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AN: The initial 7 chapters draw inspiration from 'The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman.' While the early storyline shares a common foundation, rest assured it will soon take its own unique and distinct path.
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Amidst the cool night breeze and the faint glow of the half-moon, a profound certainty weighed upon my senses. The very essence of my existence as a remorseless killing machine whispered one undeniable truth:
I am on the cusp of death.
Surveying my surroundings, the moonlight danced through the garden, revealing winding paths that meandered between soft, wool-like shrubs. Yet, amidst this serene setting, there was no path to life. Only one grim route stretched before me, reeking of death.
"Klaus."
The sound of a name, a weighty name that resonated in my heart, pierced the night. Emerging from the shadows was a middle-aged man, his long silver hair akin to strands of white frost. Damien Zagerfield, the head of House Zagerfield, commanded a presence that saturated the garden with an aura of death.
"It is I."
I responded, my voice void of emotion. My gaze met his, and my countenance mirrored the impassivity of a lifeless doll.
"Your competence aligns with your status as an heir candidate of House Zagerfield. Thanks to your unwavering commitment to mastering magic, the family has flourished."
"I only carried out my duty."
I replied, devoid of pretense or emotion. My head inclined in a robotic nod.
"Klaus," Damien spoke, his voice dropping to a somber tone. "Do you believe that an heir of House Zagerfield can afford to be anything less than exceptional?"
He extended his hand, and the influence of his presence deepened, casting a heavy shadow over the ground.
"It is imperative that an heir excels in the mastery of magic. Emotions and distractions have no place."
"I concur."
"Why did you act unilaterally, knowing your limitations?"
Damien's tone sharpened, his voice growing frigid, and it clamped around my heart.
"And you lost control of your mana circuit."
A chill crept down my spine, and to conceal my shock, I bit my tongue.
How could he know?
I had acted within bounds, revealing no emotions, and I was perplexed as to how he had discerned the malfunction in my mana circuit.
"Speak. When and how did your mana circuit deteriorate?"
At this point, it was clear that he possessed an unwavering certainty, operating with full knowledge of my circumstances.
"How did you discover this?"
I bit my lip, raising my head.
Klaus, once a bright hope as the heir of House Zagerfield, had been groomed from a tender age to assume the mantle of the family's patriarch. Raised in an unforgiving environment, he grew up devoid of emotion, trained to hone his magical prowess in secret. His life had been governed by stern discipline and had taken an unexpected turn during a critical mission for the family.
As a gifted mage, Klaus had been an invaluable asset to the Zagerfield family, executing their covert operations with precise and ruthless efficiency. His skills had granted him a place among the family's elite, an exclusive group that would one day lead the family forward.
However, it was during a seemingly routine mission that disaster struck. In his quest to expand his magical powers and serve the family better, Klaus had delved deep into forbidden magic. Yet, his mana circuit, once a wellspring of power, had spiraled into disarray. The magic he unleashed backfired, rendering him incapable of controlling or channeling mana as he once had.
Klaus had transformed into a liability, a broken vessel that could no longer fulfill his role as the family's secret weapon. His once-promising future had crumbled. Damien Zagerfield, the family's head, known for his relentless pursuit of power and his cold ruthlessness, had seen no alternative. Klaus had been swiftly categorized as useless.
In a calculated move, Damien sealed Klaus's fate. Klaus's eyes widened in terror and disbelief as Damien's sword pierced his heart. Pain, fear, and regret surged through him—emotions he had long repressed in service to his family.
In that moment, Klaus met his demise, not as the feared mage he once was, but as a broken heir, whose own prodigious talents had unraveled, leaving him at the mercy of the very family that had nurtured his potential.
As his life's essence ebbed onto the cold garden soil, Klaus's vision dimmed, and the world around him dissolved into darkness. He clutched at a necklace—the relic he had discovered during a perilous mission within a labyrinth—a symbol of his loyalty to House Zagerfield. The necklace descended into a pool of his own blood.
As the world faded, Klaus clung to one thought—his yearning for vengeance against the Zagerfield family would endure, even in death.
[You have been chosen by Gluttony.]
[Gluttony will descend upon your body… Your body has died!]
[Error….]
***
As Klaus adjusted to his new life, he couldn't help but contemplate the strangeness of it all. The memories of his past life as a formidable mage haunted him. The transition from a powerful figure in the world of magic to that of a helpless infant in a seemingly ordinary family was beyond surreal.
The world around him was a stark contrast to the one he had known. Instead of clandestine operations and manipulation of arcane powers, he was now surrounded by the simple joys of infancy—baby rattles, cooing, and the gentle lullabies of his mother.
Elisabeth was a loving presence in his life. Her warm smile and tender care were a far cry from the cold and calculated environment of House Zagerfield. Klaus couldn't help but feel a twinge of gratitude for her presence, even as he grappled with the oddity of his situation.
As he continued to grow, Klaus observed the world around him with an unusual level of insight. The memories of his past life were like a parallel narrative, a constant reminder of the stark contrast between his two existences. He was no longer a feared mage, but a child growing up in a world he was only beginning to understand.
Yet, Klaus's thirst for knowledge and his innate curiosity remained intact. He watched the world with a keen eye, absorbing information and experiences with an insatiable hunger. The potential for magic still resided within him, even if he couldn't access it in his current state.
In his heart, Klaus held onto the knowledge that he had once been a master of magic. The path to reclaiming that power was unclear, but he was determined to find it. The enigma of his rebirth, the memories of his past life, and the potential for magic were all pieces of a puzzle waiting to be solved.
With Elisabeth as his guiding star in this unfamiliar world, Klaus embarked on a new journey—one that would lead him to discover the depths of his reborn existence and the mysteries of the magic that still pulsed within him.