The air bore a foul and rusty stench, thick with the acrid scent of blood that seeped into every chilling gust. A poisonous haze, as thick as a shroud, enshrouded the vicinity. Even a single, timid breath inhaled by the frail could unleash an instant death.

Amid the eerie stillness, a soft, rhythmic 'tip-tap' echoed. Droplets of fresh, vivid purple fluid dripped steadily onto the blade of a gleaming silver sword. Before it, the gargantuan, two-horned head sprawled helplessly upon the polished, shimmering floor. Its sharp, vigilant eyes, fully awake and brimming with defiance, locked into an unwavering glare at the figure who loomed above, daring to step upon it.

"You who killed the Vessel, state your name."

The head, now severed from its main body, spoke with an eerie tone. Evidently, the High Rank on that side still maintained a connection.

"Kaiser," it responded nonchalantly.

"Kaiser, the human child who successfully slew the Demon King's vessel, shall be granted both a blessing and a curse—!"

Before the bodiless entity could continue, Kaiser plunged his blade once more, reducing it to smoldering ashes.

"You're too loud."

This person held no regard for blessings or curses. He firmly believed in one's mastery over their own destiny. Unwavering in his conviction that any challenges, be they from gods or demons, would succumb to his indomitable will.

"I have no time for your nonsense."

Kaiser promised to return within a few minutes; conversing with a monster was nothing but a waste of time.

Finally, without any impediments in his path, Kaiser walked freely toward the emperor. There was no one else in this chamber except for the two of them and the corpses.

As the saying goes, it's best to savor the best for last.

Hic

Albert the Emperor cried and trembled as he crawled away from the assassin. But before he could escape, a glint of silver met his face, just inches away.

"You look like a cockroach, Your Majesty."

"S-s-stay away from me, Kaiser!"

"Scared?" Kaiser nonchalantly drove his sword into the floor, then wiped away the remaining blood so meticulously, as if indicating you're next, heightening the Emperor 's fear.

With the creatures the Emperor had summoned now obliterated, he found himself with nowhere to escape. He bore a striking resemblance to a pitiful rat facing a carnivorous hawk.

"I heard you were going to kill me; where has your confidence gone? Hmm, Albert?"

"H-how dare you speak my name—!"

With a swift swing, Albert's head flew into the air.

"Ah, noisy..."

It was an apathetic remark, as if he had just killed an insect rather than a human. He felt nothing. This emperor does not deserve an ounce of sympathy, anger, or pity. Kaiser won't show any emotion for him.

The severed head of the emperor tumbled to the cold stone floor, and its jeweled crown clattered as it rolled to a stop at Kaiser's feet.

It's finally over.

The once-unshakable reign of tyrant has finally come to an end.

How long did it take?

How many people died for this to happen?

The emperor's chamber burst open, expelling his concerned subordinate, Matrix, with a look of unease etched on his face.

"Lord Kaiser, Lady Elyana... She's..."

Kaiser clutched the crown, a sense of foreboding creeping over him at the mere mention of Elyana's name. Matrix's voice hinted at trouble, sending shivers to his soul.

"Take me to her!"

What could have gone wrong? He had entrusted his most formidable subordinates to protect her and secure the safest place possible. No one should have had the slightest chance to breach their defenses. Yet, that ominous feeling clung to him like a shadow, a silent torment that refused to be dismissed.

Matrix's expression couldn't be painted; beads of cold sweat trickled down his fine brow. He knew that if Kaiser lost control, no one could contain him. No one!

As Kaiser stepped into the room, his eyes immediately fell upon Elyana, sitting upright, her form gradually dissolving as though consumed by a gentle light. Yet, her smile remained warm and carefree, her outstretched arms beckoning him for an embrace.

Without a second thought, Kaiser embraced the person he feared losing the most.

“Why?... We're so close... Why now, why?! ” He kept repeating to himself.

“I've already lost everything... But please, not you too.”

"Elyana..." His voice softened and nearly broke as if something were caught in his throat.

Yes, he was scared. He's scared to be left alone again. What's the point of reaching greatness if he will live with loneliness?

He can't bear it.

"Kai!" Elyana giggled, returning his embrace. Her voice rang with unbridled joy, as if nothing were amiss.

"You came! Hehehe, forgive this silly girl for defying your wishes. Ehe!"

'How could she maintain this cheerfulness, despite the unbearable pain she must be feeling?' Kaiser bit his lower lip and gazed at her in silence, silently imploring her not to leave.

Elyana gently wiped the blood from his lower lip. "Kai, please don't hurt yourself. I'm alright... See, I still have plenty of energy. Hehe, I can stay with you, hmmm, for a few more minutes?"

Her words only stoked the flames of his anxiety. It was clear that she wasn't fine. It was painfully evident that she had already made the decision to leave him.

"Matrix!!!"

His subordinate immediately knelt in response to his fury. "We deeply apologize; instead of us protecting her, she shielded us. The poison from the dragon's breath has spread this far, and others can't endure it. The Lady is also concerned about the nearby citizens."

Matrix felt a slight sting on his cheek as a sword was hurled at him. If there had been intent to kill him, he would surely have met his end, and he would have embraced that fate willingly. Matrix fully understand his Lord's wrath. It was their inadequacy and lack of power that had led to their lady's self-sacrifice, as she expended too much of her mana to neutralize the poisoned air.

"Aya, don't be angry with them, Kai... It's my decision... I'm content." Elyana gently held his face, ensuring his gaze was locked on her.

"Oh, no, you've marred that handsome face of yours, Kai."

"Elyana..." Kaiser, unconvinced by her cheery facade, wore a pained expression.

With the path he chose, death was unavoidable. It had already attached itself to him and his people. He'd already lost count of how many friends' bodies he'd buried and witnessed their deaths. He doesn't want her to be the next.

"Kai... I'm alright... Could you please show me your smile and tell me you'll be fine?"

How could he possibly manage that and be okay in this situation? He couldn't. It felt impossible. "Please, tell me how I can save you."

Kaiser desperately attempted to transfer his mana to her, but due to his lack of knowledge about the proper method and their incompatibility, it simply dissipated into the air.

"Kai, you'll only hurt yourself; please know that I'm content with my life. Meeting you has been filled with wonderful memories. So, smile. And be proud of what I've done. Can you do it for me?"

In response, Kaiser remained silent, resting his head on Elyana's shoulder. He knew this would likely be the last time he'd feel her warmth, and he couldn't help but sob, though his cries were barely audible, as if he were trying to conceal them.

Elyana was well aware of how unreasonable and forceful her request had been. She recognized the selfishness in it, but she couldn't bear the thought of her final moments being filled with sadness and gloom. She didn't want to be remembered as a painful memory for Kai. At least, that's what she hoped for.

"Oh, did you get the crown?"

Kaiser nodded in silence, like a child. Her face brightened a bit as she found him adorably obedient.

"Give it to me and allow me to place it on your head."

Matrix swiftly retrieved the left crown and presented it to Elyana.

With the crown symbolically placed upon his head, Elyana declared, "From this day forth, you are the emperor of this continent, Kaiser Heinrich Syntellizyor. Lead the continent toward prosperity. Long live His Imperial Majesty!"

Everyone kneeled down, chanting in unison,

"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"

Elyana smiled bittersweetly as she watched the back of her man. 'She has no regret.' It's a lie.

Yes, this man will be a great emperor, no doubt about it; however, as a person... Kaiser is strong, but also weak.

It pains her to know that her death will exacerbate Kaiser's suffering. And the outcome of this. She is terrified of the future, when the man she loved will despise himself even more.

The mere thought of this man enduring his struggles in solitude, oblivious to the care of his companions, weighed down her heart like a leaden burden.

It is her biggest regret: dying first and leaving him.

She only desired that he would be free of misery and completely happy.

"Kai..." Her emotions erupted and betrayed her; tears, shaped like glistening pearls, cascaded as she addressed him.

Kaiser's trembling hands desperately reached for her dissipating face. Tears and anguish blurred his vision.

"NO!"

Elyana's lips curled upward, her ethereal voice a blend of solace and sorrow, as she bade her farewell.

"Kai ... Please, be happy..."

Her words were like a soothing melody, tinged with profound grief.

To be continued:

...----------------...

[Kaiser's wife: Wtf, that's the end of the chapter!?

MeLovesRedFlags: Why, why, why? Why did you kill Elyana? I hate you, author!

I'mGey: Dammit. Kaiser lost another one. Cursed you!

Dukja'sWoman: Killing important characters one by one, wow!

Isurslong@harda$$mine: I hate the author.

Crybaby: Man, who's cutting onions?

DramaticQueen_101: He will be the king, but he lost his queen.

Justin: Why do I keep reading this sh*t?

Matrix_myBoi: I'm just here to read the comments. Want some popcorn?

Ursugarmama: Ahmmm, finding the author's location.

Karen: Author? \= No; Spawn of Satan? \= Yes]

Reading the comments put a smile on my face from ear to ear. I scrolled more, and the majority of the comments were hateful toward me.

"Aya, I'm so popular, isn't it?"

I just finished my shower when all sorts of notifications popped up on my phone's screen. Just a few minutes passed after chapter 876 was uploaded by time schedule, yet the chapter was already bombarded with comments.

"Kekeke, that's it. That's the reaction that I want. Come on, dear readers, suffer more~"

I am so entertained and overly joyful that I can't help but laugh maniacally. My book [Syntellizyor Way to Become Monarch: Kaiser's Era] was not that popular; I only have 200 readers at most. Yet I managed to reach 800+ chapters, almost at the end, because of them.

My dear readers love to leave comments and pour out their emotions. Their tears, love, and hate motivate me to keep writing. Yes, I'm so thankful that some people are as weird as me.

This book doesn't even have a romance tag, but they keep asking where the female lead is. No way; that's normal.

They're a bit strange, but I love them.

And I love to kill their favorite characters, too.

After drying my hair, I sat down on my most comfortable chair and opened my computer, planning to start editing my draft for the next chapters.

But before I could even start, a weird message flashed, covering most of the screen.

[ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⟟⌇⟒☍⏃⟟ ⟊⍜⎍⍀⋏⟒⊬ ⟟⌇ ⌇⏁⏃⍀⏁⟟⋏☌ ⏁⍀⏃⋏⌇⌰⏃⏁⟒ ]

"A bug?" were words that left my mouth as I couldn't comprehend them.

I plan to restart my computer, but I can't even find the main menu. Just then the word changes to "triple dots."

[ ... ]

[Condition fulfilled.]

[Transferring your soul in 60 seconds.]

[59]

[58]

"What the—!" I almost fell off my chair looking at the countdown.

"What is this?" What kind of prank is this?!"

I panicked and hastily pulled the plugs to shut down the computer. The monitor went black, but an eerie bluish glow still lingered. What was worse was that wherever I looked, it lurked.

'A window?'

I chuckled.

"What the h*ck! Am I dreaming? Is this really a system?"

'Am I losing my mind?'

My question was swiftly answered. A sharp, searing pain gripped my heart, making it feel as though someone was squeezing it so tightly that I struggled to catch my breath.

It's a telltale sign of a heart attack.

[30]

[29]

"Oh, d*mn." My vision blurred and hazed. Desperately, I fumbled for my phone on the nearby table, gasping for breath, intending to dial 911.

'I can't die now.'

As the countdown reached 10, the screen flashed red with a warning sign.

But before I could even touch the phone, my body collapsed to the floor with a harsh and resounding thud. "It hurts." I clutched my chest, fearing my heart might leap from my body.

'It hurts... It hurts so much...'

[6]

[5]

"I can't die... Not now..."

[4]

[3]

'Not now, when I'm only in my boxer... the humiliation... please, not now...'

[1]

[You Died]

"Sh*t."

[Breaking News: Unclad Body Discovered in Apartment]

Oh, would you look at that spectacle! That shameless figure sprawled unclad in the apartment—none other than yours truly—Ryzen Xarzos Gayagoy, a ripe age of 27, a lifelong bachelor, departing this world with the illustrious title of a virgin. Oh, the tragedy of it all! Tsk, tsk, tsk, poor old me.

Ah, my pitiful existence, making headlines as soon as they stumbled upon my lifeless form. That was what I imagined to happen. As on that fateful day, a trusty old lady I relied on was supposed to swing by the apartment, tidy up the place, and whip up my meals. She knew my passcode and even had a spare key.

"I'm pretty certain... Auntie must've been in for a shocker seeing my lifeless self... Sigh."

And I figure it wasn't just her; my old man might have been taken aback by the news too. I just hope nothing bad ever comes his way, seeing his son, whom he cares for, kick the bucket before him; that would be truly heart-wrenching. I only wish he can bounce back soon and prioritize his well-being above all else. If there's one thing I regret, it's that I can no longer fulfill his dream of traveling to Japan and other countries with me.

Hah, I've got all the time in the world for that, but my broke ass won't let me fulfill his wish. I've let him down in so many ways. I graduated with Latin honors in my Tertiary Education, aced the teacher's licensure exam on my first shot, but somehow I couldn't land a job—or truth be told, I didn't even bother applying.

I feel like it wasn't my calling; I just jumped into the course because I had no clue about what I truly wanted in life. Back then, my mom insisted I become a teacher, so I went along to keep them happy, even if it was just temporary. I gave it my all with what was laid out in front of me.

But then, it dawned on me too late that I don't vibe with this field; I despise dealing with people, and I don't want to steer young minds in the wrong direction. It's a weighty responsibility—to shape and nurture them into better individuals when I, myself, was a bit of a mess. So, I took off. I craved more freedom with my time to pursue what I truly enjoyed, not relying on the government for my paycheck, and so, I ended up a broke ass, immature author.

If my thoughts ever find their way to someone's ears, my sincere wish is that you discover your unique path—a journey where both you and those you cherish can find genuine happiness and fulfillment.

Once more, a big sigh just slipped out of me. When I ponder my own demise, I can't help but get a bit sentimental. The thought that I won't get to see my dad again weighs heavily on my heart.

Just then, the loudest laugh pierced my ears, snapping me back to the present moment and the unfolding reality.

"Hahaha, that man was hilarious!"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Tsk, that crazy dude from earlier."

"Oh... now I remember. That guy is genuinely insane."

Soon, echoes of laughter permeated the entire pub below, echoing the sentiment of the man from earlier.

"Tch," I grunted in frustration, slamming the empty wooden beer cup onto the table. The loud noise snagged the attention of the barbarians below, their hostile glares making it clear that the laughter had been aimed at me. It appeared I had earned the label of 'crazy' in the eyes of everyone present. But then again, who in this place wasn't a bit off?

**A while ago…**

When the system window flashed, displaying the ominous message '[You died.]' I simply closed my eyes, bracing myself for whatever awaited me—whether it be the celestial realms or the underworld. Yet, upon opening my eyes, I found myself perilously close to locking lips with a FREAKING HORSE! Its warm, pungent breath nearly brushed against my lips.

D*mn! The thought that my first kiss might involve a horse sent shivers down my spine and a strong urge to vomit. "Are you planning to die, young man?!" That annoying voice of an old man sitting on a coach box suddenly snapped me back to reality—I was in the middle of a busy road, narrowly avoiding being trampled.

My heart thumped like a drum, beating louder and louder as I narrowly escaped another close call with 'death.' When I tried to speak, no words emerged. Attempting to move my hands proved futile. 'What the h*ck.'

My body seemed petrified.

"Are you deaf?!!!" the coachman angrily exclaimed as he decided to move his horse away and hastily depart. However, the body of his cart came perilously close to scraping my nose.

'Oh, f*ck! Thanks for the consideration, you ugly old man. But that sickly horse of yours needs a vet! That's animal abuse!!!!'

I wanted to shout that out, but my inability to speak held me back. Just then, a bluish transparent screen blinked before me, and words slowly appeared, saying,

[Soul synchronizing 98%], with a loading bar below it. The percentage hadn't reached a hundred yet, but another word emerged.

[Body possession complete. The recipient can now be in complete control.]

In an instant, a rush of air filled my lungs, and I gasped as I stumbled to the ground. Clutching my chest, I breathed deeply, feeling like I had been underwater for too long and had just reached the surface.

"D*mn. Hah..., hah..., Where am I?"

I looked at my hand—it was thin, yet fairly white. Testing its movement, I opened and closed it, relieved to find that I could control it according to my will. A deep sigh of relief escaped me.

But not a minute had passed when I was bombarded by annoyed voices:

"Crazy young man, go to the side!!!"

"Move!"

"If you want to die, do it in a place where you harm no one!"

They shouted as they drove their carts and carriages, avoiding me.

"Well, dude, I'm busy catching my breath here!" I retorted, accompanied by the raising of my middle finger.

When I finally had a moment to look around, my mouth gaped open in sheer amazement. The structures surrounding me resembled a scene from a history book brought to life. The houses, with their timber frames and thatched roofs, stood proudly, exuding a rustic charm that felt straight out of a medieval tale.

The architectural styles were mesmerizing, simple yet intricate, with wooden carvings adorning the facades. The winding, unpaved roads beneath my feet added an authentic touch, and the entire village seemed frozen in time. The citizens, dressed in garments that mirrored an era long past, went about their daily activities as if they were oblivious to my bewildered presence.

"What on Alma matter, where am I?" I muttered in disbelief, my surroundings defying the logic of the world I once knew...

When I decided to strolled around, harsh whispers started tickling my ears, and everyone was giving me these gross looks.

Then it hits me—what even am I wearing? "Seriously, what's with this getup?"

It turns out, my cloak's thicker than a bear's winter coat, and my whole outfit's a mess of mud and feathers. It's like I've been mud wrestling with chickens! But, it's not just the state of my clothes that's bugging me; it's the fact that I'm totally cool with it. Like, not even a hint of disgust. It's just... oddly natural.

"Weird vibes, man."

Gathering my scattered thoughts and tidying up my appearance, I made my way to the nearest inn. Lucky for me, my pocket was jingling with a handful of coin bags, and not just any coins—gold ones!

"Hmm, did I just get Isekai'd?" I pondered aloud, peering at my reflection in the water bowl. Staring back at me were these big, round, crimson eyes. I blinked in surprise. This young man in the reflection had skin like porcelain, so smooth and flawless. Even his short, pinkish hair fell in silky strands, framing his petite frame. His beauty would make a chic jealous!

"Whoa, hold up a minute! W-why do I look so darn cute? Am I... am I a chic?"

I glanced downward, exhaling a sigh of relief as I spotted an elephant-sized jewel hanging between my legs. "Phew... But seriously, what gives? Where's my rugged, muscular physique?! The one I sculpted and maintained for years to look cool, hot, and sexy? Why, oh why?"