Yukari stood alone in front of the dormitory door, unwilling to go inside.

"Why? When did the invisible iron chains separate our distance?"

Her desolate and helpless eyes fell on the snow, and the snow that had stopped for a while began to fall again.

Tonight, who knows how many people will die from illness and war, and it is incalculable how many people will endure the heartache of losing their families.

Really... did I really choose the right path?

Exhausted from using up her energy, she finally couldn't stand steady and fainted in front of the dormitory door.

Even in that moment of unconsciousness, she couldn't forget, younger brother... Do I really have a younger brother? In fact, I have never had one, and he was never mine from the beginning... actually... am I not a sister?

Several black shadows darted into the entrance of the palace, led by a rugged and tall man.

With agility, he quickly took out the dozen or so guards at the gate.

"A bunch of trash, Fia! Your speed and stealth are the strongest, others follow closely behind her."

With a command from the man, the black shadows silently moved along the side wall of the castle towards the roof.

At this moment, on the southern playground of Durma Academy.

"Teacher Fuyu, I have to go hunt Dragonbird Beast early tomorrow morning, so I can only accompany you here today."

I was just thinking of getting rid of this burden, thinking "Who would waste their time here with you?"

To describe myself now, I must be a very handsome and chic word, hmm, let's say it's a playboy!

"How about you give me a little more time?"

"Uh, are you sure you want me to answer?"

"Well, the result is..."

At some point, two vines as thick as wrists appeared under my feet and pinned my hands and feet to the ground. This ability was Fuyu's God's Hand - Plant Kingdom.

At first, I was mesmerized by Fuyu's sorcerer skills, but I should mention that I am a knight, so I am basically immune to such special abilities.

"Hahaha, I know that you're praising my ability as incredible in your heart, but even Divine Lords have their own weaknesses."

My whole body was hanging on the vines, and my bangs naturally hung down.

I don't know what she's thinking, but if this continues, I'll definitely get a brain hemorrhage. However, powerful people like Fuyu also have weaknesses, which makes me very interested.

"What? Even Fuyu's God's Hand, the Forest Kingdom, has weaknesses?"

"Of course, for example, I am easily restrained by fire, and also, look at this."

Fuyu smiled strangely and drew a small circle on the muddy ground with her finger, and then a surprising scene unfolded.

"Hey, teacher... what are you doing?"

As I looked at her with half-opened mouth and an evil smile, the vines suddenly started to retract, springing back like a charged arrow.

Suddenly, the speed of the vines increased by about ten times, and my body was propelled forward by inertia.

Ah ah ah...!

The speeding vines lifted me up like a released arrow, rushing towards Fuyu with almost torn clothes along the way.

Wow, are you done having fun?

"Teacher!!"

Just as I hurriedly asked the teacher for help and refused to continue experiencing this flying-like enjoyment, the vine played a prank and let go of me.

"Did you see that? My ability to manipulate plants and give them magical powers is only effective in areas with vegetation. Once there is no plant to assist me, I become powerless. It's a very inept ability!"

Indeed, the reason why Tengman threw me just now was not intentional, but rather due to the limit of the teacher's ability.

But even if I am powerless, I am still much stronger than someone who has no ability at all, right?

"Oh well, teacher, please don't discourage me. I'm just an ordinary knight, destined to never advance to the S rank in my life."

I think positively about this aspect in my heart.

"Haha, but above knights, there are still paladins and knight kings. Don't worry!"

The teacher gently patted my shoulder and looked at me with comforting eyes.

"If you can activate the sword in your hand, then you are not far from becoming a paladin."

"That's easier said than done… sigh!"

I took out the small sword from my back and explained to Teacher Fuyu.

"I only have this enchanted short sword from my own academy. It's useless against demons, but more than enough to kill ordinary chickens."

"Is that so?"

Teacher Fuyu was surprised by what I said. She was part of the support team that was present during the S-rank mission incident, so she wouldn't have missed any details, including that...

"Did I see it wrong?"

She touched her chin and carefully recalled the events of that day.

"Well... cough, you… really are unbelievably strong!"

I slowly got up, leaning on the pile of broken pieces.

"Hmph, I didn't expect to encounter such a stupid thing. You actually took on an S-rank mission beyond your capabilities. You really are foolish."

"Tsk, I thought it was like a game, that being one or two levels lower doesn't matter... ugh!"

The wound kept splitting and getting worse, to the point where blood was flowing non-stop.

I didn't expect the leader of the S-rank thieves, who could withstand such beating.

"Haha, what a fool you are. I would feel insulted to kill you. So get out of here!"

"It's impossible!"

Under the threat of the thief leader, I didn't intend to surrender, but rather fight him to the end.

"Even if it means death, I will fulfill the mission I promised to complete... right."

"Tch, then I also can't be bothered to talk to you anymore. Die!"

The leader of the Viper Group summoned a colossal shield that could flatten a dozen heavily-armored dragons (each measuring roughly five meters long).

After that, I lost all consciousness and only saw the teachers of the academy arriving at the last moment and killing the Viper's leader. The mission could barely be handed over to the employer.

But, was that the true outcome of that day?

"I... I didn't do anything, it wasn't you guys who...?"

"No, when we arrived, the Viper was already dead. He died standing up. Although his bones remained, his flesh had turned into ashes!"

"Ashes?!"

The question made me feel mysterious, and I looked down at my hand. I had a feeling that some unknown power was flowing there. Could it be... because of it?

If I were to describe the feeling, it would be like my body was being burned.

I mistook it for a sign that my potential was about to burst forth, but what followed was me fainting unexpectedly.

"So, teacher, are you deliberately making up lies to amuse me?"

"...Think whatever you want!"

Although I didn't completely believe Teacher Fuyu's words, she didn't seem like she was lying to me either.

So, I cautiously asked her about what happened back then, speaking in a careful manner.

"What happened after that?"

"I remember you were holding a black longsword that day, but it might have been my imagination... or are you hiding something?"

Teacher Fuyu dissipated along with the white snowflakes.

"My power...?"

"Shh, keep your voice down!" (Rough male voice)

"Big... brother! It's too cold, I can't take it anymore..." (Weak male voice)

"Little brother, even if you can't take it, you still have to endure!" (Female voice)

"Everyone, stay quiet, someone is coming!" (Boy's voice)

In the snow-covered night, four strange figures in tight black suits stood on the cylindrical roof of the palace dormitory. They seemed to be on a mission of theft or murder, but this was the heavily guarded imperial palace. How audacious were these people to come to the palace for robbery and murder!

"Hurry up and finish the job. Big brother, I'll take you to a luxurious place afterwards for some fun!"

"Really? Big brother, your words..."

"It counts. Haven't I kept my word before?"

The next day...

"A citywide manhunt is underway. Last night, the esteemed national teacher Skandi was assassinated. The assassins consisted of three men and one woman. Any useful information or intelligence provided will be rewarded with a bounty ranging from one million to ten million."

The palace guards posted notices in front of the palace gates early in the morning.

"The person who captures the assassins will be rewarded with one billion gold coins and will also be promoted to the highest title of Paladin in the country!"

One billion gold coins and the title of Paladin were indeed tempting for many.

Early this morning, the empire summoned Juxi, the school principal, and others for a meeting.

In the meeting room, due to the suspicious nature of the incident, apart from the three SSS-level teachers and the principal, the only other person present was the king himself.

"What are your thoughts on the assassination of the national teacher last night?"

But the incident was unusually bizarre because not a single guard noticed any movement in the room on the night Skandi, the national teacher, was killed.

There were clear signs of a struggle at the scene. The national teacher was also a highly skilled quasi-S-level expert, but he was killed silently!

"If it was a barrier, it could have killed the national teacher without making a sound, but if that were the case, the three sorcerers of Durma Institute, the Night Queens, would have noticed!"

A middle-aged man with a large build and a solemn expression spoke. He was the current king of the Korma Empire, Bucki.

He expressed great doubt about the cause of this incident, and during the meeting, his index finger continued to tap on the table.

The national teacher being assassinated... could it be that someone has begun to resist his rule in the empire?

"I'm afraid it's not that simple!"

"Mr. Yuanzu?"

Suddenly, a man with extended fangs appeared on the scene, causing the king and everyone present to be shocked.

"Oh dear, if you're discussing something so serious, how can you leave me out?"

"Hmph, I don't know who's always elusive, where do you go?"

The principal's attitude towards him seemed a bit indifferent. Or perhaps there simply wasn't much common ground among the Four Emperors after all.

"That makes sense, but if I just sleep and laze around all day, it would be too boring without anything to do."

The man had an unparalleled enchanting charm, with a noble posture that resembled... a vampire!

"Well, you guessed it right, I am indeed the true vampire emperor, the leader of the Vampire Empire."