Once Upon a Time in Lugunica Part 1 (Once upon a time in Lugunica 前編) is a side story featured in Monthly Comic Alive. It takes place 15 years before the main story.
Summary[]
The story begins with the coronation of Roswaal L. Mathers, who is 14 at the time on this story. The current king, Randohal Lugunica, is leading this coronation and gives a speech to Roswaal, advising him to get to know and trust the subjects surrounding him.
Afterwards, we change to Roswaal's POV, with him muttering about the experience. The narration suggest Roswaal's previous incarnation; Roswaal K. Mathers had died suddenly, forcing Roswaal into his currently position. Despite only recently changing bodies, he has ventured to the capital alone, lacking any servants or guards. He notes how he was nervous during the coronation, lamenting the fact he had been away from the public eye for quite some time, however, he now has places to visit such as the Magical Research Institute. After leaving the inn and walking around the city, he begins feeling sentimental over being one of the capital city's best protectors. He notes how easy it is for him to begin feeling nostalgic, and how he had previously avoided meeting his previous acquaintances to prevent this feeling. Whilst in this line of though, a young boy steals an ornament from Roswaal. Roswaal gives chase, saying the ornament is important to him. After moving into an alleyway, a figure seperates the two, and Roswaal tries to negotiate for the item back, however hostilities arise and Roswaal strikes the man, but much to Roswaal's surprise, the man isn't knocked unconcious and is hit by a powerful blow that sends him flying across the alleyway, knocking him unconscious. Before he passes out, he notes to himself that he is "not ready for this yet".
Roswaal awakens to first aid being performed on him, with the man recognising Roswaal as the new head of the Mathers household, surprising Roswaal with his knowledge. After some talking, the man agrees to help him, with the idea that a favour from the Mathers household would be profitable, as well as introducing himself as Russell Fellow.
Roswaal provides more details of the situation to Russell, with Russell speculating the men who robbed him were from The Brotherhood. It is said that The Brotherhood are a collection of poor people rebelling against class discrimination in the capital, and the man Roswaal ran into was probably the leader of said group. As they wander an alleyway, Roswaal notes he still feels pain, lamenting that he has never had an aptitude for healing magic in any of his bodies, even after introducing the Blue's bloodline. Roswaal believes healing magic is the most gentle magic in the world, and that never being able to learn it is a curse on his bloodline, with him believing that the reason he doesn't have an aptitude for it is his lack of care for life. Russell brings up that another faction the Golden Wing Faction has been an issue for the knights, with them being made up of weak nobles and are in conflict with The Brotherhood due to differing viewpoints. During this conversation, they run into a small child with red hair, and he asks them to wait a moment, as his father is working persuading a friend. Roswaal abides by the child's request and asks him to provide the name of his father, with the child replying that his father is Heinkel Astrea.
Elsewhere, Heinkel and Marcos Gildark having a discussion about Marcos re-joining the Royal Guard, with Marcus not really responding and asking why Heinkel accepted a job he is unsuited for. Heinkel says he was pressured into it, but he has a duty to do it, just like Marcos. The argument continues to escalate, before Heinkel leaves, with Marcos telling him not to return because he cannot stand looking at his face. After Heinkel has left, Marcos sighs before glancing at a young teen who had entered the alleyway.
Marcos and Roswaal banter a bit, with Roswaal jabbing at how dejected Marcos made Heinkel look, before asking if they are also trying to force him back into the guards, which Russell denies. It is revealed that Marcos was the one who Roswaal been attacked by earlier, with Marcos deriding Roswaal for being an aristocrat, however Roswaal points out Marcos is merely pretending to hate aristocrats which causes Marcos to react violently. The two fight, with Russell promising information on the Golden Wing Faction if Marcos beats Roswaal.
We cut back to Heinkel, who is angry at himself for failing, expecting disappointment from his peers, before running into Reinhard van Astrea. He expresses shock at his presence, as he was supposed to be waiting at the Astrea mansion. Reinhard claims he was worried about his dad, with Heinkel apologising for yelling at him because he was worried. He asks Reinhard not to worry about him so much, asking him to stay by Louanna Astrea's side, before briefly touching upon his disagreement with Marcos. Reinhard asks if Heinkel would be happy if he came back to the Royal Guards, which he replies that he would, and Reinhard softly mutters, "I received it."
