Prologue
I thought I had achieved everything worth achieving.
The proud honor of my family.
Power that commanded both the Empire and the Magic Tower.
Money enough to spend and die, including distant relatives three generations removed.
All of it, achieved by the age of twenty-two.
What others might accomplish in a lifetime, I had built all at once.
Perhaps that’s why…
I met an untimely death while saving my disciple.
“Flam, take care of Max.”
“No! Master! You can’t go!!”
Even so, I had no regrets.
Or at least… I didn’t think I did.
“Wait… what is this? Where’s my house?”
This was a situation I never expected.
A shabby estate that looked like a gloomy cemetery.
A mansion where ghosts could appear at any moment—could this really belong to a duke?
Impossible.
“My mansion…”
The training hall, where the knights could line up in a row with room to spare?
The glass greenhouse, built at the greatest expense in the Empire?
The duke’s mansion, grander than the imperial palace itself?
Where had it all gone?
And… the Magic Tower that should have been visible from here—where was it?
“The Magic Tower I built…”
Gone.
No matter how hard I looked, it was nowhere to be seen.
Excuse me, has anyone seen a Magic Tower?
The one called the Sky Tower, reaching higher than the palace?
I built it taller than both the Imperial Palace and the Temple. Didn’t I?
Hello? This is heaven, right?
I just died and woke up—I can’t believe this.
There was a Magic Tower, but now it’s gone.
“Ugh…”
Whoooosh!
A chilling wind swept across the gloomy mansion.
“Ughhh…”
The lush, beautiful maze garden had long turned into a wasteland.
The proud family banners had rotted, leaving nothing.
All that remained were a handful of dust and specks of dirt.
Even that could be blown away with a single breath.
“No, this… this is insane…!”
Finally, Hildegarde let her fury explode.
“You idiots! You ruined everything just for the hell of it?!”
The hero who had sealed the Demon God and saved the Empire.
The genius magic swordswoman, Hildegarde.
Eighty years later, she opened her eyes in the body of a descendant, only to find her family ruined.
“Waaah!!”
Completely ruined.
Hildegarde Akaraxia.
A legendary swordsmanship genius born of the Akaraxia Duke family.
Hildegarde was a natural talent who thrived on effort.
In snow, she trained in the snowfields. In rain, under the downpour, she swung her sword ten thousand times a day. Her determination was extraordinary.
It was only natural that, before turning seventeen, she became a Sword Master and the best swordswoman in her family.
Of course, Hildegarde was not satisfied with that.
After mastering swordsmanship, she turned to magic.
Magic required different effort and patience than swordsmanship, but she did not know the word “quit.”
Four years later, her efforts bore fruit in an unexpected way.
The most skilled Archmage in the Empire transferred all their magical power to her before passing away.
When everyone wondered why, Hildegarde revealed her reasoning at a swordsmanship tournament in front of the Emperor.
“Hildegarde, as promised, I shall grant you one wish. What is it you desire?”
“Your Majesty, I have but one wish. Please allow me to build a place where no mage has to hide.”
Then people understood why the great Archmage entrusted her magic to the princess.
“I wish to build a Magic Tower. I want a world where mages can live freely.”
“Excellent.”
Thus, the Magic Tower was built.
A tower taller than the Temple or even the Imperial Palace, named the Sky Tower.
A moment when the genius swordswoman became the first Sky Tower Master.
Hildegarde would do anything for her family.
She mediated every dispute, helping both sides equally.
If anyone was in trouble, she would never walk past.
If the Empire’s coffers ran low, she gave her own money.
She competed in tournaments under the family name, winning and donating the prize money to the poor.
During summer floods, she risked her own life to save people with her magic.
She was a true noble, admired by all.
“Hail Akaraxia! Long live Princess Hildegarde!”
“Thanks to the Tower Master, my son was born safely! Thank you so much!”
“Princess! Please accept my flower!”
Whatever Hildegarde did, it was a world of endless admiration for the princess.
She was twenty years old at the time.
The peak of her family’s power.
A reputation that drew crowds at the mere mention of her name.
A fortune that flowed like an endless spring.
And then, as if by divine revelation, an event occurred:
“Hildegarde drew the Holy Sword!”
“With this, we can seal the Demon God!”
The Emperor asked her,
“Hildegarde, as the ruler of the Empire, I ask you. Will you seal the Demon God with this Holy Sword?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I will do my best.”
Her resolute answer greatly satisfied the Emperor.
“I announce to all citizens. The Akaraxia Princess will personally lead the Holy Knights to seal the Demon God. The Temple shall give her all support.”
This was the moment no one would fail to recognize Hildegarde’s name.
Yet someone looked on worriedly.
Her cousin, Leonhardt, who had grown up with her like a sibling.
“Hildegarde, I oppose this. Sealing the Demon God is too dangerous.”
“Leon, big brother.”
Leonhardt looked at her as if she were a child.
“There’s no need to push yourself this far.”
“But what if the Duke brother says so?”
“Then go find love.”
“Love? Fine. If you find my ideal type, I’ll consider it.”
“…Conditions?”
Hildegarde smiled slyly.
“Kind, gentle, polite, and humorous. Handsome is a given, and he must be wealthy.”
“….”
“Broad shoulders, tall, skilled in both swordsmanship and magic like me. At least a Duke or higher. Can you manage that?”
“I might as well ask you to find a unicorn!”
“That’s exactly my point.”
“Hildegarde!”
Leonhardt realized too late that she was teasing him and flared up.
“I’m serious. You have choices beyond just honoring the family.”
“Yes, like marrying and having kids, like you, brother?”
Hildegarde shook a gift box containing baby shoes.
Leonhardt’s voice grew stern.
“You have every right to be happier, even if you don’t pursue love or marriage.”
“I understand. Thanks.”
“Don’t take this lightly. Why put yourself in such danger?”
“Leon, big brother.”
“Stop it. Even now, it’s not too late to give up hunting the Demon God.”
Leonhardt, Duke of Akaraxia and head of the Knights, was strict, cold, and unwavering.
But Hildegarde knew how kind and thoughtful he truly was.
Leonhardt had long seen through it:
Most people who flocked around her were just passing shadows.
Few genuinely cared for her well-being.
And Hildegarde knew that too.
The expectations of the world are like coins.
Once flipped, they turn to criticism or mockery.
And people are always capricious.
Would the great Princess Hildegarde succeed in defeating the Demon God?
Outside, many were already pretending to predict her success and openly spoke ill of her.
Yet Hildegarde’s resolve only strengthened.
“Leon, big brother. If we seal the Demon God, the Akaraxia family will become even greater.”
“Hilde…”
“Imagine it! Akaraxia will be remembered as a family greater than even the Imperial House or the Obrohn Dukes!”
Her eyes shone bright, fists clenched in determination.
No one could suppress her pure desire.
Leonhardt frowned further.
“Hilde, I…”
“Enough worrying. Don’t treat me like a child. There’s a baby here.”
Hildegarde gently reached for her sleeping cousin’s son.
“Hello, Michaelis. It’s Auntie. Did you sleep well?”
To her surprise, the boy grasped her finger immediately.
A warmth she hadn’t expected crept onto her lips.
“Michael, Auntie got you pretty shoes. I hope you like them… or maybe I should just buy the shoe shop?”
“Your father worries too much, doesn’t he?” she whispered, smiling.
Even as she spoke, her mission to seal the Demon God was set for the next day.
Leonhardt watched silently for a long while, then said quietly:
“…I’ll find him.”
“Find what?”
“The man of your dreams.”
Sighing, Leonhardt looked at the sleeping baby with her.
“I’ll scour the Empire to find the handsomest man for you.”
“Leon, big brother.”
“Return safely. Promise me.”
“….”
“Promise me this is the last dangerous mission you’ll take.”
Hildegarde thought, He worries too much… but a small joy stirred within her.
She had achieved much, all thanks to Leonhardt.
She wanted to give back to him and the family as much as she could.
…And yet.
If she could wish for a little more…
Could she desire someone who loved her without her doing anything in return?
Love.
After a brief silence, Hildegarde said,
“…Alright. But if he’s not handsome, I’ll kick him away.”
“That’s what I hoped for.”
Hildegarde hooked her pinky with little Michaelis.
“Auntie promises too! I’ll be back soon to buy you a shoe shop!”
But Hildegarde could not keep that promise.
She succeeded in sealing the Demon God, yet lost her life.
Aged twenty-four, she died prematurely.
That year, the Akaraxia family lost their most precious princess.
The Sky Tower lost its master.
The Empire lost its last hero of the age.
They mourned, but only superficially.
What remained quickly fell into ruin.
Everything went exactly as Leonhardt had feared.
Even though he tried to protect everything his sister had achieved, the changes were too rapid and relentless.
Naturally.
Very quickly.
Hildegarde faded from people’s memories.
As if she had never existed.
Eighty years later.
The noble princess of the Akaraxia family.
The genius swordmistress Hildegarde.
“Lies… it’s all lies!!”
Her eyes opened.
