《The Gangster Who Became a Crown Prince》 What the point? (Prologue) Tokyo, a city of contrasts. Its streets are like veins, pulsing with life, but beneath the neon signs and glittering windows lie filth, shadows, and cold steel. On the main avenues, it''s noisy, bright, and crowded. But take a step into the alleys, and the world changes. There, under flickering streetlights, reality bares its teeth. In one of those alleys, beneath the sign of a bar with half its letters burned out, came the dull thud of blows. A metal pipe hit the asphalt with a hollow clang, playing a melody that sent shivers down your spine. On the ground in front of me lay a young man, about twenty years old. His face was bloodied, his lips split, yet his eyes still burned with defiance. He looked up, staring at me ¡ª Raisuke Fujiwara. Raisuke. Leader. Boss. The man who ruled this area. A name everyone knew but avoided speaking out loud. Black hair falling over my forehead, crimson eyes like blood, and the tattoo of a rose peeking from beneath the collar of my jacket. The guy lying in front of me ¡ª or rather, the guy who used to be standing ¡ª had clearly overestimated himself by deciding to cross me. ¡ª Do you even realize who you messed with, idiot? The guy stayed silent. Instead of answering, he struggled to lift his head and spat blood onto the ground. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. I almost found it amusing. ¡ª Still stubborn, huh? Crouching down, resting my elbows on my knees, I spoke calmly ¡ª like a teacher explaining something to a dim-witted student. ¡ª You see, kid, it''s simple. In this world, you either survive or get eaten alive. And the ones who survive are the ones who know how to respect the rules. I slowly pulled a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. The smoke always helped me think clearly. ¡ª You thought you could cheat me, didn''t you? The money you stole¡ªit''s nothing. But the fact you dared to take it from me¡­ I exhaled a puff of smoke directly into his face. ¡ª ¡­that''s unforgivable. ¡ª Raisuke, maybe that''s enough?¡ª came a voice from one of my guys standing behind me. ¡ª We''ve already shown him who''s in charge. ¡ª You think he''s learned his lesson? He lowered his gaze without answering. ¡ª Let him go. Get out of here,¡ª I said. The guy tried to stand, but his legs wouldn''t cooperate. His friends, who had been lurking in the shadows the whole time, rushed over and helped him up. ¡ª Leave before I change my mind,¡ª I added, exhaling another cloud of smoke. When they disappeared around the corner, I stood alone, staring at the dark sky. The cigarette smoke mixed with the cold night air. As always, when things grew quiet, my grandfather''s words came back to me: "A man must always know what''s important to him and what''s just trash." What''s important to me? Power? Money? Control? All of it feels empty somehow. ¡ª Such a... crappy feeling... At that moment, headlights suddenly blinded me. It all happened in a split second. The screech of brakes, a hollow thud, and I hit the cold asphalt. Whats the hell? (Part 1) Silence. No, not the kind you get in a quiet room or a back alley after a fight. This was different¡ªwrong. Heavy. Dead. Absolute. ¡­What the hell? I couldn''t move. My body was just¡­ gone. Only my mind floated in some endless void. Like I''d been dumped into a bizarre, infinite room¡ªno walls, no ceiling, just a vast, suffocating black nothing. ¡­Damn. I remember that guy on the ground, the old man''s words, and¡­ a truck. So this is it, huh? The King of the Streets, taken out by a damn truck. ¡­That''s just ridiculous. I spent my whole life balancing on a knife''s edge, survived hundreds of fights, dodged countless traps, and in the end¡­ I get one-shot by a freaking truck? I really hope that driver at least had a license. Would be real tragic if I got isekai''d by a "Mario Kart" truck. ¡­Alright, so what now? Where''s the whole light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel thing? Or did I actually earn myself a one-way ticket to hell? Where''s the boiling cauldron? The demons with pitchforks? Instead of an answer, I suddenly felt something pulling me forward. Like a massive invisible hand grabbed me and yanked me through an unseen tunnel. What the¡ª? My head spun, and before I knew it, I was screaming like a kid on a rollercoaster. I don''t wanna diiiie! Holy shiiiiit! ¡­Wait. I''m already dead. And just like that, everything stopped. It felt like I''d been spat out into an entirely new space. The place looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Vast. Towering columns glowing with an eerie golden light. No visible ceiling¡ªjust an endless star-filled sky. And the floor? Polished like a mirror, reflecting every single detail. ¡ª Whoa¡­ did I actually make it to heaven? Not gonna lie, with my track record, that seems pretty damn unlikely. And then¡­ I heard it. ¡ª Welcome to my domain, Raisuke Fujiwara. The voice was bizarre¡ªdeep, like a bass drop, yet mocking as hell. ¡ª And who the hell are you? I glanced around. No one. ¡ª What, you some kind of discount Gandalf? Come out already, I''m not playing hide and seek with you. A few seconds later, a figure began to take shape. At first, just a hazy mist. Then, something more solid. Narrowing my eyes, I spotted a guy dressed in pure white. He stood there, hair slicked back, golden eyes practically glowing, and a smug little grin that made me wanna punch him in the face. He covered his mouth with one hand, and I heard a muffled snicker. ¡ª Pfft¡­ Pffft¡­ Phihihihi¡­ ¡­Oh great. This guy''s already pissing me off. ¡ª You good, or did you just lose a few screws? But he kept going, now laughing even louder. ¡ª Heeheehee¡­ I stepped forward, glaring. ¡ª Listen up, glowstick¡ªcut the laughing crap. If it''s that funny, mind letting me in on the joke? He finally lowered his hand from his face, and his golden eyes gleamed, reflecting a mocking glint. ¡ª Sorry, sorry. It''s just¡­ this is hilarious. The King of the Streets. The most terrifying, ruthless, sinful man¡­ I clenched my teeth. ¡ª Go on, don''t stop now. I''m flattered by all this attention. ¡ª ¡­Got taken out by a freaking truck! And then he burst out laughing. Loud. Almost choking on it. Like he''d just heard the greatest joke of his life. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡­Is this bastard mocking me? I threw my hands up. ¡ª Yeah, yeah, I got hit by a truck. Yeah, it''s dumb! But what the hell are you getting such a kick out of?! He finally stopped, wiping away an imaginary tear from his cheek, then looked straight at me. ¡ª Oh, but how can I not laugh? You¡ªa man who built his entire reputation on being untouchable. A street king who could put anyone in their place¡­ And you got wiped off the road by a damn truck. That''s just¡­ comedic. ¡­I swear, if he calls my death ''comedic'' one more time, I''m ripping him apart. ¡ª Oh, come now, don''t get so worked up. His grin widened. ¡ª Death is simply a natural part of life''s journey. ¡ª Natural, my ass! I got run over by a truck, you idiot! And right after I let some bastard live! How the hell is that natural?! ¡­And there he goes laughing again. If I''d known dying meant becoming some cosmic joke, I would''ve prepared better. ¡ª Alright, alright. I suppose that''s enough fun. Let''s move on to more pressing matters¡ªI haven''t even introduced myself yet. ¡ª Do you really need to? Even an idiot can tell¡ªyou''re a god, right? ¡ª Sharp as ever. His smirk remained. ¡ª Well then, Raisuke, as you''ve figured out¡ªI am God. And I have chosen you¡­ to grant you a second chance. ¡­Is he serious? ¡ª Look, are you sure you''re all there? Maybe check my file before making your ''choice.'' I''m not some hero who''s gonna save the world from the Demon Lord. ¡ª You don''t need to be a hero. In fact, you''re the complete opposite. And that is exactly why I chose you. ¡ª The opposite? ¡­I''m starting to doubt this guy''s really a god. He tilted his head slightly, still grinning like an asshole. It almost felt like he was enjoying this. ¡ª I want to give you a new life. A chance¡­ He paused, and his eyes shone with divine radiance. ¡ª ¡­for redemption. ¡ª Re¡­demption...? He''s definitely screwing with me. ¡ª Dude, do I look like some kind of holy paladin? I''m way more likely to send someone to the afterlife than help some old lady cross the street! ¡ª Exactly. You are no hero. You are Raisuke Fujiwara. A man who goes all the way, without looking back. A man who isn''t afraid to break the rules to get what he wants. ¡­Where the hell is he going with this? ¡ª So you want me to be some kind of dark knight? An ''antihero'' solving other people''s problems? ¡ª Hmm, an interesting guess. But no. It''s much simpler. His voice dropped slightly, his gaze holding something deeper. ¡ª You are a unique individual. Someone with the power to change the world. Which direction you take it¡­ is entirely up to you. I''m giving you the tool. What you do with it¡­ will depend on your choices. ¡ª And what kind of tool is this? ¡ª This... is a magic mark. ¡ª A magic mark...? ...That sounds kinda... lame. ¡ª Yes. It will be your key to power in the new world. ¡ª Can''t you at least give me a magic wand? His face changed slightly. The smile disappeared, and his gaze hardened. It seemed like his patience was running out. ¡ª Listen here, you little shit. I''m not giving you a choice. You either accept this gift, or your soul stays in this void forever, because it can''t return to the cycle of life anymore. And if you want to play the clown, do it in the new world. There, you can joke all you want¡ªuntil someone cuts off your damn tongue. ...Shit, he''s actually serious. ¡ª Alright, alright, let''s say your mark is some great gift. But how the hell does this thing even work? ¡ª Glad you finally asked the right question. His tone softened slightly, but there was still a hint of irritation in it. ¡ª Listen carefully, because I''m only explaining this once. He took a step forward, and a strange hologram appeared in his palm. It wasn''t just an image but a complex diagram, resembling a magic circle covered in symbols and patterns. ¡ª The magic mark is the foundation of all magic in the world you''re going to. It determines your potential, your strength, and even your place in society. ...Sounds like social discrimination. ¡ª Magic in that world is based on the connection between a person and nature''s energy. Everyone who undergoes the ritual at the age of seven receives a mark. The mark reflects your bond with magical energy. The stronger the bond, the more powerful the mark. The more powerful the mark, the greater your potential. ¡ª And if someone doesn''t have a mark? ¡ª Then they become outcasts. In that world, those without a magic mark are considered weak and useless. They can''t use magic, which means their fate is either to serve or die at the hands of those who are stronger. ¡ª Can you at least teach me a couple of spells? Because from what you''re saying, I won''t survive a damn day without them. He let out an exasperated sigh, as if I were a schoolkid struggling with basic multiplication. ¡ª Magic in that world doesn''t work the way you imagine. Forget your silly ideas from movies and books. There are no spells to memorize. All you need is your mark. ¡ª And how the hell am I supposed to use this mark? ¡ª It''s simple. Your mark will be the source of your power. It will allow you to control the energy around you. The mark determines not just your strength but also its type. Each person''s mark is unique. Some can control fire, others ice, others shadows... It all depends on your lineage and the mark you receive. ¡ª And if I end up with a mark that, I don''t know, controls wind? What am I supposed to do? Start a "Blow the Hat Off" show? The god rolled his eyes, as if I were the most stubborn idiot he''d ever met. ¡ª You underestimate magic. Even a seemingly weak mark can be deadly in skilled hands. It all depends on how you use it. ¡ª And what kind of mark will I get? ¡ª Your mark is special. It will reflect your essence, your past, your strengths, and your weaknesses. It will become a symbol of your new life and your path. ¡ª And what kind of symbol do you think suits me? A baseball bat? A knife? ¡ª A rose... ¡ª A rose... You''re kidding, right? ¡ª No. A rose. It symbolizes your strength, beauty, and cruelty. It''s a reflection of your past and a reminder of who you were. ...A rose... Damn, that actually sounds kinda cool. ¡ª Alright. A rose it is. But what exactly is this mark? ¡ª The mark is a symbol of your magical power and your essence. It appears on your body and stays with you for life. ¡ª Like a tattoo? You know, I already have a rose tattoo on my neck. Can''t you come up with something new? ¡ª This isn''t just a tattoo. It''s a magical emblem tied to your new life. And as for your rose... it will become your magic mark. I ran my fingers over my neck instinctively, remembering the day I got that rose tattoo to show that I was "sharp as a thorn." ¡ª And what will it look like? A rose surrounded by glitter? Or are you gonna make it glow? ¡ª Its appearance will depend on your magical nature. ...Great, now my old tattoo is going to be some kind of badge in the new world. Though... maybe that''s not so bad. Whats the hell (Part 2) ¡ª Alright, let''s forget about that. Tell me instead¡ªwhat kind of world are you sending me to? The god seemed to have been waiting for this question, as his face lit up like that of a teacher preparing for a lecture. ¡ª The world you''ll be sent to consists of fifteen kingdoms. Each one is connected to one of the great gods and their creation¡ªa guardian beast. ¡ª A guardian beast? Like¡­ a Pok¨¦mon? ¡ª Essentially, yes. Each guardian beast symbolizes a power that defines the magical nature of its kingdom. ¡ª Alright, I''ll go with that. Let''s start from the beginning. What are these kingdoms? The god waved his hand, and images began forming around us. Constellations sparkled on the "ceiling," while illustrations appeared on the "floor." ¡ª The first kingdom is the Kingdom of the Phoenix. Its god is Ignis, and its creation is the Immortal Phoenix. They are the strongest due to the Phoenix''s ability to rise from the ashes. Their ally is the Kingdom of Light, as they share a belief in purity and protection. Before me, the silhouette of a massive bird engulfed in bright flames appeared. ¡ª Whoa, that''s impressive. What''s next? ¡ª The second kingdom is the Kingdom of Leviathan. Their god is Neptunis, and their beast is the Leviathan. They dominate sea battles, though their power is limited on land. Their ally is the Kingdom of the Dragon. I saw a colossal sea serpent, its scales shimmering in shades of blue. ¡ª Got it. Water gods. Keep going. ¡ª The Kingdom of the Dragon. Their god is Aerus, and their beast is the Stormbringer Dragon. They reign over aerial combat, their strength rivaling that of the Phoenix. A giant winged beast appeared before me, piercing the sky with thunder and wind. ¡ª The skies, the oceans, and fire. Pretty impressive so far. What about the rest? The god continued listing the kingdoms: the Kingdom of Light with its griffon, the Kingdom of Shadow with its Shadow Guardian, the Kingdom of Storms with its Storm Alligator, and so on. He described their strengths, alliances, rivalries, and their place in the world. ¡ª The kingdoms don''t just exist on their own, ¡ª he concluded. ¡ª They form alliances or wage wars. For example, the Phoenix Kingdom is at odds with Leviathan, Light clashes with Shadow, and the Stars battle the Dragon for dominance over the heavens. ¡ª Alright, makes sense. And what about these magical beasts? Are they like spirits, or just symbols? ¡ª They exist, but they only manifest in rare cases. For the most part, they are just symbols of their kingdom''s strength. ¡ª Got it. So, what do you expect from me? This world already has plenty of strong people. Why do they need me? The god smiled mysteriously. ¡ª This world has remained in balance for too long. You are the one who can shake it up. ¡­To be honest, his words didn''t reassure me in the slightest. Now I had a mission to disrupt the world order. Just great. ¡ª Alright, let''s assume I get it. Now tell me¡ªwhat kingdom am I going to? And how is this going to work? Am I starting as a baby, from scratch? ¡ª You will be sent to the Kingdom of Light. Its god is Lumen, ruling over light and protection magic, and its guardian beast is the Griffon. ¡ª The Kingdom of Light? Sounds pretentious. I bet everyone there wears white robes and recites prayers all day. ¡ª Not quite. The culture of this kingdom is built on the pursuit of perfection. They value purity, order, and nobility. Every citizen believes they are a reflection of light and righteousness in this world. ¡ª Purity and order, huh? And I''m supposed to fit in there? Hilarious. ¡ª Not just fit in. His gaze suddenly became more serious. ¡ª You will awaken in the body of the kingdom''s crown prince. ¡­Silence. I felt like my jaw was about to hit the mirrored floor. ¡ª Wait, wait, wait. In what body? ¡ª You heard correctly. You will become the crown prince of the Kingdom of Light! This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡­ ¡ª This is ridiculous. You''re telling me I''ll end up in the body of some prince? ¡ª Exactly. ¡ª And what, I''m supposed to walk around with a crown on my head and smile like I''m in some parade? ¡ª Possibly. But¡­ His eyes glinted with amusement. I was starting to get used to his "But." ¡ª It won''t be as simple as you think. ¡ª What do you mean? ¡ª The crown prince you''re about to become¡­ is not a symbol of strength and greatness. He is known as the kindest yet weakest person in the kingdom. ¡­I''m going to explode. ¡ª Weak?! You''re telling me I''m going to wake up in the body of some wimp?! ¡ª Exactly. This prince is considered the disgrace of his family. ¡ª A disgrace? How is that even possible? He''s the crown prince, right? ¡ª Correct. But at the age of seven, when all noble children undergo the sacred rite of magical awakening, he failed to receive a magic mark. I blinked several times, trying to process what I just heard. ¡ª Wait, you said nobles always receive marks. It''s like, their pure lineage and all that. ¡ª That''s precisely why this was such a shocking event. The entire court was stunned. How could a child of noble blood end up without magic? ¡ª So let me get this straight. You want me to become this¡­ weakling? The one everyone sees as a failure? ¡ª Yes. Why is he saying this so calmly? ¡ª And how the hell am I supposed to deal with this? I was about to say more, but he continued. ¡ª This prince doesn''t just have problems with magic. His family situation is complicated too. ¡ª Oh, of course, family drama as well. Go on, spill it. ¡ª His father, the king, believes the prince is too soft and weak to be his heir. He has long considered passing the throne to his younger son, who is more serious and capable. ¡ª Fantastic. What about the rest? ¡ª The prince''s stepmother, the current queen, treats him coldly. She sees no value in him since he is the son of the previous queen, who passed away long ago. ¡ª This just keeps getting better. Anything else? ¡ª His younger brother despises him and does not consider him a worthy heir. I fell silent for a moment, digesting all this. ¡ª So, you want me to become this¡­ walking disappointment? ¡ª Not everything is bad. I have granted you power. Now everything is in your hands. I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to curse. ¡ª Hold on. I''m putting the pieces together. You said this prince was born without a mark, but you gave me the Mark of the Rose, right? ¡ª That''s correct. ¡ª Won''t that be¡­ weird? Like, imagine being a nobody, everyone calls you a disgrace, and then suddenly you''re like, "Hey, family, guess what? I have a mark now!" Don''t you think that''ll raise¡­ questions? The god pretended to think for a moment before waving his hand. ¡ª Of course, it will raise questions. But you''re not planning to run around the palace shouting that you have a mark, are you? ¡ª Well, no, but they''ll notice eventually. If someone sees¡ª ¡ª That''s what concealment magic is for. He snapped his fingers, and the Mark of the Rose was enveloped in a thin golden light¡ªthen vanished. ¡ª A few simple gestures, and it''s done. ¡­This is absolute nonsense. ¡ª Now, let''s meet your future vessel. He snapped his fingers, and before us appeared a mirror¡ªnot an ordinary one. It glowed with a soft blue light, and through it, I saw a luxurious bedroom. A young man, around seventeen, lay on a large bed surrounded by heavy curtains. ¡ª That''s my new body? He just looks like he''s sleeping¡­ The god clasped his hands behind his back and calmly added: ¡ª Don''t worry. He''ll pass away soon. ¡ª So, I have to watch as the owner of my future body dies¡­ ¡ª Exactly. He glanced at his watch, which had somehow appeared on his wrist. ¡ª Don''t worry, it''s about to happen any second now. We stood still, staring into the mirror. The guy on the bed was still sleeping peacefully. A minute passed. ¡ª He''s still breathing. ¡ª Yeah, yeah, just wait a little longer. The god checked his watch again, frowning slightly. Another minute. ¡ª Well? He sure is taking his time. ¡ª Weird¡­ He should be dead by now. We stared at the mirror again. The sleeping prince didn''t look even remotely close to dying. ¡ª Maybe we should just take care of him ourselves? The god perked up, his eyes gleaming. ¡ª Not a bad idea! He reached out his hand, and a massive panel materialized in the air before him. I could make out different options on it¡ªone showed a giant dragon, another a meteor, and the third an enormous whirlpool. ¡ª Whoa, whoa! What are you thinking? This castle is about to be my home! Pick something more¡­ humane. The god sighed and closed the panel. ¡ª More humane, huh¡­ Fine. How about poison, then? ¡ª Poison? Well¡­ that does sound less destructive. ¡ª Perfect. He snapped his fingers, and the mirror flickered, showing a scene: a maid entered the bedroom, carefully placed a cup of tea on the nightstand, and left. We watched as the sleeping prince eventually stirred, reached for the cup, took a sip¡­ and immediately went still. ¡ª There. Nice and clean, no destruction. ¡ª And what about your local god, what''s his name¡­ Lumen? Won''t he mind? The god waved a hand dismissively. ¡ª Don''t worry about him. That saintly fool won''t suspect a thing. He spends all day reading manga. I bet he''s flipping through a new chapter right now. ...I think I just heard something I wasn''t supposed to. ¡ª Are you serious? ¡ª Absolutely. So relax, no one''s going to question the details. ...I always knew gods didn''t care about people. ¡ª Well then, Reisuke, it''s time. The god clapped his hands, and the mirror dissolved into thin air. ¡ª You''re ready for reincarnation. ¡ª Is this gonna hurt? ¡ª Nah, you won''t feel a thing. ¡­For some reason, that made me even more nervous. A golden mist started swirling around us, shimmering as if alive, slowly twisting into a spiral. A chill ran down my spine, and the air turned thick, almost sticky. I rubbed my neck, sensing something strange happening inside me. ¡ª Hey, is it normal that I''m finding it hard to breathe? ¡ª Everything''s going according to plan, don''t worry. The god stood with his hands behind his back, watching me with curiosity, like I was some kind of experiment. Suddenly, the golden mist rushed toward me, wrapping me in a dense cocoon. The world around me distorted. I tried to speak, but my voice was gone. My body started going numb, as if I were dissolving into the light. ¡ª Relax. The god''s voice sounded distant, as if coming through a thick wall. ¡ª Can you feel it? Your soul is changing form. I could. It felt like being torn apart, but without pain¡ªjust a strange tingling sensation. Everything spun around me, like I had been thrown into a centrifuge. ¡­Damn, does he even know what he''s doing? ¡ª Absolutely. His voice echoed directly in my head. ¡ª Just trust me. Soon, you''ll open your eyes in a new body. And then¡ªdarkness. No light, no sound, not even the feeling of having a body. Just emptiness. ¡­ What is this feeling¡­? Like a faint breeze brushing against my skin. My heart suddenly pounded harder, its deep thumps echoing in the silence. "Is this¡­ am I alive again?" Awakening I snapped my eyes open. ... Above me stretched a tall, intricately carved ceiling adorned with gold. The air smelled of incense and something floral. My eyelids felt heavy, my body strangely numb, and my head buzzed like after a good fight. I tried to sit up, but my body refused to cooperate. ...Felt like I had been drinking all night and was only now coming to my senses. ¡ª Damn... The voice sounded unfamiliar. Softer than my old one. Quieter. Looking around, I took in the room. ...It was big. ...No, gigantic. A wide canopy bed, massive windows letting in the morning light, shelves lined with books, vases, delicate curtains. Everything was too luxurious, too pristine. ...Holy shit, the chandelier alone probably costs as much as my entire neighborhood. I tried to stand, but my legs immediately buckled beneath me. ¡ª Son of a¡ª At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a cautious knock. ¡ª Your Highness? ...Who the hell is knocking on a prince''s door this early in the morning? ¡ª What? The door creaked open, and a young man stepped inside. He looked about my age. Slightly shorter than me, lean, composed. Dressed in something between a military uniform and a servant''s attire. A butler? A warrior? No... more likely a personal bodyguard. ...He might seem calm, but something was clearly bothering him... like my behavior had thrown him off. He shut the door behind him, straightened his posture, and bowed¡ªjust enough to follow protocol. ¡ª You are awake, Your Highness. At that moment, an absolutely brilliant idea popped into my head. ...God didn''t send me here to save the world¡ªmore like the opposite. Which meant there was no reason for me to act like some noble hero. That left me with two possible paths forward. ...One¡ªthey think I''m a demon possessing the prince and either execute, exile, or imprison me. ...Two¡ªI come up with a solid excuse for my behavior, so I don''t have to pretend to be a good guy. I lazily narrowed my eyes, studying the guy. ¡ª Are you stupid? Do I talk in my sleep? He didn''t react. Just stood there with a stone-cold expression like he had a stick shoved up his ass. But I knew¡ªdeep down, he was definitely freaking out. I smirked and finally pushed myself to my feet. My body still felt foreign, my movements clumsy, but I managed to stay upright. The guy watched me closely but didn''t interfere. Now, I needed more information. ...Guessing his name wouldn''t be hard. I remembered old man Frans once saying that all butlers were called the same thing. ¡ª You know, Elliot, I had a strange dream last nigh¡ª ¡ª But Your Highness, my name isn''t Elliot... ... ...Damn that old man. If we ever meet again, I''m kicking his ass. ¡ª Remind me, what''s your name? ¡ª Cade, Your Highness. ¡ª Right, Cade. I had a nightmare last night. I rubbed my temples, pretending to recall details, and sighed heavily. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡ª ¡­And it wasn''t just any nightmare. It was... a warning. Cade''s brow twitched slightly. ¡ª A warning, Your Highness? ¡ª Yeah. Picture this: the world in ruins, kingdoms reduced to ashes, and the streets crawling with creatures like the living dead. People running, screaming¡ªno place to hide. And in the midst of it all... me. I paused, gauging his reaction. He remained still, but now he was openly frowning. ¡ª Then, someone appeared before me. A tall figure, white eyes, a voice straight out of the abyss. They said: "Reisuke Fujiwara..." Cade''s head snapped up. ¡ª ¡­Fujiwara? Shit... ¡ª I mean, Reisuke Asterion. ...Almost slipped up. ¡ª Anyway, this figure told me it would all come to pass unless something changed. Cade stayed silent, clearly trying to process everything. ¡ª Your Highness¡­ may I ask, who was this figure? I pretended to think. ¡ª Hard to say. A god? A prophet? Maybe the King of Fate himself. Who knows. The important part is¡ªthey said if nothing changes, in ten years, there will be nothing left but dust. ¡ª Ten years?.. Cade clenched his fists, tension flashing in his eyes. I nearly grinned. ...Perfect. He was already taking the bait. ¡ª Exactly. And they said it all depends on me. That it''s up to me to defy fate... I sat back on the bed, looking down at my hands with a grim expression. ¡ª Honestly, I don''t know what to do about it. Silence. Cade was clearly deep in thought. Not surprising¡ªif someone dumped this kind of crap on me first thing in the morning, I''d also be questioning their sanity. ¡ª Your Highness... perhaps it was just a dream? ...Good. Time to keep up the act. I smirked. ¡ª Then why does it feel so real? You know how dreams usually fade? This one hasn''t. I can still see it clearly. Cade nodded slowly but didn''t look convinced. ¡ª And what do you intend to do? I stretched, giving a lazy grin. ...Time to show I was obsessed with this vision. ¡ª Well, for starters, if the dream was real, then someone in this kingdom is going to make the wrong move. The question is who... and when. Cade''s frown deepened. ¡ª That almost sounds like you intend to interfere with history. ¡ª Damn right I do. The future isn''t set in stone, is it? Cade opened his mouth as if to argue but hesitated. Probably still trying to figure out what the hell was going on with me. ...Let him wonder. ¡ª Alright, Cade. Here''s the deal. First, I need you. ¡ª Need me? ¡ª Yeah. You''re going to keep your ears open and report anything unusual happening in the kingdom. Got it? Cade hesitated before giving a slow nod. ¡ª If that is your wish, Your Highness¡­ ¡ª Good. Second¡­ I need to get myself together. A prince walking around looking like he''s hungover isn''t a good look. For the first time, Cade let out a small smirk. ¡ª As you wish, Your Highness. He turned and headed for the door, but before leaving, he glanced back over his shoulder. ¡ª I will instruct the servants to prepare your attire. A maid will come for you in ten minutes. ...How thoughtful. Left alone, I glanced around the room again. This wealth¡­ it was mine now. In my past life, I ruled the streets, but I had never been rich. Now? Now things were different. I wasn''t just a gangster¡ªI was a crown prince. I slowly ran a hand over the gilded bedside table, feeling the smooth, expensive wood, then looked up at the massive chandelier encrusted with gems. A smirk crept onto my lips. ¡ª This room, this palace, hell, this entire kingdom¡ªit''s mine now. My whole life, I had to scrape by, fight for every scrap, survive on the streets. But now, I was rich. Filthy rich. And if anyone thought I''d give all this up¡ªeven for some noble cause¡ªthey could shove that idea up their ass. I was never generous. I was greedy. To the core. Greedy for power, wealth, influence. And now, I had the chance to take this world in my hands. I traced my fingers along my neck, brushing against the hidden magic¡ªa rose-shaped mark given to me by a god. ...Damn it, that god... Maybe I really should have thanked him. ... There was another knock on the door. ¡ª Your Highness, may I come in? A female voice. Must be the maid Cade mentioned. ¡ª Come in. The door opened, and a young woman stepped inside. ¡ª Your Highness. Her voice was calm. ¡ª Cade told me you had a nightmare. I hope you''re feeling better. ...Didn''t think Cade had such a loose tongue. ¡ª As you can see, I''m fine. She tilted her head slightly, as if debating whether to say something else, but in the end, remained silent. ¡ª Allow me to escort you to the wardrobe. I turned my head and finally looked at her. Delicate, but with her head held high. Chestnut hair neatly tied into a bun, her gaze calm yet attentive. Dressed in a classic maid''s uniform, without any excessive embellishments. ...Damn, both she and Cade look like they walked straight out of a magazine cover. ¡ª Alright. Lead the way. She nodded silently and moved toward the door. We walked through the corridor, took a few turns, and soon arrived at a massive door. The maid pushed it open, revealing a room filled with wardrobes, mannequins, and shelves stacked with clothing. ¡ª This is the wardrobe, Your Highness. Here, outfits from all over the kingdom have been gathered for you. I let my gaze wander over the neatly arranged suits, robes, and coats. All this expensive fabric embroidered with gold looked... awful. Too extravagant, too pretentious. ...Did the previous prince really wear all this without feeling disgusted? I picked up the nearest coat and turned it in my hands. It was covered in a ridiculous amount of patterns and embroidery. ¡ª Seriously? I look like a wedding cake in this. The maid didn''t reply, but the corners of her lips twitched. ¡ª Do you have any preferences, Your Highness? ¡ª Something simple and comfortable. She pondered for a moment, then walked toward the farthest wardrobe. ¡ª Perhaps this will do. She struggled to pull out some bizarre outfit and proudly announced: ¡ª This is the traditional attire of the royal family! Your father wore it as well! I looked at this monstrosity and couldn''t believe my eyes. Before me was some kind of robe with frills, ridiculous golden patterns, and baggy pants. ...Am I really supposed to wear this in public? ¡ª Denied. ¡ª Pardon? ¡ª I wouldn''t even use this as a cleaning rag. I''d feel bad watching it rot. She puffed out her cheeks, clearly offended, but I couldn''t care less. ...I''m not going to look like a circus clown. Alright, let''s see what we''ve got here. Garbage, trash, too tight, too stiff... ...Now this looks decent. Five minutes later, I was dressed: black trousers, a leather vest with metal accents, a white shirt with the top buttons undone, and a black cloak that draped perfectly over my shoulders. ...Still not perfect, but at least presentable. I turned to the maid. ¡ª How do y... She stood there, mouth open. ¡ª W-what¡­ But¡­ How... ...Guess I did a good job. ¡ª At least now I won''t be ashamed to step outside. So, shall we go? Or are you just going to stand there with your mouth open?