The most beautiful and powerful beast.
Matthias possessed overwhelmingly exceptional abilities and outstanding looks, to the extent that his humble origins could not even be considered a flaw. He was the only man in the history of Reveln who rose from humble beginnings to nobility, eventually becoming the commander of the knights and receiving the title of viscount.
Matthias, who has yet to fall under Jocelyn’s hand… He’s here.
Matthias propelled Jocelyn as a strong heir to the throne and played a key role in the uprising he led. Jocelyn’s life was sharply divided into before and after meeting Matthias; his arrival was a significant turning point in Jocelyn’s life.
A ruthless hero so brutal that he earned the glamorous nickname of the War God Gerard’s incarnation, Matthias was unmatched in the art of the sword. He was first encountered in a savage tribal suppression battle, where he single-handedly annihilated the barbarian camp with just the body of a seventeen-year-old boy and was discovered to have slaughtered around forty warriors.
<Did you kill all of them?>
<…..>
<I’m not asking for guilt. Just wanting to express gratitude for lightening our load.>
<…..>
<Interesting, you’re so young yet so accomplished. Truly remarkable. Lelusha, what do you think? Does it remind you of when we first found you?>
A man with abilities so overwhelming that I couldn’t even hope to match. Though she was his mentor, Matthias’ skill had long surpassed Lelusha’s.
There was no match for him. His supernatural strength, seemingly surpassing the level of humans, was a revelation to Jocelyn upon becoming king. Matthias was not merely human; he was a ‘Forbidden One’, in other words, a beast in human form. Not all forbidden beasts could mimic human form, and the more advanced ones were closer to ‘perfection’ in their pharyngeal form, making Matthias one of the very few that could.
Jocelyn discovered Matthias and raised him during the war to establish public achievements. Initially unaware of Matthias’ true nature, circumstances later likely revealed the truth to him.
Utilizing Matthias during his reign, Jocelyn controlled him. Matthias’ existence, returning victorious from every expedition with the support of the people, posed a significant threat to the usurper king, who had become bloodthirsty and seized the throne.
Efforts to eliminate Matthias were likely undertaken. Sending him with only around a thousand troops to face Erboden’s Independence Army of eight thousand was practically signing his death warrant, yet he stubbornly returned unscathed, his smooth face untouched.
‘If I had taken your hand first, instead of Jocelyn’s… What would have changed?’ the thought lingered, evoking a sensation deeply engraved like a seal. The feeling of that day, a large hand firmly grasping this small one, remained vivid.
Yes, what would change if I were to take your untamed hand first here and now?
Certainly, Jocelyn won’t ascend to the throne. The credit for the great victory in the decisive battle, which he had selfishly claimed, rightfully belongs to Matthias, who shed blood in his place. Without Matthias by his side, there would be no one to claim all the glory or receive the people’s adoration as a hero of war. The young usurper who attempted to seize the throne would fade into the background of history, as if he never existed.
Thwarting Jocelyn’s ambition for the throne is as good as revenge.
If handled properly, keeping Matthias around could bring significant benefits in return. There’s a considerable chance of gaining reflected benefits, ascending to the rank of a knight commander, and being hailed as a hero who overcame adversity for the country.
A noble without the protection of the household, a lady who has been unfairly treated since birth, an existence that seems non-existent in this world… Yet unmistakably alive, with the blood of the Grüsewald lineage flowing within. The noble lineage that I’ve longed to possess but could never obtain is within me.
The weight of it all pressed down on me. Trapped in this weakened body, the possibility of reclaiming my own seemed to dwindle with each passing moment. If the soul of the true owner lingered somewhere, then my own presence here was a precarious one at best.
