Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Grand Duke's Heir, You've Run Away
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[Damn it, what the hell am I supposed to do!]
The wind was cold. Even on this full-fledged spring day, winter's chill still lingered in the Karl Grand Duke's territory, the northernmost point of the Holy Yosrahim Empire.
I wandered listlessly around the garden by the Grand Duke's residence, overwhelmed by frustration, and flipped the bird at the clear sky. It was a sincere message conveying my honest feelings to the gods who'd pulled off this ridiculous stunt.
Sending me back to the past? What utter bullshit.
"Damn!"
I was now certain I'd come back to the past. From dawn until nearly noon, I'd roamed the entire residence, asking servants and knights, and they all said it was Imperial Year 358. Unless they were all insane, I was definitely in the past.
And the Age of Ruin set to unfold in the future wasn't some springtime nightmare. Thinking maybe it was a vivid dream, I drew my sword and infused it with mana, only to watch a beautiful Aura Blade take form.
The Aura Blade is an advanced technique that only a rare few Master-level swordsmen who cultivate mana can unleash. Back then, I was merely a low-level Expert swordsman—absolutely incapable of it.
If I hadn't lived through that desperate future, there was no way I could manifest an Aura Blade from my hand.
"Damn it, what the hell am I supposed to do!"
But I couldn't for the life of me understand why I'd been sent back to the past. I'd briefly interpreted it as the gods' will to avert that horrific future, but that was pure nonsense.
The Age of Ruin ahead wasn't something one person struggling from the past could alter. It was a phenomenon on a cosmic scale, unfolding in the domain of creation principles and the gods themselves.
Moreover, the ones ripping open dimensional rifts to endlessly pour out monsters were none other than the gods. No way in hell they'd sent me back out of some benevolent desire to save humanity.
This was unmistakably a curse from the gods. Some petty deity was clearly screwing with me, forcing me to relive that nightmarish Age of Ruin.
"No! What great sin did I commit to deserve this?!"
Honestly, I had a bit of guilt nagging at me. I'd been a notorious playboy who'd left countless women in tears, treating even the Empire's noble elite like dirt.
But it wasn't entirely my fault. Most of the women I'd toyed with had approached me eyeing my bloodline, and the nobles groveling at my feet were hypocrites latching onto the power I'd one day wield, hoping to snag some crumbs.
My father is Karl Grand Duke, the Iron-Blooded Chancellor wielding power second only to the Emperor in the Holy Yosrahim Empire. My mother—now passed—was Grace Princess, the Emperor's sole younger sister, making me sacred blood of the sacred, ninth in the imperial succession line.
Naturally, all those noblewomen and nobles approaching me weren't driven by pure hearts. Winning mine meant access to unimaginable wealth and power.
My only sin was squeezing every last drop from those with ulterior motives and discarding them. Sneaky, sure, but hardly worthy of a divine curse.
Plus, I'd lavished the gods with offerings. I'd periodically donated massive sums to temples and even slipped hefty gold envelopes to impoverished priests to ease their lives. Sure, I'd fooled around with priestesses of the Goddess of Corruption, Degenira, but by their doctrine, that was no sin at all.
The gods had no right to do this to me. This was betrayal.
"I'm going insane."
I slumped by the garden fountain and tore at my hair.
It was a span of despair I'd barely escaped through death. The thought of enduring it again brought tears to my eyes.
Some might call it lucky—a fresh start. But no. Those who survived the Age of Ruin spent time so horrific they'd envy the first to die.
And I had it especially bad. Right after monsters razed this Karl Grand Duke's territory and the Yosrahim Empire's capital, I was abandoned by every subordinate and acquaintance, left to weather that hell alone.
"No, if you were sending me back, at least show some mercy and make it five years."
Five years ago wouldn't change much, but at least I could've seen my late mother's face one more time for some comfort. Grace Princess, my mother, was the only one who'd ever truly loved me.
With a heavy sigh, I dunked my head into the fountain water. Ice-cold, but nothing cleared the mind like it.
I shook my head wildly, flinging water everywhere, then lashed out with a powerful kick at the statue nearby. No matter how I thought about it, the rage boiled over. I'd always craved life, but not like this. I wanted a life with hope amid ruins—not one spent fretting in the shadow of despair.
Shouldn't I at least warn everyone?
I briefly considered rallying all humanity to prepare for the future, but quickly hung my head. Did I really need to doom the entire human race to eight years of dread? Even with my trash life, I wasn't villain enough to inflict that misery.
What can't be done can't be done. Time to let it go. I knew all too well that pointless struggling only multiplied the suffering.
"Yeah, how could anyone stop it anyway? Anyone who's seen hordes of monsters blanketing the continent wouldn't even entertain the idea. Far better to live carefree and die clueless on the day of ruin."
Besides, who in the world would believe a hopeless screw-up like me? Especially claiming all humanity perishes in despair. I'd be lucky not to get locked up as a lunatic.
And honestly, even if they did believe, it'd be a headache.
During the Age of Ruin, humanity didn't fall solely to the monster onslaughts. We crumbled from within—mobs driven mad by the fear of doom and the religious ecstasy of fulfilled prophecies. The thought of facing those psychos eight years early was nightmare fuel.
But it felt so unfair. Why should I alone bear this dread of the future? My stomach was already starting to ache.
"Grand Duke's Heir!"
Paul was sprinting toward me from afar. He was panting hard, so it looked urgent. I shot him a heartfelt gaze.
"Paul. In ten years, the world ends."
"Pardon?"
Paul stared at me like I'd spouted some lunatic ravings, his mouth twitching as if the retort had risen to his throat only to be swallowed back down.
Just as expected. I smacked the back of his head hard.
"Whatever. Why'd you call me?"
"Well, sir, it seems you must attend the luncheon today."
"Lunch? Why?"
"His Excellency the Grand Duke has arrived."
The Grand Duke meant the Iron-Blooded Chancellor—my father, Karl Grand Duke.
"Father? Here?"
"Yes. And he specifically commanded me to ensure you attend the luncheon."
Jeez, if he just wants to eat lunch together, say so. No need for stuffy 'luncheon' formality. This was nobles for you—overdoing etiquette on nothing burgers.
Sure, back in the day I'd been as bad as him, if not worse. But not anymore.
Try leaping into a desperate shit pit and crawling sewers caked in filth all day. All that formality and manners? Gone. Formality's a luxury for full bellies.
"Ah, Father, always such a hassle. Can't he just mind state affairs in the capital instead of trekking all this way for lunch? Ugh~"
"Isn't it instant via magic portal?"
I bit my lip and shot my hand up high.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Ah, my apologies."
I shot a sharp glare at Paul, who averted his eyes.
"Anyway. Any idea why he's here?"
"No clue."
"You don't know?"
"How could a lowly servant like me presume to fathom His Excellency the Grand Duke's intentions? I simply obey orders."
Fair point. No way Father would explain himself to a mere servant.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully, rummaging through my memories to figure out what was happening today.
Ah, right! It's that day.
Come to think of it, around this time, Father entrusts me with what becomes the pivotal turning point of my life: head to the Divinum Grand Temple in the Empire's southwest and undergo Guardian training.
Back then, I'd grumbled plenty, but after my massive screw-up, I'd gone without complaint. And there, I met Yojjo—the companion who'd define my life.
"Of course I'm going. Come on, let's hurry."
A bright smile bloomed on my face unbidden. That's right—coming back to the past also meant I could reunite with Yojjo. See? Not everything in life is pure misery.
I'd never dreamed I'd meet Yojjo again right after dying.
Yojjo, hang on. I'm coming~~~.
[Damn it, what the hell am I supposed to do!] End