Snow cracked beneath Dal Chin Hae's boots as he chased the masked assassin through the silent forest.
The cold air brushed against his face.
His breath escaped in small clouds as he moved between the trees.
The assassin was fast.
Very fast.
But Chin Hae was faster.
Every heartbeat brought him closer.
He could hear the faint sound of footsteps ahead of him.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Then—
Nothing.
The footsteps stopped.
Chin Hae slowed down.
His eyes narrowed.
The forest had become completely silent.
He looked around.
No movement.
No sound.
Not even the wind.
The assassin suddenly disappeared from sight.
Chin Hae stepped forward.
And—
He fell straight into a ditch.
"..."
He stared at the snow-covered ground beneath him.
For several seconds, he simply remained there.
Then he sighed.
"Seriously?"
Chin Hae grabbed the edge of the ditch and pulled himself out.
He brushed the snow from his coat.
"I hate assassins."
He continued forward.
By the time he reached the top of the hill, the assassin was gone.
Chin Hae stopped.
He looked across the forest.
Nothing.
He sighed again.
"Great."
He slowly turned around.
Then—
An attack came from behind.
Chin Hae instinctively dodged.
A blade passed beside his face.
He spun around.
His hand immediately reached for the katana at the back of his waist.
SHING!
He drew the blade and struck.
The masked assassin froze.
A moment later, they collapsed into the snow.
Chin Hae stood over them for a moment.
He slowly lowered his katana.
Then he sheathed it.
"Done."
He looked toward the sky.
The sun was already beginning to disappear.
"...I'm late."
Several hours later, Dal Chin Hae finally returned.
A grand castle stood before him.
Its enormous walls stretched into the distance, surrounding the kingdom like a fortress.
Dragons circled above the castle.
Their enormous silhouettes passed over the moonlight.
Chin Hae walked toward the gates.
The guards immediately recognized him.
The massive gates slowly opened.
He entered without saying a word.
The castle was still active despite the late hour.
Servants walked through the halls.
Knights stood at attention.
Messengers carried documents from one room to another.
Chin Hae continued toward the throne room.
When he reached the doors, they opened.
He stepped inside.
He immediately bowed.
"Good evening, Your Majesty."
A short woman stood before him.
Her skin was as soft as rosy milk, her silver hair flowed like silk, and her face was so beautiful that she almost looked divine.
Her Majesty crossed her arms.
"You're late, Chin Hae."
There was a hint of malice in her voice.
Chin Hae remained bowed.
"I was simply executing an assassin, Your Majesty."
Silk stared at him.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then she sighed.
"I suppose I can let it go for now."
Chin Hae raised his head.
"Thank you."
Silk turned away.
"You always seem to have an excuse."
Chin Hae quietly followed her with his eyes.
...There she goes again.
He had served Silk for years.
He had seen her angry.
He had seen her annoyed.
He had seen her laugh.
And despite everything, he had never once regretted serving her.
Her Majesty...
Silk Haneu.
The last Ice Dragon.
One of the most powerful beings within the Circle of the Great Five Nations.
Among countless powerful nations, she alone possessed enough power to alter the fate of immortals.
She was my highest priority.
And she still is.
Silk glanced back at him.
"Chin Hae."
"Yes?"
"Go rest."
Chin Hae blinked.
"Rest?"
"Yes."
She pointed toward the door.
"You look exhausted."
"I'm perfectly fine."
"That's what exhausted people say."
Chin Hae sighed.
"...As you command."
He turned toward the door.
But before he could leave—
"Chin Hae."
He stopped.
Silk looked at him.
For once, her expression was completely serious.
"Be careful."
Chin Hae smiled faintly.
"I always am."
Silk looked away.
"That's what worries me."
The next morning, Chin Hae received a message.
A single letter.
The seal belonged to the Association.
He stared at it for several seconds.
The Association rarely contacted him directly.
He broke the seal.
Inside was a short message.
Report to the Association Headquarters.
Nothing else.
Chin Hae frowned.
"That's vague."
Still, he had no reason to refuse.
The Association Headquarters stood far from the kingdom.
It was a massive structure surrounded by tall walls.
People came and went constantly.
Researchers.
Soldiers.
Messengers.
Magic users.
Chin Hae walked through the entrance.
A member of the Association greeted him.
"From Chin Hae?"
"Yes."
"The Head is waiting for you."
Chin Hae raised an eyebrow.
"The Head?"
The man nodded.
"Follow me."
They walked through several corridors.
The farther they went, the quieter the building became.
Eventually, they reached a large door.
There was no name on it.
Only the emblem of the Association.
The man stopped.
"He's inside."
Chin Hae nodded.
The man left.
Chin Hae stared at the door.
Then he knocked.
Knock. Knock.
A voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Chin Hae opened the door.
The room was surprisingly simple.
A large desk stood near the window.
Papers were scattered across it.
Maps.
Reports.
Documents.
Behind the desk sat a person.
The Head of the Association.
Chin Hae stepped inside.
The Head continued reading.
Neither spoke.
Chin Hae waited.
Several seconds passed.
Then a minute.
Eventually, the Head placed the document down.
"From Chin Hae."
"That's me."
"You know why you're here?"
"No."
The Head stared at him.
"Interesting."
Chin Hae crossed his arms.
"Was I supposed to?"
"No."
The Head leaned back.
"I simply wanted to meet you."
Chin Hae's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Meet me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Curiosity."
Chin Hae stared at the Head.
"...That's it?"
"For now."
Silence filled the room.
The Head reached toward a stack of documents and pulled one out.
They placed it on the desk.
Chin Hae glanced at it.
His name was written across the top.
Dal Chin Hae.
He picked it up.
"You've been keeping records on me."
"We keep records on everyone who matters."
"Do I matter?"
The Head smiled.
"You do now."
Chin Hae lowered the document.
"What exactly are you looking for?"
The Head didn't answer immediately.
Instead, they looked toward the window.
"Tell me."
Chin Hae waited.
"What do you think of Silk Haneu?"
Chin Hae's expression changed.
"Her Majesty?"
"Yes."
"She's my queen."
"That's not what I asked."
Chin Hae remained silent.
The Head continued.
"You've served her for a long time."
"Yes."
"You would die for her?"
Chin Hae answered immediately.
"Without hesitation."
The Head smiled faintly.
"I see."
Chin Hae placed the document back on the desk.
"If that's all, I'd like to return home."
The Head nodded.
"Of course."
Chin Hae turned toward the door.
His hand reached for the handle.
Then—
"Dal."
He stopped.
The Head didn't look at him.
"Be careful who you trust."
Chin Hae slowly turned around.
"What does that mean?"
The Head finally looked at him.
"For now?"
A faint smile appeared.
"Nothing."
Chin Hae stared at them.
He didn't like that answer.
But he left anyway.
Days passed.
Nothing happened.
The kingdom returned to its normal routine.
Chin Hae continued his duties.
Training.
Patrolling.
Protecting Silk.
Executing those who threatened the kingdom.
For a while, everything seemed normal.
Almost peaceful.
Then—
One Night.
Everything Changes.
Scary, isn't it?
The moon rose.
The sun slept.
And beneath the darkness of the night, a shadow blurred across the rooftops.
It moved from building to building.
Silent.
Careful.
Until it finally reached the throne room.
A figure stepped from the shadows.
"I am Kersia Vertalian, Captain of the Versailles Knights Order."
Silk looked toward him.
"Oh my."
A playful smile formed on her face.
"Surely you know who I am."
"Of course."
Kersia's expression remained serious.
"You are Silk Haneu."
His eyes narrowed.
"The last Ice Dragon."
Silk's smile disappeared.
"And yet you still stand there opposing me?"
Her voice carried a faint edge of disdain.
"I'm doing this for your own good, Your Majesty."
"Such words."
Silk raised her hand.
"What could you possibly know about me?"
Several icicle blades formed around her.
Kersia didn't flinch.
"You're right."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a scroll.
"I know nothing about who you really are."
His gaze hardened.
"But I know the truth about Dal Chin Hae."
Silk's expression changed.
"...Tsk."
She summoned her katana.
Before she could move—
A man appeared between them.
Dal Chin Hae.
He took one step.
Then disappeared.
Kersia immediately prepared himself.
Chin Hae appeared behind him.
Kersia predicted the attack and spun around, swinging his sword.
Nothing.
An afterimage.
Chin Hae appeared above him.
His katana was already against Kersia's neck.
He swung.
But Kersia reacted instantly.
A massive pillar erupted from the ground, sending Chin Hae flying backward.
Chin Hae landed gracefully.
He looked down at his katana.
"...Fine."
He tightened his grip.
"For once, I'll actually use you like a katana."
He stepped forward.
The moment his feet touched the ground—
Pillars erupted around him.
One.
Two.
Three.
They surrounded Chin Hae, trapping him in place.
Kersia smiled.
"I've got you."
Then—
Stab.
A dagger pierced Chin Hae from behind.
His eyes widened.
He slowly looked down at the blade protruding from his body.
"..."
Blood dripped onto the snow.
Chin Hae stared at the wound in disbelief.
Then he let out a bitter laugh.
"So this is how it ends..."
His legs gave out.
As he fell, he glanced toward Silk.
His eyes softened.
This life was a grand one.
Too bad it ended here.
His body hit the ground.
Silence filled the throne room.
Then—
[A Great One Has Now Fallen]
The prologue was over.