TDKSR 01

Chapter 01

“Jonathan, do you know why I was able to survive?”

Between Jonathan and the Emperor Aaron, a transparent barrier-like membrane spread out.

The ability that protected their family, the ‘Defense’ aura, was beautiful and mesmerizing.

The way it reflected light in five colors—Jonathan couldn’t help but admire it, wondering if fairy wings had such hues.

“I can’t imagine any emperor other than you, Father. Brother is also very impressive, but only you possess this kind of ability, Father.”

At the same time as he spoke, Jonathan recalled the previous emperor, Udonan.

Udonan Anras Argento, who ruled the Izril Empire before Jonathan’s father Aaron ascended to the throne.

The tyrant Udonan, who stood on countless bloodstains, had desperately wanted to kill Aaron, who possessed the power of aura even though he was not of his bloodline.

But it was said that he couldn’t kill him because of Aaron’s defensive ability.

“Jonathan, do you remember meeting someone recently?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes.”

Jonathan quickly realized who his father was referring to.

An old man who sat in the Empress’s private prayer room, dressed completely differently from the nobles Jonathan usually met.

Jonathan had met with the old man alone in the room.

Since the old man could not see, he had traced Jonathan’s face with his hands.

At one point, the old man had even grown tearful with emotion—for reasons Jonathan couldn’t understand.

“By then you must have learned something too… You hid what you heard from him from the Empress as well, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me then. What did he say?”

Jonathan hesitated.

The memory from that time was a little uncomfortable.

—

*”I cannot see, so I cannot know for certain what your abilities are, young master.”*

The old man spoke as if Jonathan definitely had some kind of ability.

*”But I can help reveal your ability.”*

He wasn’t a priest, just an ordinary old man from the countryside. His pronunciation wasn’t particularly good, nor did he exude any sense of intimidation.

*”However, the most important thing is your own heart, young master. Do you wish to manifest your ability?”*

Jonathan was the second prince of the Izril Empire. As the second son, not the first, he was in a position to enjoy a moderate amount of power while bearing less responsibility and living comfortably.

He had been perfectly satisfied with that fact, but…

*”Do I need to manifest my ability?”*

Jonathan asked how the old man could manifest an ability that even Jonathan himself didn’t know about, and whether that ability was something he urgently needed.

*”That is for you to decide, young master.”*

*”I don’t know what ability I have, but I would like to know all the abilities I possess.”*

As soon as Jonathan finished answering, the old man touched his forehead.

*”I am a Star Seeker, so I can help manifest your ability. Even without sight, I can touch and sense.”*

At that moment, Jonathan remembered an unfamiliar term.

Star Seeker.

*”It is done. You will now be able to wield your ability, young master.”*

Jonathan himself felt no change at all, but the old man smiled and said so.

—

“Jonathan, what did that old man say to you?”

At his father Aaron’s voice, Jonathan returned to reality.

“Did Brother Samuel meet that old man too?”

“He did.”

“Did he manifest?”

“He did not.”

Aaron’s face showed no expression. That made Jonathan a little uneasy.

“Jonathan, I want to know about your ability, not Samuel’s.”

Jonathan knew it wasn’t simply that he wanted to know.

*’If he finds out I have an ability, he’ll try to make me his successor.’*

But Jonathan had never thought of himself becoming emperor.

From childhood, he had always heard and learned that he must help his brother and make the empire prosper.

He had studied imperial governance to assist his brother, not to become emperor himself…

But his brother had not manifested an aura.

*’If I show something here…’*

An inexplicable unease turned into fear and enveloped Jonathan.

Aaron read Jonathan’s hesitation in that moment.

“Show me.”

“To be honest… I don’t even know what’s changed…”

Jonathan mumbled evasively.

“My son.”

“!”

“Show me.”

Never in his life had he been so expected of.

His brother Samuel was competent enough, and as the second son, Jonathan had no need to put himself forward to stay away from pointless succession struggles.

“I really don’t know.”

“You already know.”

“I truly don’t know!”

Shouldn’t he at least have told him what kind of ability it was! He truly knew nothing, and had no idea what to do…

Jonathan just wanted to hide.

“Ha!”

His father wore a peculiar expression.

“Yes, yes. This is my son.”

“?”

What? He couldn’t see a beautiful barrier like his father’s.

Jonathan examined his own hands.

“!”

He couldn’t see them.

He could clearly feel himself moving, but he couldn’t see his own chest or legs.

Not even visible to his own eyes.

‘W-What is this?’

Goosebumps rose on his skin.

“I—I hate this!”

The moment he shouted, as if by magic, his form gradually appeared again.

“To know how to hide your body like this—this is the ability of Stealth.”

A smile bloomed at the corner of Aaron’s mouth. He met Jonathan’s eyes.

“You possess it, the aura.”

Jonathan was frozen like a mouse caught by a snake.

His father’s ability was purely defensive—there was no way it could be manipulation or mind control—so why couldn’t he move a muscle?

“Jonathan, Stealth can wield abilities beyond mere manipulation.”

Aaron began explaining kindly to Jonathan.

“The Manipulation that the Duke of Anras possesses is limited to just one person at a time.”

The Duke of Anras was a blood relative of the previous emperor Udonan Anras Argento, backed by the papacy as the next emperor. He had recently manifested his aura.

“Moreover, Manipulation cannot be used on aura manifesters or Star Seekers. A most fortunate arrangement by Elohim.”

Aaron stroked Jonathan’s cheek.

“But Stealth is different. If you wish, our entire family can remain unseen by others.”

‘My ability is that powerful?’

“Unless one is a Star Seeker, there is no way to find you. What a remarkably special ability.”

“Uh…”

“Furthermore, the Star Seekers were slaughtered by the previous emperor Udonan—that old man was the last of them. So it’s safe to say no one can perceive your ability.”

“You said it’s only certain when someone reaches adulthood whether they are an aura manifester. I’m not even an adult yet…”

“Those stories were just to buy time. Because Samuel was not an aura manifester.”

What?

“But we don’t need that anymore. You are an aura manifester. That means we don’t have to hand over imperial authority to the likes of the Duke of Anras.”

“I have no interest in imperial authority…”

Jonathan muttered hesitantly, looking bewildered.

“Jonathan.”

Before he knew it, Aaron had completely wiped the smile from his lips.

“Yes, Father.”

“Do you intend to let everyone die?”

“Pardon?”

“Refusing to sit on the throne isn’t just about avoiding the throne itself.”

Aaron gripped Jonathan’s shoulder tightly.

“The previous emperor Udonan was the one who killed countless aura manifesters and Star Seekers. And if you avoid the throne, that means handing your brother, your sister, your mother—and yourself—over to death at the hands of the Duke of Anras, who carries Udonan’s cruel blood.”

Aaron looked at Jonathan with cold eyes.

Jonathan could say nothing.

It wasn’t that he knew nothing of politics—Jonathan was clever.

Having lived his entire life in the imperial palace, he was a small politician who understood very well what Aaron was saying.

“It would be better for you to move before he strikes the palace.”

Strike whom? By strike, did he mean kill?

“No. For now, it might be better to hide your ability and wander freely.”

Aaron stroked Jonathan’s cheek as if touching a precious treasure, his face intoxicated.

“But when the crucial moment comes, you must make a decision.”

Aaron’s words were like a prophecy, and Jonathan was only fourteen years old when he manifested his aura.

—

* * *

—

Four years after manifesting his aura, Jonathan eliminated the Duke of Anras.

It was a rather clean resolution.

Jonathan had agonized for a long time—about whether it was right to strike first and kill the Duke of Anras when he had not yet harmed anyone.

While he agonized, unaware that the Duke of Anras was tightening the noose around his family’s necks.

His father Aaron, despite his defensive ability, was killed by the Duke of Anras, and only after nearly losing the rest of his family did Jonathan realize.

That as long as he lived, an era of peace would never come to his family.

Now that the Duke of Anras was dead, Jonathan was the only one who possessed an aura.

And no one would ever know this fact.

Even the blind old man who had manifested his ability had died of old age.

As long as Jonathan resolved to hide his ability for life, no one could force him onto the throne.

Besides, in the eyes of the common people, Samuel would appear to be the far better emperor.

And so it was settled.

Jonathan could be fully satisfied.

He would protect his remaining family and do anything for his brother’s reign.

“To Jonathan Icript, a new surname—Kusakov—is granted, along with a new estate.”

Emperor Samuel bestowed the title of Duke upon Jonathan.

“Knowing your fraternal love and loyalty toward me, I hope you will live faithfully as Duke Jonathan Kusakov.”

Even Samuel’s solemn voice as emperor made Jonathan smile with joy.

“Glory to His Imperial Majesty. I accept your will.”

Until the imperial authority stabilized, Jonathan planned to live as the Emperor’s hound, appropriately and discreetly keeping the nobles in check.

Well, it wasn’t a bad life.

He loved his family. His brother, his mother, and his late father Emperor Aaron Icript.

And so, he willingly chose the path of becoming a monster that eliminated political enemies using the Stealth aura.

Having become the kingmaker who elevated Samuel to emperor, he intended to appear to rest for a while. Catching his breath while observing his surroundings.

For that reason, he had been taking it easy.

“Your Highness, aren’t you going to work?”