Chapter 1. I Became a Magical Boundary Manager

While idly browsing the internet, you've probably come across certain keywords.

A place inhabited by demons.

One of the 13 Magical Boundaries of the world.

The Cliffs of Death.

A place where no one returns alive.

Or where, for some unknown reason, people go completely mad.

A place that draws the attention of countless people with its reputation as the most terrifying place in the world.

And just the other day,

In a generic novel I was reading before bed, there happened to be such a place.

One of the Empire’s top three suicide hotspots.

A remote region boasting overwhelming danger.

A lawless zone where all sorts of irregular beings lurk.

I know.

They’re all goddamn ominous titles.

However, I couldn't refute any of those goddamn titles.

The reason is.

“Fuck.”

…Because I’d become the administrator of that goddamn Magical Boundary.

****

An unfamiliar ceiling.

An intricately embroidered canopy, pale gold curtains, and high-quality furniture crafted by an artisan’s hand.

One day, I woke up in an unfamiliar place.

The face reflected in the mirror was also unfamiliar.

It wasn't that strange.

After all, I’d been reincarnated into the world of a novel.

How do I know? Because it's been a year since I was reincarnated into the novel.

It’s time to accept it.

This is reality, not a dream.

Fortunately, the situation I've observed so far isn’t too terrible.

‘Handsome.’

First of all, my looks are better than in my previous life.

Not just better, but overwhelmingly handsome.

‘Young, too.’

Barely twenty.

The fresh youth I’ve always longed for.

‘Not bad.’

This kind of reincarnation isn’t so bad.

At least it’s better than the garbage life I lived in my previous life under gambling-addicted parents.

‘A Count’s household isn’t bad either.’

Although I’m treated coldly in the mansion because I’m a bastard, I don’t particularly care.

I can just leave this superficial family behind.

How much attachment could I have to the family of an insignificant extra in a novel I only read for a few days?

What I need is a plan.

A future plan for what I’ll do and how I’ll make a living after leaving the mansion.

‘A job is important.’

Ninety percent of living a comfortable life depends on your job. That’s no exaggeration.

Sitting still, I recalled memories of my previous life.

Because of my profession, I spent my entire life cooped up in a lab, living a miserable existence.

I don't want to repeat that life.

I don't particularly want to get involved in the main episodes of the novel.

Nor am I greedy for money.

All I want are two things.

To escape this mansion immediately.

And a job that guarantees a stable retirement.

I've thought it over countless times.

The conclusion is always the same.

A Government Post.

Also known as a civil servant.

That day, I left the mansion and headed to the Academy.

To complete the five-year education course required to enter the Imperial government service.

Five years passed.

As planned, I graduated with excellent grades.

And finally, I landed the Government Post I’d longed for.

“Luke Richter.”

The Empire’s Prime Minister sat in his chair.

After careful consideration, the position he bestowed upon me was…

“I hereby appoint you Regional Administrator.”

Regional Administrator.

A position that oversees the security and administration of a specific region.

While it’s called security and administration, it’s basically a position where you can coast and kill time.

‘Finally…!’

I did it.

I’m fulfilling my dream of becoming a civil servant, even if it’s in another world.

“The region you will be dispatched to is…”

I sat quietly, waiting for the next words.

I firmly believed he would guide me to a land flowing with milk and honey.

However…

“Blackmore.”

Huh?

“Did you not hear me? I said Blackmore.”

Blackmore?

Did I hear wrong?

“Prime Minister? As far as I know, there’s only one Blackmore in the Empire…”

“Unfortunately, it’s the one you’re thinking of.”

“…Huh?”

Wait a minute.

That place doesn’t flow with milk and honey, it flows with shit and diarrhea.

I’ve never even heard of there being an administrative position there.

“Since the position has been vacant, we’ll skip the handover process.”

“No, please reconsider…!!”

“As this is a newly created administrative position, remember that your actions are crucial.”

“Huh? Why would you give such an important task to me?”

“Haha, I’ll inform you of the specifics and material support right here and now.”

What the hell is this lunatic talking about?

“I’m sure this will be a good experience for you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Prime Minister in front of me started rambling on about my work schedule.

Perhaps he'd been waiting for this day all along.

With the Prime Minister's nonsense,

I became the one and only administrator of the Empire’s suicide hotspot.

And.

On my first day of work.

“….”

Stepping out of the carriage the Imperial Family ‘personally’ prepared, I surveyed my surroundings, as always.

The front was forest.

The rear was forest.

Bizarre noises drifted through the air intermittently, trees stood tall, blocking out the sunlight, and creepy-looking plants lurked everywhere.

“Fuck.”

I frowned at the atmosphere, a place where someone could die at any moment without it being strange at all.

It was fucking awful.

And the fact that I had actually become the administrator of this place made the situation even worse.

“You’re telling me I have to live *here*…?”

I stared blankly at my surroundings, lost in thought.

That’s how hopeless the current situation was.

Blackmore was gloomy and harsh, just as described in the novel.

In other words, it was definitely not a place for a normal person to live.

‘Is there a house?’

Fortunately, there was an office.

It seemed the Imperial Family had put some effort into it.

‘There's enough food for now.’

Supplies were sufficient.

The Imperial Family had promised to periodically provide clothing and other daily necessities every month.

‘…Is it more livable than I thought?’

Clothing-Food-Shelter was taken care of.

However, *only* Clothing-Food-Shelter was taken care of.

What kind of place was Blackmore?

A harsh, remote wasteland living up to its infamous reputation.

Named villains lurking everywhere.

And even prospective suicide candidates crawling in every year, seeking to end their own lives.

It was a fact that could be gleaned just by looking at the description of Blackmore in the original work.

And now.

They’re telling me to manage this goddamn place?

Me, alone?

This den of iniquity?

How?

My conclusion after roughly grasping the current situation was as follows:

“This is hopeless.”

Seriously, was this even a remotely plausible situation?

They didn't want to increase manpower, but they couldn't disobey the Emperor's order either.

So the solution they came up with was to stick me, as a so-called administrator, in the middle of the Magical Boundary.

“Haaaaaaaaa—”

…This is dizzying.

Well, at least it’s nice that there’s no one to bother me.

After lamenting my fate for a while, I got up from my seat.

In any case, the Imperial Family had officially appointed me as the Administrator of Blackmore.

I couldn’t just rebel against the Imperial Family’s will and say I couldn’t do it.

“I don't know anymore.”

Blackmore was a Magical Boundary located on the border between the Empire and the Duchy of Winphred.

As a remote wasteland, the salary was quite good, and there was no one to bother me.

That meant…

If I just played it smart and quietly bided my time, I could maintain a relatively peaceful daily life.

Well, things would work out somehow.

Who knows?

I might unexpectedly adapt easily to life here.

And a few days later.

“……”

I spent the day holed up in my office, as usual.

Staring at the same scenery outside the window.

Of course, I couldn’t continue killing time like this forever.

At least, I needed to put on a good show when reporting to the Imperial Family.

“I guess I should get up.”

I pulled out the map the Prime Minister had given me.

Blackmore, divided into five districts, came into view.

The district I would oversee today was ‘Kalbaron,’ located in the northern part of Blackmore.

A district with the somewhat ominous nickname, Cliff of Death.

The reason I chose Kalbaron was simple.

It was the closest district.

What was so special about administrative supervision anyway?

Just walk around and check if there were any problems.

Honestly, it wouldn’t take long.

I was only planning to skim the nearby area and return.

“…The atmosphere is certainly gloomy.”

With a brief observation, I continued walking.

After only a few days, I was already getting used to this startling scenery.

The path was rough, but there were no major problems.

I had familiarized myself with the surrounding terrain.

How long had I been walking?

As I passed through the thick fog and reached my destination…

“Whew.”

Kalbaron.

I finally arrived.

However, there was a problem.

“……?”

Silver hair that looked like spun sugar.

Light gray eyes reminiscent of volcanic ash.

Unrealistically beautiful features and a devastated expression, as if she had lost the world.

“A woman…?”

What?

I couldn’t understand it at all.

There was something that shouldn't be at the edge of a cliff.

“Why is there a woman here…”

Judging by the style of her clothes, she was clearly a Noble Lady from a wealthy family.

And this place was the Empire’s foremost Magical Boundary.

A completely incongruous combination.

Except for one possibility.

“Huh?”

Wait.

Don't tell me…!

“…!!”

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the woman who had been standing still began to move.

“Uh? Uh oh? Uh oh oh oh??”

Towards the edge of the cliff.

The precipice.