Even in the radiant Royal Capital, shadows lurk.
Deep within a labyrinth of back alleys, there lay a dim district where narrow shops huddled together. It was a place where items that could never be found on the main thoroughfares were sold through illicit channels.
One such item was a secret medicine capable of forging a body into steel with a single swallow.
Knight Klaus von Winterfeld moved through the gloom in search of such illegal wares, his figure concealed beneath a deep hood. This was a place where the laws of the Kingdom held no sway. It was no place for a man holding the title of "Knight" to frequent. It would be one thing if he were here to lead a raid, but to visit as a customer!
He was surely betraying his father, the respected Captain of the Knights Order.
But—
(…It is all to become stronger! Please forgive me, Father…!)
Klaus still vividly remembered the agony of being trampled by Albert von Kronstadt during the summer training camp. He had lost consciousness after a mere three strikes and had suffered injuries so severe that, without Saint Seraphina’s intervention, he likely would have died.
Those three blows had shattered more than just Klaus’s body; they had crushed his pride. If the defeat had been any less absolute, perhaps he wouldn't have felt such bone-deep humiliation. Fueled by a volatile mix of rage and the memory of that pain, Klaus was prepared to stake everything to surpass Albert.
Deep in the alley, a familiar silhouette appeared. It was his usual dealer—a man with a gaunt frame dressed in tattered clothes. A cunning smirk was plastered across his swarthy face. When the man recognized Klaus, his grin widened.
"Yo, valued customer. Looking for the usual stuff again?"
The man’s voice was low and grating. Klaus gave a silent nod.
"Hehe, much obliged. Quiet as always, I see."
The man pulled a small vial from his breast pocket. It contained a transparent liquid—the Secret Medicine of Physical Enhancement Klaus craved. Klaus took the vial and pressed several gold coins into the man’s hand.
The transaction should have ended there, without a hitch.
"…Say, friend."
Unusually, the dealer spoke up. Normally, these sellers cared for nothing but the coin. Once the deal was done, a customer was as good as dead to them. Furthermore, in the black market, both parties were usually eager to avoid unnecessary conversation.
Klaus tried to walk away without looking back, intent on leaving no trace of his presence. But the dealer’s next words stopped him cold.
"You interested in a stronger drug?"
—A stronger drug?
Klaus’s body reacted instinctively. His heart skipped a beat.
"…Stronger?"
"Hehe, I knew that’d get ya. That’s right, there’s a secret medicine far more potent than this. They call it the 'Secret Medicine of Dusk.' I guarantee it’s several times more effective than what you’re holding."
"Several times…!?"
Klaus’s hand tightened into a fist. He had just begun to feel the limits of his current regimen. If something existed that could shatter those limits, he wanted it more than anything.
Seeing Klaus’s reaction, the dealer continued with a greasy smirk.
"It’s contraband, see? Not the kind of thing you just find laying around. But right now, it’s available—provided you meet certain conditions."
"Speak."
"An organization reached out to me. They’re looking for skilled warriors in search of secret medicines. They wanted a referral. If they take a liking to you, they’ll hand over the 'Secret Medicine of Dusk' as a signing bonus."
"…And you get a finder's fee, I assume."
"Heh heh heh… well, it’s a living."
"Which organization is this?"
"They go by 'Black Dawn.' If you’re game, I can give you the location."
"Can they be trusted?"
"Ahahaha! Where do you think we are, friend!? Not a soul in this pit can be trusted. Including me!"
"Fair point—"
Whether they were trustworthy or not was something he would have to determine with his own instincts. If he let his guard down, he would be devoured; that was the only law here. He had no reason to hesitate. He needed that power.
—The commoner Leon had slain the Thunder Beast that appeared at the Academy!
It wasn't just Albert. Recently, even that commoner Leon had accomplished a miraculous feat. A man Klaus was supposed to have beaten in a mock battle…
To his shock, Leon had grown incredibly strong in an impossibly short window of time. Klaus had watched from the school building as Leon butchered the Thunder Beast, his slashing speed so immense it defied logic. At his current level, Klaus wouldn't even be able to put up a fight.
(How? How did he gain such strength…!?)
It was incomprehensible, but Klaus couldn't afford to stand idly by. He needed power. A new, absolute power.
"Tell me the location."
He had no time to waste. If this turned out to be some pathetic trap, he would simply slaughter them all. They were nothing but trash, after all.
"Right you are. Here’s the map and the letter of introduction. Don’t lose ‘em."
Klaus took the slip of paper and vanished into the darkness.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
—The Kingdom Festival was drawing near.
I was alone in the training ground, lost in thought.
The Kingdom Festival was the great autumn celebration of the realm. It was a massive event where the entire Royal Capital was swept up in a festive mood, filled with laughter and joy.
However, for me, the festival was no cause for celebration. It was the day my Death Flag was scheduled to trigger.
In the climax of the second chapter of the original game, Arcana Academia, the villainous noble Albert von Kronstadt was destined to meet a gruesome end at the end of Hero Leon’s sword of justice.
Taking advantage of the chaos of the festival, three shadowy organizations were supposed to make their move. The original Albert, being a fool beyond salvation, was approached by all three and—idiot that he was—agreed to cooperate with every single one of them!
I mean, pick a side, man!
Based on his character in the game, he was probably approached by the "Iron-Blood Alliance" (who wanted to overthrow the Kingdom), the "Dual-Eye Faction" (who questioned the nature of God), and "Black Dawn" (a terrorist group controlled by the Demon Race). They must have flattered him, and he probably got carried away…
What followed was a nightmare: the kidnapping of Princess Eliana, an assassination attempt on Saint Seraphina, and a bombing in the central plaza. All of it was blamed on Albert von Kronstadt. Leon, the Hero who suppressed the chaos, then executed Albert as the mastermind.
—That was the game’s script.
Naturally, the chances of me following that same path were zero. I wasn't about to go leaping at sweet talk like the original Albert, and I already knew exactly where that road led. There was no way I was going down that route.
I could just reject them all and call it a day, but… that felt a bit too passive.
If I was going to do this, I’d rather crush them so thoroughly that my future safety was guaranteed. They were the kind of people who wouldn't do the world any favors by staying alive, anyway.
"…Perhaps I’ll just annihilate them."
Wiping them out would be much cleaner than simply keeping my distance. I would show no mercy to those dreaming dreams far above their station.
Conveniently, I had four loyal servants of my own.
The door clicked open.
"I have kept you waiting, Lord Albert."
"Hyah-hoo! Milia-chan-sama is here!"
"Kaname has arrived!"
"Calling us so suddenly, Albert-kun… what’s up?"
Luna, Milia, Kaname, and Silvia filed into the room. I had summoned them here a short while ago. I looked over their faces before speaking.
"I’m going to go beat down some insolent fools. It’s for the sake of justice, but… in short, it’s a killing mission. Are you prepared to draw your blades for me?"
"At your command! My life is yours to use as you wish, Lord Albert!"
"Ehehe. Leave it to Milia-chan-sama, the former professional assassin!"
"To fulfill my lord’s command is a samurai’s highest honor! And if it is to punish the wicked, I have no objections!"
"I told you, didn't I? I’ll make any wish of yours come true, Albert-kun. So, who’s the target?"
Every one of them was a warrior worth a thousand men.
So, Death Flag… do you really think you can still kill me?