Lotus Year 100
100 years.
Today, my status told me that I turned 100. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. But damn, 100 years—it’s the equivalent of a century. And yet... I don’t feel anything about it. Neither joy, nor sadness, nor any kind of sense of time. It just seems like a random number with no value. 100 years passed like nothing.
But I guess I should thank the current conditions of the world for that. Time seems to run slower when the Demon Lord of the Plague still walked the world. Now that bastard is dead, time seems to run faster.
That is, of course, until the next Demon Lord is born. I’ve lived long enough to understand that it’s a cycle. One Demon Lord dies, and another is born, usually about 30-40 years later. I still have some free time until the next one, and anyway, it’s not exactly a death flag. I only suffered with the last Demon Lord because I was "close" to his area of influence. If I’m lucky, I might go centuries without encountering the chaos caused by a Demon Lord.
Time has also passed for the Tieflings. Hirake has decided to adopt the surname "Seiko" that I gave him, a way of telling the world, "The king bears a name given by the village’s deity." Hirake is quite powerful. He already was before, but now he’s even stronger. His magical energy is dense enough to suppress anyone in this village. He also gained a unique skill called [Binding Chains], which allows him to create an area of effect around him that chains his enemies to the ground with chains made of magic.
These chains carry with them my powers of purification and water affinity, which, to be honest, isn't all that useful. My purification doesn’t work in the "purge evil" sense but rather the "purify impure" type. So, Hirake’s chains can neutralize poisons and other unnatural substances. It’s useful in its own way, as Hirake pointed out. Strengthening potions are considered "unnatural substances," along with any other kind of unnatural tonic. So, when fighting Hirake, potions and similar items become useless since he can purify these substances from his body.
I found this intriguing because I’d never thought of it that way. It’s not something I’d have ever needed, and this place barely has three people who know how to create these kinds of supplements. But thinking about it, it is a good skill to have. It might not have 1001 uses, but when the right situation comes up, this purification skill shines brightly.
An example of this is land reclamation. I can easily remove all harmful energies and substances from the soil and the region around me and convert them into black clay, which I can bury in the ground. Meanwhile, people without purification powers would have to abandon the land taken over by corruption and flee to unknown places. But me? I can simply sit and fix the place where I live.
Another point worth mentioning is the construction of the castle. Hirake had become a "king in name," meaning he has the profession of a king and acts as one, but he hasn’t yet earned the title of king from the system. And what's the point of wanting the title from the system? I didn’t know either, but according to Hirake, the title grants him the ability to create knights, generate contracts supervised by the system, and a bunch of unique abilities of the "king" class.
To earn the title of king, Hirake needs to follow a very specific procedure—so specific it almost seemed like a lie to me. First, he needs a [King's Crown], an item that can only be created in a coronation ceremony recognized by the system. To do this, he needs a regular crown and a ritual to turn that crown into a [King's Crown]. The ritual requires several people to serve as "nobles," swearing an oath on the crown. Afterward, all those nobles spill their blood or magical energy on the crown. And do you think that’s enough to make Hirake king? No, no.
After that, Hirake has to prove himself worthy of the crown by defeating all the nobles who swore an oath on it in a competition. What kind of competition? The system doesn’t specify. It could be a battle, a game of chess, a bet, or even something simple like "guess the number I’m thinking of."
Only after all this would Hirake earn the title of "Candidate for King." Then the system requires him to have a certain number of followers to complete the mission. Only then can he equip the [King's Crown] and assume the title of [King]. To me, this seemed like a big, boring game. It felt meaningless, but to Hirake, it was as normal as breathing. That’s why he wanted the people's favor, because without their approval, he wouldn’t be able to obtain the title of king. And that’s also why the nobles are so important: without them, the king can’t complete the crown ritual, and without a crown, there’s no king. That made everything much clearer. That’s why Hirake worked so hard to win over everyone. He needed their approval to even begin the process.
Another interesting detail was that, even though the quests to create a [King's Crown] could change, it’s not a matter to be taken lightly. The greater the power of the nobles involved in creating the crown, and the more difficult the quests they give the candidate, the greater the effects of the [King's Crown] when it’s completed. For example, if a commoner decided to "become king" and appointed three other commoners as nobles, and then the nobles gave a mission like "jump three times on one foot," and the commoner succeeded, then the power of his crown would be pathetic—because it wouldn’t carry any real honor recognized by the system.
On the other hand, if a super-strong guy appointed 12 high-level individuals as nobles, and the nobles gave him a mission like "kill the Demon Lord," and he succeeded, then the power of his crown would be huge. It would carry immense honor.
One more thing I found interesting was how easy it is to elect new kings once you already have a [King's Crown]. If you have one, all you need is for the nobles to give a mission to a new candidate for king, or for someone with the title of [Prince] to take over the king’s legacy.
Looking at all this, I soon realized something troubling: apparently only [Princes] can become kings. Hirake said that princesses can’t. Instead, they become extremely valuable bargaining chips for the crown, since their children can compete for the crown under the title of [Prince] without going through the process of becoming a candidate. Another worrying fact is how easy it is for a prince to become king. All they have to do is exist and wait for the current king to die and inherit the [King's Crown]. This is worrying when you think long-term. In two or three generations, a title that was once extremely difficult to obtain could easily become something that’s only given to those born with privilege, and no one really cares anymore. The only thing that matters is the king’s ability to activate the crown’s powers.
I shared this with Hirake, and he said that this is the main cause of blood feuds within royal families. The first king of a noble lineage is always remembered in great legends and heroic tales. But the next kings are simply known as "The Virtuous King," "The Wise King," and so on. They’re never as legendary as the first. Over time, people grow dissatisfied with the current king who is only a shadow of the first. This can lead to revolutions or brutal fights among the descendants for the title of [King].
This is both fascinating and frightening. They can’t predict what will happen. They can’t control their children’s actions. All they can do is fight and try their best to build a foundation that they hope their children will use wisely.
Currently, Hirake hasn’t yet gained the title of king, mainly due to the lack of precious metals. The material of the crown also greatly influences its final effect. A wooden crown would be nothing compared to a crown made of rare and valuable resources. So for now, Hirake is content with his title of [Candidate for King], which simply confirms that he has the support of the people.
The castle Hirake is building was at the request of the nobles. They wanted a castle to live in until they gained their own lands since they weren’t content with "living among the rabble." When you look at it this way, nobles have a lot of power. They can appoint kings, they don’t need to compete for titles, and they have great influence. The downside is that if you don’t have a kingdom to serve, your noble title is useless. The power of nobles comes from the king, which creates a dangerous game where the king needs the nobles to create his court, and the nobles need someone to use as a public figure.
The best scenario for the nobles is to create a puppet king—someone who fulfills the system’s requirements but has no real power. The best scenario for the king is a bunch of powerful nobles who can’t rise up against his orders. It’s a game where both need each other to survive, but whether they are allies or enemies is another question.
The relationships between humanoids are strange when I stop to think about it. They fight for the same goals, but they also fight among themselves—constantly competing for better places, resources, and influence. I can understand the essence of this struggle because, in many ways, I do the same thing. I kill, destroy, and consume anything that threatens me. If there’s competition for natural resources, I don’t hesitate to eliminate my competitors. I did it when I killed most of the vegetation in this place when I was born, wiping out everything until there was no more competition for space or resources.
But unlike me, Tieflings fight and kill each other even when they don’t need to compete for resources. Right now, there’s enough for everyone—at least, there could be, if the resources were distributed equally. But that’s not the case. The weak and socially useless have to fight for scraps, while the high-ranking nobles and the powerful enjoy luxuries like meat and soft beds, convinced they’re living humbly for their status.
When I think about it, I feel a sense of confusion and irritation. I judge their actions, but when I look at my own reflection, I realize I’m no different. I compete with my fellow beings, just as they do. The difference is that they don’t have mouths or consciences like mine to fight back. All they can do is follow their basic instincts—the drive to grow and follow the light.
So yes, I am a hypocrite. I judge the Tieflings, even though I’ve done exactly the same things to get to where I am. I’ve exploited and eliminated threats just like them. But now, I’ve stopped caring so deeply about it. Nature will take its course, no matter what. The weak die and become food for the strong. The strong reproduce, and the cycle repeats.
I am no one to interfere in this cycle on a whim. I’ll continue to kill anything that isn’t beneficial to me, just as the Tieflings and humanity will continue to consume each other, always fighting for more. There's will always be those who are hungry for power and who are willing to do anything to achieve this power, hunger is dangerous, after all, hunger takes you to unimaginable places.
Lotus Year 100
"Hum-hum-hum..."
A young man, dressed in simple cloth clothes and carrying a shoulder bag, hummed as he strolled down the roads of Mysticfall. With a carefree attitude, he walked calmly, heading toward an unknown destination.
Around him, people bustled, working in their shops, tending to houses, or pulling carts along the road. Some glanced at him and quickly looked away, while others greeted him warmly as he passed by. Soon, he arrived at what seemed to be an old wooden house. Above its entrance hung a sign, chains clinking softly as it swayed. The sign depicted an anvil, seemingly engraved with fire into the wood.
Without hesitation, the young man entered, still humming. As he crossed the threshold, he was immediately met by a towering figure. The man’s skin was as black as coal, his eyes glowing red like embers. Standing over 2 meters tall, with a muscular frame resembling that of an ogre, the man had a large beard and thin hair that looked as if it were made of burning ash.
"OH! Look who came! Little Kiiro!" the giant boomed, his wide grin filling his face.
"Greetings, Mr. Tenkaishi! My master sent me to collect the temple’s request," the young man replied with respect.
"Right on time, kid. The templars’ order was completed yesterday!" The large man grinned even wider, his hands on his hips. "Come, kid, follow me. Watch out for the clutter."
"I can take care of myself, sir!" Kiiro replied with a lighthearted laugh as he followed the man to the back of the smithy.
Through the room filled with shelves of metal parts, armor, and tools, Kiiro weaved effortlessly, avoiding obstacles until they reached the back.
The man approached a large box, easily lifting it with both hands and placing it on his shoulder. "Here you go. 20 candle holders, 10 medium-sized metal pots, 8 door hinges and knockers, and 5 cast iron bracelets." He placed the box down with a thud in front of Kiiro.
"Thank you, Mr. Tenkaishi!" Kiiro said, not even glancing at the box. He then touched an earring made of a perfectly round stone set in a brass hoop. The stone glowed with a faint blue light, and a small stream of water emerged, forming a betta fish made entirely of crystal-clear water.
"Nai, please help carry the box," Kiiro said gently, playing with the fish-like creature.
The water fish flowed down the box, gently lifting it into the air as if it were gliding on the ground.
"Impressive! A young man like you with a spirit willing to follow you—definitely a descendant of royalty!" The large man bellowed with laughter, slapping Kiiro’s back. "HAH! Just like your bloodline, huh?"
"Ugh—thanks for the compliment, Mr. Tenkaishi!" Kiiro grimaced, dodging the man’s enthusiastic slaps. "But I should go now."
"Leaving already, kid? Well, come back later and chat with Hurai! He’s a good boy, despite all his 'issues'—you should see how soft he is with his sisters!" the big man said with a gentle smile.
"I will, Mr. Tenkaishi! Send my regards to Mrs. Tenkaishi and the twins!" Kiiro said as he turned to leave the room.
"No problem! Lady bless you!" the man called after him.
"Lady bless you!" Kiiro responded, stepping out of the smithy.
As Kiiro emerged onto the busy sidewalk, he was surrounded by the hum of city life. People rushed along, some chatting in hushed tones, others with purposeful strides. The sun shone brightly overhead, and a gentle breeze stirred the air, bringing a lively energy to the place. After a brief moment of confusion, Kiiro quickly found his way, weaving through the crowd with the ease of someone who had walked this path countless times.
With a broad smile on his face, Kiiro continued on, his small companion, Nai, floating happily behind him, guiding the box along the way.
"Are you sure about this?" A girl passing by Kiiro muttered to her companion.
"I’m telling you! My brother works at the king’s castle as a coachman! He heard it from the guards—a huge competition, held by the crown!" the woman accompanying her whispered, but her words weren’t soft enough to escape Kiiro’s keen ears.
'A competition? Aunt Selene didn’t mention anything about it... must be just idle chatter,' Kiiro thought to himself as he continued on his way.
Soon, Kiiro found himself in a large square. Stalls selling everything from herbs to armor, food, and seeds lined the area. Vendors called out to passersby, enticing them with their wares. However, the most striking thing was that the exchange wasn’t made with coins but with small pearls of various colors and sizes.
"Kiiro!" A voice rang out from behind him.
"Huh?" Before he could turn, someone leaped onto him, knocking him to the ground with a loud laugh. "HAHAHA! Finally showed up, huh? Were you upset about losing our game last time?"
"Sayuri!" Kiiro exclaimed, surprised. "What are you doing here!? You know your father forbade you from coming to the village after what you did last time!"
The girl, Sayuri, was around 7 or 8 years old, with pink hair tied into two pigtails adorned with bows. Her lime green eyes sparkled mischievously, and despite her expensive-looking pink dress, she was barefoot, her feet caked in mud. Her dress, once pristine, was now dirty and wet in several places.
"AH!! But it's so boring back at the castle! There's nothing to do but run around in circles on the lawn and read stupid books! I'm going to stay here!" the girl said, throwing herself on the ground and refusing to move.
"Sayuri! Are you going to get me in trouble again? Last time, I had to listen to your father's lecture for 20 minutes just because of you! Come on, get up! I have to take you back to the castle before they miss you!" Kiiro said, pulling at the girl to get her up, but she did everything she could to make his job difficult.
"Come on, Brother Kiiro~ Play with me just a little. Show me those beautiful floating shapes you can create again!" the little girl whined.
It was a strange sight. A young man in his early 20s was in a heated argument with a child who barely reached his waist, and somehow, the little girl seemed to be the one winning.
"I don't have time for this, Sayuri!" Kiiro said. "Nai! Help me with this! We need to complete Aunt Selene's request soon."
The little water fish, Nai, quickly created a small circle of water beneath Sayuri’s feet. The next moment, a current of water formed around the girl, lifting her into the air as she took the form of a rain cloud.
"Hey! No~ You're not going to take me back, are you? At least let me go with you!" Sayuri protested.
"No! I don’t have time for your games, Sayuri. I have to go back to the temple, and I need to take you home before anyone notices you're missing!" Kiiro snapped his fingers, causing the water cloud to pulse and start moving toward the castle. "Nai! Please accompany her. At least you can escape Mr. Ville’s lecture if he’s there." The little creature opened and closed its mouth in agreement before swimming beside the cloud that carried Sayuri back to the castle.
Kiiro found himself alone, carrying two heavy boxes full of metal on a walk that would take more than 15 minutes. Looking at the situation, Kiiro facepalmed and groaned in frustration. "Ugh... This had to happen on the day of training... Damn. Auntie’s going to scold me for wasting mana on mundane things..." He made a circle with his finger in the air, forming a stream of water that stuck to the boxes, lifting them slightly off the ground.
"That should be enough," Kiiro said, continuing on his way while the boxes slowly followed him, floating just above the ground as Kiiro made motions with his hand.
After what seemed like a long walk through the streets and alleys of the city, Kiiro finally found himself in a large open square. All around the square were stone statues carved in the image of a woman with straight hair that fell to her ankles, wearing nothing more than a cloth that wrapped around her slender and delicate body. The statue was devoid of detail but still imposing for anyone seeing it for the first time.
The square was beautifully maintained, with flowers, bushes, and water channels covered with wooden grates running through the ground. People in robes worked delicately to maintain the space, cleaning and caring for the flowers. Kiiro barely paid attention to the people, instead heading straight to a large temple made of black stone from the region.
Upon arriving at the gate, two enormous figures covered in robes, medallions, and brass chains holding iron spears with decorations nodded to each other before opening the large barred gate. The gate creaked, but neither guard seemed to care. Kiiro smiled in thanks and entered the temple without issue.
Inside, Kiiro walked across the stone floor, passing a hall full of water fountains attached to the walls, their streams cascading to the floor. In the center of the hall was a large circle of stones, connecting directly to the lake below, creating a perfect mirror on the surface of the water, with occasional glimpses of the marine life beneath. He crossed the hall without rushing and headed down a corridor to a thick wooden door with a grating across it.
Kiiro casually picked up the grating and slammed it against the door before stepping back and waiting. Inside, he could hear people moving and talking, and soon the sounds of footsteps approached. The door creaked open, and from within, a hooded figure with pink skin, navy blue eyes, and beautiful granite-colored horns appeared.
"Oh! It's young master Kiiro, how may I assist you?" the young lady asked from the other side of the door.
"Hey, Lyanda! I just came to drop off this week's shipment of pieces!" Kiiro said pompously, moving the box full of metal objects with a flick of his magic.
Instead of showing gratitude, Lyanda looked concerned, her gaze falling as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. "Young master, you shouldn’t be doing this kind of menial work. The madan will be upset if she finds out you're handling servant duties. Please, refrain from such mundane tasks," she said, lowering her head.
"There’s no need to worry~ My mother won’t scold you, at most, she’ll just argue with Selene again. Honestly, it was the high priestess who insisted on this—something about ‘learning humility and the value of hard work,’” Kiiro joked, smiling as he waved her concern away.
"Ugh—Very well, in that case, I appreciate your service, my lord," Lyanda said, relenting. She picked up the heavy box and dragged it into the room, while Kiiro simply said goodbye and continued his way through the temple.
Despite the bandage over his eyes, Kiiro navigated the space with remarkable precision. It was as if he could see everything clearly, or more likely, he had memorized every corner of the temple from his countless visits. He passed down a corridor adorned with tapestries depicting people wandering through red lands, until he reached a figure—a blue form floating serenely in the air. More tapestries lined the walls, each telling a different story, but Kiiro barely took notice of them. He only knew they were there.
"How dare you!" a voice shouted down the corridor. Kiiro quickened his pace, his curiosity piqued, until he reached an open room. At its center was a large statue of a woman holding a jug that poured water over a stone. The water flowed down to the floor, collecting in a ring of stones with holes, acting as a drain. The room, filled with altars, benches, candles, and tapestries, had roots and flowers growing in abundance throughout.
At the front of the room, two figures stood facing each other. One was Kiiro’s mother, Suzuke, wearing a kimono adorned with flower patterns, her hair styled in a bun with a metal ornament and chains threaded through it. A veil covered her face, leaving only her horns visible, with thick makeup accentuating her features. The other figure was Selene, the High Priestess of the Temple of Clear Waters, a regal older woman draped in white ceremonial robes embroidered with golden threads in the shape of roots and flowers. A fabric mask covered her face, revealing only her pointed horns, and she wielded a staff carved from wood, its design delicate yet imposing. Metal chains and jewelry decorated her attire, giving her an aura of elegance.
"What’s going on here?" Kiiro asked as he entered the room, his voice carrying across the space.
"Kiiro!" both women exclaimed in unison, clearly surprised by his sudden arrival.
"Oh, it's nothing major, dear. Selene and I were just discussing the potential bride candidates we’ve selected for you. After all, you’re not getting any younger. You're at the perfect age for marriage," Suzuke said, casting a pointed look at Selene.
"Hmmm, indeed. We were just debating who would be the best match for you," Selene added, her tone thoughtful. "Of course, you're young and talented, so any young lady would be honored to marry you. But I was just wondering if—"
"Whether you'd prefer to marry before or after spring," Suzuke interjected, cutting her off with a look.
"Uh... I haven’t really thought about marriage all that much," Kiiro said, scratching his head awkwardly. "Can we maybe leave this conversation for another time?"
"Absolutely not!" Suzuke exclaimed, her voice firm. "I’ve spent nearly five years trying to find ideal matches for you! Finally, I’ve found candidates who are worthy of your time!"
Without paying much attention to his mother's words, Kiiro wandered over to a bench near the statue and plopped down. "Alright, alright... So, who are these candidates?" he asked nervously.
"Well... We have Yuri Ville, the eldest daughter of the Ville house, as the main candidate. Her powers began to blossom last winter, and she showed a real talent with non-elemental magic. She has very large mana reserves, in addition to a strong and active bloodline. It's a shame that she didn't awaken any elemental affinities, but her talent with magic and her family connections are strong enough to put her at the top of the list," Suzuke said thoughtfully.
"We also have Mizuke Takeshi, the second granddaughter of the illustrious Yutake Takeshi - the strongest summoner we have in the city. Mizuke's lineage hasn't awakened yet, and the way things are going, it's unlikely it will. But it doesn't matter; her role isn't to fight—it's to give us a healthy and strong heir. She'll serve perfectly for that, tsk. Besides, her grandfather was the first to propose this match. If we refuse her, he might be offended and resentful, but don't worry about that. What's important is choosing the best match, not the one with the least problems," Suzuke said irritably.
"The next candidate is Reimi Kurogane. She has nothing special—mediocre talent for magic, an affinity with earth, a pleasant appearance, and a long but unimpressive lineage. But her family is a pioneer in the excavation and mining of the region around the city to obtain minerals and precious metals. That makes them figures who will be very important in the future. If we can create lasting bonds with them while they're still weak, it would be very beneficial," Suzuke continued, clearly uninterested in the bored expression Selene wore and Kiiro's obvious discomfort.
"Lastly, we have Reinka Tenkaishi. Ugh, a commoner, without any talents, knowledge, or connections that could help Kiiro. But I must admit, her lineage is so powerful that it manifested the day she was born. A strong lineage is always valuable," Suzuke said, her head down.
"Are you really looking down on commoners just because they're commoners?" Selene mocked.
"Stop being so dramatic, Selene. You know it’s not about the fact that she’s a commoner. That’s just a minor detail. The real issue is that she’s illiterate, incompetent, and her family has nothing except a strong lineage and an old blacksmith. How is that going to help Kiiro?!" Suzuke countered, irritated by Selene's provocation.
"Fine, believe what you want," Selene said, crossing her arms and turning her face away.
"Back to the point," Suzuke continued. "The last candidate is Isame Fujisake. She’s the only daughter of the Scarlet Warrior—wild, rude, but strong, wise, responsible, and talented. Most importantly, she developed her own bloodline by merging her parents' bloodlines. We don’t know the full extent of her bloodline, partly because her mother—The Scarlet Warrior—won’t let me get close to her, but I highly doubt her bloodline is weak, considering her mother’s bloodline grants her blood magic, and her father’s grants shadow magic."
"Are you crazy?! How did you even convince her mother to consider this? That woman doesn’t care about these marriage matters!" Selene said, visibly irritated.
"Her husband does care, and he cares a lot about his daughter’s future. The Scarlet Warrior seems to have a soft spot for him, and somehow, he convinced her that it would be better to create connections in the city than to have their daughter follow the same path as her mother," Suzuke replied.
"Are you an idiot? You actually believed that nonsense about 'I opened my eyes and want a better future for my daughter'?" Selene asked indignantly.
"Of course not. It’s clear that woman wanted something—probably a supporter to finance her foolish fights and explorations. But who cares? Anyone with a little extra money would be happy to take her daughter and get some new blood in their family line in exchange for funding her ridiculous whims," Suzuke said dismissively.
"Would you guys stop talking about this?!" Kiiro shouted, placing his hand over his forehead in frustration.
Seeing her son's reaction, Suzuke looked worried and quickly rushed to check on him. "Sorry, honey, I got a little carried away. I know it’s a lot to process, and choosing a life partner isn’t easy. But I hope you understand that I’m only trying to give you a better future than... this." Suzuke gestured around at the surroundings.
"What you call 'this' was built on the sweat and tears of hundreds of pioneers. This is the foundation of all of Mysticfalls, the primordial beginning of everything we have today! It’s an honor and privilege for anyone who can work under this roof!" Selene interjected, visibly irritated.
"Selene, please, we’ve already talked about this," Suzuke said, frowning at her.
"Tsk."
Suzuke turned back to Kiiro, grabbed his cheeks, and looked directly into his face. "My precious baby, I’ll take care of you. You know I will," she said sweetly.
"Mom! I told you to stop doing this, I’m not a child anymore!" Kiiro protested, trying to move away from her.
"Nonsense! You will always be my precious baby. I know you must think I’m exaggerated, but I’m only doing this because I love you. You know that, don’t you?" Suzuke said, squeezing his hand.
"Y-Yes, Mom..." Kiiro mumbled, his head down.
Suzuke then opened a big smile, almost imperceptible behind her veil. "Awww, my baby! Give me a hug!" She pulled Kiiro into a tight embrace, making him immediately feel embarrassed. He tried to wiggle free.
But she wouldn’t let him go.