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Chapter 01
One day, I suddenly remembered my old homeroom teacher—and that’s when I realized: this world is the setting of a novel I once read!
Shouldn’t I have woken up in bed after a revelation like that?
But no… the place I found myself in was anything but ordinary.
It was a catacomb—an underground tomb.
“Ugh… ow…”
I groaned, rubbing my sore forehead after hitting it on the floor during the fall.
The dim light flickering in my vision cast eerie, chilling shadows.
The corridor ahead was faintly visible, the dim glow only outlining shapes in the gloom.
Sticky, unidentified liquids dampened the pillars and floors. A cold breeze swept in from beyond a gaping, circular hole that looked like a demon’s mouth.
But the creepiest part wasn’t the setting.
It was the monsters standing in front of me.
> [W-e-l-c-o-m-e…]
A translucent ghost spun in circles, sticking its tongue out.
Beside it, a skeleton creaked menacingly, cracking its shoulders as if to intimidate me.
A zombie with wobbly eyes emitted a foul stench, moaning as it approached.
I was just a six-year-old kid.
At this age, most children would be frozen with fear—or bawling their eyes out.
But me? I stared at them coolly and said coldly:
“Get lost, unless you want to mess with a descendant of Hamrlohren.”
The moment those words left my mouth, a deep indigo light burst from the pendant on my chest, spreading like a shockwave.
> [Kyaaah!]
[K-keeek!]
The monsters shrieked in terror and scrambled away like their lives depended on it.
Was I calm because I had the mind of an adult from my past life?
No way. Even an adult would be scared if monsters suddenly appeared like that.
The real reason I stayed calm…
Was because this whole situation felt familiar.
This catacomb belonged to my family’s estate.
Because I had been reincarnated as a member of House Hamrlohren—a prestigious family of dark mages who command corpses, ghosts, skeletons, and demons.
There was nothing to fear from such low-level undead.
My life, riddled with thorns and dead ends, was scarier than they were.
As the monsters vanished, my gaze landed on a crystal pillar across the hall.
I caught a faint glimpse of myself reflected in it.
Chubby cheeks that looked fun to squish. Tiny, stubby hands.
Messy platinum hair that floated like silk. Pink eyes that shone with life.
My face didn’t suit a dark magic household at all—it was the face of an angel.
A walking spoiler in the shape of an adorable little girl.
That was me.
Kalmia Hamrlohren, age six.
A descendant of a historic dark magic household.
And though no one knows it yet… I’m actually a saint.
I remembered that this world was from a fantasy novel I’d read in my previous life:
“The Holy Knight Who Used Dark Magic.”
And from that memory came some unfortunate spoilers:
Because I couldn’t awaken dark magic like a proper member of the family, I was scheduled to be kicked out today.
After that, I’d be exploited as a saint and end up in a bad ending.
“Should I be grateful I remembered the future just before being thrown out… or not?”
Sighing, I pulled out a pocket watch from my coat.
4:45 PM.
Only 15 minutes left until the demonstration that would determine my fate.
—
In a pitch-black hall where it felt like night had already fallen, an old man with streaks of silver in his black hair sat resting his chin in one hand.
His red eyes glowed with a predatory sharpness that made him seem ready to stab anyone who crossed him. Yet his charismatic presence overshadowed his age—he had the kind of beauty that drew you in.
A decadent charm that evoked shadows more than light, conspiracy more than justice.
This man was Baytenze Hamrlohren, the family’s patriarch and its unshakable pillar.
“Is it time, Patriarch?”
“Hmm. The demonstration begins now, doesn’t it? Let’s head out.”
“Sir… it’s not that…”
The aide bowed his head and reported hesitantly.
“Your son, Lord Sylvan, is requesting an audience.”
“That fool forgot I don’t meet anyone before the demonstration?”
The demonstration was like a formal performance where all the children—both direct and collateral descendants—showcased their magical talent.Though called a performance, it was really an evaluation in front of the family head to prove one’s worth.
Naturally, some tried to butter up the patriarch beforehand for their child’s sake.
Disgusted by such politics, Baytenze had strictly forbidden meetings before the event years ago.
Even his youngest son should’ve known that by now.And yet, requesting an audience mere minutes before it started?
“He said he’ll accept any punishment… but please, just let him in.”
“Otherwise, he said he’ll release the experimental poison he’s been working on… into the venue.”
Baytenze chuckled at that.
“What a threat. That boy Sylvan… he’s done this before.”
“So, shall I—?”
“If that introverted boy went that far, there must be a reason. Let him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Moments later, the grand door opened.
A man with a long, ghostly shadow stepped into the room.
Pale, almost sickly skin. Lifeless, red-brown eyes.
Dark shadows under his eyes gave him a perpetually exhausted look.
His messy black curls framed his handsome face. Despite the stark contrast in temperament, it was obvious from one glance that he was Baytenze’s son—he had the same lethal beauty.
Sylvan stepped forward and bowed.
“You said you’d release your poison? You may as well do it here—maybe it’ll help you secure your spot as heir.”
“That’s a position I’d refuse even if you gave it to me,” Sylvan replied coldly.
Then, like his father, he cut straight to the point.
“Could you delay the demonstration?”
“Why?”
“Kalmia is missing.”
Baytenze raised an eyebrow.
Kalmia Hamrlohren.
Sylvan’s only daughter—his precious little girl.
She had inherited none of the family’s usual darkness. Instead, her beauty was bright and pure—almost angelic.
And at six years old, she had still failed to awaken dark magic.
Baytenze scowled, his memory barely recalling the child.
“So what?”
“Today is her last chance to participate in the demonstration.”
All dark mages awakened their powers by age five at the latest.
Kalmia, having reached six without any sign of dark magic, was officially deemed a failure.
If she didn’t display talent today, she would be exiled from the family.
Such was the unforgiving rule of Hamrlohren—a family that helped uphold the empire’s power through their mastery of dark magic.
“There’s no value in making exceptions.”
“We already gave her an exception—an extra year.”
Baytenze lazily crossed his legs.
“Unless she’s awakened her powers, this is all pointless. Better to spare her the humiliation and let her leave quietly.”
“That’s something no one can know for sure.”
“I don’t want to see her final chance disappear like this.”
“Did she run away? Scared of embarrassing herself?”
“No way.”
For a moment, sharp resolve flashed in Sylvan’s usually blank, gloomy eyes.
“Kalmia is stronger than anyone realizes.”
And just like that, a chilling blue mist rose behind him—dense, dark magic swirling like a living shadow.
“Until she’s back and ready for the demonstration… I will do whatever it takes to keep you right here.”
—
“Unbelievable…”
Of course, I didn’t come into the catacombs by choice.
It was bullying, plain and simple.
I was a disgrace—a powerless child with no magic and a father detached from the family’s core power.
To the other kids, I was nothing more than a toy.
“Hey, trash. You’re just gonna embarrass yourself at the demonstration anyway.”
“So we’re kindly helping you out. You should be grateful, right?”
“N-no… I don’t want this…!”
Then one of the bullies shoved me down a hole leading into the catacombs.
There had been rules against using violence, but I guess they wanted to get one last dig in before the event.
‘What if I’d broken something? Jerks!’
Falling and hitting my head had triggered my past-life memories…
But that doesn’t mean I’m thankful.
‘Just wait. I’ll pay them all back.’
To get my revenge…
And to avoid the tragic ending waiting for me…
I would hide my identity as a saint and remain in this family.
No matter what.
