“What bullshit ‘Great Sage,’ what ‘sacred mentor’—if our king weren’t a natural genius, that demon would’ve led him astray ages ago!”

That was what Valen, future first of the Twelve Founding Generals, once slurred out drunk during a founding ceremony.

The next day, a certain petty Demon King had him strung up on the city wall for all to see.

Not long after, standing before the little town’s gate, the girl gazed at the place that had raised her for over ten years. Even though she’d already made up her mind, there was still a faint reluctance tugging at her heart.

“No need to rush the whole ‘traveling the world’ thing. We can stay a bit longer,”

Ink Ash said quietly from behind her, patting his disciple on the shoulder.

Lily shook her head without hesitation. She knew if she stayed, her resolve would only wear down. She took a step forward and shouted,

“No! Since I’ve decided, I have to give it everything I’ve got and see it through—that’s what you taught me, Master!”

“Your mind’s made up?”

“It’s made up!”

“Oh, then let’s hurry up and go already…”

Without another word, Ink Ash turned and walked off, looking like he couldn’t wait to escape this place.

“Wait, Master!”

“What now?”

Clutching the hem of her master’s robe, afraid he’d weasel out of it, Lily quietly reminded him,

“That thing we agreed on before…you didn’t forget, right?”

“Huh? That. Lily, think about it—we’re heading out there, if we don’t keep some spare cash on us… Fine, fine, I’ll take it out, okay?!”

Crushed by his disciple’s full-on teary-eyed offensive, Ink Ash finally waved a hand with deep reluctance.

“You, over there, what’s-your-name, come here a sec!”

“Sir, my name’s Valen, not ‘what’s-your-name.’”

“Details, details. I’ve got a very important mission to entrust you with. Can you handle it?”

“W-what…mission?”

“Relax. I know you’re timid, weak, and basically useless, so I’d never give you anything dangerous…”

Letting all his pent-up irritation out on this innocent kid, the Great Demon King’s sharp tongue didn’t miss a beat.

Just as Valen was starting to suspect his very birth had been a mistake, a streak of light dropped into his hand.

“Here. This is the wealth we earned this time—catch.”

“Sir, you…”

Valen held the ring that weighed on him like a mountain, his expression both terrified and overwhelmed, words catching in his throat.

Ink Ash looked the young man straight in the eye, his expression solemn.

“Glenn, a once-in-a-lifetime chance is standing right in front of you—are you willing to become the King’s guardian knight, to swear lifelong loyalty, and never betray?”

“To correct you, my name is Valen.”

With a wry smile he repeated his own name, then took a long, deep look at the still-immature girl. At last, Valen bowed his head respectfully.

“I swear here and now: in this life I’ll follow my King unto death. I’ll be her sword and her shield, charge through battle without retreat, and never stop until my last breath!”

“Very good. I like that stupid resolve of yours.”

Ink Ash gave him a thumbs-up, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

“How you use this fortune will be the King’s test for you. I’ve got high hopes for you~”

Worth mentioning: what Lily had asked Ink Ash to do was simply to spend the entire fortune to help the people. The unwilling Great Demon King, however, made a tiny little adjustment.

And that seemingly trivial move ended up forging the future first capital—the Origin Ground! And its creator was…Valen, Gawain Valen, a genius buried and overlooked for the first twenty years of his life!

But that’s a story for later. What we need to talk about is this: master and disciple, each holding their own goals, setting off under the banner of “training,” stepping onto a brand-new journey.

The new stage is set. The show’s about to begin!