Prologue
The room was cloaked in deep darkness.
Only a single candle flickered, casting gentle light as it danced in the still air.
Before it sat an old man with snow-white hair — a man whose very presence was extraordinary.
His slicked-back, neatly pomaded hair had not a single strand out of place.
Perched on his eye was a monocle, an accessory so rare in this age it almost felt archaic.
A long, distinct scar stretched down the bridge of his nose.
And from his spotless tuxedo down to his polished shoes — he was the picture of meticulous composure.
“Shall we begin…”
Murmuring softly to himself, the old man picked up a pen.
Soon, the pleasant sound of scratch, scratch filled the air as blank pages were slowly brought to life.
“For many long centuries, I have recorded the every move of my lord —
perhaps for the sake of those who might one day read these words in the distant future.”
“The chronicles I’ve written by hand now number over 2,300 volumes,
all of which, I believe, are carefully stored in the Imperial Library.”
“And today, I once again take up my pen,
to resume the records I was forced to set aside.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Before I begin anew the sacred record of the Imperial House,
it would be proper to offer a brief introduction of myself.”
“My name is Shartia von de Krebsley,
a vampire now roughly 1,200 years of age.”
“Born of royal vampire blood,
I once ruled as king among all vampires —
until the day I met my lord.”
“Though he once offered to make me king of a vassal state,
I refused, desiring instead to serve at his side,
assisting him with all affairs of governance and strategy.”
“Strictly speaking, my true role has always been that of my lord’s tactician —
devising every military and diplomatic stratagem.”
“The glory my lord achieved… one can confirm through my earlier records.”
“He was an otherworldly being — a calamity incarnate,
the Immortal, the Lord of the Dead.”
“With but a thought, he could raise millions of corpses
and command them as his loyal soldiers —
the ultimate necromancer.”
“With a single sword strike, he could cleave seas and slice through mountains.”
“His body was that of a mere human,
yet his martial prowess was nothing short of divine.”
“In only fifty years,
he conquered the vast continent of Anux and rose as its Emperor.”
“How many mighty heroes knelt before his overwhelming might?”
“What of the so-called heroes who defied him in the name of prophecy?”
“They now serve him as Death Knights.”
“The archmages who once ruled from the towers of their Magic Empires?”
“They were turned into Liches,
eternally bound to serve their master.”
“Even dragons, who spread terror across the land —
their flesh stripped away,
now roam as skeletal Bone Dragons under his command.”
“The rival races that fought humans for territory
were all driven to the fringes of the world.”
“Even after the entire continent bowed beneath him,
my lord led his undead armies to invade other dimensions.”
“His throne was forged from the bones of the Demon King
and the Seven Archdukes of the Demon Realm.”
“The jewel embedded in his sword’s hilt
was an artifact stolen from the Spirit King of the Elemental Plane.”
“The radiant pearls that illuminated his palace halls
were trophies taken from the Martial Realm —
after he slew the Heavenly Demon and the Alliance Leader alike.”
“And one day, I dared to ask him — why?”
“‘My lord, you have already reached a divine state beyond comparison.’
‘Indeed.’
‘No being in any world can stand against you — not in Anux, nor the Spirit Realm, nor the Demon Realm.’
‘That is true.’
‘Then why do you continue to invade new worlds and seek battles to the death?’”
“The answer I received that day… was one I could never have foreseen.”
“‘It is not for pleasure, nor to satisfy a hollow ambition.’
‘Then for what reason, my lord?’
‘I seek only one thing — a way to return home.’
‘Home… you mean Earth?’
‘Yes. The place where I was born. Where my family and friends live.’”
“He had told me countless stories of Earth.”
“‘You will find your way back, my lord.’
‘Yet I’ve wasted a century without a single clue.’
‘A century is not so long, is it?’
‘By now, they will all have grown old… and died. I am far too late.’”
“Even after that, he continued invading worlds for another hundred years.”
“But no matter where he went —
among gods, sages, or heretics —
none knew of the world called Earth.”
“And when the final dimension connected to our continent fell to his rule,
my lord wept before me — for the first and last time.”
“‘There is no road home.’”
“Soon after, my lord summoned every servant to the palace.”
“The moment he spoke, a hush fell over the hall.”
“‘I am weary.’”
“None dared breathe. For such words did not suit the ruler of all realms.”
“‘I wish to rest — to sleep forever. From this day forth, devote yourselves to finding a way for me to enter eternal rest.’”
“He had accepted death — or at least, desired it.”
“The palace echoed with sorrow that night.”
“But to bring eternal sleep to one who had transcended life itself… was impossible.”
At that moment, the old man sensed movement and gently set his pen down.
He turned toward the closed door — just as it creaked open.
Through the gap stepped a handsome young man wearing a baby sling, gently patting a drowsy child.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be at work today?”
The old man immediately stood and bowed deeply.
“With utmost humility, my lord, today is my day off.”
“Lucky you. So, what are you doing?”
“I was merely resuming the chronicles of the Imperial House—”
“There you go again, wasting time.”
The young man flicked on the fluorescent lights.
“Didn’t I tell you? When I’m home, stop being gloomy and just turn the damn lights on.”
“With all due respect, my lord, the candle’s glow shines brighter than the sun on nights like this—”
“Listen to him, huh? If you’re so humble, then stop talking back.”
The old man cleared his throat awkwardly.
“My lord, might I ask why you’re not asleep at this late hour?”
“Are you mocking me? The kid has to sleep first before I can.”
“P-please, end my life!”
“Hey, not so loud! If you wake her up, you—”
Too late.
“Waaahhhh!”
The baby burst into tears.
“Damn it! You made her cry! Now fix it!”
“With utmost humility, perhaps the princess desires her meal…”
“I just fed her!”
“Then perhaps… a change of diaper?”
“Nope, clean.”
“With utmost humility, then this humble one cannot discern the reason—”
“You’re no help at all!”
“Sis! Siiiis!”
Yelling, the young man dashed out of the room with the wailing child.
The old man, watching with a faint smile, picked up his pen once more.
“In the end, though my lord failed to find eternal rest,
he did at last succeed in returning to his beloved homeland — Earth.”
“Since today is a rare holiday, I shall take this opportunity
to record the events that followed.”
“How did my lord, who sought death, return to his home world?”
“And though he once had neither wife nor lover —
why is he now raising his only heir, the princess?”
“And why, after arriving on Earth, have I taken the guise of a lowly convenience-store worker
to study this world’s culture and systems?”
“All shall be written down — the lost chronicles of the Imperial House.”
“Let’s see… our arrival on Earth occurred on the 17th day of the fifth month, in the 1388th year of the Continental Calendar…”
“Or in Earth’s reckoning — not long ago.”
Just then, a familiar voice shouted from beyond the door:
“Hey! Emergency!”
“Come out quick, we’ve got late-night snacks!”
“Snacks!”
“My sister ordered chicken!”
“Chicken!”
The old man immediately threw down his pen and dashed out of the room, yelling with all his might:
“Y-your humble servant is most honored, my lord—!”
