Imperial Palace of the Frederic Empire’s training ground. The knights there held their breath before the presence of the young man in front of them.
The young man even at a glance without a doubt, is a handsome man with round eyes. However, even though there was no wind, his silver hair fluttering freely in the air made them feel something strange.
His sea-colored eyes were blazing with rage. (*t/n: actually the direct translation is “His sea-colored eyes were burning blue with rage”. But it sound weird so I left out the ‘burning blue’ part)
The knights took a step backward, pointing their swords at the young man. Their eyes were filled with dismay.
‘We’re in trouble.’
It was a major accident that happened unexpectedly.
In this world, there is a being called the Transcendent. Each of the four Duke families produces one person from each generation, who excels in all aspects and has a special ability because of enormous mana.
But they also had weaknesses.
That is, the more power gained through the “magic blooming,” the more corrupted their soul becomes, and the more out of control they will be.
There is no way to get them back to normal. They just have to wait for another transcendent to show up and help.
Soon, the empire’s number one transcendent, the emperor, Alexandro Duncan Michelio II, will come to defeat the young man.
They just have to hold out until then.
‘……but will we be able to hold out?’
He’s about to swallow up the whole place.
Sweat soaked the knights’ backs.
Then.
“Oh my goodness! Brother!”
The voice of a girl who did not match the seriousness of the situation at all resounded in the training hall.
The knights looked back in surprise.
A girl with gray hair and eyes of the same color as the young man comes approaching with quick steps.
The knights were so startled that they could not even think of stopping her.
Before they knew it, the girl went right in front of the young man and squeezed his cheek with both of her hands.
“I mean! Didn’t I! Already told you! Do not overdo it! Don’t!”
Something more surprising happened then.
The young man’s presence, who was about to break everything around him, began to fade away.
The blue glistening eye also gradually faded away, leaving behind a small afterimage. Slowly, the light returned to his eyes.
He spoke gloomily, holding the girl’s hand on his cheek.
“……I’m sorry, Dalia.”
It has never been seen before that a transcendent who went berserk regains his reason by someone else.
At the incredible sight created by the girl called Dalia, the knights could not shut their mouths.
* * *
Dahlia, who had completely calmed her brother, sighed.
‘What is all this about? ‘
The emperor, who appeared belatedly, appeared with a bouquet instead of a weapon to stop her brother.
“This is a gift from my heart.”
“I don’t need it!”
Then the emperor became sullen and went back.
‘Everyone’s not doing their jobs….’
Then, a man stood in the way of Dalia again.
Tall with a firm chest. A handsome man with dark curly hair and brown skin. It was Meldon Artus, from the house of Artus, one of the four Dukedom of Frederick, who is also another transcendent of this empire.
Meldon pushed her against the wall and said with affection.
“My lady. I think it’s time to decide.”
“What, what decision?”
“That’s……”
Then someone roughly grabbed Meldon’s shoulder and separated Dalia from him.
“If not with me, then who else would you go to the ball with, Miss Dalia?”
It was a blonde with blue eyes knight with a physique like a huge mountain, wearing cloak and armor.
He is from the Duke of Blueport family, Lewayne Blueport. Of course he is another transcendent.
Dalia sighed heavily. She’s been sighing more these days.
“I’m not going with you two.”
Then the two looked at the Dahlia with hurt expressions.
“Then, is it with Sir Cedric again?”
Meldon said with a blatant dislike.
Cedric is the second prince of the Empire and the successor to the emperor. Dahlia shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who is it?”
Lewayne asked with a tearful look.
Dalia raised her chin up. And said proudly.
“I’m going with Adrisha this time.”
“……What?”
Both replied in an absurd voice.
“Dalia!”
Then, at the end of the hall, a woman ran towards Dalia with a happy expression. She hugged Dalia and looked at the other two warily.
“This time Dalia decided to come with me. She doesn’t need anyone else.”
Adrisha Beniter, the protagonist of the game that Dalia reincarnated to
The original work was obviously a devastated story in which she was subjected to the excessive love and obsession of these crazy transcendentals……
‘It’s fortunate that Adrisha didn’t suffer with such a thing…’
Dahlia pondered on how things had become like this.
Dalia Pesteros remembered her past life when she was thirteen.
She was often told that she was unique even before she remembered her past life. She was the only one who felt uncomfortable in a world where it was natural to have servants.
But I swear I’ve never thought that I will remember my past life or that I might have come from another world.
But she suddenly remembered it. That this world is going according to the plot of
And that meant Dalia’s life was ‘on the verge of ending’.
There are two reasons for this.
First,
Second, her brother, Hikan Pesteros, whom she had never seen even once for 13 years, was the most insane villain among the numerous male main characters in the original work. Even if you are his family, if you offend him, he can kill you right away without hesitation.
In that sense, how fortunate was it that he was the only son in the original?
‘But then, why?’
So why, in this world, has Dalia become his sister, who suddenly appeared out of thin air?
‘I’m doomed.’
There was definitely no such character in the original!
In the original book, which Dalia remembers, Hikan Pesteros was the only child of the Duke of Pesteros. However now, the Duke of Pesteros had two children.
Hikan, and Dalia.
In other words, it means that she herself is like a seasoning that was suddenly added to the original work
Everything else is the same as the original, then why did she suddenly fall into the position as the younger sister of the final villain that she wasn’t even confident of being. (*t/n: a bit confused with the wording here)
In fact, I didn’t really want to know.
Because of his misdeeds, the Duke of Pesteros will be exterminated in every route in the game. So it was certain that, as his sister, Dalia, will also be on the death row with him.
Fortunately, when Dahlia discovered the truth of the world, it was long before the original work began.
Hikan Pesteros is only sixteen years old now.
His mind began to break down after his 18th birthday when his mana started to manifest, so there was still plenty of time left.
‘Magic blooming.’
This setting is the main culprit that leads the story of
In the Empire, there was a founding legend that a great dragon blessed the four Duke families and the imperial family, that one child per family with mana, will be born.
However, among the commoners, there were very few people with mana because of the promiscuous sex life of the emperors and dukes. (If all the male protagonists were nobles, it wasn’t fun, so it seemed like an added setup.)
Those who were born with such powers are called the ‘Transcendents’.
This magical power varies from person to person. For example, Dalia’s brother, Hikan, he alone, with only one sword, will be able to face the knights if he uses the ‘Magic Blooming’.
If you think about the game setup, some are specialized in assassination, and some can read people’s thoughts by making eye contact, so it’s roughly like this.
However, this has a fatal drawback. The more the transcendents use their power, the more they lose control and go berserk.
Moreover, it was also a problem as there was no way to restore their consciousness to normal.
The male lead candidates, who were originally half-turned, risked their lives to get rid of other candidates, to start a war, in a mana rush… …That’s how crazy it is. (*t/n: i’m not sure what it means by ‘half-turned’. Half crazy maybe (￣～￣;) )
And among them, Hikan Pesteros, who is originally a sociopath, is the first and the most crazy one.
‘It’s really crazy.’
I wish I could have been born in a more gentle world if I were to be reincarnated.
The only difference from this game setting was Dalia’s own existence.
‘……Maybe, if Hikan sees his cute sister, he will decide to live a healthy life?’
But Dalia removed such naive delusions from her head right away. This is an absurd idea that you can never do when you think of him in the original.
Hikan had lived with a relative’s family for some reason. Thanks to this, Dahlia has never met him for 13 years. So, she had no idea how the final villain is in the current state.
Dahlia thought maybe she could live like this forever.
However, Hikan and her meeting came sooner than expected.
* * *
It was when she was munching on the bread for a snack and doing the assignment given by the tutor. Suddenly, it became noisy outside, and she heard the voice of the imploring nanny.
“Young Master, you can’t! If you come in like that!”
Dahlia had already prepared her mind by that time. Ah, he’s finally coming.
As expected, her door opened wide, and a boy came in. An incredibly handsome boy with silver hair and blue eyes.
That’s her brother and the final villain in this game, Hikan Pesteros.
Although he is still young, his eyes were fierce enough to make an adult feel chills.
Dahlia was nervous and swallowed the bread in her mouth.
‘I think, I’m going to get indigestion.’
The mana wouldn’t have manifested yet, but that cold attitude seemed to make people believe that it had been manifested long ago.
Well, transcendents are different from others from birth. From intelligence to arrogance that does not care about the rules set by others as they are much higher than ordinary people.
Such a typical transcendent figure was felt from Hikan as well.
A bewildered nanny followed behind him.
“The lady still isn’t ready yet…….”
‘Ready?’
Dahlia opened her eyes round and looked at Hikan. He also looked at her with a look of indifference.
“Father is dead, Dalia.”
“……”
She glanced at the nanny. The nanny is in tears.
‘Poor nanny.’
She seemed to have been fidgeting all day, wondering when to tell Dalia.
But it wasn’t so shocking for Dalia, who regained her previous life’s memory.
Besides, my mother died shortly after I was born, and my father was too busy to be in the mansion, so I didn’t feel particularly sad.
‘Did you become crazy like that because you didn’t get love from your family?’
Besides, I remember clearly because I had thoughts like that while watching Hikan in the game.
I wasn’t that sad, but since it’s my father, for the sake of my nanny, should I pretend to be sad?
That’s what I was thinking, when I could feel a gaze.
It was Hikan.
He was looking at her. As if to observe. With cold eyes that have no affection.
Dahlia, a quick-witted person, noticed immediately.
Now Hikan was weighing her use. Where and how can I use this child, named after Pesteros, later?
I’ll see how she reacts when she hears that father is dead, and I’ll decide on how to use her.
People’s personalities are mostly determined in their childhood, so they think there’s nothing they can do about it.
‘What kind of humans is this!’
Dalia froze and stared blankly at Hikan.
“……..You don’t cry.”
At Hikan’s low voice, Dalia shook her head hurriedly.
Now is not the time for this.
Dalia is now in front of the original story’s greatest villain’s childhood. Now that I see it, Hikan’s personality has been in that shape since he was a child.
In the original work, Hikan’s family will be exterminated. She’ll also be shoved away as an added bonus.
So unconditionally, I had to run away from this family as soon as possible.
Whatever ending Hikan had as the final villain, it was his karma. At that time, Dalia should not be put on the death sentence with him.
‘Now that it’s like this, I need to lower his guard and find a way out.’
Dalia quickly set her position. Become an innocent, stupid little sister who knows nothing!
So the goal was to make Hikan think, ‘She is not worthy of my concern.’ Then aim for that gap and run away.
To do so, Hikan should not have been wary of her at all. I must be branded as a naive and foolish sister.
‘How can such a foolish person be a human being?’
Hikan approached her step by step.
My heart sank with nervousness.
Then, the leftover bread in Dalia’s hand suddenly came to her mind. It was the bread that she eat as a snack while doing homework. There was nothing more to think about.
She suddenly holds it out to Hikan.
[1] This is the original ‘첫째, <우로보로스의 미궁>은 그야말로 꿈도 희망도 없는 피폐19금 여성향 게임이었다.’ If you know the correct translation for this one, comment down below.
“……What is this?”
There are frowns in the middle of Hikan’s forehead. His steps toward her also stopped.
“To, to comfort you…”
“……”
“Are, are you alright brother?”
“Y, you must be sad that father passed away…”
Dalia stuttered.
An anecdote in the book I read in my previous life crossed my mind.
A spy infiltrated the enemy troops and tried to kill an enemy he met, but instead, the enemy gave him the bread he had left, and the spy returned without being able to kill him.
It is an anecdote that shows how good humanity is.
‘Humanity! Something that Hikan doesn’t have! What Hikan thinks is the most stupid thing! How is it!’
Judging from his reaction, she changed her judgement.
“…..Ha.”
Hikan laughed as if dumbfounded. Then he grabs the bread in her hand.
‘……Do you want to throw and crush it on the floor!’
Then the plan is a success.
Don’t pay attention to me!
Dalia bit her lips and put her hands together, looking forward earnestly.
Seeing this, Hikan’s expression became ambiguous. He held the crumpled bread in his hand and turned around.
“……The funeral is tomorrow.”
Leaving only those words.
‘……? Did I succeed?’
Hikan left.
Dalia finally relaxed. At the same time, however, it occurred to me that I should run away from this house as soon as possible and get ready to start a new life.
She turned her head in astonishment as she faced the nanny who suddenly hugged her.
Dalia had memories of her previous life. That era was a much more sophisticated and complex world than it is now.
Of course, she knew how much process and money it would take to abandon the status of a noble lady and live with a new identity.
‘I need money.’
There is a limit to saving money from dresses or jewelry.
Unless the family is extremely poor, which noble family would wear the dress that others used to wear?
It is unknown how much it is if the jewels are reworked and sold again, but their value is bound to decrease.
And what’s left is, I know the secrets of the male lead and what’s going to happen to this world. It is up to Dalia on how to use that information.
‘But it’s impossible to do anything with such a young body anyway.’
She’s only 13 years old.
Whatever I do, obviously, 100% I will be ignored or cheated. I had to stick to this mansion until I saved enough money.
So what can she do now? To consistently look naive to my brother and plan for the future.
For now, she decided to concentrate on Hikan. And focus on tomorrow’s funeral.
* * *
The coffin descended slowly into the pit that had been dug beforehand. Above it, Hikan was the first to sprinkle soil.
Next was Dalia. There were no tears.
“Oh, my poor lady…….”
The nanny kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief beside Dalia.
She seemed to be concerned about what Hikan did yesterday.
“I’m fine, nanny.”
Instead, Dalia clasped the nanny’s hand tightly.
The nanny shed tears again, as if Dalia’s serene appearance was remarkable. The nanny was the only person Dalia could trust in this mansion.
‘Shall I ask the nanny if she knows anyone who can make fake identity?’
It’s obvious, she will fall ill.
She endured for the nanny’s mental health. I could hear the voices of the relatives behind me.
“……. The successor is still only 16 years old…….”
“……As expected, one of us…”
“……then Julio…”
“…… No. How can I take such a big position……”
Julio is the cousin of the late Duke Pesteros, who recently stood out for his success in the logistics business.
Even so, it was funny that they were yielding among themselves, even though they already count the chickens before they are hatched. (*t/n: means that they are getting ahead of themselves. They already discussing about the position when there’s no decision about it yet)
As they said, the Duke passed away so early, leaving his position vacant.
Originally, Hikan was supposed to take the position, but it is absurd for a 16-year-old to become a duke. A proxy is needed until he is eighteen, legally able to inherit the title.
According to the law, it was right for one of them to become a proxy.
But according to what she heard from the conversation between her nanny and the maid, these relatives were people who would take advantage of their positions as soon as they became the duke.
Hikan, a higher-ranking member than her, can’t be unaware of it. Maybe he’s already trying to get the duke title.
Dalia glanced at Hikan.
Hikan was staring at the coffin, which was being buried in the soil.
Is he really sad, or is it acting? Not even Dalia could know that.
‘We’re supposed to hold hands at times like this.’
If it’s a naive sister.
Dalia knew she would stick to her purpose.
In the original work, he regarded good and warm-hearted people as foolish and tactless humans.
Dalia should also look that way to increase the success rate of escape. The purpose is to lower his vigilance as much as possible.
Dalia carefully approached Hikan’s side and held his hand. Hikan’s hands were cold. Perhaps Hikan feels her hands warm.
“Brother”
“……”
“Are you alright?”
“……Don’t be childish, Dalia.”
Hikan spat out coldly.
But he didn’t bother to take out his hand. It was clear that Dalia was regarded as a nuisance to the point where it was annoying to shake off her hand.
“Young master, my lady, I have something to tell you.”
That voice is the voice of one of the relatives that Dalia had just heard.
Hikan briefly said, “Ha.” He groaned, and turned back, violently shrugging off her hand.
Dalia followed suit.
“What do you want to say?”
Hikan’s cold atmosphere scared everyone, regardless of age.
The relative, whose name he couldn’t even remember, barely managed to speak by keeping his distance.
“I’ve been talking to the family lawyer, and I think we’ll need a family proxy until you grow up enough. As a result of our consultation…”
“Why do you guys discuss our family affairs among yourselves? Are you a Pesteros?”
Hikan cut him off sharply.
The relative flinched. He hit the mark. He didn’t expect that he’d get this kind of criticism from a sixteen-year-old.
‘But Hikan is a transcendent.’
Even if the only successor is sixteen, it’s a different story if he is a transcendent. They were much clever and more ruthless than ordinary people, and they did not need guardians or proxy.
Of course, other Duke families, who maintain a smooth relationship with the relatives, set up a proxy for courtesy.
But the next Duke of Pesteros is a transcendent. He’s also the ultimate villain.
The relatives must have known that he is a transcendent, but they are still complacent.
“Bu, but young master! Isn’t the lady still young? I don’t know about Young Master Hikan, but Young Lady Dalia needs protection. Adult’s protection.”
The other relatives also did not retreat easily.
She could feel Hikan glancing into Dalia’s face. Dalia felt a cold sweat coming from her back. She can’t believe they’re using her like this.
This is a bad sign. As I said earlier, Hikan is a person who could get rid of her from the world anytime if she is being a nuisance.
It may be annoying to be so sweet, but you won’t hate it enough to kill me. There was a knack for slipping before it came to such a state. (*t/n: sorry I also didn’t understand this part)
However, if I continue being a hindrance to Hikan like this…
‘Are you going to get rid of me?’
No way.
He’s still sixteen, and he’s not crazy. Still, it is much better to remove the cause of the problem.
Dalia quickly grabbed Hikan’s hem and hid behind him.
Hikan seemed somewhat dumbfounded, but now is not the time to nitpick about it.
“I don’t like anyone else coming to my family other than my brother.”
“But my lady…”
“My brother is my guardian.”
About to cry, she said firmly.
The eyes of Hikan and all relatives turned to Dalia at the same time. Dalia said, wiping away her tears with her deadly acting.
“I don’t know your name or your face. You didn’t even show your face once when father was still alive, so shamelessly…”
At the same time, their expressions subtly changed. Hikan looked happy when the relative’s face became distorted. It was fortunate though.
“And now it’s my father’s funeral. Can’t you tell the time and the place?”
When she welled up with tears again and spoke with a trembling voice, the relatives left, taken aback.
It was Dalia’s victory.
‘Huu, this is a load off my mind’
They’ll come back soon, but for now, one crisis has passed.
Dalia looked up at Hikan with an expression that said, ‘I did a good job, right?’ But contrary to what she expected, his expression seemed bitter.
“Dalia”
“Now it’s really just the two of us.”
I couldn’t understand why you repeated what I said yesterday. Do you mean that soon it will be only one?
But without a moment for Dalia to read his face, he called the nanny and immediately entrusted her with him, and returned to the mansion.
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