Chapter 1

The forgotten truth’s manuscript. The manuscript of truth was created by the giants. But when the giants perished, the manuscript of truth vanished as well. In it, the following was recorded:

“The world created the Creator God. The Creator God created the world.”

Under a single rule, countless sub-rules and laws were established. The world moved according to those rules and laws, interlocked like precise gears. Many living beings were born, and the Creator God observed them all.

The world created Force Lead.¹

“Force Lead must reign over all things, above everything. That is Force Lead’s fate and duty. By accepting that fate, one is freed from the chains of destiny. Though Force Lead has a fate, even that destiny can be transcended.”

“To transcend fate is to become a singular existence. An existence that lives without being bound by destiny, whose life itself is acknowledged. For Force Lead, to live is to reign. They cannot stop on their own. There are only two ways their reign ends: Force Lead’s death. Or… complete dominion.”

Continental Year 503.

The sun scattered dazzling light in every direction. It wasn’t even about looking up at the sky—just staring straight ahead made my eyes ache. That was how blinding the sunlight was. Maybe it was because I had grown too used to the dark. At least, that’s what Jack and Neef told me.

They said that when one grows accustomed to darkness, even the smallest light causes pain to the eyes. And it was true—every morning, when I peeked outside, my eyes would sting. But right now it was broad daylight, and it had been well over five hours since I woke, so what they said was indeed fact. I had grown used to the darkness, and I couldn’t bring myself to step onto the crowded main streets. It wasn’t that I feared them. I just hated the way their eyes looked at me.

“Still here today?”

A familiar voice brushed past my ears.

In broad daylight, I sat in the corner of an alley, watching through its narrow gaps the sight of people living their lives beyond. That was my only solace. Seeing lives so different from mine always felt wondrous, almost magical. And yes, I envied them. I wished I could live like that too. But since I couldn’t, simply watching like this was all I had.

I pushed myself up from where I had been sitting comfortably, my backside pressed against the ground. I turned around, and of course, Jack was looking down at me.

When would I ever grow as tall as him?

That thought always slipped into my mind whenever I saw him. Jack really was tall. Especially when we were this close, I had to tilt my head way back just to meet his eyes.

I instinctively stepped back a few paces so it wouldn’t strain my neck so much.

“Didn’t you just eat earlier?”

Smack.

“Argh!”

A burst of pain shot through my head as if it had caught fire. Jack had whacked me with his only remaining fist and spoke in a low voice.

“You think I came looking for you just because of food?”

“That hurt!”

“You little brat, so rude….”

His eyes narrowed. I flinched and, almost reflexively, forced a smile. It was a survival tactic I’d naturally picked up.

Jack’s closest friend, Uncle Neef, once said,

‘You can curse at a smiling face, but it’s harder to hit one.’

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The atmosphere here isn’t right. Hurry up and follow me.”

Jack’s voice had turned serious. I trailed after him without a word, like a dumb mute.

A breeze drifted through the alley. Without realizing it, I looked back. In the sunlit streets, people bustled about, going on with their lives.

“Hurry up.”

His voice was low but firm. I looked forward again and chased after Jack. The sleeve of his missing arm fluttered in the wind.

“Why are you acting like this?”

I finally spoke after a long silence, but both Jack and Uncle Neef kept their mouths shut. The silence weighed on me, so I nervously scanned the familiar surroundings. Well, of course they were familiar—this was where I lived.

“We need to leave this place.”

The one who finally broke the silence was Uncle Neef. Jack, standing beside him, immediately nodded.

“I think so too. Something feels wrong.”

“But we still have time… at least we should decide where to go.”

“Yeah. Preferably somewhere not too far from here.”

“And not too big in scale, either.”

Their conversation left my head spinning. I didn’t know what exactly was happening, but one thing was clear—they were talking about leaving the Bekumom Territory.

It had been nice living so close to the capital, but leaving this place?

“Is this because of the soldiers last night?”

“Yeah.”

That was all. They didn’t say anything more to me.

“I want to know!”

“Phew… can’t you see we’re still figuring it out? Keep quiet.”

Uncle Neef’s voice carried an edge of authority. I shrank my shoulders, cowed once again.

“Ease up, Neef. He’s still just a kid.” Jack cut in.

“I’m not a kid!”

The words burst out of me before I realized it.

“Getting all worked up like that just proves you are,” Neef said with a sly grin.

Grr!

I clenched my teeth in frustration. But the more I reacted, the more the two of them took delight in teasing me. Finally, I couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted,

“I’m not going!”

“Fine. Don’t. Live by yourself.”

“Yeah, stay behind. Just don’t even think about following us. Heh.”

And with that, they actually stepped outside.

Not that “house” was much of a house. If the three of us lay down, there’d barely be any room left. Just crawling a few steps was enough to reach the exit.

Naturally, I followed them.

Beyond the cramped alleys, the sunlight made everything bright, but here in the slums it was gloomy. The rays of light slipping through the patched-together roofs were weak and feeble.

“Why’re you tagging along?”

Uncle Neef looked down at me, smiling.

Ugh! That pissed me off even more!

“….”

I stayed silent and only clenched my fists tighter.

“Pfft~ this is fun. Haha.”

Jack chuckled low as he ducked back inside the house. Neef followed after him, pausing only to pat me on the shoulder.

“Come inside too.”

He limped his way under the tarp and disappeared inside.

I stood outside for a while, huffing with anger, glaring at the entrance where they had gone in.

A few minutes passed.

From behind the tarp, Jack’s voice called out,

“If you don’t come in, we’ll really leave without you.”

Ah, right. They had said we were leaving. I’d been so mad I’d forgotten.

Idiot! Idiot!

“Uwaaaah!”

I screamed and rushed inside. And of course, Jack smacked me on the head again—for being an insolent brat who dared to shout.

“You know soldiers came last night, right?”

“Yeah. That’s why it was so noisy.”

“I heard someone was rumored to be in love with the lord’s daughter.”

That sounded like an interesting story, so without thinking, I asked,

“And then?”

“And then, you idiot? That’s why the soldiers stormed in.”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“Idiot.”

“I said I’m not an idiot!”

Smack.

“Ow!”

It was Jack again. He raised his fist—the same one he’d just used to hit me—and explained,

“Think about it. For someone living in the slums, practically a slave, to admire the noble daughter of a lord? That’s a huge crime. One you’d be executed for without question.”

“…Yeah.”

My reply came out weak. How was it wrong for one person to like another?

“You don’t know this, but early this morning, that poor man who admired her was executed publicly.”

“What?!”

“Yeah. Vanished with the morning dew, as they say, with the blood on the scaffold. It was the price of ignoring the divide between classes.”

“…Ah.”

“Why do you look so down? Don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on the lord’s brat too?”

“I don’t even know who she is. It’s just…”

“Just what?” Neef pressed.

But I couldn’t say anything.

“Enough. Don’t push him. A man was killed just for loving someone. That’s all there is to it.”

Jack’s words echoed my own feelings. That was why he was an uncle to me—he always understood what I didn’t even understand about myself.

“Huh? Judging by Kark’s face, I think you hit the mark. Kid, you have to accept it: class differences can’t be ignored. Romance is one thing, reality is another—especially for people like us.”

But Neef’s expression wasn’t cheerful when he said that.

“Anyway, the point is—it’s dangerous. That’s the conclusion Neef and I came to.”

“Why?”

I really couldn’t understand. None of this made sense.

“You’re still too young to grasp it, Kark. The world’s a terrifying place. And plenty of things happen that don’t make sense. Last night’s event was one of those. You’ll understand someday. But what matters now is that we think the soldiers will come back here. And when they do, who knows who they’ll drag away next.”

“Why? Did someone else fall in love?”

“Has nothing to do with that. Looks like they’re trying to wipe out the slums altogether.”

“What? Seriously?!”

I shot to my feet before I realized it.

“Sit down and stay quiet,” Jack said calmly.

Without even thinking, I sat back down. That was Jack—he had that kind of presence.

“We used to be mercenaries.”

“I know.”

I answered with a sulky tone.