Chapter 2

Gradually, blinding light began to fill my vision.

"…Where am I?"

A spacious room with a high ceiling, made of white marble.

It was the grand hall of the palace, a place I knew well.

The hall was filled with nobles dressed in resplendent attire, all of them facing me.

"Then, I will now conduct the Crest Bestowal Ceremony!"

Turning at the clear voice, I saw a priest in a grand ceremonial robe.

Is this the day…?

The scene from the day I received the dark crest, the black letters on the back of my hand.

To think that the day I would recall on my deathbed would be this one.

Is this the devil's doing? A dream shown by the devil…

"But, if that's the case, why can I see everything so clearly?"

As I muttered, the surroundings began to stir.

I could hear murmurs like, "What did he just say?"

There's a reaction?

Could it be that my life has been rewound?

No, that can't be…

I pinched my cheek, which felt unusually firm.

It hurt.

Looking down at the marble floor, which was like a mirror, I saw a younger, thinner version of myself.

…Is this a joke?

Have I really returned to that day?

The nobles watched my every move with curious eyes.

They who would later look down on me like trash.

The priest stood before me, smiling.

"Prince Alex. You are the hope of the empire. Surely, a splendid crest will be bestowed upon you – it will surely be the 'Holy' crest."

The 'Holy' crest.

No one would have thought that I would receive the dark crest, which is the opposite of the 'Holy' crest.

There are over a thousand known crests, but they can be broadly categorized into seven attributes: Holy, Fire, Water, Lightning, Wind, Earth, and Void and Dark.

These attributes correspond to the elements of magic.

The Void attribute is the only one not related to magic, while the others have a close relationship with the seven elements of magic.

For example, the Holy attribute crest always grants benefits to Holy magic.

In addition, some crests provide benefits in sword techniques.

The [Sword Saint] is an example, making it easier to master Holy magic and sword techniques.

Statistically, nobles are more likely to receive rare crests.

It seems that bloodline and crests are closely related.

In particular, the royal family and great nobles often receive powerful crests of the Holy attribute or other attributes except Void and Dark.

On the other hand, commoners mostly receive the Void attribute.

Finally, the Dark attribute… this is extremely rare.

However, if it were just rare, there would be no problem.

Those who receive the Dark attribute crest, like me, are shunned and despised by people.

Historically, they have been persecuted many times.

And I am about to receive the Dark crest now…

The priest began to chant.

"O exalted gods… bestow upon Alex Arnouts Luxia the crest of divine favor!"

A magic circle appeared at my feet.

Soon, black letters will float on the back of my hand.

The cursed Dark crest.

Just the name 'Dark' is all I know. For other attribute crests, the effects can be understood from the pictures or ancient characters, but the Dark crest has not been deciphered, so the details are unknown.

No, wait.

What if this is really a rewind of my life –

Maybe my actions can change the crest I receive.

I don't believe in gods, but maybe praying to them can change things…

I closed my eyes and chanted in my heart that I don't want the Dark crest. I called out the names of the Holy, Fire, and Water gods in my heart.

The priest's voice echoed.

"Th-the Prince Alex's crest is… t-this!?"

Opening my eyes, I saw the priest with a shocked expression.

"–What? D-dark crest?"

The surroundings fell into a dead silence.

Well, it wouldn't change just by praying, right…

The black letters, which I now found reassuring, floated on the back of my hand.

It felt like they were saying, "Just as before," which was rather annoying.

After a while, a murmur arose.

"Y-you've got to be kidding me? The cursed Dark crest!?"

"The end of the empire… for the prince to receive the Dark crest!"

"He's not human! He's the spawn of a demon!"

Just like that day, the nobles directed rejecting expressions and words at me.

Seeing the nobles and their children distancing themselves from me, I lost the ability to trust anyone. I even became afraid to meet people's eyes. It was the worst day of my life.

However, is it because it's the second time?

Or because I could predict it?

–I'm not that shocked.

Rather, the sudden change in attitude seemed absurd to me.

Is this what humans are like?

The old me would have bowed my head and fled the emperor's hall like a coward.

Seeing that, people probably thought I was no good, which is why they distanced themselves from me. After that, I lost many of my followers.

So, I have to act bright.

"The Dark crest – hahaha!"

I laughed softly.

People murmured but no one approached me.

I could hear whispers that I had gone mad.

But it's much better than being depressed.

In the midst of this, a different priest's voice echoed from a distance.

"…[Holy Maiden]! Yuris Ilyuria! The Holy crest! The bearer of the [Holy Maiden]!"

"The [Holy Maiden]!?"

The nobles' interest was completely captured by that voice.

This Crest Bestowal Ceremony is for royal and great noble children who turn seven to receive their crests. Besides me, over ten others were receiving their crests today.

From a distance, I followed everyone's gaze.

A beautiful girl with silver hair stood there.

That's Yuris Ilyuria.

The daughter of the Ilyuria Margrave – my fiancée.

Yuris…

When I was six, I fell in love at first sight and told everyone I would marry Yuris.

At the time, the Ilyuria Margrave, Yuris's father, recognized my words as an engagement and had it acknowledged by the emperor and the great nobles.

Yuris, who didn't want it, became my fiancée.

Even though I was a child, looking back, it was a bad thing to do.

To be engaged to a man who doesn't like her and will receive such a crest.

"[Holy Deity]… Prince Louis, the [Holy Deity]!"

My half-brother, Louis, was also receiving his crest next to me.

Until this age, he had little magic power and was despised by the nobles… but today, he received the [Holy Deity] crest and began to be celebrated by everyone.

He is the complete opposite of me, who received the Dark crest.

From this day on, Louis began to pick on me in various ways.

At school and in the palace, he constantly showed off his magic and friends. Among them were the friends I had been close to until today.

Those troublesome days are coming again…

…No, no, no.

I'm already being negative.

I don't know the logic behind it, but I've been given a chance to rewind my life.

Then, there's only one thing I need to do.

–Master Dark magic.