Beneath the gleaming facade of the Imperial Capital of the Ancorna Empire lay a shadowy underworld teeming with illicit activity. The underground black market, infamous across the eastern continent, had come alive in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the city. Vendors shouted over each other, their voices blending into a discordant roar as they peddled forbidden wares—banned flowers, mind-altering narcotics, and dangerous magical artifacts. Dimly lit alleys buzzed with whispered negotiations as loan sharks preyed on desperate souls.
The air was thick with the scent of damp stone, sweat, and the pungent tang of incense meant to conceal the pervasive odor of decay. This market was more than a hive of illegal trade—it was a moving beast, never settling in one place for long. Each year, it shifted to a new location, evading authorities and ensuring its survival. This time, however, it had brazenly set up within the Imperial Capital itself, mocking the empire's rule of law.
Two hooded figures navigated the chaos with purpose. Eugene, the protagonist of Light’s Conquest, moved confidently through the crowd, his posture betraying his familiarity with this world. Beside him was Prince William, equally cloaked and attempting to appear inconspicuous. Their destination: an auction hosted by Hericules, a notorious slave-trading ring.
William leaned in, his voice a tense whisper. “Do you truly believe the Saintess is among the slaves? The Solious Church would have found her long before it came to this.”
Eugene’s eyes narrowed beneath his hood. “She’s here,” he said firmly. “The Church will discover her too, but by then, it’ll be too late. If we don’t act now, we’ll lose her.”
William nodded, though the doubt lingering in his expression didn’t escape Eugene’s notice.
Eugene sighed inwardly as his thoughts turned to the truth he had carried since his return. He was a regressor, a man who had already lived this life once before. In his first life, Eugene had been a nameless soldier, one among thousands who perished during the Second Great War—the apocalyptic conflict unleashed by the rise of the Witch of the West. His death had been unremarkable, but his rebirth was extraordinary.
Fifteen years before the Witch’s rise, Eugene had found himself back in his 20-year-old body, gifted—or cursed—with the chance to rewrite history. Driven by the memories of a future drenched in blood, he resolved to alter the course of events and prepare the world for the trials to come.
In this timeline, Eugene had already achieved much. Within a year, he had risen to knighthood, becoming a trusted ally of Prince William. Together, they uncovered the truth behind the murder of William’s mother, ensuring Ravenna’s exile before she could ascend to power as Empress. Eugene’s efforts had strengthened William’s position and bolstered the empire’s defenses, but his most critical task was still ahead: securing the Saintess.
In Eugene’s first life, the Saintess had been sold to the Hericules slave traders and eventually purchased by the Herptian clergy. Unlike the vile reputation of the traders, the clergy had acted out of compassion, buying slaves to liberate them. They took the Saintess to their homeland on the western continent, where they nurtured her as their High Priestess.
However, this act of salvation led to disastrous consequences. When the Solious Church learned of her fate, they declared the Great War, mobilizing the eastern continent's armies against the Herptian faction. The conflict spread like wildfire, consuming nations and leaving a world in ruin. Though the Saintess remained loyal to the Herptian clergy, even refusing to return to the Solious Church, her death in the aftermath of the war left the eastern continent shattered.
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It was then, amidst the ashes of the Great War, that the Witch of the West emerged. With no unified force to oppose her, her armies swept across the continents, plunging the world into the Second Great War. This time, Eugene was determined to change everything.
Their mission was simple but perilous: rescue the Saintess before the Hericules traders could sell her, ensuring she never fell into the Herptian clergy's hands. By doing so, Eugene hoped to prevent the chain of events that had led to the Great War and secure a future where the world stood united against the Witch of the West.
The auction hall loomed ahead, its entrance guarded by heavily armed men. Eugene’s hand drifted to the hilt of his sword beneath his cloak, his eyes scanning for threats. The room beyond buzzed with anticipation, filled with buyers eager to stake their claim on lives reduced to commodities.
Eugene’s jaw tightened. He could not afford to fail—not here, not now. The future of the world depended on what he and William did in the next few hours.
This time, the Great War would not come to pass. This time, the Saintess would be saved. And when the Witch of the West rose, the world would be ready.
Next Day in Jola Island, In Northern Ancornian Seas, North of Ancorna Empire’s Capital,
As the morning sun climbed higher, Ravenna awoke to the relentless heat of the desert sun streaming through the open window of her bedroom, a scene she had come to expect over the past few weeks. The room was sparsely furnished, with cooling curtains doing little to mitigate the scorching temperatures. “I ought to do something about the air conditioning sometime,” she muttered, clapping her hands to summon her maids to assist her in getting ready for the day.
After a refreshing bath, changing into her attire, and a hearty breakfast, Ravenna entered her study and settled into her work. Today, she wore a silk purple gown that was exceptionally thin, gracefully accentuating her slim, elegant figure. The lightweight fabric provided a modest reprieve from the oppressive heat, allowing her to move freely while maintaining her regal appearance.
Seated at her ornate desk, Ravenna activated the Reputation System to continue her tasks from the previous night. The interface glowed softly, displaying her current status:
[Reputation System v0.1]
User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim
Reputation Level: 60 (4898/8200)
Current Reputation Points: 9,723
Titles: Raven of Sun Palace, Unruly Princess
{Reputation Points Log} {Spend Reputation Points}
Ravenna had amassed additional points today: her daily 600 points, combined with her captivating attire and authoritative presence, had left a strong impression on both the maids and knights, earning her an extra 100 points.
Intent on furthering her plans, Ravenna continued to delve into the Magic Spell Library, searching for applications of Broadleaf Arrowhead. She meticulously reviewed the available spells but found none that offered economic viability or significant advantages for her current needs:
[Magic Spell Library]
- Time Manipulation: A spell that allows the user to manipulate time. Required Ingredients: Artificially crossbred sunflowers/black roses, Broadleaf Arrowhead, Red Camellia, and Rebe arranged in a particular design.
- Space Fold: A spell that enables the user to fold space, allowing instantaneous teleportation to another point in the universe. Required Ingredients: Artificially crossbred Ghost Orchids/Lotus, Red Camellia, and Broadleaf Arrowhead arranged in a circular design.
All spells requiring Broadleaf Arrowhead were classified as legendary and advanced, far beyond the current understanding and capabilities of the world’s inhabitants. The additional requirements for these spells were equally unattainable, rendering them practically impossible to execute at this time. Ravenna sighed in frustration. The technique of artificially crossbreeding flowers, as described in the original novel Light’s Conquest, wasn’t introduced until halfway through the story, making it clear that this avenue was a dead end for now.