Chapter 4: Beginning

  9:00 AM, National Uy of Aurealis, Prismara, Prime State, Crystalline Republic of Aurealis (Teocratic Democracy, member of UG), Freya (Largest ti by nd mass)

  rad stood in front of the door for a few minutes before entering the Uy of Aurealis. It was said to be the best uy iire nation, which made sense given that Prismara was the capital city of Aurealis.

  Wow, these seats look fancy. I have tended such a prestigious uy in my previous life. rad, you really got such a ce. What were you doing wasting Isalde's efforts?

  rad was a history student studying the Fifth epoch, which was said to be the age of querors. Many dots tradicted each other to some extent, but all historians agree ohing: there was a figure called Alexander who unified most of the southern and northern tis under a single rule. Year 5500 in the Linear dar was said to be the year of unification.

  As he was going through his study material, he thought to himself: This Alexander guy sure owerful. Reminds me of our world too.

  "Attention css..."

  A stocky man anding attention at the front of the room hardly needed his booming voice to establish his presence. A magnifit salt-and-pepper beard cascaded over his chest, matched by an equally impressive mustache that twitched as he spoke. Though he barely reached average height, Professor Dwarcy carried himself with the unmistakable gravitas of a seasoned academic. His rounded frame, draped in a well-worn tweed jacket, seemed to embody the fortable authority of a man who had made the lecture hall his natural habitat.

  He's exactly what you'd picture for the head of History, rad thought, watg the professesture emphatically at the board. Right down to the ink stains on his sleeve cuffs.

  "Tomorrow is Sunday," Professor Dwarnounced. "Please take your time with the assig I gave one week ago. It will affect your final score."

  Mr. Dwarcy looked at rad for a brief moment.

  Did he just look at me?

  Of course he did. I remember sleeping on the front bend leaving the css before it finished. rad, how much pain are you going to give me?

  rad raised his hand. "Professor, I ask something?"

  Everyone instantly looked in his dire with surprised expressions.

  Yes yes, I know. Don't look at me like some alien.

  "Sure, go ahead," Professor Dwarcy replied.

  "When is the final deadline?"

  "As I had already mentioned in the past, after July 15th I will not accept any submission."

  "Thank you, professor."

  Dwarcy's eyes twitched for a moment hearing those words from rad's mouth.

  Ahem.

  "Okay, let's start the css," Professor Dwarcy tinued. "Today we are going to learn about the eight dynasties that ruled five tis. As you know, Alexander was the emerging main figure who shaped that epoch. It's still a mystery where he came from, but it is said that he used more advanced ons to defeat eight rulers of that time. Remember that the Monarchy system was the main system at that time. But it's still part of specution what kind of onry he used."

  A dark-eyed girl with medium-length hair tied ly spoke up in a sweet voice, "Sir, I believe Alexander used a firearm at that time."

  rad looked at her. Yeah, each css does have these oversmart people who don't let professors finish their lessons.

  "Yes Nadeko, that's a good guess, but historians have rejected this theory," Professor Dwarcy responded. "As you know, guns take too much time before firing—that deyed rea be hugely detrimental in a war where you're the enemy of eight huge powers."

  Nadeko's eyes shone as if she were talking about someoo her heart. "Yes, professor, but I still think Alexander was a great man who may have figured out a way to work around that weakness.”

  Pff!

  rad let out a small audible ugh.

  Everyone looked at rad again with different expressions. It was as if the room itself was waiting for some response.

  "What's so funny, Mr. Valor?" Mr. Dwarcy asked.

  "Nothing, professor," rad answered, a little ashamed.

  "If you find history so funny, you leave the css at any moment as you know I won't interrupt you. But if you're pnning to attend this css, then please be more sincere about how you behave."

  "Uood sir. I apologize for the interruption," rad said, l his gaze.

  This is the worst, man. You and your sense of humor. Maybe rad and I are not so different after all.

  Nadeko looked at rad with anger on her face. It was as if, without the professor's presence, she would jump at rad at any moment to tear him apart.

  You know I see your face, right? rad thought to himself.

  After this small i, the css tinued as usual.

  After css, a guy with light blonde hair approached rad.

  "Hey, where were you, ?" he asked. "I didn't see you for like a week. What happened after you lost that bet?"

  Bet? I don't particurly remember. But Isaac wouldn't lie to me.

  Isaac Edger was a tall man over six feet. He looked like a novel's male lead in his prime. His long nose and short hair plemented his face well. He was rad's best friend. Whenever rad got beaten up, Isaac would show up to save him. Both were good-looking guys. Many in the css ehem for their carefree attitude and good looks.

  "Yeah, I lost that bet," rad replied. "No worries. Fet about me. What about you? You were supposed to prepare for your military training."

  "Oh, don't worry about that—my dad will handle everything for me."

  Isaac's dad was the ander of the Navy. Even though in this world the seas and os remained rgely unexplored, they were said to be the most dangerous pces that even gods avoided. Because of this, the Navy didn't have much of a role. There were very few trade routes on water.

  This meant the borders of each ti were very well guarded by default. Large-scale naval warfare was almost impossible.

  "Hey, I heard a rumor that you're dating Xie from Sce css. Is that true?" Isaac gave rad a curious look with a hidden smile.

  Sigh! I don't even know her.

  "Yes, it's true."

  "Hey hey, you're kidding right? I didn't know you were such a pyer," Isaac teased, elbowing rad's side. "But , be careful. I heard that girl is very weird. She doesn't talk to anybody. She might have some hidden agenda."

  Don't worry, I already have many things on my pte—one more won't hurt.

  "I'll keep that in mind," rad said. "But let's not discuss those things. Let's grab something to eat."

  rad and Isaac were ughing about something while heading outside. Some students were eating ihe css, while others were going to the cafeteria.

  Ahhh... BAM!

  Suddenly rad tripped ao the ground. Whe his bearings, he noticed a bulky guy standing there with a smirk on his face.

  What's your problem, dude?

  rad thought to himself, but theiced a girl of medium stature, dark-eyed, with her hair tied ly behind her, standing behind the boy.

  Nadeko. Aha, I get it now.

  ", are you alright?" Isaac asked with in his eyes. Theuro the guy behind him and said angrily, grabbing his colr, "You fug bastard, do you want to die?"

  "Who? Me?" said the guy casually while removing Isaac's hands from his colr. "You better watch your toh me. How dare this good-for-nothing insult my girl in front of the css? She was g in my arms."

  This fug bitch.

  rad stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. Some students ughed at the se. Some didn't care mud passed by to go to the cafeteria, while others expected drama.

  rad stared at the tall guy calmly, straight into his eyes. His deep blue eyes didn't waver from looking at the guy as if he were some kind of i.

  A little showoff won't hurt, right?

  "What are you looking at, bastard? Did your sister not teach you some manners? Or maybe she needs some manne—"

  Before he could finish his sentence, a punch hit his face with extreme speed. It wasly fast, but it had no wind-up time. It was a straight jab without any telegraph.

  You brat. I'm going to tear that foul mouth of yours before you utter my sister's name.

  Everyone was stunned. Even Isaac was caught off guard by his best friend's sudden a. Nadeko was so stunned she didn't eve a ce to panic. A huge otion broke out. Everyoared at rad Valor, a student known for being weak and a huge wimp.

  "Ahhhh!" Blood spurted from the guy's nose.

  Dev had been a mixed martial artist in his previous life. He had been very careful about not letting his skills grow dull even after getting a job, so he went to the gym for practice. That was one reason he never usually panicked in hand-to-hand situations.

  "What was your name again?" rad asked, looking down without emotion.

  "You fug bastard, do you even know who I am?" As he screamed, teachers came out to iigate.

  The hall was now bustling with people. A teacher cut through the crowd and checked on the guy with the bloody hen he looked at rad and said, "Mr. Valor, e to the office."

  Here we go.

  That was a really loure.

  The uy banned rad from attending csses for three days and made him apologize to Mr. Lio for hitting his son.

  Mr. Lio—that's some high-status guy. I think he was one of the ministers who held immense power, but he was very uanding and didn't pursue the issue further. But I didn't like how he stared at my sister.

  rad was lost in his thoughts when he heard a calm voice that wasn't very loud but had a anding tone.

  "Where did you learn to fight?"

  Leona asked, walking beside rad.

  rad gave her a smile and said, "I didn't learn to fight. He was making fun of Isalde, so I just gave him what he deserved."

  "..." Leona gave him an odd look but then looked ahead. After a few seds, she said without looking at rad, "Isalde already has so mu her pte. She's at the age where she should have married and started her own family, but because of us, she remained unmarried. I know you don't care much about anything, but at least you love Isalde. So please don't give her more troubles."

  rad felt an ache in his heart. It was like a dart that came out of nowhere and struck his heart. His heart felt heavy as if it were pressed uer slowly.

  "Okay," rad said simply.

  "I have to go bay duty. Return home for now."

  Leona turned around and started walking away, slowly fading into the distance. Cold air apanied rad as if ing to him for fort. The sky was still as pale as ever. A few houses surrounded him. With darkness creeping up slowly, some lights turned on in the distance. rad stood there, hands in his pockets. He looked at the sky with an unknown gaze.

  Home.

  Upourning home, he saw Cra's sandals, his you sister.

  I haven't had any opportunity to talk to her. I remember she was the one who burst out at rad during dinner before I took over his body.

  There was some sound ing from the kit.

  Isalde is already preparing dinner. She's a perfect sister.

  rad didn't wait long; he went straight to bed and started his assigs.

  I don't know when I'll be able to return to my world. It's possible I'll never be able to return. In that case, at least I should study diligently and find a job so my sisters get married and live without their worthless brother.

  At 10:00 PM, a sudden bell sound woke rad up.

  Did I fall asleep? Oh no. I missed dinner.

  The bell rang again.

  Our doorbell. Someo this hour?

  The hallway was very dark. rad turned on the light first. Cra must be sleeping. I saw her studying in her room while taking a water break during my assig. Isalde was w, so I didn't disturb her.

  The bell rang again.

  Yes, I'm ing, give me a minute.

  rad walked toward the door and twisted the knob open.

  ", have you guys already eaten dinner? Sorry I took so long—you know I was doing overtime today."

  A woman with blonde hair and emerald eyes said with a smile.

  rad's entire body froze on the spot. He felt the same danger he'd felt when he first came to this world. Sweat dripped down his back. His eyes widened in inexplicable fear. His heart raced. His vei light as if they could be cut open any moment.

  Fuck! What did I enter i then?

  ", why are you staring at me like that?"

  The usually warm words felt horrifying at that moment to rad. He trolled himself.

  "Nothing, wele back. Cra is sleeping. Please take some rest. You must be tired. Leona won't return tonight—she called a while ago saying she has some important work."

  After inf Isalde, rad returo his room. His room was awfully silent. He leaned against the door.

  I o do something, but what I do? I fight humans, not ghosts. Wait, was that even a ghost? I don't have any information. This unknown is making me very nervous. Calm down. Calm down. I don't know what's going on in this world. I o figure things out really quickly.

  Let's analyze the situation first—for now, I don't think my family is in danger, otherwise Cra and I would have been dead a while ago. It's possible that whatever that was didn't notice our presence. Yes, I think that's possible because I epped into the kit. Isalde is here, it didn't react or anything. I think it may have left already, but I'm not sure.

  I o wait. There's only one way to find out what's going on.

  rad went back to Isalde to make sure they were safe. He didn't notiything unusual. They had their usual family dinner without Leona.

  At 12:00 AM, the clock's tig was the only sound in the room. Shadows of furniture cast a looming unease over the wall. Due to some clouds, the moonlight was dim and yellowish, illuminating the outside of the window. Trees were absolutely silent, their shadows visible on rad's window.

  "Anira."

  "Yes, my lord," a figure emerged from the shadows in front of rad. rad let out a sigh of relief.

  rad expined everything to Anira.

  "What do you think?"

  "That was an Oddity, my lord. It may have been the same ohat tried to take your life," Anira said after a pause.

  "Oddity? What is that?" rad asked without hiding his curiosity.

  "It is hard to say anything specific, but usually whenever anything happens that's against the ws of nature, it causes an Oddity. People usually refer to this as corruption from Brahman. There are many types. Without knowing what we're fighting against, it will be dangerous."

  rad nodded as if he uood.

  What are you even saying? Do we speak the same nguage?

  rad felt like a dumb child who didn't know his basics yet.

  I shouldn't worry too much about these things. Oep at a time. Anira is powerful, and she protect me and my sisters for now.

  Anira looked at rad with a bnk face. It was as if she was thinking of something.

  "Great Master..."

  rad looked at her crimson eyes. His thoughts wandered for a moment.

  "Yes...?"

  "Master, I am sensing some kind of Brahman fluctuations in this house."

  rad was taken aback. "What?"

  "Is it dangerous?" rad asked immediately.

  "I don't know. It's like a stant part of this house," Anira replied. "My lord, shall we check?"

  It feels dangerous. But I'm not some coward. Well, I do fear death, but let's not back off in front of Anira. What would she think of me if her great master backed off?

  "Let's go."

  The hallway was quite dark. rad picked up a small mp. Its light illuminated his face.

  Isalde and Cra are both asleep.

  After some searg, they arrived in front of a staircase that led to the upper floor. rad's eyes widened.

  This...

  There was a distorted space that could be seen very clearly. It was the same thing rad had seen in the m, but that had been very faint—now it was much clearer.

  rad touched the area which was distorted and suddenly felt his hand e in tact with something. rad's heart began to race. Grabbing whatever was inside, rad pulled out an object from the distorted space.

  What is this? It felt like a magic trick.

  Looking down, rad saw a thick book in his hand that read:

  "Basic Guide to Brahmaion 52, published by UG”