"Why is she acting like this today?"
Count Padora watched his eldest daughter, who was diligently swinging her sword in the training yard beyond the window, with a puzzled expression.
He couldn’t believe that the child born into a renowned family of swordsmen could despise sword training to the point of refusing to do anything but play games, growing round and lazy with no sense of shame—a disgrace to the family name.
Yet here she was, swinging her sword with all her might, something that wasn’t like her at all.
She, who was terrified of leaving her room, was now acting in a way that didn’t fit her usual demeanor.
"...I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but she’ll stop doing this soon enough."
Count Padora shrugged, then pulled the curtains to obscure the window.
He had long given up trying to fix her stubbornness over the past decade. He knew she wouldn’t change, and he could bet all his savings on that certainty.
However, the next day, and the next, and even after weeks had passed, she continued to practice swordsmanship without rest.
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
Sweat poured down her entire body, her arms trembling with fatigue.
Yet, with sheer willpower, she forced herself to reset her stance.
"I won’t give up. I can’t give up."
The words of that person echoed in her mind.
The moment you want to quit is the best chance to advance to the next level.
If she missed this opportunity, she wouldn’t be able to move forward anymore.
"Young lady! Please, just take a short break!"
The captain of the knights, who had been watching her, called out, but she responded stubbornly.
"Just a little more!"
With blurred vision, she reset her stance once again and swung her sword.
"If it were Ren, he would have done this."
Now, with the weight she had lost and a toned figure, she took a step forward and swung her training sword, charged with a blade of intent.
***
Layra Academy City
In the wealthy district at the highest elevation, the demon, Renatus Albert, set down his terminal and fell into deep thought.
"Hmm..."
After pondering for a while, he instructed his butler to prepare a gift bundle.
Then, he took the bundles himself and walked toward the entrance of the grand mansion across the street.
"Ah, Lord Albert!"
The guards stationed at the entrance froze in shock when they saw him approaching.
As the guard contacted the inside, the owner of the mansion, Albus, hurriedly rushed to meet him.
With a deeply furrowed brow, he asked,
"What’s your game this time?"
The two families, Albert and Albus, had been bitter enemies for generations, stretching back to their distant ancestors.
The conflict, born from ancient grudges, had led to each family taking petty revenge on the other, keeping their relations in the worst possible state.
Any wrongdoings would be repaid in kind, and when one side took revenge, the other would seek payback in turn.
Even the modern descendants, who had no direct connection, continued the animosity passed down from those days, so much so that whenever a demon from either side met a human, they would instinctively growl at each other.
"There’s no ulterior motive."
Albert smiled slightly, shrugging his shoulders.
"I simply came to break this meaningless chain of hatred between us and offer a peace proposal. Albus, I’m sorry for all that’s happened up until now."
"...Peace?"
Albus, taking the gift bundle from Albert, scowled deeply.
What the hell is he saying now?
"Are you asking me to believe this nonsense?"
Wondering if there might be a magical bomb or a listening device hidden in the bundle, Albus passed it to his servants for inspection and asked again.
"I know. I understand it’s hard to believe right away."
He had learned from his parents, who had learned from their parents, that the Albus family—these relentless enemies—could never be trusted to sleep with their eyes fully closed.
"But our hatred didn’t originate from us, did it?"
This was a strange bond that had formed long ago, from petty conflicts between our ancestors so long ago that they were almost forgotten.
"I want to end this destructive relationship and start anew with you."
With a demonic smile, Albert extended his hand.
Albus, still bewildered, warily refused to take his hand.
"I'll leave today, but I’ll be back. Until you accept my peace proposal."
With a sweet smile, he turned and walked back toward his mansion.
"Hah. Has that idiot eaten something strange again?"
Albus muttered curses under his breath as he turned toward his mansion, spitting to the side.
The feud between the two families was far too deep to be resolved with a single apology.
But the courage to offer peace first, through an apology, was the right start to unravel the knot of their centuries-old conflict.
'Please watch over me, Demon King Perlerina. Was this the right moment to carry your will into this world?'
A story of two families, once enemies, becoming the best of allies, guarding each other.
No one could have imagined that this tale, through reconciliation and forgiveness, would one day be passed down as a moral lesson for future generations.
***
Junior Academy
Thwack!
"I said!"
Thwack!
"Not this kind of bread!"
Thwack!
"I told you to bring dengdeng bread!"
Thwack!
The Langin girl relentlessly kicked the Dark Elf boy, who was lying on the ground, as she vented her frustration.
"But... but there was only this bread left!" the boy protested.
"Dengdeng bread is the only thing I can eat! You should have gotten it no matter what!" she shouted.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The Langin girl continued to kick the defenseless Dark Elf boy, showing no mercy.
"Ahh, this isn’t working. Did you forget my temper?"
She took off the watch she was wearing and placed it to the side, and her hand began to glow with a blue light.
"Wait! Lang Lang! You’re about to use your magic...!" the boy cried out in panic.
"Let’s see if I can teach you a lesson today!" the Langin girl said, her enhanced hand crackling with magic.
Ugh!
The boy curled up, squeezing his eyes shut, hoping that the pain wouldn't be as bad this time.
"...Hmm?"
But there was no shock.
Confused, the boy opened one eye.
"!"
He saw that his wrist was being held by someone, stopping the Langin girl’s attack.
"Hoh... Hohra..." he stammered.
Standing before him, with an expressionless face, was Hohra, the Hoi girl.
The strongest student of the Junior Academy, Hohra, had grabbed the Langin girl's wrist with a firm grip.
Just moments ago, the Langin girl, Lang Lang, had been full of fiery determination, but the moment she saw Hohra, she started trembling in fear.
"Didn’t I say that I prohibit such trivial acts of violence at the academy? Especially violence based on race."
"Ah, right... I said that... heh heh," Lang Lang laughed awkwardly.
"So, what do you think you're doing now?" Hohra asked coldly.
"Well, I... I wasn’t really being violent...! This... this kid wasn’t listening to me, so I was just... giving him some education... heh heh," Lang Lang stammered, trying to explain herself.
"Education?" Hohra raised an eyebrow.
"Yes! That’s right!" Lang Lang nodded vigorously.
"Is this what you call education? Hitting someone with a hand filled with magic?" Hohra’s voice turned cold.
Crunch! Crunch!
From within Hohra's small frame, the sound of her powerful muscles clicking was heard.
"I didn’t know. Education, you say..." Hohra commented, her tone sharp.
"Sorry, Hohra! Please, forgive me!" Lang Lang quickly fell to the ground, lying flat.
"I’ll let it slide this time. But remember, there won’t be a next time."
"Yes! Yes!" Lang Lang replied, still on the ground.
"Then go," Hohra said as she released Lang Lang's wrist.
Lang Lang scrambled to her feet and ran off as fast as she could.
That tyrant... so easily...
"Are you alright?" Hohra turned to the Dark Elf boy, who was still sitting in shock.
"Th-thank you for saving me..." the boy said with a deep bow.
"What for? I just can't stand injustice," Hohra replied nonchalantly.
"Injustice...?" the boy repeated, confused.
He thought of Hohra as someone who cared little for such things, a combat enthusiast who had challenged upperclassmen as soon as she entered the academy and unified the entire academy district with her martial prowess.
But suddenly, she couldn’t stand injustice? What had changed?
"By the way, you..." Hohra began.
"Yes?" the boy responded.
"Are you a Dark Elf?"
"Y-yes, I am!"
A glimmer of sharpness appeared in Hohra's eyes, which had seemed lazy and disinterested moments ago.
"Then, do you know a Dark Elf named Gaizerus?"
"Of course. He’s a hero to us Dark Elves."
Thud.
The boy suddenly found himself pulled up and pressed against Hohra’s side.
"Let’s talk for a moment," she said, her voice calm but firm.
She leapt onto the building’s exterior wall, her movements swift and graceful.
"Wait, hold on!" the boy cried out.
Although he couldn’t see her face, he could sense the excitement in her as she led him away.
***
Heavens
Council of the Gods
"The game Akashic Archive is causing chaos across the continent!"
A goddess, having gained the floor, stood up and spread her arms, appealing to the council.
"Currently, the entire paradigm for the acquisition of divine power on the continent is being disrupted because of this game!"
How audacious.
"Therefore, I propose this!"
How dare they create a game without making me a part of it.
I will not forgive this.
They will pay the price.
"We shall agree that the stories of all gods gathered here will be featured in the game!"
Just wait and see.
The God of Dreams.