The Kingdom of El Ras.
The continent’s hegemonic nation, possessor of vast territories, has the most organized and advanced educational system.
Its most representative example is Merkabah Academy, responsible for training knights, mages, and guardians.
Through the ages, the great teacher of countless heroes, Erin Danua, taught under different names depending on the era. Thanks to that, they were able to become protectors of humanity.
Aside from that, there was also a need for educational institutions for common citizens or for knights and mages who did not aspire to become guardians.
That is exactly the purpose of El Ras Royal Academy, located in the capital.
Here, royalty, nobility, and even commoners with enough ability can enroll freely.
A new academic year began.
This year, the lineup of new students was extraordinary.
Three years have passed since the Demon King Tates Valtazar fell before the great hero Corin Loch, and since the light stolen by the Demon King returned to the world.
In those three years, many things happened—reforms, unification, and major exchanges.
First, one of the two great religious powers of the continent, the Old Church, was destroyed—rather, absorbed—after serving as an accomplice of the Demon King, thanks to the Great Saint Estelle Hadassa El Ras of the New Church.
After completing the unification of both, Estelle became the sole Great Saint and proclaimed Sun God Corin Loch, purifying the wounded and contaminated lands.
During this process, she cooperated with Hwaran, the leader of the Great Illuminated Sect of the East, promoting a great religious unification.
Thus, the religion of the entire world was returning to the ancient primordial faith—the faith of the Dannan.
The true age of myths.
A turbulent era where gods truly existed.
But the changes did not happen only in religion.
The northern peoples, the inhabitants of the barbarian lands led by the Skjaldmær (shieldmaidens), fought as comrades against the Demon King.
However, half of their clans also sided with him.
The northerners who sided with Sun God Corin Loch were absorbed by the kingdom—but not completely.
After being isolated for so long, their integration would not be easy, so it was decided to grant their representative the title of Grand Duke to gradually advance cultural exchange.
Amid these processes of unification and change, this year the so-called Golden Riders, symbols of peace, enrolled in the Royal Academy.
A truly symbolic year.
— We will now proceed with the oath of the representative of the newly admitted students.
The second son of the southern Duchy of Dunaleff, Rovert Dunaleff.
The one chosen as Grand Duke of the North by the shieldmaidens, Starker.
And Benjamin, son of Cardinal Haim Elharar, recommended by the Great Saint Estelle.
Three figures who would bear the future of the next ten years had entered at the same time, by coincidence.
That is why the press and the public had their attention fixed on the academy.
“Then, we will proceed with the representative’s oath.”
But leaving behind all those great names, the representative was an unexpected navy-blue-haired girl.
Who could surpass such monsters to become the representative?
When they heard her name, everyone understood.
“Representative of the new students, Shia Loch.
Oath.”
“O… oath…”
Shia Loch.
Younger sister of the hero who defeated the Demon King and became Sun God Corin Loch.
A blood relative of a living legend.
Not only reigning in the kingdom, but throughout the entire world as an absolute existence:
the sister of the greatest of heroes!
And that was not all.
The future Duchess of the south and Lady of New Merkabah, Marie Dunaleff.
The swordmaster teachers of the eastern Arden family, Alisha Arden and Lunia Arden.
The leader of the Great Illuminated Sect of the East, the Absolute, Hwaran, and Ran.
The headmistress of Merkabah and queen of the Dannan, Erin Danua.
The Great Saint of the unified faith and First Princess of the kingdom, Estelle Hadassa El Ras.
The Second Princess and master of the Infinite Dragon Midgardorm, Miruam Elisabeth El Ras.
And the new Great Archmage, Heroine of Justice and Empress of the Great Dimensional Magic Empire, Park Sirin.
Their husband.
“Son of a— that damn swallow!!”
That’s what his critics called him.
“The most hated villain by men of the year.”
“The man women most want to date of the year.”
And she was the sister of that Corin Loch!
Obviously, her backing was overwhelming, even compared to the princes of the south and the Grand Duke of the north.
Under the absolute attention of everyone.
“Haah…”
Shia Loch let out a light sigh.
‘How the hell did I end up in this situation…?!’
The story goes back one day.
***
South of the great city, Duf City.
This city, one of the territories of the untouchable Dunaleff duchy, had achieved explosive development over the past three years.
The building called “movie theater” on the main street of the downtown area was already the symbol of the new civilization.
The movies shown there were still all works that had come from the other side of the dimension, but the new directors trained by the Department of Cultural Development had begun releasing independent films one after another.
“Wow, that was an amazing movie, right?”
“Yeah. We have like five years’ worth of movies to watch, I don’t know when we’ll finish.”
“Hehe! If you watch them with me, you’ll have plenty of time.”
The aqua-haired girl, Marie Dunaleff, dipped a french fry in ketchup and offered it to me.
“Aaang~”
“Ahem… hey, people are looking.”
“Hey! If your sister gives you food, you take it. Come on, aaang~”
In the end, unable to resist Marie’s insistence, I ate it, and she made a completely satisfied expression.
“Hey, do you really like this that much? It’s been over a year since we got married and you’re still like this.”
“I want to stay on honeymoon with Corin my entire life~”
Ah, this adorable girl. It’s been more than a year since we married and she still clings to me like we just started dating.
“Hwaran too, and all the others love me so much. Uhehehet!”
In Marie’s shadow, something moved with a “Grr!”
Hey! What’s with growling at your father? How disrespectful! Seriously, how can the first prince of the divine king Ardi behave like this?
“Ah, Corin. Are you going to have to cross over to Earth again soon?”
“Eh? No. If I can avoid it, I’d rather not go. It’s obvious they don’t like me much over there.”
A little more than a year ago, right before my graduation and the wedding, the event happened where the so-called Park Sihoos, selected as “heroes” in the game Arhan Heroic Legends—which was actually this world in disguise—returned to Earth.
After that Park Sihoo Incident, Earth accepted magic as new technology and prepared to invade this world through dimensional travel.
But the Russian army that made the dimensional jump was defeated by me and my wives.
Not understanding what was happening, I crossed to Earth, traveled the entire planet, and destroyed all technology related to dimensional portals.
Though of course, destroying technology does not prevent humans from researching again.
Based on hidden data, they redeveloped dimensional research and I had to go several times to beat them up again.
In summary, we can go to them, but they cannot cross over here.
We considered building official dimensional portals between both worlds for economic, cultural, and technological exchange, but the idea was discarded due to the risk of Earth slowly eroding this culture.
Instead—
“Get me technical books on engines. And if you can bring an engineer, even better. I want to research it in the Dunaleff Tower.”
“Now that you mention it, wasn’t Rakh the one researching that?”
“Yeah. He adapted surprisingly well to the new technology.”
Taking advantage of the fact that only we can travel freely, we bring technicians and technology from time to time.
Is that basically an invasion from us toward them?
So what? I’m an immortal being and I only take what I need from mortals.
If they don’t like it, let them try launching another nuclear bomb.
Actually, there’s no need to go that far—the only portal on Earth is in the Magic Empire founded by Sirin, and she operates it however she wants.
On that side, Sirin, who is an absolute power and a living monster, can literally do whatever she wants.
“Ah, right. Corin, Director Erin and Professor Josephine went to the Dunaleff mansion to look for you.”
“Both together? Did something happen?”
After we graduated, all my wives were busy.
Marie was building the Dunaleff Tower, replacing the old magic tower.
Alisha and Lunia were hunting monsters across the continent.
Hwaran worked as leader of the Great Eastern Sect alongside Estelle on the religious unification.
Miruam was busy with kingdom affairs as the next queen.
Erin remained the director of Merkabah Academy.
And Sirin… Shirin was donating her talent all over the world. Lately they call her Heroine Shirin. She also takes care of our eldest daughter, Hayeon, so she lives a busy life.
In short, the only unemployed one was me.
Well, not entirely.
I was also busy traveling to Earth, developing technology, and cleaning the shadow world created by the Dannan curse.
They say I need to dedicate about a hundred years to it, but everyone is helping me, so it’ll work out.
In any case, if the Master and Josephine came in person, it must be important.
“Then I’ll go ahead.”
“Okay, finish up at the tower and come back soon!”
***
Since ancient times, gods existed in this land. Among them, the great warrior gods who prospered on the continent: the divine race of the Dannan.
Although they had won the struggle for supremacy against the giants, their reign soon collapsed. The goidel people, whom they had taught, guided, and developed, eventually rebelled against the gods.
Thus, the age of myths ended, and the age of humans arose.
However, still remaining in this land was the queen of the gods, Erin Danua.
The one who wields the spear.
The teacher of heroes.
The queen of the Shadow Realm.
She is Erin Danua.
A lancer who preserved a thousand years of immortality and for hundreds of years massacred the immortal legion in the City of Eternal Return.
As the creator of the Guardian Academy system, she passed down a method to raise protectors of the world, and for generations she trained disciples as its director.
Alongside Tates Valtazar, the Holy Spear, and the great witch Josephine Clara, she fought against the persecution of the world, toppled the Magic Tower, and during the Sun War against Tates—who had stolen the world’s light as Demon King and Dannan of Light—she shone as a heroine.
She is Erin Danua.
As a teacher of heroes, she was strict at times, gentle at others, sometimes a guide, sometimes a solemn goddess—a mythical existence.
She is Erin Danua.
To this great goddess, life is but a moment that flows like the wind, and to those who live mortal lives, the immortal goddess shows only a compassionate smile…
“Coriin!”
“Noonaaa!”
Upon meeting, the two clapped their palms together, intertwined fingers, and started making a ruckus.
“How long has it been?”
“It’s only been a month.”
“A whole month has passed.”
For a couple married one year, being apart for a month felt too long. Though there were reasons.
“Erin?”
“Ah… Corin?”
Erin looked up at Corin, who had her pinned against the wall, and swallowed hard.
“The reunion kiss for your husband after a month?”
“H-here?! That’s embarrassing…!”
Erin pushed him away with her face as red as fire, but those small hands—capable of bringing down a building—had no strength against Corin, who cornered her as if surrounding her with a fence.
“Where are you pushing me? You know I have to do what I want.”
Corin’s knee slid between Erin’s thighs. She was extremely weak against him.
“T-then… just on the cheek…”
Erin Danua. A thousand-year-old virgin who had never touched the hands of any man aside from her family.
She was infinitely vulnerable before her husband a thousand years younger.
“…”
Watching that sweet scene, Josephine Clara—the great witch who was already nearing 110 years old and lifelong professor of 80 years at Merkabah—began to show wrinkles that would never appear naturally.
“Seriously… how shameful.”
“C-Clara!? Since when were you there?!”
Startled, Erin shoved Corin for real this time. With enough strength to make him step back.
“Aish… this girl doesn’t know how to read the atmosphere.”
“Why am Corin’s daughter?”
“Josephine is practically Erin’s adoptive mother, so you’re my daughter too, right?”
“Do you want me to hit you? Do you want to spend a week trapped in an empty space?”
“Whoops. Sorry.”
Corin surrendered instantly. Josephine clicked her tongue and adjusted her glasses.
“Clara…”
“What is it, Director?”
“Why are you ruining Corin’s mood?”
“Oh, please…”
The moment she got her first boyfriend she married him instantly. No self-control. Josephine ignored her and got to the point.
“Erin, tell him what we brought.”
“Ahem… right.”
Both explained why they had gone to Dunaleff mansion to find him.
“Ohad Breas’s inheritance?”
“Yes. When we were transporting his treasures to Mag Mell, we found something strange.”
Ohad Breas, the former Ardi from several reigns ago, had sided with Tates Valtazar in the Sun War. After falling into tyranny and being overthrown, he managed to escape the destruction of the Dannan and wandered the world.
The treasures he gathered were too dangerous, so Erin stored them in the Dannan treasure island, Mag Mell.
“This?”
Erin showed a strange lamp. It wasn’t of continental style; it looked like something unknown.
“Do you sense anything?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it. It might be older than the Dannan themselves.”
If an object of unknown origin is suspicious, it must be destroyed. As if it were cursed, Corin’s authority as Sun God was the most effective, so they brought it so he could purify it.
“With my divine power I’ll purify it instantly.”
Corin hesitated between using Clau Solas or Sacred Light Aradwa. Both were effective for purification. He chose the familiar Clau Solas.
“Hmm? Nothing seems to be purifying.”
“No? Then it seems there’s no problem.”
“Still, I’ll store it properly in the vault. Ever since the new Mythic Era began, ancient objects have become stronger.”
Since the world began interacting with the gods and faith amplified, mythical objects had been regaining power. Many incidents like that happened, so Corin was cautious.
“Well, then today… do you have time?”
“Ah… hehe. Will you ask Marie noona too?”
He had plans with Marie that night, but everything was flexible.
“A-ahem… I’ll try asking.”
Corin stroked Erin’s thigh while laughing.
***
The next morning.
“Ugh… Ahhh! My body hurts. Did I use too much strength last night?”
It was the first time since he obtained Clau Solas. The power of the sun god gave him almost infinite energy, without fatigue.
Thanks to that he lived a sweet life, but today his body hurt. As if he had returned to being an ordinary human.
“I need to control myself… I’ll destroy myself like this.”
Though he was only saying that. He planned to go crazy again that night.
“Hmm?”
The surroundings were strange. The room was pink, small, nothing like the spacious honeymoon suite of the Dunaleff mansion.
And most importantly—
“What’s wrong with my hand?”
A white, soft palm. Nothing like the hardened hand of a lancer.
—Knock knock knock knock!
Then footsteps were heard climbing the stairs. The soundproofing was terrible, impossible in the Dunaleff mansion.
Bang!
The door opened. A middle-aged woman entered, with wrinkles but traces of her former beauty.
Suel Loch. Forty-three years old.
“M-mom?!”
It was his mother.
“Good grief! Today is your entrance ceremony and you’re still sleeping!”
“What are you talking abou—?”
“Shia Loch! Get up and wash already! You’re the representative of the new students!”
“…”
He couldn’t understand what was happening.
“What… is this mess…?!”
____
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