“My son, Thor Regus, the great Dolgarian Empire, will send you to another country as a hostage. The carriage is already here to pick you up. It is your greatest honour to give your life for the Regus house.” This was the voice of my father, who spoke to me for the first time in two years. Father distorted his lips with a face that looked like he thought of something pleasant. I didn’t understand it at all. “Father, I don’t understand what you mean. Why am I a hostage for another country?” “Because it doesn’t matter even if you die.” My father, Duke Regus, spat disdainfully. Beside him, the Duke’s butler and the guard captain were laughing. Neither of them will even make eye contact with me. This is the Imperial capital of the Empire, in the home of Duke Regas. In other words, it’s my parents’ house. In the office of the Duke Barga Regus, I am listening to his speech. That said, I don’t have any relations with the Duke’s family anymore. I managed to find a job at the age of 13 and left home. For four years, I have lived as a commoner. I never intended to come back to the Duke’s house again. But while I was working today, a soldier from the Duke’s family came and brought me here without any questions. My co-workers and boss stood on the side and looked at me. It was not their fault. The Duke’s family is the highest-ranking aristocratic family. Commoners could not go against them. I was put on a carriage and dragged into my father’s office in his mansion and forced to listen to him. “What do you mean I’m a person that doesn’t matter even if I die?” There was no reply. “I’m already not part of the Duke family. I don’t even use the surname of Regus. Now I’m working as an imperial civilian. My job is paperwork, inventory management, item repair, etc. I haven’t made any mistakes.” “Shut up!! You’re a shame to the family!!” My father hit the table. “If you can’t help out, you should just die silently. Why do you argue against me!?” “I don’t understand, Father.” “Why do you not understand!?” How could I understand what he was talking about? There is almost no explanation other than “sending as a hostage” and “able to die”. “As I said before, I don’t need anyone in my Duke family who doesn’t have any combat skills!!” The Duke’s shout echoed throughout the room. But why does he look like he was told to do something unreasonable? I was the one who was forcibly brought in and yelled at. “My ancestors have taken the sword with His Majesty and created this Dolgarian Empire. The first Emperor was also a companion of the heroes! This great empire is the pride of all the empires!” “I know. Father.” “Therefore, all the imperial citizens need to be at the highest level of strength, especially for aristocrats. My Duke family must be a model for other aristocrats and all nations! But you!” Just by looking at his father’s expression, I knew what was coming next. “You don’t have any fighting skills! You can’t use offensive magic! You are the eldest son of a Duke with a grandfather called “Swordmaster”! Do you understand my despair!?” It’s been a familiar line since I was a kid. I already know how to answer it. If I answer “I understand”, he will say, What do you understand?” and a fist will fly at me. If I answer “I don’t understand,” he will say, “Why don’t you understand?!” and I am struck with a wooden sword. So I have no choice but to remain silent. “── He seems to have no words. Guard captain! Butler! Tell us about the sins of Thor Regus!” The guard captain wearing a piece of armour and a butler wearing a black suit stepped forward. “── At the age of 10, Thor Regas was praised for his skills. Reportedly, he had no combat skills. As the eldest son of a duke family, it’s an embarrassing thing.” “── The second skill appraisal was done at the age of 12. In addition to combat skills, he did not have any attack magic skills. As an aristocrat, it’s an incredible blunder.” As soon as they finished talking, the two turned away and left. This is the treatment of those who do not have any combat skills. The Dolgarian Empire has expanded its territory by force. Therefore, both aristocrats and commoners attach great importance to combat abilities. In particular, aristocrats who do not have combat skills would be looked down upon because all the aristocrats around the emperor have excellent combat skills. So I left the Duke’s house. I took an exam and became a civil officer, doing paperwork and item repair work. I’ve done my job properly. Document work was suitable for me. Besides, there were some jobs where I could use my skills. “Sure, I don’t have combat skills.” I looked back at the Duke and said, “But I have an alchemy skill.” My father’s face was distorted. He had the same face when he heard the result of the skill appraisal when I was 10 and 12 years old. I continued. “My alchemy skill is useful for repairing items. I am also entrusted with item management work at the government office. If I polish my skills, I may be able to create new items. That’s why I am saving up money and will eventually open my workshop ── ” “There is no value in such a thing!” “Father!” “Everyone in the empire is competing to be the strongest! No other things are needed! Besides, the empire has the holy swords and shields used by the heroes. The strongest equipment already exists. Creating new items? Does that mean you’re denying the Empire’s way!?” “No! I am-” “Denying the empire’s way is equivalent to rebellion against His Majesty!” The Duke kicked the table. The heavy table easily rolls away. The Duke has many combat skills. It seems that he is still in good condition. “── Seriously. I can’t feel the air of an aristocrat around him at all.” “─I thought that after leaving the Duke’s family, he still had some pride, but…” The guard captain and the butler were both laughing silently at me. The Duke screamed. “It has already been decided that you will be sent as a hostage. Stop complaining!” “I understand that it has been decided…” …… Is it no good after all? My father and his servants won’t even listen to my words. I’m done with them── If they won’t listen to me, at least I should get some information out of them. “But what do you mean by it doesn’t matter even if I die?” “Because you’ll be going to a dangerous place.” “Dangerous place?” “The empire has been sending hostages there for decades.. No one has gone to that place and returned.” “Where am I being sent?” When he heard that, my father smiled. That alone gave me the answer. “No way is it the Demon Territory!?” “I’ll praise you for your correct guess.” Father shook his head. “No, but if you are good at guessing, you should have guessed my thoughts and committed suicide at an early age. You’re still incompetent at everything.” I don’t care about that. I never thought the Duke would go this far. This guy is going to send me to an enemy country. Hundreds of years ago, the Demon Lord and the humans were vying for territory on the continent. The Demon Lord invaded from the south, accompanied by mighty demons. The demons were powerful, but the human heroes were also strong. After a fierce battle, the Hero and his companions used their weapons and magic to repel the Demon Lord. After that, a boundary was laid between the Human World and the territory of the Demon Lord. Beyond the forest to the north of the empire is the area of ​​demons and subhumans live – the Demon Territory. South of there is the Human World. No major conflict has occurred since the border was laid. Both humans and demons lived without invading each other’s territory. However, the Demon Territory was still a mysterious country. On the contrary, the Demon Lord and demons who have been driven to the north are said to hate humans. Therefore, there should have been almost no interaction between the Demon Lord and the Human World. “I didn’t know that there was an exchange between the Empire and the Demon Lord.” “You don’t understand politics. Our Dolgarian Empire is closest to the Demon Territory. Even though the Demon Lord does not dare to interfere, we must take safety measures.” The Duke said. “That’s why the empire is supposed to offer hostages to the Demon Territory once in a few decades. They are blood-thirsty, and they can only calm down because of the hostages, because the demons are like beasts.” “─They are a barbaric, savage race.” ──They also like to show their strength by killing humans.” The Duke and his two subordinates are laughing. I felt a chill down my spine. These guys are seriously wanting me to die. That’s what I can’t understand. You don’t have to talk to someone about to die. “I’m done with my talks. Just disappear. The carriage to pick you up is here.” The Duke waved his hand. With that as a signal, the four soldiers who were waiting outside the room came in and restrained me. I tried twisting myself, but it was no use. “You can’t even escape from the guards? You don’t have the skills to fight. Why was this incompetence born in my duke’s family… ” “── My condolences, my lord.” ──I understand your feelings, too.” “But those hardships end here today.” The Duke had a radiant smile as the butler and the guard captain buttered him up and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. I felt nauseous. I threw the stone I was carrying around as a material for alchemy at his face. “I hate you. Duke Barga Regas.” “Don’t talk to me, you corpse.” “If you want to send people to the Demon Territory, you can go by yourself. Did you guys even bother to collect information on the Demon Territor?!?” “The Empire has won against the Demon Territory. Do you need information on a nation full of losers?” “… You’re too careless. It’s over. You ──” On my belly, I felt something hit me. I found that the Duke’s fist was sunk into it. I suddenly stopped breathing. I can’t make a sound. The butler wipes the fist drawn by the Duke with a handkerchief. He stopped with a single blow because it would be a problem if I died before arriving at the Demon Territory. “…………You’re the worst. Fucking father.” “Take him.” The Duke waved. “A child that was an accident is gone, and my duke’s family will turn over a new leaf. His Majesty the Emperor will appreciate my Duke’s family.” ── This was how I was banished from the Empire where I was born and raised.