From the moment I first realized it—I've always dreamed of one thing.A black hole inside my body.
Not a metaphor.Not some empty fantasy.
Something that truly exists…something that devours everything around it, reducing them to particles, yet never touches me.
From it, I obtain everything.Power, energy, even concepts themselves.
I can create magic.I can create laws.
However—the human body has its limits.It was never meant to contain something that vast.
So in the end, I always arrive at the same conclusion.
"…This is just a dream, right?"
"Schwingens—""WHAM!!"
The world answered me harshly.
"Ghaak—!"
My body was sent flying, crashing into the training ground with an embarrassing thud.Dust scattered into the air.
And as always…
"Haha! You lost again, Zen!"
That confident voice belonged to my second older brother, Aurelius Noctis.
I slowly pushed myself up, then—without any shame—gave a thumbs up.
"As expected of you, Big Brother Aure. Your mana control… is almost worthy of praise."
"'Almost'?" His eyebrow twitched. "You can't even use mana, Zen."
"Of course. I simply don't feel the need to use it."
"A convenient excuse for a loser."
Laughter broke out across the arena.The soldiers chuckled along, some openly mocking me.
This place is the training grounds of the Count Noctis family—a vast field where soldiers hone their skills.The ground is packed and scarred with traces of battle, from sword marks to remnants of magic explosions.
This is a place where strength is acknowledged.And weakness… is laughed at.
"Then what about that 'black hole' of yours?" Aure continued with a faint smirk. "Or that power in your right hand that you claim can destroy the world?"
I glanced at my hand for a moment.
…Well, It wasn't entirely a mere dream—because I had actually gained control over that strange power.
Too bad no one would believe that.
"Enough, Young Master," one of the soldiers cut in casually. "He's just a kid with too much imagination."
"HAHAHAHA!"
"At least your falling is consistent, Zen," Aure added lazily, idly swinging his sword as if this were nothing more than entertainment. "I'm starting to get bored."
…Even when mocking someone, this guy still maintains his noble elegance.
The one who had just knocked me down was my second older brother, Aurelius Noctis, 14 years old.A talented mana user, one of the prides of the family.
And at the edge of the arena…
My little sister, Luna Noctis.
She was looking at me with worry.Her eyes were like a doll's.Fragile. Honest.
I raised my hand slightly, signaling her.
I'm fine.
Even though—honestly speaking, I wasn't hurt at all.
That attack just now…felt like a light tap.
Strange.
Sometimes I feel like I've lived for a very long time…watching all of this like a child's game.
Yet at the same time—I also feel like someone completely new to this world.
As if… I had once died.
And forgotten everything.
A few soldiers carried me out of the arena.Literally.
"Easy there," I muttered.
"My apologies, Young Master," they replied. But their grip didn't loosen.
As we were about to reach my room—
A woman stood in the hallway.
Tall. Long black hair. Sharp gaze.
The air around her… felt heavy.
The two soldiers supporting me immediately stiffened.Cold sweat formed on their foreheads.
That aura… wasn't something an ordinary maid would have.
Even seasoned soldiers looked like they wanted to run just by standing near her.
Ah.
Selena.
"I'm back…"
"GOOD GRIEF, YOUNG MASTER! LOOK AT YOUR CLOTHES!"
The maid in charge of me, Elena, immediately scolded me in a loud voice.She quickly started brushing off the dust on my back—the part I couldn't reach myself.
But the way she did it…She was hitting my back way too hard, like she was beating dust out of a mattress.
"…a little gentler," I muttered.
The other maids and butlers laughed, openly staring at me with mocking expressions.Meanwhile, my personal maid dragged me into my room—
without mercy.
The way she treated me…was honestly like dragging out trash.
—
"M-Master Zen, please forgive me! I didn't mean to hit you that hard, I swear!"
Her attitude completely changed the moment no one else was watching.
She immediately dropped to her knees—thud!—her forehead hitting the floor hard.
Her face was filled with terror, as if she had just committed a grave sin and was about to be executed on the spot.
"Don't worry about it. Something like that doesn't hurt me at all. This family simply has strict training for its successors."
…though, to be honest, it did hurt a little emotionally when you dragged me like trash.
By the way, this woman, around 30 years old, is named Selena.
She's one of my subordinates—someone I could say I recruited by accident.Right now, I've assigned her to disguise herself as a maid in this Count's residence, gathering information and observing from within.
She used to be the former leader of an assassin organization that was on the verge of retirement…
before I destroyed their base.
And ever since that incident—for some reason, she became extremely obedient.
"How's the progress?"
I leaned by the window in my room, letting the light of the setting sun wash over me.
For a moment, I gazed at the sky outside.
This world is truly strange…or maybe I'm simply not meant to belong here.
…
But…this pose doesn't look too bad either.
Selena's demeanor changed instantly.Her face returned to calm, no trace of panic remaining. Her gaze sharpened, and her voice turned cold and professional.
"Thanks to the power you granted us, the operation has been proceeding smoothly. We have infiltrated several noble residences, secured their wealth, and—"
She paused briefly, as if waiting for praise.
"—distributed it to the poor."
"…hold on."
I slowly turned my head.
"You… distributed it?"
"Yes. As you instructed."
I never instructed that.
Wait a second… I only told you to gather funds.Why did this turn into a Robin Hood story?
"The total distribution has exceeded five thousand gold coins," she continued proudly.
MY MONEY! I want to scream it from the depths of my heart right now.
Why does this sound like a report from a large organization?
And at first… I had only given her a little power.
A little.Very little.
—
In this world, people use something called Mana.
It's an energy used for combat, healing, strengthening the body, and creating magic.
However—I'm different.
Since childhood, I haven't been able to use Mana at all.
Instead, I possess something else.
A power that doesn't even originate from this world.
I call it Particle Authority.
Why?
Because… it sounds cool.
This power allows me to manipulate particles, create various phenomena, and even build my own abilities.
In other words—I don't follow the rules of this world.
I… make my own rules.
And for some reason…this world never truly rejects it.
"Tonight…"
"Understood. We will proceed with the operation tonight."
"Eh..?"
Shhht.
Selena vanished from my sight in an instant.
I only wanted to ask, "What's for dinner tonight?" and tell her to bring it to my room. This person is seriously a workaholic…
Knock knock…
"U-Uh… big brother, are you inside?"
That small voice came from behind the door.
I stood up and opened it.
Luna stood there hesitantly, holding a glass tube filled with green liquid—what they call a potion in this world.
"For me?"
She nodded quietly.
I patted her head before taking it, then drank it without hesitation.
"…not bad."
"R-Really?"
"Of course. I'm already healed."
Luna smiled softly, holding her chest as if she could finally breathe in relief.
That doll-like face of hers…honestly makes me want to pinch her cheeks.
But I held back.
After all, I have to maintain my reputation as a cool older brother.
I walked over to the window and opened it.
The sky outside had already turned dark. Without realizing it, quite some time had passed while I was talking with Selena.
"Luna," I called. "Look outside."
"…?"
BOOOM! Crackle… sizzle…
Explosions of light colored the night sky.Red, blue, gold—spreading like blooming flowers of fire.
"Uwaaah…!" Luna's eyes widened in awe. "It's so beautiful! What kind of magic is that, big brother?"
I smiled faintly.
"That magic… is called Fireworks."
Though it isn't magic.
Just a combination of particles I arranged.Gunpowder, metal salts, and iron powder. A formula I remembered from another memory. But the term "magic" is easier for people in this world to understand.
BOOOM! Crackle… sizzle… BOOOOM!
The explosions continued.
Without stopping.
"…eh."
I might have gone a little overboard.
…or maybe this is still within reason?
No.Definitely not.
"AN AMBUSH!!"
Shouts echoed from outside.
"STAY ALERT! A POWERFUL MAGE IS ATTACKING!"
"FIND THE SOURCE!!"
"…oh."
I slowly closed the window.
Then crouched in front of Luna.
"Let's keep this a secret, okay?"
She nodded quickly.
I stood behind the curtain, looking outside.
The soldiers were running around in panic, searching for something they didn't even understand.
…so noisy.
And this is only the warm-up.
"Next time… maybe bubbles instead?"
Yeah.
That sounds a lot quieter.