CH 1

Chapter 1 – The day I was exiled

“My son, Thor Regus. The great Dolgarian Empire will send you to another country as a hostage. The carriage is already here to pick you up. It is your greatest honour to give your life for the Regus house.”

This was the voice of my father who spoke to me for the first time in two years.

Father distorted his lips, He had a face that looked like he thought of something pleasant.

I didn’t understand it at all.

“Father, I don’t understand the meaning. Why am I a hostage for another country …?”

“Because it doesn’t matter even if you die.”

My father, the Duke Regus, spitted disdainfully.

Beside him, the Duke’s butler and the Guard Captain were laughing.

Neither of them will even make eye contact with me.

This is the imperial capital of the empire, home of the Duke of Regas.

In other words, it’s my parents’ house.

In the office of the Duke Barga Regus, I am listening to my father.

That said, I don’t really have any relations with the Duke’s family anymore.

I managed to find a job at the age of 13 and left home.

For four years I have lived as a commoner

I never intended to come back to the Duke’s house again.

But today, when I was working, a soldier from the Duke’s family came and brought me here without any questions.

My co-workers and boss saw me off at a distance.

It was not their fault.

The Duke’s family is the highest-ranking aristocrat. Commoners cannot go against them.

I was put on a carriage and came to the duke’s mansion.

I was dragged into my father’s office and talked to him.

“What do you mean I’m a person that doesn’t matter even I die?”

There was no reply.

“I’m already out of the Duke’s family. I don’t even use the surname of Regus. Now I’m working as an imperial civilian. My job is paperwork, inventory management, item repair, etc. I haven’t made any mistakes. “

“Shut up!! You’re a shame of the Duke’s family !!”

My father hit the table.

“If you can’t help out, you should just die silently. Why do you argue against me !?”

“I don’t understand father.”

“Why don’t you understand!?”

I can’t understand.

There is almost no explanation other than “sending as a hostage” and “able to die”.

“As I said before? I don’t need anyone in my Duke’s family who doesn’t have combat skills !!”

The Duke shouted in a voice that echoed throughout the room.

But why do you look like you were told to do something unreasonable?

I was the one who was forcibly brought in and yelled at.

“My ancestors have taken the sword with His Majesty the Kings and created this Dolgarian Empire. The first Emperor was also a companion of the hero! The Great Empire is the pride of all the empires! “

“I know. Father.”

“Therefore, all the imperial citizens need to be at the highest level of strength, especially for aristocrats. My duke’s family must be a model for other aristocrats and all nations! But you!”

Just by looking at his father’s expression, I knew what was coming next.

“You don’t have any fighting skills! You can’t use offensive magic! You are the eldest son of a duke with a grandfather called “Swordmaster “! Do you understand my despair!? “

It’s been a familiar line since I was a kid.

I already know how to answer.

If I answer “I understand”, he will say “what do you undesrstand!” and a fist will fly at me.

If I answer “I don’t know”, he will say “Why don’t you know! And I am struck with a wooden sword.

So I have no choice but to shut up.

“── He seems to have no words. Guard Captian! Butler! Tell us about the sins of Thor Regus!”

“” Yes sir!!””

The captain of the guard wearing a piece of armour and a butler wearing a black suit came out.

“── at the age of 10, Thor Regas was appraised for his skills. Reportedly, he had no combat skills. As the eldest son of the Duke’s family, it’s an embarrassing thing. “

“── The second skill appraisal was done at the age of 12. In addition to combat skills, he did not have any attack magic skills. As an aristocrat, it’s an incredible blunder.”

As soon as the story was over, the two turned away and left.

This is the treatment of those who do not have combat skills.

The Dolgarian Empire has expanded its territory by force.

Therefore, both aristocrats and commoners attach great importance to combat abilities.

In particular, aristocrats who do not have combat skills will be looked down upon. This is because all the aristocrats around the emperor have excellent combat skills.

So I left the Duke’s house.

I took an exam and became a civilian, doing paperwork and item repair work.

I’ve done my job properly. Document work was suitable for me.

Besides, there were some jobs where I could use my skills.

“Sure, I don’t have combat skills.”

I looked back at the Duke and said.

“But I have an alchemy skill.”

My father’s face was distorted.

He has the same face as when he heard the result of skill appraisal when I was 10 and 12 years old.

I continued.

“My alchemy skill is useful for repairing items. In fact, I am also entrusted with item management work at the government office. If I polish my skill, I may be able to create new items. That’s why I am saving up money and will eventually open my own workshop ── “

“There is no value in such a thing !!”

“Father!”

“Everyone in the empire is competing to be the strongest! No other thing is needed! Besides, the empire has the holy swords and shields used by the Hero The strongest equipment already exists. Create new items? Does that mean you’re denying the Empire’s way !? “

“No! I am …”

“Denying the Empire’s way is equivalent to rebellion against His Majesty!”

The Duke kicks the table.

The heavy table easily rolls away.

The Duke has combat skills. It seems that he is still in good condition.

“── Seriously. I can’t feel the air of an aristocrat around him at all.”

“──I thought that after leaving the Duke’s family, he still had some pride but…”

The guard captain and the butles are laughing silently at me.

The Duke screamed.

“It has already been decided that you will be sent as a hostage. Stop complaining!”

“I understand that it has been decided …”

…… Is it no good after all?

My dad and his servants don’t even listen to my words.

I’m done with them──.

If they won’t listen to me, at least I should get some information.

“But what do you mean by it doesn’t matter even if I die?”

“Because you’ll go to a dangerous place.”

“Dangerous place?”

“The empire has been sending hostages for decades.. No one has gone to that place and returned.”

“Where am I being sent?”

When he heard that, my father smiled.

That alone gave me the answer.

“No way is it the Demon King’s territory !?”

“I’ll praise you for your guess “

Father shook his head.

“No, but if you really are good at guessing, you should have guessed my thoughts and committed suicide at an early age. Your really still incompetent at everything.”

I don’t care about that.

I never thought the Duke would go this far.

This guy is going to send me to an enemy country.

Hundreds of years ago, the Demon King and the humans were vying for territory on the continent.

The Demon King invaded towards the south, accompanied by mighty demons.

The demons were powerful, but the human heroes were also strong.

After a fierce battle, the Hero and his companions used their weapon and magic to repel the Demon Kings.

After that, a boundary was laid between the human world and the territory of the Demon King.

Beyond the forest to the north of the empire is the area of demons and subhumans ──The demon king’s territory.

South from there is the human world.

No major conflict has occurred since the border was laid.

Both humans and demons lived without invading each other’s territory.

However, the Demon King’s territory was still a mysterious country.

On the contrary, the demon kings and demons who have been driven to the north are said to hate humans.

Therefore, there should have been almost no interaction between the Demon Lord and the human world.

“I didn’t know that there was an exchange between the Empire and the Demon Lord.”

“You don’t understand politics. Our Dolgarian Empire is closest to the Demon King’s territory. Even though the Demon King does not interfere, we must take measures.”

The Duke said.

“That’s why the empire is supposed to offer hostages to the Demon King territory once in a few decades. They are blood-thirsty, they are calmed down because of the hostages.

Because demons are like beasts.”

“──They are a barbaric, savage race

“──They also like to confirm their strength by killing humans”

The Duke and his two subordinates are laughing.

I felt a chill down my spine.

These guys are serious and they want me to die. That’s why I can’t understand.

You don’t have to talk to someone that is about to die.

“I’m done with my talks. Just disappear The carriage to pick you up is here.”

The Duke waves his hand.

With that as a signal, the soldiers who were waiting outside the room came in. Four people restrained me.

I tried twisting myself, but I can’t free myself.

“You can’t even escape from the guards? You really don’t have the skills to fight. Why was this incompetence born in my duke’s family … “

“── My condolence, my Duke”

“──I understand your feelings too.”

“But those hardships end today.”

The Duke had a radiant smile as the butler and the captain of the guard buttered him up and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.

I felt nauseous.

I should have refused the physical examination before entering the room.

Then, I threw the stone I was carrying around as a material for alchemy at his face.

“I hate you. Duke Barga Regas.”

“Don’t talk to me you corpse”

“If you want to send people to the Demon Lord’s territory, you can go by yourself. Had you guys even bother to collect information on the demon king territory!”

“The empire has won against the Demon King’s territory. Do you need information on a country full of losers?”

“… You’re too careless. It’s over. You ──”

On my belly, I felt something hit me.

I found that the Duke’s fist was sunk into it.

I suddenly stop breathing. I can’t make a voice.

The butler wipes the fist drawn by the Duke with a handkerchief.

He stopped with a single blow because it would be a problem if I died before arriving at the Demon King’s territory.

“…………You’re the worst. Fucking dad.”

“Take him”

The Duke waved.

“A child that was an accident is gone, and my duke’s family will turn over a new leaf. His Majesty the Emperor will appreciate my duke’s family.”

── I was banished from the empire where I was born and raised.