Prologue: The First Princess’s Fiancé Candidate…?
The day after Klaus Renford successfully repelled the Four Heavenly Kings Gatelink, in the audience chamber, King Alden von Solstia was clutching his head in distress.
“Well now… what am I to do?”
What was troubling Alden at this moment? Quite simply, it was the matter of how to handle Klaus going forward. The previous day, Alden had honored Klaus’s numerous achievements by granting him the title of earl. But now, a new question had arisen: was it truly wise to keep such an exceptional figure confined to a single territory?
More specifically, the dilemma Alden was grappling with was this: (As king, it is my responsibility to ensure Renford’s talents are fully utilized. To that end, should I not betroth him to my daughter, Sophia, and bring him into the royal family?)
It was a proposal that, had Sophia been present, would likely have thrilled her to no end. However, putting this plan into action would require overcoming several obstacles.
The first issue Alden considered was the Renford territory in Klaus’s absence. With the previous heads of the Renford House—Klaus’s parents—already deceased, who could possibly take over?
“No, wait,” Alden muttered. “If I recall correctly, Renford has a younger sister. A few years from now, when Renford officially marries into the royal family, even if he leaves the territory, it shouldn’t pose a problem.”
With one issue resolved, Alden moved on to the next—and, in a sense, the more pressing—matter.
“And then there’s the question of how Sophia herself feels about this betrothal.”
Born a princess, Sophia was surely aware of the possibility of a political marriage. Klaus’s talent and accomplishments were undeniable, and if fulfilling her duties as royalty meant accepting such a proposal, there was a high chance she would agree. That said, if Alden’s only goal was to harness Klaus’s abilities, there were other ways to achieve that. If Sophia strongly opposed the idea, Alden had no intention of forcing it upon her.
Having thought this far, Alden straightened his posture.
(In any case, I cannot proceed without first hearing her feelings. I’ve heard Sophia is still resting due to the recoil from using the sacred sword yesterday…)
At that moment, a voice suddenly called out from beyond the chamber.
“Your Majesty, it is Sophia. I have come with a matter to report.”
By sheer coincidence, it was none other than Sophia herself—the very person Alden had been thinking of.
“Enter,” he commanded.
“Pardon my intrusion,” Sophia replied.
With that, a young girl with translucent silver hair and sparkling sapphire eyes—Sophia von Solstia—stepped into the audience chamber. At first glance, she showed no signs of lingering fatigue from the previous day’s ordeal.
“Sophia, are you not still weary from yesterday?” Alden asked.
“No, Your Majesty. I availed myself of the Royal Academy’s ‘Healing Springs’ and slept soundly through the night. As you can see, I am fully recovered.”
“…I see.”
The recoil from wielding the sacred sword was far beyond that of ordinary magic. In the past, Sophia would undoubtedly have slept for three days and nights to recover. Yet, she showed no signs of deception—she truly seemed restored. Still, Alden couldn’t help but wonder where she had gained such resilience.
(No, now is not the time for that. As king, there is something I must address.)
Steeling himself, Alden fixed his gaze on Sophia with the authority of a king.
“Sophia, the sacred sword is a royal treasure, to be used only at the appropriate time. Taking it without permission and heading to the battlefield alone, knowing the danger, is conduct utterly unbecoming of a princess.”
“…Yes, I am deeply sorry,” Sophia said, bowing her head in contrition.
Alden let out a deep sigh as he observed her remorseful demeanor.
“…Very well. The people have sent countless words of gratitude for your valor.”
“Your Majesty…?”
“As king, I cannot condone your actions. But as a father… well done, Sophia.”
“…Yes! Thank you, Father!”
A warm atmosphere settled over the room. After sufficient father-daughter exchange, Alden cleared his throat with a deliberate “ahem” to refocus.
“Now, I apologize for burdening you so soon after your recovery, but there is something I wish to ask…”
“Before that, Your Majesty, I have a matter to discuss. I intended to report it yesterday, but… may I proceed?”
“Hm? Yes, of course.”
Alden nodded without hesitation at Sophia’s request. It seemed her visit to the audience chamber wasn’t solely to show she was well—there was another purpose.
Relaxing, Alden awaited her report. But in the next moment, his eyes widened in shock.
Hesitantly, Sophia extended her left hand toward him.
“It’s about this ring…”
“What?! That’s—?!”
Alden immediately recognized the ring on Sophia’s left ring finger. Adorned with the royal crest, it was unmistakably the 【Royal Family Ring】—a royal treasure, comparable to the sacred sword, believed to have been lost during the turmoil centuries ago. Why was Sophia wearing it now?
With a trembling voice, Alden asked, “Sophia, where did you find that ring?”
“Well, you see… it was a gift from a certain gentleman.”
“What?!”
Alden’s voice rose in shock at the revelation. Though the exact origin of the 【Royal Family Ring】 remained unclear, that was no longer the point. Sophia had just revealed something far more significant.
The 【Royal Family Ring】 held the meaning of an engagement ring for the royal family. Realizing the implications, Alden felt his carefully laid plans crumbling as he asked, “Does this mean… you’ve already received a marriage proposal from this man (who is not Renford)?”
Sophia nodded with a serious expression.
“Yes, I was proposed to (by Klaus-sama).”
At her response, Alden instinctively clutched his head with one hand.
(What is this?! To think someone had already proposed to Sophia…!)
To reiterate, the 【Royal Family Ring】 was the engagement ring said to have been given by a hero to a princess long ago. In essence, this was a reenactment of the kingdom’s founding myth. Its influence was profound, and tradition dictated that the royal family must accept such an engagement.
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That said, such an acceptance was contingent on mutual intent. With this in mind, Alden posed a critical question to Sophia.
“And so, Sophia, what do you think of this man? Or rather, have you already given him an answer?”
If she nodded here, Alden’s plans would be utterly ruined. Fortunately, she shook her head.
“No, I asked him to wait for my response.”
After answering, Sophia gave a faint smile.
(That said, the moment I gain the confidence to stand by Klaus-sama’s side, I intend to accept without hesitation.)
She omitted this crucial detail, but Alden, hearing her response, let out a thoughtful “Hmm”.
(For Sophia, who usually decides things on the spot, to delay her answer… perhaps she’s not entirely enthusiastic about this. If so, there may still be a chance!)
Shifting gears, Alden pressed forward with his next question.
“By the way, Sophia, you know of Klaus Renford, do you not?”
“Y-Yes, of course!”
“Good! Then let me ask you frankly… what do you think of him?”
“E-Eh?!”
Sophia faltered, caught off guard by her father’s sudden probe into her romantic feelings. But then, her brilliant mind (or so she believed) caught onto Alden’s intentions.
(I’ve been careful not to mention Klaus-sama’s name thus far… but it seems Father has realized he’s the one who gave me the ring. As expected of him!)
Impressed by the keen insight of the kingdom’s ruler, Sophia concluded there was no point in hiding it further. However, admitting her feelings for Klaus in front of her father was an entirely different matter. Just thinking of Klaus made her cheeks burn.
Desperate to deflect, she stammered, “W-Well, that’s… I can’t possibly answer that here!”
Her face flushed red as she struggled to respond. Observing this, Alden’s keen perception (or so he believed) misread her emotions entirely.
(Sophia’s face is red… could it be anger?!)
Unaware that Sophia and Klaus had already met, and never having seen Sophia show interest in romance, Alden couldn’t fathom that she was simply embarrassed. His thoughts veered in a wildly mistaken direction.
(Yes, I remember now. When word first came that Renford defeated a Demon King’s army executive, Sophia was visibly irritated. As someone raised with the mission to defeat the Demon King, she must have been frustrated that he outdid her. And now, having witnessed him achieve the monumental feat of defeating the Four Heavenly Kings… it’s no wonder she’s this angry!)
Alden arrived at a completely misguided conclusion. Meanwhile, Sophia pressed forward, undeterred.
“By the way, Your Majesty, I have one more request, if I may?”
“What is it?”
“Through this incident, I’ve realized I still have much to learn. So, please, grant me a trial to help me grow as a princess.”
“…Hmm.”
Hearing her request, Alden asked with conviction, “Is this so you can catch up to Klaus Renford (and his many great deeds)?”
“Yes, exactly (so I can stand beside him as his wife).”
Sophia met his gaze with her clear sapphire eyes, and Alden recognized the strength of her resolve.
(To think Sophia harbors such intense rivalry toward Renford… but this could be an opportunity.)
Here, Alden saw a glimmer of hope. Though Sophia currently seemed antagonistic toward Klaus, arranging for them to meet might spark a change in her feelings. If that happened, he could successfully bring Klaus into the royal family.
With this in mind, Alden quickly formulated a plan.
(A way to fulfill Sophia’s desire to grow while bringing the two closer together… Yes, that’s it!)
An idea struck him. With only a few months until Sophia’s enrollment in the Royal Academy, there was a perfect mission for her to undertake—one that would allow her to deepen her bond with Klaus while pursuing its completion.
“Very well, Sophia. I shall grant you a mission.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“This is a monumental task, one no noble has ever accomplished—”
Now reduced to a matchmaking enthusiast, Alden bestowed upon Sophia a trial of extraordinary difficulty—a joint mission with the very person she seemed to view as a rival. Yet, upon hearing it, Sophia’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nodded vigorously.
Prologue 2: A Little Girl Appeared Before Me
A week had passed since I, Klaus Renford, was unfortunately saddled with the title of earl. Now, I was riding a carriage back to my territory for a temporary return. According to King Alden, it’d take a bit more time to prepare the actual reward he had in mind. Until then, I’d been instructed to head back to the Renford territory.
What I’d asked for was land owned by the royal family. I’d even suggested staying in the capital, figuring it’d be more convenient, but all I got was a curt “No problem.” Maybe they were planning to grant me one of the royal demesnes near Renford territory.
“But… is there even a royal demesne around here?” I muttered.
“Is something the matter, Master?”
My murmur was answered by the black-haired girl sitting beside me—Marie. She was my personal maid and, at the same time, a highly capable individual plotting my assassination.
“Nah, it’s nothing. More importantly, looks like we are close to reaching the capital of the territory?”
“Yes, it’s been a few weeks since we were last there, but it feels like ages, doesn’t it?”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
My stay in the royal capital had only been a few days, but I’d run into all sorts of incidents. Chief among them was my encounter with Sophia, one of the game’s heroines. No, wait—there was something even more shocking.
“To think I’d become an earl…”
Thanks to accidentally defeating Gatelink, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, I’d been made an earl. I desperately wanted to take revenge on the culprit behind this mess, but Gatelink was already dead. The cruelty of reality hit me hard, and I couldn’t help but despair.
As I silently shed tears in my heart, a familiar city wall came into view. Looked like we’d finally reached the capital of the territory. Now, if I could just slip back into the mansion without the townsfolk noticing my return—
But, of course, this world wasn’t kind enough to grant me such a simple wish.
“The lord’s back! He’s baaack!”
“He’s become an earl, hasn’t he?! As expected of our lord!”
“Earl! Earl! Earl!”
The moment we passed through the gate, the carriage was swarmed by townsfolk raising a thunderous cheer. Seeing this, I turned to Laura Embres, the commander of the Renford Knight Order, who’d returned with me as an escort.
“Oi, why the hell is this happening?”
“Ha! I took the liberty of informing them of your return via a transmission spell, my lord! I figured the townsfolk would want to celebrate your appointment as earl!”
“…I see.”
I made a mental note to punish Laura later and let out a deep sigh. That said, while being surrounded by thousands of cheering townsfolk wasn’t exactly my idea of fun, I’d braced myself for this kind of situation. The gods of this world seemed to despise me, ensuring that no matter how hard I tried, my reputation kept soaring. But I wasn’t about to let this slide. One day, I’d turn these cheers into screams. As someone aiming to become the Charisma of Evil, that was one line I absolutely wouldn’t cross!
With renewed resolve, I made my way back to the mansion.
◇◆◇
“Welcome back, Klaus-sama. This Oliver has been eagerly awaiting your return.”
“Yeah.”
Greeted by Oliver, my butler and acting lord, I stepped into the mansion. For some reason, he looked so emotional he might burst into tears.
“I’ve already heard of your appointment as earl. To think you achieved such great deeds in the royal capital… it pains me to no end that I couldn’t be there to witness it.”
Was he that desperate to see me suffer? I lowered my opinion of Oliver a notch and shifted my gaze to the blond pretty boy standing beside him. His face was familiar—a town guard.
“You’re… Rain, right?”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Oliver aside, what’re you doing here?”
The lord’s mansion wasn’t a place for a mere soldier, not even a knight, to just waltz into. That was my thought when I asked, but Oliver responded before Rain could.
“There’s a certain matter at hand… something important I must report to you, Klaus-sama.”
“And you need him for that?”
“Well, to be precise, there’s one other key witness involved… but for now, may we move to the parlor?”
“Fine.”
This other person was probably waiting in the parlor.
“Marie, prepare tea for everyone.”
“Understood, Master.”
After giving Marie the order, I headed to the parlor with Oliver and Rain.
“Klaus-sama, please,” Oliver said, ushering me in.
When I stepped inside, I was met with an unexpected figure.
“Mmmph! So good, so good! This ‘dough-nut’ thing? Whoever invented it is a genius! Bring me a hundred more!!”
No, scratch that—not just unexpected, but a complete stranger. A tiny girl with long red hair that reached her height was sprawled on the sofa, feet on the table, happily munching on a pile of doughnuts. Most striking of all were the two black horns sprouting from her head. She was clearly no ordinary human.
But—
(Who the hell is this kid?)
That was my honest reaction. This pint-sized girl had an overwhelming presence, but since reincarnating as Klaus, I had no memory of encountering her… though, oddly, I felt like I’d met her somewhere before. Not her appearance, but more like the magical aura she exuded felt familiar…
Eh, whatever. Details could wait.
“Oi, this is my castle.”
“Agh! Give me back my dough-nuts!”
Annoyed by the commotion in my own mansion, I snatched the doughnut from her hand. The girl glared at me fiercely, then widened her eyes as if realizing something.
“Y-You! So you’ve finally returned!”
“? First time meeting you, kid.”
“What?! You’re saying you forgot me?! No, wait—come to think of it, I was killed before I could introduce myself… Fine, then! Allow me to declare my name once more!”
Screaming as if utterly indignant, the girl slammed her foot on the table and stood, hand on her flat chest, proclaiming boldly:
“Listen well! I am Milikator! The 【Wise Emperor Evil God】 Milikator, reigning as the ninth in rank in the Evil God Realm!”
The self-proclaimed Evil God Milikator. Her words jogged a bitter memory from a few months ago, and I responded without hesitation:
“【Hellfire】”
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And so, my days as Klaus Renford—the mob villain reincarnated in the world of Altena Fantasia, striving to become the final boss—began anew
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