The Unyielding Will
“Brother, you’re that legendary Kyleon from the tales? Why… why are you here, of all places?”
“I already told you. It’s my final wish to pass on my knowledge and experience with the sword to someone.”
At that moment, Kyleon’s body began to glow faintly.
“Wait a second! Why is your body glowing like that, Brother?”
“It’s time for me to go.”
“Time to go? Where are you going?!”
“To the afterlife.”
Before I knew it, Kyleon’s body started fading from the bottom up.
“I’m satisfied thanks to you, Erewon. Thank you.”
“I’m grateful too, Brother. My swordsmanship evolved a step further because of you.”
He gave me one last nod, and then Kyleon completely vanished.
“By the way, Master.”
“I already know what you’re going to ask.”
“This place… it’s where you can only enter after death, right? Sending me here means…”
“That’s right. You died.”
The master waved his hand once, and the surroundings changed.
I was back in my room.
But something felt off.
There were several people in the room.
“Waaah, Oppa…”
Another me lay on the bed as if dead.
Lua was clinging to my hand and crying with her face buried in the pillow.
“Master, what exactly is going on right now?”
“It’s simple. I could have just made you fake being unconscious, but I went all out and created the ultimate situation. This doll is breathing, but it can’t do anything except breathe.”
“Can’t do anything?! That’s just fainting! How long has it been like this?!”
I looked around and saw an empty bowl with a faint aftertaste of medicine left by me while I was unconscious.
“It hasn’t been that long.”
“How long then?”
“A week or so?”
“A week isn’t long at all!”
I was shouting, but the master remained calm as if it was no big deal.
“A week isn’t long.”
“To you, the transcendental master, a week is shorter than a blink of an eye. But I’m just a mere human. Ah! Now that I think about it…”
I realized the master could manipulate time however he wanted.
“No way.”
“I pulled out my soul, brought it to the border between life and death, and you’re saying that’s not allowed?”
“If it’s not allowed, it’s not. But why are you so angry?”
The master’s eyes narrowed.
“Isn’t it me who’s in the wrong?”
“You worried everyone around you a lot. But I’m completely fine.”
“You’re still far from it. Stop talking nonsense and go in!”
The master flicked his finger casually, and my soul was instantly sucked back into my body.
“Ugh…”
“Kyaaah!”
“Oh my!”
I sat up abruptly, and everyone in the room was startled.
Delis fell backward.
“O-Oh, Oppa?”
“How long did I sleep?”
“A week. But, Oppa!”
“Why? Uh…”
Lua rushed over and pushed me back down onto the bed.
“A patient moving so suddenly isn’t allowed. Lie down and rest more!”
“But I’ve been lying down for a week. My body feels perfectly fine right now.”
“It’s not allowed if it’s not. I’ll keep watching over you from the side. Just lie down a little longer… and when your body…”
Lua’s words slowed down until she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Tears were pouring from her eyes.
“I’m so relieved you’re awake!”
Lua hugged me tightly and sobbed.
“I’m fine. Look at me. Nothing’s wrong.”
“But I thought you wouldn’t wake up at all.”
“I’m awake now, so it’s fine, right?”
“I don’t know. You’re too much!”
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
“His Majesty the King has arrived.”
“His Majesty? Quickly, let him in!”
“No!”
It was Lua who said it firmly.
“Oppa needs more rest. No matter how much he’s your father…”
“Lua.”
I called out to her.
“I appreciate how much you care for me. But I’m really fine.”
“I don’t believe a patient’s claim that he’s fine.”
“Do I look like I’m lying when my body isn’t even fine? Especially to my little sister.”
“Ugh… No.”
“See? I’m not lying. Quickly, let him in.”
The door opened, and Father along with his attendants entered.
Some of them were wearing clothes not in the Solea style.
That person was someone I had seen in my previous life.
The Reichland Empire’s ambassador to Solea, Wies.
Father’s face lit up when he saw me awake.
“Erewon, are you all right?”
“Yes, I just woke up. I’m perfectly fine. I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you while standing.”
“You’re asking for forgiveness over something that’s too obvious. In any case, I’m glad you’re fine. I came to see you, and you just woke up. Here, take a look at my son in this state.”
Father stepped aside slightly, and the person in the unfamiliar clothes stepped forward.
“His Highness Prince Erewon, it’s good to see you. I am Wies, the Reichland Empire’s ambassador to Solea.”
I knew who he was very well.
In my previous life, he gathered every bit of information about Solea before the Empire swallowed it whole.
His greatest achievement was secretly gathering the Solea Royal Knights and serving them poisoned wine right before the annexation.
It wasn’t poison, but it would prevent mana usage for a day.
Because of that, the Empire’s main force was weakened, and they used pre-installed teleportation circles to storm in and seize Solea in an instant.
“I came to examine Prince Erewon’s condition under the command of His Majesty Emperor Franz von Reichland.”
“Thank you for coming to check on me yourself, Ambassador.”
“Since you came under His Majesty’s direct command, you should be properly thanked.”
The tone was the same as in my previous life—scratching at the heart.
He was probably still carefully preparing for the annexation.
“But I’m not a mage. So I brought someone who can examine the prince’s body. Here, Lady Sera. Please.”
What Wies brought was a female mage wearing Solea magic tower robes.
But I knew her true identity too.
A spy sent by the Empire.
The teleportation circles around the capital were all her work.
“I deliberately brought a member of the Solea Magic Tower. Someone the people of Solea can trust.”
“I apologize, Your Highness. May I examine you myself?”
“Of course. Please examine me carefully.”
I extended my hand, and Sera took it.
Then she began moving her own mana into my body to examine it.
I felt her mana slowly flowing into me and probing every part of my body.
“How is my son’s condition?”
“It’s very good. I don’t understand how he can be this well. Moreover, I’ve never seen anything like this before. What in the world…”
At that moment.
“Ugh, aah!”
Painful screams poured from my mouth.
My body writhed uncontrollably, unable to stay still against the pain.
It wasn’t a dream.
The pain was real.
“What, what? Why is Erewon suddenly acting like this? You!”
Father scolded Sera in a panicked voice.
“Lady Sera, what is happening?!”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Sera.
“I didn’t do anything! But suddenly the mana inside the prince…”
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but stop it right now! This is an order!”
Father’s shout made Sera hurriedly pull back her mana.
“I understand. Right now—”
“Haaaah!”
Sera screamed too.
She was trying to maintain her composure while connected to the mana, but the pain was still there.
“Lady Sera? Why are you acting up suddenly too?! Snap out of it!”
Wies’s face turned pale from watching.
In the end, Sera was forced to cut off the mana forcibly.
The backlash sent Sera tumbling across the floor while she still felt the pain.
But it wasn’t over yet.
“Cough, cyaah…”
“Oppa, Oppa! Please!”
The pain in my body remained unbearable.
Lua, who hadn’t left my arms, couldn’t bear it and hugged me tightly.
“Princess, move away!”
“It’s okay, it’s okay, Oppa!”
With tears in her eyes from fear, Lua refused to let go.
Our eyes met—my eyes filled with pain and hers.
And then I lost consciousness.
* * *
Erewon’s neck tilted to the side.
His strength had left him, unable to even hold up his own head.
His eyes were open but unfocused, unable to close peacefully.
“Oppa? Oppa.”
Lua shook Erewon’s body.
“Oppa, please open your eyes. Oppa! Oppa!!”
When Erewon collapsed, Lua let out a scream-like cry.
“Guards! Contact the magic tower immediately and bring Si-en! Hurry!”
“Ah, Prince Erewon! What is happening?!”
The King desperately searched for Si-en, the only mage he trusted, while Delis rushed over to check my condition.
“What is going on right now?”
A calm voice.
When someone is truly angry, their mind actually becomes clearer.
“Your Majesty, this—”
“By the King’s name, I command it.”
After taking a deep breath, King Aether commanded, “Lock this mage up in prison. Charge him with attempted harm to the Solea royal bloodline. And Ambassador Wies.”
“Your Majesty, this is impossible. I only brought a mage…”
“I have not allowed any excuse. Even if you are the Empire’s ambassador, bringing this mage is your fault. I also revoke your residence.”
“I cannot accept this. It will damage relations between the two nations, Your Majesty!”
“W-what did you say?”
Wies had made the worst choice.
He had always been proud of being the Empire’s ambassador, but it had crossed the line into arrogance.
When cornered, he lashed out at his opponent.
“I will change my command. Lock this man up too!”
“This is impossible, Your Majesty!”
Thus, Wies and Sera were dragged to prison, and Erewon was laid back on the bed.
“Take Princess Lua to rest in the room.”
“No. I won’t leave! I won’t go while Oppa is here!”
“Lua…”
Delis stepped in when Lua refused to leave Erewon.
“Your Highness needs to rest. I and the other servants will take care of him. You should go rest too, Princess. If even you are upset, how heartbroken will Prince Erewon be?!”
“Waaah… All right. I’ll go.”
Lua returned to the room while sobbing.
King Aether sighed repeatedly but realized he couldn’t do more, so he left with his attendants to the throne room.
In the room remained Delis and the other servants.
Delis had already sent away the other servants since Si-en would arrive soon and there was nothing he could do.
To do something, Delis gently stroked Erewon’s belly.
Then Delis noticed Erewon’s lips twitching repeatedly.
“Ah, Prince Erewon is having convulsions… Erewon, hold on just a little longer. Si-en will be here soon.”
Hearing that, Erewon’s lips twitched once more before calming down.