Chapter 9

Dante gazed out the carriage window, watching the scenery blur past. A strange feeling stirred within him.

I’ve traveled this road before.

That had been in his previous life, before he returned to the past.
But back then, the journey had been nothing like this peaceful ride.

The world had been engulfed in flames.
The streets had reeked of corpses, and shrieks of agony had filled the air.

He himself had been fleeing from pursuers, too desperate to spare a single glance at his surroundings.

But now…

It’s so tranquil.

Villagers went about their work with calm faces. Children ran freely, bursting into peals of laughter.

For a long time, Dante simply watched them.

“Is it strange to you, young master?”

The voice came from beside him—Eina.

“Yes,” Dante admitted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “It is strange.”

“Well, it would be. This is your first time leaving the fortress, after all.”

That wasn’t true, not really. But he didn’t bother to correct her.
In this life, at least, it was his first time.

Eina pointed to the children playing in the fields.

“Those children are the ones you’ll be protecting in the future, my lord.”

“…I see.”

Her words weighed down on his shoulders.

He had never been confident in such matters.
His life had been that of a wanderer—his world narrowed down to the edge of a blade.

Could someone like him, who had struggled merely to survive, truly guide others?
Could he even secure the position of heir?

There were too many variables.

Lucia, the venomous stepmother.
Two younger half-siblings.
And the shadowy organization that had destroyed his house.

Even if time flowed as before, there was no guarantee he would safely inherit.

Though truth be told… it hardly matters.

He had no desire for power or rank.
For Dante, only the sword mattered now.

And yet—

The downfall of his house was something he could never ignore.
Lucia was one thing. But to stand by while his clan perished? Impossible.

I’ll have to find a way.

He didn’t know who his enemies were.
In his past life, he had searched endlessly, but not once did he find a clear lead.

What he did know was this:

Their strength was beyond imagination.

Not even Zenon, the Empire’s sword, nor Milleon’s knights had been able to withstand them.

If such a group truly existed, they could not possibly erase every trace. Somewhere, somehow, they must have left a trail.

That’s what I must uncover.

It would not be easy.
The Empire itself had poured its full might into the search under the Emperor’s wrath—yet nothing.

Only scraps of evidence had been found, and even those trails had been severed, leaving the true body hidden.

But those scraps are enough.

If he could follow those discarded “tails” back far enough, he would eventually reach the “body.”

For that, one thing was essential:

Power.

Power so absolute that no enemy could stand before him.

Fortunately… I remember a few ways.

Though he had lived like an outcast, his eyes and ears had always been open.
And he remembered several major events that were still yet to come.

If he used them well, they would become his stepping stones.

“…Young master?”

Eina’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. It’s just… you looked so serious.”

At her words, Dante touched his face. His expression was indeed hard and grim.

“It’s nothing. I suppose I’m simply nervous. Don’t worry yourself.”

He forced a small smile. Eina grinned mischievously in return.

“You’re scared, aren’t you? Don’t worry too much! The Empire’s roads are safe. And if something does happen, I’ll protect you!”

Dante couldn’t help but chuckle.

Who was protecting whom, exactly?

She even rolled up her sleeve, flexing an arm that had no muscle to show.

“Very well. I’ll be counting on you.”

But Dante knew she wasn’t joking.

He remembered all too well—
how she had thrown her small body in front of him,
how she had clung to an enemy’s leg with her dying breath, refusing to let go.

That memory made Dante look at her with gentler eyes.

For her sake too, I must grow stronger.

Milleon’s voice rang outside.

“We’ll take a short rest here.”

The carriage slowed to a halt.

Patrick appeared at the door. “Are you comfortable, young master?”

“This is fine.”

“I’m fine too!” Eina chirped.

Patrick smiled warmly and opened the door wide.

“The scenery here is lovely. It’s a good place for lunch.”

“Then let’s.”

Dante stepped out with Eina.

“Wow… it’s beautiful.”

A vast meadow stretched out, green and endless, the horizon wide and free.

Soldiers were already preparing food nearby.

“I’ll help them!” Eina lifted her skirt and dashed away, eager to personally serve Dante’s meal.

Dante watched her for a moment, then turned to Milleon.

“How far have we come?”

“Roughly twenty kilometers.”

Dante nodded.

“And the distance left?”

“At least ten more days of travel. If we hurry, less… but the men would suffer.”

Which meant there was no point rushing.

“Hmm…”

Dante narrowed his eyes.

That mountain should be nearby, shouldn’t it?

He remembered an event from ten years in the future.

A simple herb-gatherer would discover an unknown divine relic in a mountain—
later named Starfire.

A mercenary who stole it grew to unmatched strength, enough to call himself the “King of Mercenaries.”

In mere years, he had forged a vast guild, uniting countless bands by sheer might.
In the process, he had claimed to be a god’s apostle, committing atrocities until a holy knight order finally struck him down.

If Dante claimed Starfire first…

I could grow stronger, faster.

The location was close to the route they were already taking.
If time allowed, a detour would be more than worth it.

“I’d like to stop somewhere before we reach the capital.”

“Is there a place you wish to see?” Milleon asked.

“Yes.”

“Then tell me, and I’ll adjust the schedule.”

Milleon agreed easily. To him, it made sense that a boy on his first journey might wish to sightsee.

Dante hesitated.

He remembered the mountain’s place on the map, but not its name.

“…Do you have a map?”

“Of course.”

Nobles were permitted where commoners were not.

Milleon spread the map across the grass.

Dante studied it, then pointed.

“Here. I want to visit this place.”

“Kalotes Mountain?” Milleon tilted his head.

“It’s just a plain hill, really. There’s nothing remarkable about it.”

“Still. I have a reason.”

Dante quickly came up with an excuse.

“I once read a book that claimed a nameless god sleeps there. I’d like to see if the legend is true.”

Milleon chuckled softly.

For all Dante’s frightening brilliance, he was reminded that the boy was still only ten.

“Very well. We’ll pass through Kalotes before heading to the capital.”

“Thank you.”

“Lunch is ready!” Eina’s bright voice called from across the meadow.

“Let’s eat,” Dante said.

His stomach rumbled in agreement.

Two days later, Milleon raised his hand, pointing ahead.

“There. That is Kalotes.”

It was a low, unimpressive hill.

“Not very tall,” Dante observed.

“As I said, just a simple backhill. Nothing special.”

“On the contrary,” Dante thought, suppressing a grin.

A low hill would make searching far easier.

Milleon continued, “We’ll rest here tonight, climb tomorrow, then resume for the capital the day after.”

Dante glanced at the hill, uncertainty prickling.

Will I be able to find it?

Even a small mountain couldn’t be scoured in a single day.

Then Milleon asked, “If the tale is true, this god might be one of the ancient flame deities who fell during the Holy War. Did the book say anything else?”

“…Flame?” Dante echoed.

“Yes. Something about fire.”

The legend said lightning had struck Kalotes, a great wildfire blazing across its slopes.
And when the ashes settled, the relic had been uncovered—discovered by the herb-gatherer who came to extinguish lingering embers.

“Flame, then,” Milleon mused.

He was not just a knight but also well-educated, trained as a quasi-noble.

“Bhran, Cratheon, Chetche, Kalgrad… all gods tied to fire.”

“Could one of them be sleeping here?” Dante asked.

“Who can say?” Milleon smiled faintly, turning his gaze to the hill.

He clearly didn’t believe the legend.

But Dante did not correct him.
Because in this case, the legend was real.

And somewhere on that unremarkable hill… Starfire awaited.