“You cannot defeat darkness by running from it, nor can you conquer your inner demons by hiding them from the world.”

The Tetsuya noble household was an essential in my plan for the future. The Tetsuya family provides numerous facilities for growth in magical, spiritual, physical, and mental processes, which are the ideal skills of a well-rounded human warrior.

Furthermore, the Tetsuya household was situated just to the west of the initial invasion point. In all respects, the Tetsuya household is the best area to mature and to stop the invasion. This world, also known as Tatoru, contains 5 currently discovered continents: Erestia, the territory of the Beastkin, Akuma, the territory of the Demonkin, Ningen, the territory of the Humans, Erufu, the territory of the Elves, and finally the neutral territory, Seichu.

Ningen is further divided into 87 noble households, including 5 dukes which control all the land under the domain. The Tetsuya noble household is under the purview of Duke Gerardus, which controls around 27 households, with over 15,000 troops on standby at all times. In past times, the duke was able to amass armies as large as 65,000 troops, which goes to show the crushing power the demons must have had to be able to devastate this land as quickly as they did.

My studies have continued to progress at a remarkable rate, thanks to my previous life’s experience and determination helping out where needed. I was considered to be a genius, considering my age and studious prowess, but it wasn’t enough for me, not enough to even hold a candle against the darkness.

Learning to read, write, arithmetic, and politics at such an age is surprising for one of original common birth like me, yet, it was reasonable. You see… a facade can only be believed by the populace when the ones saying it truly believe it with every fiber of their being, to be brainwashed to certain practices, to act like a noble even when no-one is watching. Certainly, I was being brainwashed to act like a noble, such a repugnant position, but it is the only way for me to be able to command the forces of good to vanquish the evil. After all, a commoner will never be listened to by those in power, even when it is so obviously the best choice.

Every day, I wake up at exactly the first bell (6:00 AM) to a “pleasant” breakfast with my family members, who rely on pleasantries to curry favor with those of higher stature. Bowing, eating, walking, all is vanity and fake pleasantry. Before the pleasantries begin, I am rushed to take a bath, where I cannot even wash myself in peace, due to the maids being enforced to take care of me. After all, I am still a 21-year-old on the inside, so it is quite awkward as one may guess.

My disgust with the nobles started in my previous life; I was a farmer, that is to say, of low birth, a commoner. Numerous events in my previous life enraged me, and I was determined, that if the other I lived, that I would protect him from the events that may befall him in the future.

I was determined to stop the coming darkness, and with it, secure a greater future for all. After dying once, with regrets, I have learned to regret regretting, and to an extent, become an insatiable desire for that which I wish.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Another 3 years pass

I am now a 6-year-old boy of the Tetsuya household. I am finally being taught in swordmanship and magic rather than the academics to my outstanding successes in such fields. My body, much stronger than the average 6-year-old, by being forged through rigorous exercises every day and every week, was able to keep up with the intensive processes to which it was subjected by my father. My father, a Marquis, had fought numerous times on the front lines of the great battle fields in times past, was able to expertly teach such an inept commoner as me. You may notice that I frequently compare myself to a commoner; it is to break the brainwashing, but also to destroy the previous image I had of myself— that I am and that I will become the hero needed to protect the light from the darkness.

Such a change, whilst only occurring after my life ended, and the supervision of the nobles began, sprouted in unimaginable forms. I was reluctant to let go of my previous life, even with all the clear-cut benefits being a noble provided me. Looking at that backwards, I was using them, as tools, to fulfill my purpose, and I justified it under the pretext they were nobles. My hesitation was obvious during this swordfight, and my father clearly noticed it and adjusted to his fatherly position, that is to ignore it and instead make me work harder to fulfill his purposes.

We all use each other; is that the meaning of us human beings, no, a social being? I refuse such a travesty. We are all equal, with rights given to us by our creators, but, with our social contracts, we built governments anew to judge clearly and yet, even that was corrupted by those who have an insatiable desire for power, wealth, and fame. In other words, Lust.

I am exasperated, waiting for my social debut. It is likely to hit the last nail on the coffin, or more exactly, to seal my fate as a noble. My ideals propel me to destruction of this new life, and my parents goad me to a new beginning. Inebriated and conflicted with sweet nectar and acidic injection. But I have chosen this path, and I shant look away, for the challenges ahead of me are but trifles compared to the truth, that is the truth of the double sided coin, and the purpose of my multiple lives.