The Sentinel Order was considered the most prestigious position in the Empire.
A status every young person admired,
an organization whose mere admission brought honor to one's family.
They were the Emperor's sword, the Empire's shield,
and the embodiment of its ideals and purity.
…And today was the day of that glorious induction ceremony.
***
I looked at myself in the mirror.
The Sentinel uniform—deep navy blue, embroidered with golden threads.
There was a time when I desired it to the point of obsession.
I believed that wearing it would make me noble.
That my father would finally acknowledge me.
But it was nothing more than an illusion.
Not even a skin.
Just a piece of cloth.
Instead of thinking about the Sentinels…
I thought about the power that had manifested when I killed Jacob.
—Tick.
I clicked my tongue, imitating the sound of a clock.
Nothing happened.
Time did not stop.
It did not slow.
—…
Instead, beneath my left collarbone, near my heart…
I felt that familiar pulse.
The black fragment.
A faint… but unmistakable wave of mana.
It was always there.
When I slept.
When I trained.
When I ate.
It throbbed like a second heart.
And so…
a natural thought formed:
Perhaps… I could use it as a mana core.
***
In the past, the concept of a "mana core" existed.
But with the advancement of magical theory and biology,
it had been replaced by a far more efficient system:
Mana circuits.
A system that allows the body to perceive, amplify, and control mana.
Everything revolved around it.
Knights.
Mages.
Different paths… but the same foundation.
However…
what I had…
was something more.
An additional source.
A power obtained without effort.
***
—Hey…
I placed a hand over my chest and spoke softly:
—Become my mana core.
There was no response.
As expected.
—Even if you don't want to… make it work. If I die, you die too.
If it could store and release mana like a core…
then there was no reason we couldn't coexist.
***
—Knock, knock.
Engi's voice came from outside.
—Young master. It is time.
—Yeah. I'm coming.
I fixed my hair.
Back then, I had no sense of style…
but now, I had years of social experience.
—Not bad.
***
The ceremony was as grand as ever.
The central plaza was overflowing with people.
Every building was packed with spectators.
At the center…
stood the new members of the Sentinel Order.
I stood among the most prominent.
Because of my name.
Because of my appearance.
***
—We shall now begin the induction ceremony.
The commander of the order, Alberich von Stein, began his speech.
His voice echoed across the entire plaza.
Honor.
Loyalty.
Glory to the Empire.
The same words as always.
***
I slowly scanned the faces of the other forty new knights.
I already knew them.
Their names.
Their futures.
Many of them…
would betray the Empire.
At least thirty percent.
Too many?
No.
This was the Empire's final era.
***
—Do you swear to serve as the Empire's shield and the Emperor's sword?!
—We swear!
We raised our swords.
Forty blades shining under the sunlight.
The crowd roared like a wave.
***
…A long time ago.
Before I regressed.
At this exact moment…
I felt an overwhelming sense of euphoria.
As if the entire world existed for me.
As if the future of the Empire rested on my shoulders.
***
Now…
I felt nothing.
***
Everyone here will die.
The nobles.
The citizens.
The knights.
I had already seen that future.
***
—Step down.
We descended from the stage.
Nobles approached us.
Congratulations.
Flattery.
I tried to slip away.
***
—So it's you.
A voice.
Familiar.
A man stood with his arms crossed, staring at me.
My former superior.
—The one who beheaded a cadet.
Julian Askar.
Dark blond hair.
Sharp jawline.
Golden eyes that seemed to pierce through me.
I recognized him instantly.
And I knew.
***
—Yes. I am Maximilian von Ebenholtz.
***
In the future…
I would kill him.
***
We moved to the Sentinel headquarters.
A fortress-like structure.
Endless corridors.
Constant movement.
***
—This is your space.
Julian opened the door.
A simple office.
Before, I had been disappointed.
Now…
I understood.
I didn't even deserve this.
***
—You can hire personal staff within a budget of 500,000 $.
He tossed a file onto the desk.
—And you know what that is, right?
He gestured toward a device.
A computer.
Connected to the Empire's network.
***
—Yes.
I sat down.
—You're definitely young.
His wrist device vibrated.
—Finish settling in and come down to the first floor. Your first assignment has been issued. A noble murder case.
***
From the very first day.
***
—You have ten minutes.
—Understood.
He left.
***
What does a knight do?
Not pose.
They:
Maintain order Eliminate threats Hunt monsters Protect nobles
And earn money.
A lot of money.
Rewards.
Materials.
Bounties.
A system based on merit.
***
That's why…
I had been left behind so quickly before.
***
I stepped out.
Two fellow knights stood in the corridor.
Tiana and Leon.
They simply nodded.
They knew I was a nepotism case.
Before, that look bothered me.
Now…
it didn't.
***
—…I have no idea.
I didn't know what to do.
The world was already doomed.
And I…
had no plan.