In the sturdy household known as the Border Marquis stood Killain Volkanov, a figure of exceptional skill.
Unlike Kyan’s own desolate self, Killain shone like a beacon.
At the Academy, no one disliked him; everyone wished to be by his side.
‘Perhaps it’s because they want to bask in the trickle-down effect of being close to someone so prominent.’
As a result, Killain was always surrounded by those with promising futures.
Together, they formed a party that maintained top ranks throughout their time at the Academy. He had struggled fiercely to change that outcome, but his grades consistently landed him second.
There was even a time when Kyan was nearly certain he’d seized victory… only for a teammate’s error to ruin the exam.
That night, Killain approached him in the dormitory.
“Isn’t it a shame to let your talent go to waste like this? How about joining me next semester?”
It was a clear offer of inducement.
For the first time, Killain had nearly lost his top position and had begun to analyze his competitors’ party in depth.
In the process, he realized that he needed to bring Kyan, known as the “Hero of the Commoners”, to his side.
Killain assured him that together, they could secure the top position, and his strategy didn’t end there.
‘If you join me, once I graduate and take over the family, I’ll entrust you with the Northwind Lion Knights.’
Killain had promised, effectively securing his future.
Though the Volkanov lands weren’t ideal for living, the prestige of serving in such a renowned order would change the situation entirely.
The Northwind Lion Knights were one of the Empire’s most esteemed knight orders.
If Kyan joined as an apprentice knight, he wouldn’t have to repeat the tragic mistake of powerlessly watching his parents pass into God’s arms.
The offer was sweet and compelling. Killain promised all this, provided he took his hand. But in the end, he declined.
‘I still remember his expression, that look of disbelief, and the trembling hand extended in astonishment.’
Killain had been visibly thrown off, unable to believe his proposal was rejected.
Perhaps he wondered if something was missing, if there was a flaw.
But Kyan knew there was nothing wrong with Killain’s offer.
‘It was a good offer. If I’d taken his hand, my life wouldn’t have been too bad.’
Part of him had wanted to accept it, to bask in the honor of being a top student, to shed the label of “commoner”.
‘I wouldn’t have had to return to that place.’
All he saw back there was trees and a small river. Sure, the place was filled with memories of his parents, but it also held memories of their loss—a place he never wanted to return to.
He longed to escape and live proudly as a knight recognized in the North.
But there was one reason he turned down that seemingly perfect life.
‘My companions. How could I abandon those who can’t do anything without me?’
Those who had saved him from his wandering grief after losing his family—how could he ever abandon them?
For him, a happy life meant time spent with his companions who were like family.
Without them, the word “happiness” held no meaning.
He sometimes wondered if he had made a mistake by rejecting the offer, but he poured that regret into further effort.
It was thanks to this resolve.
‘In the end, I took the top spot in the graduation exam away from him.’
This proved that rejecting the offer wasn’t the wrong choice, allowing him to close that chapter beautifully.
The status that came with graduating at the top held significant weight.
Despite whispers that commoners couldn’t achieve prestigious positions, Kyan and his comrades entered the Imperial Knights, the pinnacle of knightly honor.
It was the moment a powerless boy who could only watch his parents die rose on his own.
‘At that time, I was happier than ever.’
Hadn’t he risen to the highest position alongside the comrades he had so dearly wished for?
In that instant, he was genuinely happy, as if all the hardships he had endured were being healed.
At the same time, he believed that the future that lay ahead would shine beautifully.
But Kyan needed to understand.
The life of a commoner was harsh.
Unlike the nobles who lived as they pleased, the lives of commoners were fraught with obstacles.
‘One day, while I was busy building my achievements… I was assigned a mission to eradicate the demons.’
It was a common mission. Protecting the empire from danger was the very purpose of the royal knight order.
Among those tasks was also the killing of demons who had betrayed humanity and sided with the demonic forces.
Having done it countless times before, he naturally thought it would be uneventful, but the world did not flow as Kyan wished.
“Helen… wake up… open your eyes! Bruno, Meiris, Zickfeld! I killed all the remaining demons! It’s over! But we can’t just stay here…”
His companions suffered severe losses from a trap set by the hidden Demon King’s minions, and Kyan stated he would take care of the demons alone in their stead.
Though they needed healing, both Kyan and his companions understood how crucial the success of the operation was, so it was unavoidable.
Instead, Kyan quickly went to eliminate all the hidden foes and return, but…
Their breaths had already ceased.
“Ah… ah…”
In that moment, Kyan could do nothing but resent the world once again.
‘Why is it that I am being given such trials?’
He didn’t want to lose his precious people again.
At the same time, he began to crave power.
He didn’t need fame or wealth. He had no confidence in navigating this world alone and earnestly longed for those who would understand this cruel life.
That was the reason. The reason he wanted to become a hero.
As Kyan recalled the past, he opened his eyes once more and could see clearly.
“Hm… I thought you were worthless, but you managed to sever my right arm… Quite a bold move.”
The image of Satan smiling as he resurrected his severed right arm with magic came to mind.
Looking at Kyan, who was battered and lying on the ground, Satan reflected on their previous battle.
Not only had he pierced through Kyan’s defenses with a spear made of earth, but he had also relentlessly assaulted him with an axe crafted from wood.
‘Earth and wood… It’s absurd even when I think back on it.’
The weapons made from those insignificant materials had relentlessly pushed him back time and again.
It didn’t matter if they broke. Kyan kept making new weapons.
Seeing Kyan move with a speed that belied his age, Satan withdrew his complacency.
Though he succeeded in knocking Kyan to the ground, he ultimately lost his right arm.
The Demon King—confident he was stronger than anyone in Astelgia, excluding Belphegor and Lucifer—had lost an arm to a human.
The absurdity of that fact brought a smile to his face.
“… You’re the one who killed my subordinates.”
“In the end, it’s come down to losing just an arm…”
Satan couldn’t help but smirk at Kyan’s hoarse voice as he lamented.
“Yes. You’ve lost. Just as I said.”
“Is that so? Then go ahead and kill me. I’ll accept my fate sweetly.”
“Before that, may I ask you something?”
“… What do you want to ask?”
“Why did you choose to face me alone? Is it arrogance? Or do you wish to be a hero one last time? I can’t understand it at all.”
He still didn’t quite comprehend it. With the future of death so clear, how could this fool stand against him?
In that moment, he wondered if something had gone wrong in the man’s mind.
Did he really not feel fear of death? That was the thought that crossed his mind.
“Hah. That’s ridiculous.”
“… What’s so ridiculous?”
“I’ve long since lost interest in grand titles like ‘hero’ or ‘champion.’”
“Then what is it? What reason did you have to stand against me?”
“Why else? I have no connections, no money… and I have someone who not only follows me despite my shortcomings but genuinely believes in me. As their commander, I must do something for them before I die.”
“Keuhaha. So that was it… I see.”
The moment he understood Kyan’s heartfelt determination to pave the way for those who followed him, even if it meant burning away his own death, Satan bowed his head slightly and smiled.
“Impressive… I’ll give you credit for that.”
He was fortunate to be old; had he faced Kyan in his prime, he might have had to surrender both arms.
That was how strong Kyan was. Perhaps among those left in the empire, he was one of the few…
Momentarily hesitating at the discovery of such an unexpected strength, Satan thought that, on the other hand, it was fortunate.
“You fought well and put up a good struggle. So now, you can rest.”
After all, he was the victor of their duel. If he could manage an unexpected variable, losing an arm was not a great concern.
‘An arm that is severed can be regenerated.’
While he had been surprised when his right arm was lost, Satan immediately began to absorb the rage that was simmering within Kyan.
Starting from his childhood, when he had to watch helplessly as his parents died.
Through all the humiliations he had suffered during his school years.
And finally, to the times he lost precious comrades once again as a knight.
Kyan’s heart was filled with a level of anger and a desire for revenge beyond imagination.
While Kyan lay collapsed, Satan absorbed all of that fury.
Having gathered enough, it wouldn’t be long before his arm would regenerate.
What that meant was simple.
“Then I shall now take your life.”
There was no longer any need to keep Kyan alive; he would kill him. Saying that, Satan extended his left arm, gathering magic.
Kwahh!
The concentrated magic shot directly toward Kyan’s heart.
“Hah…”
In the blink of an eye, as the magic approached, Kyan slowly closed his eyes.
As he waited for death to come, it was then that…
Swoosh! Slash!
“What the…?”
In the moment when the white flash that flew in from somewhere tore through the approaching magic,
the beam of magic was cleaved in two.
And it was none other than that of the Demon King, Satan.
Was there someone capable of such a feat? Struggling to lift his upper body, Kyan could hardly comprehend the phenomenon before him.
And then he saw.
“3rd Platoon Commander… are you okay?”
“Celia Wignoron?”
The moment he spotted the blue-haired girl, someone who shouldn’t be there, he wondered why she was here when she should have been resting at home or in the dormitory.
However, Kyan couldn’t ask Celia about it.
“This… what on earth is happening…?”
Blocking his path was the familiar silhouette of someone he recognized.
With trembling lips, Kyan forced himself to speak.
“Ian?”
“It’s my turn to handle this now… Platoon Commander.”
It was Ian Volkanov, standing in front of Satan with his sword drawn.
