Category: Those Who Live Without the Law

Had Kairus been just another pampered noble, he might have grimaced at the wretchedness of the scene before him. But he didn’t.

It’s no different from Carlson Labor Reformation Camp.

Of course, Kairus had been raised as a noble. But six years in Carlson had ensured he was no longer a sheltered young master oblivious to the harshness of the world.

He knew all too well how far desperation and poverty could drive a person.

After all, he’d once eaten maggots wriggling in a toilet. This was nothing.

“At least they left him his underwear.”

Back in Carlson, those who froze to death or were beaten to death were always discarded completely naked.

At least the scavengers here hadn’t yet resorted to stealing and wearing someone else’s used undergarments.

They weren’t that desperate. Not yet.

Still, bribery, huh? Kairus mulled over it for a moment.

There’s no reason I need their permission.

The man who had bribed his way through earlier hadn’t received any kind of pass.

Which meant that as long as he got past this checkpoint, it didn’t matter whether he sneaked through or underwent inspection properly.

No one seemed to be paying him any attention.

“That’s it? Just a barrier blocking the way?”

Honestly, that alone was enough to keep most people from escaping.

Problems? Of course, there were problems.

They don’t give a damn whether people live or die.

If a fire broke out in here, anyone too weak to escape would simply burn to death.

The blatant disregard for human life was almost admirable in its audacity.

Kairus glanced around. The only sources of light inside the station were dim kerosene lamps.

“Let’s see…”

Rather than slipping out alone, it’d be better to create a large hole in the barrier and escape that way.

Kairus ran a hand over the barricade separating the station from Bennett City.

Fortunately, this much seemed manageable.

Certain of his ability, he slowly reached for the sword at his waist.

If his battle gear had been more powerful, he wouldn’t have even needed to check the barrier’s durability.

But complaining about lacking pepper only made the food in front of him grow cold.

Kairus visualized his attack—the angle, the cut, how he’d drive the blade in and extract it.

With a faint tick, his sword slid free of its sheath.

Had the cut been clean, there would’ve been a crisp sound as the barrier split apart.

“Khhh…”

But it wasn’t.

Instead, a kwajik sound! rang out as the section of the barrier where Kairus had struck was ripped away.

Like trying to slice meat with a dull knife, the barrier hadn’t cut cleanly—it had been torn apart.

“Shit. Whatever, it works.”

He muttered as if making excuses for the result.

No matter how skilled he was, if his battle gear couldn’t keep up, it was meaningless.

That’s why anyone who knew how to fight put their lives on the line for good equipment.

“Better move quickly.”

The noise of the barricade breaking was loud enough to jolt even the dozing people awake.

“Huh? What the hell? Why is that…?”

Like the work of a massive beast, a portion of the barrier had been ripped open—Kairus’ handiwork.

Now’s the time…

But confusion didn’t last long.

Almost instinctively, the murmuring crowd surged toward the opening in the barrier.

These people had long since stopped considering petty crimes to be crimes at all.

Come morning, they’d either have to bribe the guards or wait another full day.

But now, the passage had been opened—just like that.

Right now, it’s free.

As soon as that thought registered, the people moved.

Chaos erupted.

And naturally, among them was Kairus, the very one who had created the hole.

“Longwave Bistro, 47 Mahogany Park.”

Having successfully slipped out of the station, he murmured his destination.

From the heir of a noble family to a convict in a labor camp.

And now, he was to live as a waiter in a Bennett City restaurant—the City of Sinners—while searching for Nongjoyeonun.

If anyone’s life deserved to be called wild, it was his.

“Man…”

The scenery that unfolded as soon as Kairus stepped out of the train station was even more unreal than he had imagined.

They say that in cities overrun with crime, the nights are always busier than the days. Kairus found himself momentarily mesmerized, lost in admiration.

Rows of gas lamps lined the streets, scattering delicate quince-colored light like scattered pearls.

“For a city known as the cradle of all crimes, it’s almost too beautiful.”

With that thought in mind, Kairus stepped into the streets, but it didn’t take long for him to revise his initial impression.

From an alley beyond the reach of the streetlights, a thick, acrid smoke wafted out, spilling into the main road.

“Aren’t they cold?”

Men in tight, minimal black briefs confidently showed off their bodies, while women wore bold, revealing outfits that, despite using a lot of fabric.

They walked the streets, eagerly searching those willing to pay for a night’s pleasure.

Drunken brawls broke out between patrons and bouncers, while onlookers placed bets on who would win.

“You don’t have money? Did you just fucking tell me you have no money?! What kind of dumbass—?!”

A bottle swung through the air and crashed against a drunkard’s skull. With a sharp crack, the glass shattered, embedding shards deep into his head.

“Fucking hell, just my luck. What kind of idiot stumbles in here?”

The bouncer grumbled, tossing the bloodied man onto the pavement before dusting off his hands and heading back inside.

The moment he was gone, a group of ragged children, who had been lurking in the alley, darted out.

Like rats descending on a corpse, they stripped the unconscious man of his possessions and scattered into the night.

But before they could escape, a few local thugs grabbed them.

After a few harsh blows, the thugs took the stolen goods from the children’s hands and claimed them as their own.

One child, braver than the others, tried to resist—only to have half a dozen of his teeth knocked out for his trouble.

It was hardly the sight of a functioning city.

Kairus, however, took the opportunity to approach the very thugs who had just robbed the children.

“Excuse me, may I ask you something?”

“Fuck off, dumbass. You wanna get your head smashed in—?”

Smack.

With a sharp crack, the thug’s head snapped to the side.

Kairus had just slapped him across the face.

To survive in Carlson Labor Reformation Camp, there were two rules:

-Never let yourself be ignored.

-Always get compensation for what you give.

Kairus had just been ignored. And after six years of conditioning, his response was automatic.

“I said, may I ask you something?”

His voice remained as casual as before, as if nothing had happened.

At the end of the day, these thugs were criminals, same as the ones in Carlson.

The only difference was that the criminals in Carlson had been caught and locked away.

“You son of a—”

Smack.

Kairus struck him again, just as hard, just as cleanly.

“I asked you a question. Are your ears sealed shut?”

There was no need for civility. No need for negotiation.

To get what he wanted, he had to either overpower his target or convince them he wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Grabbing the thug’s arm, Kairus twisted it sharply.

“I need directions to Longwave Bistro, 47 Mahogany Park.”

Even a cheap, mass-produced 1-horsepower Battle Gear was still a Battle Gear.

A regular person had no hope of resisting its strength.

Krrkk.

With a sickening pop, the thug’s shoulder dislocated.

A piercing sound tore through the street, the kind of sound a castrated rooster might make.

“If you have time, I’d appreciate a guided tour. Gentlemen?”

A polite request, when accompanied by a touch of force, always carried a certain persuasive weight.

Whether dislocating a man’s arm counted as ‘a touch of force’ was up for debate, but given the state of the city, Kairus figured this level of violence was nothing more than an informal greeting.

“I-I’ll take you there! Just fix my arm first!”

Only then did Kairus release his grip.

“See? It’s much nicer when we’re civil. Lead the way.”

Kairus tapped the hilt of his sword and gave a quick nod—a simple, wordless warning.

The other thugs, having just witnessed their friend’s arm snap like a twig, immediately abandoned any thoughts of resistance.

---

“We’re here. Mahogany Park.”

For a place named after mahogany, there wasn’t a single mahogany tree in sight.

Instead, a few withered trees stood amidst dirty benches, where drunks and vagrants lay sprawled, muttering deliriously in the haze of cheap drugs and moonshine.

“Anything I should be cautious about?”

One of the thugs hastily answered,

“Nah, nothing. It’s a free-for-all here. Do whatever you want—no one will stop you.”

As if.

Kairus clicked his tongue internally.

Like hell they were telling him the truth. No one in their right mind would give sound advice to the man who had just mangled their friend’s arm.

‘If they say it’s a free-for-all, that just means some gang has this place under control.’

“Good work. Have a nice night.”

After dismissing them, Kairus scanned the area.

Many of the passersby eyed him with open hostility.

Kairus wasn’t looking for trouble, so he ignored their stares and focused on finding his destination.

---

“There it is.”

It hadn’t taken long to find Longwave Bistro.

Even at night, the inside was bustling.

At the very least, it didn’t seem like the place was at risk of going under while he worked there.

Kairus pushed open the door.

“Excuse me.”

The scene inside unfolded before him.

A  dusty phonograph struggled to play an old jazz tune, accompanied by the crackling noise of a worn-out record.

Dim kerosene lamps lit the room, where the clatter of dice and the sound of crude insults filled the air.

Barely covered women drifted between smoke-filled tables, whispering to men, inviting them to visit the establishments where they worked.

The place looked more like a den of thieves than a restaurant.

“Just sit wherever. We close in thirty minutes, so order something quick and get out.”

A huge middle-aged man, presumably the owner, spat out his half-chewed cigarette and flicked it into a tin at his waist.

“I was sent by Tommy.”

At Kairus’ words, the man paused, then glanced at him.

“The fuck are you on about? That bastard’s still rotting in jail.”

“We were in the same ward. Before I got out, he told me to come here if I had nowhere to go. Said you’d have a spot for me.”

The owner let out a sharp ha! before slamming his fist on the bar.

Then, without a word, he poured himself a massive drink and downed it in one go.

The metal clink at his waist—knuckle dusters.

Battle Gear.

A restaurant owner using Battle Gear?

That was like seeing a retired navy veteran working as a fisherman.

And considering that not a single drunkard dared pick a fight with him, he was probably good at using them, too.

Several days had passed. However, the question that had struck Kairus’s mind like a hammer still lingered even now, as he traveled down the road.

Who should I learn from?

The Featherwing family had been annihilated. There was no one left to teach Kairus the sword.

Even if, by some incredible stroke of luck, a survivor remained, they would only be a branch family member.

Other than that, the only people who knew Featherwing swordsmanship were outsiders who had come to the family to learn.

‘There’s nothing to learn from the branch family or outsiders.’

It wasn’t some petty pride as a direct descendant. The sad truth was that there really was nothing to learn from them.

The Featherwing swordsmanship that the branch family and outsiders were permitted to learn, the Wind Forging Style, was something Kairus had already mastered.

‘Of all times to end up in prison, it had to be then!’

The timing of Kairus’s imprisonment in the labor reformation camp had been nothing short of wretched.

They called it study abroad, but in reality, he had been dragged to a foreign battlefield at the young age of thirteen. For three years, he had endured a living hell and mastered the Wind Forging Style.

After that, he was supposed to return to the family and begin learning Cloud Seizing.

But before he could even start, the family was accused of treason and wiped out, and Kairus was thrown into a labor camp.

“At the very least…”

If he could find the books the family had stored, he could attempt to teach himself.

It would be a far more difficult and treacherous path without a teacher, but that didn’t matter.

‘Father mastered Wind Forging at twenty, too.’

In fact, Kairus had mastered it even faster than his eldest brother, the heir of the family.

The issue of having no master—perhaps he could make do with the talent he was born with.

“But damn it, you can’t make do with nothing. It’s not like the branch family or outsiders weren’t taught Cloud Seizing—they simply couldn’t learn it.”

Scowling, Kairus muttered to himself as he picked up speed to close the distance with the car ahead.

The driver, glancing at him through the rearview mirror, was horrified.

‘That’s not human. That’s a monster! What kind of person runs after a car for five hours?!’

It was impossible not to question whether this was something a person could do.

He was chasing down a moving car, keeping up without falling behind for hours. The driver muttered under his breath.

“If he can do that, why the hell does he need a car and a driver?”

The reason Kairus could pull off such a monstrous feat was precisely why the branch family and outsiders could never learn Cloud Seizing.

Direct descendants of the Featherwing family underwent a procedure at birth, implanting five unique organs into their bodies.

[Air Sac, Qi Sac, Posterior Vision, Double Knee, Eagle’s Vision]

These five organs matured alongside the child as they grew.

They were the requirements for learning Cloud Seizing. Those who hadn’t undergone the procedure—branch family members and outsiders—simply could not be taught, even if they wanted to learn.

If the implants were as easy to acquire as picking something off the ground, that would be a different story. But they weren’t. Direct descendants were always prioritized.

At any rate, the reason Kairus could run after a moving car for hours without tiring was thanks to two of those implanted organs—Qi Sac and Double Knee.

The Qi Sac was an enhanced version of the birds respiratory system.

Two additional sacs connected to his lungs and airways allowed for complete, 100% air exchange within his lungs. This granted overwhelming endurance and efficiency.

Additionally, during this transformation, his circulatory system—including blood vessels and heart—became significantly more efficient.

Then there was the Double Knee.

Unlike ordinary humans, members of the Featherwing family had an extra kneecap.

The principle was similar to why ostriches could run at high speeds for extended periods.

Moreover, his ligaments and cartilage had strengthened to match the additional kneecap, and his synovial fluid was optimized for better functionality.

“Hoo…”

After sweating out a fair amount, Kairus jumped and landed back inside the car.

“Are we far from the station?”

At Kairus’s question, the driver flinched hard before responding.

“We’re almost there. We should be arriving soon.”

The driver, having witnessed a pack of wolves get shredded to pulp in an instant and a man chase after a car on foot, wanted to minimize his time spent with this monstrous human as much as possible.

With a monster sitting in the passenger seat, anyone would want to hurry. The driver was doing just that.

After some time, the outskirts of a city finally came into view beyond the road.

“This is Sachsen.”

“I hope we never have to see each other again. I’m sure you feel the same way.”

The driver had fulfilled his duty, and Kairus disembarked without a word. The moment he did, the driver sped away.

“….”

The sheer number of factories in the city was staggering, and the smoke coming from their chimneys was suffocating just to look at.

“This is dizzying.”

Watching the crowds of people moving about, Kairus felt a bit lightheaded.

The bitter air, the overwhelming noise of the city, the shouting newspaper boys—it was all an assault on the senses.

In the past six years, he hadn’t encountered as many people as he had in this brief period.

It would be strange not to feel overwhelmed.

Somehow, Kairus made it to the train station and approached the ticket booth.

“One ticket to Bennett City.”

At his request, the person behind the counter gave him a glance.

“If you’re heading to Bennett City, you’ll need to show identification.”

It seemed that only those traveling to Bennett City needed to verify their identity. Kairus complied without protest and handed over his ID.

The clerk checked the photo against Kairus’s face, then spoke.

“Eighty-five Pint. The train arrives in three hours.”

“You’re not going to tell me my seat or train car?”

At that, the clerk replied in a disinterested tone.

“What, you think third-class has assigned seats? Just find a spot and get on however you can.”

It wasn’t until the train actually arrived that Kairus understood what the clerk had meant by “find a spot and get on.”

“Fucking hell.”

If you managed to board, you could ride to Bennett City. If you failed, you were out of luck.

That was what the clerk had meant by “however you can.”

People surged forward like waves, desperately shoving their way onto the train.

With his agility and strength, Kairus barely managed to squeeze his way inside, even in the midst of the sudden chaos.

The train felt like a giant tin can.

Kairus fully experienced the feeling of being crammed like canned meat, wishing the moving train would reach its destination quickly.

Unfortunately, his wish could not come true.

“Someone save me. No, just kill me instead.”

Only after about 80 hours did Kairus finally escape from the hell known as the train.

He hadn’t been able to sleep, eat, or drink.

On top of that, he had to endure the suffocating mix of human body odor and the stench of urine and feces from those who couldn’t hold it in. The foul smell made him want to rip his nose off.

“This was barely better than solitary confinement in the reformation center.”

Everything else was pretty much the same. However, in the solitary cells of the Carlson Labor Reformation Camp, you had to factor in the kind of cold that could easily lead to frostbite.

“At least thanks to that, there were no lice or bedbugs.”

The solitary cells were so cold that even those pests couldn’t survive—they simply froze to death. But that wasn’t the case now.

Barely managing to step off the train, Kairus let out a small sigh, enduring the intense itchiness crawling over his body.

And it wasn’t over yet. The moment he stepped out of the station, he was met with a new obstacle.

A security checkpoint.

“What the hell is with this line?”

A horde of people was trying to enter Bennett City, but the guards in charge of the inspection didn’t seem to be in any hurry to let them through.

Worse yet, there were two checkpoints to get past—one run by the Balron Empire’s Security Forces and the other by the Airan Republic’s police department.

Was this what the inside of a person’s intestines looked like after suffering from severe constipation for a month?

Kairus let out a small sigh.

Waiting was something he was used to.

In the Carlson Labor Reformation Camp, even for something as trivial as using a nail clipper, it wasn’t uncommon to wait days.

But that was only because he had the luxury of time in a prison cell.

You wake up, and it’s the same cell. You go to sleep, and when you wake up again, it’s still the same prison. If you can’t cut your nails today, you just do it tomorrow. There was never any rush.

That was the daily life of an inmate serving a life sentence.

“But that’s not the case anymore.”

He had to find Nongjoyeonun and track down the lost books of his ruined family. If he managed to find them, he had to learn them somehow.

He had to enter Bennett City—the sooner, the better.

For the first time in six years, Kairus managed to have the thought, I need to hurry, and in doing so, he once again felt the sharp reality of the freedom given to him.

In the meantime, the sun had fully set, and night had fallen. A security officer from the Empire checked his watch and shouted at the waiting crowd.

“This is it for today! Anyone who hasn’t passed yet will have to wait until morning!”

A collective groan of disappointment came from the people.

“Damn it, so this is how it ends.”

One of the men, seemingly accepted to the situation, rummaged through his belongings and approached the soldiers, who were preparing to leave for the day. Kairus silently observed.

A bribe.

Or, to put it more elegantly, a magical lubricant that soothed the rough and dried-up hearts of the weary.

“Alright.”

The security officer accepted the bribe without hesitation, unconcerned that others were watching, and let the man pass.

As an officer receiving the Empire’s wages, he should have at least felt a shred of shame—or perhaps some fear of getting caught. But there was none of that.

Even in the reformation camp where Kairus had been confined, such blatant bribery was rare.

If one could pluck the hairs of his conscience and transplant them onto his head, that soldier with his glaringly bare scalp would instantly have a thick, luscious head of hair.

The man who passed the checkpoint repeated the process at the Republic’s police checkpoint. Within three minutes, he had secured passage through both nations’ inspections.

“I’m getting more and more curious about what kind of hellhole this city is.”

Even the entrance procedures were impressive enough to warrant admiration. What kind of nightmarish scene awaited inside?

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! Why does that bastard get to pass just like that?!”

It seemed that someone was unhappy with the situation.

The security officer’s expression instantly soured at the complaint.

“If you don’t like it, then pay up too.”

If you wanted to pass quickly, you had to pay. To the security officers who had worked in Bennett City for years, this was just common sense. In fact, the mere act of questioning it was baffling to them.

“How the hell is this acceptable? You’re the Empire’s security force! How can you shamelessly take bribes like this?! You’re nothing but a pack of—”

The man couldn’t even finish his sentence.

A baton swung straight into his face.

“Khak!”

That strike was not meant to subdue him.

The moment he hit the ground, kicks and further blows followed in rapid succession.

“You little shit, shouting like that in front of me! You think I’m here to make your life easier?! Huh?!”

The man kept taking the full force of the beating. His screams of pain and groans quickly died down.

Teeth scattered across the ground, the sound of bones breaking echoed through the air. The security officer wasn’t just punishing him—he was beating him to death.

By the end, the man lay still, not even able to twitch a finger.

“Disgusting bastard.”

The officer spat on the ground and turned to the waiting crowd.

“If you don’t have money, come back tomorrow. That’s it.”

The people who had witnessed the scene didn’t react to the officer’s words.

Instead, they rushed toward the unconscious man.

Not out of kindness or concern for his life.

“Move aside, you bastard! I got to it first!”

A horde of scavengers fought over his belongings, claiming them as their own simply because they had grabbed them first.

By the time they were done, the unconscious man was nearly naked.

Anything that seemed even remotely valuable had been stripped away without hesitation.

Kairus silently watched the knight and the wolves.

The wolves had been invited because of the roasted meat. Naturally, the one who sent out the invitations should be the one to entertain the guests. But…

“Driver.”

Kairus spoke to the driver, who was trembling nearby with a deathly pale face.

“W-what? Why the hell are you talking to me all of a sudden?”

“If I cut them all down, can you take me to the town with the train station?”

At Kairus’s question, the driver snapped back irritably.

“What kind of bullshit is that?! The knight is standing right there!”

Standing proudly, huh? Kairus immediately scoffed.

“Looks like the meaning of ‘proud’ changed while I was in the reformation camp.”

That knight looks like he needs a diaper. Maybe the courage the driver mentioned was the kind that made you wet your pants.

Of course, from the knight’s perspective, there were plenty of reasons to feel wronged.

He had spent a fortune to buy his position as a squire, only to be dragged into this mess and ultimately end up as a snack for wolves on an icy road.

Granted, all of this happened because he ignored people’s warnings and roasted meat, but if he were the kind of person capable of reflecting on his mistakes in a situation like this, he wouldn’t have bought his squire title in the first place.

“Ugh… Ughhh…!”

At last, terror overpowered the knight’s sense of dignity. He immediately dropped his heavy sword, turned his back, and ran.

“What an idiot.”

Kairus watched the scene with an expression of pure disdain. Turning your back and running in front of hungry predators?

Might as well hang a sign on his back that says, ‘Tonight’s Late-Night Snack!’ and wave it around.

The moment the knight turned, the wolves lunged.

With a pitiful scream, the knight’s uniform was shredded by the wolves’ fangs and claws.

For the wolves, it must have felt like unwrapping a well-packaged gift.

“So, the proud knight who was standing there just a moment ago has embarked on a journey with no return.”

Kairus glanced at the driver.

“Are you planning to be the next course in their feast? Or would you rather take me to the nearest train station? It’s a cheap price for your life.”

The driver stared at Kairus.

A convict who had just come out of a reformatory was going to take on those monsters straight out of hell?

There was no time to question it.

“Shit, goddamn it. Just do something! If we get out of this alive, I’ll take you past the damn border, not just the train station!”

“No, just take me to the train station.”

Kairus picked up the sword the knight had abandoned.

“Well, at least he had battle gear.”

A sword-shaped battle gear—the form Kairus was most familiar with.

Examining the blade, Kairus visibly frowned.

“Just a standard military issue.”

As he gripped the sword, a burning pain, like being stabbed with hot needles, shot up his arm.

Then, a sharp click echoed from within his body.

It was the sound of the battle gear optimizing itself to him.

“It’s been a while.”

Kairus tightened his grip, his knuckles cracking audibly.

As he swung the sword, the snow piled on the ground lifted with the blade’s movement, swirling in the air.

The wolves, who had been tearing into the dead knight’s flesh and drinking his warm blood, instinctively sensed danger and turned their eyes to Kairus.

Even wolves knew from experience that the blade in his hand was deadly.

“So… what now?”

Kairus held his sword, feeling lost—not because of the wolves baring their yellowed fangs right in front of him.

But because of his own miserable situation.

“No elder from my family to guide me… No vision manuals left… The family’s emblem is gone.”

Kairus was too young. He still had a long way to go before mastering his family’s swordsmanship, but all the guides were dead, and the map had been lost.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

The driver shouted urgently, but his voice only agitated the wolves, not Kairus.

One of the wolves jumped at him—the same one that had been the first to attack the knight earlier.

It had lunged with the same confidence, expecting the same result.

“I’m already in a shitty mood today.”

But the wolf met the exact opposite outcome.

The air danced with the blade’s movement, and the swirling snowflakes followed its flow.

The blade, the wind, and the snow enveloped the wolf mid-air.

Before it could reach Kairus, the wolf lost its balance in the gust and was torn apart.

Dozens of slashes shredded its body, blood seeping into the snow.

“You damn mutts have no sense of timing.”

Muttering like a lunatic, Kairus kept swinging.

“Not guilty.”

Those two words drove him mad every time he thought about them.

“And now what?”

The storm of slashes intensified, slicing the airborne wolf into pieces.

By the time the shredded remains hit the ground, they were unrecognizable.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

The driver trembled in fear.

“A human… No, he’s not even human. Holy shit.”

It wasn’t just the driver who was horrified.

Even the wolves, mere beasts, felt the same way.

The wolf, Kairus had just butchered was their leader—the biggest, the smartest.

Instinct screamed at them.

“Our alpha was killed without even resisting.”

Their tails tucked between their legs on their own.

They had just watched their leader turn into minced meat in real time.

None of them dared to attack.

“Where do you think you’re going? Do I look like a public restroom? Coming and going as you please.”

As the wolves started to retreat, Kairus charged at them.

The roles of predator and prey had already reversed.

To the wolves, the approaching Kairus was no different from death itself.

One by one, he cut them down. In an instant, four more wolves crossed the river of no return.

“Ah.”

At that moment, one of the fleeing wolves flipped onto its back, exposing its belly.

A desperate, instinctive act in a hopeless situation—begging for mercy.

The sword was just about to pierce its throat.

A single drop of blood dripped from the tip of the blade, landing on the wolf’s fur.

“….”

Surrender and escape are different actions. At least, they were for Kairus.

If one trusted their own abilities and attempted to flee, it would simply be another battle—a contest between their ability to escape and Kairus’s ability to pursue.

However, if they gave up completely and entrusted their life to the mercy of their opponent, that was no longer a battle.

“There won’t be a second time.”

Kairus moved his sword, carving a small X on the creature’s belly. If he met this thing again, he would recognize it by that mark. And if it attacked him then, as it had now, he would kill it.

“It’s cold. Stop showing your belly and get lost.”

He had no further business with one who had surrendered.

Kairus gave the wolf’s stomach a light tap with the tip of his boot, then turned back to the driver, inspecting the sword in his hand.

“Exactly one horsepower. Getting it tuned this precisely is a skill of its own.”

One horsepower. That meant if he directed all of this battle gear’s output into strength enhancement, he could exert the power of a single horse for eight hours. If he pushed the output beyond its limit, he might double that strength, but the gear would break in no time.

As he continued to examine the blade, Kairus noticed the engraved characters on it and scoffed.

“Salcheonseong, huh? What a ridiculous name.”

For a mass-produced battle gear issued by the military, it was an absurdly grandiose name.

‘If it were Nongjoyeonun, that would be another story.’

Nongjoyeonun—the battle gear used by the head of the Featherwing family, and the family’s very symbol. According to the late knight’s words, the Featherwing’s symbol, Nongjoyeonun, had gone missing.

“A masterpiece like that, lost…”

Kairus was neither the head of the Featherwing family nor its successor, so he had never wielded it himself. But as a direct descendant, he had had the chance to see it.

A dazzlingly magnificent blade, its deep green colour leaving a lasting impression.

It was a battle gear from an era before mass production technology had been perfected—A time when artisans, honing their craft, poured their individuality, unlimited budgets, and boundless time into their creations, disregarding mere productivity and efficiency.

Angelene’s Answer.

Moon Sand.

Nongjoyeonun…

The most powerful and renowned battle gears were given a special distinction—masterpieces.

“Hey.”

The driver spoke to Kairus.

“To the nearest train station. Keep your word.”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Kairus turned to the driver.

“Of course! I’ll, um… get you there as fast as possible!”

The driver had no intention of going back on his word now—not after witnessing firsthand how those massive wolves had been cut down so mercilessly.

The vehicle began moving again. Unlike before, Kairus was no longer in the cargo area; he now sat in the prime seat behind the driver.

“Do you know anything about Bennet City?”

Kairus asked.

“Bennet City, sir? Well… I doubt someone like me knows anything important.”

He’s using honorifics now. Kairus noted that thought as he continued.

“Still, you must’ve heard some rumors. You used to serve a knight, after all.”

The driver let out a thoughtful hum before something seemed to come to mind.

“If we’re talking about something famous besides crime… there’s the Antaria Grand Canal.”

“The Antaria Grand Canal. Right, there’s that.”

Kairus was familiar with the structure. Among the countless wonders of the world, it was one that was never left off the list.

A legacy of Dersos.

Dersos had been an ancient kingdom, long since destroyed 350 years ago. Yet, the Antaria Grand Canal had been maintained and renovated throughout the centuries and was still in use.

“Is it really that impressive?”

At Kairus’s question, the driver immediately responded.

“Rumor has it that even if ten whale-class warships entered side by side, there would still be space left over.”

Kairus’s eyes widened at that. That meant the minimum width of the canal had to be over 200 meters.

“Incredible.”

Even with modern technology, no one dared attempt constructing something of its scale. It truly deserved to be called a wonder.

“And it’s so long that it takes merchant ships around thirteen days to travel its entire length.”

The driver continued, though his tone suddenly took on a dissatisfied edge, letting out a small grunt.

“But what good is fame? Those damn fools in the Airan Republic keep throwing fits, claiming the entire area as their territory.”

His voice carried a clear sense of hostility as he ranted on.

“They even set up some so-called police headquarters in Bennet City, illegally occupying the place and making a mess of things. Damn bastards. What the hell do they think they’re doing on someone else’s land?”

The Airan Republic and the Balorn Empire.

These two nations, sharing a border, did not get along. Though Balorn had the larger landmass, their national power and military strength were evenly matched.

On top of that, both sides considered themselves the rightful successor to Dersos, leading to endless territorial disputes.

“Well, it’s nothing new for lunatics who elect their king by vote to pull crap like that.”

Kairus half-heartedly agreed with the driver.

In truth, the political state of the two nations didn’t interest him much.

His concern was whether or not he could find information on Nongjoyeonun’s whereabouts in Bennet City.

Nongjoyeonun was more than just a powerful artifact. It was the very symbol of the Featherwing family.

No one who trained in the Featherwing family’s swordsmanship could defeat the head of the family.

‘Without Nongjoyeonun, Featherwing swordsmanship can never be complete.’

Kairus clenched his fist.

In reality, even finding Nongjoyeonun wouldn’t be the end of it. A far more fundamental issue remained.

‘Goddamn it. Who the hell is supposed to teach me?’

He had no master.

After a brief moment of thought, the knight spoke.

“I can’t waste a whole day on a promise like yours. Call that warden fellow and write the letter now.”

“I appreciate your consideration.”

With permission granted, Kairus and the warden were left alone in the prison cell. Kairus’s task was simple.

The warden spoke, and Kairus transcribed it onto a brown, recycled paper using an ink-like mixture made from charred ash and water.

“Have you finished dictating?”

At Kairus’s question, the warden nodded and handed him four cigarettes.

Though his release was imminent, Kairus did not refuse the payment for his work.

Once the letter was completed, there was still some time left.

“When you get out, do you have a place to go?”

“Of course. Outside Carlson Labor Reformation Camp.”

Of course, there was nowhere for him to go. His entire family was dead, and the family’s wealth had surely been devoured by other vulture-like noble houses.

As the Emperor had declared in his decree, the only thing promised to Kairus was freedom.

And even that was merely returning what had been taken from him due to a misunderstanding.

A small travel allowance would be provided, but it was just that—an allowance, nothing more.

The warden, holding a cigarette between his lips, struck a match and spoke.

“How about going to Bennett City?”

Kairus looked at the warden, lost in thought for a moment, then finally replied.

“My, do you already miss my face? I haven’t even stepped out of my cell, and you’re asking me to come back?”

“Don’t be stupid. What the hell would I do with your ugly mug? I wouldn’t use it to wipe my ass.”

Bennett City. A well-known place situated on the western border of the Balorn Empire.

Kairus had ghostwritten dozens of letters addressed to that place.

It was said that even the most common roadside restaurants there hired guards for security—it was a lawless city.

Even in this labor reformation camp, mentioning that one came from Bennett City was enough to deter most from picking a fight. That was how notorious it was.

“They say they do any work that makes money and turn non-profitable work into profit.”

“A guy I used to know opened a restaurant there. Was it three years ago? I learned about it thanks to the letters you wrote for me.”

The warden flicked his cigarette, sending ash scattering onto the floor, then looked at Kairus.

“If you mention my name, he’ll probably give you a job as a worker. The bastard was a good cook, so I doubt his place has gone under.”

“I never thought I’d be getting a job referral from this miserable place. Well, I’ll consider it. Thank you.”

At Kairus’s words, the warden raised his middle finger.

“Shut up, idiot. I’ll be out of here myself in about ten years. Don’t you dare ignore me when the time comes.”

“Ten years in Bennett City, huh? I wonder if someone as gentle as me could last that long there.”

“Bullshit. It’s Longwave Bistro, located at 47 Mahogany Park. If you’re interested, tell them Tommy sent you. If the owner starts yapping, just say ‘Cloud Lighthouse.’ He’ll understand.”

The warden waved his hand dismissively, as if done with the conversation.

“Now get lost. Congratulations on your freedom, you treacherous bastard. Ah, wait, not anymore. The bastard we thought was a traitor.”

Congratulations, huh?

Kairus gave a small nod at the warden’s words and stepped out of the prison cell.

The moment he left, his expression turned ice-cold.

His exterminated family, six years wasted, all the family’s wealth and titles erased without a trace.

And the compensation for all of that?

Mere personal freedom.

“Is the Emperor stupider than I thought?”

Had he been in the Emperor’s position, he would never have released himself.

Or maybe the Emperor had simply thought, What harm could come from freeing just one man?

Or perhaps there was another reason.

It didn’t matter.

What mattered was that he was free now.

Kairus walked through the frigid, dimly lit prison corridor and stepped outside.

“This is your travel allowance.”

A new identification card was handed to him.

Gone were his family name, crest, and embellishments—only the plain name “Kairus” remained.

Along with it, a few banknotes were placed in his hand.

A total of 150 pints.

With 50 pints, one could buy a sack of wheat.

This exchange rate never changed. The currency of the Balorn Empire, the pint, was directly tied to the value of wheat.

In other words, six years in Carlson Labor Reformation Camp had earned him three sacks of wheat.

The realization struck him like a thorn in the heart.

“Get in the cargo hold. You’ll be transported to the nearest village from Carlson Labor Reformation Camp.”

The nearest village, huh?

Kairus spoke up.

“I didn’t know there was a village nearby.”

“It’s about a three-day ride from here.”

“Does the village have a train station?”

“No.”

The knight abruptly ended the conversation and walked away.

Kairus mulled over the knight’s words and clicked his tongue.

“No wonder escaping wouldn’t have been worth it.”

If it took three days by car to reach the nearest village, how long would it take on foot?

He would drop dead from exhaustion before making it.

And if he strayed even slightly off course, he’d never reach the village at all.

Silently, Kairus climbed into the cargo hold. There wasn’t the slightest consideration for passengers in the cramped space.

The engine rattled to life, and soon the vehicle began to roll forward.

Inside the jostling cargo hold, Kairus remained silent, passing the time.

“My lord, if I may be so bold… perhaps we should ration our meals more carefully?”

As the evening fell after hours of travel, the driver cautiously addressed the knight.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

The knight shot him a look of irritation.

“This time of year, the wolves become violent due to the lack of food. If they catch the scent of—”

The coachman trailed off, his gaze settling on the meal being prepared for the knight. It looked like he intended to grill some meat.

“You bastard. Are you saying I should be so afraid of some damn wolves that I can’t even have a proper meal?”

Some damn wolves, huh? Kairus began to feel a little concerned.

A knight with real skill wouldn’t be sent to a remote, frozen wasteland just to escort a prisoner.

Besides, Kairus knew exactly what kind of wolves the coachman was talking about. Around this time of year, they often roamed near the Carlson Labor Reformation Camp.

The wolves in this region were far bigger and more ferocious than those elsewhere. If an ordinary wolf encountered one of these, it would be torn apart like a chew toy in an instant.

“In my humble opinion, it would be wise to heed the coachman’s words.”

“Don’t soil my ears with your worthless opinion.”

The knight dismissed Kairus’s advice without hesitation. People who acted like that usually didn’t live long. Kairus shut his mouth immediately.

No point in provoking him—it would only lead to a beating or a string of curses.

“My lord, you say that only because you don’t know about the wolves in this area. They have no fear of people and—”

The coachman, however, seemed quite stubborn.

Naturally, the proud knight rewarded him for his persistence.

It was a lesson of love, a guiding hand—some might call it a punch to the face.

A fresh bruise bloomed on the coachman’s cheek, a medal for his bravery. He seemed so pleased with his reward that he finally shut up.

“The smell is fantastic, though.”

Kairus muttered, eyeing the oat porridge set before him and the steak the knight was devouring.

The contrast was clear.

A knight sitting at a table, slicing into a juicy steak, while Kairus crouched on the cold ground, avoiding the snow as he spooned up porridge and potatoes.

A stark reminder of status.

Six years ago, their positions would have been completely reversed.

And Kairus wasn’t the only one thinking it.

The knight, chewing his steak with satisfaction, glanced at him, evidently quite pleased with himself.

While waiting for the meal, the knight had been reviewing Kairus’s documents and had just discovered which family he came from.

“You’re a Featherwing?”

Kairus did not answer.

In the past, this knight wouldn’t have even dared to lift his gaze to Kairus’s face.

The Featherwing family.

Over the past 300 years, they had produced two Grand Masters of the Imperial Knights, seven Imperial Army commanders, eight Imperial Swordsmen, and three deans of the Imperial Military Academy.

Never once had the head of the Featherwing family failed to claim the title of Imperial Sword, an honor given only to the ten strongest in the empire.

“Life sure is unpredictable.”

And now, the last surviving heir of that noble house was sitting here, happily spooning down something that looked more like animal feed than food.

The knight enjoyed the sight.

To think that a direct descendant of the Featherwing family, its last remaining member, was using honorifics and behaving like a lowly servant—it was deeply satisfying.

“Come to think of it, I heard you even lost your family’s emblem.”

At that, Kairus fixed his gaze on him.

“Could you perhaps explain that in more detail?”

His voice was quiet and calm, but beneath the composed exterior, something simmered, ready to explode.

For a brief moment, the knight flinched under that stare before quickly looking away.

“How should I know? Someone must’ve stolen it.”

Kairus nodded.

“Is that so? Thank you.”

He said nothing more and continued eating, replaying the knight’s words in his mind.

Lost? The family emblem?

Kairus had never seriously considered going to Bennett City, even with the recommendation from the warden.

Only an idiot would walk straight out of prison into a city that would land him right back in a cell.

But if the family emblem had been stolen, that changed things.

If someone had taken it, as that knight suggested, they wouldn’t be able to sell it through legitimate means.

They’d have to go through smugglers and fences.

And small-time criminals wouldn’t be able to handle something as valuable as the Featherwing emblem.

But in Bennett City… there might be someone powerful enough to deal with it.

Or at the very least, Kairus could gather some useful information.

That was the moment he decided.

He was going to Bennett City.

“Hey, move over.”

The bruised coachman, rubbing his cheek with a handful of snow, gestured for Kairus to make space.

He could have just sat beside him, but he clearly didn’t want to.

Kairus understood.

Carlson Labor Reformation Camp wasn’t a place for just anyone.

No one wanted to sit next to a dangerous criminal while eating.

Without complaint, Kairus moved aside and continued his meal in a more secluded spot.

Then, suddenly—

A wolf’s howl echoed through the night.

It was close.

“Sounds like they want to join the feast.”

Well, considering they had been broadcasting the scent of grilled meat all over the place, it was no surprise that something had come to claim a seat at the table.

Kairus quickly swallowed the last of his oat porridge and potatoes, washing it down with a sip of water.

“Shit, what the hell?!”

The knight swiftly drew his sword, scanning the darkness.

Not that it mattered—he couldn’t see anything.

Kairus almost laughed.

Instead, he found himself marveling at the knight’s stance.

Was that seriously supposed to be a knight?

Then what had Kairus been fighting all his life?

From his grip on the sword to his stance, foot positioning, balance, breathing, even his line of sight—everything was wrong.

If Kairus started pointing out the flaws, he’d be here all night.

Honestly, a butcher hacking up meat in a slaughterhouse would handle a blade better than this guy.

Fighting wolves with that level of skill? Impossible.

Like a clam trying to challenge a crane.

“Shit, there’s so many of them!”

As the knight lit an oil lamp, the shadows finally peeled away, revealing their uninvited guests.

Massive wolves, their fangs bared, eyes gleaming with hunger, saliva dripping from their jaws.

Compared to them, the knight’s sword—gripped in both hands—looked about as threatening as a toothpick.

The morning at Carlson Labor Reformation Camp begins with the sound of a trumpet blaring through a loudspeaker.

A gloomy tone, as low and heavy as a death sentence, wakes Kairus.

“All inmates, as of this moment! Wake up! Get up, you bastards! Block leaders, prepare for roll call!”

The shout echoes through the prison corridors, where thin layers of ice cling to the walls.

“That damn guard must’ve been fathered by a rooster.”

One of the prisoners sharing a room with Kairus mutters under his breath.

Meanwhile, Kairus shivers from the cold as he slowly rises from his bed.

“Traitor, what’s the temperature?”

The room leader calls out to Kairus.

Traitor.

That’s the nickname given to Kairus by the criminals in this dump.

Brushing the frost from his eyebrows, Kairus checks the thermometer hanging outside the iron bars.

“Minus 27 degrees. Another refreshing morning. Sure wakes you right up.”

“Shit. Minus 27? Even the ink in my damn eyeballs is gonna freeze solid!”

A sound of groans rises from the prisoners.

With sighs, they exhale clouds of white breath, rubbing their hands together in a futile attempt to warm up.

In this brutal cold, no one would be surprised if frost formed inside their lungs.

One of the prisoners suddenly lets out a questioning grunt and looks toward someone lying nearby.

“The hell? Why isn’t this bastard getting up? Hey!”

While the rest are busy puffing out warm breaths and rubbing their frozen hands together, the fallen inmate shows no such signs.

Even after being smacked hard enough to make a loud thud, he doesn’t stir.

“He’s dead.”

The conclusion comes quickly.

Carlson Labor Reformation Camp is located in a remote, extreme climate zone, where summer temperatures rarely rise above freezing.

And now, it’s midwinter.

Combine the harsh environment with hastily built prison cells and meager rations, and a prisoner who was alive yesterday can magically turn into a frozen corpse by morning.

“Block Three, report.”

“One frozen to death. The rest are still here.”

At the room leader’s report, the block leader steps in, glances at the corpse, and clicks his tongue.

“Damn it.”

Unlike other reformation camps, Carlson’s prisoner blocks aren’t managed by guards but by fellow inmates.

The guards’ only duties are to prevent escapes and conduct occasional patrols.

Whatever happens inside, they don’t care.

“Take care of it on your way to breakfast.”

“Understood.”

Just as the block leader is about to leave, he glances at Kairus.

“Oh, and Traitor. I was thinking of writing a letter today.”

“Understood.”

Kairus nods at the block leader’s words.

Most prisoners at Carlson can’t read or write.

Kairus is an exception.

He knows how to read and write.

“Sending it home? I’ll see you after work.”

“Yeah, yeah. How much was it again?”

“Three cigarettes per 200 characters, but since it’s you, two will do.”

Being literate has been a major factor in Kairus surviving six years in Carlson.

“What the hell? You can write?”

One of the inmates listening in stares at Kairus in surprise.

A newcomer from two days ago.

A man who got drunk, stabbed someone to death in a fight.

Normally, that wouldn’t be enough to land someone in Carlson.

But after killing his victim, he also murdered an old woman who saw the scene and screamed.

“Where’d you learn? Did you scam some noble or something?”

Despite the offensive tone, Kairus answers indifferently.

“Before I came here, I was a noble’s son. Now, I’m a traitor.”

Hearing this, the man’s expression turns even more intrigued.

“So it’s not just a nickname. You were a real traitor?”

When Kairus’s family’s rebellion plot was exposed, every direct blood relative—except for him—was executed.

“Isn’t treason an instant death sentence? How are you still alive?”

“Got lucky.”

He had been studying abroad at the time, meaning he couldn’t have participated in the rebellion.

He was also only seventeen—a minor.

These two factors spared him from execution.

Instead, he was sentenced to life imprisonment at Carlson.

The newcomer inches closer with a smirk.

“I see. Anyway, mind writing me a letter too?”

Kairus nods.

“You heard the price, right?”

Two hundred characters for three cigarettes. Or something of equivalent value.

Hearing this, the man’s smirk twists into a scowl.

“Price? You little shit. You think I’m a joke just because I asked nicely?”

He spits on the ground, grabs Kairus by the collar.

“You’re pissing me off. You wanna die? You wanna squeal like a pig when I stab you—”

Unfortunately for him, he never gets to finish.

A chunk of brick in Kairus’s hand slams into his mouth.

Blood splatters instantly, shattered teeth clattering to the ground.

No hesitation.

No words.

Kairus simply and relentlessly pounds the man’s face with his fists, stone still lodged in his mouth.

To survive among prisoners, you don’t give favours for free.

And you don’t let anyone think they can walk over you.

Kairus has abided by these two rules for six years.

“Ugh… gh…”

He lifts the battered man’s head by his hair, staring him in the eyes.

“I don’t ask people if they want to die. Why would I care what a dead man has to say?”

With a heavy thud, Kairus slams the man’s head into the cold, hard stone floor.

Watching the scene unfold, the other prisoners share the same thought.

Idiot.

Of all people, why’d he have to pick a fight with Kairus?

“That crazy bastard.”

Kairus isn’t just notorious in Block Three.

Even in the entire Carlson Reformation Camp, people like him are rare.

He’s calm as long as no one provokes him.

But if someone does, he snaps in ways no one can predict.

Because of this temper, he’s been thrown into solitary confinement three times.

Three times.

Even the most violent inmates return from that hellhole broken like castrated roosters.

But Kairus?

Still the same.

“Hey, hey. Traitor, that’s enough. If we have to clear out two corpses before breakfast, it’ll be a shitty start to the day.”

The room leader finally intervenes.

Kairus lets go of the man’s blood-soaked hair.

“Breakfast is just that damn moss again anyway.”

When winter arrives, the Carlson Labor Reformation Camp makes porridge with edible moss and serves it to the prisoners.
Kairus nudged the face of a fallen inmate with the tip of his foot and spoke.

“Hey, you haven’t been here long, have you? You must have a decent layer of fat from all the food you stuffed yourself with outside. Should we grill your belly fat instead of eating this moss crap?”

The inmate, lying face down and dripping blood from his mouth, trembled at Kairus’s words.

“Can’t even joke around without worrying you’ll pass out.”

Kairus spat on the crown of the man’s head.

“Let’s not get into fights with our cellmates. Courtesy and respect foster kindness.”

And so, another morning was about to begin, with a bit of commotion as usual.

Eating garbage food, working all day as assigned, eating again, and praying to wake up the next morning without freezing to death.
A daily routine, the punishment criminals rightfully deserved.

The crime of treason committed by his family was also Kairus’s crime. That’s why he believed this harsh life was the punishment he deserved.

“Everyone, heads down, you bastards!”

But with the sudden sound of a whistle, the daily routine of the past six years was about to change.

“What, what the hell!?”

The cell leader’s face instantly turned pale.

“Shit, it’s the guards.”

“They did a prisoner search just a week ago. Are they doing that crap again?”

“You idiot. That’s not possible.”

This wasn’t a routine inspection. The guards rarely entered the labor reformation camp. And when they did, it always meant trouble.

With the sound of rattling chains, the guards entered the prison block.

The prisoners immediately dropped to the floor, pressing their faces down and starting to pray.

The door to Kairus’s cell suddenly burst open. All the prisoners inside instinctively squeezed their eyes shut. Whatever was happening, the guards had business in their room.

“Who here is Kairus?”

At that voice, Kairus, still pressed flat against the ground, answered.

“I am.”

“Rise and show respect. This is a decree from the omnipotent and wise leader of the Empire, the one and only Sun.”

A decree from the Emperor?

After six years, the etiquette he thought he’d never use again suddenly had a purpose.

Kairus slowly rose, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head. The man standing before him wasn’t a guard but a knight in full uniform.

‘Has His Majesty changed his mind and decided to execute me instead of leaving me to rot in a life sentence?’

If so, it couldn’t be helped. A traitor deserved an appropriate end. With solemn composure, Kairus responded with the required courtesy.

“This unworthy and sinful body humbly receives the voice of the Sun.”

“Through further investigation, your family’s treason has been found to be baseless.”

For a brief moment, Kairus nearly forgot all etiquette and snapped his head up.

Wait a minute.

‘Baseless? Baseless? Did he just say baseless!?’

It felt as if someone had poured molten lava into his skull—his mind boiled with rage.

‘Then what the hell were these six years I spent here for? Why did my entire family have to die!?’

Kairus had truly believed his family had plotted rebellion. That’s why he had accepted everything, resigning himself to a slow death in this hell.

But now—

‘Now, after all this time?’

Kairus had no family left. Not even distant relatives. They were all dead. And he had wasted six years of his life in this wretched place.

“If you have anything to say, speak.”

Something to say? A torrent of fiery curses nearly burst from Kairus’s lips. But instead, he made a different choice.

“It is an infinite honour and joy that the omnipotent and wise leader of the Empire, the one and only Sun, has come to understand my family’s loyalty, even now.”

This was the correct answer. He had to say it. There was no other option.

He had to leave this place. That was the only thing that mattered right now. He had to get out. No matter what.

Kairus repeated it over and over in his mind.

“Effective immediately, your life sentence is revoked. However, the mere fact that you were suspected of treason means you had not earned His Majesty’s full trust.”

Hearing those words, Kairus was struck by the sheer absurdity of it all.

So, the reason the Emperor had doubted the Featherwing family was because they had not displayed enough loyalty?

‘That’s the most ridiculous load of bullshit I’ve ever heard.’

Kairus remained silent, merely listening.

Go on, keep talking.

“You will not regain what you once had, but you have been granted the grace of freedom. You should be grateful beyond measure.”

His life sentence was revoked. He would be a free man. But everything his family once possessed—he would never get any of it back.

Not even his status.

From this moment onward, Kairus was a commoner.

“Once more, as a proud and loyal subject of the great Balorn Empire, you now have the honour of serving its eternal glory. Be grateful, and be grateful again.”

“Prepare to leave immediately.”

To this, Kairus responded,

“I request a day’s delay.”

“For what reason?”

Kairus raised his head and looked at the armored knight.

“I made a promise to the head of this prison block to help him with something after work.”

He had promised to write a letter on the man’s behalf.

The knight looked at Kairus with an expression of utter disbelief. Here was a man who could finally escape this hellhole, yet he wanted to stay an extra day over some trivial promise. It was an insane thing to say.