150 years ago, demons appeared in our world. Several people rose up against them, preventing them from destroying the empire.
I am the descendant of one of those people; my name is Reyn. I am the third son of the Fiorsav family, though I was disowned by my family after I harassed one of the three princesses of the empire who had entered the Academy.
After being disowned by my family, I wandered with the sole purpose of surviving, until I met soldiers who then forced me to work with them to repel the demons. From the age of sixteen to thirty-one, I did nothing but face demons day and night.
At this moment, I am ranked 20th in the empire's power ranking. If I wanted to, I could destroy a kingdom all by myself. Well, that is if I don't perish here... Because right now, the upper and lower parts of my body were separated, resting about ten meters apart.
Tons of corpses belonging to the soldiers of the empire were scattered all around me. Some of them were friends who had become dear to me over the years... but all of them were now deceased.
Then, a little further away, about thirty meters from me, there was a woman who, despite all the blood on her, remained beautiful.
I knew her quite well; she was the third princess I had harassed when I was younger. I looked at her for a few more seconds before finally using all my remaining strength to approach her.
I crawled to her side before leaning against the wall, then I pulled out a small vial from my pocket.
I then poured the liquid from the vial into my mouth, while getting closer to the princess and, while internally apologizing, I kissed her, letting the liquid flow through her entire body.
A few seconds later, her eyes opened, revealing a pair of blood-red eyes. She stared at me for a long, very long moment before speaking in a frail voice.
"Reyn Fiorsav?"
"Do you remember someone like me, princess? I'm flattered."
"Don't be... the only memories I have of you are not noble."
"Ah... ah..."
I said while scratching the back of my head. Of course, she wouldn't forget a despicable person like me...
"H-Hum... aside from that, is it thanks to you that I am no longer injured?"
"E-Eh well... yeah."
"I see..."
As she spoke, her eyes drifted down to my body. A look of horror then appeared on her beautiful face.
"W-What is...?"
"About that? Don't worry too much, with my aura, I was able to stop the bleeding temporarily."
"H-How long can you stay like this?"
"E-Eh well, I would say... maybe another five or ten minutes?"
"So... you are doomed to die..."
"Don't say that with such a dark expression, princess... shouldn't you be happy?"
Even though I murmured these last words, I knew she had heard them... but against all odds, she said nothing.
Then, after discussing a little more with her, I slightly changed my tone and spoke in a serious voice.
"Princess?"
"What is it...?"
"I've never told you, but... I am truly sorry."
"What are you talking about?"
My vision slowly began to tint black. Frankly, I didn't think I would die beside this princess to whom I had done so much harm when I was younger.
"I wanted to apologize to you, princess..."
The princess looked at me for a few seconds, surely not understanding the words that had come out of my mouth. Then, after that, she looked away before murmuring something.
"Y-You must have changed a lot... so I forgive you..."
"Ah... ah... thank you, princess. Try not to waste this life I saved..."
"Understood..."
She said in a soft whisper.
After that, everything around me turned black.
*
Then, after a while without knowing why, everything lit up with a blinding light.
Suddenly, a long corridor with students around fifteen years old appeared before my eyes.
"P-Please excuse me!"
Then, as I was still lost, a frail voice was heard.
I lowered my head and my eyes met hers.
A pair of blood-red eyes, long ebony black hair that fell to her waist. It was her, the third princess of the Empire.
Princess Analya Diospyros Skalvium was sitting on the ground, looking at me with a terrified face.
'Is this a dream?'