[Imperial Capital — Outer Courtyard, Central Residential Area]
In the outermost edge of the noble quarter, there stood a two-entry courtyard residence—Byzantine in layout, with European architectural flourishes.
Not large, but refined. Elegant, even.
A relic of nobility in a city reshaped by steel and blood.
But now, the once-pristine stone paths were overgrown with weeds.Moss clung to the courtyard walls like scars on a corpse.
Clearly, this place had long since been abandoned.
In the past, only nobles were permitted to reside here.Even the lowest-ranked aristocrat would have claimed such a house with pride.
But that was before the Blood Emperor, Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, had purged the old blood.
Now, even noble mansions could be had—for the right price.
A shrill roar broke the stillness of the courtyard.
"Roarrr—!"
The sound was full of pain, though drained of strength.
It came from a creature slumped in the courtyard's center:an ogre, bound tightly to a thick stone chair.
Roughly 2.5 meters tall—small for his species—his arms and legs were tied so securely that only his head could move, twitching with unnatural spasms.
The body, meanwhile, remained completely still.No struggle. No resistance.
A condition made possible only by precise trauma to his spine.
"It's yelling again. At this rate, the neighbors are going to notice."
A calm voice rang out.
Minori stepped into view from behind the ogre, holding in his hands two blood-slick fragments of bone—each the size of a clenched fist.
They were cervical vertebrae—freshly removed.
Dispassionately, Minori examined the bloodied ends.He had sheared them from the ogre's spine with surgical precision.
This level of damage wouldn't kill a monster with high regeneration like an ogre—but it would paralyze the body, leaving only the head mobile.
Exactly as intended.
Clack.
Minori tossed the two bones onto the ground, where a small black creature eagerly awaited.
"Ouuu!"
The little evil hound, no longer so little, pounced and bit down with a crunch.
"Eat slow. I won't harvest more until five days from now."
Minori didn't even look back as he stepped forward and picked up a soiled rag from the dirt.He shoved it back into the ogre's mouth.
The creature's muffled wails ceased instantly.
Every five days, Minori had to repeat the same spinal trauma.If he waited longer, the ogre's healing factor would reconnect enough nerves to move its limbs—and that risk was unacceptable.
He glanced at the dark-furred hound gnawing eagerly.
It had grown.
In the month since he left E-Rantel, the little monster had evolved with remarkable speed.From a pup that barely reached his calves, it now stood above his knees, its sleek black body stretching nearly a meter long.
It radiated the aura of a true predator.
Yes.
Minori had left E-Rantel on July 18th.
Now, it was August 20th, in the Middle Fire Month.
He had been in the Baharuth Empire for over a month.
And thus far—
His operation was a failure.
His goals were clear:
Become a Cursed Knight.
Pursue immortality.
Both were tied to key figures.
He had hoped to locate Renas Rocobolus, the disfigured noblewoman whose curse might lead to the "Cursed Knight" class.
But she had vanished—banished by her house, disowned, erased.
Even the Adventurer's Guild, with its vast network, had no trace of her.
As for the second target—
Fluder Paradyne.
The most powerful magic caster in the Empire.
But the man served directly under the Blood Emperor, acting as both advisor and war magician.
Unless Minori had direct access to the imperial court itself, meeting Fluder was impossible.
He wasn't even on the same rung of the ladder.
So he changed tactics.
In the latter half of the month, Minori began crafting and selling low-cost alchemical potions.
To draw attention, he spread rumors:
That a mysterious alchemist had arrived in the capital.
That he could create potions that could heal any wound—no matter how severe.
The kind of bait that might attract eyes like Fluder's.
Or even the Emperor's.
But—
So far, not a single fish had bitten.
Minori slumped into a stone chair near the center table, watching the ogre drool beneath its gag.
He rubbed his temple in frustration.
"One whole month… wasted. Is this plan even viable?"
If this didn't work, he'd have to change direction again.
He couldn't afford to stall.
Thump.
Suddenly—
A shadow flipped over the courtyard wall and landed lightly on the stone tiles.
Minori's gaze flicked toward the intruder.
A black-robed figure strode confidently toward him.
As they moved, their robe parted slightly, revealing brown boots and the glint of leather armor beneath.
The figure wore a hood that obscured their face.
A sharp, cold voice cut through the air:
"Living alone in a mansion this size… You must be feeling quite proud of yourself."
At Minori's feet, the hound lifted its head, baring its fangs with a low growl.
Minori didn't stand. He just gave a relaxed chuckle.
"Fifty gold a month. That's the rent."
He gestured lazily at the yard.
"Former noble property. Quiet, good location. Guard patrols nearby. I like it."
He narrowed his eyes.
"…Can't you just use the front door like everyone else?"
After the Blood Emperor's purges, many noble houses had been abandoned or sold.Some were still owned in name by desperate nobles now deep in debt—but in truth, they belonged to merchants and shadow players.
The robed figure didn't answer immediately.
Instead, they said:
"You're being watched. More than you think."
The hood tilted, revealing a pair of narrow eyes—gentle in shape, but sharp and cold in spirit.
They glared at the hound.
"What's with this little beast? This isn't the first time I've come here."
Minori gave a half-shrug.
"Maybe it hates being stared at. Or maybe… it just hates you."
"Tch."
The figure scoffed, returning the glare.The hound bared its teeth further.
Minori sighed.So childish.
People like her would be labeled "abrasive personality types" back in YGGDRASIL.
—
As she stepped closer, she threw off her black robe.
Revealed beneath was a tall, slender woman with long purple twin ponytails, tied neatly.
Her features were sharp, her face cold.
But what stood out most were her pointed ears.
She wasn't human.
She was a half-elf.
Her name was—
Imina.