Accused
He discovered from the memories that his father had three wives and had also impregnated another woman, who turned out to be his mother. Because of this, Ha-joon suspected that the memories he saw of Ash's death might involve one of the wives. Ash's mother and sister were killed silently—their throats slit in an instant after entering the room, and even Ha-joon, standing at the door, couldn't hear a sound. The assassins left through the window without making any noise.
Ha-joon also learned about the year, which deeply shocked him. Initially, he had been confused and unsure of what gone wrong. But after seeing the year, his spirit was crushed, leaving him in turmoil and self-doubt.
It became clear to him that he was inside the novel, but the time and place he found himself in were wrong. Instead of being where he was supposed to be, he was 1,000 years before the novel even began! What confirmed this was the imperial calendar of the kingdom. He was supposed to arrive in the year 3347 NC according to the imperial calendar, but the year he ended up in was 2345 NC.
"Did he made a mistake? And let him throw me into the wrong timeline?" he wondered, confused and unable to believe what was happening to him.
--System--
Ding!
There is a message in the host's inbox that has not been viewed. Does the host wish to open it?
Still overwhelmed, Ha-joon stared at the system, trying to make sense of what was happening. When he read the message about the Inbox, he was further confused.
"Inbox? Are you a phone or something?" he muttered, almost annoyed.
--System--
To answer the host's question, the inbox was originally designed by the Author to deliver messages and communicate with the host.
The system's explanation seemed reasonable and acceptable, though it didn't exactly calm him down. "Fine. Open it," he said, determined to see what the Author had sent and whether it would shed light on his strange predicament. A part of him hoped it would provide answers about why he was here and not In the right time.
--System--
Inbox:
I guess if you're seeing this message, it means you finally figured it out. Well, brace yourself because it's only just beginning. Oh, and I'd love it if you could join the fight that will happen in the future and become the 9th Hero, i hope you liked my ~gift~.
Ha-joon, overwhelmed by confusion, waited for an explanation, but received nothing, only a small amount of information indicating that he should prepare himself. The message was just text, but the tone felt mocking to Ha-joon. He looked down, letting out a sight, not one of relief, but one that deepened his distress. Placing his hand over his face, biting his tongue slightly, he muttered to himself, "How should I...kill myself?" His face displayed utter despair.
This despair stemmed from his realization: the battle the author mentioned was the great war from the novel *The Immortal*. However, this war was only briefly mentioned in the story, like a legend. Even in the novel, it was said that before this great war occurred, five calamities struck, each worse than the last. The final war was so devastating that, when all the races combined their efforts, only 30% of the world's population survived.
Ha-joon also recalled the Eight Heroes the author spoke of. In the novel, it was mentioned that they all perished, and because of their sacrifice, only 30% of the population managed to survive. What remained afterward was only the memory of their heroism, recognized posthumously by those who lived
--System--
Ding!
The host's blood pressure is rising rapidly. I advise the host to calm his mind. His body is weak and cannot handle excessive pressure.
Ignoring the system's warning, Ha-joon's despair suddenly turned into excitement, a spark of interesting ideas igniting within him. "Wait, wait... I can turn this into my advantage"he said,"Even back on Earth, despite knowing immortality was impossible, I spent 80 years of my life trying to disprove that fact. And now, in this world where magic exists, becoming immortal might actually be possible."
He recalled a conversation with his science teacher, Joon-woo: "The possibility is not zero, but near zero."
"In this world of magic, where immortality has never been achieved by any human other than the MC of the novel—though that's 1,000 years from now—it's not completely out of reach. It's not even close yet, but why should I let my dream slip through my fingers just because of some demon god's fight? Surviving is all I need to do, right? And surviving... i will make sure to do so, not just surviving but becoming something more powerful that even the likes of the demons can't touch me" he muttered, determination building in his voice, as if reassuring himself.
Ha-joon stood up from the floor, muttering to himself, "Lucky me. I wasn't born into an ordinary family like I was back on Earth. I'm a prince now, and my chances of survival just went up. If I use my brain wisely."
He recalled the complex family dynamics of the king. "The first wife of the king only has one child, but she wasn't the first to give birth. The second wife was, and that's the eldest prince. The third wife, however, didn't give birth to any boys—only two girls who are siblings. My chances of inheriting the throne are practically zero due to my mother's background, but that doesn't mean i will just give up."
Ha-joon looked around, his stomach aching as his gaze landed on the mother's face. Even as she died, she had tried to protect her daughter, attempting to save her at the cost of her own life, looking how tightly she is hugging her.
"I never imagined I'd consume human blood," he muttered, when i was thinking Making this system" I only wanted monsters blood instead—especially near the the demons and western borders, where the MC will be born"
He turned his focus back to the system, his resolve solidifying. "System, is the blood measured in liters like it is on Earth, or do I just need to take a symbol of it? Or do I have to consume all the blood?"
The system's voice answered immediately, "The blood in this world is not measured by liters as on Earth. To utilize its potential, the host only needs a small amount, sufficient for analysis or consumption. However, for maximum effect and points, consuming all the blood of the target is better."
Ha-joon's face contorted in disgust as he replied, "So, you mean I have to drink the blood? Ew, that's... disgusting." He shuddered, feeling a wave of disappointment.
The system reassured him, "No! All you have to do is point your hand at the targeted blood, and the system will automatically consume it."
Sighing in relief, Ha-joon lifted his hand and directed it toward the blood spilled on the ground. As he did, his clothes were stained, his body showing the strain of the situation. He instructed the system to begin the consumption process, standing tall as he said softly, "I hope you forgive this selfish soul, and I'll make sure to take care of the body of your son. Thanks, oh good woman."
The blood around him gathered together, forming a single line, flowing toward his hands. A Invincible Barrier shielded him as all the blood was absorbed, leaving the room's floor spotless once again
"Is it over?" he asked, still standing in place, wondering if the observing process was complete.
--System--
Yes.
The system responded. A question suddenly occurred to Ha-joon. "System, how are you able to detect the blood tier while I can't? And which one was the rare blood type you mentioned earlier?"
--System--
The host can detect the blood if he wishes to by touching it.
The rare type is the girl's blood.
"Touch it? Ew... Why do I have to do such disgusting things while you, on the other hand, can detect it so easily?" he retorted, his face wrinkling in disgust at the thought of touching the blood.
Curiosity, however, got the better of him. He moved closer to the girl's body and hesitantly touched her neck, searching for blood. The act was unpleasant, and he shut his eyes while doing it. A moment later, blood reached his hand, and as he waited for something to happen, he suddenly felt a strange sensation, like a memory being imprinted on him.
Through this sensation, he recognized the method for detecting blood types. Unlike the system, it didn't involve ranks or tiers but relied purely on feeling. Yet, through this feeling, he could sense that her blood was of a high rank, even without the system's direct analysis.
"This way," said a woman dressed in an elegant and beautiful red dress. Guards came running after her, their footsteps stealthy and silent as they hurried through the hallway, heading toward the room where Ha-joon was.
Upon their arrival, the first thing they saw was Ha-joon standing over the two dead bodies of his mother and sister, his hands stained with blood. One of the guards shouted, startling him, "Do not move! Stay where you are!" The guard's tone was calm by the end, as he slowly advanced toward Ha-joon, the others following closely behind. They approached him cautiously, as though dealing with a madman on the run.
Slowly, Ha-joon began to speak, unaware of what was about to happen. "Glad you came, although you were late, I—" His sentence was cut off as the guards suddenly lunged at him, pinning him to the ground.
"What?!" he shouted, his face pressed against the floor. One of the guards yelled out, "We've captured the criminal Prince Ash!"
Hearing those words, Ha-joon froze, shocked and bewildered. Slowly, he began to process the situation. "Ash... was the boy who owned this body. That should be me by now... And I'm a criminal?, what kinda of crime did I commit? Hehe... clearly, someone is accusing me," he thought, a bitter smile creeping onto his face. Due to the weight of the guard pinning him to the ground, Ash's frail body couldn't endure it. He wanted to say, "Get off me," but the words wouldn't leave his mouth. He was losing consciousness.
--System--
Ding!
"It seems the host is cursed, and his body can't accept any mana. Does the host wish to exchange the blood into points?"
....
When he woke up, Ash realized he was in a prison cell. He sat up, glancing around. Slowly, he approached the iron bars, peering through to assess his surroundings. He discovered he hadn't been taken out of the castle but was in an underground prison. Realizing this, he calmed down, letting out a relieved sigh. He stepped back, returning to the stone slab that served as a bed, sitting down again.
"System," he called out.
--System--
Yes, host, it replied.
"Show me my status," he requested.
--System--
Status window:
[Name: Ash Necdal]
[Age: 14]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Unawakened]
[Physique: Unawakened]
[Talent: Cursed]
[Skills: Unawakened]
[Extra lifespan: 0]
"I remember when I was losing consciousness, you said the host can't accept mana. Were you referring to my talent?" he asked as he stared at his status window.
--System--
To answer the host's question, mana flows through pathways. If those pathways are blocked, the host's talent prevents him from channeling any mana.
"Sure enough," Ash muttered, continuing, "that explains why my body doesn't look like a 14-year-old despite being one. System, what will happen if I exchange the blood for points?" he asked.
--System--
The host can exchange points for items in the shop.
"A shop? I don't remember adding that feature to the system!" Ash exclaimed, surprised.
--System--
The shop was added by the Author during the design process. It allows the host to trade points for various items. The shop contains all kinds of items, crafted with the hope that the host will find them useful.
While Ash was busy reviewing the system, two guards entered the cell and approached him. Without saying a word, they shackled him, ordering him to step out. Once secured, they escorted him out of the underground prison. As they walked him through the hallways, heading deeper into the castle, they arrived at a massive door. In front of it stood several castle staff, their faces filled with fear and whispers of gossip spreading amongst them.
"He killed his mother and sister!" one maid whispered to another.
"Yeah, apparently that's why he's being taken to the Circle Hall," the other replied.
"Who in their right mind would commit such a heinous act?" the first maid said, her voice trembling with terror.
The second added, "And they say whoever is taken to the Circle Hall only faces death because it's the place for final judgment against the cruelest of actions."
"Shh!" one of them hushed, trying to silence the conversation to avoid being overheard.
"Already heard," Ash said, his calm voice cutting through the whispers as the guards continued dragging him forward.
"Heinous crime? Killing my mother and sister?" Ash muttered to himself. "Did they use this to get rid of me when they realized I didn't die? To accuse me of such a thing… Surely, whoever is behind this must have evidence," he said with a cold tone, a faint smirk playing on his face, though his expression betrayed no emotion.
As Ash was led into the Circle Hall, the structure's vastness stunned him. The chamber was circular, with rows of seats towering above him in tiers. Each seat was filled, but one seat, larger and grander than the rest, immediately caught his attention. All eyes were on Ash as he was dragged to the center of the hall, shackled and surrounded.
From the grandest chair, a man spoke, his voice booming across the chamber:
"Let the trial begin!"
His tone held such authority that it silenced the entire hall in an instant, a voice only fit for a ruler commanding absolute power.