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Copyrights and Credits

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Prologue: Condemnation

Prologue:
Condemnation

 

“SERENA ROSENBERG, I HEREBY BREAK OFF MY engagement with you!” a loud voice boomed.

The Rosewood Academy’s graduation party, a grand and festive affair, was also a means for the royals and nobles enrolled at the school to make their societal debuts. I was in attendance when Crown Prince Edward declared that he would be breaking off our engagement. He spoke in a monotone, conveying that he held no sort of emotion toward me. I felt the blood drain from my face, my fingertips growing cold.

The glittering venue fell silent.

“Why? Why, Prince Edward?” I asked. “What exactly have I done?”

My desperation was apparent when I called out my fiancé’s name. Though our parents had decided upon this engagement, I had always loved and respected Prince Edward.

“What have you done, you ask?” Prince Edward spat, an expression of mockery on his handsome face. “Serena, do you truly believe that I’ve been oblivious to the countless cruel acts that you’ve done to Eleanor?”

Eleanor hailed from the house of a lower-ranking noble and was rather insignificant to me. She was an annoying saintess who could use just a little bit of light magic.

I gazed around the crowd in search of her and spotted the girl hiding behind Prince Edward, along with a few of her academy friends as they formed a protective ­barrier. I could barely see her expression—a face filled with melancholy.

“It’s all Eleanor’s fault!” I argued. “She tried to enchant you, Your Highness! You’re engaged to me, and yet she tried to win your affection! So I…”

I hadn’t done anything wrong. As the daughter of a duke and the fiancée of a royal, I simply showed the cheeky lower-ranking noble her place. She deserved everything that I did to her, and I couldn’t understand how I was at fault.

“Serena, Eleanor is truly a splendid lady,” Prince Edward said. “Perhaps she’d stolen my gaze a few times in the past, but I swear that nothing occurred between us. She was very much aware of her rank and never forgot that I was engaged to you. Yet you suspected us, formed your own conclusions, and treated Eleanor—a saintess and a treasure of our nation—terribly. I’ve got plenty of evidence and I absolutely cannot overlook your actions—not as the crown prince of this nation, and not as a man.”

As a man? I thought. So my suspicions are true, then. Prince Edward’s love for me had waned, and he favored Eleanor.

“I only did what was expected of me as the daughter of a duke!” I cried. “Do you not all agree?”

As the duke’s daughter, I’d made many friends throughout my academy years. I was different from that measly lower-ranking noblewoman who’d appeared out of nowhere.

I was certain that most of the students would take my side. But when I gazed around, everyone was giving me the cold shoulder. I tried to lock eyes with some of them in the crowd—a few of them had even told me that Eleanor planned to steal His Highness away from me.

No one took my side. Those who’d acted so friendly with me just yesterday stared at the ground awkwardly. Even my squires sensed the hostile air and tried their best to keep their distance.

“Your friends are the ones most aware of your wretched crimes,” His Highness said. “Though I do pity you that not a single one of them is coming to your aid.”

When he ordered his guards to take me away, I tried my best to evade their grasp.

“Prince Edward!” I screamed.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, but not once did he turn around. The guards dragged me away and out of the party venue.

 

***

 

The king cast judgment upon me, and I was sentenced to death. My harsh sentence was due to the overexaggeration of the little pranks that I’d played on the saintess. I mean, all I’d done was try to drop a flowerpot on her head from the second floor, mix some sort of drug into tea to force her to drink it, hire a ruffian to plan a kidnapping, feign an accident to run her over with a carriage, and hire an assassin take her out!

Since all my attempts were unsuccessful, surely I should’ve been innocent. What an unfair ruling! I cried internally. God is dead!

In any case, my death had been decided—by poisoning. I was told in a patronizing tone that I’d been spared hanging as an act of mercy because I was a high-ranking noble.

Wine laced with poison was pushed upon me, but needless to say, I declined to drink it. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but they quickly tied me up and pinched my nose. When I finally had to open my mouth to breathe, they poured the liquid into my mouth. The wine barely touched my tongue as it went down my throat, and I couldn’t tell whether it tasted good or bad as my consciousness slowly faded away. The memories of my childhood until that moment flashed before my eyes as my deepest regret filled my mind.

If only I’d had capable subordinates.

Chapter 1: A Second Shot at Life

Chapter 1: A Second Shot at Life - 07

Chapter 1-1: Becoming Good

Chapter 1-1:
Becoming Good

 

WHEN I AWOKE, I WAS LYING ON A SOFT BED rather than that tough one from the prison. Thank goodness, I thought. I must’ve just had a nightmare. It was so awful!

My body felt warm, and I was drenched with sweat. I tried to raise my voice to call for a servant.

“Wah!” I cried.

“Oh my, have you woken up?” a servant said.

She must’ve been nearby, as she immediately arrived and scooped me up to draw me to her shoulders. I realized that I was being cradled.

Huh? Aren’t I a bit too small? My gaze traveled to a small hand on the servant’s shoulder—it was tiny like the limb of a doll. In shock, I summoned my strength. The tiny hand rose in the air. Huh?

I tried my best to swivel my head around to take a look around the room I was in, but my body didn’t move the way I wanted it to. All the while, the servant gently cooed at me. I was certain that this was my room, albeit much cleaner than I remembered. Finally, I spotted a large, full-length mirror behind them…and reflected in the mirror, cradled in the arms of a servant, was a baby staring back at me.

 

***

 

I quickly began to cry louder. The servant seemed troubled, but I didn’t care. I’d died, only to become a baby again—who could blame me for wanting to shed a few tears? It seemed that babies had extreme mood swings, though, because after a good cry, I calmed down and fell asleep. I was only a little tired, but babies easily slumbered.

When I woke up, I had regained my composure, but my mouth moved clumsily and hindered me from speaking properly. Even if I wanted to speak with my servant, I had no means of communicating. I feel like this servant never worked here when I was alive.

I must’ve been reincarnated. I had read about it in a book many years ago. The life where I’d been executed was my previous one, and I’d gotten reincarnated into this current world. But as chance would have it, I was reborn into the same manor that I’d once lived in.

I was dying to know who I’d been reincarnated as. In my previous life, no one in the manor had been pregnant—was I in the distant future? While I pondered, another figure entered the room. The servant addressed the newcomer as “madam.”

I did my best to twist my body toward the door and spotted my mother. I had never seen her look this young before. She had the same silky, black hair as me, and her face was lovely like a doll’s. At first, I suspected that this lady merely resembled my mother, but her voice, mannerisms, and gestures made it clear that she was indeed the parent I remembered.

She made no movement to hold me and only cast a passing glance before she left the room. As I had thought, she looked completely uninterested in me. My parents’ marriage was simply for convenience, and my mother held no regard for her daughter. Even when I’d been trapped in prison, not once did she drop by for a visit.

It was only when I saw her cold attitude that I was finally able to grasp my situation. I’d been born again as Serena Rosenberg—I would live my life a second time from when I was a baby.

 

***

 

Just because I understood my situation didn’t mean that I could do much. Babies were powerless. If I suddenly burst into eloquent speech, everyone would find me odd. And so, I chose to spend this time to think.

I’d only met my untimely death because I lacked talented allies. If I’d had access to those, Eleanor would’ve died long ago, and I would’ve become queen. In my past life, I hadn’t been blessed with competent people. It was essential to find loyal servants in my new life who would work tirelessly and do my bidding.

The main issue now was how to gather them. Since I could barely crawl from my bed, I had plenty of time to come up with a plan.

I eventually cooked up a perfect idea. To execute my scheme, it was imperative to act the part of a pure, just, and benevolent child. I’d always been a splendid person, of course, but I had to act duplicitously kind like Eleanor and pretend to be saintly.

And so, starting from my third birthday, I always thought about what my archnemesis Eleanor would do and acted mindfully. In my previous life, if a servant dropped and shattered a vase, I would crack a witty joke.

“Oh, that vase is more expensive than you. If I drop you from the room, will you shatter into pieces?”

However, in this life, I expressed sentiments that didn’t come from the bottom of my heart.

“Are you all right? Are you hurt? You’re more important than the vase.”

When a servant spilled tea on my clothes, I would normally have an elegant response at the ready.

“Why don’t I soak your clothes with your blood?”

Now, I showed kindness which I, privately, found tacky.

“Hmm, perhaps I shall dye my clothes in the tea’s color. It would look lovely.”

When my servant made a mistake with my schedule, I usually had an intelligent word or two to offer.

“I suppose I know what your future plans will be.”

Now, I chose to lie.

“Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t very eager about that plan anyway.”

Thanks to my mindfulness, the servants spoke of me in glowing terms, and my reputation in the duke’s manor rose higher than ever.

“Lady Serena is so benevolent!”

“Lady Serena is so virtuous at such a young age!”

How could everyone fall for such an obviously manipulative act? I thought that they were all crazy; no human could possibly be this selfless. But now, I knew how Eleanor cunningly grasped the hearts of others and beguiled them. No doubt Prince Edward had been tricked by that wicked woman who acted like a saint!

I also worked hard on my education. I’d mastered etiquette in my previous life, so that wasn’t much of an issue, but it was essential for me to become stronger so that I would never meet such a grisly end again. I learned equestrian skills, swordplay, and self-defense techniques—skills that normally no noblewoman should fixate upon. The moment I’d been restrained and forced to my death had traumatized me.

I wanted to train myself so that I would never be treated with such insolence again. Here, in my second chance at life, I didn’t care who it was—no one had the right to touch me as they pleased.

I also worked hard on my magical studies. The duke’s household frequently produced people with great magical power, but because I hadn’t had much mana in my previous life, I didn’t take my studies seriously.

However, magic was essential in this world. And so, even from infancy, I secretly trained to heighten my magical abilities. Repeatedly chanting basic spells and envisioning how to use mana heightened one’s magical prowess. As long as one had the knowledge, any toddler could cast spells.

I had all the time in the world. My training worked in my favor, and my magical abilities and mana grew exponentially. When I turned six, my first magical teacher was utterly astonished.

“Lady Serena, you have superb talent for magic!” she gasped.

Of course I did! I’d trained hard since I was a baby and was on a completely different level from any normal child. The one mysterious factor was that my knowledge of magic was surprisingly vast.

Had I always been such an expert in this field? I asked myself. Our manor had numerous books on magic, but I hadn’t read many of them. Yet, puzzlingly enough, I was able to recall much of their contents. I even remembered the books I’d never opened. I also had a feeling a book that was supposed to have existed in this manor had vanished. While I was confused about these differences, my magical powers grew.

By the time I was eight, I had learned mid-level spells. Though those around me showered me with praise, I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted enough power to burn that irksome Rosewood Academy to the ground. I studied hard every day, hoping to one day wipe out my friends and teachers who had forsaken me in one fell swoop.

Chapter 1-2: My Desire

Chapter 1-2:
My Desire

 

WHEN I TURNED TEN, A GRAND BIRTHDAY party was held in my honor. My mother was as brusque as ever. It didn’t matter how kind I acted, how well I studied, or how high my magical prowess was—she remained as cold and distant as ever. She acted just as she had done in my previous life.

My mother was only interested in tea and spent her days enjoying different varieties. I didn’t expect anything from her at this point; my main target was my father.

“Father, there’s something I’d like for my birthday,” I said.

I flashed an adorable smile and hugged him. In fact, I had diligently practiced making the cutest smiles in front of a mirror for this day. This was my main event.

“Ah, Serena!” my father said. “You’re as adorable as an angel. I shall give you anything you desire.”

He beamed at me as he held me in his arms. My father was by no means handsome, but he always had a sunny demeanor and was rather plump. Even in my past life, he had doted on me and given me anything I desired. When I was trapped in prison, he was one of two people who visited me, and he sobbed loudly as he apologized for being unable to save my life.

My resolve wavered for a second when I saw my father’s smile, but I steeled myself and voiced my request.

“I’d like a squire,” I said. “Preferably one my age.”

“A squire your age?” he echoed.

He gave me a troubled expression. I couldn’t blame him—it wasn’t unusual for a young servant to take care of a child, but to have a young child watch over another child was unheard of. But I had my reasons for insisting that my squire be young.

“That’s right, Father,” I replied. “There isn’t anyone my age in this manor. The servants treat me well, but I yearn to have someone my age beside me.”

“Hmm…” My father was deep in thought for a few moments. “Very well. I can choose an excellent candidate from those who are well-bred.”

It was a safe choice and a very fitting solution from my father, but that wasn’t what I desired. I had no need for such a respectable person.

“No, Father,” I said. “I would like to choose from unprivileged children. Ah, perhaps starving kids in an orphanage would be perfect.”

I needed people who were ravenous like wolves. They had to despise society, envy humans, and live crawling on the ground. I also wanted them to have nerves of steel and refuse to crack even under torture, if that was possible. My plan was to educate and train these people so that they would become my most excellent servants. The ideal candidate was one who wouldn’t hesitate to murder even a royal under my orders and then willingly kill themselves.

“A child from an orphanage?” my father replied. “I cannot allow such filthy and lowly people to enter my manor.”

It seemed even my gentle father resisted that idea. I’d expected as much—who in their right mind would allow a dirty child into the manor of a duke? However, I had to prepare myself for my future conflict against the saintess. These new servants would be my disposable pawns, and the lower the rank, the better. Orphans were best, as they had no parents who would cause any trouble in the future.

“Father, perhaps they’re of lowly birth,” I said, “but they’re humans, just like us. With proper education, I’m sure that they’ll grow into splendid people.”

Indeed, children were balls of talent. If I taught them the ways of assassination at a young age, they would surely turn into amazing assassins in the future.

“Hmm…” my father mused.

He agonized over the decision as the servants around him began to chatter. Half of them seemed reluctant to allow orphans into the manor, but the remaining half seemed interested.

What lambs you are, I thought.

Had any of them been more adept at plotting or assassination, I wouldn’t have had to go through all this trouble. I noticed my mother grimace with chagrin, but she remained quiet as usual.

“Father, I beg of you to provide me with an opportunity to grow as a person,” I pressed. “I may fail at times, but as I walk through life with them by my side, I’m certain that there is much to be gained.”

I had to grow. I had to do what I could to finally get rid of that accursed saintess once and for all and to ensure that I would never suffer humiliation like in my past life. I would have loved to end Eleanor right that instant if it were possible, but her father’s fief was in an incredibly remote location. She was out of my grasp…for now.

Sure, an orphan or two might die during my training, but that loss could easily be recouped by finding another suitable one. If I spent my life with those who would become splendid assassins and spies, I knew that I could gain plenty. Perhaps I could finally become queen, or even put this nation under my rule.

My servants chattered away, all moved by my words.

“She plans on giving orphans an opportunity for an education!”

“What a splendid mindset she has!”

“She’s so benevolent and kind, like a saint!”

Indeed, I was benevolent beyond measure; I was trying to give abandoned children a magnificent role, after all.

“Serena, I would never have imagined that you would make such a thoughtful request,” my father said. “I understand. I shall make the arrangements and take you to an orphanage. You may select as many kids as you like.”

“Thank you, Father!” I cried.

I was genuinely ecstatic as I hugged him tightly. Finally, I was able to gather my forces.

Chapter 1-3: The Orphanage

Chapter 1-3:
The Orphanage

 

A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I BOARDED A carriage with my father and headed for the orphanage. The duke’s estate was deep in the Nobles’ District, meaning we would pass by other nobles’ residences along the way. Among them, I recognized one—it was only natural, since I had viewed this scenery many times before in my past life. Yet, try as I might, I couldn’t seem to remember who this familiar manor belonged to. It looked like any old hall where a low-ranking noble would live.

“Father, whose manor is that?” I asked, pointing out the window of the carriage.

“That belongs to Viscount Ravenwood,” my father replied. “The Ravenwoods are renowned for producing many generations of competent mages.”

I had never heard the name of that household before. Am I misremembering things? I wondered. As our carriage clattered past, I was unable to tear my eyes away from the manor, feeling reluctant to leave it behind.

The orphanage that I was led to was grander than I expected. The stone structure was next to a monastery and held some historic charm. There was even a spacious courtyard.

When I took a step onto the premises, I spotted kids playing around the yard. Laughter and happy chattering filled the air. The yard was well-maintained and blooming, with vibrant flowers adding splashes of color.

Huh? These children don’t seem very sanguinary… Why are they enjoying their lives? They don’t have any parents. I hoped that they’d be drowning in their despair.

The entrance of the building had an old, engraved wooden door with the name of the orphanage etched at the top.

Holy Haven Orphanage.

As I stepped inside, a long corridor greeted me. The walls were decorated with drawings and decorations made by the children. On both sides of the hall were their bedrooms, the beds lined up in an orderly fashion.

I was disappointed to see that this place had such good living conditions. I had envisioned a hellish institution where kids would practically fight to the death over a slice of bread.

An overweight nun greeted us. “Welcome, Duke Rosenberg and Lady Serena.”

This elderly lady was the director of this orphanage, and she exuded generosity and kindness. Personally, I had hoped for a more insidious character with a screeching voice who scolded kids mercilessly.

Is this the best place available? Are we sure that there are kids here who’ll diligently try to stray away from the proper path of life?

“I’m very grateful for your open-mindedness in selecting our orphans to become your servants,” the nun said.

Working at a duke’s manor was a lucrative role, and servants were treated well. Normally, one would need to be born to a decent rank and receive an excellent education to make it into our household. I found it only natural for the director to thank us, since we were specifically selecting an orphan as one of our workers.

Though I’ll be sure to treat my servants rather harshly, I thought.

“I’ve already selected a few orphans who are well-suited to work in the duke’s household,” the nun explained. “Please choose whoever you wish from this lineup.”

She then introduced the kids behind her. They all looked a touch nervous but were dressed neatly and had innocent expressions.

“Thank you for coming here, Your Grace, Lady Serena,” the kids recited.

They greeted us properly; perhaps they’d practiced their manners beforehand and were taught the basics.

No! These aren’t the kids that I want!

I needed them to be more on the dark side. If they began to regret their wicked deeds and their senses of justice kicked in right as they faced Eleanor, all my plans would go to waste. That cunning saintess was a formidable foe who’d managed to reform ruffians in the city with her tears. What I desired was a child who playfully killed bugs in the corner of a garden with an evil grin on their face.

“Dear Director, I cannot understate how grateful I am for your considerate actions,” I said. “However, I would like to observe each child carefully and select one for myself. If you don’t mind, I would love for you to introduce the other children to me as well.”

I chose my words carefully and tried to sound as polite as possible. In my previous life, I might have said something like, “It seems you only have unnecessary concerns and fat on you.”

The director didn’t seem offended at all. She brightly replied, “I see. Then I shall introduce you to the other children. What kind of child do you have in mind?”

“Well…” I started. “Perhaps a strong and violent child. Or a cunning one who always thinks of deceiving others. Ah, maybe a ruthless child who can kill animals without batting an eye would be best.”

The director’s eye twitched. “Pardon?”

 

***

 

“This child here is Richard,” the director said. “His father is a famous, violent crook, and after repeated acts of aggression, he was convicted for his crimes and is in prison. Richard is often violent with others, and he’s one of the problem children who I have trouble teaching.”

She looked worried. Richard was supposed to be the same age as me, but he was a great deal larger. He had dark skin and short, brown hair, his expression plainly boorish. He must’ve known that I was a noble, because he scowled when he saw me.

Perfect, I thought.Since his father was also a criminal, it was in this child’s blood. If I trained him well, I was certain that he would become a dull-witted, brawn-over-brains lackey in the future. He knew I was a noble, and yet the defiant look in his eyes only indicated his stupidity. I found that very favorable.

I’ll have him use all his might solely for me.

My decision was immediate. “This child will be one of my first squires,” I said.

“Are you certain of your choice?” the director asked. She was clearly confused, unsure whether this ill-bred, problematic child had any right to work in a duke’s residence.

“Hey! Stop deciding all by yourself!” Richard bellowed. “Don’t get cocky just because you’re a noble!”

This child was an absolute idiot. Normally, no one would get away with speaking so insolently to the daughter of a duke. In my previous life, I would’ve swiftly turned him into mulch so that he could fertilize a field. The squires that my father had brought along turned pale and made to approach, but I raised my hand to stop them.

“Richard, you’ll become my squire candidate from today onward,” I said. “If you have any complaints, why don’t you fight me? You seem rather confident in your strength, though I can’t say the same for your brains.”

“What was that?!” Richard roared. “You wench!”

He pounced at me, easily provoked by my words. What a simpleton he was; his movements were clumsy since he hadn’t been trained. In this life, I’d had proper education in self defense, and he didn’t stand a chance against me. I crouched to dodge his attack and took advantage of his opening to slam the heel of my palm into his chin. While he was still dazed from my attack, I swiftly landed a kick in his groin.

“Gaaah…” he groaned. He fell to the ground.

“Do you understand now who’s on top?” I asked. “Since you lost, you have to listen to my orders.”

The easiest way to win over people like him was to use skill and establish who was in charge.

“Miss Director, would you kindly introduce the next child to me?” I asked.

I smiled at her. Richard was beside me, unconscious from the agonizing pain. The nun stared at me with astonishment.

 

***

 

“This here is Oscar,” the director said. “He acts as the leader of the boys and is very rebellious. Oftentimes, he’ll sneak out of the orphanage and cause a great deal of trouble.”

The boy flashed a fearless smile at us. He had beautiful black hair and almond-shaped eyes that must have made him popular with the girls. Perhaps he assumed that he could easily enchant me as well, but unfortunately for him, I was my current age plus eighteen years since this was my second go at life. I wasn’t interested in children.

This reasoning meant that Prince Edward was also a child in my eyes, but if I married a crown prince, I would enjoy a far higher rank and gain immense power. The benefits of marrying him were far beyond whatever this orphan had to offer.

“Are his parents swindlers, perhaps?” I asked.

He seemed to be the type to use his appearance to sweet-talk his way into the hearts of others and deceive them, so I assumed his parents did something similar. Oscar furrowed his brow with displeasure when he heard my question.

“No, his father is a noble, and his mother is a commoner,” the director replied. “And after a series of ordeals, well…”

She struggled to get the rest of the words out, but I got the hint. It was a common story. A noble laid a hand on a commoner woman, and she became pregnant. Unsure of what to do, the noble must have simply abandoned his son in the orphanage. Since Oscar was aware that his father was a noble, he had an air of confidence around him.

He’s got a nice face, so he might be useful to trick and enchant the daughters of nobles. I decided to claim him for now.

“I understand,” I said. “Then this child shall be my squire candidate as well. Whether one be a child of a noble or a commoner, I shall hammer into them that they’re all equally worthless under me.”

I placed an index finger under Oscar’s chin and raised his face, eager to see his handsome features contort with pain and anguish one day. The mere thought made me crack a mischievous smile. Oscar looked terrified of me.

How rude. I shall treat him terribly later.

 

***

 

“This is Lewis,” the director said. “He lost his parents in an accident and came here. The shock of that accident caused him to close his heart off to others. He doesn’t have any friends and is always alone.”

The child kept his gaze to the ground, despite being introduced by the director. No doubt he held deep trauma in his heart. Perfect. It was easy to take advantage of those with dark pasts—they had numerous vulnerabilities to exploit. When left to their own devices, these types would end up suckered into cults to seek salvation. If I educated him properly at this young age, he would surely swear loyalty to me and happily jump into fires or deep waters for my sake.

“Very well,” I said. “I’d like to take him in too.”

“Are you sure?” the director asked. “He hasn’t done anything wrong or evil.”

She looked shocked.

What the hell is she on about? I wondered. I wasn’t looking for evildoers; I wanted excellent servants who would do my bidding.

Lewis also looked at me with confusion; he hadn’t expected to be chosen as my squire.

“Don’t worry,” I said softly. “You have nothing to fear. You’re essential to me.”

I gently placed a hand on Lewis’s shoulder, and he replied with a small nod.

Good. He’ll come along.

“It seems there won’t be a problem,” I said. “Let us head to the next one.”

I then noticed that, for some reason, the director gazed at Lewis with pity.

 

***

 

“The next child is Isabel,” the director said. “Her mother was a harlot who passed away due to an illness. She’s very smart and cute but is self-righteous and has a tendency to trick others. Even adults will fall victim to her at times…”

I was introduced to a pretty girl with blue hair. She was only ten but had a bewitching air to her. She acted terrified, but her eyes seemed to be gauging me as she took in her situation.

She’s a stereotypical trickster girl. I thought. She was the type to ensnare or deceive others and watch the show from a safe distance away. She was perhaps intelligent, but she used her brains for evil. Though Isabel might be a good-for-nothing, she seemed adept at sinister ploys and would likely be a useful pawn.

“This child shall also be my squire candidate,” I said.

When she heard my words, Isabel looked shaken.

“Um, I don’t think I’ll be of any use,” she said.

She did her utmost to look as useless and weak as possible, speaking feebly and seeming to be on the verge of tears. However, it was all an act. With my eighteen years of experience from my past life, I was technically a woman of twenty-eight. I knew all the tricks, and Isabel was certainly the type who could cry on cue in order to deceive others.

Maybe she sensed that she was in danger and was trying her best to avoid becoming my squire candidate, but that sort of astuteness only earned points in my book. She was exactly the person that I had been looking for.

“Oh, Isabel, I see that you’d like to become a harlot, just like your mother,” I said. “What a splendid dream to have.”

Isabel’s meek appearance twisted into one of pure wrath. It was as though she hated the world in its entirety. I shuddered with delight. I’ve been wanting to see a face like that.

“What a fine expression you’ve got,” I said. “You’re most suitable to become my squire.” As she gave me a demonic glare, I drew close to whisper in her ear. “I’m sure a smart child like you can tell, but this is already set in stone. Surely you’ll know what’ll happen if you dare go against the household of a duke?”

A clever girl like Isabel must have known what it meant to hold power. She looked vexed at my threat.

“Miss Director, will you please introduce the next child to me?” I asked.

The nun looked anxious, unable to process what was happening.

 

***

 

“That girl over there is Emma,” the director said.

She pointed at a girl who was stuck to the stone wall of the orphanage, scaling it easily like a monkey.

“She’s very…active,” the director said. “That may be a bit of an understatement, since she’s always putting herself in dangerous situations. She’s very athletic, and we just can’t get her to sit still…”

My decision for her was immediate.

“She shall be my squire candidate,” I said.

Her athletic abilities were marvelous, which meant she could handle dangerous missions. She became mine as she climbed that wall. The director had a look of resignation; she didn’t even speak with Emma and quickly moved on to the next child.

 

***

 

“This is Alice,” the director said. “She loves to read books and is tough to deal with.”

I feel like the director’s explanations are becoming briefer and rougher, I thought. Maybe she’s just introducing children she wants get rid of.

Alice had reddish hair and was rather quiet as she stared at me.

“Tough? Why is that?” I asked.

“There aren’t many books in orphanages,” the director confessed. “And so she tries to read anything with words on it, including letters addressed to others, or other people’s diaries.”

I see. That’s a bit troublesome. But being studious isn’t an issue at all.

“Alice, are you interested in studying magic?” I asked.

“I am,” Alice replied.

She remained expressionless. I was a touch worried about whether she was actually eager at all, but I didn’t want to just gather stupid, athletic people. Studious kids like her were essential, and if she became an excellent mage, she would only be a benefit to me.

“All right, I’ll take her as well,” I said.

It was becoming a pain for me to act overly polite, so I spoke casually, as though I was buying a new outfit.

Thus, one by one, I chose my squire candidates who the director had deemed problematic. Ultimately, I settled on six: Isabel, Alice, Emma, Richard, Oscar, and Lewis. Their own wishes didn’t matter here, and I found it a pity that several of them didn’t seem excited to serve at the household of a duke.

I packed them into a carriage I’d chartered just for them and took them back to the manor. The director seemed like she wanted to say a word or two but ultimately decided to stay silent. Relief washed over her face as all the most troublesome children in her care were taken away.

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Chapter 1-4: The Facility

Chapter 1-4:
The Facility

 

UPON MY RETURN TO THE MANOR, I TOOK ALL the orphans and had them line up in the garden.

“I’m Serena, the daughter of a duke, and I’ll be your master from today,” I declared. “From now on, mind your words when you speak with me. I may be a lady, but I shall be stricter than a man as I educate you. Whenever you speak with me, you must add ‘sir’ before and after your words. Am I clear, worms?”

All six of them looked taken aback and didn’t utter a single word in reply. I chanted a little spell and conjured a fireball above the palm of my hand.

“Am I clear?” I repeated.

“Sir, yes, sir,” they hastily replied.

However, they spoke too softly, much to my disdain.

“I can barely hear you,” I said. “Your weak voices will never reach my ears. If I burn you to a crisp, will I be able to hear you croak beautifully like toads?”

My fireball burned even brighter as I pointed my palm at them.

“Sir, yes, sir!” they shouted. Their voices echoed throughout the garden.

Very good, I thought.

“If you can endure my long training, you will have the honor of becoming my squires,” I said. “Your job will be to offer your lives to me. That’s all. But until then, you’re all nothing more than pebbles on the road. You’re the lowest of the low in this world—in fact, you’re not even human. You’re worth only a fraction of a piece of dog poop.

“You may grow to hate me for being strict. But that only means that you’ve grown as people. I’m equally strict with all. Thus, there will be no discrimination here. Whether you are an orphan, the daughter of a harlot, or the son of a noble, everyone will be treated equally. Why? Because everyone is equally worthless, except for me. In fact, you should feel grateful to be in my service.

“However, I must eradicate all useless and unfitting squires. Failure means death, and any attempt to escape shall result in death accompanied by suffering. Am I clear, worms?”

The orphans all turned tense as they shouted their responses desperately. “Sir, yes, sir!” they replied.

I referenced an assassin’s education regimen to train these orphans. One of my father’s trusted confidants did some dirty work, and I’d learned many useful details from him. At a glance, he looked like a friendly butler, but he was actually quite famous in the seedy underbelly of society. When I asked about assassination and similar topics, he taught me quite a bit, as though I was his granddaughter. He was also the one who advised that one should be referred to as a “sir” even if that was a form of address reserved for men.

“The teacher should always be called ‘sir,’” the butler said. “I shall not accept otherwise.”

He spoke zealously, and I chose to follow his advice. The butler might have simply assumed that I was a very curious child; he perhaps didn’t expect that I would follow his words as I recalled the stories he told me when I was young. He had served our house since the previous generation and was rather elderly. A short while ago, he had taken a leave of absence and retired. And so, not a single soul in this manor suspected that I was trying to train my squires into excellent assassins.

Had that old butler still been around, he would surely have stopped me and claimed that I was attempting a foolish feat. However, I could predict the future due to my previous life, so I knew when he would leave. I timed my plans perfectly and seized this opportunity. No one was around to stop me.

The other servants in my house probably assumed that I was trying to act like a mature teacher with children my age, and they found it a wholesome sight.

Now, then, I heard that stressing trainees out with verbal abuse is the trick to raising excellent assassins. I didn’t relish the act of showering ten-year-olds with insults, of course. I don’t want to do this.

But to fulfill my lofty pursuit, I had to steel myself.

Hmm, I wonder why I can’t stop myself from smiling?

 

***

 

I would like to turn back time, just a little.

“I’ll buy you anything you want!” my father always said.

He’d said that constantly in my previous life, and he continued to spoil me in my current timeline. In my past life, he’d showered me with gifts, including dresses, accessories, and various artworks. But in this life, I didn’t ask for much. When I died, I’d realized that clothes and jewels were meaningless.

The adage that I had learned then was that without power, one couldn’t survive in the world. It didn’t mean that I didn’t need money—I needed it now more than ever. The butler who had taught me about assassination mentioned that a special facility would need to be built to raise excellent assassins. I would require some other items too. For example, I needed a large obstacle made from logs, a muddy swamp that was difficult to traverse, a steep, rocky cliff, and many more.

While our manor boasted a spacious garden, we obviously didn’t have anything like that. Those things needed to be built. I decided to consult my father.

“Father, to educate the squires that I’ll bring, I’d like to make something in the garden,” I said. “May I? It might cost some money…”

My father smiled and immediately agreed. “You don’t have to worry about money. Do as you please.”

What a kind man he was. The moment I received his permission, I immediately contacted construction workers, artisans, and other laborers and invited them into the manor.

However, when I told them what I wanted…

“Um, my lady,” one of the artisans said. He sounded rather hesitant. “This large, vertical ladder-like contraption is so high up that someone would die if they were to fall…”

“Carry on,” I replied. “The one who falls will be to blame.”

“And this quagmire is so deep that it’s seemingly bottomless. A person could completely submerge and drown…”

“Then people need to cross it before they sink. Carry on.”

“If we make a cliff with this large boulder, a person would be squashed flat if a rock were to fall upon them…”

“I don’t need bumbling oafs who can’t dodge rocks. This will be the perfect opportunity.”

After some back-and-forth with the construction crew, I finally had a training facility for my squires. I had a large ladder obstacle made from logs that towered high above us, a quagmire that one could never escape should they sink, a large cliff of rocks made from stacking countless boulders, and many other hurdles. They all cost a pretty penny, so I was so glad that my father was wealthy.

“Serena, you have a truly unusual way of using money,” my father said.

He forced a smile, his cheeks twitching when he saw the invoice addressed to him.

 

***

 

Truth be told, that butler had exaggerated just a little when he spoke of the training facility to Serena. He wanted to add a bit of flair to weave a more interesting story, but Serena was adamant that she could build better grounds. She created an even tougher establishment for her squires, a theme park of malice that one could only call inhumane.

“I built this just for you guys!” Serena said.

She smiled broadly as she proudly presented the training facility to the orphans. They stared at the various massive and menacing obstacles in astonishment.

She’s not telling us to cross these things, is she? the orphans thought. Their expressions made their feelings clear, and only the athletic Emma looked joyful.

“Now then, let’s have you climb that ladder first,” Serena said.

She pointed to a magnificent, towering ladder made of logs. If one fell from the highest rung, they wouldn’t just break a bone.

“Sir, I’d like to ask whether anyone has ever climbed that ladder,” Oscar said. “It looks like a ladder to the moon where construction stopped midway, sir.”

He wanted to know if it was even possible for a human to climb to the top and whether proper safety precautions had been taken.

“Nope,” Serena replied. “You’ll be the first.”

With her merciless response, the orphans’ hell had only just begun.

One by one, the orphans met their limits on the infernal obstacles that Serena had built. Most of them were unable to make it up the ladder that reached high in the air, and even those who managed to clear it quietly sank in the quagmire. Only Emma managed to reach the steep cliff, but she slipped and fell during her climb. It was a miracle no one died.

Image - 09

No one can clear them, Serena thought. What’s the issue? Is it their base stamina?

Never did she assume that she was at fault, and thus she failed to realize that these obstacles were far too difficult for the children. She assumed that the orphans were simply too young and inexperienced to use the training facility, and decided to first improve their stamina.

“To build stamina, you should begin by running,” Serena said.

Relief washed over the orphans, but none of them truly comprehended the kind of person their master was. For the moment, the training facility was put on hold. The unusual building drew the interest of servants within the manor, and for fun, they decided to try out these obstacles. But as more became gravely injured, the servants began to pity the orphans from the bottoms of their hearts.

Chapter 1-5: Training

Chapter 1-5:
Training

 

“HEY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?” RICHARD CRIED. “Hang in there!”

He was calling out to Lewis, who had fallen to the ground. The orphans were tasked with running laps around the garden to build their stamina.

It had been a few days since training had started. The garden of the duke’s manor was vast, and they were running around a forest the size of a small village. Not only had they been ordered to do ten laps, but they were also required to carry sandbags that were precisely weighed so that they could barely manage to lug them around. Naturally, those who lacked stamina couldn’t keep up. At their age, there wasn’t much of a physical difference between boys and girls, and the rotund Lewis dragged behind everyone.

“Richard…” Lewis panted. “I can’t do this anymore… I can’t keep up with you guys.” He just barely eked out the words, his hands on the ground as tears streamed down his cheeks.

“Don’t say that, you idiot!” Richard shouted. “Are you gonna give up here?! That shitty woman will kill you without hesitation! She’s a demon! In fact, she’s so nasty that other demons will flee from her! To her, our lives are like the vegetables on the side for her dinner!”

“But if I’m around, I’ll only cause trouble for you guys…”

Normally, Richard despised weaklings like Lewis. When they were at the orphanage, the former would throw a punch or two every time he walked past the latter. But in this manor, there was a terrifying heiress who ruled with fear and violence. The problem children of the orphanage were slowly uniting against the tyrannical Serena.

Their fearful ruler slowly approached Richard.

“Oh dear,” Serena said. She flashed a smile like a serpent tormenting its prey. “Did I schedule nap time around now? What do you think, Richard?”

“Sir, Lewis is already at his limit, sir!” Richard shouted. He hoped for at least a smidge of mercy from her.

“Is that so? Very well, he can stay asleep if he wishes. One mustn’t push oneself. But while Lewis is asleep, the other students must keep running.”

Of course, no such mercy existed in Serena’s heart.

Damn it! Richard internally spat. She’s just a demon wearing human skin! She probably forgot her emotions in her mother’s womb.

The fact that he didn’t dare vocalize his thoughts was an improvement. The many burn marks he had received from Serena’s magic had taught him that lesson.

“Sir, I have a request, sir,” Richard said.

“Excuse me?” Serena asked. “Listening to humans’ requests is the gods’ role, not mine.”

“Sir, I ask that I be allowed to run while carrying Lewis on my back, sir.”

Serena’s eyes widened, but then she gave a joyful smile.

“What a wonderful idea, Richard!” she beamed. “Very well. I shall allow it. You must carry Lewis’s sandbag as well.”

“Don’t, Richard,” Lewis replied. “You might be strong, but you can’t carry me around.”

He tried to stand up to stop his friend, but the weight of the sandbag made Lewis’s knees buckle.

“Shut up!” Richard shouted. “You’re my luggage from here on! Luggage shouldn’t talk!”

He forcefully slung Lewis over his shoulder and carried a sandbag under each arm. He slowly tried to run ahead, but even as confident as the boy was in his strength, he struggled to carry a person and two sandbags. His legs refused to move as nimbly as he wanted.

“Goodness,” Serena said. She seemed to be enjoying herself. “I don’t remember saying that we’re having a leisurely stroll. If you don’t run faster, I won’t count it as a lap.”

That damned wench! Richard thought. I’ll freaking kill her one day!

He had mentally clobbered her countless times, but in reality, he didn’t stand a chance against her. He tried to move his legs faster, but his feet sank deep into the ground. He couldn’t move very quickly.

Is this all the power that I have?

Richard was cursing his powerlessness when Oscar and Emma, who were also doing laps, approached him. They each silently took a sandbag from under Richard’s arms and continued to run ahead. They now had two sandbags each, but they managed to keep running. Isabel and Alice also extended their arms to support Richard from behind as they ran alongside him. Richard began to move once more, encouraged by the unexpected aid he received.

Emma and Alice might have been kinder, but Oscar and Isabel weren’t the types who normally offered their support. They’d often ridiculed other kids in the orphanage who fell short at their tasks, and they definitively crushed those who dared to obstruct their path. When they spotted Richard carrying Lewis around, Oscar and Isabel flashed cold smiles, their voices filled with scorn.

“He’s such an idiot.”

“It’s foolish to attempt something that he can’t possibly do.”

Yet, despite their icy words, the two had offered Richard and Lewis a helping hand; Oscar and Isabel derided themselves for being idiots as well.

The servants of the duke’s manor were moved by the orphans’ actions. They had mocked Serena’s squire candidates for being dirty orphans and were always confused by the puzzling training regimen that Serena had drafted for them. But when they saw the orphans’ friendship beginning to blossom, they drew their own conclusions.

“Lady Serena is teaching humanity to these lowly orphans!” they assumed.

Serena, on the other hand, was rather confused. The butler hadn’t said anything about assassins working together during training. She had failed to notice that she had gone a little—no, way overboard. If the butler had seen her training regimen, he would have surely stopped her.

“My lady, you’ve gone too far,” he would admonish. “Even we didn’t go through such arduous training.”

In reality, one would adopt a strategy of rewarding positive behavior at times and encourage a sense of competition between trainees. However, Serena did no such thing and continually pushed the orphans. Her squires felt no need to compete with each other and instead banded together as comrades. Unfortunately, Serena did not realize her mistake and only considered how she could possibly handle the situation.

What do I do? Serena wondered. Do I push them to even harsher conditions?

The orphans began to work together to overcome the unreasonable training. Hellish obstacles awaited them, but they supported each other and cleared each one.

“Nice job, Lewis!” the other orphans shouted. “One more rung! Once you get through that, we just need to head back down!”

Lewis was afraid of heights. He struggled to clear the log ladder, but he finally reached the highest rung and descended on the opposite side. The orphans cheered with joy as though they were the ones who had accomplished the impressive feat. They were all growing mentally and physically.

Ultimately, they turned out just how Serena had wanted, but it felt very different from a normal assassin training regimen. Serena’s program was so harsh that instead of raising insidious assassins, she had nurtured respectable humans who knew hard work, friendship, and willpower.

Chapter 2: The Daily Lives of the Squire Candidates

Chapter 2: The Daily Lives of the Squire Candidates - 10

Chapter 2-1: Dogs

Chapter 2-1:
Dogs

 

A YEAR HAD PASSED SINCE THE ORPHANS arrived at the manor. Their training now included various activities. Initially, my intention had been to eliminate Lewis, who had the least stamina, but it seemed that my excellent training had gradually enabled him to overcome various tasks.

They didn’t just build stamina. I had my private tutors teach them etiquette and provided them with a proper education. Since my squires were set to accompany me to Rosewood Academy in the future, it was vital that they had at least a bare minimum of knowledge. Some showed defiance toward the private tutors, but I punished this behavior by having them run laps around the garden and targeting them with my magic.

It was rather tough to aim my spells at moving targets, and thus it was good practice for me. It was just a shame that the orphans quickly stopped acting defiantly toward my private tutors. They underwent rigorous training, but even if they sustained a few injuries, we had a personal physician to attend to their needs. Since the physician usually didn’t work much, this was the perfect opportunity to have him do his job.

At times, the orphans would be so injured that the physician filed a complaint with my father, but I paid it no heed. My life was on the line here, and I wasn’t going to make the training easier.

Out of the six, Alice was the most adept at magic. Lewis had the talent to be a priest, so I had them both learn spellwork. Meanwhile, I had the other four train with weapons. Training went very smoothly. Recently, the orphans were even able to finish their tasks with time to spare and I decided to give them another trial: taking care of dogs.

“Sir, dogs, sir?” Richard asked.

He no longer made careless remarks but still didn’t seem to understand the danger of immediately asking questions. The other five likely knew that and still let him do as he pleased—every group needed a scapegoat, after all.

“Correct,” I replied. “Caring for dogs will educate your hearts. You orphans are lacking in spirit, and you will make that up by looking after the creatures.”

Richard immediately agreed. “Sir, yes, sir!”

He didn’t seem to question my words. The others were clearly a touch confused, but they remained quiet. Very smart, I thought.

These six were now in charge of six stray dogs that I had Lewis gather in the city. I didn’t know what their breeds were, but they were all still puppies. I had Lewis round them up because he was the least likely to flee. He had experience with taking care of a dog in the past; he was used to them. As a side note, ever since I was a child—or since my previous life, rather—I hadn’t been fond of dogs.

They tended to run up to me even though I didn’t call for them. For example, if there was a dog that was lovingly raised and considered precious by those who loved it, that animal would ignore its owner and run straight for me. If I tried to flee, it would give chase with all its might. Fortunately, I had never been injured or bitten by a dog. I suppose it was one of my best traits.

Many nobles liked to own dogs, and these animals were often brought to garden parties hosted by the royals. I was always afraid of those beasts.

In my previous life, I had attended a party and was engaged in a conversation with a noble child. Suddenly, I heard a loud sound behind me. It sounded like soldiers marching with gusto, and when I turned around in confusion, two dogs were frantically digging into the ground with their front paws, trying to pounce on me.

The nobles and their servants worked together to tug on the leashes and hold their dogs back. The beasts had a twinkle in their eyes and bared their fangs. The tongues that fell out of their mouths dripped with saliva. It was clear that they were trying to swallow me whole.

It was a terrifying experience. Between my two lives, it was the second scariest encounter I’d ever had, the first being the time that I was forced to drink the poison that killed me. Technically, that meant that my experience with those dogs was the most chilling ordeal I had ever been through.

But enough of my experiences. I would never again directly associate with dogs, and instead, I had the orphans each take care of a puppy. They would eat and sleep together; no corners would be cut. After they took care of their dogs for three years, I would order the orphans to kill the animals with their own hands.

According to the butler, that was the final step to create the perfect assassin—have them kill a dog that they loved and cared for. If that final step was skipped, the assassins tended to falter when they were asked to kill others on missions.

I could understand the reasoning. It wasn’t so easy to force someone to suddenly kill another person. By coercing assassins to do so with the dogs that they loved, I would break any psychological barriers than might hinder them.

I could only show the utmost respect to the knowledge of my predecessors. The orphans would kill their dogs and turn into cold, cruel assassins who shed no blood or tears. Only then would they become my official squires!

That’s fine and all, but why are all six puppies headed straight for me?

Lewis did his best to hold them all back, but none of them seemed to listen. Frankly, I was terrified. My current self could easily kill a dog, but the fear ingrained in my body since my previous life hadn’t faded. However, I couldn’t act so meekly in front of the orphans. I had my position to consider.

“My, oh my,” I sighed. I did my best to put on a strong front. “This is an issue. Can you not train even a single puppy? Will only the midsummer night mosquitoes come to you?”

“Sir, I’m sorry, sir!” Lewis apologized.

He desperately tried to carry away one of the puppies, but it squirmed out of his arms and rushed straight for me. The other five also charged. The dogs panted, huffed, barked, squealed, sniffed, and growled as they surrounded me. A couple began to howl, another tugged on my outfit, and the rest tried to climb up my legs. They were having a ball.

Honestly, I was ready to faint. If I let my guard down, my spirit would flutter away into the great beyond. But I couldn’t fall here. Getting bested by mere puppies before my battle against the saintess would just be ridiculous. What did I restart my life for? The orphans would underestimate me too. So I bit down hard on my tongue to retain consciousness.

“Dogs are cruel,” I said. “They make it clear just who’s the most charming of the bunch. You lot have been deserted by your parents, and now by dogs. You’re inferior to me in power, etiquette, and even magic—do you have any reason to stay alive? I shall provide you with another chance, so take these animals away. I have no need for those who cannot take care of mere puppies, I’ll have you know.”

Please! Take them away right now! I internally begged the orphans as I endured the hell of being smothered by these puppies. Though it shaved a decade off my life, Lewis and the others finally scooped up the puppies after a bit of a struggle.

“You will sleep, eat with, and raise those puppies,” I said. “Do you understand? They will be your friends, your siblings, and your children—you must treat them as such. As you saw earlier, the dogs and I already share an internal bond. If any of you cut any corners, I shall know immediately. Am I clear?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the orphans replied.

They all looked solemn and seemingly believed my words.

You’ve got to be kidding me. If I shared some kind of internal bond with these animals, I would’ve ordered them to leave immediately.

I planned on giving the orphans and the dogs three years to foster bonds, though I hoped that they would form in three days. I could hardly bear the mere thought that those fierce beasts lived in the same manor as me. I would much rather raise a monster.

Chapter 2-2: The Orphans

Chapter 2-2:
The Orphans

 

“WHY DO WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF DOGS, anyway?” Oscar sighed.

He stared at the black puppy that circled around his feet. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for their demonic master to force them to undertake unusual tasks, but this mission seemed especially strange. Before they headed for bed, the six orphans gathered in a room to converse. It was their only time of enjoyment and relaxation, away from the harsh training.

“I’m taking her words at face value,” Lewis said. He stroked his brown puppy. He liked dogs and was very eager to raise one himself. “I think she wants to teach us something through raising thesedogs.”

“Teach us?” Oscar replied. He slumped his shoulders. “What can she possibly teach us aside from pain and suffering? I feel like death is the only concept that she hasn’t touched upon. Every day is filled with surprises, and I don’t mean that in a good way.”

“Yeah,” Isabel agreed. “I’m surprised that she can think of so many new things every single day.”

She cradled a white puppy, gingerly touching a burn mark on her arm. The mark would fade away rather quickly, but she was proud of her pale and beautiful skin—this blemish bothered her. Isabel had received the injury just the other day when the group underwent training for proper posture. They were forced to balance metallic containers filled with boiling water on their heads for thirty minutes. Truthfully, this was pretty much a new form of torture under the guise of training.

Naturally, they had to start over if they dropped their containers. Every time Isabel and the other orphans dropped them, Serena laughed heartily, clutching her stomach.

“What kind of life did she lead to turn into such a heartless, inhumane lady?” Isabel wondered. “His Grace is very kind.”

The duke was calm and always kept a smile on his face. He treated even the orphans with kindness, a feat that wasn’t so easy for high-ranking nobles. The higher the rank, the more superior and detached they felt from commoners. One could say that he truly was a respectable man in that regard, and the orphans could hardly believe that he was Serena’s father.

“I’m guessing Her Grace had an affair with the devil,” Oscar surmised. “The duke and the duchess don’t seem very close.”

Occasionally, Oscar would extract some information from the maids who worked in the manor. He still retained some of his boyish innocence, but his handsome face garnered some secret attention from the ladies. Once he’d learned etiquette, he was able to carry himself with an elegance that only made him more appealing to women.

“I don’t think Lady Serena is as awful as a demon,” Lewis said, gently coming to Serena’s defense.

“What did you just say, Lewis?” Isabel asked. “Did you misspeak? ‘Not as awful as a demon,’ you say? You mean that she’s even worse than one, right?”

Isabel’s pretty face was stern as she threw Lewis a pointed glare. She made it clear that she wasn’t open to any objections.

“But the puppies all loved her,” Lewis insisted. “It’s very rare for someone to be so loved by dogs, and you know what they say, dogs only like good people. I’m starting to feel like she’s not as bad as we think.”

Richard allowed one of the larger puppies to play with his hand as he raised his voice. “Lewis, if she weren’t a bad person, there wouldn’t be any criminals in this world. Prisons would be barren of people, and the prison guards would all lose their jobs. My dad would also be happily released from jail. Don’t you think so?”

It seemed Richard had already deemed Serena the greatest force of evil in the world.

“Richard’s right,” Oscar said. “You think a person’s good just because they’re loved by dogs? Then why don’t we let the dogs run our judicial system? Would a person have all charges dropped against them if dogs go running to them? You know that’s not how the world works. Come on Lewis, face reality. You’re just being tricked by her appearance. Sure, she’s pretty, but she’s a miasma in the shape of a woman.”

Oscar clasped Lewis’s shoulders and shook him. Lewis let out an awkward smile.

“Lady Serena is a very good person,” Alice said.

The unexpected voice of agreement filled the room as she quietly read beside a heaping mountain of books. A reddish puppy silently sat next to her.

“She lets me read so many books,” Alice said. “There’s no other master in the world as fantastic as her.”

Alice had already accepted Serena as her master when she was given countless books to read. As a matter of fact, all the texts that Alice was given were grimoires written in an ancient language. In just three days, she had mastered the tongue so that she could read through all the books. Her magic instructor quivered with fear at such talent and referred to the girl as “a monster.”

“You’re always treated so horribly during the day, but is it all water under the bridge as long as you get to read books?” Richard asked wearily.

Alice didn’t have much stamina, and she would often be exhausted during running training. However, she learned quickly. Her talent had been especially apparent when she was given a few books on manners and etiquette to read, quickly amassing knowledge that allowed her to surpass even her instructor.

“As long as I’m given books to read,” Alice replied, sounding very calm, “that sort of thing isn’t at all an issue.”

“Not an issue, huh?” Oscar replied.

He thought back to their training a couple of days ago. Serena had shown them six jewels lying on the palm of her hand and tossed them off a cliff. Their task was for each person to retrieve a jewel. There was a forest below the cliff, and monsters lurked about too, though they weren’t very strong.

The six orphans banded together. Even if one of them retrieved a jewel, they didn’t head back and instead remained together until all were found. They defeated monsters and trekked through the forest for many hours. However, try as they might, they couldn’t find the last one. When the sun had set and the dangers of the forest only grew, the orphans decided that they had no choice but to bring the five jewels back and beg for Serena’s forgiveness. When they did so, she opened one of her fists and revealed the sixth jewel nestled inside.

“You’re not perceptive enough,” Serena said. “I only threw five jewels from the start and kept the sixth one in my hand.”

Her smug, sneering face was unforgettable.

“Alice, you searched for the jewel so long and hard that you almost fainted,” Oscar pointed out.

“But Lady Serena is right,” Alice countered. “It’s vital for us to be perceptive, no matter the situation.”

“She definitely just tacked on that excuse afterward. She just wants to watch us suffer.”

However, it was true that since that day, Oscar and the others had grown more alert and observant as they studied their surroundings more carefully. When they were more attentive of other people’s actions, they began to notice and see things that they hadn’t before. However, Oscar was reluctant to give all the credit to that training.

“Oh, but I had fun on that training,” Emma said. She had been quiet until now as she had been running around the room with her gray puppy. “I got to run around the forest and climb a ton of trees.”

Her face was suntanned, demonstrating how outgoing she was. Her athleticism made it apparent that she just wanted to just keep moving around.

“Don’t compare us humans to monkeys like you,” Isabel said coldly. “Besides, Emma, you were treated poorly during etiquette training.”

Emma and Alice were on opposite ends of the spectrum. The former excelled at physical training while the latter was adept at retaining knowledge. A combination of the two made the perfect balance.

“Yeah, I don’t like studying,” Emma said. “But unlike the orphanage where we went through the same routine every day, at least we get all sorts of variety here. It’s fun.”

She hopped around with her puppy. At first, Isabel had often scolded Emma to sit still, but she’d already gotten used to it by now. Emma wasn’t one to change anyway.

“You’re the only one in the world who can enjoy that sort of self-punishment,” Oscar said.

“Emma’s got a point,” Richard chimed in, a sarcastic grin on his face. “It’s better to be here than the orphanage. If I’d stayed back there, I would’ve gone to jail. Oscar, you would’ve become a swindler, and Isabel, you probably would’ve been a harlot. Maybe Lewis would’ve been a priest, but God knows what Alice and Emma would become.”

Once the children reached a certain age and left the orphanage, a thorny path of life awaited them. If they were lucky, they would find the path of God and become monks or nuns, but they would only lead that life if they had some aptitude for healing magic. Since the orphans had arrived at the duke’s manor, they’d learned that Lewis did have that capability.

Serena’s private instructors had praised Richard for his combat prowess, and Alice and Emma had also shown growth in their specialized fields. Oscar and Isabel, who experienced a more balanced development akin to jacks-of-all-trades, received high praise from the servants of the manor. Only Serena refrained from ever praising them.

Even if these orphans failed to become her squires, they would likely have no trouble finding new workplaces. Oscar and Isabel grimaced, understanding their situation. However, they refused to admit that they were lucky to be here.

Chapter 2-3: The Director’s Visit

Chapter 2-3:
The Director’s Visit

 

“THE DIRECTOR IS VISITING US?” I ASKED.

It had been about a year since I brought the orphans back, and my father had told me that the director of the Holy Haven Orphanage would visit us.

“That’s right, Serena,” my father replied. “She said that she wanted to see if the orphans you’ve brought home are being useful to us.”

“Useful?” I asked. “They’re still in the midst of training.”

Once they deepened their bonds with the puppies, I would order them to kill those animals with their own hands, through their tears if they had to. Then they would finally become full-fledged assassins. I spent every single day in fear of the dogs attacking me and eagerly awaited the day that they would be slaughtered.

“You’ve done very well,” my father assured. “I admit that I was worried at first, but those orphans are more well-mannered and move more nimbly than the servants of our manor.”

But of course. If any of them showed ill manners, the entire group was punished. If any of them dawdled for even a moment, another group punishment awaited them. The penalties depended on my mood, but they weren’t anything serious. I would make them swim through the river in full suits of armor, or throw them into the forest and not allow them to return until they defeated ten monsters. As I said, it wasn’t anything serious. These punishments made the orphans treat their jobs more seriously, unlike the servants, who got away with mere stern scoldings when they failed their tasks. The orphans could already act with the utmost etiquette as squires.

“I don’t mind, but it’d be a bit problematic if she wants them back after all this time,” I said. “I might’ve been too strict with them, and they might feel compelled to return to the orphanage.”

Our former butler had told me that the stricter the training was, the more loyal the assassins would be. Unfortunately, I didn’t sense any bit of loyalty from those orphans, and it would be an issue if they cried that they wished to go back whence they came.

“I’m sure that won’t happen,” my father reassured me. “I know just how hard you worked to train those kids, and I’m sure that they won’t want to go back to the orphanage.”

I wonder… I thought. Just recently, I’d had them cross a bridge with no rails over the river and fired spells at them as part of their training. If they fell in, they had to start from the beginning. I had great fun sending the orphans into the water again and again, but I felt like I had overdone it. The house of a duke wielded great power and influence. I didn’t think that the orphans would be taken back, but I didn’t want them to blab about their training to others.

Better prevent it while I can…

 

***

 

That morning, Serena lined up all the orphans and addressed them.

“Puny worms, you’ll have a visitor today,” she declared. “It’s the director of the Holy Haven Orphanage. How nostalgic. Does this news make you happy?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the orphans chanted.

The six were completely in sync as they knew that Serena wished to hear no other response. In truth, they weren’t exactly ecstatic about this visit. They didn’t really like the director all that much, but any person could seem like an angel compared to Serena.

“Would you like to return to your kind director’s side?” Serena asked.

“Sir, no, sir!” they shouted.

They couldn’t vocalize their wish to return, even if their lives were on the line. If they ever dared to say those words, they knew that they wouldn’t go back to the orphanage, but into the ground to fertilize the soil.

“I see,” Serena said. “I’m happy to hear that you desire to be with a strict person like me instead of your kind director.”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

The six were a bit puzzled by Serena’s description of herself. “Strict” didn’t even begin to describe her harsh nature, and the word seemed far too tepid for a lady like her. If it were up to them, they would call her “demonic” or “diabolical” instead. Nevertheless, they still managed to respond excellently without hesitation. If they paused for even a moment, they feared what Serena would do to them.

“I love you all,” Serena said. “And you, in turn, love me as well. We share a splendid relationship, do we not?”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

The orphans were all convinced that if she was acting out of love, the person she truly loved would be the unluckiest one in the world. Offering up one’s life wouldn’t be enough; perhaps their very existence would be eradicated from the face of the globe.

“If any of you were to betray this wonderful relationship that we have, I’d be very sorrowful,” Serena said. “And I’m sure that you would feel the same. I order you to answer the director’s questions with only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ today. Should you share any other shred of information, I shall see to it that you’ll never be able to laugh or cry again. Do I make myself clear?”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

The orphans couldn’t even begin to imagine what her words meant. How in the world would they become unable to laugh or cry? But they all knew that Serena could make good on her word. When they pictured themselves standing around like emotionless puppets, cold shivers ran down their backs.

 

***

 

The director was practically moved to tears when she visited the duke’s residence. The orphans had matured far more than she anticipated, and they were in neat attire and exhibited splendid etiquette when they welcomed her. She couldn’t hide her surprise when she saw the transformation that had occurred over a mere year. The director was especially shocked by Isabel and Oscar. Whenever she’d scolded them, the two would yammer on and on with silly protests, which only induced headaches for her. Now, the kids simply smiled and answered in short “yes” or “no” replies and nothing more. They had practically been born chattering, so this change was astonishing.

“Isabel, have you been doing well?” the director asked.

“Yes,” Isabel smiled.

A year ago, she would have snapped back “You think I’m doing well in this orphanage? What a funny joke. I feel like I’m saying ‘good day’ to corpses in a coffin.” She had always been a pretty child, but now she resembled a proper noble lady, with an immaculate outfit and elegant etiquette that she had learned throughout the past year.

“Oscar, have you had any issues in your life here?” the director asked.

“No,” he replied.

He gave a proper bow. At the orphanage, he would have said something along the lines of “Do you think that there aren’t any problems at an orphanage? First, I want rich parents, and I also want the freedom to head outside as I wish. This place is like a prison for children, to put it mildly.”

His witty comments had only caused trouble for the other nuns, but now he acted with the grace of a splendid gentleman. He’d always had a handsome face, and his childlike charm had matured into a charisma that could enchant those around him.

Richard, Lewis, Emma, and Alice had also grown in their own ways. Richard had been a bulky child with a violent temper. He always had a rough posture and attitude, but now he stood upright like he was trying to balance something on his head. No longer did his larger frame exude a menacing aura like it had back at the orphanage—on the contrary, he resembled a reliable knight.

Lewis’s plump body had slimmed down considerably in the past year, and the director could hardly believe it. She couldn’t imagine what the duke’s house had done to allow this boy to lose so much weight. His roundness had masked his looks. Though not as handsome as Oscar, a slender Lewis held a friendly and gentle face that would surely grab the attention of the ladies around him. When he was asked how exactly he’d managed to lose weight, Lewis only replied with a troubled smile.

Emma and Alice had never done anything that didn’t pique their interests, but they were now able to act with grace fitting for those who served a noble. At the orphanage, one had been energetic and restless, refusing to sit still, while the other had been engrossed in reading.

“How truly splendid,” the director said. “Our problem—I mean, our children who were a bit difficult to teach have turned into such splendid people who can serve nobles. I would’ve never imagined I’d see this day. Lady Serena, I certainly see that you had a keen eye to pick these children.”

Serena pinched the hems of her skirt and elegantly curtsied at the director’s praise. Her actions were nothing short of perfect and made it apparent that the orphans still had a long way to go if they wanted to look as dignified.

Before the director left, she turned to Serena, her tone laced with happiness. “If they’re this well educated, I’m quite certain that other nobles would want them as squires. Oh, how I’d love it if you could educate the other children of Holy Haven.”

Serena smiled back. I don’t need that many assassins though, she thought.

Chapter 2-4: Battle Royale

Chapter 2-4:
Battle Royale

 

A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE DIRECTOR’S VISIT, Serena gazed upon the orphans with a bright smile and showered them with praise.

“Recently, your rate of growth has been astonishing,” she beamed.

However, none of the kids took her words at face value. The better a mood she was in, the more unreasonable her requests became.

“Richard, Isabel, Oscar, Emma, I’ve been told that you are all capable of becoming knights,” Serena said. “Alice, you have the potential to become a mage, and Lewis, you can become a priest. This is all excellent news.”

Serena’s happiness implied misfortune for the kids. They grew even more nervous as they awaited her words.

“And so, I’ve begun wondering. Just who amongst you is the strongest of all?” Serena said.

The orphans gulped anxiously. Until now, they had banded together against Serena, their common enemy, and survived the past year. The six hadn’t been close at the orphanage, but now, they shared a deep bond as though they were biological siblings. Her words implied that she wanted them to fight against each other—a truly cruel and heartless order. They likely wouldn’t be permitted to hold back. The moment any of them even thought about cutting corners or pretended that they already knew their lessons, Serena would use her incredible instincts to sniff out the slacker and cast judgment upon them. She was indeed a demonic lady.

“So, to see how much you’ve grown, I’d like for you to fight each other,” Serena said. “But if I forced you guys into a duel, Lewis or Alice would be at a disadvantage. And so, in my kindness, I came up with a new idea. I just need you all to fight against each other simultaneously!”

The same thought ran through all the orphans’ heads. Kindness? She’s lying. I’m so sure that she thought this form of battle would be way more enjoyable for her. None of them dared to vocalize their thoughts for fear of intense punishment. Each kid had learned that from personal experience.

“What do you think?” Serena asked.

“Sir, yes, sir!” they replied.

They all shouted back energetically, as they always did. The orphans knew that they had no right to refuse.

 

***

 

In the depths of the vast garden of the duke’s residence, the orphans fanned out to form a circle, glaring at each other. Serena sat in her chair to watch the scene as she gracefully sipped the tea laid out for her. Before the battle began, the orphans had various plans in their heads. In a proper fight, it was clear that Richard and Emma held the advantage, but if the others blatantly focused their attacks on those two, there was a chance that the duo would team up to wipe out the others. The other orphans were thus hesitant to make the first move.

Richard was usually one to act first, but even he could read the room and thus stood still. Emma was eager to fight as she happily swung her wooden training sword around. Everyone had a wooden sword in hand except for Alice; she held a simple wand to fire her spells. It seemed even Serena had enough common sense to prevent the orphans from using actual blades—the orphans were prepared to be forced to fight until the death, and internally they were truly relieved. Unfortunately, none of them received armor, so they knew that wooden swords could inflict a great deal of pain.

Everyone stood around quietly.

Oscar was the first to break the silence. “Emma, who do you want to battle?” he asked.

He wanted to at least talk and move this situation along. Oscar feared that their master would be in a foul mood if nothing happened for a while. Who knew what would happen to them then?

“Me?” Emma asked. “Hmm, probably Richard.”

She spoke without much thought, likely just naming the strongest person.

“I see,” Oscar replied. “Then why don’t you two duel it out? We’ll sit back and watch; we promise that we won’t interfere.”

Everyone but Richard nodded at this suggestion. If the strongest two of the bunch fought each other, the others would be at an advantage.

“Oscar, you bastard…” Richard growled. He bared his teeth, intimidated, but Oscar was unfazed.

“Hmm, okay,” Emma said. “Why not?”

With that, she pounced, her small frame moving swiftly as she approached Richard. She wasn’t acting without a plan; Emma was convinced that she could handle the rest after she beat Richard.

“You can’t be serious!” Richard shouted.

He hastily raised his sword as Emma brought her blade down without holding back. Richard had an overwhelming advantage when it came to strength, but Emma was faster. He couldn’t defend himself against all of her attacks, and his body was soon covered with bruises.

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Still, Richard managed to persevere. He patiently waited for an opening to use his power to push her back. A single swing with all his might could not only blow back the sword that tried to defend against it, but shatter a bone or two as well. Emma was certainly aware of that—she fought like she was on thin ice.

The others surrounded the battling two from a safe distance away, waiting for the moment that the battle was decided—to be more precise, the seconds before the victor was declared. Emma held the advantage in this situation, but Lewis was using his healing magic on Richard to maintain the balance of battle. It was imperative for the two to be exhausted by the end of the battle; if Emma beat Richard quickly, she could easily take the rest out. Lewis seemed to be the kindest out of the six, but it was clear that he had a nasty streak of his own.

Alice prepared her spells, but her aim wasn’t Richard—it was Oscar and Isabel. As a mage, she had no means of defending herself against surprise attacks and remained wary against the cunning duo of the bunch.

However, Oscar and Isabel were prioritizing Richard and Emma’s defeat. Since Lewis and Alice were ranged attackers, Oscar and Isabel knew that they could easily gain the advantage if they closed the gap between them. If Richard and Emma, who possessed an insane amount of stamina, weren’t beaten first, they would all be destroyed.

Everyone was vigilant against each other, the situation once again reaching a standstill. Since Richard and Emma had to conserve their stamina for the rest of the battle after their duel, they didn’t go all out. Despite the gridlock, the orphans were as serious as ever, focusing their senses to look for the perfect opportunity.

However, one person was tired of this battle.

“I’m bored,” Serena grumbled.

She was upset that this battle wasn’t as exciting as she had expected. She didn’t want to see a battle of wits—she wanted a show of the orphans forced into a situation of suffering. Oscar had assumed this, but he failed to understand just how impatient she was. The short-tempered and arrogant heiress snapped her fingers to activate some spells that she had prepared. A ring of fire surrounded the orphans and gradually began to close in on them.

“That lady’s way too impatient!” Richard snapped.

“Tsk, guess I’ve gotta act,” Oscar muttered.

He stood in the middle as the other orphans rushed at Richard and Emma. If their master wished for a quick battle, they had no choice but to comply. Otherwise, even the victor would meet a tragic end. Isabel likely thought the same as she ran ahead. Lewis prepared a miracle of fire resistance upon himself, while Alice chanted a barrier spell to defend herself against the flames. If she could endure Serena’s magic, Alice felt that she would have an edge.

Pandemonium erupted as Richard, Emma, Oscar, and Isabel fought amongst themselves.

“Not bad!” Serena said. “Not bad at all!”

She clapped her hands in delight as she gazed upon the fighting four. Though the orphans battled reluctantly, it was rare to find someone who was so openly joyful watching others suffer. While Richard and the other three fought, Lewis and Alice did their best to resist the flames.

“Please, God, provide me with a miracle!” Lewis chanted.

His prayers were heard, and he successfully evaded Serena’s fire.

“I did it!” he crowed. “God is great! I knew it!”

Serena once again snapped her fingers at seeing Lewis celebrate. An even more massive pillar of fire enveloped a triumphant Lewis. His fire resistance had its limits. The miracle that he had called upon was mercilessly burned through, quickly turning him into a ball of fire.

“Aghhh!” he shrieked.

“I’m the one who’s truly great,” Serena said. “You don’t seem to understand that, do you?”

She was miffed to hear him shower God with praise. As a priest in training, it was only natural that he would have faith in God, but she wouldn’t tolerate even that—clearly, she was being incredibly unreasonable. She healed him with her magic, and he got off with minor burns. It was clear, however, that he was in no state to continue the battle. Alice’s barrier had managed to endure the flames as well, but she froze in terror when she saw Lewis’s state.

That demonic lady had found it impudent simply to defend oneself against her magic, and Alice knew that she would soon suffer the same fate if she remained within her barrier. After some quick thinking, Alice reached a conclusion: to play dead. She would act like her barrier couldn’t withstand the fire, envelop her body with her own flames, and act as though she could no longer move, just like Lewis. Serena was especially perceptive to these situations and could keenly sniff out these attempts, but Alice believed that she could do it.

The moment Alice undid her barrier, she chanted fire magic and surrounded herself with her own flames. Her magic protected her, and she felt no heat as she rolled on the ground and played dead. My acting is flawless, Alice thought. This is perfect.

She continued to lie on the ground when she heard a low, clear voice ring out.

“Have I been underestimated?” Serena asked. “Did you think such shoddy acting could fool me? Or are you perhaps testing me?”

She began to chant a new spell, and Alice immediately realized what it was—explosion magic. It was so powerful that a massive boulder would be blown to bits. Alice swiftly stood back up and chanted a barrier. Serena’s spell activated, and a deafening roar reverberated through the garden. The ground quaked, and at the center of the explosion staggered Alice, who fell to the ground. It wasn’t an act this time; the impact of the spell had caused her to fall unconscious.

“You have no way of resisting my spells,” Serena said. She pointed cruelly at Alice and guffawed.

Meanwhile, Richard, Emma, Oscar, and Isabel’s battle had also shifted. The four acted like they fought against each other, but in truth, Oscar and Isabel were working together. They skillfully used Richard as their shield as they aimed for Emma. While Richard technically had their support, he was the one who received the brunt of Emma’s attacks.

“Screw you both!” Richard shouted. “Fight properly!”

Of course, Oscar and Isabel weren’t willing to listen to such complaints. Emma had also realized the ploy, and now forced to fight against three by herself, she found herself on the back foot. She had no choice but to focus on Richard and get him out of the way as soon as possible.

“Rah!” Emma shouted.

With a tinge of panic racing through her, Emma jumped high in the air and aimed for Richard’s head. Oscar had predicted as much and swiped her leg with his wooden sword.

“Ack!” she cried.

She lost her balance in the air, and Richard mercilessly swung his own wooden sword down.

“Take this!” Richard roared.

He had aimed the powerful blow squarely at her right shoulder, slamming her into the ground. Emma could no longer fight with her dominant arm out of the picture. Richard had purposefully avoided a vital area, showing that he truly treasured his friends at the end of the day.

Isabel, on the other hand, showed no mercy. From behind the large boy who was kind despite his demeanor, she rushed out to attack. Richard received a hard blow to the back of his head and fell forward to the ground, completely motionless.

Only Oscar and Isabel were left. All the while, the ring of fire drew closer. They knew that they didn’t have much time to spare. As they clashed, they quickly made vital calculations in their heads. The two were practically equal when it came to swordplay, and at this rate, they would both be burned to a crisp. They had to end the battle quickly, but if either of them dared to lose on purpose, their demonic master would see through their scheme in a flash.

The two locked eyes and tried to mentally work out a plan. Oscar turned his back against Serena to feign a misstep and blocked her line of sight. Isabel used that moment to knock the blade from his hands—the two had decided to perform this little trick to naturally hide their play. As the fire closed in, they were confident that there was enough to distract Serena and succeed in their plan. Oscar fell to his knees in defeat and did his utmost best to act vexed.

“Well done, Isabel!” Serena shouted. She praised Isabel’s victory with a beaming smile.

We did it! She doesn’t sense a thing! Isabel thought. She was certain that Serena hadn’t seen through their little trick.

“But even I can’t extinguish those flames,” Serena said. “Do your best to escape from there.”

“Huh?!” Isabel and Oscar gasped.

At once, their expressions turned dark; even the cunning duo had underestimated just how nasty Serena’s personality was.

That day, the six squire candidates all suffered from horrible burns as the duke’s personal physician worked tirelessly to cast healing magic on them.

Chapter 2-5: Real Battle

Chapter 2-5:
Real Battle

 

ONE MORNING, SERENA WENT TO THE DUKE’S armory with the orphans in tow.

“I think that you all lack experience in real battle,” she said.

It was normal for this lady to make outlandish demands. In fact, it would have been far more terrifying if she greeted everyone normally. That being said, how could these kids have any actual experience in combat? They had lived in the orphanage until Serena took them in when they were ten. Now, they were all around twelve, and it was highly unusual for a child that young to have combat experience. To be fair, these kids had fought against monsters several times due to Serena’s harsh training regimen, so they had more experience than a normal adult.

But such logical claims would only earn them a magical attack in response. Thus, from force of habit, the orphans gave their usual response.

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Luckily, there have apparently been reports of monsters appearing near the capital,” Serena said. “This will be a good opportunity for you all to get a taste of what a real battle is like. Isn’t this what we call the will of God, Lewis?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” Lewis answered.

Internally, he was rather confused. Serena was referring to a pack of umbral dogs that had been terrorizing the royal capital as of late. As their name implied, they were massive black hounds that had been attacking people. While there hadn’t been any direct damage to the royal capital yet, many on the streets nearby had fallen victim to the monsters—God couldn’t have produced those horrible creatures simply to train the orphans.

Lewis was a priest in training; as a person who served God, he couldn’t agree with Serena, who called the emergence of those monsters “lucky.” Serena must have been aware of this and purposefully asked for his opinion as a further display of her meanness.

“Now then, I’ll permit you to bring along any weapons you desire,” Serena said. “Use them to get rid of the evil monsters. That shall be today’s training.”

The orphans stared at her with suspicion. Evil monsters? Surely the evilest of them all that had to be eradicated was right in front of their eyes. However, even with weapons in their hands, not a single one of them could bring themselves to fight Serena. Her violence and terror had been deeply engraved in their hearts—even if they wished to rebel against her, their bodies would refuse to comply. Unbelievably, Alice had apparently already sworn her loyalty to Serena, so the orphans couldn’t band together and revolt.

The orphans all agonized over their decisions for a moment before they reached out to grab weapons. Isabel, Oscar, Lewis, and Emma took regular swords, while Richard chose a large two-handed blade. Alice chose a staff that must have been made for mages. Once they had all donned armor as they saw fit, Serena once again addressed them.

“You will be fighting against umbral dogs,” she said. “They aren’t too dangerous, but their numbers are abundant. And so, I had a thought.”

Please don’t, the orphans all begged.

“The one who defeats the fewest umbral dogs must be in need of remedial training,” Serena went on. “Wouldn’t it be a pity if one of you lagged behind? And so, I’ve benevolently decided that I shall prepare a special program for the one in last place. Do look forward to it.”

The orphans all steeled their resolve to eradicate every single umbral dog that they saw.

 

***

 

Led by Serena, the orphans stepped into the forest near the city streets where the sightings of the umbral dogs had been reported. They were all still kids, but old enough to have some sense. Naturally, they feared monsters. However, the lady beside them was scarier still, far outweighing their fright of monsters as they headed into the woods.

“Umbral dogs attack in packs,” Alice said. “It’s better if we fight together. It’s dangerous if we wander off by ourselves.”

She had read up on umbral dogs before they left, so the orphans all heeded her warning. Richard and Emma stood at the vanguard while Oscar and Isabel defended the rear. The melee fighters defended their magic users and the daughter of the duke, meaning that Lewis, Alice, and Serena were in the middle as they headed deeper inside.

Emma was happily walking through the forest at the front of the group, but Richard was tense. Thanks to Serena’s hellish training regimen, he was rather confident in his strength, but he had never been in a battle where his life was at stake. Until now, he had faced relatively weak monsters, and not once did he battle a monster like a umbral dog capable of killing a person.

Lewis and Alice, who were in the middle, were nervous in a different sense—they were the closest to Serena. The noblewoman was capable of powerful spells and adept at the sword, but she wasn’t the altruistic type who would leap in to save her subordinates. It was quite easy to imagine her elegantly laughing at their misfortune as they were eaten alive by the umbral dogs.

Oscar and Isabel, the rear guards, were especially anxious. The umbral dogs hadn’t been successfully wiped out by the kingdom, which implied the monsters were intelligent. In other words, there was a good chance that the beasts wouldn’t attack them head-on, but instead from behind. Since the pair weren’t as confident in their skills as Emma and Richard, Oscar and Isabel were especially vigilant as they walked along.

Serena strolled through happily as she gazed at the orphans. Because she had practiced magic ever since she was a toddler, umbral dogs hardly stood a chance against her. However, she thought that they would be perfect opponents for the children. Their training had progressed smoothly, and she needed them to become strong enough to kill not only the saintess in the future but also the king and the crown prince.

They weren’t allowed to have a hard time against the umbral dogs. It was precisely why she had suggested this monster extermination mission, and she had given a lot of thought to the training program in her own way. Still, she couldn’t help but smile when she imagined the orphans struggling against the monsters.

It had been some time since the group entered the forest, but the umbral dogs were nowhere to be seen.

“Hey, I just had a thought,” Serena said cheerfully.

Forget that thought, the orphans all thought.

“Maybe the umbral dogs would be more likely to appear if we carried around some delicious raw meat,” she said.

“Sir, yes, sir!” the orphans replied.

They instantly knew that their master wasn’t cracking some sort of witty joke—she was serious. They also knew just how uncomfortable it would feel to carry around lukewarm meat dripping with blood in the middle of the forest. This trek was tough enough as it was, and they weren’t keen to add another factor that increased the difficulty of their journey.

“Sir, Lady Serena!” Oscar said. “It’s not so easy to gather raw meat, so I propose that we wait a while more. If they don’t appear, we can utilize the plan to carry the meat around, sir!”

His goal with this compromise was to buy some time.

“Very well,” Serena replied. She flashed an angelic smile framed by her dark locks and eyes. “I can wait thirty more minutes, and then we’ll use raw meat if we have no luck.”

Please appear, umbral dogs! All the orphans vehemently prayed. And attack this demon first if you can!

How rare it was for a human to earnestly wish for monsters to appear.

Unfortunately, their prayers were in vain. As the clock progressed and the promised time drew near, the raw meat plan was growing closer to reality. However, perhaps the world took pity on them; right as thirty minutes were about to pass, the umbral dogs appeared. Two growled from the front, and another two emerged at their rear. The monsters’ massive bodies were akin to calves, and their scarlet eyes seemed to burn with fiery fury. As the reports had claimed, they looked like omens of misfortune.

It was clear from their formation that they wanted to do a pincer attack. Umbral dogs often used this tactic to attack their prey and instill fear. Strangely enough, this time around, their prey reacted differently—the orphans gave cries of joy.

“There they are!”

“Yay!”

“Thank goodness!”

The umbral dogs had expected the humans to stare in astonishment at their sudden, horrific appearance, but the orphans expressed gratitude instead. For a moment, the creatures were confused, so the kids used that opportunity to launch an attack. There were only four dogs, meaning that only four of the orphans could claim a kill. Whoever was fastest could nab one for themselves. They eagerly swung their weapons.

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“Die, you damn mutt!” Richard shouted.

He swung his greatsword down with all his might. One of the umbral dogs managed to hastily jump to the side and evade the attack.

“You think you’re getting away from me, idiot?!” Richard yelled.

He swung his blade around, spouting vulgarities. The umbral dog began to tremble like a puppy. The monsters resembled canines, but their large bodies hindered their agility. All the while, Richard swung his sword around as he shouted without showing even an ounce of fear. This terrified the creature. The hunter was now the hunted.

“Yah!” Emma shouted.

She nimbly swung her blade around. The other umbral dog had assumed that the petite Emma would be easier prey, but when it bared its fangs to bite, it couldn’t land a scratch on her. Every time it tried, it was only met with a series of counterattacks that resulted in several injuries instead. Emma’s blade looked lightweight, but it easily sliced through the umbral dog’s dark fur. The small-framed girl was a dangerous opponent, contrary to her appearance. She was formidable, but by the time the umbral dog realized that, it was backed into a corner.

The other four orphans worked together to handle the two umbral dogs in the rear. They weren’t as strong as Richard and Emma and relied on teamwork to fight. Isabel and Oscar kept them at bay while Alice fired spells at every opportunity. Lewis also held onto his blade, but he focused mainly on healing magic.

The umbral dogs were at a disadvantage. Isabel and Oscar showed superb teamwork, and it was difficult to throw them off. If they tried to flee, they would fall victim to Alice’s magic. The monsters had thought that they would be on the offensive but instead found themselves fighting for their lives. Never did they imagine that they would be on the back foot.

Despite that, the creatures were intelligent. They desperately tried to think of a plan to turn the tables when they made a certain observation. Those humans are protecting that dark-haired human in the middle, the dogs thought. In truth, the orphans were more than willing to offer Serena as a sacrifice, but the monsters had no means of knowing that. If we take that human hostage, we might be able to gain the advantage.

The four dogs traveled in a pack, and a quick glance was all it took to convey their intentions to one another. Dogs at the front and rear baited out the orphans’ attacks while the others leaped toward Serena. Dogs pounced from both sides, ready to snap her up. The orphans immediately understood what the creatures were doing, but they didn’t react. While some held a sliver of hope for the dogs, the rest knew that Serena wouldn’t lose to these lowly monsters. Though the orphans held varying opinions, the consensus was that they didn’t need to protect her.

Serena pointed a hand at each beast. She was afraid of dogs, but these monsters were so large that they could hardly be seen as animals, so she treated them as beings that had to be eradicated.

“Begone,” she ordered.

Fire spewed from her hands and enveloped each dog, reducing them to ashes in mere moments. The annoyed Serena chanted a spell at the remaining two umbral dogs.

“May the burst of flames in my hand destroy my enemies and display its merciless power!” Serena recited.

The orphans hastily jumped away from the umbral dogs, knowing that Serena paid no heed to anyone who was in the line of fire. In the next instant, her spell activated and a powerful explosion erupted from her hand. Not a shred of the pitiful umbral dogs remained as they turned into dust.

“Aw…” Emma said.

She had tried to land a final blow against her opponent until the very last moment. She stood in astonishment as the monster exploded right in front of her. Though she managed to evade the blast, she became covered in the creature’s blood.

“Oh, how I hate foul beasts,” Serena said with annoyance. “It’s even worse that they resemble dogs.”

“Sir, Lady Serena,” Lewis said. “You’ve defeated all the umbral dogs, but what will happen to the special training, sir?”

He spoke gingerly, realizing that technically, no one had lagged behind since Serena had single-handedly defeated the monsters. He hoped that the special training was now off the table.

“Oh, don’t you worry about it, Lewis,” Serena replied. Her beautiful smile was as wide as a flower in full bloom and sweet enough to charm anyone who saw her. “Everyone shall receive the training. You forced my hand, after all. It shows that all of you are lacking.”

Serena conducted the special training against the orphans at a later date. She had wanted to test just how long a human could endure spells and proceeded to fire her magic at the orphans.

Chapter 2-6: Cooking

Chapter 2-6:
Cooking

 

SERENA FLASHED A BEWITCHING SMILE. “HERE’S my training for today.”

Her glossy hair was like fine silk, her dark eyes mystical like the night. Her beauty was truly unmatched and unique, enough to enchant anyone she pleased. However, the orphans could resist her breathtaking appearance. They knew from experience that the more stunning the aura she put on, the more likely she would make a completely unreasonable request.

“Cooking,” Serena said.

The orphans stared at her suspiciously, hardly able to believe their ears. They had been forced to undergo all sorts of training since their arrival at the manor, but not once had they attempted to cook. It was a difficult task for them, in a sense; until now, they had been forced to engage in chaotic battles or missions that required vast knowledge.

Cooking, on the other hand, didn’t seem as daunting.

“Sir, cooking, sir?” Richard asked, thinking he had misheard.

“That’s right,” Serena said. “However, you must gather your own ingredients.”

What did that mean? Would the orphans be forced to steal away pigs or cows and butcher them into parts? Or did they have to steal vegetables to get their hands on some fresh produce? Neither seemed pleasant, and the orphans gulped as they awaited the rest of Serena’s explanation.

“You’ll each gather one ingredient and that will be all,” Serena said. “Isn’t that easy?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the orphans replied.

They knew that her idea of easy was never so simple. Though, of course, pointing that out would only earn misfortune.

“I’m so happy to see that you guys are quick to understand,” Serena said. “Now then, I shall announce what ingredient each of you will gather. First, Richard, you’ll gather agonas meat.”

“Agonas?!” Richard gasped.

In his surprise, he had forgotten to address Serena as “sir.” An agonas was a vicious ox monster, and its meat was said to be delicious. However, because of its power and ferocity, no one hunted the monsters down solely for their meat.

At that moment, everyone knew Serena’s intentions.

“Lewis, you’re tasked with gathering a basilisk’s tail,” Serena continued. “Isabel, you must get a bloodbear’s paw; Emma, you collect a wingtail’s egg; Oscar, bring me a killerfish’s flesh; and Alice, grab a mandragora’s roots.”

Each ingredient was related to a monster, and all of them were fairly strong, which meant that they were difficult to obtain. Most importantly, they each had to tackle their task alone. Up until now, they’d supported each other through their training, but now they would be forced to act solo.

“Your deadline will be today’s sunset,” Serena ordered.

And with that, the orphans rushed out—time was of the utmost essence.

 

***

 

Richard rushed into the mountains where the agonas supposedly lived. The monster possessed colossal horns and a flaming red hide. It was aggressive even amongst other monsters and would charge if it caught sight of a human. Richard used his greatsword to cut down tree branches as he walked. He was used to Serena’s unreasonable requests and didn’t feel as weary and exhausted anymore.

I’ve changed quite a bit, haven’t I? Richard thought. While he often insulted Serena in his mind whenever he heard her orders, he was now able to be more optimistic and believed that she spoke with some sort of intention in mind.

Two years ago, he couldn’t have possibly entered the mountains alone to defeat monsters. Now, he was confident that he could. The more hardships he overcame, the more apparent it was that he had grown stronger. I never would’ve become like this if I’d remained at that orphanage.

He was cutting through bushes and clearing his surroundings when he spotted a rocky area that resembled a cliff. A large, red agonas stood there and stared straight at Richard, who was just emerging from the shrubbery. It was much more gigantic than he had imagined.

It looks pretty fierce, the young man thought.

The red ox charged straight for him from its place by the cliff.

“You’ve saved me some time and effort,” Richard said, flashing a fearless smile as he gripped his greatsword.

 

***

 

Lewis made his way to the grassy fields where basilisks were known to appear. It was a touch closer to the royal capital when compared to the other orphans’ monsters. No one was sure if Serena had shown any sort of consideration toward him, but Lewis chose to think so.

It’s all thanks to Lady Serena for training me to become this strong when I had nothing to offer, Lewis thought.

When he was at the orphanage, he had always been all alone. It was Serena who first called out to him and said that he was essential to her. Her extremely harsh training tempted him to flee, but her kind words allowed him to work hard until now.

And I want to live up to her expectations.

He soon spotted a monster camouflaged in the pale vegetation of the grassy plain.

The basilisk resembled a large lizard and had noticed Lewis as well. He immediately prayed for a miracle from God to strengthen his body, and a pale light surrounded him. It still didn’t make him as strong as Richard, since Lewis’s physical prowess wasn’t impressive to begin with, so he would need to cast healing magic as he whittled his opponent down.

Lewis was confident in his endurance. He had braved Serena’s merciless training every day, and he knew that he boasted exceptional perseverance.

He smiled as he held up his shield. If I drag this into a battle of endurance, I’m sure that I can win.

The basilisk’s tongue flicked out as it cut through the grass to rush at Lewis.

 

***

 

Isabel headed to the northern mountainous terrain where the bloodbear lived. According to the information that she’d gathered, the monster often appeared at the foot of the mountains, so there was no need for climbing.

Because Serena had forced the orphans through a variety of training regimens, Isabel had become skilled at gathering information. She used to hold disdain for men who flocked to her because of her appearance, but now she was an expert on how to handle such people.

Pretty much everyone seemed better in comparison to Lady Serena, Isabel thought.

However, Isabel didn’t hate her master. Training was harsh, but the future that loomed over her at the orphanage was now one filled with hope. She knew that her situation couldn’t get any worse, and thus, she was able to become more optimistic.

Not only had she become physically stronger, but she also learned etiquette and gained knowledge of other things as well. Be it the house of a noble or the family of a merchant, she knew that she could be hired many places. She even had the duke’s seal of approval.

If I can survive this, that is.

A dark shadow emerged from the mountain brush—a bear with reddish-black fur that made it seem like it was covered in the blood of its victims. She had spotted the bloodbear. Isabel unsheathed her blade.

I just need to cut off its paws, but…

She knew that the bear wouldn’t just let her do that. Even a trained knight couldn’t face the creature alone.

But we can.

Serena’s training had given Isabel confidence.

 

***

 

Emma stood in front of a steep, rocky cliff. Her prey, the wingtail, was a bird monster that created nests in steep areas. The cliff was practically at a ninety-degree angle, the perfect location for it to make its nest. It was no place for a person to climb.

However, the orphans found this to be no problem. In the yard of the duke’s garden was an artificially created cliff that was just as steep, and they’d been forced to climb it practically every day. But now, she’d have to fight a monster while scaling the rocky wall; it would be difficult for anyone other than Emma to collect the egg.

“This looks like so much fun,” Emma said happily as she gazed up at the cliff.

She possessed not only amazing physical abilities but excellent eyesight as well. Amid the haze, she spotted the dark tail of a bird—the wingtail. There was undoubtedly a nest up there.

“All right, let’s do this,” she said.

She practically flew as she scaled the cliff—she didn’t grab the stones to gain footing but instead kicked off them to propel herself upwards. Using the speed that she gained, she climbed up in a flash.

Near the very top was a nest created from large branches. No normal bird was capable of creating a nest of that size, further cementing that the wingtail’s egg had to be there. And sure enough, a beautiful, jade-colored egg was nestled within it.

“Found it,” Emma said.

She approached the nest without hesitation. Two wingtails drew close. They must have been the egg’s parents, and their sharp beaks could kill a human in a flash.

“That’s more like it,” Emma said.

She showed no sign of panic and instead seemed to be enjoying herself. She always found Serena’s orders to be wonderful suggestions for new ways to have fun. Emma unsheathed the blade from her back and began a battle in the air, despite her rocky, unsteady footing.

 

***

 

Oscar stood by the lake with a bow in his hand. His prey, the killerfish, lived within these waters, and apparently had been attacking unsuspecting boaters. Oscar’s plan was to create dummies from straw and have them float out on the lake in a small boat. He borrowed the boat without anyone’s permission, but he felt no sense of remorse.

I’ll use whatever I can, he thought.

This lack of guilt was part of his personality, though he had been affected by Serena to some degree as well. His master might have been insolent, but she always produced excellent results. An expert in magic and the sword, she was also exceptionally intelligent and conducted herself with the utmost decorum and grace. Combined with her appearance, she was practically the pinnacle of perfection, personality aside.

Precisely because she’s perfect, she probably expects the same level of perfection from us, her squire candidates.

Oscar was a logical person, so he assumed that Serena acted with some sort of deeper reason in mind, leading to his conclusion. Frankly, that idea was troublesome for him, and if their training had been derived from such a devilish idea, it only tormented him. However, the sessions had undoubtedly made Oscar and the other orphans stronger.

Indeed, Serena’s training produced excellent results here as well.

He gazed upon the tranquil surface of the water, lost in thought, when the mirror-like surface of the lake rippled. He readied his bow, and suddenly, a monstrous fish leaped out of the water to gobble the straw dummies. Oscar swiftly loosed his arrows.

Doesn’t matter if I miss, really, since those straw dummies are laced with poison.

He smiled as his arrow flew straight for the killerfish.

 

***

 

Alice stepped into the depths of the forest, bringing along her dog for this mission. Her assigned monster, the mandragora, was a plant that used its roots as legs to run around. Usually, though, it stayed put and acted like a normal plant. Its body was said to have various medicinal properties and fetched a high price. The drawback was that it was extremely rare to find, and when plucked from the ground, it emitted a harsh screech that would instantly kill those who heard it. A mage like Alice struggled to fight others solo, so in a sense, this was an easy opponent to handle.

Serena is such a good master, Alice thought.

She liked her master very much—Serena gave her plenty of books to read. This made Alice the first of the orphans to swear loyalty to her. Unbeknownst to Alice, Serena simply saw her as a convenient tool—the orphan read every book that came her way, then provided a summary that was easy to digest.

Alice had gained all sorts of knowledge from the many books that she’d perused, which allowed her to narrow down the mandragora’s location. Based on the temperature, the humidity, the condition of the soil, and the surrounding environment, the forest that she was currently in was the perfect place to search. After wandering for an hour, she finally spotted the uniquely shaped leaf that marked the mandragora.

However, if she pulled it out here, the screams would kill her. She chanted a spell of serenity, which nullified any sound made in the area. Alice was an expert with this spell because she would often use it to sneak into other people’s rooms to read their books without permission. As pure silence settled onto the forest, she took out a rope, tying one end to the base of the mandragora’s leaves and the other to the collar of her dog.

This would allow her to pluck out the monster without sullying her hands, and once it appeared, she planned to defeat it. She sent the signal, and her dog ran and pulled the string taut. The roots, the main body of the mandragora, started to show.

Alice raised her staff high in the air, getting ready to beat the mandragora to death.

 

***

 

Serena smiled as the orphans brought home their respective ingredients before the sun set.

“You’ve all done well,” she praised.

The kids beamed with a sense of accomplishment after successfully completing their respective missions by themselves.

“You must all be tired,” Serena said. “Go on and rest.”

She was being unusually kind, and while the orphans all obediently accepted her words, they couldn’t help but be suspicious.

Isabel raised her hand neatly. “Sir, I thought we were going to cook with these ingredients, sir.”

The orphans had been told that their task was cooking, but they had only gathered the ingredients. If they were allowed to rest, did that mean that the chefs of the duke’s household would handle the cooking portion?

The response they received was utterly unexpected.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Serena replied. “I’ll be the one to cook.”

How could she do any cooking? Normally, noblewomen never picked up the knife themselves. This was especially true for those of high rank, such as Serena.

“Sir, have you had any experience with cooking, sir?” Richard asked, clearly sounding surprised by this revelation.

“Of course not,” Serena replied simply. “But I’m sure that I can make do. I’m a genius, after all.”

Oh, you’re a genius all right, but in a completely different sense… the orphans all thought.

The items that they’d all gathered today served as excellent ingredients on their own. Each would cost several gold coins if purchased from the market. They couldn’t possibly be handled carelessly by a cooking amateur. For the orphans, these served as trophies of the first monsters that they had ever defeated by themselves.

“Sir, I believe that it’s best if you receive a lesson from a chef first, sir,” Oscar desperately pleaded. The killerfish that he’d obtained was the result of an hour-long fight in the water.

“Sir, please allow us to offer our assistance, sir,” Isabel added.

She had tears in her eyes. She had thought that she was fighting one bloodbear but soon discovered that she was against two. She’d ended up fighting for her life and barely managed to defeat them both. The paws that she’d brought back were precious mementos of her struggle and her victory.

“I’ll be fine,” Serena said.

Usually, she would punish the orphans for speaking up unasked, but today, she was in an especially good mood.

“If I receive your help, it won’t be my cooking, will it?” she said. “This is a surprise of sorts to reward your hard work today.”

The most terrifying thing was that she didn’t contain even an ounce of ill will today. She genuinely wanted to prepare the ingredients alone and care for her squire candidates. The orphans all fell silent; they had no means to stop their master.

A few hours later, their lavish ingredients had undergone a wretched transformation. If they were to describe the dish, it resembled the entrails of a demon.

“Now, eat up!” Serena declared. “My special cooking will enhance your physical and magical capabilities!”

Her words might have been true, since the ingredients she’d used were known to have those effects, but a bite of her hideous cooking would probably shave a couple of years off one’s life. She was smiling so proudly, though, like a flower in full bloom, that no one had the courage to refuse her offer.

“Sir, I shall have a bite, sir,” Richard said.

In a display of manliness, he grabbed a spoon and ladled a mouthful of shockingly black soup into his mouth. He immediately fell to his knees.

“How is it?” Serena asked. “Good?”

“Sir… The taste leaves me unable to stand, sir…” Richard muttered, turning pale as a sheet and pressing his hands to his mouth.

“So he says,” Serena said. “It’s apparently that delicious!”

He never said a word about it tasting good! The other orphans internally shouted. However, no one dared to voice their thoughts aloud as Serena kept smiling at them.

“Go on, don’t hold back!” Serena said.

She didn’t have her usual demonic sneer on her face; instead, she beamed gently, like an angel. Yet it seemed like this mission that the orphans had been tasked with was harsher than usual. One by one, they challenged themselves to eat the entrails of a demon. While they’d stood victorious in front of powerful monsters today, they each fell to their knees when faced with the toughest opponent of all—Serena’s cooking.

Still, they had to eat it. The orphans all crawled from the depths of Hell to eat another bite, only to be kicked back down. And once again, they would climb up and fall from the awful food.

The dish actually was very potent and increased the orphans’ stamina and magical abilities greatly, but not a single one of them felt compelled to report that to Serena.

Chapter 3: Together with My Squires

Chapter 3: Together with My Squires - 13

Chapter 3-1: My Squires

Chapter 3-1:
My Squires

 

THREE YEARS WERE ABOUT TO PASS SINCE I’D had the orphans begin taking care of their dogs. Richard, Lewis, Emma, and Alice quickly became friendly with their pets, but Isabel and Oscar, who each possessed a bit of a mean streak, had been reluctant to take care of dogs at first. They awkwardly did their best to spend time with their pets and deepen their bonds, and now each treated their animal like family. Little did they know that they would have to kill their family members with their own hands. How humorous it would be!

I can order them to kill their dogs soon! I thought.

That desire was what had kept me going until now. Those beasts were horrific opponents. One time, they snuck out of their owners’ rooms and into mine, daring to snuggle into my bed. When I woke up, I found myself asleep beside six beasts and thought that my heart was about to stop. I tried to burn them to a crisp with my magic, but the dogs awakened and began to bark, which terrified me.

These wild beasts used that opportunity to lick me all over and playfully bite my hands and legs as they pushed their butts against my body. They practically did as they liked. I had never been so humiliated in my life; I’d feared that I was going to die in my bed. The owners quickly noticed that their pets were gone and rushed to my room, but it was like they were desperately holding back their laughter. I had no dignity left.

But that hellish period would end today. As the orphans personally killed the animals that they had raised with care, they would climb the final step to become my squires. I was excited to hear those demonic beasts squeal as they met their grisly ends.

I ordered the orphans to gather in the garden with their dogs.

After three years, the dogs had been trained well and didn’t pounce on me without warning. Am I imagining things? I felt like the dogs were gazing at me as though they were watching their prey. The orphans seemed a touch nervous, curious as to why they’d been called outside with their pets. They were astute; I couldn’t stop myself from grinning as I imagined how they would look at me when I ordered them to kill the dogs.

I felt like a judge who was about to announce a death sentence as I tried to give the order. I planned to be the future queen of this kingdom, but I believed being a magistrate could also have been my calling. Had I been employed in that role, I would have sentenced all criminals to death.

Just as I was about to order the orphans to kill their dogs with a smile on my face, my gaze fell on the kids. Twelve eyes shone back at me, filled with trust. They genuinely seemed to care for me, and this wasn’t the first time I had seen such eyes. If memory serves…

When I hesitated at that moment, I heard a voice from the manor.

“Lady Serena, your father is calling for you.”

A person who closely served my father called for me. I swore inwardly.

“I shall be there,” I replied.

I quickly told the orphans to train by themselves and headed back into the manor.

 

***

 

“Serena, His Majesty the King has said that he would like to meet with you,” my father announced.

He smiled brightly as he told me the news. This was less of a request and more of an order; I had to go, no matter what obstacles barred my path. However, I didn’t recall meeting the king at this point in my previous life.

“Father, why does His Majesty want to meet me?” I asked.

Had His Majesty somehow realized that I was redoing my life? In my previous incarnation, the king had cruelly sentenced me to death. He was third on my hit list if I couldn’t become engaged to Prince Edward. First was Eleanor, and second was the prince himself.

It might’ve been quicker to just burn down the entire castle.

“You see, the fact that you took in orphans and are educating them has been talked about within the castle,” my father said. “Do you remember the time when the nun who runs the orphanage visited to check up on the orphans?”

How could I forget? The elderly director had become rounder than ever, perhaps because she’d been freed from the stress of dealing with those problem children.

“Yes, I do,” I replied.

When my squire candidates had shown the results of their training, she’d practically choked on her tears of joy.

“I may not have told you, but she’s actually of noble birth,” my father explained. “She’s been praising you to bits and told everyone that the duke’s daughter splendidly educated the orphans. His Majesty heard the news, and now he’s eager to meet you.”

“I see,” I replied.

I wasn’t too happy about this. I had been training the orphans to exact my revenge, and while I hammered etiquette into them, I mainly focused on raising their combat prowess. No normal squire needed those abilities, and if the truth came to light, I would struggle to come up with an excuse.

“Must I bring my orphans with me?” I asked.

“Of course,” my father answered.

What a pain… I thought. I had only taught the orphans the basics of etiquette. Even the duke’s servants weren’t fully capable of exhibiting manners suitable for the king. I didn’t want to waste time on such needless tasks, but it seemed I had no choice.

I’ll think about this positively. The king might be my target in the future, so it was important for the orphans to recognize his face. If I also had them memorize the layout of the castle, it might come in handy later.

“You’ve also been asked to bring the dogs along,” my father added.

“The dogs?” I asked. “Why is that?”

“You don’t need to act so humble. You raised the orphans and the dogs at the same time—it was a splendid idea on your part. Those dogs are well trained, and you dote over them so much that you sleep with them in your bed. When I told His Majesty the story, he was curious about them as well. He’s eager to see the dogs too.”

“What?”

I was shocked. My vision began to grow dark, and I almost fell to my knees.

I don’t dote over them! They entered my room without my permission!

This misunderstanding had grown more than I had anticipated. If the king wanted to assess them, it meant that I would receive his seal of approval. After that, I couldn’t admit that I’d had the dogs killed to toughen their owners’ psyches. In fact, since those beasts were now the target of other nobles’ interest, I might have to bring them out to future social gatherings.

Did His Majesty lay out some sort of elaborate trap to ensnare me?

No longer could I have those dogs killed, and that would prevent the orphans from becoming full-fledged assassins. As various thoughts swirled within my mind, I managed to eke out an obedient response.

“I understand, Father.”

 

***

 

When I returned to the garden, the orphans were training with the dogs. Some tackled obstacles while others swung their swords around or chanted spells. None of them had slacked off while I was gone; they all took their training very seriously. They had been taught well. Maybe they were strong enough already, and there was no need for the dogs to be killed.

Oh, all right, I thought as resignation filled my mind.

I hadn’t given up on my revenge, of course, but I could no longer kill the dogs. When the orphans noticed my return, they immediately formed a straight line. Their dogs sat in front of them. Each awaited my words nervously.

“It’s been three years since you started to raise these dogs,” I began.

“Sir, yes, sir!” they shouted.

“From today onward, you will no longer be filthy worms,” I continued. “You will be my squires. You have all been tied by a bond of siblinghood; from now until your deaths, no matter where you may be, you squires will be siblings. You may have to face various hardships with me. Perhaps some of you may die. But you’d best commit to memory that you squires will die for my sake. That is the sole reason for your existence. And I shall be eternal! In other words, as my squires, you shall also live on for eternity!”

Even I wasn’t quite sure what I was talking about, but my former butler had taught me about this sort of speech. He mentioned that it was highly effective. When I turned to the orphans lined up in front of me, they all had tears in their eyes. Except Alice, who was always emotionless.

Seriously?

Chapter 3-2: Richard

Chapter 3-2:
Richard

 

I DON’T REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT MY PARENTS. I don’t really want to remember them anyway. My old man often punched my mom, and after he was thrown in jail, my mom took me to the orphanage.

“Richard,” she told me, “whenever I see your face, I’m reminded of that good-for-nothing.”

Both of my parents were alive, but I was thrown away and forced into an orphanage. If I were asked whether I was unhappy, I would have replied that I was lucky. I had food to fill my stomach, and I didn’t hear my parents shouting at each other in the middle of the night. The environment I was in was much better, but I still had a problem, and it wasn’t the orphanage—it was me. I couldn’t stop myself from hitting others.

Before I could verbally retort, my body would already be moving on its own to punch the other person. It was the one thing that I had learned from my father. There was no need to talk, and if I won, that was that. It was the easiest form of communication in the world.

I was larger than the other kids my age and never lost a fight. The director often scolded me for my actions, but the punishments were minor. Even if I was forced to skip a meal or two, or locked away in the lecture room, it was far more preferable than the unreasonable treatment that I had received at home. The director and the other staff of the orphanage were annoying, but I lived a comfortable life.

It all changed when she arrived—the noble who came to the orphanage one day. That wasn’t unusual in and of itself; haughty nobles would come in and gaze at us abandoned children with pity and gave us a snack or two. I absolutely despised being looked down on. I always glared at those pathetic nobles’ faces, so whenever they arrived, I was locked away in a room.

That day, I was being kept in the lecture room. I had heard that a high-ranking bratty noble was going to select squires out of the orphans, and the smart ones were taught basic manners to show off.

Does she think that she’s benevolent for allowing pitiful orphans to take care of her? I thought. Give me a break.

I was infuriated just hearing about it. I lazed about in the lecture room as I always did, used to lying low and quietly waiting for unpleasant things to pass. If I stayed quiet, I could get a couple of those snacks they gave away, and I didn’t mind having some.

Just then, that old hag of a director opened the door to the lecture room.

She stated that I would be introduced to the daughter of the duke. I thought she had gone insane, but she also seemed confused by it all. Then, I was finally introduced to her. There were a lot of important-looking adults around, but I instantly knew that this girl had gone out of her way to meet me. She had long, silky black hair and pale, clear skin. I could only assume that a shitty God had played favorites when her face was created.

But above all, her eyes twinkled with malice.

I immediately knew that she was bad news. She might have been pretty, but she was insane. The moment I became her squire, I would be forced into the most horrific situations. I glared at her with all I could muster to signal that I was refusing her request to entertain her. However, the next moment, she shattered my hopes.

“This child will be one of my first squires,” she said.

Argh, damn it! I knew it! She’s crazy! No normal person would choose me—she must be completely insane.

“Hey! Stop deciding all by yourself!” I bellowed. “Don’t get cocky just because you’re a noble!”

“Richard, you’ll become my squire candidate from today onward,” she said. “If you have any complaints, why don’t you fight me? You seem rather confident in your strength, though I can’t say the same for your brains.”

She halted the angered adults with her and gestured with her index finger, provoking me. My body moved on its own as I pounced. I had never lost a fight against anyone my age. If I backed down against this frail girl, I knew that I would be laughed at. But the next moment, she vanished from view, and I felt a strong blow on my chin. I saw stars as my feet began to wobble.

I hadn’t let my guard down. However, by the time I’d reassessed her abilities and realized that she was used to combat, she had kicked my groin with all her might.

She didn’t hold back at all, and I had never felt such pain in my life.

This is why I hate women! They don’t understand how much this hurts!

As I writhed on the floor in agony, she walked away. It didn’t mean that she’d spared me; when she left, the other unlucky good-for-nothings and I were packed into a carriage like livestock and shipped out of the orphanage.

Isabel, Alice, Emma, Oscar, and Lewis were the other orphans who were selected. Isabel and Oscar were known troublemakers, and Alice, Emma, and Lewis had also caused the orphanage much trouble. None of us could possibly be favored by the refined nobles. I had no idea what that lady, Serena, was thinking.

 

***

 

The days at the duke’s manor were hellish, to put it mildly. If Hell was as bad as this, I would be a saint starting tomorrow and hope that I would make it to Heaven. My experience was inexplicably awful. We weren’t allowed to speak without permission, and if we showed any sort of defiance, we had spells rammed down our throats. We were forced to run while we carried sandbags and swim through a river in full suits of armor. We had to find jewels the size of pebbles thrown into a forest, and I began to think that the orphanage and my house were much better places to be.

We were even taught letters and etiquette. If we didn’t learn fast enough, we were hung from the highest balcony in the manor with a rope as we read through several books. Every thirty minutes, we would be brought back in and tested on whether we’d retained the information. If we got any questions wrong, we were personally kicked down to the bottom by the duke’s daughter.

“Isn’t this the best place to quietly get some reading in?” she had said.

It was the best location, all right. I had nothing else I could do, and the rope left marks all over my body for a good while. Thanks to that—though I wouldn’t want to express any gratitude—I quickly learned how to read and write, along with proper etiquette. Since I trained like crazy every day, I soon became much stronger.

Minor injuries could be healed swiftly by the duke’s personal physician, but even a competent healer couldn’t seem to fix the insanity that went on in the mind of the duke’s daughter.

The intensity of our training escalated. One day, she suddenly forced us to look after puppies. I couldn’t understand her intentions at all. Lewis claimed that raising a dog would be an excellent experience for us, but in a situation where I could die at any moment, I couldn’t see how taking care of a mutt would be good for me.

Does she think that raising a dog would pardon us and allow us to go to Heaven upon death? I doubt it.

I was admittedly reluctant at first, but the dogs were cute. They soothed my desolate heart. It wasn’t the duke’s manor that had made me this way—I’d likely had a hardened heart even before I entered the orphanage. And yet, this tiny creature showered me with love. I could hardly believe it. Never in my life had I ever dared to utter a word like “love.”

When the orphanage preached about the love of God, I didn’t have faith in it. How could I? I was abandoned by my parents and hadn’t been taught love by the people who were supposed to shower me with it. None of us had received any sort of affection. I—no, we orphans had assumed that love was just some sort of imaginary concept.

I couldn’t trust others. They could string together pretty words, but I didn’t know what their true thoughts were. A mouth that could expel sweet platitudes could easily hurt and betray others in the same breath.

Dogs, however, were different. They had no ulterior motives; they were honest, laying themselves bare in front of me. My dog looked happy when it was fed and was equally excited when I played with it. Inversely, it looked sad when I didn’t give it any attention, and when I was annoyed, it sensed my emotions and expressed its unhappiness.

Dogs were simple creatures and were no trouble at all. This pup didn’t just like me because I gave it food. I loved it, and it loved me back.

“You orphans are lacking in spirit,” that bratty girl had told us.

And she was exactly right. We were lacking in heart and spirit. We didn’t have enough love, and we were starved for it. Betrayed by our own parents, we couldn’t trust the love other people showed us. Isabel and Oscar were the same. When they began to raise their own dogs, their prickly expressions and attitudes began to soften. I was probably the same.

She—Lady Serena—had seen right through us since the beginning.

Even if training was unreasonably tough, I was desperate to survive and make it back because my dog was waiting for me. Before I knew it, we had all become much stronger. In fact, the duke was gracious enough to praise me and claimed that I could become a knight if I so desired. I wasn’t alone in my growth—the others were also told that they could become knights or mages if they wanted. We could receive excellent jobs. I hadn’t even dreamed of such a bright future when I was at the orphanage.

It pained me to admit it, but the daily hellish training had produced results. Through the trials and tribulations that we overcame, we endured unreasonable demands, and our hearts and bodies became tougher than steel.

In the year we turned fourteen, Lady Serena called us out to the garden with our dogs with the brightest smile on her face. I was prepared for another round of our usual harsh training when she was called by His Grace. She left to meet with her father, and when she returned, she continued her speech.

“You will be my squires,” she told us.

She said that we were now bonded for life as siblings and that she was eternal—implying that as her squires, we would be the same. Truthfully, I didn’t really understand what she was on about, but tears filled my eyes.

We all cried. We had received the seal of approval from that demon—the awful woman who I hated with every fiber of my being.

So, why was I so happy? I didn’t have a clue, but the tears wouldn’t stop, and our dogs comforted us. Lady Serena waited for us to stop crying before she continued speaking.

“I will bring you all to visit His Majesty the King,” she said. “Your dogs will come along too.”

What a day! A commoner would never have the honor of meeting the king. I realized that Lady Serena had trained us for this day. This will be our first job as her official squires!

It was then I swore my eternal loyalty to my master.

Chapter 3-3: An Audience

Chapter 3-3:
An Audience

 

BEFORE WE HAD AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING, I decided to officially make the orphans my squires. It would be awful if the king’s fancy made them the center of attention. Of course, even if these children became my official attendants, they would likely have to follow the king’s orders, but now that they’d received these promotions, they might be able to refuse a bit.

Since I could no longer get rid of those dogs, there was no reason for the orphans to remain as my squire candidates. When they received their elevated statuses, they all began to cry. I didn’t quite understand it, but my assassin educational style must have gone well. The knowledge of our predecessors was great and had to be respected.

In any case, it was imperative for my squires to learn proper manners that were befitting for the king’s presence. Fortunately, a solution was quickly found. Alice, who read many books, had perfectly memorized proper etiquette, and the other five quickly picked up on her teachings. There was no need to hang them in the air anymore, though I found it a bit unfortunate that I could no longer tie them up and kick them down.

Soon enough, the day we would visit the king arrived.

“As you’re no longer my squire candidates, you do not have to call me ‘sir’ anymore,” I said. “You may speak normally as you desire.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the shouted.

I wasn’t sure if they’d failed to understand my words or if it was just a force of habit, but I assumed that they would loosen up soon enough.

But it’ll be a bit embarrassing if they speak to me like that in the castle, I thought.

And so, I took my six squires and their dogs to the castle where His Majesty awaited.

 

***

 

In my previous life, I had visited the castle on several occasions. However, upon arrival, I realized that the air within the building was different. I felt the gazes on me. Though I was a daughter of a duke, I led around six squires who, in turn, led six dogs. It was no wonder that we stood out, and I felt people staring curiously at them as well. The former orphans who had become my retainers would undoubtedly upset some nobles.

Thanks to my father walking in front, no one dared to hurl any nasty remarks at me. Had I been alone, I was sure that I would have had an unfortunate experience. My squires all walked confidently along the long corridor with their dogs, looking so proud that I became anxious. How could they look so calm despite visiting the castle for the first time?

Even in my past life, I had been tense upon my first visit to the castle. Here, they resembled undaunted heroes who had looked into the eyes of Hell and made it back. It was as though they had nothing left to fear, and I couldn’t help but wonder where they had gained such bravery. The dogs had also been taught well, and none of them let out a single bark as they confidently walked through the castle like they owned the place.

And they’re just strays! I thought.

We were guided into the audience room by the king’s attendant. I expected only the king to be there, but the queen and Crown Prince Edward were in attendance as well. In my past life, I’d first met Prince Edward when we were much older, but it seemed that detail had changed. My father took the lead and walked across the red carpet, then kneeled about ten paces away from the throne where the king sat. My squires and their dogs also stopped in place and genuflected beautifully without a single misstep. The dogs laid low as though they were kneeling too.

“Splendid,” the king said, his tone filled with awe.

“Thank you,” my father said, keeping his head low.

“You may rise.”

With His Majesty’s permission, we all slowly raised our heads. The dogs sat down politely. How in the world were the dogs trained? They seem a bit too…skilled.

“Indeed, the daughter of the duke is beautiful,” the king said, “but her squires look respectable as well. I can hardly believe that they were once orphans. The dogs are trained quite well too. I’ve never seen animals so polite. Serena, I’ve been told that you are the one who raised the orphans and the stray dogs, but how in the world did you manage such a feat?”

It had been a while since I’d last seen His Majesty’s face, and he looked surprisingly gentle. In my past life, the last time I saw him, I’d felt that he was rather cold.

“Your Majesty, I have told the orphans to eat and sleep with the dogs,” I replied. “I told them to communicate through their hearts and to nurture bonds like those of siblings—or perhaps of parent and child. The orphans matured alongside their pets. I had the orphans learn the proper skills needed to become excellent squires, and as the dogs were exposed to human language, they quickly understood our words.”

In truth, I’d only had the dogs around as sacrifices to turn my squires into splendid assassins, but I could never say that. I instead thought of some random excuses and tried to hide my true intentions.

“Ah, I see,” the king replied. “By raising them both at once, both parties synergized and matured at a rapid rate.”

“Precisely, Your Majesty,” I replied.

Synergized? I just wanted those dogs killed, and I didn’t aim for anything like that.

I was confused, but I found it best to let sleeping dogs lie.

“In any case, the dogs are very well trained,” the king said. “I would love a dog like that…”

“I shall give all six to you,” I replied.

I responded quickly, without missing a beat. I wanted nothing more than for him to take them off my hands. I would be free of the dogs, and the king would express his gratitude to me. Only good could come out of this deal.

My squires all looked troubled, but how could I refuse a royal order? You’d all better endure it.

“No, I’ve no intention of tearing apart sibling bonds,” His Majesty replied. “But I shall not forget my gratitude for your loyalty, as you offered them to me without a second thought.”

I don’t need that kind of gratitude! Just take these dogs away!

Of course, I couldn’t say that aloud.

“I’m grateful for your kind words, Your Majesty,” I said.

“Now then, duke, I do have a proposition,” the king said. “I would like for your daughter and my Edward to be engaged.”

Huh?

“I’m grateful to hear that,” my father replied. “But are you fine with this, Your Highness?”

“Of course,” Edward said. “I have no issues. In fact, I would consider myself blessed to be engaged to such a lovely lady.”

He flashed a gentle smile at me, his demeanor completely different from when he’d broken off our engagement. I had hoped to see him smile at me once again. But…

When I took a closer look, he wasn’t as handsome as I’d initially thought. In fact, I felt that Oscar was a bit better looking. Internally, I had long passed thirty, and I wasn’t sure if that was affecting my taste. However, I didn’t feel the spark of love that I’d felt for Prince Edward in my previous life. He looked unreliable. My squires were far better trained and prepared.

Huh? Was he always like this?

“Serena, what say you?” the king asked.

When their attention suddenly shifted to me, I responded instinctively.

“I’m so very grateful,” I said. “I couldn’t be more honored. If you will have me, I could wish for nothing more.”

I even made my cheeks grow pink—a result of practice as I’d tried my best to act like Eleanor. I’d known that I would be engaged to Prince Edward one day, but this had happened much quicker than in my previous life.

“Goodness,” Her Majesty said. She gazed at the dogs, enchanted. “Since you two are now engaged, please bring those dogs along. I’d love to play with them in the castle courtyard.”

“I would love to play with them as well,” Prince Edward said.

He was also staring at the dogs passionately.

Uh, he didn’t look at me that way, even in my previous life. Is this engagement just for the dogs? Am I just a bonus?

“Truth be told, my wife, Edward, and I all love dogs very much,” the king said. “If we publicized that fact, our subjects would shower us with pets, and so we’ve kept it a secret. But Serena, if you love dogs as well, it’s a different story. I ask that you bring your pets along every time you visit the castle.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” I replied.

Huh? Wait, in my previous life, I feel like I told Prince Edward that I’m not fond of dogs. Did he hide that he liked them from me?

Eleanor, on the other hand, loved them, and she would often feed the strays.

Was my engagement canceled partly because of dogs? Are they to blame?

Chapter 3-4: Lewis

Chapter 3-4:
Lewis

 

MY PARENTS PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS A young child. My final memory of my mother was when she held me within the overturned carriage, completely lifeless. I had no other relatives and was sent to the orphanage. Our family had a dog, but I had no idea what happened to it.

I couldn’t fit in at the orphanage. I was always sad, and I yearned to meet my mother and dog again. But whenever I spoke of my woes, everyone around me would express their disdain.

“None of us have parents, Lewis,” one of the kids said. “Just bear with it.”

That child had been older than me when he gave that warning, but I thought that didn’t make sense. Just because everyone else endured the pain, why did I have to as well?

That’s wrong, I thought. I was sad about my loss and couldn’t help it. These were my emotions. And so, I chose to always stay within my shell.

The director and the other staff members of the monastery tried to empathize with me at first, but soon, even they left me alone. The orphanage had plenty of problem children, and they had no time to worry about a quiet, enigmatic child like me. Richard was large, strong, and violent. He was quick to throw a punch, and he had hit me several times. But while he was short-tempered, I didn’t feel any sort of malice from him. His hands were to blame, not his character. Aside from his violent arms, I truly believed that he was a good guy.

Oscar, on the other hand, was bad. He was smart and handsome; he utilized that to be the ringleader of the boys, and not in a good way. He looked down on others just because his father was a noble. He formed a clique and did all sorts of mischievous deeds. He often mocked me. “Gloomy fatty” was the nickname he gave me when he taunted and teased my appearance. Generally, though, he was the type to focus his mischief on the adults. I wasn’t treated too horribly.

Isabel served as the leader for the girls, but she expected some order from the orphans. She was a bit self-righteous and often acted as the mediator in skirmishes between the children. She even punished those who had ill will. I always found her at odds with Richard and Oscar.

Emma resembled a cat or a monkey. She was nimble and loved to climb anything, be it a building or a tree. The Holy Haven Orphanage was a towering building that boasted quite a bit of history, so she made it her mission to climb to the top. She challenged herself again and again, worrying the director and the other employees. If Emma slipped and fell from such a height, she would surely die, but she was rarely injured. As time went on, she was left to her own devices.

Alice was the type of child who would reach for anything with words on it. Her special ability was that she retained anything she read once. She had an eccentric obsession with words and didn’t hesitate to sneak into the rooms of the director or the other nuns to read anything she could find. She would read other people’s letters without a care. I felt like the director and the others were the wariest of her.

While everyone was unique in their own way, I felt like they were all the same, deep down. They yearned for love. I think they acted out because they wanted attention. While the director handled all the children well, she never once treated any of them as special. She carefully made sure that she treated every child equally. Kids were sensitive to changes, and they could quickly tell if she showed any sort of favoritism; she knew that no one wanted to see that.

To an observer, it might have seemed like she shared a friendly relationship with the kids. In truth, it was like she was walking across a tightrope and was skilled in maintaining her delicate balance. As the kids grew older, the problematic ones grew worse. I think that the director must have been stressed out.

It was then that Lady Serena arrived. On a whim, the daughter of the duke decided to select some orphans to be her squires. Thus, the director chose some of the more obedient kids and taught them the basics in etiquette within the time that she was allowed. Yet, Lady Serena didn’t choose these proper kids and went out of her way to select Richard, Oscar, and other problem children. I was one of them.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “You have nothing to fear. You’re essential to me.”

Essential? I thought. Ever since I’d come to this orphanage, not once had I been told that I was essential. But it was the word that I longed to hear the most. None of us knew why we were born. Was it all right for us to stay here? Were we allowed to remain alive? We didn’t have parents and we no longer had unconditional love. We had to find our own reasons to remain alive.

Lady Serena picked the orphans who were most in need of that drive and gave us the motivation to cling to life. We had to overcome harsh trials, and she used clever words to expertly insult us as we pushed the limits of our stamina and souls. Every day was tough, and I especially felt tempted to throw in the towel numerous times since I was fatter than my peers.

It was Richard who offered me a helping hand. Just to note, we weren’t friends. In fact, back at the orphanage, we’d hated each other. But when Serena took the role of the villain, we banded together and deepened our bonds. She had calculated it all. I didn’t expect Richard to notice, but Oscar and Isabel had failed to recognize it as well. Through strict training and studying, we were able to have a clearer ideal for ourselves.

And to top it all off, she had us take care of dogs.

Lady Serena gave me the order one day. “I want you to round up six stray dogs from the city. I’d like them to be puppies.”

I immediately knew what that order meant. She wanted us to raise those puppies and gain a sense of responsibility so that we could mature. And so, I went out of my way to gather puppies that matched each person’s type. The large one would go to Richard. The handsome one would belong to Oscar. The adorable one would be paired with Isabel, and the intelligent one would be with Alice. Emma received an energetic puppy, and I chose a normal one for myself.

Richard and Emma looked delighted, but Oscar and Isabel seemed reluctant. Still, Lady Serena’s orders were absolute—they had no choice but to look after the pups.

And so, our journey started. The dogs were cute, and even Oscar and Isabel, who weren’t so willing at first, gradually doted over theirs. Soon enough, arguments broke out over who had the cutest puppy; I never would’ve imagined that we would quarrel over such a wholesome topic.

However, one thing bothered me. When Lady Serena had first spotted the dogs, for a split second, she looked as though she was bracing herself. I instantly knew why. Lady Serena’s holding herself back from playing with these dogs!

Thinking back, she always put on a tough front and never showed a moment of weakness to us squire candidates. It was only natural for her to act that way since she was at the top.

But she was a young lady our age, and I knew that she yearned to play with these adorable pups. Above all else, the dogs were inexplicably drawn to her. When we first started to look after our puppies, they charged straight for her, forcing us to desperately try to hold them back. Since she was so loved by the dogs, it was obvious that she loved them back. But a person of low status like me couldn’t just impudently suggest that she frolic with the puppies. Even if I said something like that, she would surely decline my offer.

I thought long and hard on how to get her to play with the dogs and eventually came upon the perfect opportunity when we were granted an audience with His Majesty.

The king and his family loved dogs as well, making this the perfect excuse for Lady Serena to play with them. The moment we returned to the manor, I decided to offer her a word of advice.

“Lady Serena, as you are engaged to the crown prince, who happens to love dogs, perhaps it would be good practice to spend time with the dogs every day?” I said. “It’s just a suggestion, of course.”

“What are you trying to say?” Lady Serena asked.

She tried to feign composure, but it was clear that she was doing her best to hold back some strong feelings. She must have predicted what I was getting at and internally leaped with joy.

“Perhaps you should play with our dogs for an hour a day, every day, my lady,” I replied.

“An hour?” Lady Serena asked. She looked as though she had braced herself again; an hour might not have been long enough.

“Is that too short?”

“No, that’s a fine suggestion! I’ve got an excellent squire, and I offer you my praise!”

She hastily accepted my idea. No doubt she wanted to play with them longer, but she must have decided to hold herself back in front of us.

Thank goodness.

She stiffened, but I was sure that she was actually ecstatic. I was finally able to be of some use to her, and for the first time, I felt pride in my accomplishments.

Chapter 4: Conquest

Chapter 4: Conquest - 14

Chapter 4-1: Summer Retreat

Chapter 4-1:
Summer Retreat

 

MY ENGAGEMENT WITH PRINCE EDWARD WAS quickly decided upon, though this time it occurred a year earlier than in my previous life. Needless to say, I had no issues. However, this momentous occasion, which I had long looked forward to, didn’t make me jump with joy as I’d expected. I felt like the dogs had sealed the deal for me.

To add to that, Prince Edward, who had looked so dashing in my eyes in my previous life, was somewhat lacking to me now. The prince couldn’t even match Richard or Lewis, much less Oscar. Was it because I had lived a total of some thirty-odd years? I no longer understood my own feelings.

While I was in a state of confusion, Lewis made an atrocious suggestion.

“Lady Serena, as you are engaged to the crown prince, who happens to love dogs, perhaps it would be good practice to spend time with the dogs every day?” he said. “It’s just a suggestion, of course.”

What in the holy hell is he on about? I thought. Me? Play with dogs every day? Is this some kind of torture? Did he sense my disdain for dogs?

“What are you trying to say?” I asked.

I tried my best to maintain my composure, but my body became drenched in cold sweat.

“Perhaps you should play with our dogs for an hour a day, every day, my lady,” Lewis replied.

“An hour?” I asked.

Was this his way of getting back at me for making him endure all that strict training? His suggestion was nothing short of harassment. Plus, since he’d brought up the crown prince, it made it even more difficult for me to refuse. What a cunning guy!

“Is that too short?” he inquired.

I reluctantly accepted Lewis’s proposal.

“No, that’s a fine suggestion!” I replied. “I’ve got an excellent squire, and I offer you my praise!”

He looked like he wouldn’t hurt a fly, and yet he had immediately waved the flag of revolt against his master. He terrified me. Oscar and Isabel were downright sweet and gentle in comparison.

“Thank you!” Lewis cried. “I shall bring the dogs right away!”

I had no time to stop him as he led the other squires back into their rooms. Wait, seriously? Starting today?

 

***

 

If I were to make an analogy, the waiting period was similar to when I had sat waiting for my execution.

I prayed to God. Please have the dogs fall under some sort of illness and be wiped out before they reach me, I begged.

But my quiet pleas didn’t reach God’s ears, and my six squires brought out their dogs. The animals were brimming with energy, which only made me feel even more dejected.

“Please, take your time,” Lewis said warmly.

He simply gave me my death sentence. The moment the dogs were free from their owners, they rushed to my side. They were bigger than the last time they’d pounced on me all those years ago. They had grown spectacularly, and they moved like beasts out for blood.

The dogs panted, huffed, barked, squealed, sniffed, and growled around me.

“E-eep!” I shrieked.

I couldn’t help it—I could no longer endure my situation. However, the beasts were relentless and unforgiving.

First, Richard’s large dog pushed me down, and the other five joined in, trampling me. They tugged on my clothes, placed their feet on me, and gently nibbled my hands and legs. They rubbed their butts against me and did whatever they wanted.

And I have to endure this for an hour?! No! I’ll die! I tried to ask for help, turning to my squires, but all I saw were six grinning demons watching my unhappy situation. I-I was tricked!

No one was on my side. I was certain that these orphans had been searching for an opportunity to exact their revenge the moment they’d arrived at this manor.

But I was Serena Rosenberg, the daughter of a duke. As the future queen of this kingdom, I wasn’t one to fold against this level of lowly harassment. I stood up in a display of pride, despite the dogs all over me. I wanted someone to praise this feat and make a bronze statue showing my current display of bravery so that I would be praised for all time.

Serena Rosenberg, The One Who Faces Beasts, the title of the statue would read. It was a splendid idea.

I tried to daydream my way out of my situation, and I even managed to muster a smile out of sheer willpower. I remained standing for an hour and endured this suffering, though my outfit became drenched in slobber.

Behold! This is the pride of the daughter of a duke!

I glared at my squires as they all smiled back at me. Their expressions implied that they were letting me off the hook for today, but this hell would continue from tomorrow onward. I cried as I took a bath.

 

***

 

Dogs aside, I had a more pressing matter at hand. Now that my engagement was set, I knew that if I stayed the course, that wretched Eleanor would destroy my life as she had done before. To prevent that, I had to steal away any sort of glory that she would have.

In my previous life, when I’d turned fifteen, Eleanor used her holy powers to pacify a monster, earning her fame throughout the kingdom. From there, her legend as a saintess was born. However, if I defeated that monster first, that legend would never exist.

I was going to turn fifteen this year and finally display my power.

“At attention!” Oscar bellowed.

All my squires stood in a neat line and prepared to listen to my words.

“We shall head to Lake Elfen!” I declared. “I suggest everyone make preparations.”

This summer, a massive snake monster was supposed to wreak havoc at the lake. My plan was to head there first and defeat it before Eleanor had the chance.

Isabel gingerly raised her hand. She asked, “Lady Serena, what business do we have there?”

“A colossal serpent monster is lurking about there,” I replied. “Our goal is to vanquish it.”

She gazed back at me dubiously. “A monster at Lake Elfen?”

Lake Elfen was a popular place amongst the nobles for summer retreats. There had been no reports of a monster lurking about.

“Do you not trust my words?” I asked.

“No, nothing like that!” Isabel shouted with a respectful salute. “I apologize! Your words are never wrong, Lady Serena!”

“Only I know about the location of this serpent. I ask that none of you speak of this matter to anyone else.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” my squires chanted.

I knew that they were tight-lipped, and that information wouldn’t leak.

“This isn’t like combat training,” I said. “This will be our first taste of real battle. This fight is crucial so that the entire kingdom hears my name! But we will be against a powerful monster. We cannot let our guards down, and you must make proper preparations to ensure our survival! Do I make myself clear?”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

When will they stop replying like that? I wondered.

Now came the important bit. While my squires were aware that we were off to defeat a monster, I couldn’t tell my father the truth. So I stuck with the very normal request of heading to Lake Elfen for a summer retreat. Of course, my father smiled and immediately allowed it.

 

***

 

“Serena, what in the world is that?” my father asked.

On the day of our departure, he had sent me off to Lake Elfen. He pointed to a carriage that carried my belongings for the trip.

“They’re all necessary for my summer retreat, Father,” I replied.

Armor, helmets, shields, swords, spears, and bows were packed into the carriage, glimmering ominously under the bright sunlight. Healing elixirs were also loaded by the barrel. The carriage was supposed to be for a vacation trip, but it clearly looked more prepared for a military campaign. “Are they, now?” my father asked.

“I’ve been told that the path there has become treacherous,” I replied.

“I haven’t received such a report…”

He seemed a bit confused and quickly turned to face my squires.

“What in the world are they doing?” he inquired.

My squires were huddled together in a circle and were chanting loudly.

“Do we love Lady Serena?” Oscar shouted.

“We’re faithful to her for life!” the others bellowed back. “We’ll cast our lives at her feet! Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!”

“What will allow us to grow?” Isabel yelled.

“Blood! Blood! Blood!” the others replied.

“Why do we exist?” Richard asked.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!” the others roared.

My squires resembled a squad of mercenaries who had braved hundreds of battles.

“Oh, Father, they’re simply trying to heighten their concentration before they conduct their duties as my attendants,” I replied coolly.

It wasn’t a lie, though I did feel that they were a bit too fired up for this mission.

“Their words sound rather ominous for squires,” my father muttered.

“Ah, well, I’m sure they learned such vulgar vernacular back at the orphanage and the words remained with them to this day,” I replied, deciding to use this opportunity to blame it all on the orphanage.

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“Was that place like that?”

My father didn’t seem to agree, but I pretended I hadn’t heard him. I left my perplexed father behind and headed for Lake Elfen.

Chapter 4-2: Isabel

Chapter 4-2:
Isabel

 

MY MOTHER WAS A HARLOT. I KNEW NOTHING of my father, but I assumed that he was one of her clients. I was born in a brothel, and the other prostitutes raised me. There were several other kids born in the same circumstances. I was treated as their sibling.

I wasn’t certain of the reason why, but I had very few memories of my mother caring for me. She must have been a popular harlot. The ones tasked with raising the kids were young girls who couldn’t quite handle customers yet. When we grew up, the ladies would also become harlots, and the men would work under us. That was the environment I grew up in. It wasn’t as bad as some might assume; I think I had a rather nice and fun childhood.

But as I grew, I gradually began to understand just what kind of place I was in. When I saw older girls cry as they handled customers, my resolve began to waver.

The greatest trigger was my mother’s death. It was rather common for harlots to die of sickness. However, before her death, I saw her in a deranged state, as though she was stuck in her own delusions. I became terrified. I didn’t want to turn out like that.

My mother’s funeral was a simple one. She was buried in a mass grave and that was that. Beside the grave was Holy Haven Orphanage. I took my chance and snuck out after the funeral to knock on the orphanage gates. The director opened the door and came out to meet me.

“I don’t want to be a harlot,” I told her.

She looked a touch troubled, but she took me in. It seemed the staff of the brothel went out of their way to search for me at the orphanage, but the director firmly insisted that no such girl was under her care. Luckily, the facility was funded by nobles, placing it under the guardianship of a person with power. Even the intimidating guys of the brothel couldn’t push their way through and search the place.

 

***

 

My days at the orphanage weren’t all that bad. There were a lot of well-mannered kids compared to the brothel, and since I’d had a rough upbringing, I felt like I stood out. Fortunately, I was decently athletic and was just a smidge smarter than the others. That allowed me to join the circle of the well-mannered kids. I had a place where I belonged.

I began to exert my influence on the others, and after a few years, I became the leader of the girls. That didn’t mean I was up to mischief. I was very grateful to the director for taking me in. I took it upon myself to punish those who did wrong, like having the kids ignore a certain person or hide their things. Maybe we’d make some of that naughty kid’s food disappear, or I’d trap them in a storage area rumored to be haunted. Whenever I punished those people, my entourage jumped with joy, and my influence grew. Those actions allowed me to kill two birds with one stone.

“Isabel, you must not go around punishing other kids,” the director often scolded me.

“Why not?” I asked. “Those kids are in the wrong.”

“God will punish them accordingly.”

“God won’t do squat.”

“God will never let evil go unpunished. Every human will one day receive whatever they deserve.”

“If God is real, then there shouldn’t be a single orphan around. That’s proof that God doesn’t exist.”

When I spoke of the absence of God, the director gazed upon me sadly. Still, I couldn’t live with the belief that some deity existed. Since the day of my birth, I’d known that such faith would get me nowhere—it didn’t help my situation. Ultimately, one needed power to do anything. It could be brute strength, power in numbers, or perhaps influence.

Richard possessed the most physical strength in the orphanage. He solved any issue with violence. Oscar held power in numbers because he led the boys and did as he liked. I wanted to maintain peace in the orphanage and always butted heads with those two. Disagreements were bound to happen no matter where I went. That was why I needed some form of power.

One day, my life in the orphanage abruptly ended—a demon made her appearance. Her name was Serena Rosenberg, the daughter of a duke. She claimed that she wished to select her squires from the orphans and chose each child casually, as though she were picking out her outfit for the day.

At first, I expected the well-mannered orphans that the director selected to be sent off, but that demonic girl chose Richard and Oscar. I immediately felt like I was in danger. I tried to find a place to flee, but I was too late. The director brought the fiendish girl to me.

“This child shall also be my squire candidate,” she said. She was beautiful, like she had stepped out of a painting, but her eyes told a different story. There was nothing childlike about her gaze, and I sensed her strong resolve burning within.

“Um, I don’t think I’ll be of any use,” I replied.

The director must have told her about me, and yet this demon still tried to choose me. I already knew the types of kids she was looking for, but I still tried desperately to fight back. I was willing to cry crocodile tears if needed.

“Oh, Isabel, I see that you’d like to become a harlot, just like your mother,” Serena Rosenberg said. “What a splendid dream to have.”

She had accurately grasped the dark stain in my heart, and even I could tell that my face twisted with anger. That was when my fate was sealed.

 

***

 

A hellish reality surpassing my wildest imaginations awaited me at the duke’s residence. I underwent strict training to build stamina, was forced to study like my life depended on it, and was even taught how to wield weapons. What’s more, it came with abuse that tore at my psyche. No matter how one sliced it, we were trained in skills that no normal squire would ever need. I didn’t even know what her goals were.

All I knew was that those well-mannered kids that the director had picked couldn’t have endured it all. It pained me to admit it, but only true good-for-nothings like Richard, Oscar, and me had the endurance to survive all this abuse. Lewis, Alice, and Emma could only keep up because they were oddballs in their own way. In a sense, Lady Serena had a keen eye.

A year passed, and we were given dogs to look after. I didn’t understand why we had to look after an animal after a long day of surviving her harsh training, but her commands were absolute. If I didn’t look after my dog, I feared the punishments that loomed over me.

I started doing it reluctantly, and things didn’t go well. My dog didn’t seem to like me. I fed it, took it out on walks, and cleaned up after it when it used the bathroom. And yet, my dog treated me like an outsider. One day, I reached my limit and almost threw the white puppy to the ground. It was then that our gazes met. I knew those eyes—they were the same as mine, the same eyes I’d seen on all the other kids at the brothel. Every day, we’d lived in fear.

I see, I thought. I guess I do have to look after this dog.

We had to face our pasts, and Lady Serena knew that. Ever since she tasked us with raising a dog, I began to understand the intention behind her actions. She always watched us intently to an almost absurd degree. Why? Because she had love. We were special to her; we had been specifically chosen by her. She acted as our parent and offered us her love.

As proof, we all became much stronger through her strict training. We could become knights if we so desired, or anything else we wished.

I’ll never forget the day I became a squire. I even got to meet the king! A mere daughter of a harlot like me was granted an audience of the highest honor. Even so, I could only think about myself. When His Majesty dismissed us, it was Lewis who spoke up.

“Perhaps you should play with our dogs for an hour a day, every day, my lady,” he suggested.

It had been a blunder on my part; the truth had escaped my notice. Lady Serena loved dogs as well, so much so that she allowed them into her bed. How could she not love them?

Lady Serena accepted Lewis’s suggestion, and she soon played with the dogs. She scooped one up and fell to the ground. She looked like an angel as I watched her frolic with the six hounds. Unfortunately, Lady Serena likely felt that she was acting undignified and quickly stood up to continue playing with them, but she still looked lovely.

We all burned the sight of Lady Serena with the dogs into our minds. I was truly glad that I served her. This summer, we were heading to Lake Elfen with her. It was a popular retreat location with the nobles, but she claimed that a snake monster was lurking about.

I had never heard of such a thing, but her words were absolute, and we were not permitted to have a shred of doubt. Whether we faced a serpent or a dragon, we would become Lady Serena’s swords and shields and fight with our all. Our lives were offered only to her.

Chapter 4-3: Serpent

Chapter 4-3:
Serpent

 

LAKE ELFEN WAS LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN region of the kingdom, and it was a scenic place. Surrounded by mountains and forests, it boasted a beautiful view. It was apparently freezing in the winter, but it was cool in the summer, making it the best location to escape the heat.

Since the olden days, it had been a status symbol to spend the summer at the lakeshore, and many powerful nobles owned villas by Lake Elfen.

Needless to say, House Rosenberg also had a large property nearby.

The interior was adorned with paintings and engravings. While it wasn’t as grand as the manor in the royal capital, it was still enough to enjoy an elegant and comfortable stay. The duke’s influence was present here as well.

I had the weapons, armor, and other equipment carried into this lavish building. I initially planned for seven sets to cover myself and the squires, but we brought plenty of backups, enough to equip dozens of people. The entrance of the villa quickly transformed into a stronghold for knights.

“Lady Serena, may I ask what is going on?” the butler, an elderly man in charge of the villa, asked as he gingerly approached me.

“These are all necessary for my summer retreat,” I insisted, deciding to lie through my teeth. I couldn’t say that the gear was for the serpent monster that would appear at the lake.

“I can’t imagine all this being necessary…” the butler said.

“It’s become popular in the royal capital,” I replied.

“I’ve never heard of these dangerous items trending. They clearly look like gear prepared for military warfare.”

I snapped my fingers, and Richard immediately rushed to my side.

“Should Lady Serena claim that crows are white, they shall be painted white,” he said. “If she declares that blood is blue, we shall bleed blue blood. That is what our loyalty and our faithfulness are. Do you understand?”

With bloodshot eyes, Richard cracked his knuckles, glaring daggers at the butler. He was young, burly, and had an intimidating face that only added to his intensity.

“Yes, of course,” the butler replied, turning pale as he nodded.

It was important to have a mutual understanding about these things.

 

***

 

We continued to train by the villa, preparing for the monster. Piecing together bits of memory from my previous life, I could only recall that it was a large snake. I had Alice look into monsters to see if anything similar had ever existed. We then held a meeting in one of the villa’s rooms to hear a report on her findings.

“From your story, Lady Serena, I surmise that the monster is called a serpent,” Alice said. “It’s a legendary monster also known as the demon incarnate, feared for the destruction it causes. Its weakness is apparently light magic, but because it shows itself only around once a century, not much is known about it. A majority of them have been dispelled by saintesses who seemed to just appear within the kingdom. One theory suggests that the serpent is highly intelligent and can likely understand human language, though through ancient words.”

Alice provided her explanation in a straightforward manner. She was the calmest of the six squires and rarely showed her emotions. It sounded like the serpent lived merely to give the saintess a spotlight.

Its weakness is light magic? I thought. What the…? I feel like it exists only to be defeated by a saintess.

“Is light magic the only thing effective against the serpent?” I asked Alice.

“In terms of magic, yes,” Alice replied. “As I’ve said before, iron weapons cannot scratch the serpent’s scales, but items made of mithril can harm it.”

She had told me that mithril weapons were effective before we arrived at the villa, so we’d prepared plenty of armaments of that type.

“However, knights and soldiers have been reluctant to fight simply because of the rumors that it’s a terrifying snake monster,” Alice continued. “There aren’t many records of battles against it. And while the monster causes destruction, it stays in the water. Thus, there have been no records of it wreaking havoc on a large scale. The kingdom also generally leaves it alone. The normal process is to wait until the saintess arrives to dispel the beast. However, since there have been no records of it being defeated by weapons, the serpent is undoubtedly a powerful monster.”

Anger began to well up within me. So everyone’s just colluding to hype up the appearance of the saintess.

“Indeed, it’s difficult to fight in the water,” Oscar said. “Will it not come up on land?”

“It has the capability to leave the water, but it mostly likes to stay submerged,” Alice replied.

“If we poison the lake, will it come up on land?” Isabel wondered.

It was a good idea. This battle was one on the side of justice—it couldn’t be helped if some sacrifices had to be made.

“It’s said that women are effective in luring it out,” Alice said. “They say serpents favor beautiful ladies.”

It’s not only weak to holy power, but it likes women too? How convenient a MacGuffin is this serpent to the saintess?

“Then after Isabel and I lure the serpent onto land,” I said, “we shall cut off its path of escape and attack. How does that sound?”

I was the most beautiful lady in the world, and Isabel had a decent face too. We would be the perfect bait.

“That’s a great plan,” Alice agreed. “The two of you can slowly draw the serpent out of the lake.”

“If you’re bait, Lady Serena, I’m certain that any monster would be enchanted by you!” Richard added. “If they aren’t lured by you, I’ll be sure to drag them out!”

After we came up with that rough plan, we began to hash out details on how to vanquish the monster.

 

***

 

“I sense holy magic in the distance,” the serpent said as it began to awaken from its slumber at the bottom of the lake.

The serpent was known as an evil monster to the general public, but in truth, it was a messenger of God and shouldered the role of guiding the saintess on the right path. The monster’s goal was to select the perfect saintess and bring peace upon the world. It had to cause a bit of destruction to encourage the saintess to make her way to it, and the creature was quite fond of its role. It especially had a habit of harassing beautiful women.

The serpent reared its head above the surface of the lake and saw some well-dressed people relaxing nearby.

“There aren’t many pretty women around,” the serpent grumbled.

It found this to be a letdown but still decided to do its work. It emerged from the lake, revealing its massive body. The people scattered like marbles.

The serpent was satisfied to see everyone flee.

“Hmm, this shall do,” it muttered. “I can only hope that the saintess will be here soon.”

It glanced around and saw a pair of ladies in their seats, huddled together. They stared at the monster in fright. One had dark hair, and the other had blue locks—they were young but beautiful. The dark-haired lady was especially eye-catching. The serpent had lived a long life, but it rarely saw a looker like her.

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It seemed the ladies had stiffened in fear. The sight only tempted the monster’s sadistic side.

“I’ll have some fun with them,” the serpent said.

It raised its lithe head and flicked its slender tongue as it slithered toward the ladies. They screamed with terror and tripped over their own feet as they tried to flee.

“An excellent reaction,” the serpent said.

With glee, the monster completely left the lake and began to toy with the ladies, slowly giving chase.

“Surely I’ll be allowed a lick,” the serpent hissed.

No longer did it think about guiding the saintess. The girls failed to run away and tripped on the ground.

“What a pathetic sight,” the serpent said. “And yet, they’re still so beautiful.”

It opened its maw slightly and drew its head near them; the cacophonous screams of the young women were like a symphony to its ears.

“Now then, how shall I have my fun?” the serpent wondered.

As it was thinking, a sharp pain shot through its tail. Turning around, it spotted a man in armor using a sword to attack it. The serpent’s scales were tougher than iron and didn’t easily let attacks through, but it quickly recognized the silvery gleam of the greatsword.

“Mithril!” the serpent hissed.

Even its tough scales couldn’t defend against mithril—the tip of its tail had almost been completely severed. The monster let out a shrill hiss to display its fury, but the man was completely unfazed and swung his sword down again. The serpent flicked its tail as a counterattack when it suddenly felt something hit the back of its head. The warmth it felt made it suspect that magic had been used. When it whirled back to the ladies, the black-haired one was surrounded by magical residue. Her expression of terror had vanished and was replaced by a fearless smile. The lady with blue locks had donned armor and was also gripping a sword—she’d likely had it hidden beneath her clothes.

“Is this a trap?!” the serpent cried.

It was stunned. No one should have known that it was going to appear today, and it had only emerged from the lake on a whim. Yet these humans had clearly come prepared and even had a plan of attack. Sharp pain shot through its tail again. The humans had completely severed part of the serpent’s tail, even if they’d only managed to cut off the tip.

“They shall pay.” The serpent seethed.

It once again swung its tail—a single blow could easily kill a human. The large man had evaded the serpent’s initial attack, but he wasn’t all that nimble. The creature was sure that it could defeat him right then and there. Just then, another spell flew out from the side. The serpent turned and spotted a lady with red hair clutching a staff.

“Two mages?!” the serpent gasped.

The monster was highly resistant to magic—its only weakness was the light element. Still, as an aquatic monster, it was susceptible to fire, and the two mages took advantage of that.

What a pain, the serpent thought.

As it tried to think of a plan, it felt something pricking its body. When it turned to look, it noticed that an arrow had sunk into its side. The arrowhead must have been made of mithril, since it had managed to penetrate the monster’s scales.

The serpent saw a dark-haired archer. The humans didn’t remain clumped together, instead scattering to attack from various angles.

How annoying. How very, very annoying.

The serpent decided to thrash about with all its might. It used its tail like a whip to attack any humans nearby and used its venomous fangs on the rest. It was a beast of divinity, and it refused to go down against mere mortals. Their attacks hadn’t done much damage anyway.

It was annoyed that its strikes failed to hit its targets, but it was still convinced that it would win in the end. Just then, something descended upon its head.

With that, everything went dark.

Chapter 4-4: Emma

Chapter 4-4:
Emma

 

I DON’T REMEMBER MUCH OF MY LIFE BEFORE I arrived at the orphanage. I was there before I was aware of it; according to the director, I’d been abandoned at the facility when I was a baby. I didn’t really care—I wasn’t interested in my parents anyway.

I loved to move around, and I was fond of climbing buildings and trees. I didn’t mind running either. Unfortunately, it often got me into trouble. I was scolded frequently and told to sit still.

The director scolded me, and even Isabel, who entered the orphanage after me, would admonish me for my actions. I was told that I might get injured, but I didn’t get hurt…much. Sure, I might get a few scrapes when I fell from decently high places, but that came with what I loved to do. I wanted to use my body and challenge myself with something.

But as I grew, I felt more unsatisfied. I had already climbed the roof of the orphanage and could scale the tallest tree. I ran out of things to do. That was when I met Lady Serena.

For some reason, I had been selected as a squire candidate, though I didn’t care much because the orphanage bored me. I was taken to the duke’s residence, and every day was like paradise. There was a tall ladder made of logs, a bottomless swamp, and even a steep cliff. Just looking at them made my heart pound with excitement.

I had tasks like running around while carrying heavy items or finding a small jewel that had been thrown into the forest. Sometimes I had to dodge spells as I ran across a bridge or balance a basin on my head. The tasks challenged the limits of my stamina every day, and I was never bored.

When Lady Serena saw me happily clear all her training, she decided to give me a special training regimen. I had to run across a long cloth that floated above the water. This was especially tricky since the cloth would sink the moment I touched it. I had to immediately take my next step before my foot was submerged.

By nimbly moving ahead, I was able to run across the cloth. It took me a week to master the skill. When I reported my success, Lady Serena seemed elated.

“That’s amazing, Emma,” Lady Serena said. “Even I meant it as a joke at first, but…”

She looked slightly taken aback, but surely I was just imagining things.

She even gave a me a dog—an energetic puppy. It was fun to exercise with my pet. Isabel and a few others looked unhappy for some reason, but I had no complaints whatsoever.

Wait, I had just one—studying. I didn’t like it at all because I had to sit still. If there’d been no studying, I wouldn’t have wished for anything more. Even so, Lady Serena was the best master I could have ever hoped for. She would always come up with crazy ideas, and I would have so much fun.

I especially loved sword training. A knight who served the duke’s house was our teacher, and simply put, I had to be good enough to beat them. This knight was strong. They were apparently formerly one of the best in the nation. My attacks wouldn’t hit at all while they easily landed blows on me.

“You’ve got talent,” the knight said to me.

And so, I was taught various ways to wield a blade. It was fun to learn swordplay, but I didn’t think that I would ever be able to beat them. Eventually, I had an epiphany. If one sword wasn’t enough, I should just wield two. I had two arms anyway.

So I practiced. Whenever I had time, I held the blades in my hands and swung them around. They were heavy at first, and I struggled to move my arms. However, the difficulty only made it more fun. After about a year of hard work, I managed to become nimbler and challenged the knight once more.

“Dual blades?” the knight asked. “I’ve heard rumors, but this isn’t the proper way of the sword.”

The knight looked displeased, but I didn’t care. So what if this wasn’t the proper way? I just wanted to win as soon as I could. The moment the match began, the knight launched a flurry of attacks. I was quicker due to pure speed, and normally, the knight would dodge my attacks precisely with as little movement as possible.

That only happened because I was using one blade. But now, I had two. I whirled around like I was in a dance and rhythmically clanged my swords against theirs. The knight defended my attacks with an expression of seriousness that I had never seen before. Finally, I saw an opening, and I thrust my blade forward, stopping just short of my opponent’s neck.

“I’ve lost,” the knight said.

Yes! I thought. Finally, I could best the knight in a match. But…what will I do starting tomorrow?

 

***

 

Sometime after my victory, I became Lady Serena’s official squire. I visited the king, but I didn’t really care about stuff like that. Then she brought us the wonderful mission of defeating a snake monster called a serpent at a lake.

I knew that I could rely on her! She would always bring me fun things to do, and I would never get bored.

We all trained hard to defeat the serpent. My role was to climb atop its head and shove two blades into its eyes. It seemed like a difficult and fun task. Every day, my heart pounded with excitement as I hoped for the serpent to appear.

About a week passed since we’d arrived at the lake, and finally, the serpent emerged from the waters. It was a colossal snake—I had never seen such a gigantic monster in my life. Lady Serena and Isabel became bait to lure the serpent onto land, and Richard attacked from behind. Alice joined in with Lady Serena to use magic and keep the serpent busy while Oscar unleashed his arrows. Lewis, our healer, was on standby.

The serpent was more agile than I thought and didn’t show many openings. I carefully tried to find a pattern in its movements. Just then, Lady Serena’s spell hit the serpent’s face. The explosion temporarily blinded it, and I took my chance. I jumped onto its torso, then hopped across its body as I aimed for the head. I wore only the bare minimum of armor. It was made from lightweight mithril that didn’t hinder my movements. It was wonderful.

When I finally landed on the serpent’s head, I unsheathed the two blades from my back and thrust them into the monster’s eyes. It emitted a loud shriek and flailed uncontrollably. I swiftly removed my weapons and jumped down. The serpent still put up a good fight—it was sturdy, and though it was blinded, if it could so much as scratch us, we would be greatly injured.

Lewis would heal us all back in no time, though. The serpent desperately tried to retreat into the lake, but it had lost its sense of direction and could no longer do so. In fact, Lady Serena provoked it, and it slithered further onto land.

“Just because you’ve become so big that other snakes won’t look your way, you thought to try to harm human ladies?” Lady Serena taunted. “Have you no honor? And only those with holy powers can excite you, it seems. What a perverted taste you have. Ah, shall I introduce you to a brothel that nobles frequent? It can accommodate all your tastes, I’m sure. Perhaps they can prepare an earthworm or two for you.”

She went out of her way to mock it in the ancient language it spoke. I was in awe of Lady Serena. The furious monster followed her voice and was lured more landward, but our attacks weren’t all that effective. However, I was used to battles of endurance. Once a year, I’d stayed up all night to brave through Lady Serena’s endurance training that would eat away at my mind and body. This battle was a breeze compared to that.

I could continue fighting, but my weapons gave up first. My mithril swords were tougher than steel, but as I used them to hack away at the tough scales again and again, the blades grew dull and useless. I had to replace my weapons repeatedly. My friends also frequently replenished their armaments throughout the fight. Whenever we received damage, we had to replace our armor as well. Had Lady Serena not prepared an impressive amount of gear for us, we might have lost.

Lewis’s healing magic wasn’t enough, and we went through the barrel of healing potion as though we were bathing in it. The serpent’s movements gradually grew more sluggish. After our battle continued for about half a day, it finally ran out of strength.

“You damned demon…” the serpent muttered.

According to Alice, those were its final words. It wasn’t wrong. Lady Serena indeed was a demon—I had never seen anyone as beautiful, cruel, and powerful as her. She certainly had to be one, but this dear, precious demon was the one I served.

Chapter 4-5: Saintess

Chapter 4-5:
Saintess

 

WE SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED THE SERPENT. It took quite a bit of time, but thanks to that, many nobles witnessed our triumph. Eleanor was done for. Her only defining trait was that she was a saintess, and that had now been lost—she would likely enroll into Rosewood Academy as the normal daughter of a lowly noble.

I’ll taunt her when she attends the academy, I thought.

I stood in front of the serpent’s corpse, and among the crowd that surrounded me, I spotted Eleanor. She had come sooner than I’d expected; perhaps she had rushed over when she learned of my battle. She wore a simple, utilitarian outfit suited for a commoner more than a noble. Her golden hair, which everyone had called dazzling when she’d grown it out, had been cut short so that it wouldn’t hinder her. She didn’t stand out much, but on closer inspection, I saw that she was rather pretty.

She was exactly as I remembered from my previous life. She was wearing an expression of disbelief. My pranks from my past life hadn’t worked on this saintess, but finally, I’d been able to catch her by surprise. I was so excited to hear what she had to say.

Would she go, “Why did you defeat it?!” Perhaps she would cry, “Please don’t act so selfishly!”

I was certain that she would wail comically. Eleanor approached me, and my squires all went on alert.

“Lady Serena, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Eleanor Hamilton, and I deeply thank you for vanquishing the serpent.”

I hadn’t expected a word of gratitude. Huh?

“Why are you thanking me?” I asked.

“Because you defeated the serpent, of course,” Eleanor replied.

“I didn’t defeat it for you.”

“Truth be told, I’ve recently become capable of wielding light magic.”

It was a special element that could only be used by saintesses and proved that she was one. However, to be properly recognized as a saintess by the public, she had to perform some kind of extraordinary feat. The fact that I’d defeated the serpent must have thrown a wrench into her plans.

“Oh? Then should I have left the serpent to you?” I replied. Even I felt like I had just told a barefaced lie.

“No, I was scared, actually,” Eleanor replied.

“Scared? Of what?”

“The serpent, of course. I may have learned to use light magic, but I am still a girl who’s only fifteen. I wasn’t keen on facing such a terrifying monster.” She gazed at the serpent’s corpse with fear in her eyes. “But the people of the church insisted that it was customary for a saintess to defeat the serpent, and they told me to go. I was just so absolutely frightened during my trip here. When you defeated it, I was truly relieved.”

I stared at Eleanor. She didn’t look like she was lying to me. In fact, she seemed genuinely thankful for my actions.

“I see,” I said. “But since you didn’t defeat the serpent, you cannot prove to others that you’re a saintess.”

“I have no need for that,” Eleanor replied. “The role of a saintess is far too heavy of a burden for me to bear. All I’ve ever wanted is to support my father’s land with my family.”

She still seemed like she was telling the truth. Or is she cleverly hiding her true thoughts?

“I see,” I replied. “Well, I’m sorry to make you come all this way here for nothing. I wish you a safe trip back home.”

“Thank you very much,” she replied.

After those polite words, Eleanor quickly retreated. I watched her leave.

 

***

 

When I returned to the royal capital, it wasn’t my father or the servants who were the first to greet me—it was the dogs. The moment I stepped off my carriage, the six beasts charged and tackled me to the ground.

Lake Elfen was a superb place. It had been devoid of dogs, at least. As my mind wandered to the lake, I desperately called back my fading consciousness. My squires, the dogs’ owners, quickly peeled their pets away from me.

I then received words of praise from my father, who had been waiting for me.

“I heard of your splendid feats, Serena!” my father shouted. “Even His Majesty was delighted to hear of your heroism!”

“Thank you, Father,” I replied.

I’d stolen the credit that was supposed to go to the saintess, thereby heightening my reputation; all according to plan. I just needed to enter the academy, eradicate all those who dared get in my way, and become the next queen.

“I’ve heard that the squires you raised played an integral part as well,” my father added. “It makes me very proud.”

“I just went out for a summer retreat and happened to come across a monster, that’s all,” I replied.

It was a tough sell to call it a coincidence after loading the carriage with enough weapons and potions for a battle, but I still tried to make that claim.

“Now, now, there’s no need to be so humble,” my father said. “I’ve heard that you spent three days and nights defeating the monster! I’m quite certain that the minstrels are weaving songs of your deeds as we speak!”

Three days and nights? I thought. The battle had lasted half a day at most. It was clear that some aspects of the story were being exaggerated.

“His Majesty has high hopes for you,” my father said. “As you know, the kingdom is plagued with various monsters that have ravaged the land. Many regions are begging for help, and the king wants your aid.”

Why don’t they do that themselves?

I didn’t dare voice my thoughts aloud. The knights had the role of protecting the borders, and if the monsters didn’t cause any major damage, they were left alone. Adventurers were generally tasked with defeating them, but if the affected cities or villages didn’t have the funds, they couldn’t hire competent adventurers. If the monsters were overwhelmingly powerful, adventurers tended to decline the requests as well, so many regions were in need of assistance. That was why a saintess who would defeat those monsters and ask nothing in return was a pillar of light and hope. I wanted the kingdom to fend for itself, but I couldn’t allow Eleanor an opportunity to steal the spotlight. I had little choice but to accept.

“I understand, Father,” I said. “But I shall attend Rosewood Academy next year. I would like to work only until then, and no longer.”

I was finally engaged to Prince Edward, and it would do me no good if I failed to deepen our relationship at the academy. In fact, Eleanor would have a chance at stealing him away from me. This was a condition that I absolutely refused to budge upon.

“I know,” my father replied. “I shall tell His Majesty just that.”

And so, I ended up agreeing to go around the kingdom helping others out before I attended the academy. It wasn’t all bad, since I would receive fame in return.

Thinking back, in my previous life, I had nothing going for me other than the fact that I was the daughter of a duke. Since I’ll become queen, I’d like a fantastic list of achievements that’s fitting for my role.

Was it because of my age? My worldview seemed to have gradually changed.

Chapter 4-6: Trek Village

Chapter 4-6:
Trek Village

 

THE CARRIAGE SLOWLY CLATTERED OVER THE mountain pass. I rarely left the royal capital, and the majestic mountains and forests surrounding us were rare sights for me. Unfortunately, I grew tired of the view in less than an hour. The scenery refused to change no matter how far the carriage clattered on, and they were just trees and mountains. There were minute shifts, but the sight was more or less the same.

I’m bored, I thought. Isabel sat in front of me, but she was the serious type and didn’t engage in small talk much. It was difficult to speak with her unless I had to.

In my past life, I would not have been satisfied by this. I would’ve said, “Say something interesting. Let me have some fun.”

I would’ve forced my servants to entertain me, but Isabel had a habit of overthinking my words. In fact, when we’d been headed for Lake Elfen to defeat the serpent, I’d requested her to speak.

“Say something funny,” I told her.

Isabel remained solemn as she told me the different ways to effectively harm someone or how to swiftly grasp a person’s weakness. The details weren’t funny at all. It seemed she wrongly assumed that I yearned for such conversations. While this sort of knowledge might be useful in the future, I wasn’t keen on such ominous discussions to pass the time.

In any case, it was difficult to have a conversation with her.

Beside Isabel sat Alice, her nose stuck in a book. Alice would speak of all sorts of topics if I asked her, but well…it sort of felt like I was speaking with my secretary. She would just continually feed me information, and it wasn’t very fun for me. She had gathered much knowledge from books and could speak on a variety of topics, but she was always expressionless and spoke in a monotone. Any interesting topic she had was ruined by her stony demeanor, so her communication skills were very poor. She was, however, perfect if I wanted to be lulled to sleep.

Emma, who was supposed to sit beside me, wasn’t there. She was running alongside the carriage. When I looked out the window, she waved at me.

“I want to race against those horses!” Emma had cried just before we left.

Thus, we departed with her rushing beside the carriage. I was certain that she would immediately grow tired, but four hours had already passed, and she didn’t seem exhausted at all.

What kind of person can run alongside horses, anyway?

I had prepared such a lavish vehicle, but it had lost its purpose. When I waved back, she beamed. I found that a little adorable.

My women squires couldn’t entertain me with interesting stories, and the men were a carriage behind us. I felt like they were more capable of holding a decent conversation, but society wouldn’t look upon me kindly if I spent long hours in an enclosed space with a guy.

My entire trip ended up being incredibly boring.

 

***

 

A few days after the carriage journey began, we finally reached Trek Village. Apparently, monsters that had been sealed away by a saintess a century ago had begun to stir and damage nearby areas. This was truly bothersome. Why had that saintess done something as half-hearted as a seal anyway? Had the monsters been properly defeated, none of this would’ve ever happened.

It felt like the previous saintess purposefully left some work for her successor. Still, the fact of the matter was that the villagers were in trouble. Their clothes were of lesser quality to the garments that my servants wore; they were practically in tattered rags. Their swarthy, rugged hands made it difficult for me to believe that we were the same people. The elderly man who was called the village chief dressed a touch better, but I was still reluctant to stand close to him.

“Please, dear saintess,” the village chief begged. “I’ve heard that you defeated the serpent, the legendary snake! I’m certain that you would be able to handle the lesser demons that have been terrorizing us!”

A lesser demon was a large, creepy creature with bat wings and humanoid arms and legs. They weren’t too powerful, but they had the tendency to form packs and were tricky to deal with in large numbers. If the saintess had sealed them away, that probably implied that there were many—I assumed that hundreds of them awaited us. It wasn’t that we couldn’t handle them, but they were a bit of a nuisance to deal with.

Worse, the villagers seemingly didn’t believe in my abilities; they gazed at me with curiosity. None of them found it rude to stare. They probably couldn’t genuinely trust the beautiful daughter of a noble to handle horrific monsters. I wasn’t keen to handle the creatures either; I was simply here by order of the king and didn’t have the right to refuse.

I wish they’d cheer for me more and raise my spirits… I thought.

There was nothing I could do. I had to stoop to speak to these people as though we were equals. I was acting as Eleanor’s replacement, after all. It was best to act like a down-to-earth commoner here and pretend to be an unpretentious noble who was easy to get along with.

“Tea,” I muttered.

At once, my male squires rushed to the carriage and brought out a chair and a table. Meanwhile, Isabel brought out the tea leaves, Emma prepared the tea set, and Alice used magic to boil the water. When the teapot was warm enough, Isabel placed the perfect amount of leaves inside, and Alice once again used her magic to heat the water to a comfortable temperature and poured it into the pot. She placed the lid on top and let the tea steep for several minutes.

Meanwhile, Oscar had placed my seat in the perfect location, and I simply made myself comfortable on the chair. Richard placed a table right where my arm would be, while Lewis grabbed a large parasol to block the sun’s harsh rays from my skin.

The teapot from earlier was then placed on the table along with some snacks, and once the tea leaves had been properly steeped, Isabel kept proper posture as she poured me a cup. There were no needless movements in this entire process, and I was satisfied to see my squires serve me effortlessly. The tea was delicious as well. I finally managed to take a breather.

I relaxed gracefully like a lady in a painting, and I was certain that the villagers would view me as friendlier. Surely I had closed our gap in rank with my display.

Huh? Why are they all staring at me with astonishment?

“And?” I asked.

I guessed that they’d all faltered because they were blown away by my stunning beauty. Left with no other choice, I decided to break the silence and spoke to the village chief.

“Where are the monsters?” I asked.

“Huh?” the village chief replied. He sounded like he was in a daze, but a glare from my squires had him scrambling for a reply. “Y-yes, the prior generation’s saintess sealed them up in a cave. You can spot the area from here—it’s right in the middle of that mountain.”

I looked in the direction the village chief was pointing and spotted the mountain’s rocky surface. The barren terrain stood out amongst the other mountains that were lush with green trees. There was indeed a large hole in the middle.

“That mountain is sacred, and for generations my ancestors have prayed to it,” the village chief said. “We have been living under the guardianship and watchful gaze of the mountain, and it has received the blessing of the saintess as well. Many years ago, the saintess managed to seal the rampaging lesser demons within it.”

Truthfully, I was reluctant to move an inch from where I sat. I sipped my tea, my mind and body completely relaxed. It was a pain to head over to that mountain and slay the lesser demons one by one.

A blessing of the saintess? That half-baked attempt has led to more trouble down the road.

“If you can seal those monsters up again…” the village chief started.

I wasn’t a saintess. I had no ability to cast seals. I just have to get rid of those lesser demons, right? I slowly rose from my seat.

“Alice, will you provide support with your mana?” I asked.

With a nod, the petite red-haired girl placed a hand around my waist and began to supply me with mana. I felt her mana pour into me, and my body grew warm. Because the mountain was a good distance away, I had to chant a rather complex spell. My mana alone might not have been enough, and that was why I needed Alice’s support. I extended my hands toward the sacred mountain.

“My mana is the fire that can envelop all,” I chanted. “My power is merciless like a dazzling storm of destruction. I bring forth ruin, and my will is immortal. My mana is eternal, undying, and unceasing as I beget my flames.”

“Er, what are you…” the village chief started. “Mmph!”

When the anxious chief tried to approach me, Richard blocked his path and abruptly silenced him. Good grief, country bumpkins are so clueless. It was common sense to remain quiet while spells were chanted so that the caster could maintain their concentration.

“To the raging inferno that dwells within my hand, now is the time to be unleashed,” I chanted. “Erupt!”

My spell activated—a titanic fireball burst forth from my hands and shot out like a flash of light toward the rocky surface. My magic exploded within the heart of the mountain, and the deafening blast shattered the cave. The mountain also crumbled into tiny pieces. Oscar was efficient, peering into a pair of binoculars to gaze into the distance.

“Lady Serena,” he reported. “Around twenty of them have survived. They’re headed straight here, perhaps to seek revenge.”

I could confirm several dark shadows were flying over to us, but I was exhausted from the spell that I had just cast. I’d leave the rest to my squires.

“Emma, Richard, go on the offensive,” I ordered. “Isabel, Oscar, you two will be in charge of the defense. Alice and Lewis will be our support. Defeat all the monsters.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” my squires shouted.

Emma and Richard rushed toward the lesser demons. Isabel and Oscar gripped their weapons, ready to defend the villagers; the former readied her sword while the latter strung his bow.

As I sat back down in my chair, I saw that Emma was already clashing with the lesser demons. The monsters had wings and naturally favored aerial combat, but Emma could leap higher than them and cut them down.

Was she a bird in her past life?

Emma then used one of the falling lesser demon corpses as her footing to leap higher toward another monster.

Her skills were completely outside the realm of normal human capabilities. If she fell, she would likely die.

Isn’t she scared?

Richard, on the other hand, couldn’t jump as high, and he simply threw rocks at his enemies. It seemed like a childish tactic, but the stones whizzed through the air and precisely hit their targets square on the head. Oooh… That’s got to hurt.

One by one, the monsters fell to the ground, their skulls bashed in.

Not bad at all. As part of their training, I had dropped them in the middle of forests and mountains, leaving them alone to constantly fight monsters for ten days. It seemed the training was proving useful.

Still, Emma and Richard couldn’t get them all, and a few monsters were headed straight for us. Oscar shot them down with his arrows. He could skillfully wield all sorts of weapons, but he was especially adept with the bow. Sneaky ranged attacks meshed well with his nature. Three lesser demons managed to evade the arrows and approach us.

It was impressive that these monsters could endure my squires’ furious attacks. But the pitiful creatures were quickly cut down by Isabel’s blade. She was the best of the squires in terms of swordplay—no knight could stand a chance against her. Richard and Emma seemingly possessed superhuman physical abilities, so I left attacking to them while Isabel stayed in the back to guard me. Her pretty face was nice to be around.

 

***

 

Soon, the lesser demons were all defeated. We had achieved perfect victory. Yet, inexplicably, the village chief fell to his knees.

“The mountain… Our sacred land…” the chief murmured.

Excuse me? I thought. I practically destroyed that barren mountain and transformed it into a massive grave for hundreds of lesser demons. I think that’s a small price to pay for the peace of this village.

The villagers didn’t seem all too happy. Many were clearly displeased as though I had just committed an atrocious act.

The older villagers were especially furious. When my squires saw their faces, Isabel and Oscar glared back. The atmosphere grew tense. I had gone through all that trouble to get rid of the lesser demons, and this was the thanks that I received?

Should I blow up this village before I leave?

As the dangerous thought flashed across my mind, a young man spoke to the village chief.

“Dad, who cares about that mountain?!” the man said.

“How can you say that?!” the village chief shouted. “That mountain was sacred land for us!”

Are we sure that it wasn’t just a nest for lesser demons?

“We can’t stay tied down to that mountain!” the young man insisted. “Did that mountain ever do anything for us? No! We were shackled by old traditions, and we had to break free! The saintess’s spell destroyed our customs for us so that we could move forward and look to the future!”

No, I didn’t really mean anything like that.

“Is this true?” the village chief asked.

He turned to me. I didn’t know what to say. Should I just tell the truth?

“Of course it is,” Oscar replied in my stead. “This mountain that you worshiped had only become a nest for lesser demons. The previous saintess showed consideration for your faith and simply sealed them up, but that was just a temporary solution. As you can see, once the seal was undone, the monsters once again caused damage. Lady Serena offered a permanent solution to your woes. By destroying it right in front of your eyes, she even freed your hearts that were shackled to that mountain! If this feat doesn’t surpass the work of a saintess, what will?”

In truth, I couldn’t cast seals and had decided to just blow up the mountain instead, but Oscar’s pretty words wrapped this entire incident up in a neat bow. Thanks to his speech, the villagers saw me in a new light.

“Thank you, Lady Serena!” the chief’s son cried.

The other villagers followed suit and showered me with their gratitude.

Not bad. Have I ever received fervent gratitude for anything that I’ve done before?

In my past life, I’d received plenty of words of thanks, but they were more formalities than anything else. I mostly got gratitude for displaying any sort of consideration to those lower than me. But right now, I got heartfelt thanks from the villagers who were genuinely pleased to be freed from the threat of the lesser demons.

Yes, this doesn’t feel bad at all, I thought as I gazed upon their smiles.

Chapter 4-7: The Doze Fief

Chapter 4-7:
The Doze Fief

 

AFTER I ERADICATED THE LESSER DEMONS THAT troubled Trek Village, I returned to the royal capital only to receive another extermination order. I was asked to defeat a dragon that had awoken after a hundred years. This dragon wasn’t very large, and it had only matured enough to barely fly through the air. It usually appeared in the frontier land of the kingdom. The area wasn’t very prosperous, so the fief’s complaints hadn’t been a priority.

There was also a legend that the dragon had been suppressed by a saintess before. I had been told that the saintesses over the generations had gone around sealing or defeating various monsters throughout the kingdom. I had no idea why they only used such temporary measures. Because of them, I now had to go through the trouble of killing all these creatures. I was grumbling about the saintesses in the carriage when Alice spoke up.

“Saintesses don’t have the power to defeat monsters,” she said. “Light magic doesn’t attack others; rather, it affects one’s psyche.”

“Psyche?” I asked. “So can they create illusions or charm others?”

Did Eleanor use her spells to charm Prince Edward? I thought.

“Not quite,” Alice replied. “Light will lead one to the light of one’s heart. The goodness of one’s heart may be a more apt descriptor. Light magic will act upon that goodness and quell a foe’s hostility or animosity.”

I see… So light magic was what affected the ruffians that I sent to attack Eleanor in my past life. But then why didn’t she use light magic on me?

“Alice,” I started. “Is light magic effective against everyone?”

“No,” Alice replied. “If one doesn’t have a shred of good conscience, light magic will have zero effect.”

She probably didn’t dare to use her magic against the daughter of the duke. I’m sure of it. There’s no way that monsters have more good in their hearts than me.

“Light magic can also completely paralyze monsters for some time,” Alice added. “This is what people call a seal. Saintesses use this spell to go around the kingdom to suppress monsters. They don’t possess any magic that can physically attack their opponents.”

“Are seals easy to cast?” I asked.

“Not at all. Unlike other light spells, a seal can only be cast after their foe’s spirit has been pacified to an extent. It apparently takes a lot of time for a monster’s spirit to be quelled. According to some folklore, it might take up to three days and nights.”

“That’s quite a while…”

Can they only talk it out?

It seemed light magic wasn’t as convenient as I’d thought. Saintesses were kind—they were the very embodiment of that word. But I wasn’t so forgiving, and I wasn’t a saintess. Be it monster or fate, I would crush it with my own hands.

I gazed out the carriage window, catching a glimpse of the mountain where the dragon was rumored to be.

 

***

 

“Thank you for coming all this way, Lady Serena!” Marquess Doze said.

The lord of the region greeted me at the entrance of the city. He was a slender man of around thirty, with deep wrinkles etched into his face. His eyes showed exhaustion, and he looked malnourished, underscoring how weak he was. His hair was messy too, as though he had no time to care about his appearance.

“It seems the dragon has been quite the headache for you, Marquess Doze,” I said.

“You’re absolutely right,” he answered. “Frankly, it can attack the city at any moment, and the mere thought prevents me from catching a few winks at night. It’s rather embarrassing for me to admit.”

He seemed a bit too honest for a noble, but that made it easier for me since I didn’t have to painstakingly gauge his emotions or reactions.

“And where is this dragon? In that mountain?” I asked, pointing to the large one that I had spotted from my carriage earlier.

“Precisely,” Doze replied. “Unfortunately, we haven’t a clue where it lurks within.”

This mountain completely dwarfed the nest of lesser demons back at Trek Village. Even if I fired a spell, I would barely be able to scratch its surface. In other words, I had to make the journey to the mountain to defeat the dragon.

Uh? I have to walk on that perilous mountain path? I thought. No, thank you.

“Why do you think that the dragon may attack the city?” I asked.

I was tempted to leave if his mind had simply played tricks on him.

“The dragon relies mainly on animals for its source of food, but it seems humans are also in its diet,” the marquess explained. “To the dragon, this city is an easy target and hunting ground. I’ve formed a defensive line with knights and soldiers to fend off the beast for now, but I fear it’s only a matter of time before it preys on all of us. For now, the dragon seems to hunt us for enjoyment. However, our defensive squad is already exhausted and nearing its limit. The monster could breach our fortifications at any moment.”

Makes sense. A city was practically a buffet of humans waving a flag at the dragon, which must’ve made it a popular spot to satiate its belly. It was much easier to eat humans than to fly through forests or plains to find unknown animals. The dragon apparently only attacked this city in search of food.

In other words, I can lure it out if I dangle some food in front of its nose.

I turned to Emma and observed her healthy and supple body. She probably looked delicious to monsters, and since she had needlessly high physical capabilities, she would be the perfect sort of bait.

“Marquess Doze, is there any place here that makes it easy to engage in combat?” I inquired.

“There’s a clearing at the foot of the mountain where the dragon lives,” Doze replied. “Perhaps that will be the perfect place for your needs.”

I don’t want to go that far.

“Is there anywhere closer?” I asked.

“Near the city?” Doze hung his head apologetically. “Er, if possible, I would like for you to battle away from the city…”

“Heed your tongue, Marquess Doze!” Isabel snapped. “Lady Serena can easily get rid of the dragon in the mountains! If she specifically asks for a location near the city, you must assume that she has her reasons.”

“Reasons?” Doze asked.

He didn’t seem bothered that my squire had spoken arrogantly and admonished him. I was the one who became nervous in his stead.

“The people of this city must realize that they’re involved,” Isabel explained. “It’s vital to understand that peace cannot be claimed so easily. Dragons aren’t the only threats that exist in this world, and we don’t know what the future holds. Yet if she defeats the dragon away from the eyes of the people, everyone will mistakenly assume that peace is a concept that can be easily attained! Lady Serena is precisely worried about everyone lacking vigilance within their hearts. I’m certain that she can defeat the dragon, but it’s important for the citizens to understand that they are the ultimate line of defense to protect their own city.”

Isabel’s words caused the marquess to gasp, and his knights also immediately became more alert. Even I was a touch surprised, for such a thought hadn’t flashed across my mind. Isabel was amazing; she hadn’t been the leader of the girls in the orphanage for nothing, and she had a way with words.

Frankly, I just don’t want to go all the way out in the mountains.

“I understand!” the marquess cried, a fiery light twinkling within his tired eyes. “As you say, we cannot let young folks like Lady Serena fight for us! We have been too complacent and dependent. We shall steel our resolve to fight if needed and lure the dragon out near our city!”

He’s a total pushover. It can’t be easy living in noble society with his sort of honesty.

Our new battlefield was a rolling plain near the city. We didn’t have to move very far, making it acceptable for my needs.

“Emma, lure the dragon out here,” I ordered.

“Duly noted!” Emma replied. “I’ll be racing against a dragon! That sounds like fun!”

She’s amazing. Her life would be on the line for this race, and she still seemed to be genuinely excited.

I ordered her to strip most of her clothes. “Remove your armor too,” I advised. “You should wear as little as possible.”

“Understood!” Emma replied.

Without hesitation, she removed her armor and her jacket, leaving her mostly in her underclothes.

“I see,” Lewis mused. He nodded several times in amazement. “Armor will do very little to defend against the dragon’s breath. It’s better to remove everything and be as lightweight as possible so that she can increase her speed!”

Huh? Isn’t it better if she reveals more skin to look as delicious as possible for the dragon?

I worried that the monster wouldn’t be keen on crunching through tough armor. Emma’s body hadn’t matured much, and she left much to be desired in terms of feminine charm, but she would surely look like a delicious piece of bait.

Emma gave a proper salute. “I shall be off!”

With that, she headed into the mountains like a wild monkey.

 

***

 

After we moved to the plain where the fight would take place, I decided to have some tea, as I had some time to spare until the dragon arrived. Marquess Doze’s city was a good distance behind us, with the knights and soldiers bolstering their defenses as the people crowded near the plain. They gulped nervously as they watched us. I didn’t mind if they fled—frankly, they were in the way—but I couldn’t tell them to go away after Isabel’s fantastic speech.

I was on my third cup of tea when I saw something fly out from the mountain.

“The dragon is here!” Oscar reported, peering through binoculars and spotting Emma as well. “Emma is alive.”

The dragon roared loudly and breathed its flames into the forest; I assumed that Emma was around there somewhere. Even from far away, the beast was an impressive size, and I knew that it would be much larger up close. After a while, I saw something jumping about in the forest like a flea, making its way toward us—Emma.

“Everyone, prepare for battle,” I ordered.

“Sir, yes, sir!” my squires bellowed, grabbing their weapons and getting ready.

“It’ll be a problem if it manages to flee, so we’ll lure it out as much as we can and knock it to the ground. When Emma reaches us, Alice and I will attack with our spells. When the dragon falls, Richard, Oscar, Isabel, I want you three to run up to it with your weapons. Lewis, I want you to give those three the blessing of God. Ah, and enhance me as well.”

“Your wish is my command,” Lewis said.

Lewis was our priest and began to chant to give us the blessing of God, which allowed us to endure the blasts of fire from the dragon. Emma was too far away to receive the blessing, but I was sure that she would be fine.

Finally, I caught a proper glimpse of her—she was racing through the plain at breakneck speed. The dragon relentlessly pursued her, its eyes focused only on her and no one else. It seemed the monster had taken a liking to Emma.

Does it prefer girls like her?

When the beast finally flew over the plain, I put my hands out in front of myself and chanted my spell.

“O grand gust of wind, heed my call,” I said. “Be the blade of tempests, the sword of gales, the vortex of storms. Make the atmosphere quake and tear through the heavens. Wind, O wind, become the force that rips through my enemies as you dwell in my hand and unleash your power!”

My target was the dragon’s right wing. Alice chanted the same spell and took aim at the left wing.

“Rip them to shreds, harbinger of storms!” I chanted.

Two powerful blades of wind cut through the skies toward the dragon’s wings. The spell wasn’t as effective on the dragon’s body because it was protected by scales, but its wings were only covered by a thin layer of skin. Our blades cut through them easily, tearing them to shreds.

The dragon, now having lost its wings, let out a mighty roar of agony and fell to the ground. Richard and the other squires rushed towards where it fell. Emma returned to my side, swiftly donned her armor, and joined the fray to fight the monster. She likely determined that it was best to have some sort of protection in close combat—she seemed airheaded, but her decisions during these situations were always precise.

“I’ll go too,” I said. “Alice, Lewis, support us.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the two shouted.

There was no need for me to be at the front, but if I sat back and watched while my squires fought, I would leave a negative impression on the public. This was a battle for fame, and I was in front of quite a large crowd. I had to show off my power here.

The fallen dragon tried its best to stand back up, living up to its reputation as the strongest species amongst monsters. Just because it had fallen, that didn’t mean it was completely out of the fight. Richard swung his greatsword around like an axe, aiming for the beast’s leg.

“Rah!” he shouted.

He tore through the scales, blood gushing from the wound. The dragon, standing about as tall as my manor, staggered. It opened its ferocious mouth and tried to breathe fire on Richard, but Oscar had rushed behind it and attacked its tail, diverting the monster’s attention. Isabel aimed for its vulnerable, soft underbelly.

The dragon went wild with rage and quickly decided to use all four limbs, each armed with sharp talons, to attack. Emma joined the battle, and Alice and Lewis cast offensive and healing spells, allowing us to maintain our advantage.

I imbued magic into my sword—a treasured weapon of the duke’s house called a demon sword. It was the perfect weapon for me—the more mana I channeled into the blade, the stronger it became. As the dragon lowered its head, I summoned all the strength I could muster and swung my sword down.

 

***

 

“Thank you, Lady Serena!” Marquess Doze said. His eyes were filled with tears as he thanked me.

Beside me lay the severed head of the dragon, its hollow eyes gazing up at me as though it had something to say. Surely the monster had a few excuses of its own, just as I’d had in my previous life. The dragon must’ve claimed this area as its home first, and humans later invaded its territory.

“Is something the matter?” Doze asked. He looked at me quizzically and thought that he had done something rude.

“No, nothing at all,” I replied.

I shook myself free of the compassion that I felt toward the beast and turned back to the marquess. The city’s knights, soldiers, and citizens had gathered behind him.

“I, Serena Rosenberg, have defeated the dragon that terrorized your city!” I declared. “As I purged the evil, I showed bravery, teamwork, and faith in others. These have allowed me to face my enemies no matter their size and claim victory. This wasn’t just a physical battle but one that tested my heart and soul as well. I feared no enemy as I trusted in my comrades and marched forward. Because of this faith, I was able to stand against evil! This isn’t just my victory but a triumph for everyone who lives on this land. If we learn from this experience, we can change ourselves and make this land even better and stronger! Do not forget this day—sear it into your hearts. And work together to carve a path toward the future!”

Even I didn’t fully comprehend my words, but I had given similar speeches practically every day when I trained my squires. I was quite used to winning over a crowd. I was truly just saying whatever nonsense came to mind when I spoke of this as a test of my heart and soul. This victory was the result of a difference in skill, plain and simple. It was thanks to my squires and I that the dragon had been defeated—the people of this city did nothing at all. However, this kind of oration generally went over well with an audience.

“Hooray for Serena Rosenberg!” someone shouted.

Everyone began to join in and cheer words of gratitude toward me. Some began to cry—in fact, Marquess Doze was in tears right in front of my eyes. He must’ve been extremely stressed all this time because the dragon was threatening his fief. I could sympathize with that.

My squires also seemed satisfied that they’d been able to show off their skills. While I thought that this mission had been a huge chore, I felt oddly fulfilled by our accomplishment.

Chapter 4-8: Count Bodgar

Chapter 4-8:
Count Bodgar

 

THE MOMENT WE RETURNED FROM OUR MISSION of defeating the dragon, we received another order.

“I want you to go defeat orcs next,” my father said.

Orcs were humanoid monsters that had pig heads—in short, they were pig people. They also reproduced as quickly as the animal. If left alone, their numbers would increase in no time. This mission had nothing to do with the saintess; I just had to clean up the mess caused by a regional lord’s carelessness. I had no complaints on that front.

In my previous life, I’d rarely left the royal capital. But when I saw those people bustling about in Trek Village and Marquess Doze’s fief, it made me realize that nobles weren’t important simply because of our rank—we were important because we protected our citizens. I hadn’t considered that in the past, but now I knew this vital lesson. I didn’t mind fighting for the people—my mindset had changed.

When I arrived to defeat the orcs, Count Bodgar behaved rudely, even though his indolence and neglect were what had caused the orcs’ population to spin out of control.

“Can you really defeat the orcs?” he asked as he glared dubiously at my squires and me. He was plump like a cask of liquor, his chin sagging under his weight. A man like him could never attend social occasions at the royal capital, but because he kept to himself in the countryside, he wrongly assumed that he was the most important person of all.

He cast a lecherous look at me; I could see him undressing me with his eyes.

Oh dear, I thought. I was all fired up before I came here, but all my gusto has left my body.

I no longer cared about the people here, and I yearned to return home. But above all else, Count Bodgar’s attitude irked me unlike any other. The moment he met me, he’d pointed to Isabel.

“Could you give your squire to me?” he requested.

The usually calm Isabel looked obviously repulsed. I felt exactly the same. I couldn’t believe the gall he had to ask for another person’s property. When I firmly declined, he began to doubt my abilities and voice his concerns.

“If you doubt my powers, shall I show them to you right here?” I asked, summoning a flame atop my palm.

If I claimed that I’d mistaken him for an orc, maybe I could get away with killing him. I just needed to fry him to a crisp and feed him to the real orcs, which would get rid of any evidence and cover my tracks.

In a flash, Count Bodgar’s large contingent of soldiers hastily surrounded us, spears and blades pointed at my group. I was quite fascinated at seeing them express such loyalty to this horrible lord.

Richard roughly grabbed the base of one of the spearheads pointed at him and raised the weapon high in the air, soldier and all. The soldier gripped his weapon tightly as he screamed in terror.

“Hmph,” Richard grunted.

He swung the spear around, hurling the pitiful soldier far into the distance. The man shrieked like a horrified maiden before he collapsed to the ground.

“Bring it on,” Richard said. “I’ll be your opponent.”

He snapped the spear in half and flashed Count Bodgar a fearless smile. This sort of attitude was a touch problematic for one of my squires to take, but I knew that I could pin all the blame on him should anything go awry. So I let him do as he pleased.

“Um, I understand your—no, Lady Serena and her squires’ power,” the count said quickly. “You are all very reliable, and I ask that you get rid of the orcs for me.”

He was trying his best to put on a tough front, but his voice was trembling as he acknowledged our strength. I didn’t mind fighting him, but since our orders were to defeat the orcs, I had to take care of that first. We required some information as well.

Count Bodgar fled like he was afraid of us, leaving his subordinates to tell us of the current state of the monsters.

 

***

 

“Are those the orcs?” I asked as I gazed down from the top of a hill.

I could hardly believe what I saw. A sea of brown stretched before me, resembling a vast wasteland. When I looked more closely, I saw that each of the brown specks was wriggling—an extraordinary number of orcs had covered the entire area.

According to Count Bodgar’s subordinate, the orcs had tried to attack the city several times. At first, their numbers were few, but the count didn’t want to incur any needless losses and simply chased them away. He also firmly ordered against any sort of pursuit.

Orcs weren’t completely stupid. They were as smart as pigs, and as they were defeated time and again whenever they attacked the city, they retreated into the mountains and forests to slowly increase their numbers and power. Over time, they managed to multiply uncontrollably. Still, Count Bodgar’s subordinate claimed that the monsters weren’t strong enough to win just yet. The knight captain who defended the fief claimed the same, but when the count spotted the massive horde of orcs, he immediately folded and formed a peace treaty. He would hand over a portion of the fief’s food to the orcs and agreed to do so numerous times.

The monsters ate the food and grew their numbers to the impressive horde that I’d just seen. Bodgar’s fief no longer had any food to give—in fact, I doubted that even the royal capital could satiate the stomachs of all those orcs. Thus, the count had hastily asked the king to dispatch an army to provide aid.

How foolish, I thought. Orcs reproduced so quickly that it was common to assume that if one was spotted, there were at least ten others nearby. The general rule was to crush them on sight, or at least to chase them until they ran away elsewhere. How much of an imbecile could the count be to provide these monsters with food from his fief?

“I’m a pacifist!” Bodgar had boasted. “I don’t rely on power, and I settled this issue peacefully!”

The count’s subordinate, who had been left behind to explain matters to me, ranted about all of it to get it off his chest. Clearly, things weren’t going well between this subordinate and the count; he was tasked with providing me with details because it was seen as an undesirable role.

I was able to get some information thanks to that, though.

Now I was faced with a disgusting tide of orcs.

“I’ll start by burning them all,” I said.

“Your wish is our command,” my five squires replied.

I had Alice act alone for this plan. The orcs were numerous, but they weren’t very strong monsters. It would be no issue that I was short a squire or two.

“Lewis, support me with your mana,” I ordered.

“Certainly,” Lewis replied.

He gingerly placed his hand on my back and channeled his mana into me. He didn’t have as much as Alice, but he still had a decent amount. Obviously, I had the largest amount of mana, and his wasn’t even close.

“Spirit of crimson fire, your incandescence can melt boulders with the hellfire of wrath that dwells in my hand,” I chanted. “Bestow unto me your power as I desire to envelop the world with flames!”

I excelled at fire spells the most because I was compatible with them. I was so adept at fire magic that I usually struggled to hold myself back, but this time around, I was prepared to go all out against this sea of orcs.

“Fill the three thousand worlds with crimson lotuses in full bloom!” I chanted. “Vaporize them all!”

When my spell was fully activated, a fiery flame engulfed the orcs in a blazing tsunami. One by one, the monsters were swallowed by the crimson wave, their pig squeals echoing through the air. I held no special hatred toward the orcs, but I couldn’t stop my lips from forming a smile. Their screams rang out better than I’d expected.

“Heh heh heh,” I chuckled.

Several orcs managed to escape the flames despite the pain they’d endured, and they spotted me atop the hill. They emitted screeches—it seemed that even pigs could tell who exactly had created those artistic flames. The furious orcs lunged for me, rage in their eyes. I had managed to wipe out the majority of them with my magic, but there were simply so many that there were quite a few survivors. There were at least a hundred of the pigs left.

“I’m tired, so I think I’ll sit and rest,” I said. “Can I leave the rest to you all?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” my squires shouted.

As I sat on my chair, Richard and Emma took the lead. With a powerful battle cry, Richard charged and swung his greatsword, slicing through three or four orcs in one go. Emma skillfully used her two blades to strike the monsters’ vital areas. The two had completely contrasting battle styles, but they quickly cut down the orcs’ numbers. The monsters, finally understanding their disadvantage, tried to flee, but Oscar and Isabel had already closed off their escape route. Those two were experts when it came to strategy.

I couldn’t let a single orc escape; failure wasn’t an option. And so, the orcs were eradicated in no time.

 

***

 

“You’re splendid, Lady Serena!” Count Bodgar cried. “I never doubted you for a second!”

He had completely flipped his personality from earlier and immediately showed his humble and subservient side. The count even put his hands together in gratitude. He was that easy to read. Many citizens gathered around us, shocked when they heard the news that we had completely exterminated the enormous horde of monsters.

“Silence, Count Bodgar!” I shouted, my voice filled with condemnation. “I will escort you to the royal capital!”

“Wh-what are you on about?!” the count yelped, utterly baffled by my proclamation as the crowd surrounded us.

“It is your fault that the orcs grew in number,” I said. “How many citizens were harmed because of your callous acts? His Majesty shall not abide your crimes!”

The king had never asked me to do any such thing. I was completely unauthorized to do this, but it pissed me off that I’d worked so hard for a guy like him. So I decided to take him in as a criminal.

“It’s not my fault that the orcs reproduced to that degree!” Bodgar retorted, his rotund body trembling. “You have no right to judge me for this incident!”

He was right. While his handling of the situation had been problematic, it wasn’t a crime in and of itself. But I didn’t care. I hated him, and that was all that mattered.

“I have a list of your charges and crimes!” I shouted. “I have evidence of your numerous illegal activities within your fief!”

“Impossible!” Count Bodgar cried. The color drained from his face. “I know of no such thing! I’m innocent!”

I also knew of no such thing. I just randomly spouted nonsense, but he didn’t look like he governed his fief well. His subordinates seemed to hate him, after all. The gathered citizens remained silent. However, they seemed delighted by the count’s desperate groveling, which further confirmed my beliefs.

Just then, Alice returned. She was expressionless as usual but gave me a thumbs-up. She had gathered the evidence. Ever since her days at the orphanage, Alice was used to sneaking into people’s rooms to dig through journals and letters. It was in her nature to skulk around, so I’d had her infiltrate Count Bodgar’s manor and find evidence of any illegal activities that he might have done.

“Alice, show them the evidence!” I ordered.

“Certainly,” Alice replied. “I’ve found a secret ledger for his tax revenue, and the numbers differ from the tax reports that he was supposed to submit to the kingdom. There are additional documents that imply that he has accepted bribes to offer people jobs. I’ve also found a letter that recounts how he unjustly seized assets from a wealthy merchant by falsely accusing them.”

Alice unfurled several pieces of paper and showed them to the crowd.

“Someone, seize her!” the count shouted.

His cheeks grew red as he gave his soldiers the order, but they all glanced at each other and didn’t budge an inch. Richard stood nearby and cracked his knuckles as a form of intimidation. True to his appearance, Count Bodgar was a criminal, and I was very happy to hear that.

Whether he was a criminal or not, my actions wouldn’t have changed, though.

I just needed to rally support from the citizens so that I wouldn’t be nagged when I returned to the royal capital. I turned to the crowd.

“Citizens of this land, I am Serena Rosenberg! Under the orders of the king, I have come here to bring peace! I have set a horde of tens of thousands of orcs ablaze for your sake. It was imperative for me to do so, all to ensure that you may live in peace. However, your true enemies are not solely monsters. Certain lords of the land who engage in misdeeds and injustice are also our enemies. They have done our country wrong. They threaten not only our nation but citizens like you—the very foundations of our country—and disturb our way of life. We must band together to fight against such evil and muster our courage to face them. We cannot yield to deception and misdeeds. We must face any hardships together and act with courage! That is what is expected of us, and that is the true form of peace that His Majesty desires. Today, a new era shall dawn upon this land!”

Frankly, I winged my speech as I always did. I didn’t really understand my own words, but the citizens erupted in a mighty roar. Many even began to tear up.

Very good. As long as I accomplished these feats, there was no room for doubt. People would assume that I’d acted strictly under the orders of the king. Besides, His Majesty was to blame for pushing all these troublesome affairs onto me. If he didn’t at least clean up after my messes, it wouldn’t be worth all this hard work.

Amid the loud cheers, I tossed Count Bodgar—who was bound with rope—into the luggage space of a simple carriage. Other nobles and officials who were also suspected of or involved in various misdeeds were quickly restrained by the citizens. I suspected that these criminals would only provide testimonies that painted me in a negative light, so I wanted each and every one of them to be dealt with.

With that situation handled, I left the fief.

 

***

 

The following day, I returned to the castle with a smile on my face.

“Your Majesty, Father, I have brought peace to the fief in question, just as ordered!” I reported back.

“I-indeed,” the king replied. “Good work.”

The two men looked slightly taken aback, but I received no scolding. I had eradicated the orcs and captured an evil lord, so there was no reason for them to make any complaint against me. I’d dragged Count Bodgar back to court, and per my request, he was pronounced guilty and thrown into prison.

I continued to bring my squires to fight against monsters. Honestly, I felt like I was leading a group of mercenaries. Everywhere I went, I was welcomed warmly by the lords and the populace. According to them, I was apparently a saintess who could defeat all manner of creatures. I could hardly believe it. I could use normal spells, but I couldn’t use light magic. I explained as much to anyone who would lend me an ear, but I was seen as a saintess who rehabilitated rowdy orphans, showed mercy to stray dogs, and was skilled with magic and the sword.

Since I’d become engaged to the crown prince, the king had presented me as such. I couldn’t blame him. If the future queen personally acted on issues facing the people, it meant that the kingdom got credit. That would allow His Majesty to wield his power and have more influence over his citizens. The royals weren’t quite all-powerful in this nation and often held meetings with high-ranking nobles to decide upon policies.

In my previous life, I’d been cast aside, and Eleanor stole the seat of future queen from me. I assumed that these conferences were to blame—the future king chose the fame of a saintess over the backing of a duke.

In this timeline, not only did I hold power and influence because I was part of a duke’s household, but I was also lauded as a hero for vanquishing monsters. If they made me into a saintess, it would be convenient for the royal family.

In the previous timeline, Eleanor had done these quests that I’d been tasked with, all by herself. Just because she could use light magic, that didn’t mean they were easy feats. She was only fifteen at the time.

What was I doing in my previous life when I was fifteen? I can only recall wasting money frivolously on stupid things. I was far too ignorant and sheltered in my previous life.

As I went to battle across the kingdom, drenched in the blood of monsters, I began to reflect on my past life.

Chapter 5: The Academy

Chapter 5: The Academy - 17

Chapter 5-1: Return

Chapter 5-1:
Return

 

FINALLY, THE DAY ARRIVED WHEN I WOULD enter Rosewood Academy. Right until my entrance ceremony, I’d spent every second of my time defeating monsters. I was worried that the royal family would renege on their word, but my father acted as the mediator. Despite the king having me engage in numerous battles as the crown prince’s fiancée in the hope of bolstering their influence, I was still a member of the duke’s house. In a strange turn of events, appearance-wise, it was House Rosenberg that surged in power and authority.

My kind and always-smiling father wasn’t suited for power struggles, but as members of a duke’s house, we enjoyed great status and influence. Thanks to my feats of battle on top of that, everyone praised our household, and our reputation soared.

On the first day of school, I stepped into the academy with my squires in tow. I’d had them all study hard so that they could enter school with me, and thanks to their accomplishments and skills, they were all shoo-ins. Besides, it was quite normal for a noblewoman to have several squires around. Anyone who stated that six squires were too many—or that these orphans were unfitting for this institution—were silenced by the power of the duke or by my fists.

For sixteen years, I had waited for this moment. I wanted to swing the iron hammer of justice upon the friends and teachers who had abandoned me and left me for dead in my previous life.

All right, come one, come all, I thought. Flock to me like you did in my previous life. Come and try to become my superficial friend, all so that you can gain the duke’s favor. The moment you try to approach me, it’ll be all over for you! I’ll toy with you, then toss you aside like the trash you are!

Uh… Huh? Why isn’t anyone approaching me?

The teachers, and even the students, refused to go near me. In fact, when I tried to approach them, everyone trembled and fled like scared rabbits.

“I’d expect no less from you, Lady Serena,” Richard said, his tone filled with pride. “As a person, you’re in a whole other class of your own. Everyone in the academy is filled with awe. They’re hesitant to even approach you as you graciously make your presence known.”

Really? To me, it didn’t look like they were stunned because I was in a class of my own. They just seemed genuinely afraid of me. I was still unsure about the reactions I received from those in the academy when I spotted a student in front of me. She noticed my presence and hastily tried to flee, but she tripped over her feet and blocked the path instead.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” she cried. She crawled on the ground with tears in her eyes as she spouted apologies. “Please forgive my insolence for blocking your way!”

Her friends jumped out from the crowd and apologized along with her.

“I’m terribly sorry!” one of her friends said. “She’s just a bit awkward and clumsy, but she didn’t intentionally mean to get in your way! Please, spare her life!”

What? I won’t kill someone just for blocking my way. I’m not that ruthless; do they mistake me for a demon or a devil or something?

“Oscar, lend her a hand,” I ordered.

She was in the way, so I had one of my squires take care of it. Oscar stepped forward and kindly offered his hand to the girl who had tripped.

“Are you hurt anywhere, my lady?” he asked. “If it doesn’t offend you, please take my hand.”

He flashed a fake smile. The girl blushed as she grabbed onto his hand. Oscar drew her waist close to him, going out of his way to share more bodily contact than necessary as he helped her to her feet. In one smooth movement, he guided her to the side of the corridor. The student’s teary gaze was glued to Oscar.

He’s a womanizer, all right. Oscar wasn’t handsome for nothing; he was already gathering the passionate gazes of the other female students. But I don’t care about that. The biggest issue for me was my reputation. What’s going on?

“Isabel,” I said.

“Yes?” Isabel replied.

“Gather information about my reputation within the academy. I shall accept negative or nasty rumors as well.”

“Your wish is my command.”

Isabel quietly stepped away from my side to hunt for information.

 

***

 

“I shall start by offering my conclusion,” Isabel reported. “Lady Serena, you have quite the positive reputation.”

Isabel returned around noon bearing news. As a side note, my treatment had been the same all morning—no one dared to come close to me. Even during classes, there were open seats around me. In my past life, people had crowded around me to the point where it became annoying. Students had once lined up eagerly to offer their greetings with hopes that I’d remember their names.

“If I have such a positive reputation, why won’t anyone approach me?” I asked.

“I can only assume that it is rather difficult to approach you,” Isabel replied. “There have also been several anecdotes circulating within the populace about you defeating monsters. I believe that has struck fear in some.”

“Anecdotes? Like what?”

“Do you remember the time you defeated the goblins?”

“I do.”

I wasn’t sure if the goblins had come from elsewhere and then propagated in the region, but there was an area within the kingdom teeming with those monsters. There were so many of them that I borrowed the assistance of the territory’s lord, and we wiped out the goblins together.

“The goblins had hidden themselves in the forest, and Lady Serena, do you remember when you burned everything in sight?” Isabel asked. “You said, ‘Whoever flees is a goblin! Whoever doesn’t flee is a crafty goblin!’ Ultimately, you reduced the entire forest to ashes.”

In my defense, we did search for goblins diligently and cut down whatever we found. But midway through, I got too lazy, so I burned everything. The mountain and the forest were reduced to cinders, and I transformed half of the entire landscape into a charred, barren wasteland. I even went out of my way to slaughter every goblin, but the lord gave me a snarky remark.

“I’m shocked that you can kill women and children, even if they’re goblins,” he said.

I saw red. “It’s quite easy to do because they aren’t very nimble,” I snapped. “I wonder if the same could be said for you as well?”

The lord was quite plump and clearly wasn’t the athletic type. I summoned a flame atop the palm of my hand. The blood drained from his face, and he fled.

It felt good to see his reaction. Wait… Are these anecdotes…?

“Did my words from that mission make the rounds?” I asked cautiously.

“Precisely,” Isabel replied. “You’re well known for showing no mercy, even against women and children.”

What kind of world would let me have a positive reputation?!

 

***

 

Several days passed, and still no one dared to approach my side. This meant that I couldn’t do anything and could no longer exact my revenge. Deep down, however, I realized that there was a part of me that felt relieved. Sixteen years was far too long to keep a grudge.

I was internally in my mid-thirties; I no longer had the passion to recklessly charge ahead with no thoughts about the future, as I’d once done in my youth. I isolated myself from my peers and was able to observe life at the academy. There were students—still children in my eyes—who did their best to mimic adults within this tiny ecosystem. They had their minor skirmishes and struggled for power. These kids were still in their teens and probably thought that these sorts of battles were enticing in a way.

In my previous life, I had taken advantage of my status as the duke’s daughter to force people to do what I wanted. Now, I was reflecting on what I’d done.

Thinking back, I led such an empty and meaningless life.

All of my relationships had been superficial. No one truly cared or thought about me.

Can you truly say that? said a tiny voice inside my head. For a split second, something flashed in my head. Did I just imagine that?

In any case, this life where I was receiving a second chance wasn’t all bad. I had my six squires who shared an inseverable bond, and I was decently content with my days.

There’s a chance that my squires might be miserable, though…

I felt like everything in my previous life ought to be left in the past. It was more important to live in the present and cherish each day.

“You all may do as you please,” I commanded.

I had initially planned to use my squires as tools for revenge, but they were in their teens now as well. No doubt they had stuff that they wished to do, and there was no need for them to always stay by me. My squires quietly nodded at my words.

From the following day onward, my squires took turns watching over me as the rest went off on their own.

And that’s just fine.

Never could I have predicted what was to come.

 

***

 

As the days passed, I attended school as usual. Then, one day, I spotted two neat rows of students waiting for me at the gates. The moment they spotted me, they all kneeled.

“Good morning, Lady Serena!” they called out.

Excuse me? I thought. I was frozen with bewilderment when one of my squires approached me.

“Lady Serena, we’ve taken a majority of the first years under our control,” Oscar whispered. “We’ll soon take over the entire academy. I hope for your patience until then.”

Indeed, I had made a fatal error. My squires were also in their teens, and I had forgotten that they also loved power games just like any other child their age.

Chapter 5-2: Oscar

Chapter 5-2:
Oscar

 

MY FIRST MEMORY WAS MY MOTHER LEADING me by the hand to the orphanage.

“Your real father is a noble,” she told me, looking at me with grief. “Have pride in that as you live.”

Thinking back, I realized that my mother had given birth to me while she was still young but was unable to pressure the noble into marriage when he impregnated her. It was tough for a woman to make it in the world alone, so she entrusted her child to the orphanage and was left free to marry another man. In short, my very existence was a nuisance to her.

But that didn’t matter. I mean, it did, but it wasn’t like I couldn’t empathize with her situation. I felt like her mistake had been the parting words that she said to me. I was still a kid, so I took her words seriously. I believed that I was actually of higher rank and that my father, a nobleman, would pick me up from the orphanage one day.

“I’m different from you guys,” I said. “I’m actually a noble.”

I deluded myself into that mindset and held a meaningless sense of condescending elitism over other kids. I mocked and looked down on them. If I had been truly incompetent through and through, I would’ve just been a pitiful and awkward child. But I was decently smart and blessed with some strength—both allowed me to accomplish tasks without exerting much effort.

These only fueled my fantasies further. When I saw how the girls and nuns behaved around me, I realized I was handsome. A gentle tone was all it took for almost all of my requests to be granted.

I got carried away and began to assume that I might have been the illegitimate son of the king. In truth, I was probably just a cheeky brat. I rarely listened to the orders of the director and the other kids.

My time at the orphanage was enjoyable, but it all changed when she arrived.

When I heard that the duke’s daughter was coming in search of a squire, I thought that there was no need for me to become one. I was going to be a noble one day anyway. The director was aware of my deluded desires and didn’t select me as a candidate at first. She likely didn’t want troublesome kids to enter the home of a duke.

She selected more obedient kids, but the duke’s daughter wasn’t interested in any of them. No, Lady Serena required those who held real talent and skill deep within them. Isabel, Alice, Emma, Richard, and Lewis might have had problems, but they all had unique capabilities.

I felt honored that I’d been selected; in fact, being chosen was much more than I deserved. Of course, I could only think so now. I’d had no such thoughts during my initial meeting with Lady Serena.

“Whether one be a child of a noble or a commoner, I shall hammer into them that they’re all equally worthless under me,” she said.

Those were the first words that she spoke to me, and I had a bad feeling about the future. She mercilessly stomped on the feeling of superiority that I clung to. It all came from the daughter of a duke, no less. My fears soon rang true—hellish days of training awaited us at the duke’s manor. I was physically battered, but my mental state suffered far more.

“Oh? And you claim to have the blood of a noble?” Lady Serena taunted. “Are you sure you haven’t mistaken it for the blood of a pig? If you truly had noble blood in you, your mother wouldn’t have thrown you aside. It would be such a waste.”

She continued to insult and berate me, her words turning into sharp knives that tried to gouge my heart out. During my first year, I hated her.

“Why does she abuse us so horribly?” I asked. “Is she allowed to act all high and mighty just because she’s a noble? The value of a person shouldn’t be decided on their birth.”

I hated her so much that my values began to shift. I had misunderstood her. Lady Serena’s goal was to destroy us physically and mentally so that she could rebuild us into new people. Hence, it was imperative for us to endure such strict training—the mere memory of those days made me sick. And it worked. My assumption that nobles were automatically better than the rest disappeared before I knew it.

I finally realized that, as Lady Serena had said, rank and social status didn’t matter. She demonstrated that as well. Ever since she subjugated the serpent, she went around the kingdom and fought monsters, performing feats that increased her fame. We displayed our power as though mocking the incompetent nobles who only sat back on expensive chairs and did nothing. Everyone knew of us.

Armed with her excellent achievements, Lady Serena entered Rosewood Academy. I knew what her goals were. She wanted to seize complete control over the academy and grasp the real power of this kingdom. Her aim was to win over the noble children who gathered within the academy walls and unite them under her so that she could make her own faction in the future. If she controlled the third years while she was in her first, and the first years when she moved up to her third, she could theoretically control five graduating classes—this would greatly increase her influence in the future.

Currently, she was engaged to the crown prince, but if she was successful with her plan, she wouldn’t need to rely on him for rank; she could manipulate the nation as she pleased. When she initially entered the academy, she laid low and gauged her situation. However, just the other day, she finally gave us an order.

“You all may do as you please,” she commanded.

All of us squires knew the meaning of her words—we were being tested. She practically told us that there was no need for her to give detailed instructions anymore. We had the capacity to think for ourselves and act accordingly. We’d heard her say as much ad nauseam during our training, and we were used to it. So we acted swiftly.

 

***

 

Rosewood Academy was divided into four classes: regular, knight, sorcery, and clergy. While we were Lady Serena’s squires, we also had seats in classes. Isabel and I were in the regular class along with Lady Serena, while Richard and Emma were in the knight class. Alice was in the sorcery class, and Lewis was in the clergy class.

Regular class made it sound like only normal students were there, but it was actually reserved for the upper echelons of society—the regular class was where the children of nobles were placed. Isabel and I used the information that we had already gathered and tried to win over the students conveniently herded into one classroom. It wasn’t all that different from what I had done back at the orphanage. I accurately assessed what my opponents desired and wanted to hear before I slowly brought them under my influence.

It mattered not whether the person was of high or low rank—they were all humans just the same. In fact, those who relied heavily on their social status were just like me when I’d had nothing else to cling to. Once I made them realize that they were worthless if their rank was stripped away, I easily took advantage of that opening.

Good grief, all nobles aside from Lady Serena are vulgar and snobby, I thought.

It didn’t take long for me and Isabel to create a massive faction with Lady Serena at the helm. Richard and Emma took a far simpler route: They silenced any opposition through force. It took Richard only a week of sparring and duels to take command of the first years in the knight class. He then quickly moved on to the upperclassmen and challenged them to a fight.

“I’m not saying we should have a one-on-one match,” Richard taunted. “You can all come at me as much as you like, my dear upperclassmen.”

The upperclassmen had their pride and reputation to protect, so they pathetically formed a clique to try and take Richard down. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side when it came to their choice of opponent. Richard’s power was nothing short of monstrous, and despite his large frame, he was nimble and quick. No one could successfully defend themselves against his greatsword, and he crushed his enemies, weapons and all. The upperclassmen should’ve ignored Richard’s taunts and cast aside their pride and reputation. Instead, he absolutely destroyed them.

Emma, believe it or not, chose a much more malicious route. She proudly barged in on other people’s sparring matches and challenged them.

“Since no one can fight against me, do you mind if we battle?” she had asked. “This academy really isn’t too impressive, is it?”

Emma didn’t mean to mock the others at the academy. She simply blurted out her genuine thoughts, infuriating the teachers when they heard her words. The students banded together in a tournament against her, but most of them lost against her dual blade techniques in the blink of an eye. Emma even decided to defeat the teachers as well.

The teachers of the knight class were all skilled fighters, but one by one, they went down when they faced Emma. They had no choice but to bow down to her overwhelming might. And so, the knight classes of Rosewood Academy were placed under Richard and Emma’s control.

The sorcery and clergy classes didn’t depend heavily on social status or power, but Alice and Lewis had maintained their positions at the top of their classes ever since they entered the academy. The usage of magic was a special skill to begin with, and there was only one group of pupils, meaning that if one held the best grades, they would naturally become the center of attention. All that was left to do was to boast just how splendid Lady Serena was—Alice and Lewis took every opportunity they had to praise her.

“It’s all thanks to Lady Serena that we orphans became this powerful.”

“If you follow Lady Serena’s orders, you can gain more mana.”

“If you have faith in Lady Serena, you can heal any sort of injury or ailment.”

“Lady Serena is all you need to attain happiness. You need nothing else.”

There may have been slight exaggerations, but none of these were lies. Both Alice and Lewis indeed had excellent grades, and their words held a grain of truth. They immediately amassed a following of Lady Serena worshippers.

And so, Lady Serena’s authority gradually spread throughout the academy.

 

***

 

Once we had enough people, we lined up the students under our control behind the academy’s gates. Needless to say, we wanted them to greet Lady Serena and understand who exactly the figure of authority within the academy was.

“Good morning, Lady Serena!” they called out.

Lady Serena was at a loss for words when she saw the students in neat rows. No doubt she was disappointed that there were fewer students than she had hoped. I could only give her an apology. As Lady Serena’s chosen squires, it was imperative for us to work better and harder.

Chapter 5-3: Control

Chapter 5-3:
Control

 

IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE, I’D CONTROLLED A DECENTLY large faction within the academy. Many of them gathered under me because they were enticed by the influence of the duke, but they were ultimately all useless. The academy had other factions too, of course. Just like me, there were other children of powerful nobles who also had decent followings. For example, people flocked toward Crown Prince Edward, who was in the same grade as me, though he didn’t enjoy as large of a crowd now as he had in my previous timeline.

However, there was never once a clash of factions. Nobles had to act with grace, at least on the surface. No matter what, they couldn’t get their hands dirty and thus avoided direct conflict. One generally flaunted their power and spread rumors and the like to threaten their opponent indirectly. It was precisely because I’d tried to deal with Eleanor myself directly that I was sentenced to death.

In my current timeline, my reputation was at rock bottom with those other factions. After all, Richard and Emma had used sheer violence and force to increase their influence, Isabel and Oscar had manipulated others, and Alice and Lewis had increased their supporters through praising me. The methods that nobles generally used didn’t stand a chance against my six squires.

I could only empathize. I would be angry at me as well if I were in the other nobles’ position. Generally, rumors were spread to negatively affect an opponent’s reputation, but I was an exception.

“The squires of Lady Serena from House Rosenberg don’t have much of an education, do they?” people whispered.

I’d raised my squires specifically to become assassins; of course they weren’t educated in other fields. I honestly had nothing to refute. My squires, on the other hand, didn’t let this slander slide. They swiftly tracked down the root of this rumor, gathered some witnesses, and marched up to me.

“We’ve found the one who acted defiant toward you, Lady Serena,” my squires said. “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we must trouble you for a bit.”

I had to act when I heard those words. Nobles were overly concerned about appearances, and I hailed from the house of a duke, no less. I couldn’t leave a person be after I was told that they’d insulted me.

Please, just don’t tell me stuff like this, I internally begged.

And so, that day, I approached Karen, the second-year daughter of Count Silverain. Normally, it was extremely frowned upon for a first-year student to dare to go to the classroom of a second-year. The moment I stepped inside, a male upperclassman came up to me with a warning.

“Hey, a first-year shouldn’t enter the classroom of a second-year!” he barked. “Do you all not know of etiquette? Just because you enjoy high rank doesn’t mean that you can get away with doing as you please!”

He was right, and his logic was sound. I agreed with him. His face was vaguely familiar. I assumed that he came from a rather prominent noble household. Unfortunately, logic and rank weren’t effective against my squires.

Richard approached a nearby desk that could seat five people, placed a hand on top of it, and leaned forward.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, sir,” he said. “But we cannot determine one’s worth and importance by age.”

When he finished his sentence, he pressed his hand against the desk and crushed it to smithereens. He used brute force and mana—from a technical standpoint, it was an impressive feat. It felt like a waste to use these skills on mere threats.

People screamed in terror; the upperclassman who had barked at us became as white as a sheet. I would likely have to reimburse the school for the destroyed desk.

“Why don’t we have a talk out in the halls, sir?” Richard asked.

He grabbed the upperclassman’s collar and dragged him outside. The other upperclassmen could only look at the ground in silence.

“Lady Serena, that one over there is Lady Karen,” Isabel said, gesturing toward a young woman at the back of the classroom.

Karen was in a white dress and clearly looked to be of noble birth. She sat in an arrogant fashion, surrounded by four other students who I assumed were her entourage. I’d been just like her in my previous life. She was decently pretty, but her almond-shaped eyes made her look stern and strong-willed.

“Do you have any business with me, Lady Serena?” Karen asked. She gazed at me completely unfazed, a show of her high rank.

I suppose her attitude is at least impressive.

“Me? Heavens no; that’s not what I’ve heard,” I replied. “I’ve been told that you have business with me. You apparently claimed that I’m an incompetent person, capable only of combat, did you not? I’ve also heard you said that I am the most unfit to become queen. If you have something to say to me, I thought it would be best if I heard it directly from you. Thus, I made my way to your classroom.”

“Oh?” Karen replied. “Have I ever said such things?”

She was feigning innocence, a classic tactic that people used to deny any responsibility.

“Indeed,” I said. “I’ve heard as much from several students.”

“And from whom did you hear such words?”

Karen seemed confident, assuming that I had no proof. Perhaps she also thought that she could talk her way out of it. She completely underestimated me. I could only pity her; my squires weren’t so kind.

“Why, from the people around you, of course,” I stated.

“What?” Karen gasped.

She looked around at her entourage, shock riddled on her face. Suddenly, one of the girls in the group turned expressionless.

“It’s true,” the girl said indifferently. “Three days ago, Lady Karen stated that Lady Serena is an incompetent person, capable only of combat.”

“Elena!” Karen said, still astonished by this turn of events. She turned to Elena. “Why in the world are you…”

According to Isabel, Elena had idolized Karen more than anyone; it was no wonder that Karen was hurt the most by this betrayal. Elena’s adulation came from the illusory prestige that Karen’s social status and appearance provided. These factors could be easily destroyed; I’d learned that in my previous life.

Above all, my social status and appearance trumped Karen’s. Elena was also physically and mentally threatened by my squires, so she quickly switched sides. It wasn’t just Elena who betrayed Karen—the guy next to her also spoke up.

“Lady Karen also said that Lady Serena is the most unbefitting to become queen,” he reported.

“Ed?! Are you betraying me too?!” Karen shouted.

She looked like she would faint at any moment. Ed was a student in the sorcery class and apparently in love with Karen. Because of his low rank, he knew that his feelings would remain unrequited. However, she knew of them and manipulated him to have him by her side.

Meanwhile, Ed had focused on his studies of magic, though he struggled to improve his spells. It was then that he turned to Alice, who was at the top of the class despite being only a first-year student, and asked for tips on how to cast more difficult spells. Alice then claimed that he would gain more mana if he switched sides and worked under me.

On impulse, Ed decided to put his trust in me. Lo and behold, he became capable of using more powerful spells. In truth, it was all thanks to Alice’s words of advice, but he became my devout believer ever since.

Honestly, this isn’t the type of control over the academy that I’d envisioned. I feel like we’re trying to make an evil secret society or something. Am I just imagining things?

Karen, now abandoned by her followers that she’d had faith in, turned to the other two members of her entourage in a cry for help. The other two simply smiled.

“Lady Karen, please be at ease,” one of them said. “We’re on your side.”

“Quite right,” the other agreed. “All you need to do is believe in Lady Serena as well. Then we can all remain together.”

I had no idea what methods my squires had used, but the other two had also joined my side. The four members of Karen’s entourage weren’t there to protect her; they were there so that she could not escape. They also ensured that her squires couldn’t approach her.

“Eep!” Karen cried, her determined expression twisted into one of terror.

She made an attempt to flee, but the four members of her former entourage surrounded her to close off any escape route.

“Thank you for your time, Lady Serena,” Oscar said respectfully. “We can take care of the rest.”

I had no idea how he planned to take care of things, but judging from my experience, I was certain that Karen and her entourage would await me tomorrow at the academy gates. A sadistic expression flashed across Oscar’s face. I didn’t know what he had in mind, but I didn’t remember providing such odd training to my squires.

Why did it turn out like this?

The next morning, Karen and her entourage were indeed waiting in front of the academy gates.

 

***

 

Rosewood Academy was a school. Naturally, one had to study, and there were also exams. This was my second time around at the academy, but I didn’t remember minute details from sixteen years ago. I vaguely remembered that I had attended some classes, but that was all. Besides, I didn’t study much in my previous life; my house had to hire several private tutors. They all worked hard to educate me, and I barely managed a passing score.

In my current life, I wanted to act as a genteel lady, so I took a page out of Eleanor’s book and studied diligently. In my previous timeline, Eleanor hadn’t just been a saintess; she excelled in her studies and was consistently at the top of her class. In this life, I was at the top, and she was second. I’d had the mind of an eighteen-year-old girl since I was a kid and decided to study as early as that—it was only natural that I excelled. Just below Eleanor were Oscar and Isabel. The two boasted very good grades as well.

Alice and Lewis were in different classes, and thus their exams also differed from mine. However, they were at the top of the sorcery and clergy classes respectively. Richard and Emma weren’t good at their studies, but they scored very high on practical exams. After all, they were stronger than the knight class teachers. Even if they exhibited poor behavior, they were praised for their combat prowess.

In any case, we all stood out in our own way, and those who stood out tended to be targets of jealousy from others. In my case, several factions secretly formed an alliance against a common enemy—me. Their slogan was: “Overthrow Serena!”

While these factions meant to act in secret, Oscar and Isabel sniffed them all out right away. The two took advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses and had allies all throughout the academy who acted as spies. This network allowed them to gather information efficiently.

Richard became the first target of the Overthrow Serena Alliance. He was large and acted cocky. If Richard, clearly the brawn of my group, disappeared, this alliance assumed that they could easily take care of me.

“They’re fools,” Oscar sneered. “They don’t realize that the true threat is you, Lady Serena.”

Uh, I’m not really sure about treating your master as a dangerous threat, buddy, I thought.

The alliance’s plan was to get Richard alone, and ten people would strike to catch him off guard. They also planned to use real blades as their weapons. This was dangerous…for our assailants.

“I can’t hold back against real swords,” Richard said.

He gave a strained smile when he overheard the plan. We’d faced monsters hundreds of times, and frankly, even if the students used actual blades, they were hardly a threat. However, knowing that they were going to use real weapons, we couldn’t hold back either. Richard was a man who could take down a monster with his bare hands. If he went all out, his opponents would surely die. That wasn’t ideal.

“Quietly crush your enemies and don’t kill them,” I ordered.

 

***

 

The ten knight-class students gathered by the Overthrow Serena Alliance assembled in a storehouse. There, they would receive their swords for the fight. The storehouse was in a corner of the academy grounds and was usually used as a storage space for armor and wooden training swords. The interior was dimly lit and had a unique, musty smell.

The ten students glanced around the storehouse, but the blades that they had been promised were nowhere to be seen. They looked about dubiously, puzzled by this, when the back entrance door closed with a deafening thud. The sound echoed ominously throughout the storehouse. Bewildered, the students whirled around and saw Richard standing in front of the door, blocking the only way out.

“Hey there,” Richard said. “Personally, I wouldn’t have minded if you used real blades, but Lady Serena was worried that I wouldn’t be able to hold myself back and I’d end up killing you guys. You’d best appreciate her kindness and benevolence. Oh, but you can use wooden swords if you wish. I can take that sort of handicap.”

He cracked his knuckles and slowly walked forward. The students were in a state of confusion as they each grabbed a wooden sword. Unfortunately, the outcome of the match had already been decided.

Meanwhile, the ringleaders of the alliance were utterly decimated by Isabel and Oscar. Isabel took one of the male students captive and leaned close to his ear.

“Lady Serena is very benevolent,” she whispered. “If you join me while you can, I’m certain that she will offer you her forgiveness. Ah, before I forget, I picked these up from the storehouse earlier. Are these yours, by any chance?”

She showed him ten student ID cards bearing the names of those from the knight class who were supposed to ambush Richard. The cards were smeared with blood. The captive student was the heir of a marquess. He normally had a cocky attitude, but he turned pale as a ghost and nodded vigorously. Meanwhile, Oscar employed the exact same tactic with the female students. One by one, the squires successfully had the members of the alliance defect to Serena.

Thus, the Overthrow Serena Alliance was crushed within a few days of its formation, and any other forces opposing the duke’s daughter were swiftly and definitively eradicated.

Chapter 5-4: A Desperate Struggle

Chapter 5-4:
A Desperate Struggle

 

MY DESPERATE STRUGGLE AGAINST DOGS continued even after I entered the academy. After all, whenever I met with the crown prince and queen, I was expected to bring the dogs along with me. I had to get used to these animals sooner or later.

But try as I might, even after my umpteenth encounter with them, the dogs trampled me. I had no chance of winning. I couldn’t continue to face these beasts without a plan in mind. In battle, one had to understand the mindset of their enemy—that was one of the basics of war. And so, before today’s skirmish, I called Lewis to my room. He was knowledgeable about dogs, and I wanted his advice.

“Lewis, you mentioned that you had a dog before you came to the orphanage,” I said. “You seem very skilled with them. Do you have any tips or tricks?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m not as skilled as you are, Lady Serena,” Lewis replied.

Shut up, I thought.

“In my case, the dogs just seem to rush toward me of their own volition,” I said. “I’m not inviting them over or anything. But that’s not true in your case, is it?”

“Ah, I see,” Lewis replied. “It’s true. Dogs just seem to flock toward you to an almost puzzling degree.”

And it’s unbelievably bothersome.

“Exactly,” I said. “So, well… I’m not really sure how to communicate with them. But if I am to spend time with the dogs of the royal family, I must learn how to deal with these animals.”

“You may be right, Lady Serena,” Lewis answered. “I understand. If you don’t mind having me as your teacher, I shall happily provide tips on how to handle dogs. I shall fetch my dog, so would you please give me a few moments?”

Lewis stood up and promptly brought his pet over. His animal was an average-looking dog with no unique characteristics. Recently, the dogs had stopped jumping on me on sight, but I could sense the passionate gaze from Lewis’s dog. It also seemed to be breathing harder.

Lewis smiled at his pet. “As I thought, my dog seems to be a bit excited when he sees you.”

Please stop that excitement. I’m begging you.

“First, to get along with a dog, you must speak to it gently,” Lewis advised.

“Speak to it?” I asked. “Do dogs have their own language?”

“That’s not what I mean. You can speak to a dog using human language, but you must put your intentions into your words and use a gentle tone. This is very important.”

“The dog won’t understand my words, but I still have to speak to it gently… Then could I just smile and say, ‘I’ll grill you whole and feed you to the other dogs,’ or the like?”

He looked a touch troubled. “Er… Dogs are creatures that are very sensitive to human emotions. You cannot just act kind; your words must be kind as well.”

What a nitpicky guy.

“All right,” I said. “Then I’ll try talking to your dog.”

I faced the animal and took a steady breath.

“You’re…cute?” I said. My tone made it sound like more of a question.

“A-arf!” the dog barked.

It turned into a beast as nature intended and immediately pounced on me.

This isn’t what was promised!

I desperately dodged for dear life as the dog jumped and pushed its snout against me, trying to lick my face.

“You’re as amazing as I thought, Lady Serena!” Lewis praised. “Your words are super effective!”

No, that’s not the point here!

“I don’t want such a passionate relationship,” I said. “I want to start by just being friends!”

I managed to tear the dog away from me, thanks to Lewis’s help.

“Hmm, I think that’s quite a difficult ask,” he said. “Dogs seem to love you very much.”

I didn’t want to hear those impudent words.

“Are there any other methods?” I asked.

“Usually, you can train a dog by using food,” Lewis explained. “For example, you can first offer a treat and attempt to teach your pet to sit.”

Use food to win them over, huh? It was a tactic that was highly effective against humans as well. I’d already expected as much and had some dried meat on hand. I took out a piece and raised it high in the air.

“Sit!” I declared.

In the next moment, the dog came flying towards my face. Unable to brace myself, I fell back. The creature sat on my face and rubbed its butt against me. I wasn’t sure if there was a hell in this world worse than what I was currently experiencing. After a while, the dog seemed satisfied and raised its butt before using its maw to grab the meat from my hand. I felt utterly humiliated.

“Dogs sure are clever,” Lewis murmured. His voice was filled with awe as he stroked his pet’s head.

Excuse me? Aren’t you supposed to take care of your master first? Are you or are you not my squire?

 

***

 

I refused to give in. It was only when I visited the castle to see Prince Edward that the dogs became inexplicably quiet. However, I had no idea when they would betray me. Day after day, I relentlessly continued my battle against them until, finally, I had a mental breakthrough.

Humans are marvelous, I thought. They can understand words, after all. Why did I loathe Eleanor and my academy friends so much?

They were all human. I could communicate and negotiate with them as much as I liked. They were different from the beasts that refused to listen to me, no matter how much I ordered or pleaded. That advantage alone made people so much more valuable and precious.

I learned how to forgive. Any issue seemed trivial compared to the dogs. In fact, I was able to redo my life. Wasn’t that good enough for me?

Despite my thoughts, I continued to spend time with the dogs.

I had successfully vanquished numerous monsters across the kingdom; I couldn’t lose to mere household pets.

Plus, these dogs aren’t as energetic as they once were.

I didn’t know the precise ages of these strays, but they were likely quite old in dog years. Just because they were no longer spry, that didn’t mean that they were more likely to heed my orders. They were, however, easier to deal with. That made me happy and a touch lonely.

I knew that the dogs harbored no ill will toward me. In fact, they liked me quite a bit. I just didn’t like passionate displays of affection—if they had kept a bit more distance, I probably would’ve liked them a lot more.

Little by little, my mindset began to shift again.

 

***

 

At the academy, the number of students who greeted me by the gates increased as the days passed. Upon closer inspection, I spotted the children of high-ranking nobles as well.

Why aren’t the teachers doing anything about this? I wondered. They should issue a warning or something. Whenever I tried to lock eyes with the teachers, they immediately turned away and averted their gazes. Do they think that they might turn into stone if they look me in the eye or something?

I wanted them to do their job better and carry out their duties. Even the king didn’t force his subjects to give such an obsequious greeting. I was a bit embarrassed by it all.

Speaking of royals, Crown Prince Edward—my fiancé—was in the same grade as me, but for some odd reason, he wasn’t present very much. In my previous timeline, I remembered that his very presence had been blinding—he glimmered as a royal should and stood out in a crowd. He seemed to have fewer people in his entourage too, this time around.

I asked one of my squires about it.

“But of course,” Oscar replied. “There’s only one other person in this academy who can truly guide the way. A person who only uses his rank to bolster his charm will naturally struggle to gather people.”

Uh, this person you speak of who only uses his rank is my fiancé. Besides, aren’t social status and rank important?

In my previous life, I’d considered social status the most important factor of all. Yet, contrary to those old thoughts, Prince Edward began to fade into the background and stood out less and less. At first, he acted like a fiancé should and spoke with me; he would even occasionally invite me for a spot of tea. But as time went on, he began to withdraw and neglect me.

When we were first engaged, he would joyfully converse with me as he played with the dogs, but ever since I had been dispatched to vanquish monsters, our time together had decreased.

I’m just repeating the same mistakes of my past life!

According to the information that my squires had gathered, it seemed the crown prince felt ashamed of himself when he compared his achievements to mine. I had accomplished many great feats, and His Highness hadn’t done much despite being the same age.

What a timid man. I could hardly believe that he was the very same crown prince who had viciously broken off his engagement with me in the previous timeline. Ultimately, he seemed to be a man who could only become assertive when he faced the weak. There was always a small voice in the corner of my mind whispering that I didn’t like Crown Prince Edward as much as I thought. Finally, a realization sunk in.

I merely coveted his social standing as the crown prince.

Chapter 5-5: Breaking Off the Engagement

Chapter 5-5:
Breaking Off the Engagement

 

MY SQUIRES CONTINUED TO WORK, DOING what they pleased to increase the power of my faction. Ever since I began their training, I had continuously told them that the real show would begin when I entered the academy. Now, I couldn’t stop them.

For instance, I spotted the students of the knight class addressing Richard with the utmost respect.

“Sir, yes, sir!” they shouted.

I pretended not to notice. My squires aren’t using the training regimen that I gave them on other, regular students, are they? I wondered. But what was I supposed to say? I couldn’t tell them “The training I gave you was meant for assassins, so you mustn’t teach it to normal people.”

In my previous life, the academy had been a place filled with elegance and grace during my time there, but now, it was gradually transforming into some sort of military.

I must be imagining things.

It came to a point where I would simply walk around the academy, and the other students would stand at attention and offer respectful salutes. They gazed at me with fervent intensity, and I couldn’t even begin to wonder just what they saw in me. With me reluctantly controlling the academy via tactics that were less than ideal, I suddenly thought about Eleanor, the actual saintess.

“Eleanor has been ridiculed as a fake saintess,” Isabel informed me. “She’s in quite the unfavorable position.”

Since I had taken the role of a pseudo-saintess, Eleanor was probably backed into a corner. She could wield light magic, yet she didn’t have any achievements to her name.

But Eleanor said that she didn’t want to become a saintess.

I recalled that in the previous timeline, Eleanor had been extremely busy and was dispatched to suppress monsters even while she attended the academy. Plus, she had a tough time even while she was in class because she became my primary target.

Is this current situation better for her?

“Get rid of anyone who tries to mess with her,” I said.

“Are you sure?” Isabel asked.

I was hailed as a saintess while Eleanor was the real deal—from an outsider’s perspective, we probably wouldn’t have shared an amicable relationship.

“I shall not permit such unsightly actions under my watch,” I ordered.

“Of course,” Isabel replied. “I shall take care of it.”

She kneeled and swiftly left to carry out my orders.

 

***

 

A few days later, Eleanor visited my classroom. My classmates began to murmur nervously, as there were rumors that there was a rift between me and the saintess. Eleanor ignored them and walked right up to me.

“Lady Serena, thank you so very much,” Eleanor said, giving me polite words of gratitude.

I could tell through her emerald gaze and her tone that her words were genuine. She was thanking me from the bottom of her heart.

“Whatever are you on about?” I asked as I tilted my head to one side.

“You need not be concerned with it,” Eleanor replied. “I simply wanted to thank you, that’s all.”

Isabel must have skillfully dealt with the bullies, but I knew that Eleanor was astute. She had evaded my evil plans countless times in my past life—her instincts must have kicked in once again. She concluded that someone had lent her a hand.

“Eleanor, do you want to be a saintess?” I asked.

It wasn’t Eleanor who stiffened at my words but my squires.

“No,” she replied with a faint smile. “I am a timid coward and terrified of fighting against monsters.”

I brought my lips close to her ear. “I see. But you must find your resolve soon. When you graduate, you will take the role of saintess.”

Eleanor looked perplexed. “Lady Serena?”

“Enjoy your time at the academy.”

With a wave of my hand, I signaled that the conversation was over. I didn’t redo my life to become a saintess—my initial goal had been to fight Eleanor. But if she wasn’t looking for a fight, there was no need to force one. How comical it would be for a woman in her mid-thirties to clash with a teenage girl.

Eleanor left the classroom. I had taken complete control of the academy and stolen the position of saintess from her. She could no longer claim my fiancé for herself. I had accomplished all that I wanted, but I still felt an emptiness in my heart. I didn’t feel fulfilled. There was something in my previous life that I lacked in the current timeline, but I had no idea what that was.

 

***

 

Months went by. Academy life progressed smoothly. I went up to the third year, and Oscar and Isabel took firm control of the freshmen. No one dared to oppose me. The only curious issue was that Crown Prince Edward seemed to be becoming close to Eleanor.

“You burn too brightly, Lady Serena,” Oscar surmised. “The two have lost their glow. I’m sure they can relate to each other in that respect. I suppose losers tend to stick together.”

His words were harsh. Eleanor was considerate towards me and set boundaries with His Highness, but it seemed Prince Edward was quite enamored with her.

I see, I thought. I guess history can’t change so easily.

But the situation was different. I hadn’t bullied Eleanor, and the students of the academy submitted to me. I couldn’t be so easily condemned now. The others would no longer betray me. Even if they did, I was confident that I could single-handedly silence them all.

“Your orders?” Oscar asked, his dark pupils flickering with malice. If I ordered him to kill them, I knew he wouldn’t hesitate against the saintess or the crown prince.

“Leave them be,” I commanded.

No longer did I have any attachment to the throne or to my engagement. But just because I refused the role of queen didn’t mean that the people around me would allow it.

What are those two planning? I wondered.

Oscar only nodded silently at my order.

 

***

 

A few months later, I was summoned by my father. He said that he wanted to speak to me regarding confidential matters. The moment I entered his room, he shooed everyone else out so we could be left alone. My father smiled as he always did, but his expression seemed a bit forced.

Is the engagement off? I thought. I didn’t think that was possible when I took into account the balance of power between the royal family and the duke.

“Crown Prince Edward has called for the cancelation of your engagement,” my father told me. “He said, ‘I’m not worthy of Lady Serena. In exchange, he has agreed to abdicate the role of crown prince.”

I’d expected the engagement to be canceled, but I hadn’t thought that the crown prince would actually step down from his role. Simply put, whether it be in the past or present, Prince Edward was in love with Eleanor.

“What are His Majesty’s plans?” I asked, shocked by my own lack of surprise. In fact, I was tempted to laugh.

“His Majesty has stated that he would make his second son, Prince Felix, the crown prince instead,” my father said. “The king has asked if you’d like to marry Prince Felix.”

Prince Felix was a whole decade younger than Prince Edward—the second-eldest prince was around seven right now. It wasn’t odd for a man to marry a woman who was ten years younger than him, but I had never heard of a woman marrying a much younger man. Though I would be with the future king, this was a bit too forced.

“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I pushed a much older woman onto Prince Felix,” I said. “Please tell His Majesty that Prince Edward doesn’t need to abdicate his role as crown prince.”

“Are you sure?” my father asked as he peered at me inquisitively. The smile had faded from his face—a rare sight.

“If I try that hard to become queen, I shall only become the people’s laughingstock,” I said. “With this ordeal, the royal family will be in our debt. Why don’t you use this cancelation of my engagement as a bargaining chip to request another plot of land? That may be the perfect compromise to maintain appearances.”

“Hmm…” my father said. His gaze shifted to the ground as he pondered for a few moments. “You’re right. Very well. His Majesty seemed desperate to bring you into the royal family, but with the current influence that House Rosenberg wields, there’s no need for us to force ties with them.”

He ended the discussion with his usual hearty laughter. If the saintess with no accomplishments became queen instead of me, the royal family’s power would only grow weaker.

I planned to have Eleanor fulfill her proper role when she graduated. I didn’t expect our house to lose power or influence when that happened. In any case, I no longer cared much for the saintess or the crown prince.

Chapter 6: Ceremony

Chapter 6: Ceremony - 18

Chapter 6-1: The Seven Luminaries

Chapter 6-1:
The Seven Luminaries

 

“I MAY BE NOMINATED TO BECOME A PART OF THE Seven Luminaries,” Alice said.

It had been some time since my engagement with the crown prince had been called off in secret. The Seven Luminaries were an order comprising the top seven mages within the kingdom. Mana, abilities, accomplishments, and other factors were taken into account for one to become eligible for the title of Luminary. It was very unusual for someone as young as Alice to be considered.

Alice had been at the top of the sorcery class ever since she entered the academy, and during her time there, she had created numerous new spells. She could absorb knowledge from books as easily as she breathed, and combined with her capabilities, it wasn’t a stretch for her to become a part of the Seven Luminaries.

However, something just didn’t feel right.

“Was there an open seat in the Seven Luminaries?” I asked. “If memory serves, I thought all seven of them were still alive and well. Did someone retire?”

One could only join the coveted ranks if a member had stepped down. When one of the Seven Luminaries retired or passed away, there would be an open spot for someone to claim. If there was no vacancy, one couldn’t join them, no matter how skilled they were.

“No one retired,” Alice replied. “There has actually been an open seat among the Seven Luminaries for a long while now, and they finally decided to select candidates. I was simply nominated as a potential contender.”

This wasn’t news to me. In my previous life, there had been a meeting to select candidates…

Wasn’t there? Wait, was there a meeting held? I asked myself. Who was chosen as a candidate in my previous timeline? I couldn’t recall, but in my head, that person ultimately became a part of the Seven Luminaries.

“Alice, could you tell me the names of the other candidates?” I asked.

“Of course,” Alice replied. “There are four candidates other than me. First is Arcanas, who achieved a feat of valor in the border conflict five years ago. There is also Elianna, renowned for her research in dark magic. Next is Layla, who made it to the final rounds of candidates in the previous selection of the Seven Luminaries. Finally, there’s Sephiroth, who has helped invent many new spells.”

None of those names rang a bell, but someone must have joined the Seven Luminaries in my previous timeline as well. And I knew exactly who that mage was—for some inexplicable reason, I was very confident that I did.

Since that person became a part of the Seven Luminaries, they must have been capable of using very powerful magic. Yes… For example, they could grant me a second chance at life.

It always struck me as odd—I’d been supposed to die. Why was I able to redo my life? When I was initially born again, I thought it was the will of God. I was tragically forced into my untimely death, and I assumed that God took pity on me and gave me a second chance. However, that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. My death was no tragedy.

I was an eighteen-year-old girl who didn’t understand the world and abused power and influence that I wasn’t used to wielding. As a result, I was forced to face the consequences of my actions. I was a duke’s daughter who only knew how to be selfish and arrogant; not once had I attempted to do any sort of good deed.

God wasn’t going to answer any prayers from me. I had no right to expect the grace of a higher being. I surmised, then, that someone in the Seven Luminaries from my previous timeline had allowed me to receive a second chance at life. I didn’t know their name, but I felt like the scattered pieces in my mind were beginning to fit together. As the pieces began to fall into place, they opened a new door to one of my memories.

“Serena, this is an amazing book,” someone, a person from the previous timeline, said. I was shown a book. “This book is an artifact called Record. It won’t be affected by any physical phenomena, spells, or time. In other words, this book will continue to persist no matter what and will never cease to exist. It’ll remain in memories too, even if the realm crumbles away or magic transforms this world.”

“What the heck?” I replied. “That’s not amazing at all. That sounds meaningless.”

I glanced at the Record and quickly lost interest. Back then, I was ignorant of magic and couldn’t find the value in a book that did nothing except exist. Hence, I found that tidbit to be a meaningless piece of information and shoved it into the dark recesses of my mind. It left such a small impression on me that I wasn’t able to recall it until now.

That book was supposed to have existed, yet was no longer there. But I knew where it had gone. I’d wanted a spell to turn back time so that I could redo my life. Spells required something in return. To redo one’s life, the price had to be something of equal value—that is, the life of the spellcaster.

Within my mind, I could practically hear the various pieces clicking into place.

 

***

 

That day, I decided to visit a certain noble’s manor on my way home from the academy. I don’t think I had ever met this person, but the house of Viscount Ravenwood had always bothered me. They had apparently produced many generations of excellent mages, and their contributions were viewed highly along with their rank. I had Isabel head there first while I waited by the gates.

“I want to be shown around your manor,” I had requested.

My actions were undoubtedly impertinent, but my rank was much higher. I knew that I could be a touch unreasonable. After a while, Isabel came out with a servant of the manor, and I was guided inside. In front of the manor door stood Viscountess Ravenwood. She looked nervous, perhaps wondering what business I had with her family.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Viscountess Ravenwood,” I said, trying to act as politely as I could. “My name is Serena Rosenberg. I’m terribly thankful that you allowed me inside despite my sudden request.”

“I’m very much aware of your name,” the viscountess replied. “May I ask what business you have with us today? I’ve been told that you wanted to be shown around my manor…”

“May I ask a question first?” I inquired. “Viscountess Ravenwood, do you have a child around the same age as me?”

“No… We do not have a child.”

She looked a touch sad as she spoke. It must have been difficult for her to impart that their household had no child to become heir.

“I’m very sorry for bringing it up,” I said. “If you are willing, I would like for you to show me a certain room. I presume no one is using it.”

The viscountess and her servant glanced at each other, baffled by my statement.

“I’m not sure if we have such a room,” the viscountess said. “However, I could show you the various rooms of our manor, excluding my husband’s. Please, step inside.”

I entered the manor and was immediately overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu. This was my first visit here, and yet it felt eerily familiar. The viscountess gazed at me dubiously, but I ignored her and began to walk forward. From the entrance hall, I took the corridor to the left. There was a room right at the end of this corridor—that was my destination. I still had vague, fuzzy memories of the Record’s location.

However, when I reached the end of the corridor, there was nothing there. There should have been a room here, but now it was just an open space that felt unnatural to me. I gently placed my hand on the wall, certain that it was there. My palm brushed against a cavity that couldn’t have possibly existed in this space and glided across its perimeter, searching.

Finally, my fingers touched an invisible doorknob. There was a loud clack—this was exactly what I had been looking for. When I gripped the knob, a door suddenly appeared as though it had always been there.

The viscountess, her servant, and my squires were all astonished at how these events unfolded.

“Lady Serena, what is this?” Isabel asked. She clearly had her guard up and feared that this was some form of sorcery.

“This isn’t an illusion or anything of the sort,” I replied. “I suspect that it was isolated to maintain the consistency of this world. It was meant to hide something that wasn’t supposed to exist.”

The book would persist even if time was wound back. It would affect the chronological order of events and create contradictions, such as the cause and effect of the loss of its creator. This was an inconvenient item to keep around and thus had been hidden away.

I opened the door with no hesitation.

Inside the room were a bed, a desk, and a chair. There was also an empty bookshelf. This feels so nostalgic. I wasn’t supposed to know this room, and yet it felt so familiar. I opened the drawer of the desk and took out a single book—the Record.

The Book of Marius Ravenwood, the book’s cover read. I left the room and turned towards the stunned viscountess.

“I apologize for the fuss,” I said. “Please excuse me.”

I had just committed theft, but I couldn’t allow anyone else to read the book’s contents. If I explained to her that this was a book by her son who she neither knew nor remembered, it would only confuse her further. I knew that with time, the people of that manor would naturally accept the room as though it had always existed there. She would probably forget the existence of the book as well; if she didn’t, the world would be inconsistent with prior events.

I noticed that the viscountess and her servant were frozen in place, unnaturally so. By tonight, I guessed that the world would conveniently reconstruct their memories. My squires also seemed to be confused and unable to concentrate. Some of them frowned as they walked, shaking their heads. Only I had memories of the book from my previous timeline and would be permitted to remember this entire affair.

Yeah, this book is amazing. It can even change the fate of the world and continue to exist.

I stepped into the carriage and quietly opened the book. Isabel sat across me, and Emma sat beside me, but it was though my visit to House Ravenwood had never occurred. Neither of them were interested in the book. Even Alice, who sat diagonally across from me, had her nose buried in a different tome. She probably didn’t even question why I had this book in my hand.

I read the first page.

To my beloved Serena…

Chapter 6-2: Marius

Chapter 6-2:
Marius

 

SERENA,

If you’re reading this, I presume that you’ve successfully redone your life. Wonderful. I was successful in altering the world. I can proudly claim that I am a mage befitting of the Seven Luminaries. But Serena, I doubt that you’ll remember me.

I don’t blame you. Every spell requires something in return, and mana isn’t nearly enough to alter the world. To use this spell, one must offer their very existence in return. In other words, I had to sacrifice my existence. Do you understand what I’m saying? The Serena I know would’ve just thrown the book away in some random place, and that thought terrifies me. I hope that you’ve matured as a person as you went through your second life.

In short, your world is the one that I never existed in. Why don’t I introduce myself?

I’m Marius Ravenwood. Hmm, I guess I’m your only friend. We first met when we were around three years old. Children of similar ages were gathered at House Rosenberg, where a gathering to interact with you was hosted. Oh, it was troublesome and a nuisance unlike any other. After all, you were selfish and couldn’t be controlled—you were a horrible child. His Grace listened to your every whim while Her Grace completely neglected you. And thus, the embodiment of a nuisance—you—was born.

As more meetups were arranged, fewer and fewer people gathered. In the end, only I attended. This was quite the feat, I’ll have you know. Even with the power of a duke, your father couldn’t gather people for you. Why did I continue to attend those meetups, you ask? Because with every visit, I was allowed to read a book from the duke’s house. I guess my curiosity and thirst for knowledge were taken hostage by the manor. My house boasted an impressive library, but His Grace’s manor had even more books. At those meetups, you punched me, kicked me around, and made me into your horse. Whenever you gave me an order, I had to listen to you while I kneeled.

“Who do you think you are?” I always wondered. Also, I noticed that every time I visited, your personal attendant had changed. It must’ve been tough taking care of you, and I took pity on them. But when I became your only playmate, it seemed to bother you. After enduring your selfishness, we began to read together. At first, I hated it. This was my prize after a hard day of work, and you were still stuck by my side. Oddly enough, you remained quiet during that time.

You’d look at my book and go, “Hmph. That looks so boring.”

After insulting me, you would read your own book. When I left, apparently, you would begin to read the book I’d just finished. A servant I had gotten close with told me as much. The material I read was difficult and focused on spells, and I heard that you’d thrown a tantrum while reading. But because you hated to lose, you did your best and asked your private tutors and studied so that you could understand what I read.

And then, the next time we met, you would say, “The book you read is so easy.”

I thought that was so funny. Some of the books I read couldn’t be comprehended even by adults. With your hatred for studying, you wouldn’t possibly have read it. So your private tutor thanked me quite a bit.

“Thanks to you, my lady has begun to study!” they told me.

You were able to use basic spells and managed to just barely get passing grades at the academy thanks to me, you know. You weren’t thankful to me at all, though. Then again, I’d never seen you thank anyone. We continued to hang out, and your behavior gradually improved. You were like a crystal that took a century to grow just a tiny bit. But society viewed you as selfish and bossy, and the other nobles didn’t see you favorably.

I was fine with that, though. I began to think that all you needed was me, and that was good enough. I’ve written negatively about you so far, but I’m not any better, really. Truth be told, I didn’t actually hate meeting you. I mean, you’re really pretty. I was stunned when I first met you. Your eyes were like obsidian jewels, and your features were nothing short of a miracle. Your pale skin was soft and supple like silk. Your long, dark hair was delicate and beautiful, like a work of art. I even took home some strands of hair that fell to the ground.

I was moved to tears. I didn’t think such a gorgeous girl existed. You were like a princess who stepped straight out of a fairy tale. And yet, your personality was so horrible that your beauty couldn’t keep others near you.

I wanted to monopolize you, you see. I thought I could be your one and only friend—you didn’t need anyone else. But if we were really friends, I should’ve looked out for your best interests and scolded or warned you when you acted out.

I entered Rosewood Academy when I was thirteen. Every aspiring mage wished to be a part of the sorcery class, but normally one had to be at least sixteen to enter. I was able to join three years earlier. This might sound amazing, and yeah, I decently excelled in my field, but for me that was merely sufficient. On my thirteenth birthday, you came up to me.

“Happy birthday, Marius,” you said. “I’ve prepared the best present for you. Starting next year, you can join the sorcery class at Rosewood Academy! I begged my father! What do you think? Isn’t that amazing?”

It was amazing, all right! I thought that I was going to faint on the spot. I didn’t think that House Rosenberg had so much power that they could grant such a difficult request. I couldn’t decline, of course. I’d embarrass the duke. It was my birthday, but that night, around ten of my relatives glumly gathered at my manor. I thought someone had died or something.

My father’s brows were furrowed deeply. He said, “You have to study like your life depends on it.”

Let me be frank—my goodness, that was such an unwelcome surprise! You caused nothing but trouble! And since that day, I studied with all my might. My classmates were three years older than me, but if I couldn’t keep up with my lessons, I would just be a nuisance to the duke, and House Ravenwood’s dignity would be tarnished. Above all, everyone would insult you again.

“Ah, the daughter of House Rosenberg has caused trouble for everyone again,” people would say.

I wanted to avoid that outcome. I didn’t want people to speak ill of you because of me. So, I worked really, really hard. I did my best to be first in my class in both grades and practical skills. At the end of my first year, when you learned that I was at the top of my class, you flashed a carefree smile.

“That’s my Marius,” you said. “I expected as much from you.”

I hated you. You smiled so happily, blissfully unaware of my hardships. But even then, I wanted you to smile. I maintained the top seat in my sorcery class until graduation, and once I left, I breathed a sigh of relief. A heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Once I graduated, you entered Rosewood Academy.

“I got engaged to Crown Prince Edward!” you told me. It was right before your first day of school.

When you spoke so proudly, I felt a small sting in my chest. Just a small one. It was only natural for you to become engaged to him, since you were the daughter of a duke. I then began to work as a magical researcher. I’d always been interested in time magic, and this was my opportunity to look into it.

The research went well. You weren’t there to bother me, after all. I felt a bit lonely because of that and chose to be engrossed in my research. The fruit of my efforts took the form of this book. By fixing the axis of time in place, this artifact won’t be affected by any outside interference. Any phenomena, notions, or emotions from the beginning of time will be recorded in this book—it’ll be a stepping stone to finding the memory of the world. Of course, this is just a very small step forward.

When I showed you my amazing accomplishment, your reaction was blasé.

“What the heck?” you said. “That’s not amazing at all. That sounds meaningless.”

I couldn’t blame you. Only those who had in-depth knowledge of magic could truly understand the gravity of my creation. But a few days later, you made another outrageous claim.

“Marius, I nominated you for the Seven Luminaries!”

 

***

 

“It would be awesome if one of my friends became a member of the Seven Luminaries!” you said.

You flashed your innocent smile, but my mind went blank. Me? I’d been nominated to join the top seven mages of this kingdom?

“Just because you don’t have any other friends, don’t nominate your only friend to join the highest ranks of magic!” I wanted to say.

But I managed to hold myself back. Just because you hailed from the house of a duke, that didn’t mean that you could do whatever you pleased and make unreasonable requests. You really should think about the trouble that you’ve caused for others. While my research had gained some attention, I was still a greenhorn researcher; such an honorable title would be too heavy of a burden for me, and I wanted to forfeit my nomination.

Unfortunately, I had to follow through. What other choice did I have? During that time, I heard awful rumors about you. Here are some examples:

“The daughter of Duke Rosenberg is wielding her influence at Rosewood Academy to an excessive degree.”

“She keeps harassing the saintess, who is a priceless treasure of our nation.”

“She’s so selfish that even her fiancé, the crown prince, is at a complete loss.”

There was nothing I could do since I had already graduated. I didn’t want you to have another rumor that ruined your reputation. I didn’t want people to say stuff like, “Lady Serena used nepotism and nominated her talentless friend to the Seven Luminaries.”

And so, alongside my research on creating the Record, I also experimented on finishing a spell called Reset. This new spell, Reset, activated when the spell’s target died. Time would rewind and allow that person another chance at life—as a bonus, the target would even retain memories from their previous life. Without that bonus, I feared that the person would make the same mistakes and meet the same fate, making the spell meaningless.

However, this spell came at the price of another human being, and they had to be aware that they would be sacrificed in the process. A random person wouldn’t do. That was the most efficient such a spell could possibly be—I mean, a single person would be able to change the world. To be precise, they could rewrite history. I simplified the goal of this spell and successfully convinced the world itself that a person was merely trying to redo their life.

During the few months that led to the Seven Luminaries selection process, I forgot to eat and sleep. I spent every second of every day on my research. It was worse than the time when I’d been forced to enter Rosewood Academy three years too early. My father, my friends from my academy days, and some of my colleagues from work all helped me out. They kindly offered me their assistance and pitied me for all the hardship that I was forced to go through.

Everyone knew that you and I went way back, and the nasty rumors surrounding you exacerbated my situation. I barely managed to announce the basic theory for my spell just in time for the Seven Luminaries selection process. And then, I was chosen. It was still just a theory, but the spell was groundbreaking; I think my Record was also taken into consideration. Both of my research topics would change the nature of the world. Perhaps the duke’s influence also helped, but I was so relieved.

I was able to prove to the world that you weren’t wrong—at the very least, you had a keen eye when you selected your friends. But then you were charged for your crimes at the academy’s graduation party. You were convicted of your attempts to murder the saintess. At first, I didn’t take your situation very seriously. You’re the daughter of a duke, after all—even if you were found guilty of your crimes, I didn’t think that you’d receive any serious punishment. Of course, you couldn’t be allowed to get away with what you did, either. I thought it was necessary for you to atone for your crimes.

Then you were sentenced to death.

I couldn’t understand how that had happened. Had the duke’s influence weakened? Was the saintess a more important figure than I’d thought? Or had your behavior just been utterly ghastly? No matter the case, it was clear that I had underestimated the situation. I should’ve fought against you more. Even if we got into big fights and you ended up hating me, I should’ve tried to set you on the right path. I couldn’t regret my actions enough. Those thoughts compelled me to meet with you while you were confined in prison.

When I met you, you looked unseemly, with tears streaming down your face.

“I’m not to blame!” you shrieked. “Aren’t you a member of the Seven Luminaries?! Use your magic to get me out of here! Why did everyone forsake me?”

You denied all responsibility for your crimes. You hadn’t matured since you turned three. You were still the same selfish, bratty princess in an older body. And that’s your issue, Serena. Even if a prince on a white horse came to save you, as soon as he saw your sorry state, he’d leave and search for another princess. But I was no prince on the side of justice. I was a wicked mage who had my heart stolen away by you.

There were guards watching over us, and I couldn’t say much, but I secretly collected a strand of your hair that fell to the ground. In my personal drawer were the strands of your hair that I had collected since I was a child—it was more than enough for me to make a catalyst for my ritual. All that was left was for me to conduct the ritual before you were executed.

In exchange, the world would act like I had never existed. No one would remember or know me. I needed to pay a hefty price to alter the world. You were known as a wicked princess and the daughter of the duke, but I never saw you that way. You’re not as evil as the rumors say, but perhaps I’m the only one who thinks so.

I’ve got hope for you. If you go through your life a second time, surely you’ll be a better person. Humans tend to calm down with age, you know? Please don’t harbor any resentment and try to kill the saintess, all right? Saintesses have to shoulder quite a few responsibilities to fulfill their role. I’m sacrificing my life to reset yours. I won’t tell you to become a saintess, but I want you to just be mischievous at most.

Now then, after you’re executed, I doubt that you’ll remember me. That just makes me feel a bit lonely, you know? I’ll offer you my everything, and I have no regrets about that, but I at least want you to keep me in your memories.

That’s where my Record will come into play.

Miraculously, I was able to produce this artifact—the only one that exists in the world—but I’m using it to draft a personal letter to you. I’m sure that the other researchers would be furious with me if they learned of my actions, but it only serves as proof that there was something far more important to me than this book.

Perhaps you’ll happily marry the crown prince in your second life. And that’s just fine. Very occasionally, I’d like you to remember me. I’ll never forget the books that we read together in the archive of your manor. You forced me to attend Rosewood Academy early, and you pushed me into candidacy for the Seven Luminaries. Your actions made my life a tiresome one, but thanks to you, I was able to persevere until this point.

Had you not been around, I might’ve ended my life as just an above-average mage. So, I’m a little grateful to you. I’ve got just the tiniest amount of gratitude toward you.

I guess it’s time we say farewell.

Serena, I loved you. I pray for your happiness.

Chapter 6-3: The Price

Chapter 6-3:
The Price

 

I FINISHED READING THE RECORD IN MY ROOM. The book was fairly thick, but less than half of its pages had writing. I flipped through the pages, but there were no other messages from him. The book refused all interference; it repelled even my tears that fell upon its pages, the drops sliding off onto the ground. However, just because I read the Record, that didn’t mean that my memories of Marius flooded back into me. I only had a vague recollection that a man like him might or might not have existed. But his existence had easily filled the hole in my heart.

I knew that someone other than my father had visited me while I was imprisoned. Was he why I could easily learn spells? Was this the book that had been missing? I had only the vaguest of memories of a friend. I wasn’t supposed to have recalled Marius, and yet, his gaze flashed across my mind. His eyes that showed genuine care for me were reminiscent of how my squires looked at me now.

I hadn’t been completely alone in my past life. I had one person who would always remain by my side.

Why wasn’t I satisfied with that? I thought. Why did I yearn for more?

I was a fool. I wanted to become queen, but there was nothing that I wished to do after I claimed the throne. Yet, I was so fixated on my engagement with the crown prince that I lost my dearest and only friend. I wasn’t worth it—I wasn’t worth Marius offering his very existence so that he could spare me. In fact, he was a mage who’d had a bright future.

I have to bring him back. I have to bring Marius back to this world.

Magic always required something in return. If that was the case, I just needed to offer something to the world in return for Marius. It was very easy to find a person to pay that price.

 

***

 

A week had passed since I read the Record. My heart, which ached with the emotions swirling within me, finally managed to calm itself down. One might even say that I had steeled my resolve. To call Marius back into this world, I had to conduct the appropriate sorcery ritual, but it was going to be a difficult task. There were two types of mages: those who used magic for violence and those who used magic for research to help people’s lives. I was a textbook example of the former type and wasn’t used to ritual spells.

Fortunately, I was blessed with excellent squires of both types. Alice was expressionless and addicted to reading, but she was the embodiment of knowledge. She soaked up information, could recall minute details after simply reading through a book once, and possessed an incredible memory. Her wealth of expertise allowed her to use a wide variety of spells, and she was even nominated to join the ranks of the Seven Luminaries.

I called Alice to my room. The red-haired mage was as expressionless as usual.

“Alice, I want to bring back a person who sacrificed his existence to the world to conduct his spell,” I said.

“Certainly,” Alice replied.

I didn’t want to touch upon the fact that this was my second life, and I tried to be as vague as possible. However, Alice’s response was instant and carefree, as always. Does she truly understand my words? I wondered.

“Do you know what I’m saying?” I asked. “To bring back a person who’s gone, I require a person to offer themselves for this ritual.”

“I do, Lady Serena,” Alice replied. “You require a ritual to switch out the offerings, correct?”

I was really glad that she was that astute, but I wanted her to look a touch more shocked. I had to muster my resolve to even say these words.

“That person used a spell where not just anyone will do,” I explained. “The person must know and accept that they will be utilized for the ritual.”

“I suspect that this spell is meant to affect the world,” Alice replied. “A regular person won’t do, and they must have directivity—that is, the will to be used for the ritual.”

I was impressed by Alice. I’d only given an ambiguous description, but she was already able to think several steps ahead.

“I want to bring back this person who was lost,” I said. “Do you know the exact ritual we need to conduct?”

“I do,” Alice replied immediately.

Alice had learned magic when she was ten, far later than when I began my education, and yet her knowledge of the field was unfathomably deep.

Is this what it means to be a genius? Is she even more knowledgeable than Marius?

“What do I do?” I asked.

“The most difficult part is that a catalyst is required to tie us to the person who has been sacrificed,” Alice explained. “If there’s no way to link us to him, we cannot connect ourselves to the victim. Plus, if this person sacrificed his very existence, I assume that there are no traces of him left in this world.”

I see. That would be difficult…normally.

“I’ve got the catalyst,” I said.

I took out the Record—the one and only artifact in the world that Marius had created. I felt like this would be more than enough of a catalyst to connect us to him.

“Please don’t read what’s inside,” I requested. “It’s very, very important to me.”

Alice carefully took the Record and didn’t open the pages as she cast a spell to identify it. The charm was used to detect the authenticity and history of items.

“This is an artifact in the shape of a book,” she concluded. “By fixing the axis of time, it completely rejects all types of outside influences. It might be difficult for the general populace to understand, but this is a very amazing book in a magical sense. I can see how this could continue to exist even if the world were changed. If this book is the personal belonging of the person who was lost, it can be a catalyst.”

She wasn’t nominated to become a part of the Seven Luminaries for nothing. Alice quickly understood that this artifact was very impressive.

“Do I need anything else?” I asked.

“Magic comes with a price,” Alice replied. “We require a person to be sacrificed. Who shall you select for that role?”

I paused for a few moments. “I haven’t decided yet.”

If I gave my order, my squires would offer their lives with no hesitation. As proof, Alice showed no hesitation at the prospect of finding a sacrifice—one who would throw their life away for my sake.

“How long will it take to make preparations for this ritual?” I asked.

“Since we’ve got the catalyst, I believe a week shall suffice,” Alice replied.

“That’s sooner than I thought.” I looked at her with surprise—I had expected it to take at least twice as long.

“A week will be enough. While I make the preparations, I ask that you select your person, Lady Serena. I don’t mind if you ultimately choose me. Our lives exist solely for your sake, my lady.”

I couldn’t offer a response, so I remained quiet. Alice didn’t wait for my reply and left my room, demonstrating the utmost etiquette and respect.

 

***

 

I agonized over my decision, but ultimately, I decided to tell my squires about the ritual. According to Alice, the spell’s success rate would increase if I could gather more mana. This meant that I inevitably required others to help me. For the past eight years, my squires had stuck by my side and followed my orders, always keeping a keen eye on every movement I made. It wasn’t rare for them to predict my actions beforehand—I had educated them to do so.

I was sure that they already had an inkling about my plans, and I knew that there was no sense in hiding it. I gathered my squires and told them exactly what I’d told Alice earlier.

“If this person is important to you, Lady Serena, we shall happily offer our lives for your endeavor,” Oscar said.

He didn’t even flinch as he spoke. I was sure that they must have had more questions, but none of them said a word; they easily accepted my explanation. Ultimately, I was a coward and hid the fact that I’d received a second chance at life. I didn’t want them to know that I’d been executed for such a stupid reason in the past. If I disappointed my squires, I feared that I would lose their loyalty too.

“Does the sacrifice have to be human?” Richard asked. “Can’t we catch a monster or something and use that instead?”

It was less of a sacrifice and more of a price to pay for the spell, but really, the two were one and the same.

“In this world, there isn’t much of a difference between monsters and humans,” Alice replied. “But the one to be offered must be accepting of the fact that they will die for this spell. I think that’s difficult to ask of a monster. And if the legends are true that humans were made in God’s image, a different species likely cannot replace a person. I assume that several monsters would be necessary to replace the cost of a human life, and it’s likely impossible to assemble a team of monsters who’re all willing to die for the ritual.”

“Hmph,” Oscar scoffed, annoyed that humans were so valuable in this ritual. “Humans and monsters aren’t so different, and yet the former seems overvalued. If it were up to me, I’d put humans at the absolute bottom.”

“Why don’t we select a random student from the academy?” Isabel suggested. I found her idea to be quite cruel. “If their very existence will vanish, I imagine that a random person won’t become much of an issue.”

Alice was against this too. “We can’t be sure just how loyal the person we select will be toward Lady Serena. Worst case, this information might be leaked to outsiders. That will only hurt Lady Serena’s reputation, and I cannot agree to that.”

Lewis raised his hand. “Then I’ll do it. I’m the most useless of the bunch, so I think I’ll be a fine sacrifice.”

There wasn’t a hint of despair in his voice; in fact, he was smiling. Lewis wasn’t useless—far from it. He was an excellent priest with shining prospects for the future.

“You can’t get ahead of us,” Richard said. He scowled and stepped toward Lewis. “You’re not the only one who wants to be of use to Lady Serena. I’ll be the sacrifice.”

“No, I will,” another of my squires said.

“No, it’ll be me,” said another.

A bidding war ensued, my squires eagerly nominating themselves to be used for the ritual. If their very existence were to vanish, it meant that I wouldn’t even remember that they’d been useful to me. I simply couldn’t understand why they all wanted to undertake such a thankless role.

I decided to put an end to their meaningless debate.

“I’ll be the one to decide my candidate,” I said. “I won’t accept any objections.”

Chapter 6-4: My Final Wish

Chapter 6-4:
My Final Wish

 

THERE WAS A LARGE SORCERY TRAINING ground in the basement of the duke’s manor. High-ranking nobles would never be called to fight directly in a war nowadays, but many of their ancestors had been excellent knights or fighters. House Rosenberg’s founder was a first-rate mage. This underground training space remained from the olden days, and while it was still used to practice spells, it had originally been built for magical rituals.

In this day and age, it wasn’t unusual for one to practice spells in the yard under broad daylight. However, magic was once considered a secret art. One wasn’t supposed to use magic for all to see, and so, long ago, many created training grounds in basements to practice covertly. This dimly lit training ground was surrounded by black stone walls and felt like the perfect place for ghosts to haunt.

It was midnight, and everyone in the manor was fast asleep. Alice drew a massive magic circle on the floor of the training ground and placed an altar in the middle. On the altar were the Record, which served as our catalyst, and several other cursed items which I assumed would be used somehow.

To provide enough mana for this ritual, my squires and I stood equidistant from each other, forming a ring around the magic circle. Everyone had some mana, and so even Richard, who wasn’t a mage, could offer his supply. This ritual, called Reset, was a powerful spell that could meddle with the fate of the world. Even this rite that offered a replacement sacrifice required an immense amount of mana.

Richard and Oscar, who often joked around, didn’t utter a word when they set foot on the training grounds. A tense air surrounded us, and I couldn’t blame them for keeping silent. They might happily offer their lives for my sake, but it was still scary to think that their very existence would disappear from the face of the world.

Alice stepped away from the center of the magic circle and headed for the edge. All seven of us, including me, now surrounded it.

She began to chant the spell. I felt the mana begin to drain from my body. The massive magic circle emitted a pale blue glow, and the floor within the glyphs began to distort. I assumed that the inside of the circle was trying to form a link with something. Alice’s chant continued, and I felt the area around the altar gather power. It wasn’t from mana—this force felt more primal and fundamental. It was impossible to describe; I was surprised that we were even able to form a link with this inexplicable something.

Alice and Marius must have been completely out of their minds. I would have been too scared to do it.

All the while, I heard Alice’s voice grow louder and stronger as she chanted. The ritual was almost complete. Finally, a white pillar erupted in the middle of the magic circle.

“Lady Serena, the one who steps into that light shall be the one to pay the price,” Alice explained. “Please select your person.”

She was gasping for air as she made her request. She had used up all her power for the ritual, and she looked like she might faint at any moment. Truth be told, I had already selected my sacrifice from the beginning—me. I had lived eighteen years in my previous life and eighteen more in this one. It was a bit short for a full lifespan, but I was supposed to have died when I was eighteen. I had lived twice as long, and that was more than enough.

I silently headed for the white pillar of light.

“Lady Serena!” my squires cried.

Richard instinctively tried to rush forward, but he tripped over his legs and fell.

“My legs?” Richard muttered. “No, my body’s gone numb…”

He had noticed that his body felt unusual. It wasn’t just Richard; none of my squires could remain on their feet. One by one, they slowly sank to the ground. Before we headed downstairs to the training grounds, I’d invited my squires to my room and personally treated them to a cup of tea. No matter who I chose as my sacrifice, it was a small token of my gratitude for their loyalty until now.

Every noblewoman was taught tea etiquette, but perhaps due to my high rank, it was extremely rare for me to pour tea for others. In fact, if I were to include my previous life, this was my second time. My first time had been in my prior timeline, when I’d served a cup to Eleanor. It felt like a strange twist of fate that I had mixed a drug in for both my first and second times serving tea. Admittedly, Eleanor had realized that I’d mixed something in her drink, and my plan ended in failure. However, this time around, I was successful because my squires placed complete faith in me. Even if they did notice something in my tea, I could have just threatened and accused them of rebelling if they refused my drink.

I suppose I’d earned my reputation as the wicked princess.

“Lady Serena!” my squires shouted. “Please don’t!”

Their voices were so loud that they reached the depths of my heart. And that was more than enough for me. I had many people now who worried about me—I couldn’t have imagined this scene in my past life.

I was probably lonely in my past life, I thought. I was lonely because I knew that I was truly alone. That no one was around me.

Yet, my one friend had given me a second chance at life. I was incredibly lucky I had him. As I stood in front of the white pillar of light, my body stiffened with apprehension. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t scared, but in this world, I had battled against countless monsters without hesitation. I had the courage to press on.

I likely hadn’t had this bravery in my past life; I probably would have used one of my squires instead without hesitation. The fact that I now chose to sacrifice myself made this second life all worthwhile. I glanced at my squires and did my best to muster a smile on my aloof face.

“You may forget me, but this is my final order,” I said. “I want you all to be happy.”

Tears streamed down my squires’ cheeks. No one had shed a tear for me in my past life. This is quite a nice ending, isn’t it? I worked hard, I think. And no longer do I have any regrets as I had in my prior life.

I took a deep breath and tried to step into the light, when the door of the training grounds creaked.

“Huh?” I gasped.

Everyone in the manor was asleep at this hour. I even had a barrier set up so no one would be able to approach this place. I turned around as the door opened, and six dogs rushed inside. They’d all aged quite a bit and now spent most of their days fast asleep. No longer could they run around as much. Yet they were now running toward me with haggard breaths, just as they had done when I first met them. I was so taken aback by their energy that my body instinctively recoiled at the sight of the beasts. Richard’s dog, the most powerful of the pack, used that opportunity to knock me away from the pillar of light.

“Why?” I asked.

I watched the six dogs run past me and into the light. I hastily tried to head to the pillar as well, but Alice’s dog growled and barked at me, its red hair standing on end.

I cried out as I fell.

I was still afraid of dogs, and this clear show of aggression terrified me. The six dogs remained in the pillar of light.

“Get out of there!” I shouted.

However, I was only met with the dogs’ calm and composed expressions. They wagged their tails as they stared at me. Those twelve eyes looked at me with undeniable kindness and affection. The time that I had spent with them flashed across my mind. I didn’t really enjoy being with them, but…

Image - 19

But I still like you guys. You don’t have to go! That’s my fate.

“At least listen to my final order!” I roared.

They didn’t move a muscle. I hated these dogs. They never listened to me—they even refused my final wish. In the next moment, their outlines within the light began to blur.

 

***

 

The white light converged, and in the middle of the magic circle was Marius, lying on the ground. Why am I here? I asked myself. I was sure that I had stepped into the white light to sacrifice myself. I had drugged my squires, and yet they were still here with me.

“Lady Serena’s still here!” Isabel cried, happiness apparent in her voice.

“No one’s gone, right?!” Richard roared. He counted the number of squires again and again.

“It’s a miracle!” Lewis yelled. Still on the ground, he prayed to his deity. “God has granted us a divine miracle!”

A miracle? Is that really what happened here?

I was still in a daze as my gaze shifted to Marius lying on the floor. Just then, my hand that was on the floor brushed against a tiny puddle.

Where did this water come from?

As I tried to process my situation, another droplet fell onto my palm—they were tears. I was crying.

Why? Is it because Marius is back? All my life, I had been called a demon or the devil. I was the most feared heiress in this kingdom. Evil wasn’t allowed to weep. It would affect my dignity.

I tried my best to get my tears to stop, but my body refused to listen; for a long while, an unending stream spilled from my eyes, dampening my cheeks.

Final Chapters

Final Chapters - 20

Final Chapter 1: Marius

Final Chapter 1:
Marius

 

MARIUS HAD RETURNED. OF COURSE, THE world didn’t suddenly materialize him. It combined aspects of the previous and current timelines, and the world altered itself to make it seem like he had always existed. Thanks to the Record, Marius and I were aware of the two worlds, but my squires treated him as though he had been always around despite meeting him for the first time. The world created a story that the ritual we’d done in the basement training ground was to bring back Marius, who had lost his existence after his spell went wrong. I had valiantly tried to offer my life to bring him back.

The broad strokes of this tale weren’t totally wrong, and I didn’t feel compelled to change it. Ultimately, I’d tried to offer myself, but I was spared for some reason, and a miracle brought Marius back. I supposed it was a miracle. I hadn’t lost anything. I had drugged my squires so that they couldn’t move, and there was no one else present.

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Marius’s memories were mostly based on the previous timeline, but they had also meshed with the current one, meaning that he was now familiar with my squires.

“Memories are volatile,” Marius said. “No one can perfectly and accurately remember everything. It’s possible to believe in a false event and subconsciously invent new memories. There’s Person A and Person B. Even if they have the exact same experience, different viewpoints can lead to different impressions. Based on how one might view things, it’ll be a completely different experience. Humans are composed of memories, but because they are so vague and volatile, people are as well.”

We were sipping tea. Marius wasn’t a particularly handsome man. He was of average height and a bit scrawny. His messy brown hair still had some of his bed head, with tufts flying every which way. Behind his spectacles were a pair of hazel eyes that often looked sleepy but lit up with an excited twinkle when he spoke on topics he was passionate about.

I had poured each of us a cup of tea, and these, of course, weren’t drugged. I was more knowledgeable about magic thanks to my second chance at life, making me the perfect conversation partner for him. Currently, he was a part of the Seven Luminaries, as he had been in his previous life. The world had arranged it so that he was pitted against Alice for the selection process and came out victorious. The other candidates were the same as the ones in his previous life.

“Oddly enough, I do have memories of competing against Alice,” Marius confessed. “I know that never happened. When I read the Record, I know it’s all a lie. These lies don’t strike me as odd. Apparently, when a fragment of the world’s memory is rewritten, those affected by it will have their memories automatically altered and seamlessly connected to other memories. Since those memories make up a person, no one doubts their validity. It’s impossible to doubt them in the first place. We have the Record to act as our wedge between worlds, so we know that there are two, but without it, our memories probably would have been perfectly altered to fit the narrative.”

Marius was less joyful about the fact that he was back and more eager to theorize on the effects that the Record and Reset had on the world. He had tested his creations on his own body. No doubt he had plans to develop a new spell.

While his Reset ritual was highly esteemed, it was deemed forbidden. I wasn’t surprised. The world couldn’t be rewritten for a single person’s sake, and I didn’t want this to happen again. A life that required a do-over at the expense of another person’s sacrifice was one filled with falsehoods.

Above all else, there weren’t many mages who were keen to cast a spell where they might disappear. Excluding this oddball in front of me, I thought.

“I see,” I said. “In the end, my engagement was canceled.”

I had no regrets about forfeiting my engagement to the crown prince, but the result hadn’t changed.

“The world works to correct itself,” Marius said, looking so proud of himself. “Results tend to be surprisingly stable. Actually, I sort of thought that would be the case.”

Excuse me? So, you knew that my engagement would be canceled twice?

“But I’m still alive,” I said.

If the world really wanted to correct itself, I should have been dead.

“Well, ultimately, our existences aren’t all that important to the world, I guess,” Marius replied. “Whether we’re alive or dead, it doesn’t really matter. There really aren’t that many people who have to exist or have to disappear for good. Humans can be replaced by anyone at any time. But I assume that Lady Eleanor, the saintess, becoming queen was set in stone. I guess she was the only one who was special. A saintess only appears once a century, so in her case, she can’t be so easily replaced.”

I didn’t know what to feel. Now that I’d graduated from the academy, I was rather renowned in noble society. To the world, however, I was just a side character who could be replaced by anyone. In the end, I couldn’t win against Eleanor.

But can Marius truly be replaced?

Now that I had gone through my life a second time, I was finally able to understand just how amazing the Record and Reset were. These were revolutionary forms of magic, and it was incredibly meaningful that he was able to produce both.

Maybe the world had already decided that Marius’s existence would be brought back somehow…

I shook my head. I didn’t want to think about such difficult topics; Marius and Alice were better suited for that anyway.

“By the way, I may not matter to this world, but my engagement was canceled,” I said. “No one will marry me. Don’t you have something to say?”

In noble society, if someone had their engagement canceled, they were treated as damaged goods, and it was difficult to find a new partner. Even if I weren’t damaged goods, I wasn’t sure if I would have found a husband. My name carried a negative reputation in a different sense from my previous life. There were rumors that if anyone carelessly came close to me, they would be taken over and devoured whole.

“It’s exactly what I concluded when I was three,” Marius said. “I predicted that you would never be able to marry.”

Don’t decide my future at the young age of three! To be fair, in my past life, I was executed and thus wasn’t able to marry.

“Did you forget the last line that you wrote in the Record?” I asked.

Marius turned away. “Everyone has a past that they wish to forget.”

The moment he wrote the words in the Record, they would remain for eternity.

“I’m only a noble,” he said. “I’m in no position to be able to say those words to you. I only wrote it down because I thought that I’d never see you again.”

His cheeks turned the slightest pink. I felt compelled to tease him a bit.

“You gathered so many strands of my hair that you could create a catalyst from it, didn’t you?” I asked.

“Your dark hair was truly stunning,” Marius replied. “I even cast spells on the strands so that I could keep them.”

Whoa, his fetish is far more twisted than I thought.

“Is only my hair worthy of praise?” I asked.

“No,” he answered. “Your hair, skin, eyes…everything about you is absolutely stunning. You’re perfect, except for your personality.”

You didn’t need to add that last bit, did you?

“Are you sure that you don’t have anything you’d like to say to me?” I inquired.

“Then why don’t I tell you one of my secrets?” Marius offered. He leaned forward and brought his lips to my ear. “Truth be told, I didn’t hate listening to your selfish requests.”

What a guy. I guess he really has no plans on making the first move.

Thinking back, he had always been like this. He always had a way with words and didn’t really listen to what I said. Even so, he stayed by my side until the very end. In my previous life, I didn’t see him as a potential partner. But as I went through my life a second time, I felt like I was finally able to stand alongside him and share the same views. Marius was mature for his age, and I was immature for mine. Because of my second chance at life, we were finally able to click.

I guess this roundabout way of going through life isn’t all bad. Fine. I’m the wicked princess, after all. I’m used to making selfish requests.

I pointed at Marius.

“Marius Ravenwood,” I ordered. “Marry me.”

At once, Marius turned solemn and went down on his knee. “Lady Serena, allow me to share another one of my secrets with you.” The corners of his lips tugged upward. “I’ve been in love with you ever since my past life.”

Final Chapter 2: Alice

Final Chapter 2:
Alice

 

LONG AGO, I USED TO BE IN AN ORPHANAGE. I didn’t really know why I was there, and I wasn’t interested in why either. All I knew was that it didn’t have a wide selection of books and wasn’t a good place to be. Left with no other choice, I reread the same books numerous times and read the diaries and letters of the nuns to pass the time.

I always wanted to read something. I wanted to learn more. That was all that mattered to me. I required nothing else. My life changed the year I turned ten. Lady Serena visited the orphanage. I was very interested in her. She looked to be the same age as me, and yet her words and demeanor set her apart from everyone else.

“Alice, are you interested in studying magic?” she asked.

“I am,” I replied.

I loved studying. It allowed me to read books for as long as I wished. I had heard that magic was the most time-consuming field of study and required many expensive books, but she was graciously allowing me to study the art. I had no reason to decline Lady Serena’s invitation.

 

***

 

I was brought to the duke’s manor. It was a splendid place. There were countless books lining the shelves, and I was allowed to read them as much as I wished. In fact, I was ordered to read. I had never felt such happiness in my life. I owed Lady Serena everything, and I decided to treat her as my master for the rest of my life.

Squire training was tough, but it was nothing compared to the joy I felt when I got to read books. My talent was swiftly recognized—I would live my life as a mage. I then fought monsters alongside Lady Serena. I attended the academy with her. After graduation, I did more research on magic as I served her.

My days were fulfilling, and I was content. Once, I’d had nothing, but thanks to Lady Serena, I was given a reason to live and a role in the world. I couldn’t have hoped for a better life.

But I had a secret—some might say that I had committed a crime.

During our third year at Rosewood Academy, Lady Serena decided to visit the manor of Viscount Ravenwood. At first, I was puzzled and couldn’t understand the purpose of the trip, but there was another thing that caught my eye. Lady Serena carried a book that I didn’t recognize. I had read every book within the duke’s manor, and I finished any newly purchased books by the end of the day. In fact, I had even snuck around and read some highly confidential documents within the manor.

However, I had never before seen the book atop Lady Serena’s lap as she left House Ravenwood. In the carriage, Isabel sat across from my lady, and Emma sat beside her. Neither seemed interested in the book, and they closed their eyes so as not to hinder Lady Serena’s time. Their actions were proper for squires. I sat diagonally across from her and pretended to read my book. However, I kept hers in my peripheral vision. I could tell that her book was affected by some sort of spell and didn’t seem like a normal grimoire. The tome itself was very special.

I doubt that she’d allow me to read that, I thought.

My intuition told me as much. Whenever Lady Serena got her hands on a new book, she would generally have me read it first and then summarize the important points for her. She didn’t read most of the books. Yet, this time around, she didn’t hand her book over to me; instead, she personally perused the pages. There was a very low chance that the book would reach my hands.

I really want to read it.

I was overcome with an overwhelming urge that I couldn’t control. It was a bad habit that I’d had since I was a child. If I wanted to read something, I couldn’t hold myself back. I couldn’t tell if I was lucky or unlucky, but my opportunity to read the book came eventually.

We squires took turns to watch and guard Lady Serena at night. On that fateful evening, it was my turn. In the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep, I stationed myself in front of Lady Serena’s room. I used magic so that I wouldn’t make a sound and snuck into her room; I even gave myself enhanced night vision. My lady was fast asleep. The book I was after was inside the drawer of her desk. It was locked, but I could easily undo it with a simple spell. I’d learned all these spells as soon as I could so that I could have access to all kinds of books.

The passage in the book was short but extremely intriguing. Thanks to a mage called Marius, Lady Serena had been allowed a second chance at life. This was likely why she seemed surprisingly mature for her age when I first met her. That had always puzzled me.

Apparently, Lady Serena had behaved poorly in her first life, and that had resulted in her execution. But this information didn’t make my loyalty waver, and I suspected that the other squires would agree with me. Besides, it wasn’t as though Lady Serena’s behavior in this world was any better. In fact, since she had learned to maintain appearances and wielded even greater power, there was a good chance that she was worse than ever before.

I memorized the contents of the book, quietly returned it to its original place, and made sure to lock the drawer once more. I returned to my post and continued to stand on guard, though my mind was elsewhere. If I were to draw my own conclusions, I assumed that Lady Serena wanted to restore Marius to this world; she must also have known that a human offering was vital for the ritual.

There was an extremely high chance that Lady Serena would offer herself. Perhaps if we’d been with the Lady Serena who we’d first met all those years ago, she might have selected one of us squires without hesitation. But she had changed greatly throughout the years. My current master, who had just read this book, wouldn’t allow anyone else to sacrifice themselves. But I couldn’t just sit back and watch her offer herself for this ritual. I didn’t want to lose Lady Serena.

 

***

 

I immediately began to investigate the ritual to switch sacrifices. Lady Serena wasn’t adept at ritual magic—I was almost certain that she would come to me for assistance. A squire had to always think a few steps ahead of what their master wished to do—that was one of our many roles.

A week later, as I expected, Lady Serena ordered me to conduct a ritual to switch sacrifices. I was prepared for it and had steeled my resolve too. All that was left was to add the finishing touches.

I had a red dog that I had been with for the past seven years. I met it when it was still a puppy, but time had done a number on the dog. It hardly moved around now due to its age. Admittedly, though, my pet had always been a quiet one and often curled up by my feet as I read books.

When I walked around with my nose stuck in a book, it would tug at my clothes just as I was about to bump into something. If I continued to read and forgot to eat and sleep, it would growl as though to tell me to eat and to feed it too. At times, it used its mouth to bring me a book that I wanted to read, but I soon stopped it from doing so because it would often ruin the book. My dog loved Lady Serena. In fact, all of the squires’ dogs were infatuated with her.

When I returned to my room, I called out to my dog, who had been waiting for me.

“Please save Lady Serena,” I said.

I didn’t expect my dog to understand my selfishly cruel words. It locked its gaze on me and slowly approached my side.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I stroked my pet’s head.

 

***

 

Before I began the ritual, I cast a suggestion spell on my dog. The suggestion spell wasn’t powerful; if the target wasn’t proactive or willing to act, the magic was ineffective. For example, even if I used it to order my target to die, if they didn’t have strong suicidal tendencies, they wouldn’t push themselves to end their lives. It couldn’t really force anyone to act against their wishes, and the spell merely acted as encouragement to an idea one already had.

I utilized my dog’s love for Lady Serena to cast this spell. I gave it the motivation to act for her sake and encouraged it to become a sacrifice in her stead. This was more than enough for my pet. I also cast some support magic that increased stamina, allowing my elderly dog to move nimbly once more. The spell would only last a short amount of time, but my dog could run around as much as she liked, just as she had in her youth. According to my calculations, six dogs would be equivalent to one human offering. I had already told the other squires beforehand that there was a chance that Lady Serena would use herself for the ritual and cast the same spells on their dogs as well.

I went around speaking with Isabel, Emma, Richard, Oscar, and Lewis. We all agreed to lose the only family that we orphans had gained, all for Lady Serena’s sake. That was why everyone was quiet at the training ground—we had decided to let go of our precious family. Isabel’s eyes were bloodshot. The usually cheery Emma had her eyes downcast, while Richard was tense and prickly as though he had reverted to his childhood days. Oscar’s brows were furrowed so much that there were deep wrinkles all through his face, and Lewis had his eyes wide open, desperate not to let any tears spill out. No one could make this sacrifice without batting an eye.

I was the one who set up the barrier and thus could undo it whenever I wished. At my signal, the dogs would rush out. Even if my body refused to move, I could command our pets.

Miracles never just happened. That was why they were called miracles.

I didn’t want to lose Lady Serena. I was willing to sacrifice my previous family for her sake. No matter how smart dogs were, they couldn’t offer their lives of their own accord. This was no miracle—these creatures acted in accordance with my crooked scheme. If I had sat back, this world would have been altered, and we would all have forgotten those dogs—nary a shred of their existence would remain in our memories. But I couldn’t do that.

And so, I cast a spell on myself. It was the same one embedded in Reset that allowed memories to be fixed and unaffected. The spell was effective for a short amount of time, but if I activated it the moment the world changed, I knew that I would be able to keep my memories. Only I remembered everything.

Only I knew of those twelve eyes that had disappeared from this world. Neither Lady Serena nor my comrades would know about the dogs’ sacrifices—no, this was my sin and burden to bear. That was fine with me. Everything went well, and only I needed to know the truth behind it all.

However, ever since that day, Lady Serena kept dogs away from her. Lewis had always misunderstood her character; while she was loved by dogs, she wasn’t fond of them one bit. I had noticed it pretty early on, but I decided to stay quiet because I found the situation humorous. But as time went on, Lady Serena gradually became closer with the pups, and I knew that she must have formed a bond with them. That was why she tried to push the dogs away from the light and become the sacrifice instead.

Since her memories were also altered and the dogs’ existence was gone, her disdain for the animals surfaced once more. They loved Lady Serena so much that they willingly offered their lives for her, but not a trace of them remained within her mind. I thought that only I should retain these memories, but this harsh reality made me feel inexplicably sad and lonely.

 

***

 

Today, Lady Serena was scheduled to head to the royal castle where Queen Eleanor the Saintess resided. I tagged along with my lady. The two had become friends, and Lady Serena was elated to have made her first friend who was the same gender as her. She often visited the castle to play.

The royal family loved dogs and had many as pets. But the keen Lady Eleanor knew of Lady Serena’s preferences and kept the dogs away when she visited. However, on this day, a puppy escaped and rushed straight for Lady Serena. My lady was as popular as always with these animals. I swiftly stood in front of her to catch the pup, but Lady Serena was quicker than I was. In one elegant movement, she crouched down and gently scooped the puppy up in her arms. The chamberlain of the royal family apologized profusely for the mishap, but my lady simply stared at the animal. She made no attempt to return it, showing no timidness or fear in her gaze. Instead, her eyes began to fill with tears.

I couldn’t help myself.

“Lady Serena,” I called out. “I thought you hated dogs.”

Only then did she finally return the puppy to the chamberlain.

“I used to hate them,” she admitted. “I’m not sure what caused the change of heart, but before I knew it, I grew to love them.”

“But you always kept dogs away from you,” I said.

“It’s quite confusing, isn’t it?”

As the chamberlain swiftly retreated with the puppy in their arms, Lady Serena stared after them.

“I like dogs,” she said. “But for some inexplicable reason, when I stare into their eyes, it makes me sad. So much so that I begin to tear up. It’s weird, isn’t it? I’ve been called names like demon or devil, and yet I still have the capacity to cry. That’s why I kept them away from me. Even now, I almost cried. Goodness… I wonder why I became this way. It truly is a mystery.”

“My lady…” I muttered.

I knew the answer to her question, but her change of heart shouldn’t have been possible.

“Oh? Alice, whatever is the matter?” Lady Serena asked with a smile on her face.

“What do you mean, my lady?” I inquired.

“You’re crying. We’ve known each other for quite a while, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen you cry. When you learned of my love for dogs, did it move you to tears?”

Only then did I realize that something was trickling down my eyes. My vision grew blurry as a droplet fell from my cheek and onto the ground.

“I suppose it did,” I replied.

I smiled. I couldn’t understand why, but her words absolutely thrilled me. Lady Serena looked shocked that I was smiling. I found that to be a touch rude.

“Because to me, that’s nothing short of a miracle,” I said.

Image - 22

Another Ending

Another Ending - 23

Final Chapter 3: Another Ending

Final Chapter 3:
Another Ending
(PREVIOUS TIMELINE)

 

I HAD A FIANCÉ. HE WAS MY COUSIN—THREE years older than me. I had been close to him ever since I was a child. He had the same dark eyes and hair as I did, and he was handsome. He was like a calm breeze—comforting to be around. When I turned fourteen and my engagement was decided, I was elated. Ever since I was a child, I had hoped to become engaged to him. My dream had finally come true.

However, the year I turned eighteen, a student who also attended the academy asked for my hand in marriage. He was the heir of a duke, and I was a noble of a lower class. I knew that our social statuses were too different, and I already had a fiancé anyway. I turned him down.

“You don’t have to worry about rank,” this man said with a smile. “I’m in love with you.”

I personally declined his offer, and my house had also provided him with a formal rejection, but the man didn’t seem to mind one bit and was undeterred. He was affable despite hailing from the house of a duke and always had a smile on his face. His slightly rotund frame only accentuated his calm and gentle demeanor. He was widely known for his generosity, and I also assumed that he was kind.

The realization hit me only after he asked for my hand in marriage. He may have been a soft-spoken man who was always cheery, but he didn’t seem to take “no” for an answer.

Is he always just smiling without a care for others’ feelings and circumstances? I wondered.

When that seed of doubt was planted within me, I began to think that there was something creepy underneath that cheery veneer. I became terrified of him.

“The heir of the duke doesn’t care about rank and social status as he asks for your hand in marriage!” others said. “Oh, it sounds like a lovely, romantic tale!”

I became the center of envy and found myself unable to speak up about my concerns and fear of the man. But my parents knew that I wished to marry my cousin. We were a lowly noble house, and the duke was miles above us. My parents had firmly and politely refused the duke’s offer. I assumed that this farce couldn’t possibly progress any further, and I was at ease.

Unfortunately, things didn’t look good for me.

“They show no signs of giving up,” my father said.

He had assumed that the duke’s household couldn’t have possibly been serious or enthusiastic about their heir marrying a noble who was of far lower rank. My father thought that the duke’s son acted on his own—if we declined the offer, His Grace would happily jump at the opportunity to dissuade his son from his antics. However, that apparently wasn’t the case. In fact, now that the duke’s dignity was at stake, he began to become more insistent and apply pressure on us.

Furthermore, we began to receive reports from our fief that were causes for concern. We became alienated from nearby nobles, fewer merchants visited our lands, and the crops produced from our fief no longer sold well. These changes were all for the worse, and it became increasingly more difficult to manage our territory. We weren’t the only victims either; my cousin’s family and all of our relatives began to suffer.

The culprit behind it all was clear. House Rosenberg was a prominent family within the kingdom; they could easily torture us in this fashion. Our relatives held an emergency meeting, and everyone present wore a grave expression.

“It would do us good if we had ties to the duke’s family,” someone said.

I wept, knowing that there was nothing I could do now. And so, my marriage with my cousin was canceled, and I was forced to tie the knot with the son of Duke Rosenberg.

 

***

 

“I knew that this would happen,” he said.

It was the day of our wedding, and my now-husband had a bright smile on his face.

“We were fated to be,” he added.

There wasn’t an ounce of guilt on his face. He had practically strong-armed and tortured my entire family, and he truly thought that our marriage was fated. I cursed myself, forced to marry this horrible man.

Soon after our marriage, I became heavy with child. Everyone blessed my quick pregnancy, and on the surface, my husband also showed his excitement. However, when we were alone in our bedroom together, he posed a question, all with a smile still plastered on his face.

“It feels a bit too soon, doesn’t it?” he asked.

“If this child was conceived during our first night after we married, this timing isn’t all that odd,” I replied.

“But I heard that you were close with your former fiancé, right until our wedding.” He maintained his grin, which only caused me to start fearing him.

“He’s my cousin. I’ve been close with him ever since we were kids.”

“Is that so? I trust you, of course. I’m excited about our child. I hope that they’ll either have my hair or eyes—that would make me feel at ease.”

My husband had blue eyes and blond hair. Both my cousin and I had dark eyes and hair. If my child shared any trait with my husband, my innocence would be proven.

“Yes,” I said. “I also hope that our child shares some of your traits.”

I braced myself before I lay down beside him.

 

***

 

Sometime after my pregnancy was revealed, my cousin died. He had been killed by someone.

“What’s going on?!” I demanded.

I cornered my husband for an answer. There was no doubt in my mind that he was behind the murder. The duke employed several people who worked in the shadows. His butler, who also served as a bodyguard, was an elderly man, but he was apparently an extremely skilled assassin. It would have been an easy task for the butler to kill my cousin.

My husband easily admitted his guilt.

“What other choice did I have?” he replied, his smile plastered on his face. “As long as that man’s around, I can never be your number one. I only did it out of love for you.”

“He and I were over!” I cried. “I was no longer in a relationship with him! Why would you do such an atrocious act?!”

“Oh? I’m not sure about that,” my husband replied. He took out a sheet of paper.

“That’s my…”

“Yes, this is a letter that you wrote. For some reason, your cousin had it by his side. You’re rather passionate in your writing, aren’t you? You never expressed such words to me.”

My relatives would visit the duke’s manor every now and then, and I had them deliver my letters to my cousin. This was how I received letters from him as well. For safety, I made sure not to mention my husband or the duke’s household. That had been the only shred of joy I had left in my life.

“If I continue to eradicate every man you love more than me, I’ll become your number one, won’t I?” my husband inquired.

He continued to smile. He didn’t seem at all apologetic when he confessed that he’d had another person murdered in cold blood.

If you want to become my number one, you must kill every man in the world.

I was tempted to say my thoughts out loud, but I was too scared. He certainly seemed capable of eliminating every single man. I couldn’t suppress the trembles that coursed through my body.

 

***

 

Mentally, I was in my worst state, but my child was born without any issues. She was a girl with dark hair and eyes. I couldn’t prove my innocence.

“Isn’t this a conundrum?” my husband said.

He didn’t seem confused at all, still keeping that smirk on his face.

“All right, here’s a suggestion,” he said. “I’ll raise this child. You won’t be allowed to raise her.”

“Why not?!” I demanded. I could hardly believe my ears. How could he tear a child away from her mother?

“Ah, well, I want to determine who her father is by judging how she grows up.”

“What are you on about?”

“I’ll spoil and pamper this child as I raise her. If the blood of my household really flows through her veins, she should still grow up to be a splendid lady. On the other hand, if only your household’s blood is in her, unfortunately, she’ll grow up to be a lazy and foolish person.”

“You can’t possibly be serious.”

I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Has he gone completely mad?

“Of course I’m serious,” my husband replied. “Our households come from completely different classes, do they not? For example, even if the child of a noble and the child of a commoner are raised in the same circumstances, the differences will be clear as day. Dignity, abilities, and their humanity will naturally begin to diverge. You do, at least, come from a noble household, so you understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”

I didn’t understand one bit. I was completely baffled by his words, but I had no allies in the manor. Left with no other choice, I followed his orders.

 

***

 

Just as my husband had said, I wasn’t allowed to meet or speak with my daughter, Serena. Every attempt I made to get close to her was promptly shut down by my husband’s personal subjects. There was nothing I could do. On paper, I was the duchess, but I had no power. No servant would heed my orders.

After much planning and spouting a myriad of excuses, I was barely permitted a glimpse of my daughter’s sleeping face. I was only able to see my child during public appearances, and even then, I wasn’t allowed to speak to her.

My husband spoiled Serena to bits. Every whim and desire of hers was granted, and any selfish request she made was accepted without fail. She received the bare minimum of education, just enough to not be neglectful, and Serena didn’t even enjoy her studies. There was no chance that she would grow into a proper lady, no matter what household she came from or what blood flowered through her veins. Her indolence and foolishness were practically inevitable.

Her one and only friend was a boy called Marius. Under his influence, she began to read books and study a bit more. However, that was just a drop in the bucket. As she grew older, nasty rumors about her began to circulate. My husband must have been undoubtedly humiliated at the castle, but he refused to do a single thing.

“Ah, as I thought…she’s not my child, is she?” my husband said.

The brightest of smiles was painted across his face.

 

***

 

The day I had always feared had arrived. Serena tried to endanger the saintess, the precious treasure of our kingdom, and was arrested for her crimes.

But my daughter hails from the house of a duke, I thought. She won’t receive any serious punishment. I’m sure of it.

Tragically, my hopes were soon dashed.

“I made a request to His Majesty,” he told me. “I said, ‘The crime of trying to murder the saintess cannot be forgiven. In fact, I cannot find it in me to forgive even my beloved daughter for this heinous act. Please forgive me. No doubt I didn’t raise my child right. Her disgraceful acts tarnish the household of a duke as well, and there is no way for her to atone for her sins other than death.’ His Majesty said that I didn’t have to go that far, but with my insistence, he ultimately accepted my offer. The other nobles even said that I was dignified with my loyalty.”

“You asked to kill our child?!” I cried.

“She’s not my child. She’s the child between you and your cousin. If she truly had my blood in her veins, this would’ve never happened.”

I felt like I had swallowed a lump of lead. My body felt heavy. He had completely lost his mind.

 

***

 

“She was crying,” my husband said.

He was smiling when he returned from his meeting with Serena.

“She said, ‘Help me, Father! Please get me out of here right now! I’m not to blame!’ and the like,” he added. “What a fool she is. She doesn’t even understand the situation she’s in. Since she has low blood in her veins, she’s become stupid too. But she isn’t to blame. No, it’s all your fault.”

As he accused me of all these sins, he kept his smile.

“I felt sorry for her, so I at least let her have some hope,” he said. “I told her, ‘I’ll do something about it. Even if no one else does, I believe you. I’ll save you soon!’ But of course, I have no such plans. I even cried for her. I might not have been related to her by blood, but I was her father. I can put on a show for her in her final moments.”

“Serena is your daughter, related to you by blood,” I said. “Are you truly not going to save her?”

I hoped that he had some love for her as her father.

“Oh, don’t give me that,” my husband replied. “She can’t be my child. A girl like her couldn’t possibly have my blood.”

He guffawed as though he had heard a hilarious joke.

“Oh, don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll still forgive you. I love you, after all. We can make another child together.”

I was horrified. I could never escape this revolting monster.

Final Chapter 4: Another Ending

Final Chapter 4:
Another Ending
(CURRENT TIMELINE)

 

“IS SHE REALLY MY CHILD?” MY HUSBAND ASKED.

He gazed at my daughter, who had just turned six. His usually smiling face had been replaced with one of awe. Serena’s every whim was granted in the blink of an eye, yet she vehemently tackled her studies. She learned etiquette, equestrian skills, swordplay, self-defense, and even magic. She was passionate in every field and excelled in each one. All of her private tutors uttered the same phrase.

“Lady Serena is a genius.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. No longer would I be suspected of adultery, though my daughter seemed to be a bit too perfect.

On her tenth birthday, she made an astonishing request.

“I’d like a squire,” she said. “Preferably one my age.”

Even my husband couldn’t hide his bewilderment. What use was there to have a ten-year-old look after a child of the same age? Usually, an older and better-educated squire would attend to a noble. Still, my husband did his best to agree to our daughter’s request.

Serena then added, “I would like to choose from unprivileged children. Ah, perhaps starving kids in an orphanage would be perfect.”

A noble would generally have an outstanding squire of high standing around them as a symbol of status. Yet Serena was trying to pick people who were from the bottom of the barrel. I frowned when I heard her request.

“Father, perhaps they’re of lowly birth, but they’re humans, just like us,” she said. “With proper education, I’m sure that they’ll grow into splendid people.”

Could a ten-year-old child be this profound? How in the world did she gain this mindset while she lived in this manor? I couldn’t hide my astonishment. Ultimately, my husband gave in to Serena’s request. While he had claimed that he would listen to all her selfish desires, I was almost impressed by how much he followed through with his promise.

 

***

 

After Serena visited the orphanage with her father, she returned, purposefully selecting six of the most problematic children in the facility. While my husband seemed to treat everyone equally, deep down, he was heavily prejudiced against the poor. He couldn’t possibly bear to share a roof with those orphans.

“I don’t really understand her,” he said.

My usually smiling husband began to look troubled. Our daughter was a genius in every sense of the word, but she also wanted orphans as her squires. He wasn’t sure if she had his blood in her veins or not. Serena was allowed every luxury in the world, but she didn’t buy clothes or jewels. Instead, she requested for him to build a training facility. Even my husband couldn’t have predicted that. She even had her private tutors help her orphans receive a proper education.

The orphans had excellent grades. This destroyed my husband’s belief that a person’s success or failure depended heavily on their blood and birth.

“No, Serena is blessed with extraordinary talents,” my husband said. He did some mental gymnastics to twist the evidence in line with his views. “That’s why the orphans were also raised to become useful people.”

Serena continued to run wild. She picked up six stray dogs and had her orphans raise them. When the animals were first brought into the manor, they ran around wildly, and even my perpetually smiling fatty of a husband was taken aback by this turn of events. I thought that he had gotten what he deserved, but I was also fed up with all these stray dogs in the manor.

It didn’t last long. The dogs were properly trained by the orphans, and they soon behaved as well as—if not better than—the pets of the other nobles. Their transformation was astonishing, though they still acted rather spoiled around Serena.

Furthermore, the orphanage’s director came by for a visit and saw just how well-educated the orphans had become. She praised Serena’s skills very highly, and my daughter soon became known among the nobles as an extremely talented lady. Serena apparently became recognized as a gentle noblewoman who expertly raised orphans and stray dogs to be outstanding.

My daughter had the orphans undergo training stricter than any knight or soldier off to war had gone through—I couldn’t possibly see her as a kind child.

One day, His Majesty requested to meet Serena personally.

“I’m quite sure that Serena will lay the groundwork for an engagement with the crown prince,” my husband said. “She’s a splendid child and the pride of House Rosenberg!”

It had been fourteen years since she was born, and after much agony, he had finally accepted Serena as his daughter. It had been such a long journey until now. Not a day went by when I wasn’t faced with my own powerlessness. However, I couldn’t let my guard down yet. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what Serena would be up to next.

My premonition rang true.

“I shall head to Lake Elfen for a summer retreat,” she said.

Her request was an ordinary one, but the carriage she prepared for her summer retreat had been stuffed with weapons and armor. She looked like she was headed for a war zone.

“Serena isn’t planning on starting a war, is she?” my husband asked.

He saw his daughter off, but he was clearly worried by it all. Serena and her squires trained to an almost absurd degree despite their young age, and she had even taken the mithril gear of House Rosenberg. She was ready for battle and could easily besiege a low-ranking noble’s land if she wished. I began to grow worried too.

Despite our worries, Serena didn’t instigate war. Instead, she defeated the serpent, a legendary monster. My mind simply couldn’t keep up with this whirlwind of events. All I knew was that after Serena vanquished the serpent, her reputation skyrocketed. People even began to claim that the saintess had returned. His Majesty, and by extension, the entirety of the kingdom, relied on her combat prowess. She went around defeating monsters that had terrorized people for many years. Her name spread far and wide and made her renowned even in foreign nations.

There was no end to the rumors about her.

“She’s an expert in both blades and spells.”

“She’s a saintess with six squires.”

“She’s a Valkyrie who shows no mercy toward anyone who stands in her way, even women or children.”

I began to doubt if she really was my child, and I could only gaze at my daughter with wonder. Her appearance closely resembled mine. Clearly, we were related.

 

***

 

After she entered Rosewood Academy, I heard that she practically became the queen of the place in her first year. Even Crown Prince Edward was left in the dust. Her squires had been rather violent when they unified the students, but the praise they sang heavily outweighed the criticisms. People were in awe, believing that she had created her own faction to secure her future after graduation.

She was so popular that Crown Prince Edward requested to cancel his engagement with her. Serena didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she boldly suggested that our household demand reparations, such as a plot of land from the royal family. My husband was impressed.

“She chose profit over fame,” he said. “It’s not an easy thing to do. Our household shall flourish and welcome the golden age during Serena’s generation.”

Though Serena lost her claim to the throne, he praised her to bits. He placed his utmost faith in her. After Serena graduated from the academy, she married Marius. He hailed from the house of a viscount, and while their social ranks greatly differed, he was one of the top mages within the kingdom and had been appointed as one of the Seven Luminaries. My husband wasn’t against this marriage—in fact, he was elated to learn that their bloodlines would undoubtedly produce even stronger mages.

He’s an utter fool, I thought. Not a single drop of your blood will remain in this world. Before I married him, I had said my vows to my cousin. Ever since I arrived in this manor, I made sure to drink a certain medicine that prevented pregnancies. For many decades, our household was close to a pharmacist. They gave me a secret herb. At a glance, they looked like normal tea leaves, but they served as a form of birth control.

Indeed, Serena was my cousin’s and my child. She wasn’t related to the duke at all.

I’ll never allow your bloodline to persist. You killed my beloved, and for that, I’ll never forgive you for as long as I live. We’ll take over House Rosenberg. You mocked my entire family for being inferior to your house and your dignity, but we’ll become the house that you were so proud of.

God would never allow a wicked deed to go unpunished. Every human would one day get what they deserved.

Go to hell!

Epilogue

Epilogue

 

I SAT ON A ROCKING CHAIR IN THE MANOR, gazing outside. It had become an enjoyable routine for me recently. Outside, my great-grandchildren were desperately challenging themselves against the training facility. My children and grandchildren had also gone through this rite of passage.

The facility had deteriorated over time, but my kids renovated it and even added new equipment. According to them, the challenge is now a tradition of House Rosenberg. Personally, I didn’t plan for my children to undergo this training, but when they saw my squires’ kids taking on the facility, my kids wanted to join in. Fate was a funny and fickle mistress.

After Marius and I got married, my squires did as well. Richard tied the knot with Emma, Oscar married Isabel, and Lewis ended up with Alice. They were all perfect matches for each other, but they married less out of love and more from a sense of loyalty. They claimed that their children could serve my children. I didn’t find it necessary to force their kids to become squires too, but truthfully, I was happy I had their respect.

But that training facility really isn’t necessary for squires… I thought.

Perhaps thanks to that, though, our household achieved fame. Even neighboring nations heard of our family, and House Rosenberg became known for producing many great heroes of the age. To this day, we lent our support to the kingdom or worked behind the scenes as the true leaders, wielding our influence. However, our path to prosperity had been anything but smooth.

Shortly after my marriage, my father was killed. The cause was resentment. While I was blissfully unaware, it seemed that my father had used rather forceful methods to bolster his privileges and protect his interests. He always had a gentle smile plastered on his face, but all the while, he was plotting cunning schemes and conspiracies. He employed corrupt tactics to ensnare his foes. At first, I couldn’t believe it, but as I did more research, I began to find proof that supported these claims. My father’s evil side was brought to light.

I thought that my father had employed oddly skilled squires by his side, but perhaps it was to prevent his own assassination. Ironically, one of the squires he had hired for defense was related to a person who was destroyed by my father. And so, he met his tragic demise. With him now out of the picture, the nobles who despised House Rosenberg rallied together. Our household was on the brink of destruction. I had only just taken over my house and wielded no political power.

I considered the use of brute force to silence them all, but thanks to the support from Queen Eleanor, the noble children I had befriended during my academy days, and above all, my squires, I managed to peacefully end the entire ordeal. Had it not been for any of them, I would have had to launch a coup d’état.

Simply put, even if I hadn’t been executed in my previous life, I would’ve been destroyed in the future another way. I could only thank Marius, my husband, for providing me with a second chance at life. Though, truth be told, I was rather confident that my coup d’état would have been successful.

After my father died, my mother apologized for her behavior. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. It seemed my father had forced her into marriage, and because of that, the two didn’t get along. Furthermore, she was strictly prohibited from getting close to me. Ever since the confession, my mother transformed into a totally different person—she was more cheerful and energetic and became close to Marius and me. Because she hadn’t been allowed to rear her own child, she actively helped raise her grandkids—my children.

It was an odd feeling to see my mom shower my kids with the affection that I had never received. However, when I learned that she’d truly loved me all along, the scar in my heart that I had from my previous life began to heal. Right before my mother passed away, she told me her deepest secret.

“You’re not your father’s child,” she said.

I’d had an inkling of the truth for a while. I didn’t resemble my father one bit and had very little magical aptitude—unbefitting for a member of House Rosenberg. Although I was feared as a demon or a devil, I’d acquired my mana through the rigorous training that I had done ever since I was a toddler. It seemed like Marius also suspected that I shared no biological ties with my father. According to his theory, if I’d been related to the duke, I would never have received the death penalty.

“It doesn’t change anything for me,” Marius said. “You’re still you.”

His tone was gentle as he spoke to me.

“And unlike your previous timeline, there isn’t anyone around you who was attracted solely to your rank, is there?” he continued.

While I did have suspicions of my own, I had always been proud of my noble blood. It came as a shock to learn that the duke’s blood didn’t flow within me. But Marius’s kind words swept my negative emotions away. My father had killed my biological father. Frankly, I still struggled to process the truth. At the very least, my father had been very kind to me. But I knew that his kindness ruined me as a person in my previous life.

However, every year, on the anniversary of his death, I placed white flowers on his grave.

I led a long and eventful life. Combined with the previous one, I had lived over a century. In recent years, I had become more forgetful. My memories were muddled, and I would regularly end up mixing up facts of my previous life with my current one. I often reminisced about the past.

When was it again?

For the first time, my squires posed a request. They wanted me to name their dogs.

Wait, dogs? Did my squires take care of dogs? Or are these memories from my previous life? But Richard and the others weren’t my squires in my previous life… Well, whatever. It’s not a big deal anymore.

All I knew for sure was that I’d hated dogs back then and gave them random names at the time.

“Richard, your big pup will be Alpha,” I said. “Oscar, your black puppy will be Beta. Lewis’s brown pup is Gamma, and Isabel’s white one is Delta. Emma’s gray pup is Epsilon, and Alice’s red puppy is Zeta. That’s that.”

My squires shifted uneasily when they heard the names that I had given. I couldn’t blame them since I just listed letters of an old alphabet starting from the top. Plus, the names were in the order of how I obtained my squires. I hated dogs and refused to use any brainpower to think of the perfect names for them. The one positive was that these names were easy to memorize, and everyone learned them in a flash.

Yes, I should’ve remembered them all. They were Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta. Why did I forget them until now? How could I forget them after they put me through such awful experiences? How could I forget them after they pounced on me and were so close with me? For my sake, those dogs…

I’m feeling sleepy. I can hear the nostalgic barking of those dogs in the distance. Good grief, what will I do with you all? There’s no arguing with you. Whenever I returned home, you guys came rushing toward me to welcome me back, despite me explicitly hating you all.

You dogs are so troublesome. Really, you are…

Afterword

Afterword

 

THERE ARE A LOT OF LIGHT NOVELS IN THE villainess genre these days, and it’s one of the ones that I love. In a nutshell, this story is about a wicked princess who’s fated to be executed, but she gets another chance at her life and forms a different personality that allows her to live a prosperous second life. And, well, duh, she knows the future. Of course she’ll be successful in her second life.

If I were allowed to redo my life and I knew the results, I’d bet my entire fortune on horse races, stocks, and FX trading and live a luxurious life of leisure. But those are obvious choices, and it was difficult for me to write a novel with that premise. So, I decided to use a special character known as a villainess. The important aspect of this tale is to make the wicked main character into a good person. This transformation in personality would need to be expertly handled as the story goes along. That’s when I had some thoughts.

Just because a bad person goes through their life a second time, it doesn’t mean it’ll make them good. They’ll still be bad.

And if they go through their life again, wouldn’t they be mentally more mature than their peers?

There should be a grave cost for one to redo their life.

How did this person become wicked anyway?

I integrated all these factors to create a coherent story, and thus The Wicked Princess and Her Twelve Eyes was born. The webnovel version ended with Another Ending, but it didn’t make for an enjoyable finish. And so, I added an epilogue for this book. I felt that it might be a little trite and didn’t add it to the webnovel version. I wonder which one is better? I’d love to know!

This volume included dogs—fitting for my pen name, “Daken” or “Fallen Dogs.” But truth be told, I’m really not fond of dogs. They ignore the dog lovers who want their attention and rush straight for me. When I was a kid, that made me so scared, and I would flee just like the main character of a popular anime series that has a blue cat robot. Those dogs chased me around!

While I ran, I felt something hit the heels of my shoes. I was so scared that I couldn’t even turn back! Ultimately, I never knew what hit my heels. When I became an adult, there was a time when I stood on the sidewalk and waited for the light to turn green. Just then, I heard these concerning rustles behind me. Confused, I turned around and saw two dogs ready to pounce on me. Their owner hastily tried to hold them back. That’s right, those rustles were the sounds of the dogs kicking the ground with all their might to try to rush at me. When the light turned green, I ran full speed ahead.

Many of Serena’s encounters with dogs actually come from real experiences that I had. I’m so glad that I was able to use those terrifying events to write a novel. In any case, obviously, I’ve never had a pet dog, and I can’t even touch them. So, my portrayal of those dogs might not be totally realistic. Please forgive me.