"Hmm, this should be the place."
Alhaitham looked around, confirming his location. This was where he would take his "walk" tonight.
This region belonged to Baron Cagenor, an incompetent noble whose poor governance had turned his territory into a lawless zone. Recently, robberies had become a common occurrence, with entire caravans disappearing. Travelers not only lost their possessions but also their lives.
And so, Alhaitham's objective for tonight's walk was simple:
Find the criminals.
Kill them.
"…I have to ask, Alhaitham, do you even understand the concept of a 'walk'? This place is more than fifty kilometers from the royal capital!"
The witch who had been dragged along protested in exasperation.
C.C. was visibly tired, her face slightly flushed as she tried to catch her breath. She looked at Alhaitham with disbelief. It was utterly absurd—she, an immortal being, could not keep up with this child's pace!
Alhaitham, however, remained unfazed.
"This distance is nothing. For a magic swordsman, enhancing their body with magic allows them to cover this distance in under two hours."
"Except you're a magician," she pointed out, rubbing her sore feet.
"I am both a magician and a magic swordsman," Alhaitham declared proudly.
In this world, there were two primary combat professions:
1. Magicians – Those who wielded magic as their primary means of combat.
2. Magic Swordsmen – Warriors who used magic to enhance their physical abilities in battle.
Most people chose one path, but Alhaitham wasn't satisfied with limitations.
In his past life, he had read numerous cultivation novels, and he knew that true strength came from mastering both body and mind. Focusing on only one aspect was inefficient. Besides, this duality worked to his advantage.
To the outside world, Prince Alhaitham was recognized as a genius magician. This meant that when he operated behind the scenes as a magic swordsman, no one would suspect his true identity.
"Besides, there's an old saying—'A mage who doesn't know close combat isn't a true mage.'"
"The person who said that must have been insane," C.C. muttered, rolling her golden eyes.
She plopped down on a rock and removed her white boots, massaging her sore feet. The moonlight bathed her pale skin, drawing attention to her delicate yet alluring features.
Alhaitham glanced at her feet, and a random thought crossed his mind—something he had read in his previous life: 'I could admire these legs for an entire year.'
Shaking off the distraction, he returned to the matter at hand.
"Since you insist on calling this a 'walk,' why did you bring me along?"
"To get you moving, lazy witch. Besides, you've lived for a long time—I need to ask you something."
C.C. smirked. "Oh? A prince asking an old witch for advice? Interesting. Alright, what do you want to know?"
Alhaitham folded his arms.
"Do you know anything about the Demon Diavolos, the Three Heroes, or the phenomenon called 'Demon Possession'?"
C.C. blinked, surprised by the question.
"Diavolos? Now that's a nostalgic name. People nowadays think it's just a fairy tale. How do you know about it?"
"That's my question to you," Alhaitham retorted.
C.C. sighed. "You really aren't cute. Fine. Yes, I do know. After all, I lived through the era when Diavolos appeared."
Her golden eyes reflected the moon as she reminisced.
Even though history had been rewritten, her memories could not be altered.
Alhaitham listened carefully, his suspicions growing stronger with each revelation. Everything he had pieced together so far seemed to align. Now, there was only one last question left.
"Who's behind it? Who twisted history and labeled the descendants of heroes as 'Demon Possessed'?"
C.C.'s expression darkened.
"The Order of Diavolos," she said grimly.
"The Order of Diavolos?"
Alhaitham repeated the name, committing it to memory.
C.C. leaned back against the rock, crossing her arms.
"Yes. An underground organization dedicated to resurrecting Diavolos. They believe that by reviving him, they can attain immortality and rule the world."
Alhaitham scoffed. "Hmph. The Order of Diavolos? What an unpleasant name. This world is mine. If they dare set their sights on it, I'll crush them."
His voice was ice-cold, filled with a king's authority.
To him, this world was his kingdom, and the Order of Diavolos was nothing more than a group of thieves trying to steal his treasure.
He wouldn't tolerate it.
He would annihilate them.
C.C. studied his expression and smirked. "Oh? And here I thought you'd be scared."
Alhaitham chuckled. "Why would I be? Tell me, C.C., how do you know so much about them?"
C.C. paused, then sighed.
"Because the people hunting me belong to the Order of Diavolos."
"Oh? Haha! What a coincidence."
Alhaitham laughed, amused.
At first, he had thought those pursuers were mere bounty hunters. But it turned out they were members of this so-called "Order of Diavolos."
It made sense.
As an ancient organization obsessed with power, they would naturally be interested in an immortal witch like C.C.
For them, her existence was proof that eternal life was possible.
What they failed to realize was that immortality came with a curse.
"Well, this just makes things easier for me," Alhaitham said. "If they're already after you, I'll make sure they regret it."
Just then, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the night.
"Da-da-da-da-da~"
Alhaitham's sharp eyes focused on a group approaching in the distance.
A gang of bandits—around fifty men—were returning from a successful raid. They carried stolen goods and weapons, their laughter echoing in the night.
Alhaitham dusted off his coat and stretched his fingers.
"A perfect way to vent my frustration."
His mood had soured after learning about the Order of Diavolos, and these bandits would serve as convenient punching bags.
C.C. glanced at him, then at the approaching men. "Are you seriously going to fight them all alone?"
"Obviously."
Alhaitham cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"A bunch of lowly criminals? This will be over in minutes."
He touched his left eye—the mark of Geass hidden beneath his fingers.
The power bestowed upon him by C.C. was dangerous, but it was his to command.
He smiled, eager for battle.
"Let me show them the power of a true king."