Chapter 1: Death

I was a mercenary.

I couldn’t endure the abuse from my parents any longer, so I left home and wandered the world.

Because of the nature of my job, I met many people.

Most of them looked at me with pity when I told them my story.

My parents—or rather, those people—made it a daily routine to beat me.

My father was a butcher.

He killed animals and processed meat.

It was a job that required expert knife skills.

The problem was… he was a psychopath.

He would often test how sharp his knives were on my body.

His excuse was that he was checking the blade’s sharpness, but in truth, I think he just wanted to dissect a human being.

Thanks to that, my body is covered in scars.

Whenever he got drunk, he would start bragging.

Boasting about how skilled he was with a knife, claiming he could cut down a knight with a single swing.

But to me, he was nothing more than a murderer.

Maybe he used to have ten fingers once.

But now he’s missing a few, and his skills have deteriorated.

He clings to his job at the slaughterhouse, the only thing he knows how to do.

Whether it was fortunate or not, he never touched my face.

Maybe even he knew what he was doing was a crime.

Ironically, it was because of him that I became good with a sword.

Every time a blade sliced through my flesh, I learned more about human anatomy.

That hellish experience turned me into a master swordsman.

My mother was a prostitute.

I heard she was fairly well-known in the city.

My father got her pregnant and had to marry her.

I was a child no one wanted.

My mother was beautiful.

She had gentle eyes and delicate features.

She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

I inherited some of that beauty.

But that was all I got from her—just her looks.

Love? Affection? I never received any of that.

They say like attracts like.

Both of them were absolute trash.

My mother lived a life of extravagance far beyond her means.

She excelled at ruining the household, using her body to earn money from men.

One day, she even tried to force me to work in a brothel.

I screamed, “Are you insane?!” and ran away.

Since I was around ten years old, I’d been planning to escape that house.

I prepared in my own way, and eventually, I did it.

Calling it a “runaway” feels too generous. It was an escape.

To survive.

At that age, there wasn’t much I could do.

I started as a servant in a mercenary group.

***

“You have a profound talent for magic.”

When I was eighteen.

He said that to me while I was on an escort mission for a mage.

He became the benefactor of my life.

“What a waste… You could’ve become something great, but it’s too late now.”

“Old man, if you’re gonna sell nonsense, try it on someone else.”

I smirked and brushed him off.

‘Magic, me? What a joke.’

The idea of someone like me, a lowborn, wielding the noble art of magic? Even a passing dog would laugh.

“It’s not completely too late. If you walk the path of magic now, you can still achieve something.”

“So what, you want me to go to an academy at this age?”

“Does learning have an age? I study for twelve hours a day, even now.”

“That’s you. I’m different. Who’s gonna pay my tuition? My rent? What, is money supposed to fall from the sky?”

“Young man, people need a vision. Sure, you’re strong and healthy now, but what about when you get old? You want to swing a sword until you’re crippled and dying in poverty?”

“…Well, no, I guess not.”

“But a mage is different. They have vision. Muscles deteriorate, but the mind doesn’t. With knowledge and insight, you can mature and grow endlessly.”

He made a good point.

I listened to the old man seriously.

“In this era, knowledge is money. Just flapping your gums can earn you hundreds.”

“Even so, I’ve got nothing. And you said it yourself, didn’t you? That it’s too late.”

At some point, I started calling him “Old man.”

“Become my student.”

“Your student?”

“Forgive the late introduction. I am Chevalier Divre, honorary professor of the Imperial Royal Academy. If you become my student, I’ll take full responsibility for your education.”

“A professor? Then what are you doing out here?”

“Enlightenment doesn’t come from sitting around indoors. If you want something, you have to move for it. So, will you give magic a try?”

“Oh… Sure. Why not.”

And so, I began learning magic and liberal arts under Chevalier.

As he said, I had talent.

Even though I started late, my progress was rapid.

So I really did have talent after all.

Nothing felt difficult.

I easily understood everything Chevalier taught me.

Come to think of it, I was always smart.

I could read and write from a young age, and I understood newspapers.

“Sixth Circle. Congratulations.”

I was twenty-five.

It had only taken me seven years to achieve this.

I had become a high-tier mage.

My teacher, Chevalier, sincerely congratulated me.

“So, how does it feel?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Sixth Circle! You’ve just barely begun to grasp the vastness of the universe. Don’t you feel anything?”

“Honestly? Not really sure.”

I smiled and lit a cigarette.

Chevalier lit one too.

We shared a smoke together.

“Forget the secrets of the universe. Money’s what really matters, isn’t it? Being Sixth Circle means I should be making good money, right?”

Chevalier laughed.

“You haven’t changed a bit since we first met. Don’t worry. When you reach the Sixth Circle, money comes whether you want it or not.”

“Right?”

“…So, are you really not going to become a professor? At the Imperial Academy, no less. You’d be raking in money by the shovel.”

He had once offered me a professorship.

Though Chevalier was only an honorary professor now, he still had the power to recommend someone.

“No thanks. Even if I earned a ton of money, what would I do with it?”

“Didn’t you just say money is everything?”

“I was joking. I already have plenty. You think I spent all my time locked in a room reading magic books?”

“On my days off, I walked around the city and engaged in all kinds of business.”

“I invested in stocks and entered swordsmanship tournaments for the prize money.”

“One company I invested in ended up becoming a major corporation.”

“Honestly, I could live off the dividends alone for the rest of my life.”

***

“So, what are you going to do? From the look of you now, it seems like you’ve quit being a mage.”

“I’m thinking about becoming a public servant.”

“A civil servant, huh? Not bad. Where to? A magic researcher? The combat division’s not a bad choice either.”

“I’m aiming for the Imperial Guard.”

Among human desires, there’s one for respect.

Now that I had money, I wanted to do something truly significant.

“The Imperial Guard?”

“Yes.”

“Haha… Of all the places, you chose that? One wrong step and you’ll be dead.”

“As long as I back the right person, I’ll be fine.”

“Tch, well, do as you like. But if something ever happens to me, you’ll help me, right?”

“What’s that face? Don’t tell me you’d pretend not to know me someday!”

“I’m joking. Of course I’ll help you.”

The Emperor’s Sword—the Imperial Guard.

They were the pinnacle of the nation’s power, wielding authority beyond the law.

With a recommendation from Professor Chevalier, I passed the interview and joined on merit alone.

“You must be the new guardsman. May the gods bless our meeting.”

I met the Emperor.

To think that someone as lowborn as me would meet the most noble being in the world…

I guess life really is full of surprises.

“Your name was Gerta, wasn’t it? Won’t you be my conversation partner?”

***

About a month after I joined the Imperial Guard, the Emperor summoned me.

He didn’t assign me any major task.

Literally, he just wanted someone to talk to.

“How is life in the Guard? Is it difficult?”

“How could protecting the Imperial family possibly be difficult, Your Majesty?”

I might be a rotten bastard, but I’m not oblivious.

I flattered him just enough to keep the conversation flowing.

“Oh? You were a disciple of Chevalier? Then you must be quite the mage.”

“You know him?”

“Of course. He used to be the commander of the 2nd Mage Battalion. How do I know? I’m the one who appointed him.”

“I see.”

“What did you do before becoming his disciple?”

“I worked as a mercenary.”

“Mercenary work, huh. People often belittle mercenaries, saying they have no ideals or honor—but I disagree. The world needs people like them.”

‘The Emperor was… how should I put it?’

Talkative. That was just his nature, I suppose.

***

Three months passed.

I’d been in the Imperial Guard for that long.

For some reason, the Emperor favored me above the rest.

He frequently summoned me to just sit and chat.

People say even a few minutes of conversation with the Emperor is a rare honor, but for me, it was just tiring.

“My youngest daughter, Yulia. Isn’t she adorable?”

One day, he started bragging about his daughter.

She looked to be around ten years old.

A doll-like girl with golden hair and blue eyes.

She looked up at me with eyes like starlight.

“You have a daughter?”

It was the first time he had shown her to me.

I wondered—’was this a sign of trust?’

It made me feel oddly emotional.

“She’s my youngest. Maybe it’s because I had her so late in life, but I’m especially attached to her. I could put her in my eye and it wouldn’t hurt.”

“If you put her in your eye, it would hurt.”

Yulia replied flatly.

The Emperor burst out laughing.

“Haha! Did you hear that? She’s so clever!”

“Indeed. She’s brilliant and beautiful. She might just shake the foundations of the Empire someday.”

That wasn’t flattery.

Yulia truly was as pretty as a doll.

I had never seen a woman more beautiful than my mother.

But once Yulia grows up, that might change.

The Emperor’s expression turned serious.

“The Empire? That’s all?”

“…Excuse me?”

“The Empire is too small. If we’re to contain Yulia’s brilliance, it’ll have to be the world—no, the entire universe.”

His love for his daughter was overwhelming.

But I understood.

‘With a daughter like that, who wouldn’t feel the same?’

***

Two months later.

It had been six months since I joined the Imperial Guard.

I was still the newbie.

“Newbie. Do you know who you’re truly supposed to serve?”

The captain of the guard asked me, out of nowhere.

It felt like a strange question.

“Yes, His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Wrong.”

“Then who?”

“Our loyalty lies with the Empire. Remember that.”

With those words, the captain turned and walked away.

As usual, the Emperor summoned me again.

On his lap sat his treasure—Yulia—fiddling with a teddy bear in her small hands.

I recalled the captain’s words.

‘Your loyalty is to the Empire, not the Emperor…’

It was a meaningful statement.

“Something on your mind?”

“…Yes, a little.”

“Is it about a woman? Well, you’re at that age. If you need advice, I’m here.”

“I wish it were just that. But no… I heard something strange.”

“What was it?”

After some hesitation, I replied.

“…The captain said our loyalty should be to the Empire, not to Your Majesty.”

“Did he now?”

The Emperor chuckled.

“Overthinking leads to poor decisions. Why don’t I give you a little vacation?”

“A vacation, sir?”

That came out of nowhere.

The captain was being cryptic.

The Emperor was acting odd.

Everything felt strangely timed.

The captain’s meaningful words.

And the Emperor offering me leave.

He’s not the type to hand out vacations easily.

“How about Aichenvalt? It’s a beautiful country surrounded by sea, known for its art. I hate to admit it, but its capital, Lenz, is the most stylish and elegant city I’ve ever seen.”

“A vacation sounds nice and all… but why so suddenly?”

“Ahem, it’s really because Yulia’s been cooped up in the palace for too long. She’s getting restless.”

“Huh? Aren’t you coming, Father?”

“A father must stay and watch over the throne. Instead, you can go with Gerta.”

“…What?”

When I blinked in confusion, the Emperor said in a gentle voice:

“Take Yulia with you. Though I call it a vacation, it’s more like a business trip. Stay in Lenz for about a week.”

I couldn’t fully grasp it.

‘Was he really entrusting his precious daughter to someone like me?’

The Emperor seemed to read my expression and smiled.

“I wish I could go myself, but you know I can’t leave the capital. You’re trustworthy, Gerta. That’s why I’m asking you.”

“Understood. I’ll take her and return safely.”

“Excellent.”

“To be honest, I’ve always wanted to go abroad.”

“I’ll make sure you have enough funds. Have a good trip.”

And so, I boarded a train with the Emperor’s daughter.

I was the only escort.

We sat in an ordinary cabin.

“Wow! Look at that! That mountain is huge!”

Yulia squealed in excitement.

Her blue eyes reflected the vast mountain range.

It was the Alans Mountains, the natural border between the Empire and Aichenvalt.

“You’re really that happy?”

“Uh-huh! Aren’t you excited too, Gerta?”

“I am.”

The Emperor had given me one more instruction:

Pretend to be a normal father and daughter.

Well, it made sense.

We couldn’t go around shouting she was a princess.

So I spoke casually to her, despite her being royalty.

Honestly, casual speech was easier anyway.

Yulia was full of energy, as only a child could be.

It was her first time outside the palace.

Her curiosity spilled out nonstop—bouncing on the train seats, playing with her outfit, and staring intently at passing passengers.

“Your daughter is adorable.”

A noblewoman passing by smiled fondly at us and moved on.

I had dyed my eyes blue using magic.

***

After two days of travel, the train finally arrived in Lenz, the capital of Aichenvalt, in the early morning.

“Yulia, we’re here.”

“Mmm… I’m sleepy.”

“You can sleep at the inn, alright?”

“Mmkay…”

Elizabeth—no, Yulia—sleepily followed me off the train.

An attendant approached and said something in Aichenvaltian.

Probably a request for identification.

I didn’t speak the language, so I just answered in Imperial tongue.

The attendant gave me a sour look.

I handed over my identification without hesitation.

It was an Imperial government badge.

A high-ranking one.

On the front, a golden double-headed eagle roared.

On the back was the crest of the Imperial Guard.

The attendant gasped softly.

His eyes trembled as he looked up at me, then stepped aside with a hesitant bow.

Now that was the taste of power.

I gave him a brief nod and exited the station with Yulia.

We found a nearby inn and checked in.

Yulia fell asleep immediately.

I sat down on the sofa and opened a newspaper I had picked up at the station.

It was in Imperial script.

I didn’t think much of it.

It was only two days.

‘What could possibly have happened in that time?’

I flipped the page.

—Emperor Marcus IV of Hessen Passes Away

“…What?”