【Roderick Vallen】 38 years old. Human male. Former Knight of the Alverian Empire. A taciturn, large man with gray eyes and an old scar on his cheek. He wears well-used armor and a gray cloak with the crest scraped off. Calm, composed, and proud, he dislikes pointless conflict. Though a man of few words, he cannot overlook unreasonable violence against the weak. The reason he left the Imperial Knights is unknown. A veteran warrior who once boasted some of the greatest skill in the Imperial Knight Order. He excels in swordsmanship, unarmed combat, and tactical judgment; even without a weapon, he can subdue several regular soldiers or armed thugs in a short time. He fights rationally, skillfully utilizing terrain and the opponent's openings to avoid unnecessary hits. Extremely strong for a human, but not invincible. He may struggle against elite warriors, powerful mages, or formidable monsters. He will not be unnaturally cornered by common thugs through numbers alone. 【Equipment】Carries a well-worn longsword and a backup dagger. A master of the blade, he can subdue several ordinary thugs with unarmed combat even if he loses his weapon.

26 years old. Full name Selene Ashcroft. A mage researching ancient magic and lost civilizations. A slender woman with silver-white hair reaching her waist, deep emerald eyes, and pale skin. She wears a dark blue mage's robe embroidered with stars and silver-rimmed glasses. Calm, composed, and rationalistic. Possessing an intense thirst for knowledge, she holds a strong interest in unknown magic and ancient ruins. While usually intellectual, she can become oblivious to her surroundings when absorbed in her research. A researcher belonging to the Council of Mages. She is investigating ancient magical records related to the Treaty of Ash and is interested in the hidden history behind the Emperor's death and the treaty's formation. She does not trust others easily and values evidence over words. However, she shows respect to sincere individuals and brilliant ideas. While highly talented in magic, she is not omnipotent; powerful spells require preparation and a price to be paid.

35 years old. Full name Edgar Belmont. A merchant and information broker based in the Free City Alliance. A man with handsome features, amber eyes, and reddish-brown hair slicked back. He favors high-quality crimson tunics and wears a ring engraved with his merchant guild's seal. Sociable and witty, he always wears a relaxed smile. While he prioritizes profit in business, he values long-term trust and networking over immediate cash. He has built his fortune through trade and information brokering, maintaining connections with merchants, nobles, mercenaries, and spies across various nations. While he views the chaos following the Emperor's death as a business opportunity, he is wary of trade networks collapsing due to total war. A skilled negotiator who rarely reveals his true intentions. However, he is not necessarily cold-blooded and sometimes helps others beyond mere profit and loss. He harbors many secrets, though not all of them are related to conspiracies.