Chapter 1: Still, Let’s Use It

Prologue

Inside a damp iron cage where not a speck of light entered, I spent my time in agony, curled up as my body screamed and creaked.

The once brilliant Leon de Normand of the Empire’s Normand Duchy had now become a s*ave, rotting away day by day in an iron cage, waiting only to be sold to someone.

‘Now I’m a s*ave, not a noble…’

‘How much time has passed?’

‘When was it that I sent that child away from the duchy?’

Suddenly, thinking of my situation reminded me of Alice, whom I once thought of as a younger sister.

“Alice, from now on, you are no longer a maid of our family.”

“M-Master?”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

The young girl with blonde hair and purple eyes looked at me with a confused expression.

And then, right before Alice’s eyes, I tore up her s*ave contract document.

“Now you are a commoner, not a s*ave.”

“Leave this mansion and live freely.”

I threw a pouch filled with gold coins to her and said.

“You know how to read and write, and you’ve received education, so you’ll be perfectly capable of living on your own outside.”

“Why are you sending me away…”

“Leave quickly!”

“I will take no more questions! Alfred Escort Alice out of the mansion!”

“No!”

“I don’t want to! Master, why are you sending me away! Let me go! Please!”

“…”

It was an unavoidable choice.

Perhaps if I hadn’t sent her away then, she would have ended up like me now…

-Clang clang clang!!

“Hey, number 17, get up!”

“A customer is here to buy you!”

“…”

Lifting my head, I looked outside the iron cage.

The girl I had driven away years ago stood there, gripping the bars with trembling hands, looking at me with tear-filled eyes.

“Ah…”

“I finally found you…!”

***

“Owner! Please let that s*ave out of the cage quickly.”

“He’s a s*ave who was sold once and then abandoned because his body was damaged. Are you sure you’ll be alright with him?”

“Sold once? To whom?”

“Due to a confidentiality agreement regarding previous customers, it’s difficult for me to say. If you’ve changed your mind, I can introduce you to other slaves.”

“No! I must buy that s*ave!”

“In that case, I will prepare the s*ave contract and the contract seal for you.”

A moment later, the s*ave trader brought Alice the contract document and a branding tool.

“What’s the contract seal? I know about the s*ave document…”

“It seems this is your first time purchasing a s*ave. For the safety and convenience of the master, most slaves are marked with a contract seal, allowing them to obey any command whatsoever.”

“A-Anything…?”

“Yes, anything. Regardless of the s*ave’s will, it’s possible to make them die if the master commands it, or even make them do terrible things they could never do while sane… Of course, if you don’t wish for it, you don’t have to apply the contract seal.”

“Gulp…”

‘With just this contract seal, I can make Leon do whatever I want…’

‘Make him stroke my hair, whisper sweet nothings to me every night…’

‘Then we might kiss, and even get married…?’

As Alice imagined the things she could do with the contract seal, she suddenly recalled the first time she met Leon.

‘But why didn’t I have a contract seal when I was a s*ave before?’

“Ah…!”

Her eyes moistening before she knew it, Alice clutched her tightening chest.

‘When Leon was my master, he never carved a contract seal on me.’

‘Leon truly cherished me, even when I was his s*ave…’

‘And yet, I didn’t care about Leon’s feelings at all, only thinking about using the contract seal to control him as I pleased…’

‘Doesn’t this make me no different from those other disgusting people who abuse slaves?’

Alice smiled, looked at the contract seal, and then spoke.

‘…Still, let’s use it.’

“Let’s proceed with the contract!”

Chapter 1

If you woke up one day and found you had become someone else, could you accept that fact?

No, to be more precise, memories of a past life suddenly surfaced one day, revealing I was a modern person, and now I’m in what, by the standards of my past life, is a primitive medieval era.

Several fragmented memories are jumbled together, causing confusion.

Perhaps the past life is a lie, and I might just be a lunatic who thinks he’s remembered a past life.

My name from the past life… I can’t remember it.

The only thing that comes to mind is my current name, Leon.

I’m 9 years old.

I heard that when I was too young to remember, my parents abandoned me in front of an orphanage.

Whether I’m crazy now or have truly recalled a past life, I don’t know, but what’s important is that I am an extraordinary person, not fitting for a 9-year-old.

Anyway, since I’ve gained this knowledge, is there any reason not to use it?

***

“Director!”

“Leon is definitely a genius!”

“What is it, Sister Lisette?”

“Compared to other children his age, his comprehension and learning speed are exceptional.”

“Isn’t that a bit insufficient to call him a genius just for that?”

“His understanding of arithmetic and numbers is also tremendous, and above all, he performs mental calculations incredibly fast.”

“Hoh…”

“Perhaps he might have a talent for magic.”

“Let’s conduct a mana sensitivity test and observe him a bit more.”

Recently, an orphan showing remarkable promise appeared in an orphanage within the Normand Duchy.

And for a while, there were expectations that this orphan might possess innate magical talent.

However, a mana sensitivity test revealed his mana capacity was only slightly above that of an average mage.

Nevertheless, just because he couldn’t become a great mage didn’t mean he lacked talent, so the orphan named Leon received reasonably good treatment within the orphanage.

Though, it was mostly trivial benefits like being moved up in the meal line or having slightly fewer chores.

Three years passed, and Leon turned 12.

One day, a splendid and luxurious-looking carriage arrived at the orphanage.

***

Early in the morning, I and the other orphans were in the dining hall, soaking hard bread chunks, the kind that felt like they could break your teeth, into bland, watery porridge.

Although the orphanage is supported by the Duchy and the church, in this harsh medieval era, orphans receive just enough support to keep from starving to death.

Of course, even this much is something to be grateful for.

If the orphanage didn’t exist, I would have already starved to death or been living day by day, stealing in the slums.

I wish I could leave this tedious orphanage and become independent even a day sooner, but I’m still too young.

After finishing my meal and washing the dishes, a nun approached and called me.

“Leon, a very important guest has arrived today, so please tidy yourself up and come to the director’s office.”

“Yes, Sister Lisette.”

After tidying up and grooming myself, I went to the director’s office, where Sister Lisette was waiting by the door.

-Knock knock knock

“Director, I’ve brought Leon.”

“Come in.”

-Creeaak…

As the old hinges groaned weakly and the door opened, a middle-aged nobleman with sharp features sat in the director’s chair.

Just looking at him sent shivers down my spine, a palpable pressure emanated from him.

Yet, contrary to his strong impression, a deep weariness showed in a corner of his face.

It was like seeing a wounded beast.

“Gulp…”

Just making eye contact for a moment gave me goosebumps.

I swallowed hard, instinctively lowered my gaze, and bowed towards the man.

Unsure of the proper etiquette, I tried my best to appear respectful.

“…You have some sense, it seems. Your head works quite well too.”

A suffocating silence hung in the air for a moment.

Finally, the man who completely dominated the room’s atmosphere tapped the table with his fingers and spoke calmly.

“His mana capacity is average, but he shows promise in arithmetic and mathematics, possessing some talent towards magic.”

“He understands quickly compared to his peers and is mature for his age, Your Grace.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed, it would be difficult to find a child meeting these conditions.”

‘Duke?’

‘Such a high-ranking person came to the orphanage to meet me personally?’

Perhaps mages are incredibly valuable personnel.

“Originally, I intended to test his aptitude, but I don’t have much time left, and it doesn’t seem necessary. I shall take him immediately.”

“Yes, we will handle the procedures on our end.”

The Duke, appearing somewhat hurried, stood up and approached me.

“Follow me.”

“Y-Yes!”

Following the Duke outside the orphanage, a magnificent and luxurious carriage was waiting, surrounded by armed escort knights standing in disciplined formations.

As the Duke emerged, a middle-aged man who looked like a butler in a fine suit paid his respects to the Duke.

“Did you find the child you were looking for, Your Grace?”

“Yes, let us depart immediately. And this child will ride in the same carriage as me.”

“As you command.”

I followed the Duke into the luxurious-looking carriage.

Carefully observing the Duke’s expression, I sat opposite him.

After a moment, the Duke stared intently into my eyes and spoke.

“Do you understand why I am taking you?”

This question felt like a pressure interview from my past life’s corporate job.

‘It’s probably best to give a safe answer here, right?’

“…Is it because I am a talent Your Grace needs?”

“Naturally, I’m taking you because you are needed. But tell me your thoughts beyond such an obvious reason. I’ll give you a hint: I am not particularly interested in your magical talent.”

“Umm…”

Let me organize my thoughts for a moment.

One, the Duke isn’t very interested in my magical talent.

Two, he mentioned in the director’s office that he doesn’t have much time left.

Three, he said I met the conditions.

Four, I’m an orphan, so no one will look for me if I die.

‘Does that mean…’

‘Could he possibly intend to turn me into some kind of elixir, consume me, and extend his lifespan?’

I’m f*cked!

But that’s ridiculous, right?

Still, just in case, maybe I should test the waters slightly…

“To devour me and extend your lifespan…”

I glanced at the Duke’s face, and upon seeing a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, I immediately changed my words.

“…Of course not.”

“That was a joke.”

“I don’t know the specifics, but I understand it’s because of a successor.”

“Correct. You are certainly different from other children.”

“You pass. However, you have no talent for jokes.”

“…Thank you.”

It was an attempt to lighten the mood, but it seems it was utterly ineffective.

“I intend to adopt you as my son and make you my heir.”

Leon, the 12-year-old orphan, gained a father.

My father from my past life, the father who gave birth to me in this life and abandoned me, and finally, the Duke of Normand as my father…

Perhaps I might go down in history known as the ‘God of War’.