The story begins with a brutal public execution by fire, where a man is burned alive as a "demon" for allegedly betraying and murdering the "Hero of the Sacred Decree." A stout, richly dressed priest incites the frenzied crowd, calling the execution a purification and a divine judgment. Among the onlookers, three individuals react differently. A young princess, dressed in an exquisite gown and surrounded by guards, watches with a pale face, trembling and muttering that it's her fault. Meanwhile, a woman with a muscular build, dressed as a village girl, struggles against soldiers, her crimson eyes fixed on the burning man, having attempted to save him. After the man's charred remains collapse, the priest declares the demon vanquished and leads the crowd in a celebratory feast, turning the man's death into a festival.
Beneath the city, in the sewage canals, dark, fish-like creatures consume the remnants of the executed man. These creatures then emerge from the water with legs, transforming into rat-like beings that scurry into a dark cave. Inside, a cloaked figure conjures a mystical green fire over a pot. The fire cycles through colors as a song is sung, and the pot cracks, yielding a viscous liquid sealed in a small vial. This liquid marks the beginning of the story.
The narrative then shifts to a traveling merchant in the remote village of Kiko, located in the northeastern border of the Asuria Kingdom. He encounters a peculiar five or six-year-old boy, the village chief's son, named Marco. Marco, with black hair and blue eyes, is uninterested in the toys the merchant offers, instead requesting to read a newspaper. The merchant, bewildered by Marco's unusual demeanor and advanced understanding, allows him to read it for a small fee. Marco, despite his age, displays a sharp intellect, commenting critically on the newspaper's contents, particularly regarding the princess's pregnancy and a bishop's opulent lifestyle.
Later, the merchant observes Marco teaching a group of village children under a large camphor tree. The lessons, which include reading, writing, and arithmetic, are unconventional and practical, focusing on everyday life and business rather than religious texts. Marco teaches phrases like "You can do it if you try. You can't do it if you don't. Just do it," and "If you can't do it today, do it tomorrow." For writing, he uses phrases like "If you want brothers, go to bed early," explaining it's for parents' convenience and "the magic of children is a secret romance." His arithmetic lessons involve complex scenarios of trading goods, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of profit and loss. The merchant is astonished by Marco's intellect and teaching abilities, recognizing him as an extraordinary child.
Marco explains his motivation for teaching is to make people less likely to be deceived, a "wisdom for living advantageously," which he implies is a jab at merchants. He reveals that his parents are simple farmers and that Kiko village was founded by people who fled conflict thirty years prior, during a period when the Asuria Kingdom was pushed back by the Eberia Empire. Marco's advanced knowledge and calculating nature remind the merchant of a notorious figure named Salomon, a man rumored to be a demon who betrayed the Hero. Marco, however, dismisses the idea of settling for a simple life, stating his physical limitations prevent him from fighting and that he intends to leave the village within five to ten years. His current efforts are to "sow seeds" for the village's future prosperity and strength, believing that a healthy organization is run by a capable majority, not a single exceptional individual. He sees himself as an "extraordinary existence" who cannot create the ordinary, destined for the battlefield.
The story then introduces Oiva Otara, a large, former blacksmith and soldier who now works as a craftsman. He frequents a martial arts dojo where he practices with bamboo swords. Oiva expresses his dissatisfaction with the current era, where the Hero who died is glorified, while Salomon, who saved the kingdom, is vilified. He recounts his own experience fighting alongside the Hero's army and being saved by Salomon's forces.
One evening, Marco visits the dojo, drawn by the sound of the bamboo swords. Oiva is struck by Marco's intense, almost demonic gaze, recognizing a profound depth and power beyond his years. Marco, in turn, inquires about the use of bamboo swords, revealing knowledge of their origin, which Oiva attributes to Salomon. When a scream is heard, Marco rushes off, and Oiva follows. They discover that Hanna, a woman from Marco's village who accompanied him, has been kidnapped. Marco, with surprising composure, deduces that the kidnapping is a test of the town's response capabilities, orchestrated by a mercenary named Bertrand.
Oiva, who has a past encounter with Bertrand from the battlefield, agrees to help. They confront Bertrand in a tavern, where Marco, with unnerving speed and precision, incapacitates Bertrand's guards. Bertrand, recognizing Marco's gaze as that of a divine figure, pledges his loyalty. Marco orders Bertrand to rescue Hanna, revealing that she was taken by Bertrand's subordinates who were acting on behalf of a nobleman known for his predatory nature. Bertrand, now a devout follower of Marco, mobilizes his men to rescue Hanna.
The narrative then follows Bertrand as he rescues Hanna from the nobleman's estate, demonstrating a ruthless efficiency that impresses Oiva. Bertrand reveals his belief that Salomon was a manifestation of "Death" and that the "Sacred Flame Festival," which celebrated Salomon's execution, was a divine revelation. He has dedicated himself to serving Marco, whom he sees as the embodiment of Death.
Later, Marco and Oiva travel to the capital. They witness a merchant caravan being attacked near the city gates. Marco analyzes the attack, deducing it's a test of the capital's response rather than a simple raid. He predicts further, more devastating attacks if the response is weak.
The story then shifts to Akseli Arnel, a lieutenant in the Hellevi domain army, who is sent to inspect Kiko village due to its unusual prosperity despite widespread hardship. He is impressed by the village's strong spirit and the children's unconventional games, which he recognizes as having military applications. He also notes the village's advanced living standards, particularly the women's hands, suggesting an unrecorded source of income. Marco, the village chief's son, reveals that the village's prosperity is partly due to the cultivation and use of "Kuwampu," a root vegetable normally used as horse feed, but which they also consume. He also mentions raising "dwarf horses" for meat, a secret they keep to avoid repercussions from horse merchants. Akseli realizes that Marco is the driving force behind the village's success and its unique "control," akin to military governance.
During a dinner with the village chief, Akseli questions Marco about his insights. Marco explains that Akseli, despite his military knowledge, lacks "loyalty" and treats everything as a "hobby" or "masturbation," failing to bear the weight of responsibility. He advises Akseli to choose between being a leader or abandoning his ambitions. Akseli, deeply affected by Marco's words, asks what he lacks. Marco replies, "Loyalty."
The story concludes with Akseli reflecting on Marco's words and his own destiny. He recognizes Marco as "Fate" and believes his own life will change significantly after encountering him. Akseli, a capable soldier, is destined to become one of Marco's key generals, known for his strategic brilliance and dedication to his work, even if he doesn't seek to create history himself. The narrative emphasizes that Marco's influence will shape the future of the Asuria Kingdom and the Eberia Empire, with the inspection of Kiko village being the pivotal first step.
