As the crowd swelled with anticipation, Haru found himself leaning forward slightly, curiosity overtaking even his usual composure. These were the Vanguard—figures spoken of with reverence, fear, and admiration in equal measure. In his mind, he had imagined towering knights clad in radiant armor, mounted on noble steeds, the kind of image shaped by stories and legends. However, reality dismantled that expectation the moment the first figure appeared.
She stepped through the gates alone.
A woman with jet-black hair cascading all the way to her knees immediately commanded the entire courtyard without uttering a word. Her presence was suffocating, as if the air itself had grown heavier just to accommodate her. Her face was strikingly beautiful, almost unreal, yet her expression was cold and sharp, devoid of any warmth. Instead of traditional armor, she wore sleek, black reptilian gauntlets that extended to her elbows, paired with knee-high boots made of the same scale-like material. Strapped across her back was an enormous sword—far too large for any ordinary person to wield—yet she carried it effortlessly, as though it weighed nothing at all.
Haru blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "…That's not what I expected," he muttered under his breath.
Beside him, Sylvie sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. Why does she always have to make such a dramatic entrance? she thought. Can't she just wear normal armor like everyone else? Always so extra. As if sensing her thoughts, the woman's gaze snapped toward her.
Sylvie froze instantly. A nervous laugh slipped out as she raised a small, awkward wave. "H-Hey, Serena…"
Haru's head turned sharply. "…Serena?"
Before he could process that revelation, the woman's attention shifted to him. Without hesitation, she began walking forward. Each step was slow and deliberate, yet somehow she closed the distance far quicker than he expected. The crowd erupted into noise.
"Is Serena finally picking a husband?!" someone shouted.
"I knew the rumors about her liking women couldn't be true!"
"A beauty like that needs a real man!"
Haru's wind mana stirred faintly around him, reacting to his rising anxiety. The subtle current carried every whisper straight to his ears, making the noise feel even louder, more invasive. His expression tightened slightly as he resisted the urge to step back.
Sylvie leaned closer. "Ignore them," she whispered. "They say the same thing every time."
"…Every time?" Haru asked quietly.
"Every. Single. Time."
By then, Serena stood directly in front of him. Up close, the pressure was overwhelming. It wasn't just her presence, it was her gaze. It felt as though she were peeling him apart layer by layer, examining things even he didn't fully understand about himself.
"Hm," she murmured. "So this must be the boy they mentioned." Haru stiffened slightly. "To die completely and return… takes quite a man to defy the hands of death."
Before he could respond, she stepped closer; too close. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as she leaned in, her face inches from his. Several onlookers fainted outright, while others clutched their noses as blood began to stream down their faces. Haru, however, froze in confusion as Serena inhaled deeply.
She was… sniffing him.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Serena pulled back slightly, her brows knitting together. "Why do you smell like that wretched woman?" she muttered. "Yet you're nowhere near as impressive." Her gaze sharpened again. "Hopefully, you won't disappoint."
Haru opened his mouth to respond, but before he could..
Three men burst through the crowd, shoving past bystanders with reckless urgency. The one leading was a man known as Sir Marcus. He was well known for trying to court women through disgusting means, yet no one dared to get on his bad side due to his family having multiple members as Warlords. The sudden impact knocked Haru completely off balance, sending him stumbling forward straight into Serena's partly exposed chest.
The crowd gasped as one.
Haru's face collided with something soft, and for a brief, surreal moment, his thoughts completely blanked. He remained there for half a second longer than he should have before reality slammed back into him. He quickly pushed himself away, stumbling backward in a panic.
Around him, the reactions exploded.
"A man dares defile the Goddess Serena?!"
"Unforgivable!"
"Kill him!"
Sylvie stood frozen, her face pale with horror. What has this idiot done?!
As Haru regained his footing, his eyes caught a detail on Serena's skin, a number Tattooed clearly.
4.
His heart dropped. This woman is ranked fourth?! Yep… I'm dead.
Before he could even begin to apologize, one of the men who had caused the collision shoved him aside and dropped to one knee in front of Serena, holding up a massive ruby ring.
"Serena, my goddess!" he proclaimed loudly. "Please marry me! I have wealth, land, and anything you desire! I can give you everything you need!"
Haru blinked in disbelief. "…Is he serious?"
"Yes," Sylvie muttered. "Unfortunately."
"And my manhood is ready for—"
"Okay, yep. He's dead," Sylvie said flatly.
The air shifted instantly. Cracks began spreading from Serena's feet, spiderwebbing across the stone beneath her. The pressure in the area skyrocketed, forcing several people to stagger back.
Sir Marcus face contorted as he turned towards Haru, clearly emboldened by sheer stupidity. "Hey, brat!" he snapped at Haru. "Can't you see what you've done? You've angered my future wife! I ought to—"
He never finished.
In the blink of an eye, Serena moved. No one saw the kick, just the aftermath. Sir Marcus was suddenly airborne, "…Why am I upside down…?" his faint voice echoed before disappearing completely. His body spinning violently before crashing into a wall with a thunderous impact… and then blasting straight through it.
Silence followed for a brief moment.
Then the crowd erupted into laughter.
"These idiots never learn."
"Every Initiation, same thing."
"Always ends the same way."
Serena stood calmly, as if nothing had happened, her posture perfectly composed. "Dare to interrupt my conversation?" she said coldly. "Be grateful your head is still attached."
The remaining lackeys immediately retreated, following the holes to Sir Marcus. One turned to Haru, "Brat, we will remember this! You messed with the Gromwells." He tried to sound tough, but his appearance was pale and trembling.
Haru exhaled slowly, his nerves finally catching up with him. "…She's terrifying."
Sylvie nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. That's Serena."
Haru stared at her for a moment, then looked back at Serena, then back at Sylvie again. "…Are they all insane?"
Sylvie smiled.
Before Haru could respond, the distant sound of approaching footsteps echoed once more beyond the gates. The atmosphere shifted again as the crowd straightened, their attention snapping forward.
More were coming.
Haru steadied himself, his anticipation returning, now mixed with a healthy dose of caution. If this was only the fourth-ranked Vanguard…
He wasn't sure if he was ready to see the rest.