CHAPTER ONE

On a sunny day, with the wind gently swaying the leaves of the trees, two lines of students, one of boys and the other of girls, stood aligned. They all wore gray uniforms, complemented by gray blazers and red shirts underneath.

At the end of the boys’ line stood a young man with white hair and slightly reddish eyes. He had an introspective, almost antisocial expression. Hesitantly, he held his backpack like a suitcase, using only his left hand.

This was Yuuki Nara, a 16-year-old student of extraordinary intelligence who consistently scored between 100 and 200 points on all his exams. Most of the time, his scores ranged from 199 to 200. Despite his academic talent, his parents, obsessed with work and studies, paid little attention to him.

Suddenly, Yuuki heard a voice that made him raise his head:

— You are the chosen one.

Intrigued, he looked at the sky and saw something shining like a transparent diamond, repeating the same phrase:

— You are the chosen one.

As the diamond's light enveloped Yuuki, he felt an overwhelming fear, as though he was about to be murdered. He tried to call for help, but no one seemed to notice what was happening.

Unable to open his eyes, he rubbed them with his hands, insisting until he finally managed to see. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in paradise: emerald-green fields stretched as far as the eye could see, fresh wind swayed the leaves of the trees, and Yuuki lay beneath one of them.

He realized something had profoundly changed in his senses. His body felt different, filled with extraordinary strength, unparalleled speed, absurdly fast reflexes, and agility he had never experienced before.

Now, Yuuki wore a kind of white hooded cloak. His black pants and shoes were impeccably polished, as if brand new. Around his waist, he carried a belt with 13 small knives, along with a purple scythe adorned with a detailed handle that had red eyes glowing near the blade.

— Yuuki-sama! — a feminine voice called from afar, clearly searching for him.

Hearing his name, Yuuki looked up and saw a young woman with black hair and yellow eyes running toward him, dressed in an elegant white dress.

— Yuuki-sama, you disappeared suddenly! Everyone was worried about you!

— I’m sorry, Akame-san. I just wanted to get some fresh air. There’s no need to worry.

Akame... Normally, the presence of such a beautiful woman would leave him paralyzed or even unconscious. However, something about his body and consciousness felt different. Now, in this new world, he could act naturally.

— Master, we have a new mission today, — Akame informed.

"Another mission? Wait... Am I an assassin?"

— Who do I need to kill?

"So that’s it... From the memories I have of this world, I’m the greatest assassin in this kingdom."

— The mission is to eliminate the demon Metius, who is terrorizing the northern Kingdom of Assis.

"Missions mean rewards, right?"

— And what’s the reward?

— 1,470 billion gold coins.

— What?! — Yuuki almost lost his composure but managed to maintain it.

(That’s a lot of money... I’ll take this mission.)

— I’ll complete the mission. Thank you, Akame.

Akame, surprised and slightly blushing, nodded before turning around and heading to Yuuki’s castle, home to the legendary assassin. She seemed moved, quietly repeating to herself:

— Thank you, Akame…

Yuuki stood up. His eyes landed on a poster affixed to the wall: "Metius, the Demon of the North – Mission: Eliminate him!"

A strange sensation coursed through his body, something both unsettling and satisfying.

— This feeling… it’s the thrill of killing... — he murmured with a faint smile.

Determined, Yuuki headed to his lair and crossed the portal connecting the countries. The journey was smooth, and he emerged in the icy territory of Northern Assis.

His eyes scanned the frozen horizon until they landed on the destination: an imposing, shadowy mansion. With firm steps, Yuuki entered the place. As he stepped onto the luxurious red carpet of the entrance, he noticed the attentive eyes of guards and demons fixed on him.

— Lord Metius... — his voice echoed through the hall.

— Yes, young man? — a deep, powerful voice responded.

— I have a request to make... but I’d prefer to discuss it privately.

Metius tilted his head, intrigued.

— Very well...

With a gesture, the demon transported them to a white room, completely empty, where silence reigned.

— Tell me, what is your request? — Metius asked with a confident smile.

Yuuki raised his eyes and, with an unsettling calm, replied:

— My request… is your death.

For a moment, silence enveloped the room, until an explosive laugh erupted from Metius. He laughed uncontrollably, clutching his belly as his voice echoed off the walls.

— My death? Boy, you’re truly bold! HAHAHA!

Yuuki didn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, he drew a small knife from his belt. His aura shifted instantly, emanating an intense red glow. In a leap impossible to follow with the naked eye, Yuuki advanced toward the demon.

Before Metius could react, it was over. The demon’s head was severed in a strike so precise he didn’t even feel the cut.

The room dissolved, and Yuuki returned to his castle with Metius’s head in hand, holding it by the hair. He handed it to Akame, who promptly tossed it into a magical portal.

In the same instant, a bag of coins emerged from the portal, landing at Yuuki’s feet.

— Here are your coins, Lord Yuuki, — Akame said, offering the reward.

— Thank you, Akame, — he replied casually.

With his thanks, Akame blushed slightly, averting her eyes.