Death

The Crown Prince of the Sevalos Empire, Evren Van Sevalos, possessed hair as dark as the night and eyes like rubies. A talented swordsman and an exceptionally handsome man, many women fell in love with him despite his cold, aloof demeanor. His only rival was me, the "Dark Killer."

"No, Your Imperial Highness! He saved the children from being abused!"

"Yes, Your Imperial Highness! The noble Count Tedross was trying to sell the children abroad!"

People shouted in defense of the Dark Killer, despite the fact that he had nearly killed many people.

"Funny, a killer saving people," Evren remarked coldly.

"How dare you speak to His Highness like that! You're just commoners!" Count Tedross laughed nervously, sweating profusely to avoid becoming an enemy of the Imperial family.

Evren's icy demeanor intensified as he pointed his unique sword at Tedross. "Count Tedross, so you're the one selling people to another country?"

"N-no, Your Highness..." Tedross stammered, his voice trembling under the Crown Prince's frigid glare.

"Remove him. Count Tedross will no longer be a noble count. Ensure he's expelled just as he has expelled so many others. My father will do the same once he finds out. Additionally, his only son will inherit the title."

The royal guards seized Tedross, who kept pleading and spouting nonsense. "Your Imperial Highness, you've misunderstood! Please forgive me! You shouldn't do this; you're just a crown prince in name!"

Evren flinched at Tedross's words. With Tedross stripped of his title, his son would become the new count of the Tedross family.

"YOU," Evren snapped, turning his attention back to me, his sword once again aimed at my throat.

"Dark Killer, it's been four years. You must pay for your crimes. Capture him!" the Crown Prince's assistant ordered, still mistaking me for a man.

As the knights grabbed me, their armor pressing painfully against my arms, I thought, 'These armors, seriously!'

Although restrained, I managed to draw my sword and use my magic. The capital descended into chaos, the roads breaking as I fought back. More royal guards arrived, and soon, Evren himself joined the fray.

"I thought you wouldn't join, Prince Evren Van Sevalos," I taunted.

"Hmm, I wanted to watch, but I can't leave my knights injured," he replied, our swords clashing.

"Bang!"

"What if I kill you again? You're a lucky prince."

"I thought you were dead that day. You slept for a month. I thought a ghost had come back seeking revenge," Evren retorted as we fought. I remembered stabbing him in the shoulder when we were teenagers—I was 14, and he was 16. Now, years later, we were battling once more.

.

"You're not going to kill me now."

"Let's see who dies today."

Evren smiled, his hair billowing in the wind.

"I see. I'm looking forward to it."

"Smash!"

His sword shine white. Is this... aura?

"You know if you escape again, I will always find you. Do you know why? Because your body always has a black aura."

"You're the only one like that in this empire, even if you disguise yourself to kill me."

The Imperial power enables him to see the aura of each person's body.

I was stunned by what he said.

"You've killed many innocent people, haven't you?" Evren's sharp look and cold voice were unyielding.

"I would never do that!"

"SMASH!"

While Selentia's face turned gloomy, Evren suddenly looked worried.

'What is he spacing out for? Don't tell me... he's gone insane!' Evren thought.

'Ah, that time. It's my fault for not protecting them.'

When Selentia's head hurt, she suddenly remembered something from the past.

As the rain poured down...

Drops...

I was on a job, my first time on such a long journey. When the rain suddenly grew stronger, I stopped, waiting for it to cease. After two hours, I forced myself to continue to the village, rain pouring relentlessly.

'I must protect them since my rank will increase if I do. Ah, the sun is almost down.'

When I arrived, the smell of blood filled the air. I reached the village at 5 pm, too late to protect them.

"Is everything alright?!"

I barged into all the houses but only saw dead bodies. My body couldn't move, and trauma gripped me again.

'Why do people keep disappearing from my sight? Even Gali died when I adopted him...'

Gali, my puppy, whom I found trembling in the rain. One day, Gali died, and I cried so much.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could have been here earlier."

My tears flowed as I looked at them.

'Uhu...'

I heard a noise from another house and ran as fast as I could. There, I found a family barely alive, their house full of blood. I was stunned by the sight.

"Are you alright?!"

When he saw me wearing a sword, he grabbed my hand and said, "Please, kill me. I can't endure this anymore. My family and everyone were attacked by bandits. They tortured us!"

He touched my sword, tears flowing with pain.

"How can I do that? I'm supposed to protect you, not kill you!" I shouted.

"If only I had been early. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I blamed myself, feeling it was my fault.

"No, cough, the bandits came early."

"They knew our protector would come at 1 pm, but they came at 11 am."

I was stunned by what he said.

"We were preparing a nice welcome for you, but the bandits came first."

Six hours ago...

"Should we put some nice flowers on the table?"

"Yes, it should be! Our protector is said to be a strong and beautiful woman!"

"Everyone looks excited here!"

"Right?!"

A child ran up to them. "Mother! Everyone! Some people came to our village!"

"Hmm? She's supposed to come at 1 pm. Why so early?"

Everyone panicked because the decorations weren't finished. When they came out, the boy greeted the newcomers but was killed by the bandits.

"Oh, ho~ Having a party, huh?" the bandits sneered.

"No one can defeat them. They are strong and heartless."

"Ugh, cough."

Blood continued to pour out, and I watched them suffer.

He begged me to kill him, but I didn't want to. However, his pain was too great.

"I'm sorry, forgive me for being late." I was shaking as I gently stabbed him.

"..."

After I stabbed him, a round crest rolled out, like the one in the mask that killed my family.

'Huh?'

'These crests!'

I gritted my teeth. "You guys... still haven't changed!"

'I will find you no matter what!'

When he and his family couldn't breathe any longer, I buried them all.

"Please, rest in peace. Be reborn into a new peaceful life with no pain." I said sadly.

---

In the present, black magic erupted from my body, threatening to kill everyone I saw.

'This magic... don't tell me!' Evren thought.

Evren, when he was 10 years old...

"Evren, you must capture those who use dark aura. They're dangerous. Protect the people first and bring them to me so we can eliminate them."

"Yes, uncle!"

Evren's uncle, 28 years old then, had a face hidden in fog.

---

Present:

"Protect the people! It's dangerous!" Evren shouted, panicking.

"Yes, Your Imperial Highness."

"What are you doing? You're going to kill us all!"

"..." I couldn't listen because the magic controlled my mind.

The entire empire shook, roads destroyed by my powerful unknown magic.

"You must stop! Urgh!"

" ..."

'He's out of his mind. Cough...'

The capital darkened, destruction imminent.

When I came back to my senses, I felt dizzy. 'What happened? Why are the roads damaged and people hurt?'

As I nearly fell, a figure in a black cloak appeared and helped me stand.

'It's so vague that I can't recognize him, but... who?'

'Ah, Zike and Zeo.'

"Master! Don't use your dangerous magic here. We won't let innocent people die."

They teleported us to our residence. My mask almost fell off, but it stayed on until we were safe.

"Master!"

'is this the payment for using it? i dont understand.'

'Ah... let me sleep for a bit.'

I blinked one last time and fell asleep.