Before the Expedition to the Demonic Realm.
“Take good care of Lea.” The Grand Duke’s voice carried from horseback. His destination lay in the Demonic Realm itself—a place so treacherous that despite commanding hundreds of knights, he had chosen to ride alone.
The Demonic Realm wasn’t some tame frontier settlement, after all. If ordinary soldiers could simply march through its borders, the Emperor would have conquered it generations ago.
A day’s hard riding, I estimated, watching him settle into his saddle.
From the ducal estate to the Demonic Realm’s borders would take a full day of relentless travel. The distance might seem manageable on a map, but to make that grueling journey in solitude... it would be a lonely road indeed, until he reached his personal guard stationed at the realm’s edge.
“Travel safely, Your Grace. I’ll protect Lea.” My words carried the weight of an oath.
The Grand Duke urged his mount closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that carried steel beneath its softness. “If I hear that the child has shed so much as a single tear, I’ll return immediately. Consider yourself warned.”
So much for his dignified departure…
I exhaled slowly, fighting down my exasperation. “Don’t worry yourself. Nothing will happen.”
“It had better not.”
“Couldn’t you maybe... actually leave now?”
Perhaps I shouldn’t have bothered seeing him off.
I pushed down the creeping regret and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.
Had he caught my expression? The Grand Duke’s soft chuckle suggested he had. “Lighten that scowl of yours. This might be the last time, after all.”
“Last time? What last time? As a Grand Master, your lifespan is extended now. You’ll live long enough to be sketching obscenities on dungeon walls in your dotage.”
“You never know. The Demonic Realm is a place where the future remains uncertain.” His voice carried a bitter edge, as if he had already gazed into the face of his own fate.
“But what can be done? Only I am capable of solving this matter. And like you said, I’m not one to die easily.”
The quiet resignation in his tone struck me like a physical blow. Suddenly, memories from my previous life surfaced with startling clarity.
The Grand Duke’s disappearance—that single event had set House Praha on an inexorable path toward complete annihilation. If the Grand Duke hadn’t vanished, not even the powerful House Artezia would have dared move against the Praha family.
I frowned, the weight of that knowledge pressing down on me. “That doesn’t sound like you, Your Grace.”
“Not like me...” He smiled faintly. “Perhaps that’s exactly right.”
Since the Grand Duke would never fear his own death, it was likely anxiety for the daughters he’d leave behind that weighed on him.
I studied his expression and released a soft sigh. “You needn’t worry. I’ll protect the House no matter what comes. As for Your Grace—if you mind the places I mentioned and stick to the routes I outlined, nothing will happen to you.”
“Ha! You speak like some kind of prophet. Sometimes I wonder if you might actually see the future.”
The Grand Duke’s casual observation hit closer to the mark than he could possibly know.
I felt my composure slip for just an instant before recovering. “As if such a thing were possible.”
“Haha… I was only joking.”
His laughter boomed across the courtyard, but it was brief. The Grand Duke’s gaze swept the area before he lowered his voice again.
“Enough worrying about me—you be careful. That old fox, the High Elder, is just waiting for his chance to eliminate you. He’ll probably make his move the moment I leave for the Demonic Realm.”
The High Elder…
My eyes narrowed at the mention of that name.
After leaving the Elder Council, I’d spent an entire week considering how to deal with that particular problem. Assassination, political maneuvering, even approaching the Emperor directly—I’d weighed every option and finally settled on the most efficient method.
I do hope he comes to me. That would save me the trouble of hunting him down.
It was rather arrogant thinking when dealing with an Aura Master, but I was completely serious. If things proceeded according to my plan, that vile geezer would not survive the encounter.
“I’ll be careful. Though if the opportunity presents itself, I do intend to kill him.”
“You have quite the sense of humor.”
It wasn’t humor.
I met the Grand Duke’s gaze without flinching, letting my conviction show in my expression.
“Hmm... I see you’re serious.” The Grand Duke studied my face for a long moment, then nodded slowly, as if something had been settled between us.
Finally, he drew a deep breath, as though a great weight had lifted from his shoulders, and glanced toward the clock tower.
“Yes, I suppose I can entrust the House to you now. Speaking of which, it’s time I departed.”
“Don’t you need to say goodbye to the others?”
“Already done. You’re the last.”
That explained why everyone’s eyes had been red-rimmed when I’d seen them earlier. I’d initially attributed Roxha’s tears to the morning cold, but now I understood.
“Well then, I’ve said everything that needed saying. I’ll be off now.” The Grand Duke turned his horse toward the gates. “I hope things unfold as you envision them.”
With those words, he spurred his mount toward the road leading to the Demonic Realm.
The rest of us watched in silence as his figure grew smaller in the distance.
In that moment, we all understood the same truth: many things about House Praha were about to change.
* * *
Finally, he’s gone.
The Seventh Elder’s eyes gleamed as he watched the Grand Duke disappear down the road. At last, that monster had left the North. No more walking on eggshells, no more holding his breath in the presence of overwhelming power.
His gaze swept over the other knights stationed around the estate’s entrance. Several nodded almost imperceptibly, ready to receive orders at a moment’s notice.
The Seventh Elder’s lips twisted into a predatory smile as he turned his attention to another figure.
There stood the man with raven hair and wolfish features, surveying his surroundings with quiet authority. Louis Berg—a man who carried himself as if he owned the very ground beneath his feet.
The sight made the Seventh Elder’s teeth grind audibly. Born to the right parents, blessed with access to superior Aura techniques, and now acting as though he were something special. The arrogance of it all left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He wanted nothing more than to wrap his hands around that little runt’s throat right now, to claim what should have been his by right.
However, with so many witnesses present, immediate action was impossible. The Seventh Elder would have to contain his bloodlust a little longer.
Of course, his patience had limits, and he would move today, without question. He couldn’t suppress the heat of anticipation coursing through his veins.
Tap. Tap.
The Seventh Elder’s foot drummed against the ground as he exchanged meaningful glances with his co-conspirators.
Get ready, his eyes conveyed.
Yes, came the silent responses.
The knights who received his signal began dispersing one by one, melting away to their assigned positions.
The Seventh Elder’s bloodshot eyes bulged with anticipation as his mouth curved into a savage grin.
Finally! Finally, I’ll ascend to Master rank!
He clenched his fists, barely containing his excitement. His lifelong desire, his greatest ambition—that exalted realm of Aura Master.
The time to claim that magnificent position was drawing near.
* * *
After seeing the Grand Duke off, I returned to my chambers to organize the tasks ahead.
First, I needed to catalog my current abilities and assess my true strength.
For skills, I have Full Bloom, Lightning Bolt, Buckshot, and Heartstopper.
Full Bloom and Lightning Bolt excelled against multiple enemies. Buckshot provided devastating close-range attacks. And then there was the skill I’d most recently acquired—Heartstopper.
This ability to eliminate a target with a single shot was the most covert technique in the Divine Archer’s arsenal, designed specifically for eliminating individual threats.
And for good reason. Heartstopper was a long-range assassination technique—silent death delivered from impossible distances. It was the skill that had made the Divine Archer one of the continent’s most feared individuals.
I never expected to acquire this particular ability.
Honestly, I hadn’t dared hope for it. Gaining Heartstopper felt like winning the continental lottery.
I nodded, satisfaction warming my chest. This should provide a considerable advantage.
My skills were more than adequate, and my equipment was exceptional as well.
The Divine Archer’s bow and protective thimble, along with reinforced leather bracers. Add some light scale armor and I’d have the perfect archer’s kit—equipment that would make me superior to most archers on the continent.
Now I just need to acquire that scale armor.
I considered where to purchase such equipment.
There was a smithy that would become legendary in the future, though it remained obscure for now. The forge that incredible blacksmith called home was also where the final recruit for my squad was staying.
Specifically—Lovan Island, home to the infamous Lovan Tree Prison.
Taiona. I should visit when I go to retrieve her.
After this current business—this fox hunt—and after completing the other items on my agenda, I would visit the forge and commission some proper scale armor.
For now, I need to proceed step by step.
Having organized my immediate plans, I turned my attention to the final assessment—my current realm of power.
I had achieved mid-level Aura Expert, commonly known as the final threshold that ordinary practitioners could reach.
Why was it called the final threshold? The answer was brutally simple.
From high-level Aura Expert onward, you’re dealing with individuals who rank among the continent’s top hundred warriors.
That was a realm that even my previous life’s incarnation had never experienced. I swallowed hard, thinking of those who had reached such heights.
Now I need to reach that realm myself.
To face the High Elder, I needed to achieve high-level Aura Expert at minimum. Higher would be preferable, but could anyone really advance two full levels in mere months?
I had to work within the bounds of possibility while maintaining absolute determination.
Even if it’s one step at a time, I’ll kill that scum.
With that resolution burning in my chest, I closed my eyes and turned my attention inward.
Upon reaching mid-level Aura Expert, several changes had manifested in my body. One of the most significant was enhanced Aura sensitivity.
I can now detect nearby presences more accurately, sense hidden enemies with greater precision.
Moreover, my detection range had expanded dramatically beyond what I’d previously managed. Now I could achieve meaningful results even against assassins.
I closed my eyes and released my Aura in a controlled expansion.
Whoooooosh!
Power erupted from my core like a controlled explosion. Following that energy, I visualized my Aura Heart.
The gradually filling Aura Heart infused strength throughout my entire body. I absorbed that sensation completely, allowing myself a satisfied smile.
I do have superior recovery rate. That’s for sure.
The defining characteristic of my master’s—the Divine Archer’s—Aura cultivation technique was its overwhelming destructive potential and tremendous recovery capability. Though I couldn’t fully appreciate it at my current level, I could already feel that my regeneration surpassed others in my realm.
If I could reach high-level Aura Expert with this foundation, I would never again suffer from Aura depletion during extended combat.
I spent considerable time after that examining my body’s capabilities. I catalogued what I could and couldn’t accomplish, then integrated those assessments into my strategic planning.
My path forward involved two primary objectives: eliminating the old fox and securing revenge against House Artezia.
To deal with the High Elder specifically, numerous preliminary tasks required completion. I had to seize control of the Elder Council to prevent the emergence of a new High Elder. I had to consolidate my position within the House more thoroughly than anyone else had ever managed.
In essence, I had to become the House’s true power instead of Lin Praha, the eldest daughter.
To accomplish that goal, I would need to repeat my recent success three or four times over.
That would take far too long.
So I needed to focus on resolving the most critical issues first. I also had to win some of the other Elders—those not aligned with the High Elder—to my cause.
I reviewed my plans once more, satisfied with their logic, and moved toward the door.
Just then—
Swish!
Someone threw a cloth over my face.