Acceptance

I Delved into the Depths of My Memories.

The ability had no name. There was only a hell made of blood, flesh, and bones… And within it, there was me. Hundreds of crimson eyes stared at me.

That was all I could recall. But it was enough to understand the ability. This body had absolute control over blood, flesh, and bones.

Except for my own body.

Because my body was protected by a secondary ability called "Rewind."

Finally, I had found the answer. Because of this broken ability, I could never kill myself.

It didn't take long to accept it. After all, there was nothing I could do. I couldn't die. I couldn't go back.

So, only one option remained: Someone had to kill me.

But who?

Who could overcome this broken ability?

No name from the novel came to mind.

Except for the protagonist.

"Maybe he could kill me. He does have a powerful ability, after all."

If I found him, I could ask him to end me.

As these thoughts circled in my mind, I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Just now… I, Admiral Ravien Duskbane… Was I really going to ask someone to kill me?

I clenched my fist and struck the mirror. Glass shards flew everywhere. My hands bled, the sharp fragments piercing into my skin.

But then—

The same thing happened again.

My hand rewound itself.

The blood slowly vanished. The glass shards fell away one by one.

Weakness.

Helplessness.

Disgusting.

I would never beg someone.

If I were to die, I would die fighting to the bitter end.

After a few minutes of rage, I finally calmed down. I no longer felt as disgusted. There was no choice but to accept this body and this ability.

Now, I had to decide what to do next.

The first step was to grow stronger. But not just physically—I needed to be recognized. Drawing the attention of powerful individuals was the only way.

But that wasn't enough.

I had to stand out.

How?

The answer was simple: I would build my own kingdom.

I will build a kingdom in these old, abandoned lands. Then, I would conquer other kingdoms. After all, human nature is built on war. Where there is war, there are the strong. And the strong attract even stronger ones.

This way, dozens—no, hundreds—of people strong enough to kill me would gather.

And in the end, someone truly worthy would overcome this damn broken ability and finally kill me.

Now that I had found my purpose, it was time to begin.

I stepped over the shattered glass and walked toward the wardrobe. Grasping its heavy, intricately carved wooden doors, I pulled them open with a creak. Inside, neatly arranged garments hung in a row.

Luxurious jackets embroidered with gold, long-sleeved heavy cloaks, and shirts adorned with flashy buttons… All of them were absurdly extravagant.

I frowned.

"What the hell is this ridiculous clothing? Is there nothing decent to wear?"

I grabbed a few, feeling the velvety textures and embroidery under my fingers, but they felt completely unfitting. I tossed them aside.

Minutes passed as I searched, and finally, I found something simple.

A light tunic resembling those from the Roman era, accompanied by a white sash. Exactly what I needed.

As I stripped off my overly ornate pajamas, my gaze fell on my body's reflection.

Lean muscles, a flawless physique.

Whatever.

I wrapped the sash around myself, then turned toward the door. Grasping the cold metal handle, I slowly pushed it open.

---

(POV: Servant)

My name is Haldvir.

I was born in a nameless, impoverished village. Living here isn't easy. I've seen countless people starve to death. Even some of the friends I played with as a child were lost to hunger.

But a few lucky ones were taken to work as laborers in an old castle beyond the village.

Three years ago, I was hired as a cleaner. Since then, I've spent my days scrubbing every inch of this castle. My employer is an old butler—kind, yet unsettling.

He told me that a young master had recently taken residence in the castle. But I had barely seen him.

Even those who had worked here longer than I had never seen him. They only whispered about the luxurious chamber in the castle's farthest corner and the strange sounds that occasionally echoed from within.

Today, it was my turn to clean that area.

Carrying a bucket filled with water, I walked down the long, dimly lit corridor. Reaching the ornate door, I knelt to wipe the windows and started working.

Just then, a sudden shout erupted from inside.

"I… AM NOT!"

My hands froze for a moment. My heart pounded.

"Did that… come from behind the door? Did I hear that right?"

Were the rumors true? Was the owner of the castle really inside?

Curiosity clawed at me. But I knew better than to ask questions.

The butler had warned us—do not interfere.

Or we'd be fired.

And I couldn't afford to lose this job. I earned just enough to keep my family and myself fed.

So, I ignored it.

I continued wiping the glass.

About ten minutes later—

"CRAAAAASH!"

A violent shattering sound echoed through the corridor.

I barely managed to hold onto my bucket. My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.

This time, I hadn't imagined it. Something had definitely broken.

"Should I check? Something might have happened…"

But I immediately shook off the thought.

"No, Haldvir. This isn't your business. Ignore it."

I tried to steady my breathing.

Just as I calmed down…

The door slowly creaked open.