After training with my teacher, a question kept lingering in my mind.
What if I awaken something useless?
Would I still be able to live… while being called a failure?
I didn't know.
But I couldn't leave my future to chance.
Even if I were called a loser, I needed a way to survive.
That's why I began preparing.
I searched for an abandoned village—somewhere I could live if everything went wrong.
Fortunately, I already possessed a skill.
"Mimicry."
An ability that allowed me to transform into anyone I imagined.
I had already chosen who I would become if the worst happened.
I also created a hidden stash, where I stored all my savings.
Nearly three hundred gold coins.
The reason for all this… wasn't something my father or brothers told me.
It happened two days ago.
That night, just as I was about to fall asleep—
A dark figure appeared before me.
At first, I couldn't understand what it was saying.
Then suddenly…
I realized.
It was speaking Japanese.
Shocked, I asked,
"Who are you?"
The figure replied in a hurry,
"I don't have much time. Listen carefully…
Find an abandoned village and rebuild it from nothing.
It lies near… (glitch)… the country of Eldria."
"Wait! Who are you?!" I shouted.
The figure only smiled…
…and vanished into thin air.
From that moment, I began preparing for the future.
Ten years later
Ten years had passed.
I was now fourteen years old.
And today…
…was the day of my awakening.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Look… it's Lord Valoren."
"The youngest son of the Ignis family."
I ignored them.
This was normal for someone born into a noble house.
The morning air was cold as I stood before the crystal.
My heart pounded.
Fear… anticipation… uncertainty.
All of it mixed together.
I slowly raised my hand…
…and touched the crystal.
It was cold.
Too cold.
A faint hum echoed through my body.
Light began to shimmer inside it—
like distant stars.
Then suddenly—
It changed.
A wave of cold energy surged through my arm.
The light… disappeared.
Darkness spread instead.
Deep.
Endless.
Terrifying.
The crystal… turned black.
I froze.
"…What does this mean?" I whispered.
The priest stepped forward, his face pale.
"I… I don't know…" he stammered.
"I have never seen anything like this…
It's not just darkness… it's… deeper than that…"
A laugh broke the silence.
"Of course," someone sneered.
I glanced to the side.
An upperclassman smirked.
"Valoren awakened nothing. Just emptiness."
"A complete waste."
My fists clenched.
But I said nothing.
Because I could feel it.
This wasn't nothing.
This wasn't emptiness.
It was something far beyond their understanding.
As the cold spread through my body, a realization struck me.
I wasn't failing.
I had awakened something…
…they couldn't even comprehend.
Later — Palace
The atmosphere was heavy.
The moment we returned, my father's anger exploded.
"You disgrace!" he roared.
"You are nothing but trash!"
Before I could react—
He drew his sword.
"I should kill you right now!"
The blade moved—
But suddenly—
Clang.
Someone stepped in.
"Stop, Father."
It was my brother, Arthur.
Father's eyes narrowed.
"Are you getting in my way, Arthur?"
Arthur didn't hesitate.
"No."
He glanced at me… then back at Father.
"But killing him would be a waste."
A faint smile formed on his face.
"I have a better idea."
Father asked ,"what better idea you've got?"
My brother Arthur stepped forward and whispered in his ears.
After that father was happy and said,"Just as I expected from you Arthur."
I then stood there saying nothing.The atmosphere in the palace was suffocating as we stood before Father.
My chest tightened, knowing that the weight of his words would change everything.
Father stared me down, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.
"Valoren, pack your things. You're being sent away—like the other noble failures before you, to the outskirts, just like that grim territory beyond the Izigoon lands."
My blood ran cold. I opened my mouth to protest, but Arthur, calm as ever, stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with a quiet certainty.
"Father, I think this is exactly what Valoren needs. If he is so determined to fail, let him rebuild himself far away from the family."
Father's face softened, and a strange satisfaction lit his eyes. "Just as I expected from you, Arthur."
I stood there, frozen, while Father continued, "Prepare your belongings. You leave at sunrise."
I swallowed hard, but I said nothing. As they walked away, I realized Arthur had already taken control—he had turned my secret into his own plan, and now no one would know the truth.
My brother Arthur then said I am sorry I couldn't come up with an better solution.
I then said, "It's not your fault. Pls don't apologize."
"Thank you for understanding." Arthur said.
After that I heared that my buttler Dan has asked for his retirement to father. And father said," Thanks for your service all this year's Dan it was a pleasure to have you."
Then Dan leave and I asked him if he was really taking his retirement permission.
He replied with a calm face, " Don't worry lord valoren cause I took the retirement to leave this place with you."
I was stunned.
"But why? I am just worthless."
Then Dan said, " Lord valoren stop hiding the fact that you didn't notice anything."
I was surprised that he was able to feel the emptiness that was giving a chill presence.
Others just ignore it but he knew it all along.
" Just what I can expect from you Dan." I said. "Thanks for the praise." He replied.
After that we head out for the village. And one of the maid was also sent with me . And with that I was just leaving.
And people were still saying goodbye to me I then said with a smile ," Thank you everyone."
On the road an kid who was 16-15 years old was standing in front of the carriage and then every gaurd was standing prepared to attack.
Then I said no don't then everyone said," but what if he attack you."
I said ,"Ooo.. no he won't." Then he said " It's been so long have you been well lord valoren." He said.
"Yeah so do you get it ." I asked."yes everything is prepared and safed."
Everyone was wondering and one of the soldiers asked me if I knew him.
I said ," Yes he is my spy I buyed him for spying on the place where we will go around 3 years ago." Dan asked, " As expected from lord valoren you are someone who shouldn't be underestimate."
"Then let's go to the spot first we have work to do."