Surviving as the Fallen Northern Grand Duke

Chapter 9: Surpassing the World (1)

"It holds the power to transcend worlds."

That was what Johan Kraubitz, the original owner of this body, once said.

Of course, that was before I transmigrated into him.

Moreover,

The sight of snow-covered mountains seemingly moving.

The residents of the territory merely considered it a mystery of nature.

The writer had described that bizarre omen in roughly those words.

So, upon hearing the conversations of passersby, I could not overlook that unmistakable sign.

Yes, tonight, it will surely happen.

The very event I had been waiting for all this time.

The second and final major event of Surviving as the Fallen Northern Grand Duke's early chapters.

The opportunity I had endured twelve miserable years in this cursedly cold land for—was coming tonight.

Heh.

I smiled as I walked alone into the dark basement.

‘Soju with shellfish. Squid legs and cheese popcorn at the theater. Golden olive chicken and beer by the Han River...’

Scenes of a dream-like daily life flashed through my mind. And then...

A lump formed in my throat.

‘Mom and Dad... and also...’

As the faces of my family surfaced in my thoughts, I couldn’t suppress the warmth welling up in my chest.

Yes, without a doubt...

"Kim Ji-hyun, you rotten wench!"

My sibling, who spent their time reading web novels with shirtless men flaunting their chests on the cover.

Ignoring their studies, enjoying a carefree life even during their third attempt at college entrance exams.

Sigh.

That fool, who sent me to another world because they were too absorbed in a third-rate novel—I swore to annihilate their entire lineage.

‘No more allowance for you.’

So, I had to keep myself calm until tonight.

I needed time to relax, conserve my stamina, and organize my thoughts.

Thus,

Step.

I headed towards the ancient records archive in the underground of the ducal castle.

Creeeak.

After descending the stone stairs and gently pushing open the iron door, a spacious room lit by flickering red torches appeared before me.

The strong scent of aged paper filled the air.

Alongside it, a faint trace of sausage lingered.

This was my sanctuary, where I had spent countless hours over the past twelve years.

‘This will be my last time here.’

I would likely never set foot here again. So, for the final time, I pulled out my favorite books.

The Chronicles of the Prohatska Empire.

A Study on the Legends of Giants Across the Continent.

These two timeless classics had been my favorites since childhood.

Though, of course, they weren’t novels or literature...

"History in this world is just another story to me."

So, in my eyes, the history of this place was just as fascinating as any novel.

Some might wonder—why these two books, of all things, resonated so deeply with me.

The reason was clear.

The Chronicles of the Prohatska Empire was simply a fundamental text for anyone living in this era, so I naturally reread it multiple times...

As for A Study on the Legends of Giants Across the Continent—

‘Kim Ji-hyun definitely said this.’

It all stemmed from an offhand comment my sibling had made before I transmigrated.

"Whoa!"

They had gasped while scrolling down their screen beside me.

"What nonsense are you on about now?"

Annoyed, I had snapped at them, and they had answered like this.

Yes, I remember exactly...

"This guy… His ancestor was a giant."

"What?"

"Figures. Since his ancestor was a king of the giants, he’s bound to be massive and magnificent. No wonder he looks so huge and sturdy."

That remark had been so irritating that it was burned into my memory.

In fact, one of the things I had spent the most time on upon arriving in this world was reconstructing Kim Ji-hyun’s Quotations from memory.

After all, I had only read the first five free chapters of the novel...

‘To survive, I had to recall and jot down every damn thing that wretched girl had ever said.’

She had been so talkative while reading that novel beside me, constantly spewing nonsense, that she had inadvertently spoiled bits of the story for me.

Of course, I hadn’t cared or been interested at the time. But since she only ever talked about what she wanted, regardless of my feelings...

‘Thanks to that, I managed to gather a surprising amount of information.’

And among the words Kim Ji-hyun uttered, the most significant one was that.

That the ancestor of the Northern Grand Duke, Johan Kraubitz, was the 'King of Giants.'

The ancient documents only state it like this.

Yes, the other one...

This passage had always bothered me since I was young.

The power to 'traverse worlds'?

From the perspective of someone who has read web novels, that likely means the ability to perform 'dimensional travel.'

Since this world itself incorporates some elements of fantasy, I figured that such a thing might indeed be possible.

Anyway, the book also stated this.

I focused on that last statement.

No, actually, it was Johan Kraubitz in the original story who focused on that passage.

He sought a way to cure his rampaging Mana Heart from that verse.

In short,

'If I can use that power to traverse worlds and bring back the Mana Heart of the Giant King, who sleeps in another world...'

Wouldn't I be able to obtain a perfect Mana Heart?

Then, I wouldn’t have to live a life with a time limit anymore.

That was his thought process.

"Well, he must have been desperate."

As he watched his Mana Heart spiral further out of control, realizing his life was running out, Johan Kraubitz must have grown increasingly anxious, colder, and sharper.

Of course, in the end, Johan Kraubitz fails to obtain the Giant King’s Mana Heart during this event, even after using 'that object.'

However,

'I am different.'

I know why the original Johan failed.

So...

'I will not stop at merely fixing my Mana Heart. I will definitely...'

Using 'that thing' I will obtain tonight, I will return to reality.

On a night when the silver moon rose,

I was already clad in armor, draped in a black fur cloak.

Saaaah.

I drew Johan Kraubitz’s sword and reflected its pale white blade under the moonlight.

It was an utterly silent night. Sitting on my bed fully armed, I listened to the soft sound of snow accumulating outside.

The world was that silent tonight.

And then...

Rumbleeeeeee!

A tremendous roar shook the ground,

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

The tremors were so intense that even the floors of the ducal castle began to quake.

Tatadat!

As soon as I heard the sound, I rushed into the corridor and shouted,

"Summon the knights!"

Now the time had come. With the recent tremor, the alert knights must have already awoken.

I was ready to lead them out.

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud!

Clatter!

The ducal castle instantly erupted into chaos.

The knights of the Northern Grand Duke's Order armed themselves at an astonishing speed.

Swoosh.

While waiting for them, I observed the changes in the snow-covered mountains.

'It's moving deeper into the mountain. Probably...'

Soon, it would descend from the mountain and attack the villages.

Judging by its speed, it was expected to reach them in about ten minutes.

"Mount your horses!"

If the knights set out now, we could prevent it from reaching the villages.

'Even after I return to reality, their lives will continue. I must save as many as possible.'

So,

"Advance! Capture the beast descending from the mountain and protect the people!"

The battle cry of Northern Grand Duke Johan Kraubitz echoed across the bitter winter sky.

Gallop. Gallop.

As the protector of this land, my knights and I rode like a tempest toward the base of the snowy mountain.

"S-Sir! The mountain is moving!"

One of the knights shouted in a terrified voice.

Ssssssssshh!

Indeed, as he said, a massive white figure moved across the mountain.

It was not the size of an ordinary beast, nor did it compare to a house—it was much larger.

To an untrained eye, it would indeed seem as if the entire mountain was moving.

"A Chimera."

I informed the knights of the creature’s identity.

Victor gasped and asked,

"A Chimera? One of the ancient magical beasts...?"

"Yes, that’s right. That is the Silver Chimera."

Hoo.

As we climbed the snow-covered mountain, I explained to the knights.

"It is a beast that has slumbered since ancient times. It existed even before our ancestors settled in this land. And now, having ended its long hibernation, it is targeting our territory."

Gulp.

I could feel the knights growing tense.

I only told them what they absolutely needed to know.

"Be careful. The magic power it has accumulated surpasses our Mana by far, and its size..."

Saaaah.

"...is like that of a small mountain. We must fight through the night, gradually exhausting its strength and bleeding it dry until it collapses."

"We will follow you, My Lord."

"Do not worry. If we persist, the beast will eventually fall. Prepare for a prolonged battle. It will be a long night."

And just as we barely reached the mountain’s base…

Whoosh!

Rooooooar!

The first thing we had to face was the avalanche it triggered by swinging its massive tail.

"Spread out and climb! We must surround it. Attack from the rear and prevent it from choosing a main target."

Rumbleeeeeee!

As the avalanche swept down, the knights’ skilled horses swiftly maneuvered around the mountain path.

Thus, they managed to encircle the massive body of the Silver Chimera.

This was the textbook method for hunting a large magical beast.

After encircling it, they had to attack from various angles to scatter its focus.

No one could stand directly in front of that colossal monster, so humans devised an efficient hunting strategy.

If they kept attacking all night, eventually, that beast would fall.

Swish! Kwooooom!

Mangala unleashed a flurry of sword strikes at its rear. Then…

Whooosh!

The beast turned around toward him. Mangala’s squad immediately retreated, while Victor stepped in to strike from behind.

That Silver Chimera must be utterly confused.

In the original story, Johan Kraubitz stood directly in front of the Silver Chimera and fought.

Even with his shattered Mana Heart, that man was truly a genius.

Unlike an ordinary person like me, the novel described how Johan had already surpassed the realm of a high-level Expert by the time Erina Trotsky arrived.

But I am not the real Johan.

I cannot stand directly in front of the Silver Chimera.

That is why I relied on the knights’ strength and used strategy.

However,

Flash!

The moment the Chimera’s eyes glowed red, everything fell apart.

"What? What the hell is that…?"

The Silver Chimera’s eyes radiated light, and a strange energy swirled around its body.

A sight never mentioned in the novel.

I had never read a description of this.

However, somewhere in my past, I had seen something similar.

It was…

"A wide-area attack?"

In the games I used to play, boss monsters always looked like this before unleashing a devastating attack.

"Retreat! Get as far away as possible!"

I shouted urgently, but—

Whooooom.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ancient entity’s move was much faster and far stronger than I had imagined.

Baaang!

As the beast gathered and exploded its magical energy, even I was blasted dozens of meters away.

And so,

'Knights!'

My knights had already been completely overwhelmed.

"H-How are we supposed to…?"

"We can’t win this. W-We have to run!"

Even battle-hardened knights, who had spent their entire lives on the battlefield, trembled in fear.

They shook as they realized the monstrous power of this creature.

And then,

Ssshh.

Confirming that the pitiful humans around it had vanished, the Silver Chimera slowly turned and started descending the mountain.

Toward my land, the Duchy of Axen.

'In the original story, Johan Kraubitz never allowed a magical beast to reach the territory.'

If that thing rampaged even once inside the land, countless people would die.

He never let it enter.

'And I…'

As weak as I was, did I have to stand by and watch it invade my territory?

"…Damn it."

That was not an option.

"I… refuse to be defeated by mere words."

Johan Kraubitz, a character who only existed within the letters of a novel.

I could not allow myself to be inferior to him.

Craaaaack!

I reached toward my chest, toward my heart.

"M-My Lord!"

Victor shouted at me. But I had no other choice.

"I’m sorry, Victor. The truth is…"

I have no idea how to properly use a Mana Heart.

So I have no other option but this. Because there’s only one thing I know.

If I squeeze hard enough, it will come out!

Shkk!

With my rough Northern Grand Duke’s hand, I tore into the area near my heart.

And then—

"Aaaaaaaaagh!"

I forcibly triggered a rampage, tearing apart a Mana Heart I didn’t even know how to use.

Tonight would be my last here.

I would leave no regrets in this body.

I would offer my life in exchange for their future.

Thank you, my knights.

You were always the finest warriors, my subordinates, my people, and also…

"My friends."

Boooooooooom!

As the Mana Heart spiraled out of control, my consciousness wavered.

The countless years-old Silver Chimera saw something in its eyes.

The knights who had carried the honor of the Northern Duchy of Axen saw it as well.

A young ruler, standing with a blade as sharp as frost, enveloped in an aura that mirrored the moonlight…

A being who had become Mana itself.

Boooooom.

Looking at the young ruler before it, the Silver Chimera recalled something.

A memory from long ago, of one who once ruled this land…

Yes, the King of Giants.