"Hush! Hush!"
Clang!
Clatter!
The sharp sound of steel clashing echoed throughout the royal training grounds.
Dozens of knights sparred under the bright morning sun, their wooden swords colliding again and again as they practiced their techniques.
Dust rose from the ground with every step.
Sweat glistened on armored shoulders.
This was the place where the strongest warriors of the empire trained.
And today…
I had decided to show up.
A few knights noticed me standing at the edge of the field and immediately straightened their posture.
"Prince Alex!"
They bowed respectfully.
At that moment a familiar voice called out.
"Brother?"
I turned my head.
Walking toward me was a tall young man wearing light training armor.
His posture was firm, his movements disciplined.
This was my older brother.
Crown Prince Adrian von Voldigord.
The future emperor of the Ether Empire.
Unlike me, Adrian looked exactly how a prince should look.
Strong.
Confident.
Capable.
He looked slightly surprised to see me.
"Alex?"
"What are you doing here?"
I smiled casually.
"Well…"
"I came here to practice."
The crown prince blinked.
"You?"
"Yes."
He stared at me for a moment before laughing loudly.
"Haha!"
"Well then, that's a surprise."
"You're welcome here anytime."
He gestured toward the center of the training field.
"Come."
"I'll introduce you to someone."
We walked across the courtyard until we reached a tall man giving orders to the knights.
The moment he noticed the crown prince approaching, he turned and bowed deeply.
"Your Highness."
This man was none other than the commander of the imperial knights.
One of the strongest warriors in the empire.
Commander Roland Drake.
Adrian nodded toward me.
"Commander, this is my younger brother."
"Prince Alex."
Roland bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness."
"It is an honor."
I returned the greeting politely.
"Hello."
The commander straightened.
"So, Prince Alex."
"What brings you to the training grounds today?"
I scratched the back of my head.
"Well…"
"I wanted to spar."
The surrounding knights froze.
Even the crown prince looked confused.
"…You want to fight?"
"Yes."
"Just a little practice."
Commander Roland hesitated.
After all, everyone in the palace knew my reputation.
The fragile prince.
The boy who had spent four years in a coma.
The prince whose body could barely handle light exercise.
But eventually the commander nodded.
"Very well."
He turned his head.
"Peter."
A young knight stepped forward immediately.
"Yes, Commander!"
"You will spar with Prince Alex."
The knight scratched his head awkwardly.
"…Me?"
"Yes."
"But go easy on him."
Peter picked up a wooden sword and handed me another.
The surrounding knights stepped back, forming a circle.
Someone shouted.
"Begin!"
I raised my sword dramatically.
"Hyah!"
Then—
Slip.
My foot lost its balance.
My body tilted sideways.
And before anyone could react—
THUD!
I fell face-first onto the ground.
Complete silence filled the training field.
Dozens of knights stared at me.
The crown prince looked stunned.
Commander Roland blinked.
Then suddenly—
DING!
System Notification:
Audience Shock Generated.
Shock Level: Moderate
Reward: 2000 SC Coins
---
Inside my mind, the system spoke cheerfully.
"Host has successfully shocked everyone."
"Reward granted."
Meanwhile I slowly lifted my head from the dirt.
"Huh…?"
"What happened?"
I looked around with a confused expression.
Every knight was staring at me awkwardly.
One of them coughed.
"Well…"
"Prince…"
"You slipped."
Several knights began laughing nervously.
The crown prince covered his mouth.
Commander Roland cleared his throat.
"…Prince Alex."
"You may need to visit the palace priest."
"I believe you require healing."
I slowly stood up and brushed the dust from my clothes.
"Yes…"
"That sounds reasonable."
And with that…
I calmly walked away.
---
The moment I turned into a quiet corridor, I smirked.
"Well?"
"How was my acting?"
The system replied instantly.
"Excellent performance, Host."
"You looked extremely pathetic."
I snorted.
"You little shit."
"If not for the coins, I wouldn't have embarrassed myself like that."
Still…
The result was worth it.
2000 SC Coins.
Exactly what I needed.
Because earlier today I had discovered something very interesting in the system shop.
"System."
"Yes, Host?"
"Open the shop."
A blue interface appeared before my eyes.
System Shop.
Categories:
Skills
Equipment
Technology
Heroes
I selected Heroes.
Rows of character profiles appeared.
Most of them were expensive.
Far beyond my current balance.
But while scrolling…
One profile caught my attention.
"…Well."
"Look who's here."
I stared carefully at the information.
---
Hero Candidate
Name: Selene Virelia
Hero Potential: A+
Class: Merchant Strategist
Talents:
• Merchant Queen (SS Talent)
• Economic Genius
• Negotiation Master
• Black Market Network (Hidden)
Unlock Cost: 3000 SC
---
I frowned slightly.
"System."
"Yes?"
"Wasn't she a villain in the game?"
The system answered calmly.
"In the original timeline, yes."
"Selene Virelia eventually became known as the Demoness of the Black Market."
"One of the most powerful underground figures on the continent."
"But that occurs many years later."
"Currently she is only a civilian."
I crossed my arms.
"So she isn't evil yet."
"Correct."
"Her future path has not been determined."
Interesting.
In the game she eventually controlled half the underground economy.
She was incredibly dangerous.
But also incredibly intelligent.
If I recruited her early…
She could become my strongest economic weapon.
There was just one problem.
I checked my balance.
SC Coins: 1300
"…Not enough."
Which was exactly why I had just embarrassed myself in front of the entire royal knight order.
Now my balance looked much better.
SC Coins: 3300
Perfect.
"System."
"Yes, Host?"
"Purchase Selene Virelia."
"Purchase confirmed."
DING!
System Notification:
Hero Contract Acquired.
Remaining SC Coins: 300
Suddenly—
Information flooded my mind.
Locations.
Maps.
Memories.
Routes.
I grabbed my head.
"System!"
"What the hell is this?!"
The system responded calmly.
"This is the current information about Selene Virelia."
"Her location."
"Her situation."
I blinked.
"…You mean you're not summoning her?"
The system sounded offended.
"Host."
"Please think logically."
"How would you explain someone appearing out of thin air?"
"…Fair point."
"And if I did not give you this information…"
"Would you even know where to find her?"
I sighed.
"…Alright."
The information slowly settled inside my mind.
Location.
Identity.
Current condition.
Then I froze.
"…System."
"Yes?"
"Are you telling me the future Demoness of the Black Market is currently…"
I paused.
"A slave?"
The system answered calmly.
"Correct."
A blue screen appeared again.
---
Hero Candidate Information
Name: Selene Virelia
Age: 14
Status: Slave
Family Status: Enslaved with parents
Location: Southern Slave Market
Hero Potential: A+
Talents:
• Merchant Queen
• Economic Genius
• Negotiation Master
---
I leaned back against the wall.
"Well…"
"That's unexpected."
In the original timeline, Selene rose from nothing.
A poor girl who eventually built the largest black market network on the continent.
But right now…
She was just a slave.
And not alone.
Her parents were enslaved with her.
A complete family.
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
"So the future queen of the black market…"
"…is currently being sold."
The system replied calmly.
"In the original timeline her family is separated."
"She escapes years later."
"That event begins her rise to power."
I nodded slowly.
"So if I intervene now…"
"Her future changes."
"That is correct."
A slow smile appeared on my face.
"Well then."
"That makes things easier."
Instead of chasing a future villainess…
I could simply buy her before the world breaks her.
And if I bought her entire family…
Their loyalty would be absolute.
I stretched lazily.
"Looks like I have somewhere to go."
Because somewhere in the capital…
A girl destined to shake the entire continent was waiting.
And this time—
Her story would begin very differently.
I smiled slightly.
"Wait for me, Selene Virelia."
"Your future employer is coming."