something unusual. "What happened? Did something go wrong?" he asked.

Nova answered. "Yes. The nobles from that nation were mocking Renji, but he chose to ignore them. However, things escalated when they attempted to attack him. Fortunately, the prince of their nation intervened and stopped them."

Kaito let out a sigh of relief. "That was a close call. If Renji had lost his temper, who knows what could have happened?" He shook his head, knowing how dangerous Renji could be when provoked. "Let's hope nothing else happens."

A few minutes later, the carriages started arriving one by one. The palace courtyard was soon filled with grand carriages bearing the insignias of various nations. Kaito, Renji, and a few robotic assistants welcomed the guests and escorted them to their rooms. The air was filled with excitement as nobles and warriors from different parts of the world arrived, eager for the upcoming competition.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the streets of Neonexus were bustling with activity. Adventurers and merchants had gathered in large numbers, creating a lively and chaotic atmosphere. Stalls selling rare weapons, potions, and magical artifacts lined the streets, while performers entertained the crowds with dazzling displays of magic and acrobatics. The entire city was in a festive mood, anticipating the grand event that was about to take place the next day.

As Kaito made his way through the palace corridors, he was approached by Seraphina. She looked curious as she spoke. "Kaito, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Kaito replied, looking at her inquisitively.

Seraphina hesitated for a moment before saying, "Is Renji... a golem?"

Kaito stopped in his tracks, caught off guard by the question. He quickly regained his composure and asked, "What makes you think that?"

Seraphina explained, "Earlier in the hallway, I accidentally bumped into him. But when I did, I noticed something strange—there was no heartbeat from his chest. Also, he didn't even flinch, not even a little, despite his artificial leg. It was almost as if he felt nothing at all."

Kaito forced a smile and replied, "You must be mistaken. Renji is human, just like us. Maybe you just didn't notice his heartbeat at that moment." He gave a small chuckle, trying to dismiss the matter.

Seraphina nodded, though she still seemed skeptical. "I see... I was just curious. Thank you for answering."

Kaito gave her a reassuring nod before excusing himself. However, his mind was racing. What Seraphina had said troubled him. He immediately asked Nova through his telephathy. "Nova, I need you to check Renji's pulse."

A brief pause followed before Nova responded. "I've already checked, it master. There are no signs of life in him. It's as if he were a doll."

Kaito's eyes widened. "Are you sure you checked the real Renji? Not one of his clones?"

"I checked the one with Pixie," Nova confirmed.

Hearing this, Kaito fell into deep thought. He had always known Renji was different, but this was something entirely unexpected. He made a mental note to confront Renji about it later. For now, he had to focus on meeting the guests and ensuring everything was in place for the competition.

With a sigh, Kaito composed himself and continued walking toward the main hall, where the visiting royals and envoys awaited his presence. The competition was just a day away, and there was still much to be done.