Chapter 01
Prologue
The only ducal house of the Empire, Ashinov.
Its history begins five centuries ago, in the days of legend.
At that time the continent was wracked by the stench of blood and endless war.
The Demon King who lived beyond the Misty Mountains declared war to seize the fertile lands blessed by the gods.
He descended without warning or negotiation, conquering one territory after another.
As powerful as he was cruel, nothing living remained in his wake.
All the nations of the continent united their forces to resist, yet they were no match for him.
Day by day the allied army’s defeat became certain, and despair was all that seemed to remain.
But—as every tale goes—at the very brink appeared a great hero, chosen by the Goddess of the Stars, Rosiante:
Grand Archmage Pamel Ashinov.
Joining power with other mages, Pamel sealed the vicious Demon King and drove the now-leaderless demon race back beyond the Misty Mountains.
To ensure they could never return, he raised a massive magical barrier across the range and built a manor beneath it.
From a distance, its gleaming white walls looked like pure snow, and so people called it the Winter Manor.
“As long as the Winter Manor stands firm, the Demon King shall never rise again!”
For five hundred years the Ashinov dukes have kept Pamel’s charge, guarding the Winter Manor without fail.
Countless kingdoms have risen and fallen, yet the Ashinov family has never wavered.
Their prestige grew beyond that of a mere noble house—so great that even the imperial Kirun dynasty, which unified the continent, never dared challenge them.
Every new emperor, upon ascending the throne, would travel north first to pay respects to the duke and affirm his own legitimacy.
This is the famous legend of Ashinov, known even to snot-nosed children of the Empire.
Yet the legend hides a fatal mistake:
the being the Grand Archmage defeated was not the Demon King.
“How do I know that?”
Of course I know—
because I was that poor ordinary human who was mistaken for the Demon King and killed by the great archmage!
And what became of that unjustly slain commoner?
…I was reborn.
Five hundred years later, in a world much changed—
as the granddaughter of the very hero who killed me, the current Duchess Ashinov.
1
In my previous life I was an utterly ordinary person—
aside from living deep in the Misty Mountains with only my master for company.
Whenever I said we were “in hiding,” my master would firmly shake his head.
“Who’s hiding? I simply like the quiet. The air here is perfect.”
Nonsense.
The Misty Mountains were infamous for dangerous beasts and countless non-human races.
No one seeking a “quiet, fresh-air life” would choose such a place.
I had my suspicions: Perhaps Master was a criminal?
To hide here he must have been wanted for something serious.
But it didn’t matter to me.
Without him, I’d have died on a filthy street.
He once told me he’d found me crying in a city slum while passing through, scooped me up on a whim, and—though he always grumbled about the burden—never abandoned me.
For all his harsh words, I know he cared.
During his life he taught me everything: knowledge, swordsmanship, magic.
Thanks to his thorough lessons, I could survive alone in the mountains.
That is, until the day the Misty Mountains grew strangely noisy.
Sis! Something huge is coming!
It calls itself the Demon King!
Smells of blood everywhere!
Before I sensed it myself, a flock of chatty sprites rushed in to gossip.
Usually their chatter was useless, but sometimes—like now—it proved helpful.
The Demon King? Doesn’t he live beyond the mountains? Why here?
The answer came quickly:
the Demon King had chosen the Misty Mountains as his base to launch a war of conquest.
I was not pleased.
Why make your headquarters here of all places? You’re so noisy!
The demons never slept.
They drank, sang, and danced night and day.
A week… two… a month…
I can’t stand it anymore!
Driven mad by the racket, I finally marched into their base.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty the Demon King. I get that you’re excited about your war, but people live in these mountains. Either quiet down or move your camp!”
He looked at me, stunned, then burst into a disbelieving laugh—and drew his sword.
His expression said he’d silence me by taking my head.
I wasn’t about to die meekly.
I cast a spell exactly as Master had taught me and—
…oops.
“Gah—what…is this…!”
With a single strike the Demon King collapsed.
He was shocked. His followers were shocked.
I was very shocked.
Wait…why am I this strong?
I’d never once beaten Master.
He’d always clicked his tongue: “So weak—how will you protect yourself?”
So I wasn’t weak… Master was just ridiculously strong…
While I was still processing this, the fallen Demon King looked up at me, awestruck.
“You are the first to defeat me, human. Therefore—”
“Therefore…?”
“From this day, we shall serve you as our king! Anyone who fells me deserves the throne! Ah-ha-ha!”
One by one his bewildered followers knelt.
“All hail our new Demon King!”
…What?
Me? Demon King? Why?
From that moment the Demon King trailed after me with his minions, calling me their ruler.
“I said I’m not the Demon King!”
“But you defeated me.”
“Then beat me back! I’ll even stand still for you!”
“That would not be a true victory.”
“Take your throne back already! Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Bowing to the strong is our law. There is no shame.”
“Ugh… stupid demon law…”
While we argued, disaster struck:
we encountered Pamel leading an allied army to slay the Demon King.
The rest is the “history” everyone knows.
“I’m telling you I’m not the Demon King! The real one is that guy! Please listen!”
“Beware the demon’s trickery!”
“Do not be deceived!”
“No—really, I’m not—he is—!”
I pleaded desperately, but the allied forces ignored me.
To make matters worse, the demon troops behind me shouted, “Protect our king!” and charged.
Some help they are…
I tried to fend them off, but sheer numbers overwhelmed me.
Swords swung, arrows flew, spells rained down.
Maybe if I’d fought to kill, I could have won—
but Master had forbidden me to use my powers to take a life.
They, on the other hand, fought to kill.
The result was obvious.
In the end I was caught in the grand final spell Pamel and his mages had prepared.
Hff—!
A crushing pressure stole my breath, like a tidal wave crashing over me.
If this keeps up…I’m going to die!
