The Gunblade Guardian: I Was Ordered to Protect the Girl Who Was Never Supposed to Exist.

The first thing Luciel Valliere noticed was the blood.

Not the screaming. Not the burning carriage. Not even the dozens of armed men surrounding the forest road.

The blood.

It was scattered across the white stones beneath the trees, bright against the pale morning light.

Luciel stood on the hill overlooking the scene, one hand resting against the grip of the handgun beneath his coat.

He counted them.

One.

Two.

Five.

Twelve.

Twenty-three.

Too many.

Below him, a black carriage lay overturned on its side. Its horses were dead, and several armored guards were scattered across the road. Surrounding the wreckage were men dressed in dark clothing, their faces hidden behind masks.

Assassins.

Luciel narrowed his dark blue-gray eyes.

Three days ago, he had received a simple order.

Protect the target.

Do not leave her side.

Do not allow anyone to capture her.

And most importantly—

Do not ask unnecessary questions.

That last instruction had bothered him.

Luciel had spent most of his life following orders from people who knew more than he did. He wasn’t paid to question them.

He was paid to make sure the people under his protection survived.

His fingers tightened around his weapon.

A single shot echoed through the forest.

Bang!

One of the masked men collapsed.

The others froze.

Luciel was already moving.

He descended the hill without hesitation, his dark coat trailing behind him.

Another assassin spotted him.

“Who the hell—?!”

Bang!

The man dropped.

A third rushed forward with a sword.

Luciel stepped aside as the blade passed within centimeters of his face.

He raised his handgun.

Bang!

The assassin fell.

Luciel continued forward.

Three shots.

Three enemies.

No wasted movement.

The remaining attackers finally realized what had happened.

“Enemy!”

“Over there!”

“Kill him!”

They rushed toward him.

Luciel sighed.

“That’s unfortunate.”

He reached beneath his coat.

His hand disappeared into empty space.

When he pulled it back, he was holding a second handgun.

Then a third.

A long black firearm appeared across his back.

The assassins stopped.

One of them whispered,

“Impossible...”

Luciel raised both pistols.

“I’m afraid you’re standing between me and my assignment.”

The forest erupted.

The battle lasted less than a minute.

When it ended, silence returned to the road.

Luciel stood among the fallen attackers, his weapons disappearing one by one into the strange dimensional space surrounding his hands.

Infinite Arsenal.

His unique ability.

A limitless storage space capable of holding weapons, ammunition, equipment, and practically anything else he needed.

It was one of the reasons he had been chosen for this mission.

At least, that was what he had been told.

Luciel walked toward the overturned carriage.

“Target.”

No response.

He crouched beside the carriage and listened.

Nothing.

He frowned.

“Are you alive?”

Still nothing.

Luciel reached for the carriage door.

Before he could open it—

“Don’t!”

A girl’s voice.

Luciel stopped.

It was frightened.

But not weak.

He opened the door carefully.

Inside the wreckage sat a girl around his age.

Long pink-blonde hair covered part of her face. Her elegant white-and-navy dress was stained with dirt, and a small floral ornament remained in her hair despite everything that had happened.

Her violet-blue eyes stared directly at him.

She was holding a broken piece of wood like a sword.

Luciel looked at it.

Then at her.

Then back at the piece of wood.

“...That’s not going to help.”

The girl’s expression immediately changed.

“Excuse me?!”

“You heard me.”

“I know how to use a sword!”

“You’re holding a piece of the carriage.”

“I-I know that!”

Luciel stared at her.

She stared back.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Luciel extended his hand.

“Seraphina Everlyne?”

The girl hesitated.

“...Who are you?”

“Luciel Valliere.”

He showed her the insignia attached inside his coat.

Her eyes widened slightly.

“You’re...”

“Yes.”

“You’re the one they sent?”

“Yes.”

She looked away.

“So you’re my bodyguard.”

“Guardian.”

“What’s the difference?”

“A bodyguard protects you when you’re in danger.”

Luciel stood.

“A guardian makes sure you don’t get into danger in the first place.”

Seraphina blinked.

“That sounds annoying.”

“It usually is.”

For the first time that morning, the corner of her mouth twitched.

Almost a smile.

Almost.

Then she looked outside at the fallen guards.

Her expression changed.

“Are they...”

Luciel didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

Seraphina looked away, her fingers tightening around the piece of wood.

“I see.”

Luciel held out his hand again.

“Come with me.”

She looked at his hand.

“Where?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“How do I know you’re not one of them?”

“You don’t.”

Her eyes widened.

Luciel continued calmly.

“But if I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have killed the people trying to capture you.”

Seraphina stared at him.

“That isn’t exactly reassuring.”

“It’s the truth.”

She hesitated before finally taking his hand.

Her fingers were cold.

Luciel pulled her out of the carriage.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she stumbled.

Luciel caught her by the arm.

“You injured?”

“No.”

“You’re limping.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

“I said I’m—”

Her knee buckled.

Luciel caught her before she fell.

Seraphina’s face turned bright red.

“I can walk!”

“You clearly can’t.”

“I can!”

“You just fell.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“It counts.”

She glared at him.

Luciel looked toward the road.

“We need to leave.”

“Wait.”

He stopped.

Seraphina looked back at the carriage.

“My things...”

“We don’t have time.”

“But—”

Luciel removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders.

Seraphina froze.

“It’s cold.”

“I know.”

“You’ll be cold.”

“I’ll survive.”

She looked at him strangely before quietly pulling the coat tighter around herself.

“...Thank you.”

Luciel nodded.

“Let’s go.”

They walked for almost an hour.

The forest became thicker, and the sounds of the battle disappeared behind them.

Seraphina followed closely.

Very closely.

Luciel noticed.

“You can walk beside me.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you behind me?”

“Because you’re supposed to protect me.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to use me as a shield.”

“You’re bigger.”

Luciel glanced over his shoulder.

She immediately looked away.

“...Coward.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Luciel almost smiled.

Almost.

After several minutes, Seraphina spoke again.

“So...”

“Yes?”

“Do you always shoot people?”

“When necessary.”

“That was a lot of shooting.”

“There were a lot of enemies.”

“You weren’t even scared.”

Luciel didn’t answer.

Seraphina studied him.

He moved like someone who had already accepted the possibility of death.

Calm.

Precise.

Almost emotionless.

It bothered her.

“Are you always like this?”

“Like what?”

“Quiet.”

“Usually.”

“Do you ever smile?”

“Sometimes.”

“When?”

“When something is funny.”

Seraphina folded her arms.

“I see.”

A few seconds passed.

“So nothing funny has happened today?”

Luciel looked at her.

“You were fighting an assassination attempt with a piece of wood.”

Her cheeks puffed.

“That wasn’t funny!”

“It was a little funny.”

She stopped walking.

“You do have a sense of humor!”

Luciel continued walking.

Seraphina hurried after him.

“Wait!”

For the first time that day, the forest felt a little less frightening.

They reached a small clearing shortly before sunset.

Luciel examined the area.

No footprints.

No signs of pursuit.

Good.

“We’ll stay here tonight.”

Seraphina looked around.

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“But there’s nothing here.”

“Exactly.”

She sighed.

“You really are bad at taking care of people.”

Luciel began gathering firewood.

“I kept you alive.”

“That is the bare minimum!”

“Then I’ll try to exceed expectations tomorrow.”

She stared at him.

“...Was that sarcasm?”

“Yes.”

Seraphina smiled.

“You’re getting better.”

Luciel ignored her.

Soon, a small fire filled the clearing with warm orange light.

Seraphina sat beside it, wrapped in Luciel’s coat.

For a while, she simply watched the flames.

Then she spoke quietly.

“Luciel?”

“Yes?”

“Why are they after me?”

Luciel’s hand stopped.

He had expected the question.

“You’re important.”

“That doesn’t explain anything.”

“No.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Luciel looked into the fire.

“You were attacked before we reached the capital.”

“Yes.”

“They knew exactly where you would be.”

“Yes.”

“They weren’t trying to kill you.”

Seraphina’s eyes widened.

“They were trying to take you alive.”

Silence.

“Why?”

Luciel looked at her.

“I don’t know.”

It was the first time his expression changed.

Just slightly.

Seraphina noticed.

“You really don’t know?”

“No.”

She looked down.

“Then we’re both in trouble.”

“Yes.”

She gave a small, nervous laugh.

“I was hoping you’d say something heroic.”

“I could lie.”

“Don’t.”

“I won’t.”

She pulled the coat tighter around herself.

After a moment, she whispered,

“I don’t belong here.”

Luciel looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

Seraphina stared at the flames.

“I don’t remember everything.”

Her voice trembled.

“But I remember another place.”

Luciel remained silent.

“A place without magic.”

She swallowed.

“A place where people traveled inside machines. Where enormous buildings reached the sky. Where there were lights everywhere.”

Luciel listened carefully.

“I remember dying.”

The fire cracked.

Seraphina closed her eyes.

“And then...”

She touched her chest.

“I woke up here.”

Luciel said nothing.

“I was told this was my second life.”

She smiled sadly.

“But sometimes I wonder if it really is.”

Luciel looked toward the dark forest.

Something was wrong.

Not with her story.

With the world around her.

A strange pressure passed through him.

For just an instant, his vision darkened.

His hand instinctively moved toward his weapon.

Then—

it disappeared.

Luciel blinked.

The sensation was gone.

“Luciel?”

He looked back.

Seraphina was watching him.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

“You looked strange.”

“I’m fine.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I’ve been told.”

She smiled faintly.

Then she looked back at the fire.

“Luciel.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think I was supposed to be born here?”

He thought about the attack.

The assassins.

The strange pressure.

The order he had received.

“No.”

Her eyes widened.

“You don’t think so?”

Luciel shook his head.

“I think you were brought here for a reason.”

Seraphina looked down.

“And if that reason is bad?”

Luciel stared at the fire.

“Then I’ll deal with it.”

“What if you can’t?”

“I will.”

“What if it’s something you can’t defeat?”

Luciel’s eyes met hers.

“Then I’ll find another way.”

“And if there isn’t another way?”

He didn’t hesitate.

“Then I’ll make one.”

Seraphina stared at him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then she smiled.

A real smile this time.

Small.

Warm.

Fragile.

“That’s a very unfair thing to say.”

“Why?”

“Because now I feel safe.”

Luciel looked away.

“Good.”

She leaned against the tree.

“Luciel?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t leave.”

His expression softened.

“I won’t.”

“Promise?”

Luciel looked at her.

“I promise.”

Seraphina closed her eyes.

Within minutes, she fell asleep.

Luciel remained awake beside the fire.

He watched the flames.

Then the forest.

Then the girl sleeping beneath his coat.

His mission was simple.

Protect Seraphina Everlyne.

Keep her alive.

Nothing more.

At least, that was what he believed.

Until a voice echoed inside his head.

[ECLIPSE SYSTEM INITIALIZATION]

Luciel’s eyes widened.

The fire suddenly went dark.

For one heartbeat, the entire forest became black.

Then another message appeared.

[TARGET IDENTIFIED.]

[SOUL: SERAPHINA EVERLYNE]

[ERROR.]

[SOUL SHOULD NOT EXIST IN THIS WORLD.]

Luciel slowly turned toward the sleeping girl.

His heartbeat quickened.

For the first time since receiving the assignment—

he felt afraid.

Not for himself.

For her.

A final message appeared.

[WORLD COLLAPSE EVENT: POSSIBLE]

[PROTECT THE IRREGULAR SOUL.]

[FAILURE WILL RESULT IN EXTINCTION.]

The fire returned.

Seraphina slept peacefully.

She knew nothing.

Luciel stared at her for a long moment.

Then he quietly reached for his handgun.

He loaded a fresh magazine.

Click.

His eyes hardened.

“Looks like my assignment is more troublesome than I thought.”

Above them, hidden beyond the clouds, something ancient opened its eyes.

And somewhere in the darkness—

someone was already searching for the girl who was never supposed to exist.