Chapter 1: The Emperor’s Task

There was weight in that voice.

It made the other person feel the dignity of a predator with just a voice.

It was innate bearing.

Perhaps it was natural, as she was a noble being different from me, who was born a s*ave.

“Soon, there will be practical training for the students. Make me a remedy for them. Considering the number, 300 bottles should be enough.”

“…”

My expression quickly stiffened.

It was certainly expected; it was no less than 300 bottles.

300 bottles.

A decent priest creating a remedy.

In other words, the time spent making potions is considerable.

Some people stay up all night just to make one potion.

Of course.

“You, being of the Heavenly Race, can make it easily. I will give you one day. Make it within that time.”

Yes.

As the Emperor said, I can make potions more easily than a regular priest.

Because I am of the Heavenly Race.

Because I am an angel who flies around with pure white wings.

I can turn the water in front of my eyes into a potion with just a blink.

Making 300 would be a piece of cake.

That is, if I were a real angel.

‘I wasn’t an angel from the start.’

To be exact, three years ago.

I, who was studying like hell to get into medical school, collapsed.

And that was the day before the college entrance exam.

In a way, it was also a natural result.

Because I had lived for nearly three months sleeping less than two hours a day and only studying.

It would have been strange if I hadn’t collapsed.

But you see.

What’s with dying because of that?

And before the college entrance exam at that.

It was like a sweet, delicious, ripe fruit that fell to the ground with a thud just before it was harvested.

The fruit that plummeted onto a rough gravel field burst like that.

And so, I died.

From overwork the day before the college entrance exam.

And then I transmigrated.

Into this body, caught by a s*ave trader with broken wings.

‘Just beautiful trash on the outside.’

The race of this child I transmigrated into was the Heavenly Race.

An angel.

As is often the case in modern media, my appearance was exceptionally beautiful.

Even with broken wings, like a diamond with scratches still showing its true value, I shone brightly everywhere.

Brilliant golden hair, like the shimmering sunlight breaking through the clouds.

Bright red eyes beneath long eyelashes, almost like they were made from processed blood, and a straight nose and bright red lips positioned below them.

‘Otherworldly.’

It was literally a Heavenly Realm appearance, far surpassing that of humans.

I was an existence that could drive the s*ave traders wild.

‘Those f*cking bich.’

Those bich took me, who was lying prostrate on the ground, washed me, dressed me in new clothes, and put me up for auction.

For 100 years.

No, an angel, veiled for over 1000 years, appeared.

As a s*ave at an auction.

This caused a huge stir in the world.

The temple protested, and countless nobles flocked to buy the enslaved angel.

How did I know that?

“You are not answering. Are you perhaps unwilling?”

I came to know by being next to that woman.

Both the temple that protested at the auction and the nobles who flocked to buy me backed down at the Emperor’s appearance.

The most perfect Emperor in the Empire’s history.

An Emperor who expanded the territory like never before and had deep knowledge in magic and academia.

Because she bought me.

For a staggering 10,000 gold.

‘I don’t know how much that is.’

I didn’t know the value of 10,000 gold.

Because since I was sold to her, I haven’t been outside even once.

For three years at that.

“…Iris?”

At the piercing voice, I was forcibly pulled out of my thoughts.

When I glanced up, the same bright red eyes as mine gleamed eerily.

I shouldn’t provoke her anymore.

Because the Emperor calling my name was proof that she was truly angry.

“I will do as you command.”

I bowed my head.

My golden hair, reaching my waist, gently flowed down beside my face.

“Do not disappoint me.”

Saying that, the Emperor waved her hand.

It was a dismissal.

“Then.”

Bowing my head once more, I left the room like that.

Thud.

I carefully closed the door.

I clearly closed it slowly.

Perhaps unable to withstand even that small impact, the nameplate attached to the door made a loud noise.

‘She’s going to bch again.’

She is an Emperor who gets angry at small noises.

If things go wrong, I might go hungry tonight.

“Haa…”

A sigh escaped.

I have lived like this for the past three years.

I worked myself to the bone to suit the taste of the Emperor, my owner who bought me.

Because that was beneficial for me.

Be it the temple or the nobles.

If I had been sold to someone else, it was obvious what would have happened to this frail body.

‘My body is that of a woman, but I haven’t lost my masculinity.’

If I had been subjected to those dirty and despicable scoundrels, I might have bitten my tongue and committed suicide.

That’s why I did my best to please the Emperor.

‘But this won’t last much longer.’

I recalled the Emperor’s face I had seen just a moment ago.

Passionate red hair, like flowing crimson lava.

Her eyes were incredibly sharp, and her pupils, like the dragon’s orb embedded within them, shone with intelligence.

Emperor Ragrasha was truly a suitable ruler, possessing natural talent in appearance, intellect, everything.

But…

‘To me, she’s a f*cking enemy.’

With such thoughts, I glared at the principal’s office, then turned my back.

At the same time, the small wings attached to my back fluttered.

‘I’ve reached the stage where I can move them now.’

When I first transmigrated, my wings were bent in strange directions.

I endured for three years, healing them little by little with my own power.

As a result, what was grotesquely bent has now fully returned.

‘I’ll be able to fly soon.’

That time is roughly one year.

If only I can fly, I will quickly quit this awful job and run away.

‘I should hide away somewhere in a mountain valley.’

I am tired now.

The dark circles deeply set beneath my eyes.

I was working harder than in my previous life.

Under the f*cking Emperor, that is.

‘I just need to endure a little longer.’

To do that, I had to complete the task the Emperor gave me today.

If I fail, she will try to devour me with those chilling eyes.

That, at least, would not do.

It hurt my pride as a man, but the angry Emperor was terrifying.

“So, let’s hurry.”

I moved my shortened legs quickly and hurried towards my room.

“…”

Inside the principal’s office after Iris had left.

Sitting in a large chair, Emperor Ragrasha, who had been staring blankly at the door, let out a small breath.

“I wonder if she got there safely.”

As the small creature who had been beside her disappeared, a fierce storm began to rage in her heart.

Had she perhaps tripped while walking?

Had she perhaps been hit by someone?

Had she perhaps suddenly collapsed?

Had she perhaps been taken by someone else?

Countless worries surged within her mind.

“This is no time for this.”

She quickly activated the magic on her desk.

Hum.

The crystal ball responded to the magic power and shone brightly.

At the same time, the light gradually began to gather, forming a single image.

“Hmm…”

As if focusing on the image, the Emperor’s pupils slightly contracted.

[Click! Haa…]

A sound was heard.

It was a frail voice.

A voice that sounded like an infant’s babble, yet also like a mature woman’s voice.

It was Iris.

The place the crystal ball was showing was Iris’s room.

“You arrived safely.”

She had been worried.

Especially since new students were coming to take the entrance exam.

This place, where she had paused her conquest activities and began to focus on once again.

The Imperial Magic Academy.

A capable mage is compared to over 10,000 soldiers.

Just one mage.

The place she created after realizing the efficiency of mages by personally touring battlefields was the Imperial Magic Academy.

An academy created by the Emperor of the Empire.

Opportunity is given to those with talent.

Even if they are commoners.

‘On the battlefield, everyone is equal.’

Her motto was that only the strong survive.

Therefore, this place was a field of opportunity for commoners.

Of course, since there were thousands, tens of thousands, who thought so, naturally not just anyone could enter.

This was a place where only those with talent were filtered and selected for admission.

But even so, they could still take the exam just in case.

That’s why the academy was unusually crowded with people.

[Haa…when will I finish this. That bich woman.]

“…!”

It was right then.

At the languid voice coming from the crystal ball, the Emperor’s lips twitched.

[Shit. I have to endure… This awful thing will end once my wings are fixed.]

“What?”

Abruptly.

Ragrasha’s brow furrowed.

The reason she bought the angel was simple.

Usually, a s*ave’s eyes are dead.

Even if they resisted, their spirit was always dead.

But Iris was different.

Her eyes were full of intelligence and vitality.

That stimulated Ragrasha.

Her desire for conquest.

It stimulated her endlessly burning desire for conquest.

More than anything…

-Ragrasha. Why can’t you be as good as your older sister?

-Look at your older sister. That child will soon become the sun of the Empire.

-Why can’t you do this? I’ll help you.

-Ragrasha..!! Be careful!!!!!

“…”

Trembling.

Ragrasha’s tightly clenched hand trembled.

An unforgettable past.

Memories of her older sister, whom she could never catch up to until the very end.

The desire to break down Iris, who resembled that older sister.

Perhaps it was like destiny for Ragrasha.

‘I want to make her cry.’

I want to make her, who resembles my older sister, cry with my own hands.

So she made her cry.

Two years ago.

She clearly witnessed Iris crying alone inside her room.

It was easy.

It was so easy that her interest abruptly vanished.

She must have been broken.

That’s what she thought.

But she wasn’t.

The next day, Iris looked at her with even more resolute eyes.

Those eyes became even harder and stronger.

Every day, she tormented her and burdened her with enormous tasks.

And yet.

And yet, she did not break down.

She was the only existence Ragrasha had never been able to bring to her knees.

She wasn’t speaking outwardly.

Inwardly.

Fear and obedience coming from the depths of the heart.

She could not feel that from Iris.

Grind.

Ragrasha ground her teeth.

‘She wants to leave me and run away?’

[I want to build a small hut in a mountain valley and live there.]

‘You, leave me?’

Ping—

Ragrasha clutched her forehead.

A strong dizziness came over her.

Since when, her mind had become completely filled with Iris.

That’s why she bothered to sit in the position of principal, which was only a title.

And then she tormented Iris every day.

But then.

She wants to run away?

Like her older sister?

Like her older sister, who died meaninglessly?

“That won’t happen.”

Never.

Absolutely not.

‘I will make her kneel.’

I will make her thoroughly obey.

Of course, in this process, she would not use violence.

She would thoroughly break her down mentally.

Beep–!

Ragrasha pressed a button.

At the same time, the door opened, and a man entered.

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

“Call me Principal here… Never mind. There is something you must do for me.”

It was rare for the Emperor to give orders directly.

Upon this, Deputy Principal Lucas’s eyes sparkled.

The Emperor’s lips slowly moved.

“Prepare a place in the academy.”

“Excuse me??”

“I must confine a bird in a cage.”