A World of Challenges
Living in a world where all that awaits is a hellish fight and endless hatred, my life has been anything but easy. Born into the prestigious royal family of Phoenix, known for its mastery over magic, I was branded a failure at the age of 15. Unlike the other royal children who could wield magic by the age of 12, I had no such talent despite years of relentless training. The Grand Mages declared me hopeless, and my parents stripped me of my royal title and exiled me to a distant land to avoid the "stain of shame" on the Phoenix legacy.
Though exiled, they provided me with a small house and a maid named Milla. Milla, with her calm demeanor, ocean-blue eyes, and soothing voice, took care of me without judgment. She refused to give up on me when everyone else had.
Despite my circumstances, I dedicated myself to mastering the sword. My dream was to stand beside Javelin, the revered leader of the capital army, a man I deeply admired. That dream became the foundation of my journey. My name is Lion, and this is my story.
Years passed, and today I turned 18. I held a modest party, although the thought of celebrating with funds from my estranged family left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Milly noticed my dark expression. "Why does your face look so grim, Master?"
Before I could answer, Joe, a magical and one of my party members, remarked, "He's probably thinking about how we're all going to die because of him."
Joe was exiled from the kingdom after failing to save the life of the Phoenix family's patriarch.
"Don't be like that," Gil interjected with a grin. "It wasn't his fault."
Gil, a swordsman like me, grew up in a remote farming village after his hometown was destroyed by the demon lord's army.
Milly, our party's healer, tried to calm Joe. "We're a team, after all," she said with a reassuring smile.
Later that night, after we put out the campfire, we prepared to rest. The next morning, we returned to Asra, the village where we had settled—a peaceful place on the kingdom's edge.
A Dark Secret
As we arrived, I dismissed the party for the day. "Let's meet tonight at the bar," I said, and they all agreed.
When I got home, Milla greeted me with her usual enthusiasm. "Good job, Master! Are you ready for today's treatment?"
I nodded, patting her head. "Yes, but let's make it quick. I have plans tonight."
Milla smiled softly. "Today's treatment won't take long."
Two years ago, I discovered my curse—or gift, depending on how one sees it. I am immortal. It happened when I tried to end my life after realizing I was weaker than an average person, no matter how hard I trained. Hanging myself in my room, I expected death but instead came back to life moments later. Milla found me and, shocked by what she saw, vowed to help me grow stronger.
Since then, she's experimented with various treatments—monster blood, rare drugs, and torturous regimens—all to build my strength. Today's concoction was a rare Hell Rabbit's blood that she'd acquired from the black market.
As she prepared the injection, she spoke gently. "I used all the money we earned to get this, Master. It wasn't easy."
"I hate relying on my family's wealth," I admitted. "But we'll manage with the money from our last dungeon."
She nodded and reassured me. "Shall we begin, Master?"
I winced at her formal tone. "Milla, please call me Lion. I owe you everything, after all."
She shook her head. "I can't. You're my master. My body, time, and soul belong to you."
I didn't know how to respond. She'd sacrificed so much for me, yet I had done nothing to repay her. I resolved to buy her something nice when I returned.
As the injection began, agony surged through my body. I screamed before collapsing into unconsciousness.
A Night at the Bar
When I woke, it was already night. "What time is it?" I asked groggily.
Milla glanced at me, concern in her eyes. "It's late. You should rest."
Ignoring her, I changed into clean clothes and hurried to the bar.
The bar was bustling as usual. Gil spotted me and waved. "Late again, Leader! We're thinking of replacing you with someone more punctual," he teased.
Milly glared at him. "Stop drinking, Gil. You're drunk."
Joe, already on his third drink, chimed in. "For once, I agree with him. You need to stop being late."
"Sorry, everyone," I said, sitting down. "I had something urgent to take care of."
Milly looked at me closely. "You look exhausted. What happened?"
"Nothing special," I lied. "Just tired from our last adventure."
Joe pushed a plate of food toward me. "Eat something. You'll feel better."
"Thanks," I said, grateful for their concern.
We spent the night laughing and drinking, a rare moment of peace in our turbulent lives. But as we were leaving, I accidentally bumped into a drunk man.
"Watch where you're going, kid!" he snarled, shoving me. "Didn't your parents teach you manners?"
He punched me in the face, and though I tried to walk away, the crowd egged him on.
"Hit him again!" someone shouted.
The challenges never seem to end, but I'll face them all. For my party, for Milla, and for the man I aspire to be.