Chapter 2: The Norem's Palace and The Traitor

"How old are you?"

"I don't know." Raze shrugged his shoulders at the king's question because even he had no idea how old he was.

When his age reached 100, he decided to stop counting. For him, no matter how many times he counts his age, he will still not die.

His status as a youngster is his sole issue.

Even after several years of residing in this world, he has not yet developed. Every kingdom he visits requires him to adopt a new name.

However, he has only visited three of the world's five kingdoms. He was now in the Norem Kingdom, and all that remained was the X Kingdom, which housed the long-standing Guild Houses.

When Raze said what he did, the king turned his attention away from him. If he knew his age, he wouldn't assume that he didn't. Why couldn't the youngster recall anything, the monarch pondered. Raze is probably six or seven years old, judging by his appearance and stature, and we can tell that by looking at him closely.

'But his mind doesn't suit his age. Just like the old me.' He grinned, talking about his childhood self.

The king's aide, Kyle, began to shake as he noticed the king's interest in the young child in front of them. Although he was unsure of what was happening in the majesty's brain, he was certain that it was not good.

"Lord, whatever you are planning, do not involve the child," he warned the king. He couldn't keep quiet anymore, he had to act somehow to stop the king's plan against the boy.

"I'm not someone who will be merciful to children, Kyle. Just keep that in mind." Kyle just smiled awkwardly as he pondered his king's response.

He had just discovered that the king does not do such things to young people. But then he remembered that it all depends on whether or not they merged with the demon.

***

"As long as you behave as my true son, a proper Norem, you are free to do whatever you want or need to do from this point on while you live with me in this palace."

Raze scanned the entire palace with his eyes. There was a large staircase heading to a different floor in front of him. The staircase has a blue background and black sides with written lettering on each side.

Additionally, the first level is overly big, with ancient monarchs' portraits or picture frames affixed to each wall. Both sides of the closed door have two substantial vases. Geogeria makes up its plant. The roots that act as the holders of the flowers, which are black but have a scarlet center, emerge from the sides of the broad leaves, which have no branches.

That is what is employed in the creation of fresh medications for ailments.

As Raze entertained himself around, he noticed only one plant. Maybe that's all that matters here inside.

As soon as he raised his gaze. He noticed colossal crystal chandeliers. There are four. Therefore, the interior is lit so brightly.

"Sarah, lead him to his room," the king said to the maid dressed in black.

She bowed before the king until she turned her gaze blankly to Raze.

Raze had a feeling there was something wrong with Sarah. He could sense the presence emanating from it. Purple magic is surrounded by black magic.

But he disregarded that. Together, they ascended the enormously wide steps to the second story.

The king remained below it, and Kyle himself was unable to conceal the intense worry on his face.

"King Morzen, should we just let the two go? You know—"

The monarch stopped Kyle in his tracks, "I know what I'm doing, Kyle," he said coldly.

Kyle just kept his mouth shut. He even turned in the other direction and his lips twitched because he wanted to run up to save Raze somehow from the woman they had long suspected of being a traitor.

If the king had no order for him, he could do nothing but stay downstairs, delirious about what was happening on the second floor.

The two waited for more than ten minutes. Until they heard a scream from above. That's the signal to act.

Loud sounds could be heard as the two's feet landed on the stairs to the end of the room on the second floor.

When the king opened the door, they saw in front of them the lifeless maid. Her two hands are holding the knife that is still stuck in her chest.

There is only one reason for this, she killed herself in front of Raze. But why does it want to hurt itself?

Raze appeared to be staying still, which prevented him from asking the boy what had happened. It didn't say a word; it just observed. The boy's current concern is unknown to the king.

The king only said, "Don't worry about her, Raze. Kyle will handle her body. Take a rest," before he let out a quiet sigh.

"Someone is manipulating her, isn't she?" Raze's face showed no emotion as the king looked in his direction again.

"We'll find out." After that, the king stepped out of the boy's room to go to his lodging which was still ahead of the rooms on the second floor.

Meanwhile, its secretary, Kyle, is taking care of the dead woman's body in Raze's room. It used the ability to float anything and was about to leave the boy's front, but was stopped by his call with a small but serious tone of voice.

"Hey, Mr., are there many like you at S High?" He was surprised by his question but in the end, he also answered to give information to the boy.

"Students who want to be adventurers are divided into each rank. X Rank is for those who don't have any skills, A Rank is for Swordsman, D Rank is for Pharmecian, E Rank is for someone who has power but is not yet an expert, and lastly, the S Rank. These are the ones who are already skilled and can become official adventurers. People without skills can also go to the S Rank... if they can compete with the S Ranks first." You can see the joy on Kyle's face when speaking. It feels like he remembers the past when he was just a student at S High.

But the smile on his lips also disappeared when he remembered one reason why he left and preferred to serve the king of Norem Kingdom.

Raze noticed the change in Kyle's face. Instead of asking what happened, he chose to remain silent.

"The rank is still different when you are officially adventurers. But only Lord Morzen can answer this because he is one of the former Guildmasters."

"Guildmaster?"

"Yeah! One of the most famous Guildmaster. But he's lost hope for some reason I don't know. Whatever it is, maybe this is the reason why he chose to be alone. And then if you want to go to that school, maybe he'll teach you how to use a sword so you can somehow get to A-Rank,"

The king of the Norem Kingdom was a skilled and famous swordsman. From the king, the soldiers and other staff of the kingdom learned all the techniques on how to further expand the ability to use the sword. Not only in the physical body, but also in holding any weapons.

Few also know how strict it is in teaching. It's not new in the way he looks in the eyes.

But more than five years have passed since the king stopped what he was doing. Morzen preferred the role of a king over continuing to train his kingdom's personnel. For him, someone deserves to replace him who is the same as what he teaches. Even though he is no longer the teacher, he knows that his alliance is good and strong.

"But I can use a sword without someone's help."

"Eh? How? Are you trained in the orphanage how to hold and use the sword?" You can see the confusion on Kyle's face.

"No, I'm one of the CSK."

"CSK?" His left eyebrow raised even more when he heard it.

"Child Slave Knight. You don't know?" Kyle immediately shook his head when the boy asked him about that.

In his entire life, he had never heard of such a system. How did this get through to the king?

"It's normal in Zeraph Kingdom. Slaves are their main tools, including kids. They don't care how young you are. You're just nothing but a piece of trash."

"T-Then how come..."

"They kicked me and banned me from their kingdom." Raze smiled sparingly at Kyle.

For ordinary people, it's just a normal smile. But for Kyle, it wasn't just a simple smile, but something worse than the kid was planning to do something that no one would know what it is.