Chapter 3

Seven years ago, one day, Kinaine woke up in the body of his older brother Hasan. And he watched as Hasan pretended to be him in his stolen body.

His physical form, his achievements, even his close friends. Hasan had easily taken everything away.

However, Kinaine couldn't reveal his true identity. Because whenever he tried to speak the truth, it felt as if a cold hand was squeezing his heart. As if warning that revealing the truth would stop his heart.

In fact, his heart did stop once when he spoke those words. It was the day his friends came to hunt down the 'evil black mage.'

'I am not Hasan!'

Kinaine revealed the truth prepared for death, and simultaneously fell off a cliff after being struck by Hasan's sword.

Kinaine knew. His heart had definitely stopped that day.

For some reason he didn't die and came back to life, but as a side effect of breaking the seal, his body was damaged beyond repair.

In truth, Hasan's body had already been damaged before then. It must have been because Hasan had dabbled in black magic even before switching bodies with Kinaine.

Having experienced it firsthand, he knew better than anyone that using black magic increasingly damaged both body and mind. But while before it had been like a cracked vessel, after breaking the seal, the body was now like a vessel shattered beyond repair.

At this rate, would he even live another year or two?

"Right now we only have single rooms available, would that work? Though it'll cost two more silver coins..."

"Ah..."

"Ah! Don't misunderstand, I'm not overcharging!"

Interpreting Kinaine's hesitation as displeasure, the innkeeper hastily waved their hands.

"There's less than a week until the Runamoon Festival. Thanks to that, everyone's flooding in and we're out of rooms."

Runamoon. Had that much time passed already?

Kinaine suddenly became aware of time's passage.

'Runamoon' was the day when twin moons appeared every seven years. It was said that on this day, the gate connecting the spirit realm and human realm would open.

People held grand festivals hoping that spirits visiting the human realm would bestow blessings. Many traveled from far away to see this festival. Of course, Kinaine hadn't come here to enjoy the festival.

The innkeeper added, as if showing off:

"Other places are charging much more. We're running an honest business here."

Kinaine absently fingered the money pouch. Three silver coins for a week's lodging. It was quite a large sum in his current circumstances.

After hesitating for a while, Kinaine asked:

"Does the single room have a private bath?"

"Of course! Should I prepare hot water right away?"

Though he felt guilty about spending too much money, if he didn't wash right now, he felt bugs might start living in his hair.

Above all, in his current state, he might be thrown out before even meeting his client tomorrow.

"Yes, please."

His voice was little more than a sigh.

The inn's bathroom was incomparably small compared to what he had used as a prince.

However, it was fortunate just to not have to use a public bath. Though Kinaine had once enjoyed swimming with friends of the same gender, that was now impossible.

Kinaine's eyes widened slightly as he placed his hand in the wooden tub.

"It's warm..."

He was momentarily moved by how long it had been since he'd felt warm water. He quickly removed his clothes.

"Better wash before it gets cold."

His dirty clothes fell to the floor with a thud. Finally, as the fabric covering his entire body disappeared, his pale naked form was revealed.

Well-formed bones with firmly attached muscles. Except for being slightly thin, it was a body with balance that would make sculptors envious.

However, few would be able to notice this. Anyone who saw his naked form would have their gaze caught by the countless scars.

The skin that had once been as smooth as silk was now full of traces of cuts and tears. The largest scar was on his left chest - the scar from when Hasan's sword had pierced him on the day of the subjugation.

Though it was a sight that would make viewers furrow their brows, this wasn't the reason he couldn't share baths with others.

The thin frame that seemed somewhat delicate when unclothed.

Eyes and cheeks flushed pink from the steam.

And chest tinted pink like pale flower petals.

It was the body of an 'omega' that provoked others' desires.

After nearly being raped when he unknowingly undressed among mercenaries before, he stopped undressing in front of others.

Kinaine's brows furrowed as he recalled that day.

"Those bastards."

Of course, he had broken something of each of theirs in return.

The problem was that he hadn't expected betas who couldn't smell pheromones to feel desire for an omega.

They hadn't rushed at him knowing he was an omega. Originally, traits were extremely rare, and most were nobles. They wouldn't have thought that a shabby mercenary like a sewer rat would be an omega.

However, an omega's body had the quality of stimulating others' desires regardless of pheromones. Kinaine had only realized this fact belatedly.

It was a mistake that occurred because he only knew about omegas in theory.

"Hah."

As he submerged his body in the steaming wooden tub, he felt his tense muscles relaxing.

Things he had once enjoyed without a thought were now luxuries. Sometimes his days as a prince felt like a dream now. The warm water always ready, fragrant oils that smelled nice, servants who moved like his own limbs...

But in truth, those weren't what he missed.

There was only one thing he truly missed.

"Ugh."

Kinaine let out a soft groan as he unconsciously brought his hand to his neck.

Sharp pain shot through his mind as soon as he raised his right arm. It seemed the muscles were somewhat injured from the recent battle.

Tsk, Kinaine clicked his tongue lightly. He had come to this village for a certain request. And now he was injured before the job.

"I used to be able to handle orcs easily before."

Kinaine looked down at his thin arm.

Seven years was a long time, and this body had changed incomparably from its previous state. The once white and fair skin was now full of scars, and firm muscles had developed from rolling around battlefields.

However, no matter how much muscle he gained, it wasn't the same as his original body.

"Strength just won't increase either."

Iron-hard bones, muscles as elastic as a racehorse's, untiring stamina.

There was bound to be a difference between the body of a dominant alpha who could do anything he wanted and that of a recessive omega.

"Should I train my left arm too?"

He muttered to himself habitually as he washed his hair and scrubbed off old grime with his good left hand. Though his delicate skin quickly turned red, his touch never grew gentler. The rough handling seemed more like cleaning a tool than his own body.

Though he had unexpectedly been injured, he couldn't give up the request. Kinaine was a mercenary belonging to the guild 'Fangs.' Though being part of a guild didn't mean having to accept any request indiscriminately, his case was different.

'If you want something, you have to pay the price. That's true even for a prince.'

The Fangs' guild master, Gale, was the only person who knew Kinaine's true identity. He was the one who had found Kinaine unconscious after being struck by Hasan's sword.

Though Gale knew Kinaine's identity as the evil black mage, he didn't report him to the kingdom. Instead, he created a new identity for Kinaine and had him join his guild as a mercenary.

It could be said their interests aligned. Gale wanted Kinaine's combat ability, and Kinaine also needed the guild's power to obtain what he wanted.

In exchange for helping Kinaine, Gale demanded an absurd amount of money. It was a sum that an ordinary person couldn't manage even in a lifetime.

To pay the money Gale demanded, Kinaine had taken on any dangerous request. Though so far, he hadn't had much success...

'Can I find a way within the time I have left?'

Kinaine's eyes darkened.

After washing quickly, he got out of the bath before the water could cool completely. Though he wanted to soak in the warm water longer, he habitually suppressed his desires.

Kinaine clutched his necklace. He could feel the metal beneath his palm.

He had no right to enjoy peace.

* * *

The next day. After buying a cheap sword from a weapon shop, Kinaine headed to his client's house.

The client was a fat man with a mustache, and the owner of a luxurious mansion.

"I am Nine from the Fangs guild, in charge of this request."

Nine was the alias Kinaine was using. Though they probably wouldn't think he was alive after falling off a cliff right before their eyes, he was operating under a hidden identity because Hasan would surely not leave him alone if he knew he was alive.

"What's this."

The man's gaze, which looked Kinaine up and down, was as full of displeasure as his gruff voice.

"I hired a top-class mercenary, so why has a male prostitute come instead?"