The ruin was discovered hours later.

  By then, Ryusei, Lumielle, and the freed slaves were already left.

  What remained of the estate was no longer recognizable as a noble residence. The land itself had been flattened, carved into a massive scar of shattered stone and compacted earth. No walls stood. No towers cast shadows. Even the road leading to it had been split and warped, as if the ground had recoiled in terror.

  The first patrol froze the moment they saw it.

  “This…” one guard whispered, his voice hollow.

  “…This is insane.”

  More soldiers arrived. Then mages. Then officials bearing the crests of authority.

  They just stared at it, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.

  They found survivors near the edge of the ruin.

  Bound together—alive, restrained, deliberately spared—were several guards and one man whose noble attire was torn but unmistakable.

  The moment the officers recognized him, the atmosphere changed.

  “…lord arveth?” one whispered.

  The noble buyer looked up slowly, eyes bloodshot, face hollow with terror.

  An officer immediately dropped to one knee.

  “My lord… what happened here?”

  Arveth swallowed, his hands trembling against the bindings.

  “He came,” he said hoarsely.

  “Just one man.”

  The officers frowned.

  “One man did this?”

  Arveth laughed weakly, the sound breaking midway.

  They freed his mouth. He spoke quickly now, desperation pouring out.

  “He had golden hair. Golden eyes.

  A mage stepped closer.

  "My question to you, lord Arveth, is what happened? Why has your estate come to be in such a state?”

  "I-I don’t know… I had no idea—no clue at all—when he did this… when he destroyed my estate like that.”

  Then suddenly one of those guards who tied up spoke.

  "With just one slash of his sword, lord Arveth's estate was destroyed like that.”

  The officers exchanged uneasy looks.

  “Just one slash?”

  One of the officials clenched his jaw.

  “Why would someone like that target your estate?”

  Arveth went silent.

  Then his voice dropped to a whisper.

  “…Because he said that he saw what I was doing.”

  The silence that followed was heavy.

  Very heavy.

  The report reached the capital before sunset.

  And when it did, the room erupted.

  “He destroyed House Mistvein’s allied estate?”

  “A single swordsman?”

  “And you let him escape?!”

  Arveth stood before the council chamber, pale and shaking, his noble crest displayed clearly on his chest.

  “I survived because he allowed it,” he said quietly. “And I believe he wanted us to talk.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Talk about what?”

  Arveth’s eyes burned with humiliation and rage.

  “That someone with power like his exists… and judges us.”

  The head of the council stood slowly.

  “Whether his motives were moral or not is irrelevant.”

  His gaze hardened.

  “He attacked one of the noble families.”

  The word carried weight.

  That single fact sealed Ryusei’s fate.

  “Declare him wanted.”

  A sigil flared above the chamber.

  [High-Priority Notice Issued]

  Target: Unknown Golden-Haired Swordsman

  Crime: Assault on Bloodline / Destruction of Noble Territory

  Status: Extreme Threat

  Capture: Preferred

  Termination: Authorized

  Far away, Ryusei paused mid-step.

  He didn’t know why his chest felt tight.

  Lumielle glanced at him. “Something wrong?”

  “…No,” he said.

  But somewhere behind him, power, blood, and vengeance had aligned.

  He hadn’t just destroyed an estate.

  He had humiliated one of the officials' noble family.

  Back at the council chamber….

  “Let's summon the 7 who contributed the most to slayed Caleum Ardent.”

  The head of the council said it with a serious expression.

  “Are you sure about this? Do we need to summon them just for that man?” One of the officials asked.

  “I have a bad feeling about this. It’s like we’re going up against Caleum again—I don’t know, I can’t explain this unease I’m feeling.”

  “Caleum Ardent is already dead! And we already confirmed that he is dead.” One of the Officials barked while appearing afraid.

  “I know it's just we need to be careful now, didn't you see what happened to Arveth's estate!? That man is dangerous!” The head council's eyes were wide, while beads of sweat gathered on his face.

  “Anyone who opposes my proposal?!”

  “None” said all of the Officials.

  Deep beneath the capital of the Vareth Dominion, beyond layers of warded stone and sealed authority chambers, a circular hall lit by pale mana flared to life.

  Seven thrones stood empty.

  Then—one by one—they filled.

  With presence.

  The air grew heavy.

  “We have a target,” the Head Council said grimly.

  “Golden-haired swordsman. He attacked one of the noble family”

  A low chuckle echoed.

  “oh~, another mission for us,” a voice said, smooth and amused.”

  "Ha!! What do we care if he attacks your kind, old bastard!? We couldn't give a damn!” a voice said it sounded arrogant.

  “The report said he just attacked the Arveth's Estate and in just one swing he destroyed it. We need to investigate this man and capture him, and to do that we need your help" the head council said.

  “You need to control your temper, Vance, this old man is asking us for help” said the voice that was very calm.

  The Seven Pillars

  Who contributed the most to slayed Caleum Ardent.

  I. Vance Slade — The First Fang

  ? Class: Absolute Assassin

  ? Ability: Heart-Sever (Conceptual Strike) — ignores defense, regeneration, and immortality

  ? Role in Caelum’s Death: Final blow

  “I'll defeat that bastard!” Vance grinning.

  II. Seraphine Lys — The Halo Breaker

  ? Class: Divine Suppressor / Anti-Hero Inquisitor

  ? Ability: Sanctum Collapse — strips blessings, hero authority, and divine contracts

  ? Role: Nullified Caelum’s divine protections

  “I hope that man is handsome~” she murmured.

  III. Morvane Blackroot — The Grave Sovereign

  ? Race: Ancient Lich (Bound Flesh)

  ? Class: Death Tyrant / Battlefield Controller

  ? Ability: Mass Undoing — reverses regeneration by converting healing into decay

  ? Role: Prevented Caelum’s regeneration

  His voice sounded like dirt falling on coffins.

  “Caleum screams,” Morvane rasped,

  “echoed beautifully.”

  IV. Aurelion Draxis — The World-Scaled

  ? Race: True Dragon (Humanoid Form)

  ? Class: Cataclysm Vanguard

  ? Ability: Dominion Over Mass — bends gravity and terrain

  ? Role: Pinned Caelum and tanks attacks

  His pupils narrowed.

  “I guess that man was strong,” he said.

  “But strength without restraint invites correction.”

  V. Nyx Vale — The Living Shadow

  ? Race: Umbral Elf

  ? Class: Phantom Reaper

  ? Ability: Existence Slip — attacks from outside perception

  ? Role: Continuous harassment, mental fracture

  Nyx’s voice came from nowhere.

  “So he feared nothing,” she whispered.

  VI. Thalos Ironsunder — The Oathbreaker

  ? Race: Dwarf (Titan-Blooded)

  ? Class: Primal Berserker

  ? Ability: Earth Rage – raging makes unstoppable

  ? Role: Broke Caelum’s blade

  Thalos crossed his arms.

  “Interesting,” he grunted.

  VII. Maximillian Valecrest — The Mind Crown

  ? Race: High Human

  ? Class: Absolute Strategist / Mind Tyrant

  ? Ability: Total Foresight — predicts outcomes several minutes ahead

  ? Role: Orchestrator of the kill

  Maximillian stood last.

  Calm.

  Controlled.

  Terrifying.

  “This report intrigued my interest,” he said.

  Silence filled the chamber.

  Then—

  The Head Council spoke.

  “Are you gonna take this mission?” The head council swallowed.

  Nyx laughed softly.

  “…This man is strong, I want to face him,” Thalos muttered.

  “Bah, If he's actually... strong, as you so quaintly put it, then yes, I suppose I'm available." Vance said in an almost mocking tone.

  Maximillian raised his hand.

  “Everyone, we will capture this man if possible.”

  A pause.

  “If resistance exceeds projections—”

  His eyes gleamed.

  “—erase him.”

  Seven presences rose.

  The Seven who once slew the world’s strongest hero.

  Back at the forest where Ryusei and Lumielle taking a rest..

  Night settled softly over the road, but Ryusei couldn’t relax.

  The campfire crackled low, its flame deliberately small—just enough to warm hands, not enough to announce their presence. Beyond the firelight, the forest stood unnaturally still. No distant beasts. Even the wind seemed hesitant.

  Ryusei sat with his back against a tree.

  "What's this feeling? It's like something bad could happen to us, but I can't explain it. I've been feeling this way for a while now... I don't know why.” He thought to himself.

  “It's just start after I destroy that damn estate. Arghh..whatever happens, so be it. No matter what comes our way, I won't let Lumielle get hurt." And with that, he looked at Lumielle.

  Lumielle counting the gold coins and said

  “I guess we can survive for a while with this”

  Ryusei laughed.

  Lumielle looked at Ryusei “why are you laughing?” she seemed confused.

  "Just a while ago you were so awkward and shy, and now look at you – it’s like you’re already my wife!" Ryusei said jokingly.

  “Wii-wife-e!?” Lumielle stammered and her face turned red.

  “You're really so cute when I tease you HAHAHAHA” Ryusei laughing hysterically while holding his stomach.

  Lumielle pouted and crossed her arms. “Hmph so you're just teasing me”

  Ryusei eye's wide.

  “Woah, So… you really want to be my wife!?”

  “Eh!?” Lumielle was embarrassed. “Let's forget about it; instead, let's talk about what we'll do next”

  “I guess you're right haha”, Ryusei said, trying not to laugh anymore.

  “What if–,” Lumielle said slowly, slightly embarrassed.

  “We build our own village?”

  “Hu!?” Ryusei was startled."Are you really serious about that, or do you just want to change the topic?”

  “No, I'm serious.”

  Ryusei laughed softly despite himself. “You think I’d make a good village chief?”

  “I think you’re strong enough to protect one,” Lumielle replied.

  “That shut him up and he noticed that she was really serious now.”

  She continued.

  “There are borderlands untouched by authority. Places abandoned because monsters roam too close, or trade routes shifted. People avoid them.”

  Ryusei’s eyes narrowed. “Because they’re dangerous.”

  “Yes,” Lumielle said. “And because no noble wants responsibility without profit.”

  But if someone like you claimed one… defended it… made it livable…”

  “You’re saying—”

  “I’m saying people would come,” she finished. “Refugees. Runaways. Anyone we can help, and we can also invite those slaves we've helped who haven't yet found a place to stay or don't know how to start over again.”

  Ryusei closed his eyes.

  A boy being bullied always.

  A new body with inherent strength.

  A future where people looked at him not with terror—but expectation.

  “...I guess this is where I'll start changing my fate” he murmured.

  “What did you say?” Lumielle asked.

  “Ah nothing, I said let's try that – I guess we don't have anywhere to go anyway, I like your plan too.” Ryusei smiled.

  Ryusei clapped his hand "Alright Lumielle, let's rest now. Tomorrow, bright and early, we'll start our plan to build a village.” Ryusei said in a joyful tone.

  Lumielle smiled. “Alright.”