Anastasia's Monologue
My Ambitions
As an ordinary person with no strength, no speed, no power. I have to rely on humanity's greatest gift: the mind.
'I want to have everything. I don't want to lose anything.'
Those words echo in my mind, a relentless refrain, a reminder that greed is both my nature and my greatest virtue.
And I'm not ashamed of it.
I'm greedy. Too much, even. But what else am I supposed to do when the world seems hellbent on tearing itself apart? I'm just a fragile woman in a game where only the strong survive, and the only way to win is by holding on to what's mine.
Giving up what I own would be like giving up my very soul. Losing my people… means losing myself.
And that terrifies me.
It hurts just to imagine it.
For a merchant, their goods are their life. They can be traded, bargained, hidden… but they always come back. There's always a way to reclaim them. How many times have I given something away, knowing that eventually, it would return to me. Time itself is the essence of commerce, and I've learned to trade everything goods, information, relationships… even trust.
News has a price. People have a price. Everything does.
That way of thinking is what brought me to where I am now. I'm not someone with a distrust nature, but I'm no fool, either. My people love me, and I love them. My duty isn't just to thrive—it's to protect them.
And sometimes, that means giving up things I want, too.
I spent weeks sleepless, drowning in uncertainty, haunted by the same vision:
Losing everything.
My actions change as it was a premonition, a gut feeling, or simply the instinct of a merchant who has learned to read people's moves. The only thing I do know is that danger is there, lurking in the shadows.
The cult, the ambitious, the opportunists…
In Priestella, a group is secretly preparing to strike.
In Gusteko, the church advances without hesitation, seizing mines, hoarding resources. The Pope's election grows murkier by the day.
In Kararagi, government forces are strengthening their military. It won't be long before they make their move.
And here, in Lugunica, chaos reigns. The last war proved that corruption has sunk its roots deep, that injustice still strangles any attempt at progress.
Being a ruler isn't just about managing your own affairs. It's dealing with the problems of others because, in the end, everything that happens outside my domain will eventually affect me.
But more than any political or economic conflict, there's one question that haunts me above all:
Why is this world doomed to destruction?
The more I think about it, the more fear stirs in my chest. I don't understand it.
I don't have all the pieces yet, but I know the threat is real.
Still, I will never let them see it.
There will always be a smile on my face, even when uncertainty eats away at me. Because if there's one thing I've learned in this world, it's that every crisis holds an opportunity. And I've bet everything on this hand because I'm convinced that mine is the winning one.
I don't know if the future can be changed.
But I'll fight with everything I have.
"I won't let them take what's mine."
*** Chapter 1 The Trip to Priestella
Three carriages stand ready for our departure, each carrying the members of its respective group. Crusch chats casually with Emilia, while Luan and Garfield talk about his fight with me.
"That bastard took advantage of the moment to hit me! His punches felt like rocks smashing into my face." Garfield looks at Luan, who listens attentively.
"Mimi wants to hear more!" exclaims the small girl, jumping onto Garfield's shoulder, startling him with her sudden movement.
I smile calmly but quickly close my eyes. I need to improve my mana control, though there's no specific method to do so. If I want to master it, I must keep imagining, integrating new concepts into my internal circuit.
Now that my mana is similar to that of a spirit, its purity makes spell regulation more difficult. I know that elemental control is tied to the soul; a real concept that Roswaal took to the extreme by consuming the souls of his descendants to acquire their abilities.
In my case, they inserted the soul of a person from the past into me.
'Imagine, Marco Luz.'
To improve my mana sensitivity, I need a system that regulates itself automatically. Right now, my gate is just a simple source, and my nerve endings function as sensors that react accordingly. What I need is a transistor—a mechanism to regulate the flow, amplify it, and block mana within my body.
Magic allows me to connect imaginary functions and make them real. Right now, I only have one source of mana: my gate. If I want a transistor, it must be installed in a specific location.
I imagine placing it in my neck, right at the seventh vertebra. This way, it will connect my central nervous system to my gate's energy network, acting as a signal modulator controlled by my brain.
That way, I'll always have a quick response.
Now, I have to calibrate it.
"Emilia, can you release some mana? I want to run an experiment."
I smile at her, and she begins expelling mana through her body.
I want to heighten my sensitivity, to feel every particle of her mana as it moves. I want to reach the point where I can hear her through it.
Ba-dum! Ba-dum!
Her heartbeat. I hear it clearly, as if the sound is traveling straight into my body. I feel her cold mana brushing against my skin, but at the same time, I understand its movements.
'Could I predict the casting of a spell?'
I don't know much about anatomy, so I doubt I can analyze postures or gestures with precision. However, if magic follows a pattern, maybe I can anticipate it before it's even cast.
"Form icicles."
I close my eyes and feel the shift in the flow. If her mana was once an icy breeze, it's now raining of needles. I can sense it—the change in shape, the structure of the icicles forming with her energy.
"Ugh..." A headache strikes me, and I quickly imagine how to reduce the regulator's intensity.
My mind settles.
I could lower the sensitivity back to previous levels, but that would be a waste. I need to get used to this system, just as I did with my gate.
I open my eyes.
The carriage has stopped.
"Are we stopping for lunch already?" I ask the person next to me.
Two amethyst eyes gaze at me sweetly.
"Yes, my Marco." Emilia wraps her arms around me, and I gently stroke her head.
'With this level of sensitivity, I could crush that heart in an instant.'
'I won't let anything happen to her.'
We stay like that for a few minutes, lost in our own world. A faint drowsiness creeps over me, but a sharp pang in my stomach reminds me it's time to eat.
"Let's go." I glance at Emilia and notice her eyes are closed.
She didn't sleep last night. When I went to her room, I found her training with the spirits that assist her. I don't know how long she kept at it, but it's clear she's preparing for what's ahead.
I lift her into my arms and gently lay her down.
I brush my fingers against her velvety cheek before stepping out of the carriage.
The group is already gathered. Crusch is preparing something. I approach, trying to mask my discomfort.
"What are you making?"
"Something light. Help me out."
We eat in silence, but the atmosphere feels less tense than before.
"Fight!" Mimi suddenly shouts.
I turn my gaze toward the center of the group.
Facing each other, Garfield, and Julius lock eyes with intensity.
A boy who wants to be the strongest.
A man striving for the pinnacle of knighthood.
The clash is about to begin.
"I'm gonna kick you' ass!" Garfield takes his stance, raising his hands with a defiant grin.
"This is just training. However, if you lose, you'll have to learn to speak like a true knight." Julius meets his gaze without a change in expression, holding a wooden sword with effortless grace.
I knew this would happen the moment Garfield asked about Julius. I can sense it clearly—his spirits are stronger than before, as if they're on the verge of an evolution. On the other hand, Garfield, despite his intimidating and confident demeanor, carries a subtle unease.
"Who do you think will win?" Anastasia stops beside me, watching them with a serene smile.
Since the last time we spoke, when I glimpsed the fear in her eyes, I feel a different connection between us.
"Garfield will do well..." I reply, placing a hand on her shoulder. "In the end, your knight will win, but it won't be easy."
"Since your defeat, Julius has tripled his training. He's fought against our mercenaries' spellcasters and warriors without rest." She crosses her arms. "Thank you... I didn't think I'd see him this motivated again."
So, he wants to fight me again.
"We're a team."
Anastasia sighs and gestures toward Mimi, who watches Garfield with an excited expression.
"You can do it!" she shouts, raising her staff toward Garfield. "If you win, I'll give you a kiss!"
"I don't want a kiss from a kid!" Garfield roars, never breaking eye contact with Julius.
So that's what this is about... love at first sight.
"Well, it looks like we won't be parting ways anytime soon."
We both nod. And then, the battle begins.
"I'm the shield of Irlam, Garfield Tinsel!" He slams his fists together, unleashing a crimson aura that swirls around him. "I'll be the strongest of them all!"
Julius raises his sword and takes a firm stance. He points it slightly toward Garfield, shoulders squared, gaze unwavering.
"Spirit Knight, Julius Juukulius."
In an instant, the distance between them vanishes. Julius glides forward with terrifying speed, his wooden sword glowing with a faint light. Garfield barely has time to react, dodging the thrust by a hair's breadth. But Julius doesn't stop. A subtle trace of mana runs through his legs, and in the next moment, his body twists—a high kick aimed straight at Garfield's jaw.
"You!"
Garfield raises an arm, blocking the strike, and in the same motion, counters with a punch to the gracilis muscle in Julius's leg. The hit lands clean, but something is off. Julius doesn't even flinch.
'Another spirit.'
He's not just summoning them—they're actively reinforcing him, strengthening his body at every moment. A level of symbiosis with spirit magic Garfield hadn't thought possible.
'Looks like this is going to be tougher than expected.'
They take a step back, locking eyes, sizing each other up. Julius smiles calmly.
"You know how to throw a punch."
Garfield smirks, raising his fists. "I know more than that."
Without warning, he stomps the ground, channeling his mana into the earth. A platform rises beneath his feet, launching him toward Julius at high speed. But the knight doesn't flinch. His wooden sword gleams for an instant before blocking the strike aimed at his face.
"Got you!"
Garfield grabs the sword with both hands, ready to wrench it away. But before he can do anything, his body is slammed violently into the ground. He barely skids across the dirt before looking up to see Julius watching him with the same composed expression.
"Someone tried that on me before."
He doesn't give Garfield time to recover. Julius lunges at him with hellish speed, but Garfield reacts. With a gesture, the ground around him shifts, and stone stalactites shoot toward his opponent. Julius slices through them effortlessly, pressing forward without hesitation.
But that wasn't the real plan.
Garfield has already closed the distance.
A straight jab to the solar plexus, followed by a second strike. Julius tries to retreat, but the ground beneath him wobbles. For an instant, he loses balance.
Bang!
A dull sound echoes through the air as Garfield's punch lands clean. Julius stumbles back, but Garfield doesn't let up. A kick to the temple, a punch to the jaw—attack after attack. But something doesn't add up.
Julius isn't taking the hits at full force. He's reducing their impact. Garfield notices and it pisses him off.
With a roar, he drives his fist toward Julius's face. But before it connects, a hand stops it.
For a moment, time stands still.
Garfield's eyes widen in shock. The next second, his back slams into the ground. Julius has thrown him down with disturbing ease.
"Good hits."
Julius's hands glow with a different kind of energy. When I heighten my senses, I understand immediately. He's switched to his Yin spirit, manipulating space itself to increase his movement speed.
'Instead of aiming for a decisive blow, he's adapted his style, integrating each of his spirits into a flawless dance.'
Lying on the ground, Garfield stares at the sky, fists clenched. His breathing is erratic, his body trembling with contained rage. But there's something else—something holding him back. He slowly rises, blood dripping from his nose.
Something inside him is stopping him from transforming.
With a battle cry, he charges again. A wall of earth rises between them, and the moment Julius loses sight of him, Garfield shatters it in a burst of dust.
But that won't work.
Julius swings his sword, and with a spiral of fire, the battlefield ignites. Heat engulfs everything. The grass burns, the air thickens. Garfield is trapped at the center.
"The same spell he used on me…" I murmur, crossing my arms.
Back then, without Beatrice, I would never have stood a chance. But Garfield is different.
"Dona!"
From the ground, two stone arms emerge, grabbing Julius by the legs.
"Bastard!"
Boom!
The earth explodes, launching both fighters into the air. In that instant, the sky becomes their battlefield. Garfield throws punch after punch, but Julius blocks every single one. I can't help but frown.
'This kid… he's holding back.'
I walk over to where Felt watches in silence.
"Has Garfield talked to you?"
She doesn't take her eyes off the fight.
"That annoying cat? No, he hasn't."
Felt clicks her tongue, but her expression shifts when I study her closely.
"Are you worried about him?"
For a moment, her gaze wavers.
"He let an innocent die. Killed a knight who didn't even know what was happening. He's seen dozens of corpses… things I haven't been able to get out of my head. What do you think? Not all of us are that strong."
Her words stab through my heart like a dagger.
Garfield has always acted strongly. But he's still a kid. He had never killed before. Never felt the true weight of death until now. Reinhard humiliated him.
And most importantly, he couldn't protect the person he loves.
'I was an idiot.'
Boom!
Garfield and Julius crash to the ground. But Garfield's expression is different now. That fire inside him still burns—the drive to be better, to surpass himself. This isn't just a fight.
It's his own battle.
"Julius!"
Without hesitation, I reinforce my muscles with mana and launch myself toward them.
This is a problem I need to fix.
I lock eyes with Garfield, ignoring Julius entirely.
"Give me a second, then you two can keep going." I shoot a quick glance at Julius, who nods immediately and steps aside. This is something Garfield has to face on his own.
I went through this myself. Maybe my words can help him.
"The first time I killed someone was in a life-or-death fight. But after that... I killed people who didn't deserve it." My eyes lock onto him, but he looks away, visibly uneasy.
"I... I can still hear it. He was just an old man with a family. That knight... he was a victim in all of this." His lips tremble, and his voice cracks. "I can't help it, I..."
I hold him firmly by the shoulders, forcing him to look me in the eye.
"Yeah, you see them every day. Even in your dreams." I press my lips together before continuing. "You're just a kid, but if you really want to be strong, you have to accept what you've done. If you regret it, carry it. Don't let it break you. It was a life-or-death situation, and you still have a debt to pay."
His eyes widen in surprise, like he'd never considered that perspective before.
"Every time you see them; promise them you'll avenge them. And I promise you, I'll find their families and make sure they have everything they need." I smile, giving him a glimmer of hope. "You're strong, Garfield. Don't let the pain consume you—use that weight to make yourself even stronger. Your power is yours. Your will is yours. Don't let them become an uncontrollable burden."
"I..."
I lower my head slightly before speaking. "I'm sorry for putting you in that situation. You're just a kid, and I have no excuses." I place a hand on his head, and he looks up at me, surprised by the gesture. "Fight with everything you've got. You're not alone. From now on, no matter what happens, you've got me and all of us. Besides..."
I gesture discreetly toward Mimi, who watches him with worried eyes.
"You even have a girl who likes you. You can't afford to make a fool of yourself. Julius has gotten stronger since our last fight but give him a real challenge."
With a firm pat on his back, I push him forward.
"Even if you lose, make sure you give it everything you've got."
Garfield clenches his fists, staring at the ground.
Bam!
He slaps his own cheeks, startling everyone.
"Screw all this, let's beat the crap outta this purple-haired bastard!" His energy surges, and his mana intensifies immediately.
As I walk back, I notice Emilia watching me with concern. I thought she'd still be asleep, but it seems the noise woke her up.
"Did the noise wake you?" I gently run my hand over her head.
"I was hungry..." she says, looking a little sad. "Garfield... what were you talking about with him?"
Julius is watching me too, curious, but I just shrug.
"Just gave him a few words of encouragement. I'll explain later."
Garfield cracks his knuckles as Julius steps back into place, but the situation is different now. I know Garfield hasn't resolved anything, I know my words can only push him forward, but sometimes, that's enough.
Killing people—it weighs on you. Especially when they didn't entirely deserve it.
Julius says nothing, but he gets into position.
"Looks like his words did something to you." He smirks, glancing at Garfield as he tilts his sword.
"Maybe." Garfield exhales before his entire body floods with a crimson aura. "I'm not holding back anymore."
Win or lose, I don't really care.
Garfield makes the first move. Using earth magic, he creates a foothold to propel himself forward in an instant. Julius blocks and swings his sword infused with yin energy, but this time, his strike doesn't connect.
Garfield's legs moved in that instant.
The advantage felines have is their speed—their reaction time and attack speed are much faster than a human's. Demihumans, in general, have superior physical abilities compared to us.
A punch slams into Julius's cheek, but he grabs Garfield's shoulder, locking him in place before hurling him into the air. Blood drips from his lip, but instead of healing, he immediately launches himself after Garfield.
As Garfield falls, in just that fraction of a second, five thrusts strike toward him.
But Garfield had already planned for this.
His arm enlarges, taking the blows as he touches the ground.
Garfield's gaze is that of someone completely immersed in his own mind—almost as if he's in a trance. It looks like he's trying to partially transform to gain an advantage in size.
If Garfield transforms completely, he'll be at a disadvantage. For Julius, exploiting his blind spots would be easy.
'He really is a genius.'
"That's much better." Julius stomps the ground, and in a blink, he appears behind Garfield.
But Garfield reacts instantly, spinning midair with a kick that collides against Julius's sword.
Bang! The impact sounds like a gunshot.
Garfield's grin widens, but Julius doesn't waste a second—he lets the force push him back before launching forward again.
Julius's body starts to glow. He's gathering all his mana. Every spirit plays a role—that's something he hadn't fully understood before.
"Al Clarista." A dense explosion of mana engulfs him. Emilia immediately shields Anastasia while Julius prepares to unveil the fruits of his greatest effort.
"ROOOAAAR!" Garfield fully transforms, his mana surging, but he quickly contains it within his body.
Taking a direct hit from Julius in that state would send him flying with every impact. Adding weight is one way to counter that.
But it leaves too many blind spots.
Julius swings his sword, and in that very instant, Garfield's chest is slashed open. Blood splatters, but before Julius can react, Garfield's fist is already flying toward him.
Julius blocks, but the impact sends him skidding backward, cracking the ground beneath his feet.
"ROOOOAAAAR!" Stone walls rise behind Julius, but his mana reinforcement shatters them in an instant.
With a powerful leap, Garfield swings both arms down to crush him, but Julius doesn't hesitate.
"Pula Ilium!" Spirits burst from his body, shooting toward Garfield. A blinding light envelops him, slowing his descent. Fireballs strike him, and an updraft sends Julius's sword hurtling at breakneck speed, now coated in a layer of ice.
The impact echoes through the entire coliseum, and Garfield is about to crash into the ground.
Julius leaps over him, gripping his sword.
"Clarista!"
His blade absorbs the spirits' energy, and Julius charges up a final attack to end the fight.
But Garfield's mana surges. Instead of crying out in pain, a war cry shakes the air.
"I WILL WIN!"
His transformation shatters as he clenches his fist and drives it straight toward Julius' sword.
'What the hell?'
My heart skips a beat. Garfield could get seriously hurt. I'm sure Julius prepared this attack to counter his transformation.
"Garfield!" I shout, but the sword has already struck his fist.
BOOM!
A shockwave of earth rips through the arena, sending tremors through the ground. The blast reaches us. Julius' sword shatters into a thousand pieces, and Garfield's fist drives through it, stopping only at the hilt. Julius' eyes widen in shock, but Garfield is already in front of him, throwing a devastating punch straight into his solar plexus.
The impact is brutal.
Julius is sent crashing into the ground with incredible force.
Garfield drops to his knees, panting. He tries to get up but seems to have pushed his body past its limits. His regeneration is working, but the strain is obvious.
"That was a good hit." Julius rises slowly as Garfield grins, exhausted. "I thought your arrogance was baseless, but this time I've witnessed it—an unbreakable will."
He glances at me and smirks before turning away.
"It was a good fight, Garfield Tinsel. This spirit knight looks forward to your next challenge."
With that, Julius' victory is declared. But one thing is clear—Garfield's potential is overwhelming.
'He'll surpass us all soon enough.'
Julius walks toward me, shrugging as he smiles.
"You've found a genius." He places a hand on my shoulder. "Train him well. I see you two share the same fighting style."
"That kid's going to surpass us. He's only just begun to learn for real."
I watch as Mimi rushes at Garfield, tackling him to the ground while Emilia begins healing him.
Someday, these younger fighters will surpass us.
I need to train harder. I need to get stronger.
I make my way toward Reinhard, who is busy fending off Felt's relentless attacks.
"If you train him, he'll get even better. Help him out," Felt says, pointing at Garfield.
Reinhard bows slightly. "My lady. That could wound a warrior's pride. If he asks me, I'll gladly do it."
"I'm gonna kick his ass until he asks, then!" Felt dashes toward Garfield, but before Reinhard can follow, I stop him.
Reinhard's power lies in his ability to wield divine blessings at will. That means I could grow stronger quickly by fighting him.
'If I fight him, maybe I can break out of this stagnation.'
"Marco."
Anastasia steps up beside me, her expression serious. 'Something's happened.'
"Can you come with me for a moment?"
I nod, offering Reinhard a quick apology before following her to one of the carriages. Inside, a metia mirror is connected to Ricardo.
"This is Ricardo, the leader of my mercenary group."
A towering demihuman with a muscular build, sharp blue eyes, and deep brown hair styled into a slicked back pompadour stare back at me. He wears dark clothing, black wristbands, white wrappings, and a shoulder guard marked with the Hoshin Trading Company emblem.
"So, you're Marco Luz!" His grin is wide and challenging. "I thought you'd be more delicate! HAHAHAHAHA!"
I give him a faint smirk.
"If I were delicate, I'd be dead."
Ricardo bursts into another hearty laugh, but when he calms down, his gaze shifts to a map of the city.
"There's been some weird movement in the slums. Rich folks are selling their properties for dirt cheap, like they're trying to get rid of a problem."
I stroke my chin.
That wasn't mentioned in the novel. The Witch Cult has never been obvious in how it operates, but if this is true, then someone knew something and decided to keep quiet. I don't know how deep this goes, but if it is real, then this isn't just a chaotic raid.
There's a strategy behind it.
"Leftover cultists, or just speculators?" I ask.
Ricardo shrugs.
"No clue. We tried tracking their movements, but someone's covering for them." His expression darkens. "There could be a bastard Archbishop here already—someone who knows how to move massive amounts of money."
'Roswaal? He wouldn't care about this unless Subaru need it.'
"If we sell some of our properties, maybe we can get to the bottom of this," Anastasia muses, tapping her chin. "There could be something protecting the wealthy… This is unexpected."
Financial movements only mean one thing—the Witch Cult isn't just some disorganized band of fanatics right now. Someone has taken control. Someone is pulling the strings.
'Of course… That person must be Natsuki Subaru.'
Betelgeuse's words come back to me.
"The Archbishop of Pride—Natsuki Subaru. If it's him, then it makes sense why they're so organized."
"You told us to be careful, but you didn't say he was an Archbishop." Anastasia watches me carefully. "If all of this was planned, then they've been preparing for a long time."
"It's just a theory. Just information I've heard."
None of this is a coincidence.
'Subaru has lived his own story.'
He caused most of the changes. He forced the candidate list to be revealed early. He put the archbishops on the board.
'He taught me how to eat.'
Roy's words echo in my mind. The prediction I made is useless now—Subaru must have anticipated it. That's why I used Reinhard, but maybe even that won't be enough.
'What is his true ability?'
My teeth grind. My information is lacking.
A warm hand squeezes mine. I turn my head and see Anastasia holding me.
"You'll have to change your plans, right?" She smiles. "I already expected our prediction to be wrong, so I took precautions."
Her gaze is confident, but after everything I've seen, I know that trying to read Natsuki Subaru is like trying to read myself—a labyrinth of thoughts with no exit.
I smile, resigned. "Enlighten me."
Anastasia narrows her eyes. "The metía… I'm going to destroy it." Her voice is firm. "I've been acquiring glintstone crystals to collapse the tower where the metía is. That should trigger it and open the doors."
My eyes widen. That possibility hadn't even crossed my mind.
But it makes sense.
"Stopping the doors isn't impossible. We just need to destroy the activation mechanisms." I smile, noticing Anastasia had already expected that answer.
"Can you understand the metía on the spot?"
I had questioned her before. Manipulating the metía might be possible, but Subaru… he must already know how to use it.
"Trust me. And if anything happens, we have the strongest person of all." I lean back and glance at Ricardo. "We'll take down all four doors. One by one."
A desperate move, but a necessary one.
Anastasia stares at me.
"Calm down. I told you; we have the strongest person."
She sighs. "Now, tell me your plan."
After a long discussion, we keep going over what will happen after the attack. Dinner stretches on with stories and laughter. The joy is tangible. Even though we know the battle is approaching, this moment of camaraderie is our breath of fresh air.
As the others talk, I approach Reinhard and extend my hand.
"Tomorrow morning, fight me." I smile.
The conversations halt. Reinhard's eyes widen in surprise. Everyone looks at us in disbelief.
"It's a fight I'll lose, but I'll give it my all."
I still don't know how much Reinhard enjoys fighting, or if he despises it altogether. I know he struggles with people seeing him as a god, but honestly, none of that matters to me.
"Are you absolutely sure?" he asks and Felt steps beside him.
"Yeah! Big brother, Reinhard is really strong!"
I shrug. "I know. That's exactly why I want to fight him. The only way to learn is by facing someone stronger."
Right now, I don't want to fight Julius—I promised him we'd battle, but without my daughter, it wouldn't be a true fight between spirit users.
He seems to understand that as well.
Reinhard stands and takes my hand.
"I'll fight you, Marco Luz." He smiles, his gaze challenging.
Let's see how long I can last against Reinhard.