After the demon he had been fighting was sliced cleanly in half by some strange magic, Alex lingered over the remains and thought:
Damn… it really was a demon. Proof's right there—its flesh evaporates instantly, but the bones take a bit longer before dissolving too. At least, that's how it was explained to me when I was younger.
He crouched down for a closer look.
Alright. I'm taking this horn. At least I'll have proof for the others.
He stood, lifted his sword, and struck sharply. Then he slung the large horn over his shoulder.
Good. That should be enough. Time to go.
Retracing the entire battlefield, Alex climbed back up the slope and found Karden waiting—blood dripping down his forehead and looking worse for wear. Alex approached him and asked:
"So that spell… it was you, wasn't it?"
Karden held his gaze for a moment before nodding.
"Yes. I was the one who cast it."
Alex stared at him a bit longer, then said:
"Thanks for the assist."
Taken aback, Karden answered:
"I saw a bit of your fight. You didn't exactly need help. You already had the upper hand and were seconds away from beheading it yourself."
"Still," Alex replied, "you did something. You're a good guy—aside from your creepy appearance."
Hearing that, Karden stared at him, baffled.
Did—did he just call me creepy? Seriously?
A moment later, he noticed Alex was holding his sword bare-handed. After a few seconds of searching, Karden tossed the scabbard toward him.
Alex caught it instantly, remembering he had thrown it aside at the beginning of the battle.
"I found it by chance while trying to locate you," Karden explained.
Alex set the horn down, slid the blade back into its scabbard, fastened it across his back, then picked up the horn again.
"Well, creepy guy or not, you're alright. Let's go."
Hours later, Alex barged into Sore's office without knocking. Inside, he found Sore speaking with Arthur. Spotting the latter, Alex said:
"Ah! Good, you're here too, Arthur."
He walked past him and dropped the massive horn onto the desk.
Sore stared in shock.
"What kind of monster did this come from?"
Hands in his pockets, Alex answered:
"The same monster responsible for the village disappearing. A demon."
The air instantly grew colder. Sore broke into a sweat.
"A-are you certain? And where did you find it?"
From the doorway, Karden replied:
"Alex just defeated it. It was strong enough to reach intermediate rank."
Alex shot him a suspicious look, then muttered:
"Well, whatever. Your problem now. I'm leaving."
He and Karden exited the building. Outside, under the setting sun, Alex asked him:
"Did you really have to say that?"
"I think so," Karden replied. "They needed the truth."
Alex sighed.
"You're annoying. Anyway, I'm off. And take care of that head—you wrapped it up, but that's not enough."
He walked away, hands in his pockets. Behind him, Karden smiled.
Alex, on the other hand, kept his usual expression.
Today was a pain… but I had fun.
Back in Sore's office, the captain remained tense. He turned to Arthur.
"So what do we do now?"
Arthur examined the horn. As soon as he touched it, it crumbled to dust.
That confirms it.
Leaning against the doorframe, Iris added:
"Yes. It's definitely one. Which means our fears were right—demons have already appeared in this world."
Sore stiffened further while Arthur and Iris grew deadly serious.
Night fell. Dressed in clean clothes, Alex wandered through the moonlit castle grounds. He ventured into areas he had never dared approach before. There, he discovered a pond filled with fish. Kneeling by the water, dipping a small boat into the surface, was Ella.
Sensing someone behind her, she turned, then smiled upon seeing him.
"Alex? It really is you. What's going on? You never come out at night, and especially not here."
Alex stepped closer, standing beside her while gazing at the moon.
"I don't know. Just curiosity, I guess. But you, on the other hand, don't look alright."
Ella traced circles in the water with a thin stick.
"Don't get the wrong idea. The moonlight was just too beautiful to ignore. It helps me think. But… I heard you killed a demon."
"Rumors," Alex said. "Anyway, you're just avoiding telling me you've got problems."
Ella looked at him, ready to answer—
but Tanya arrived behind them in her nightgown, shouting:
"And she does!"
Ella jumped.
"Tanya! Stop popping out of nowhere like that!"
"I didn't do anything wrong!" Tanya protested.
"You don't appear like that!" Ella snapped.
"Fine! Then let me say what I came to say."
Before she could continue, Alex cut in:
"Sorry, but I think I should go. It's improper for a princess to show herself like this."
He bowed and started to leave, but Tanya stopped him.
"Hold on, mister dramatic. You want to know what's bothering Ella? Tomorrow, she leaves for the Royal Academy. She's going to be an instructor for a full year. Melty will go too—as a student."
"But—" Alex began.
"Wait! You've also been assigned as a courtesy escort for the school year. So you're all going."
Huh?! What kind of dumb plot twist is this?! Alex thought.
Watching from her bedroom window, Melty murmured:
"Making him your escort after everything that happened… You really are twisted, big sister."
Behind her, a maid bowed.
"Everything is ready, Your Highness."
"You may go," Melty answered.
Once the maid left, Melty turned to Karden, who now wore normal clothes but still carried his scythe.
"And you, Karden?"
"I'll be ready tomorrow."
"Good. You'll be joining us as well."
Meanwhile, Alex continued thinking:
Where do these improvised plotlines even come from? Who's writing the future at this point?!
One thing was certain:
The first major arc was coming—set in the Royal Academy, like any true modern fantasy.
END OF THE PROLOGUE
Author's Note
Hey, it's Ben! It took me a bit of time, but we're finally about to start the first major arc—no spoilers, but trust me, you aren't ready.
I'm considering a Patreon, but maybe later.
Also, Alex will return on January 10, 2026, since I've got 50 chapters to prepare. I'll be consistent this time—two chapters per week.
Feel free to leave comments on the prologue and share the story if you're enjoying it (unless you're a hater).
See you soon.