The Empire's Noble
The capital of the Kaition Empire, Elysion—a city that occupies more than half the continent. Walking its streets, one sees only refined, dignified humans, enough to make any first-time visitor shrink in awe. But what truly sets Elysion apart is its magnificent, grandiose buildings, crafted using the pinnacle of magitech. Towering skyscrapers piercing the heavens and sprawling mansions line the avenues, making even those extraordinary people seem small by comparison.
Yet all those impressions vanish upon beholding the true heart of the Kaition imperial family: the imperial palace. No elegant lady of the capital can rival its splendor, nor can any skyscraper rise higher. In thousands of years of human history, had anyone ever built such a structure? It was an edifice that demanded both absolute power and unmatched technology. That was the Kaition imperial palace.
“……”
Meanwhile, in the palace's deepest sanctum—protected by triple-layered barriers of the most stringent security magic and guarded by countless soldiers—one could finally enter the imperial family's private quarters.
The imperial family's quarters. The very place where the Kaition royals breathed, ate, and slept. This included even the emperor himself, whose life carried the heaviest weight in a world where lives were weighed by value. And into that sanctum strode a blonde, pointed-eared heterorace woman, casually padding about in rough boots as if it were nothing.
“Please, enter.”
Even the captain of the palace guard didn't stop her but instead bowed in respect. Of course, they didn't know who this blonde elf truly was. They only knew she shared deep ties with the imperial family—someone even their fathers and grandfathers had respected. Asking about her was one of the palace's gravest taboos.
“You've arrived.”
Princess Kira Kaition, lounging in her chambers, dragged her listless body upright. Her eyes met those of the elf in lightweight armor, and she giggled softly.
The blonde elf's mere appearance inspired awe in ordinary folk. How could someone who had lived over five hundred years look like a fresh maiden in her early twenties? Was this typical of elves, or was she unique? Either way, it was a beauty any woman would envy.
But Kira's giggles weren't about the elf's looks this time. They were for the sword strapped to her waist.
“Standing before royalty fully armed? How rude.”
“You never know when an attack might come.”
She wasn't the emperor, but Kira was still a princess. Bearing a blade before Kaition imperial blood was normally a grave crime—a crime among crimes. Yet considering the elf's contributions to the imperial family over centuries, who would dare complain?
Kira didn't scold or blame the blonde elf. She just kept chuckling softly.
“Mm, being too serious kills the mood. Makes it hard to talk casually, right?”
“Quite right, Your Highness.”
“Ugh, so awkward. Can't you just drop the formalities? Dealing with someone who's lived five hundred years more than me is tough enough.”
“How could I presume with such nobility.”
Kira knew the elf spoke formally but harbored no real loyalty to the throne. The elf wanted something from the imperial family, and they wanted something from her—a pure business arrangement. So Kira cut the playful banter and got to the point.
“So, those demon siblings definitely fled toward Denebergen?”
“Confirmed.”
“As expected of the Imperial Secret Service chief. Your searches are swift.”
Kira chuckled again, then wiped the smile away, sinking into thought.
“Hmm, connected to the Demon Realm after all, huh…”
The empire's central command had been closely monitoring the Demon Realm lately. Among the lands the empire hadn't claimed, the demons' chaotic homeland was the largest force. But lacking unity, they never coalesced into a real threat. At worst, small bands launched guerrilla raids on the outskirts.
“We couldn't pinpoint that far. All we know for sure is they're heading straight for Denebergen Academy.”
“Ah, right. There's a mountain behind the academy. Probably planning to hide there.”
“That's part of it, but… I believe the demon siblings are targeting the academy itself.”
At that, Princess Kira furrowed her brow slightly.
“The academy? Why? What's there?”
“Unclear. But tracing their path, they were moving in a straight line toward it.”
Kira pondered the report. She was a Denebergen student herself—third-year, on leave, but familiar enough with the place. She couldn't imagine anything worth two demons breaching the empire's tight border security. Terrorism? Maybe, but still odd.
“But the chairman's there, isn't she?”
“……”
It wasn't widely known, but Denebergen's chairman was a dragon. The imperial family knew well enough. Unless the Demon King from fifteen hundred years ago revived and split apart, two mere demons couldn't breach that impregnable fortress.
“No need to worry then, right? The chairman would incinerate them without lifting a finger the moment they approach.”
“…Probably.”
“Hm? What is it? Think you could take the chairman? With you, even a dragon seems beatable.”
“Not at all.”
The elf's tone hinted at a differing view—rare for her. Kira, intrigued by this glimpse of the elf's true thoughts after years, crossed her legs and propped her chin.
“Or do you have some idea?”
“No, nothing. Just… if word spreads of demons infiltrating the academy, the Secret Service could handle it quietly as 'nothing happened.'”
“Hmm, fair point. Other students might spot them.”
“A few students noticing isn't an issue, but if the chairman's magic draws eyes, people will gather, and the truth will come out.”
Kira nodded with a thoughtful hum, finally understanding. Magitech was so advanced these days. Even faint traces of incinerated demons could be reverse-engineered to reveal everything. With the Demon Realm stirring unrest already, rumors of demons at Denebergen would be disastrous.
“Ugh, just thinking about it is nightmare fuel.”
To avert that worst-case, deploying the Secret Service was best.
“So, you want to go yourself, Chief?”
“……”
“Mm, makes sense. You know the chairman. Should go smoothly.”
Kira's eyes widened as something clicked. She snapped her fingers sharply.
“Oh, right—recently, we decided to send someone from the palace to the academy. As an external visiting professor.”
“…A professor?”
“Yes! Originally to check for corruption or anti-empire plots inside, but perfect timing to quietly nab those demons too.”
The blonde elf grimaced in distaste. Pressuring the academy just for that? Facial control was etiquette before royalty, but kneeling with a scowl drew no rebuke. Instead, Kira jumped up, rummaging through papers.
“Found it. Just need a suitable identity.”
“Identity…”
“You'll go as the professor. No heavy teaching load, apparently—just instruct the top six first-year standouts occasionally.”
“…Understood.”
She lacked confidence in professoring, but infiltration under false identities was Secret Service bread-and-butter. Her assassin master's combat style didn't suit her and had faded, but sundry skills had served her well for five centuries. It felt daunting now, but she'd manage the mission as a fake professor.
“What name? Got a pretty one in mind?”
“Not really.”
“Then, Elfin. How's that?”
“Eh, Elfin…”
The elf's stoic face cracked for the first time. But Kira grinned impishly, scribbling a signature at the document's bottom with flourish.
Thus, the blonde elf—no, Elfin—was appointed as Denebergen Academy's external visiting professor.
“Work hard at professor life? Catch some demons along the way.”
“……”
Visibly sulky, Elfin offered a perfunctory bow and turned to leave without retort. But as her hand grasped the doorknob—
“Oh, one last thing… about that ‘Flower Garden.’”
“…Found something?”
Elfin paused, listening intently. Kira dropped her teasing smile, her face more serious than ever. Elfin's expression barely shifted from the start.
“Sorry. You've helped the throne for five hundred years because of it, and we still haven't found it…”
“…I know you're doing your best.”
“You said finding the Flower Garden could revive your precious person?”
“Yes, certainly.”
Elfin's lovely voice carried the weight of five centuries. She hadn't just waited like some fairy-tale dreamer. She'd roamed the continent, traversing flame seas, icy plains, and sand-swept tundras, seeking ways to resurrect her loved one.
And she'd uncovered legends backed by real records—far more credible, to her, than a hatchling dragon's fairy-tale reincarnation tales.
“Likely. It's legend, but records from those who've seen it exist.”
Flowers of resurrection that granted true revival, unlike a necromancer's soul-binding—not returning the dead whole to the living's arms. The ‘Flower Garden’ nurturing them surely existed somewhere in the world.
Princess Kira understood this deepest, forging their close alliance.
“…We need to find it fast.”
“Before someone else does.”
“Exactly. Might sound rude, but… Elfin.”
“Yes?”
Elfin glanced back. There stood Kira, fists clenched in a fighting pose. Her usual mocking face brimmed with genuine encouragement, drawing a reluctant smirk from even Elfin.
“A woman chasing the one she loves is unstoppable. You got this!”
“…It's not like that.”
“You got this, sis!”
“Stop calling me sis…”
Slam! Elfin shut the door, brushing back her bangs and gripping her sword hilt.
“That rude brat—always taking the other guy's side.”
Her words mixed jest with bite, but upon exiting, she cursed royalty without hesitation. Common sense dictated no one but the emperor or his siblings could speak so to Princess Kira.
Yet all such norms excluded the ‘Empire's Noble,’ Elfin.
Naturally. The Kaition Empire's swift conquest of the continent after toppling Drelin Kingdom owed much to advantages like geography and morale. But if one factor stood out—
‘Elfin.’
Every Kaition emperor would invoke that name. Though it had long faded into oblivion.
By chance or fate, the blonde elf heading to Denebergen would reclaim the alias she'd used centuries ago.
“…Master.”
Elfin felt too young to be a professor. She still had so much left to learn from Dane.
Despite her long life, she sometimes felt unchanged from five hundred years prior—no growth at all. How absurd for someone who hadn't fully mastered her own teacher's ways to instruct others.
“Sigh.”
But a mission was a mission. No choice.
Ignorant of who awaited there, Elfin set off for Denebergen Academy.