While aimlessly browsing the internet out of boredom, one might occasionally come across certain types of keywords.
A place where demons dwell.
One of the 13 greatest Magic Realms in the world.
The Cliff of Death.
Places from which you can’t return unscathed if you enter once.
Or places where for some reason, you end up going completely insane.
These locations are infamous as the most terrifying places in the world, capturing the attention of countless individuals.
And just a few days ago,
I had come across one of those places in a rather common novel I had been reading before sleeping.
<Blackmore>
One of the three major suicide spots in the Empire.
An obscure place boasting overwhelming danger.
A lawless zone where all sorts of irregular entities lie in wait.
I know.
Titles like these are nothing short of ridiculous.
But there was not a single word of it that I could argue against.
The reason was…
“Shit.”
…Because I had become the administrator of that goddamn Magic Realm.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
A canopy meticulously embroidered, curtains with a faint golden hue, and fine furniture crafted by master artisans.
One day, I woke up in a strange place. The face reflected in the mirror was not my own.
It wasn’t particularly surprising, though. After all, I had been reincarnated into the world of a novel—how do I know? Because it had already been a year since I was reincarnated into a stereotypical reincarnation novel.
It was time to accept it.
This was not a dream but reality.
The fortunate thing was that the situation I found myself in wasn’t entirely terrible.
‘Not bad…’
Firstly, I looked better in this life than in my previous one.
Not just slightly better, but overwhelmingly better-looking.
‘And I’m younger too.’
I was just sixteen, the quintessence of youth that I had always longed for.
‘Good enough?’
This kind of reincarnation wasn’t so bad. Compared to my previous life where I lived like trash under gambling-addicted parents, it was like my fortune had turned.
‘The family isn’t bad either—an earl’s household, decent enough.’
Though as a bastard, I was treated coldly within the estate, I wasn’t overly concerned about it. Cutting ties with a family that was nothing more than façade was simple enough.
How much attachment could I possibly have to the family of a minor extra from a novel I had read just a few days ago?
What I needed was a plan, a future plan about leaving the mansion and figuring out how to survive.
‘The job is critical.’
To what extent you can live easily depends 90% on your job.
I sat quietly, reflecting on my memories from my past life. My previous job left me trapped in a lab, leading a weary life—this time, I didn’t want a repeat of that.
I didn’t particularly want to get embroiled in the main events of the novel,
nor did I have a huge greed for money.
All I asked for were simply two things.
To leave the mansion promptly,
and secure a stable job that would ensure a comfortable retirement.
I had gone over it countless times.
The conclusion was always the same.
Civil service.
In short, a government official.
So, that day, I left the mansion and headed to the academy.
To complete a five-year education program for joining the imperial administration.
Five years passed.
I graduated with excellent marks as planned,
and finally managed to secure a government position I had long desired.
“Luke Richter.”
The seated imperial chancellor,
bestowed upon me the position after careful deliberation.
“I appoint you as the regional administrator.”
A regional administrator.
A civil service role responsible for overseeing the public security and administration of a specific area.
It was essentially a job where you could pass the time without doing much work.
‘Finally…!’
I did it.
Here in this world, I achieved the dream of becoming a government official—a dream I couldn’t attain in my past life.
“The region to which you will be assigned is…”
I sat quietly awaiting his next words.
Surely, I’d be directed to a land flowing with milk and honey.
I firmly believed this,
but then…
“Blackmore.”
Huh?
“Didn’t you hear? I said Blackmore.”
Blackmore?
Did I mishear that?
“Minister, my understanding is that there is only one Blackmore in the empire, but…”
“Unfortunately, that’s the correct place.”
“Excuse me?”
Just a moment.
That place flows with shit and diarrhea, not milk and honey.
Moreover, I’ve never even heard that Blackmore had an administrative position.
“Since the post has been vacant for a while, we’ll skip the transfer process.”
“Please, reconsider just once!!”
“It’s important, given that it’s a newly established administrative post.”
“Excuse me? Why me for such an important task?”
“Hoho, we’ll immediately discuss the specifics and resources right here.”
What the hell is this lunatic talking about?
“Surely, it will be a good experience for you.”
The chancellor immediately launched into the details of my work schedule as if he had been waiting for this day all along.
Thus, that ended with me becoming the administrator of the empire’s one-and-only suicide spot.
And then,
my first day on the job arrived.
“…”
After getting down from the carriage personally prepared by the imperial court, I, as always, took a moment to observe the surroundings.
Forest ahead.
Forest behind.
Occasional eerie noises, towering trees blocking the sunlight, and the eerie plants lurking everywhere.
“Shit.”
I frowned at the atmosphere that would make anyone’s death seem perfectly ordinary.
It was utterly terrible.
And worse, I was really the administrator here.
“Hereafter, I’m supposed to stay here…?”
I stared blankly around, sinking into thought.
The current situation was hopeless.
Blackmore was as desolate and eerie as described in the novel.
Plainly put, it was definitely not a place where a normal person could comfortably live.
‘Is there at least a house?’
Fortunately, there was an office.
Apparently, the palace had cared enough in some regards.
‘The food supply is fine for now too.’
The supplies were sufficient.
The palace had promised regular monthly support for clothing and daily necessities.
‘…Is it livable, more than I thought?’
The essentials for survival were covered.
But that’s all they were.
This was Blackmore, after all.
A notorious, desolate land.
Named villains lurking in various spots.
And each year, aspiring suicides crawling here to end their lives.
Even from the original story’s description of Blackmore, you could already tell.
So now,
They were asking me to manage this cursed place?
All by myself?
This chaos of a place?
How?
After taking the situation into account, my conclusion was:
“No solution exists.”
Honestly, is this situation even reasonable?
Not wanting to increase personnel, yet unable to defy the emperor’s orders.
And here I was, forced into managing this cursed place deep in the heart of a magic realm.
“Haaah…”
…I feel so nauseous.
Well, it is a relief that there are no bothersome people around.
Nonetheless, I stood up after reclining there in complaint, for the palace had appointed me as Blackmore’s official administrator. There was no way I could defy imperial orders just because things weren’t going well.
“I guess I don’t know anymore.”
Blackmore is a magic realm located at the border between the empire and the Kingdom of Winfred.
Being one of the remotest areas, its pay is pretty decent, and there are no bothersome individuals either.
That means,
If I wisely bide my time, I could maintain a relatively peaceful daily life.
Whatever happens, I think I’ll get through it.
Who knows?
Maybe I’ll surprisingly adapt quickly to this life here.
And after a few days,
“…”
I, as always, spent my day inside the office, looking out the same window.
Of course, I couldn’t keep wasting time like this forever.
At the very least, I needed to present a professional appearance when reporting back to the palace.
“Time to get up and do something.”
I grabbed the map given to me by the chancellor.
The five sections of Blackmore were displayed clearly in my view.
Today’s patrol area is ‘Calvaron’, located at the northern end of Blackmore.
A rather threatening place known as the Cliff of Death.
The reason I chose Calvaron is simple.
Among all sections, this one is the closest.
What’s there to supervise anyway?
Just wander a bit and make sure there’s no trouble.
Honestly, it won’t take long.
I just planned to casually check the vicinity and return.
“…What a gloomy atmosphere.”
I kept walking as I muttered this comment.
I’ve only been here a few days, yet I’m already getting used to this bone-chilling landscape.
The journey was perilous, but there were no significant issues as I had already mapped out the nearby terrain up to this point.
After walking for a while, passing through thick fog, I finally reached my destination.
“Huff.”
Calvaron.
I have finally arrived at my goal.
However, there was a problem.
“…?”
Hair like liquid sugar,
ash-gray eyes that reminded me of volcanic ash,
unrealistic facial features, and an expression that looked as if the world had been lost.
“A woman…?”
What is it?
I could make no sense of it at all.
Something definitely shouldn’t be here at the edge of this cliff.
“Why is there a woman here…”
Her attire clearly indicated she was from a noble family,
but this place was the empire’s top Magic Realm.
It was an inappropriate match.
Except for one possibility.
“Huh?”
Wait a moment.
Could it be…!
“…??”
Right after I finished thinking, the unmoving woman suddenly began to move.
“Wh-what? What is she doing? What’s going on??”
Her direction?
The edge of the cliff.
The precipice.
