The king's gaze lingered on me for an uncomfortably long time, making me the focal point of everyone’s attention. I could feel their eyes scrutinizing every inch of me. This king was truly formidable—if I tried to slip away in the ensuing chaos, everyone would remember me now. Then again, it’s doubtful this band of novices could even protect themselves in battle, let alone keep track of anyone else.

"Allow me to introduce the most formidable warrior in my army," the king announced as a young man entered through the door. Tall, muscular, and clad in armor that accentuated his imposing figure, he possessed a strikingly handsome face—one that even I felt a twinge of envy towards. By all rights, such a man should be universally admired, yet I found myself instinctively repelled by him. Despite the smile on his lips, something sinister lurked deep within his eyes. His smile could not conceal the ambition that simmered beneath the surface—a look I once knew well in my own eyes.

"I am Ethan," the man greeted everyone. "We are soon to be comrades in arms. Let us strive together to vanquish the evil necromancer!"

This man must be powerful, I thought, judging by his appearance, his demeanor, and his expressions. But it’s a shame—fighting a necromancer requires a strong mage or cleric, not a mighty warrior. After forming a pact with dark forces, necromancers often gain a sort of immortality, becoming immune to steel weapons. No matter how elite the royal guards or how powerful this warrior, facing a necromancer would be a futile sacrifice. Yet with only a band of magic apprentices, our chances of victory were slim to none.

His eyes swept across the room, taking in every face before settling on me. He too recognized that I was the strongest among them, at least certainly not an apprentice.

"Everyone, I have made a decision!" The king spoke again. "If anyone here can defeat that evil necromancer, I will give them my only daughter in marriage and make them my heir!"

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Even I was taken aback by this unexpected declaration. For a king to make such a promise, he must truly be at the end of his rope.

"I have a question!" I cleared my throat, deciding to speak up. While I had no intention of risking my life for a gem, it wouldn't hurt to offer some practical advice. The king looked at me, signaling for me to continue.

"Why not seek assistance from neighboring kingdoms? It would be wiser to gather some powerful mages before confronting the necromancer."

The king turned to Ethan, who coughed lightly before speaking.

"Allow me to explain on behalf of His Majesty. We have already sought aid from neighboring kingdoms, but we don’t know when they’ll arrive. Even if they do send reinforcements, it could take months, and we cannot wait that long. Our people live under the constant threat of the necromancer, and we cannot afford to sit idly by until he attacks. Even if we were to win, the cost would be enormous. We must take the initiative and strike first…” His speech continued with fiery rhetoric, enough to inspire any young, inexperienced person to march to their death with fervor. Afterward, the king departed, and we were led to a grand hall where we were offered fine food and wine. But for me, this feast felt more like the last supper before execution rather than a celebratory send-off before battle. In any case, since I planned on deserting, this meal was just a free feast for me—I had no intention of becoming someone else's pawn or cannon fodder.

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"Greetings, young mage," Ethan approached, speaking in a tone that immediately irked me. Who did he think he was, calling me young? I bet I wasn’t a day younger than him in appearance.

"Greetings, 'the mightiest warrior in the land,’" I retorted coldly, my voice dripping with sarcasm. One would think he’d take the hint and leave, but he didn’t.

"I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of learning your name."

"People call me Ryder."

"Ryder… a fine name. Would you care to step outside and have a private word?" How absurd—what was so special about such an ordinary name that he felt compelled to compliment it? What game was this man playing? I hesitated for a moment as I watched him walk away, but in the end, my curiosity got the better of me, and I followed.

Outside the hall was a garden, not the one where I had met Der earlier, but a smaller one. It was completely empty save for the two of us.

"Ryder, if I may call you that," he smiled at me. "Do you know why I wanted to speak with you?"

"To discuss strategies for the upcoming battle, perhaps?" I responded absently. If that was his reason, I couldn’t care less—I had already resolved to desert.

"Haha… Do you know the true reason behind this campaign?"

"The true reason?"

"The neighboring kingdoms have already responded. They’ve all agreed to help—after all, an evil necromancer is an enemy to all of humanity. However, they won’t be able to muster their forces and arrive for another five days. But the necromancer has issued an ultimatum: if he isn’t seated on the king’s throne by the day after tomorrow, he will destroy it along with this palace. So, we must launch an attack to disrupt his plans and buy ourselves enough time..."

I see, they plan to use us as cannon fodder. No wonder they’re offering such generous rewards, even giving away the king’s only daughter. The king knows we won’t return alive, so he feels free to make empty promises.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"No particular reason. I just think that a young and talented mage like yourself shouldn’t die in a hopeless battle. Take care of yourself, and don’t be too reckless in the fight." He patted me on the back and walked away.

Just as I expected, this guy is trying to win me over! Unfortunately for him, I’m more experienced than he imagines. I know how to persuade someone to fight for you—money, beauty, power, those are just secondary tools. The most important thing is to make the other person feel special, to believe that in your eyes, they are unique. Only then will they be willing to lay down their lives for you. But now the question is, why is he trying to win me over? And why did he choose me?

I pondered this for a moment. He likely chose me because I’m the strongest of the group, but as for his ultimate motive, that remains a mystery.

Oh well, I decided not to waste any more brainpower on it. I’d be leaving this country soon, so it wasn’t my concern.

The banquet finally ended. Nearly everyone had eaten little, anxious about the impending battle—except for me. I ate my fill and even refilled my flask with the local wine, which was nothing short of exquisite. Honestly, I suspected that the necromancer might want to become king just to drink this wine every day.

The soldiers were assembled outside, ready to march. We, on the other hand, were inside, supposedly resting, though most were busy preparing for the upcoming battle, either praying or studying their spellbooks. I watched these young men and women; like all the young, their eyes were full of dreams and enthusiasm for the future. They had no idea of the true purpose of this battle. Soon, Death would come to claim them as it had claimed countless others before. I had seen this scene too many times, so often that I had become numb to it. I just sat there, steadily drinking from my wine bottle, determined to finish it before we set off.