Chapter 2.1: Aurora’s Recollection
The guest house outside was slightly smaller than the main house, but more than comfortable enough.
The walls were made of stacked logs.
Through the small window, the green of the forest and the blue of the distant sky could be seen.
The simple bed had clean sheets and a soft pillow.
From the ceiling, a small airflow magic device installed by Yu quietly circulated the air.
Aurora took off only her shoes and collapsed onto the bed.
Fullness and fatigue spread through her entire body.
Though not as strong as the air conditioner, the cool breeze filling the room made her eyelids heavy.
‘…I ate that much at lunch, and then I asked for meat at dinner.’
She recalled it vaguely and gave a faint, self-deprecating smile.
Even that faint awareness soon melted away—
And her consciousness quietly sank into the past.
Three years ago.
The sky that day had been clear.
Unbelievably blue.
In the plaza before the castle gates, soldiers stood in formation, a marching band played, and people lined the streets waving flags.
At the center of it all—he stood there.
A young man with black hair tied behind him, dressed in military uniform.
Though still young, he bore the crest of a ducal house on his shoulder.
A childhood friend she had played with, studied with, crossed swords with, and spoken of the future with.
And the man who had become her husband just a few months before.
“I’ll be back soon.”
On the morning of his departure, he had smiled as he said that.
“The Eastern Empire won’t last long. They can’t manage supplies on the battlefield.”
“I don’t recall marrying a man who judges victory based on that.”
“Logistics are important, Aurora. Keep the people fed, keep the soldiers fed, and then strike the enemy. That’s what makes a ‘good war.’”
He puffed out his chest proudly.
It was amusing—and dear to her.
“…Even so, it’s still dangerous.”
Aurora grabbed his sleeve tightly.
“Even heroes can die from a single arrow, Father said.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
He nodded seriously.
“That’s why I’ll come back alive. I don’t need to be a hero. As long as I can stand beside you, that’s enough.”
He then gently pressed his lips to her forehead.
“When I return, we’ll build that school in the port town like we promised. For orphans and poor children.”
“You said it.”
“Yeah. As royalty and as a lord, we’ll make it happen.”
She never imagined that promise would become one that could never be fulfilled just a few months later.
Aurora still dreams of the day her husband’s body returned.
The plaza before the gates was clear that day as well.
But the flags hung low, there was no music, and instead there were quiet prayers and muffled sobs.
He lay in the coffin as if asleep.
His face was uninjured, calm.
Only—
The center of his chest armor was grotesquely gouged out.
She was told a bullet from the Empire’s new weapon, a “gun,” had pierced it.
“The enemy sniper also died simultaneously.”
The officer reporting spoke calmly.
“The weapon broke and exploded upon firing. It was likely incomplete.”
So what, she wanted to scream.
So what.
What does that change.
The fact that he was dead would not change.
Aurora clung to the coffin.
She barely held back from crying out in public, but a beast-like groan escaped her throat.
Tears flowed endlessly, blurring her vision.
Only when she tasted the salt of her tears did she realize she was crying.
‘…Ah, he’s really… dead.’
Only in that moment did a strange clarity enter her mind.
And immediately after—
A burning hatred toward the Eastern Empire filled her.
That night, Aurora stood alone in the chapel.
An empty space.
The candlelight flickered from the high ceiling.
Before the altar, she drew her sword and drove it into the floor.
“…You took it.”
A low voice, meant for no one.
“My… our future. The country’s future.”
The Empire’s flag.
The Emperor.
The nobles.
The soldiers.
She directed hatred toward all of it.
That hatred stirred her magic.
The black flame rising from her chest became light and heat.
Her mind was filled only with killing intent.
Because of that, the spell formed smoothly.
A magic circle beyond even advanced magic appeared on the chapel floor.
Aurora whispered not a prayer—but a curse.
She targeted only the Empire’s eastern fortresses and supply bases.
Only places without her own country’s soldiers.
That boundary alone she maintained.
So the spell was not labeled forbidden.
But its power was like divine punishment.
Multiple imperial fortresses burned in a single night.
Towers collapsed, warehouses exploded, supply lines were cut.
Reports the next morning showed scorched ruins.
Aurora felt nothing.
No satisfaction.
No regret.
Only emptiness.
‘…I probably can’t use that again.’
She knew it the moment it ended.
She could never again fill herself entirely with that level of emotion.
Even if she tried, hesitation would creep in.
That hesitation alone would break such a spell.
So it was a one-time magic.
Soon after, the Empire sent envoys.
A ceasefire.
A non-aggression pact.
Both sides decided continuing the war would only increase losses.
Aurora could not accept it emotionally.
Yet she stood at the signing as royalty.
She remembered her hand trembling as she signed.
A drop fell onto the paper—tinged red.
‘…So people really can cry tears of blood.’
That day, as peace was made, Aurora ended one battle—
And fell into another.
For a time after that, Aurora became reckless.
She rejected every new marriage proposal.
She even tore up letters.
The king said with a sigh,
“Let her do as she wishes for now.”
No one opposed him directly.
Aurora herself knew she wasn’t normal.
Her emotions had nowhere to go.
Swinging a sword wasn’t enough.
Training magic wasn’t enough.
She couldn’t go to war.
‘Then—’
She turned her eyes to one place.
The great forest at the center of the continent.
A land unexplored by humans.
A forest filled with monsters where expeditions rarely returned.
“The exploration team?”
A court official frowned.
“Even veterans retreat from there. It’s no place for Your Highness—”
“That’s exactly why.”
Aurora answered simply.
“There, my anger will have a place to go.”
Everyone tried to stop her.
But she silenced them all with her strength.
In the training grounds—
The kingdom’s strongest general stood sweating.
Facing him was Aurora in light armor.
“Come at me seriously.”
“I already am!”
Their swords clashed.
The general’s powerful strikes roared, but Aurora pushed back.
Her blade was sharp and heavy, filled with emotion.
In magic training, even the court’s top mage turned pale.
“Your Highness, that chanting speed exceeds human limits…!”
“It’s still not enough.”
She shortened chants, simplified spells, and maintained power.
This world had a system called “levels.”
Ordinary people were 1–10.
Talented individuals 10–15.
Soldiers around 20.
Renowned warriors near 30.
Generals exceeded 40.
At 50, one was called a hero.
“Please, measure it.”
Aurora placed her hand on the crystal.
‘48’
The air froze.
Nearly a hero.
No one could stop her anymore.
The king finally relented.
“…Take guards. If you die, it will be a national crisis.”
“Understood.”
She stood before the great forest.
Dense trees.
Thick miasma.
Even before entering, it rejected intruders.
“Your Highness, are you sure—”
“Afraid?”
She smiled lightly.
“Then turn back. I’ll go alone.”
“…We’re going.”
The guards nodded.
Aurora looked into the darkness.
‘At least… let this life burn somewhere it can matter.’
She stepped forward.
Not knowing it would lead to a fateful meeting.
The forest was worse than rumored.
The first thing they encountered was a cyclops.
A massive eye glared down at them—
And emitted a white beam.
“Close your eyes!”
The ground and trees turned to stone.
One guard’s arm turned to stone.
Aurora charged forward.
She struck its ankle with magic and flame.
The giant staggered.
The guards attacked together.
Finally, she pierced its eye with lightning.
It fell.
Even one such monster required an expedition.
Yet here, they were everywhere.
Another day, the trees themselves attacked.
Twisted trunks, countless yellow eyes.
Evil treants emitting poisonous miasma.
“Wind barrier!”
The guards pushed back the miasma.
Aurora burned them with flames.
Even then, they struggled.
“Your Highness… this forest…”
No one said it aloud.
But all thought the same.
—This was not a place to stay.