MTL - Sword Among Us - Chapter 1253 Leading troops (recommended)

Ernest Quelt, the alchemist renowned for his unparalleled mastery of alchemy, has perished.But his death wasn't a noble sacrifice in battle, nor the result of a failed expedition—it was a betrayal. The very comrades he trusted most turned on him, driven by envy of his growing power.Yet fate wasn’t entirely cruel. With his final breath, Ernest's gaze fell upon the tube that contained his greatest achievement: a perfect artificial being known as the Homunculus.More than just a vessel resembling a human, this creation harbored the power of a catastrophic beast—one that had once nearly brought the world to ruin.

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.

The first time they met, she said to him, “Mr. Song, I see that you’re I’ll-fates, and I’m afraid that you will die soon. The people around him accused her of being a fraud, and threatened to beat her...

Introduction:

Wano Country, New Tokyo.

The original soul of Higashino came here and wanted to live a quiet life without being disturbed, but the “Crime Handbook” appeared in his mind by chance. If you catch criminals and bring them to justice, you can get attribute points and random rewards.

What? Can’t do it?

According to the prisoner’s crime star rating, he can enjoy the free distribution of temporary attribute points (Buff) when he is arrested.

The criminals are getting worse and worse!

My Buff gets stronger!

Mysterious fruit of ability, powerful sword type of technique, and various abilities of different sequences and levels, all turned into magical rewards on the [Guild Handbook]…

Metropolitan Police Department: These extrajudicial lunatics are simply insane, vicious, and full of evil…! ! !

Higashinohara:

I mean…

Is there anything worse? !

…

Here is the protagonist’s self-introduction:

My name is Higashinohara, a 16-year-old high school student, unmarried, and I live in the “Academy City” New Tokyo Detective Agency in Ogawa Town, Edogawa District. The police arrested lawbreakers, and they could only go home after eight o’clock in the evening.

When I got home, I would do a handstand exercise for an hour, and taste different brands of canned coffee before going to bed, just to reminisce about some of the subtle differences, just like reminiscing about the criminals who fell in my hands.

Going to bed at eleven o’clock.

Everyone says that my work and rest are very regular and healthy.

But it’s a shame to say,

In my mind lately,

Seems like something weird happened…

- Description from novelbuddy