Chapter 1
Chapter 1
“What happens after a person dies?”
“I wouldn’t know since I haven’t died yet.”
I casually responded to my friend who suddenly posed that question while we were drinking.
It was something I had never even thought about. I would have preferred to spend that time sharpening my sword a bit more.
“I’ve heard people say you get reincarnated.”
“If that’s the case, I hope I’m born into an ordinary family next time. I just want to live quietly.”
After I expressed my desire to live quietly, he laughed for a while before asking again.
“Are you really serious about that?”
“Yeah.”
“There are many people suffering from disasters even now. If you move, more people will die.”
“I don’t care.”
“I had no idea that my cheerful friend had so much pain inside.”
“Everyone has at least one painful past.”
Nodding, my friend raised his wine glass and said,
“After this is all over, let’s go monster hunting again.”
“Find something fun to fight.”
He chuckled before downing his drink in one go.
“I wish you success. Should I at least pray for you?”
“I don’t believe in gods. I only believe in this.”
As I waved my sword with a laugh, he shook his head and stood up.
“Take care. I’m not going far.”
“Of course.”
Swooosh.
A circle appeared as my friend’s body seemed to be pulled into it and vanished.
“Well, that’s a convenient technique.”
Left alone, I raised my wine glass.
One drink, two drinks, three drinks.
Memories of the past began to surface.
‘I regret it.’
In the Perdium Territory in the northern part of the Ruthania Kingdom.
Located on the outskirts of the kingdom, it was a poor and barren territory that had to constantly fight against barbarians.
I was born as the Grand Duke there.
‘I was pathetic.’
I lived a life filled with complaints, comparing my situation to that of other noble youths.
Comparison breeds inferiority.
Inferiority erupted in childish behavior, which led to accidents that made others constantly point fingers at me.
A wastrel, a madman, a basement swordmaster…
Having lived with all sorts of bad nicknames, I eventually fled my family.
I wandered as a mercenary for several years.
Luckily, I survived even after tumbling through countless battlefields.
As I gained skills and grew in reputation by walking the fine line between life and death, I longed for home.
‘I thought everything would go well once I returned to my family.’
With regrets and apologies for my youthful foolishness, I thought I would return and become a great support for my family.
But…
When I returned, both my family and the territory had already turned to ashes.
I could do nothing but hide.
Fearing for my safety, I had to live in hiding, abandoning even my noble name.
‘I should have become stronger.’
A new goal was born.
Enduring the pain that felt like my bones were being crushed, I spent years in solitude, constantly fighting against the numerous calamities that struck the continent.
At some point, I was called by a new name.
The Mercenary King.
And I found myself standing in the glorious rank of the seven strongest in the world, the Seven Kings of the Continent.
By then, my life had no shortages. I had numerous subordinates, great reputation, and the skills to match.
‘Still, it wasn’t enough.’
But I always felt a thirst.
The family that no longer existed, regrets from my youth, and belated realizations.
All my past tormented me every night, making it impossible to sleep without alcohol.
The family, friends, and people of the territory I wanted to see… they wouldn’t return now.
‘I regret it.’
The war was still ongoing.
The disasters that covered the continent stained everything with blood. People’s agonized moans never ceased.
But my heart could no longer hold those screams.
‘The time has come.’
It was time to set aside my regrets. There was still one thing left to do.
Still weak, still lacking, still cautious… still… still…
Always pushing off that task with excuses.
‘Revenge.’
Yes, the time for revenge against those who destroyed my family is approaching.
The emptiness within me was consuming me. I could no longer postpone it.
I would fill that emptiness with their blood.
I set down my wine glass and grabbed my sword.
*
The Mercenary King Ghislaine raised an army.
Upon hearing that he, who was ranked among the Seven Kings of the Continent, was marching, everyone was astonished.
Although he was considered a mere footnote among the Seven Kings, the tactical value of the “Mercenary King” was evaluated to match that of an entire nation’s military force.
— Why did the Mercenary King make such a choice!
With the war still not over, Ghislaine’s actions drew the wrath of many.
Why stoke civil unrest now?
Then he revealed the name and title he had hidden all this time.
“My family’s revenge is more important to me.”
The target of his vengeance was the Ruthania Kingdom where his family once stood. Ghislaine aimed his sword toward his long-lost homeland.
Many, drawn by the Mercenary King’s reputation, joined the war.
His faithful subordinates mixed with those hoping to cash in on this opportunity, all drew their swords alongside him.
“My only goal is the destruction of Ruthania.”
Even though Ruthania was called a military power, Ghislaine, as one of the Seven Kings of the Continent, was terrifyingly strong as well.
Ghislaine rampaged, demolishing everything in his path, ravaging the kingdom.
But soon, his advance met fierce resistance.
‘This is strange.’
Strong adversaries, whose names he had never known before, began to appear, blocking Ghislaine’s path. However, they were not people of Ruthania.
Why were people with no connection to the kingdom trying to stop Ghislaine?
‘There’s something going on.’
Leaving his questions behind, Ghislaine calmly combated and took them down one by one.
To win the war, Ghislaine needed to finish quickly. However, his plans derailed due to the emergence of hidden strong opponents.
As the war dragged on, finances rapidly deteriorated, and many began to desert, calculating their gains and losses.
Then, a decisive event occurred that would seal the victory or defeat.
The Seven Kings of the Continent, the “Noble Knight” Aiden, joined the fray.
The pendulum of victory quickly swung toward the kingdom. Ultimately, in the final battle, Ghislaine found himself kneeling before the enemy.
“Karto. No, is your real name Ghislaine? So this is how the game ends.”
A stunning blonde man clad in ornate armor said with a chuckle, as if he found it amusing.
His armor bore signs of battle and his hair was in disarray, showing that he had endured quite the ordeal, yet he didn’t seem to have any life-threatening wounds.
On the other hand, Ghislaine, kneeling before him, was pierced by dozens of spears and swords, finding it hard to locate any unharmed part of his body.
Ghislaine, bleeding, grinned at Aiden, exposing his teeth.
“Such an annoying bastard. I didn’t think you’d interfere.”
Aiden laughed again, surveying the battlefield.
The fierce battle had left devastation in every direction. Corpses were piled high like mountains, and blood flowed like rivers.
“Your subordinates all ran away. Just as I thought, they’re a pitiful lot lacking any pride.”
“Hmph, a smart mercenary finds a way to survive. If there’s a chance to live, there’s no need to die.”
Aiden scoffed, raising his sword to Ghislaine’s neck.
“Anything you’d like to say before you go?”
“Nothing. Just regret that I couldn’t completely destroy the kingdom. Now kill me, you pathetic bastard.”
“How insolent.”
Seemingly displeased with Ghislaine’s defiance, Aiden curled his lips.
“I never liked you, you pathetic mercenary being mentioned alongside me.”
“Who would have liked you?”
“But I was surprised to learn you were the last survivor of the Perdium family. That was one remarkable piece of news.”
Ghislaine’s eyebrows twitched.
It was a strange tone for mere acknowledgment of a fact he had heard.
Seeing Ghislaine’s bewildered expression, Aiden smirked with satisfaction. He leaned in closer to Ghislaine’s ear and whispered.
“I never would have guessed that the lost Grand Duke of Perdium was you. After your little sister died, you left home, right? I searched for you once.”
“How do you know that?”
Aiden was not a person from the Ruthania Kingdom. There would be no reason for him to know such detailed events from another country that had occurred long ago.
Moreover, had he really been searching for him?
“I obviously know well. ‘We’ joined forces with the Duke Delphine faction to bring your family down.”
“What?”
Aiden’s words struck Ghislaine like a thunderbolt.
The Duke Delphine, who destroyed Perdium, had long since incited a rebellion and seized the kingdom.
That’s why Ghislaine had to take the kingdom itself as a target for revenge.
Yet, to think foreign figures were involved in that matter!
In a situation that was utterly incomprehensible, Ghislaine’s body stiffened. He urgently shouted with a confused expression.
“‘We’? Are you saying the Duke had someone behind them!”
“Behind… that’s not a word I like. You could just think of it as we’re all on the same side.”
Aiden, despite his arrogance and annoyance, always spoke of justice. That’s why he was called the “Noble Knight.”
It was unbelievable that someone like him had participated in the conspiracy to destroy Perdium.
“Why would you involve yourself with our family… it’s a territory that has nothing to do with you!”
“The world doesn’t operate that simply. Well, a pitiful mercenary like you surely wouldn’t grasp such high-level meanings.”
“Then your involvement in this war is…”
“Yes, to wrap things up neatly. I can’t let any blemishes stain my name.”
Just as Aiden finished his sentence, he raised his sword high. When that sword fell, Ghislaine’s head would surely follow.
“You bastard! I won’t forgive you!”
Ghislaine tried to rise no matter what.
But with his already broken body, he couldn’t even manipulate mana properly.
“You stupid fool, it’s over. And you should have stuck to being a mercenary within your means.”
With a cold sneer, Aiden swiftly swung his sword.
Slash!
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.
A chilling sensation grazed his neck.
His vision began to sway.
Amidst the blossoming bloodshed, Ghislaine was feeling all the emotions that had tormented him.
Regret, emptiness, disappointment, sorrow…
Yet ultimately, the only thing left was an endless burning rage.
— I’ve heard people say you get reincarnated.
Why was I reminded of my friend’s words at the end?
“If I really were to be reborn! I will surely tear you all apart!”
Thud.
The severed head rolled across the ground.
With eyes wide open in resentment, the Mercenary King Ghislaine took his last breath in such emptiness.
*
‘Am I alive?’
I was definitely beheaded. Could it have been an illusion?
Ghislaine cautiously opened his eyes without moving.
‘A tent?’
A military tent like those used in camps came into view.
‘Am I a prisoner?’
Seeing that there were no signs of life around him, it was clear he was alone in the tent.
Moreover, he wasn’t tied up either.
‘What an arrogant lot. They just left me here, huh?’
I must have looked quite foolish. To not even bind me and just lay me here.
I cautiously tried to draw on my mana but felt none of the vast power that used to be like the ocean.
‘So they’ve taken precautions…?’
Slowly, he propped himself up and looked around.
‘A sword?’
Beside the makeshift bed leaned a single sword.
“Ugh, they must really see me as a joke.”
Even without using mana, the swordsmanship I’d honed over the years remained. With just one sword, I felt confident I could take down hundreds of soldiers.
‘Whatever their intentions, they’ll regret it.’
Recovering my mana could wait until after I escaped this place.
Rustle.
At that moment, I sensed someone entering the tent. Ghislaine quickly laid back down and closed his eyes.
A soldier came in carrying something. Judging by the savory smell of soup, it seemed he had brought a meal.
The aroma made me feel a bit hungry, but now wasn’t the time to be distracted by food.
As the soldier turned his back to prepare the meal, Ghislaine drew his sword and moved like lightning.
“Shh, if you answer my questions willingly, I’ll spare your life.”
He paused briefly and added quietly.
“Or maybe not.”
As the blade pressed against the soldier’s neck, the soldier seemed startled but soon slumped in resignation.
Just when Ghislaine was about to ask a question, a sigh escaped the soldier’s lips followed by some annoyed words.
“Ugh, Your Highness. What is it now? Are you bored? Can’t you just go back to the castle?”
“Huh?”
Ghislaine was at a loss for words, surprised. No matter that he was a prisoner, it was audacious for a mere soldier to talk back to the Mercenary King like that.
But…
This irritation somehow felt familiar.
