Chapter 1
TcAqThe lights were shining in the dark night.VBR0sqH
tgoIt was a back alley of the city that shines brightly at night.o13XG
7nRQZOne side of the road that runs through the city was asleep, while on the other side was quietly raising its head.tlt
EL0F4AThis was the life of two worlds that cannot mix.ZzP61
jUGmEIAnd it was only now that people hidden by the brilliant lights of the city could reveal themselves.9R0RhGi
NLxNAn alley full of merchants’ hustling and bustling drinkers.gpPrLWi
Kz0u2Amidst the bustling crowd, there was a blond-haired boy standing alone.frqa2
wpSgu“Looks impressive.”N2BzD
tpDofdbThe place where the boy stood was in front of a blacksmith’s shop, and there hung an exquisite sword.MaW
uopVF98A slender, shining sword that showed off its elegance for all to see.HbEzSr
LTAZzIt was the only thing in the dirty alley that emitted light on its own.Rlj1O
R56And the light that started from the sword entered boy’s heart through the eyes and was enough to illuminate something in the boy’s soul.ku7L
zgV“…”5Cm98Mr
rUlG4lThe boy’s feet were sinking into the mud of the road having stood in one place for a long time, but the boy didn’t care.x15gt
3LjcIw“You’re lost in thought, again.”eTyb
OGEamSomeone approached the boy who was endlessly gazing at the sword.NO9Q6jb
P2r“Vlad, Do you know you’ve been acting a bit crazy lately? That’s why the rumors about you have been going around.”JqGdVAR
bLBEYShe was wearing worn-out clothes, but the girl with rich red hair was a colorful personality that didn’t quite fit in with the filthy surroundings of the alley.zHEXtTy
nUxHThe boy looked at the girl who had approached him with vacant eyes.eJ5G
uKJEJ“So what? There’s nothing to do today anyway.”nyvPA8
3sT“Why do you say there’s nothing to do? Are you just going to do what Madame and Jorge tell you to do?”bF7i
THlALRThe red-haired girl raised both of her palms and brought them in front of the boy.7W49dCu
zX1a61A“See this? Because of doing the dishes, I had to immerse my hands in water for so long that it looks like I might get eczema. Is eczema something a person whose beauty is their fortune should have?”gu591A
RxnatFG“Why are you pointing them at me? You’re being a nuisance.”BREBr
cHitThe boy, called Vlad, frowned and pushed away the girl’s outstretched palms.rA6p
wye7VSl“It’s one of the few moments of rest in my noisy day. Don’t bother me.”rZos4h
DDj1kNw“Hmm~.”8M4Maq
EQA4hEThe boy’s response could be considered somewhat dismissive, but the red-haired girl didn’t seem to mind. After all, it wouldn’t be easy to survive with even minor bruises in the rough alley.p0KZ
EzIU1PaInstead, she glanced at Vlad’s complexion and whispered cautiously into his ear while pretending to be concerned.kzn
XhTN“…So, you still hear voices when you hold something like a stick?”6RYB6Je
RH8j4“…”i3MYQx
2A2EBThe girl furrowed her brow seeing his nonverbal affirmation.VhYUQE
u3V0rO“I wonder what sin you committed in a past life to be struck by lightning out of the blue and end up like this.”3JtivNp
kpzThe rumors had been circling even in the always bustling back alleys of the city.Uue
OkzPAnd lately, the rumors circulating here were about the blond boy who had been struck by lightning out of the blue.t60g
KXlcYZV“Besides, even if you were going to get struck by lightning, why did it have to be black lightning of all things?”x3p
qXUg“If you’re going to be a bother, just leave.”ICyqNFi
UBeL“…”X6ManV
8OWfDespite the boy’s indifferent rejection, a sense of disappointment welled up within the girl, but she remained silent and kept her mouth shut.F7pT
MlO“I have to endure.”jVW
7dVTBecause she understood that living in rough and harsh places required getting your mind together.guThH
y2fZHO“But, Vlad, don’t you think it’s time to go back now?”EP8
bXTZwLyBecause now was not the right time.eu3IvV
mpN6CN“Stop loitering around here for no reason and stay in the shop for a while. You know the Bishop is sensitive to such things.”ZRAxrJb
mPK“Sensitive to what?”6wC8Ius
NCrThe girl smiled brightly when the boy finally looked at her instead of the sword.6zam
p2mqmw“Omens.”CD1
tYLUBLLThe girl approached Vlad’s ear and whispered softly as if she were wary of someone overhearing.h6R
WTsThe girl’s breath against his ear was ticklish.WmQBbyW
QFRK1“He used to work as a Heresy Inquisitor, so if you show him anything suspicious, they might just burn you at the stake.”H9jPR
clyb4h“Hey, you!”DIbIHCz
20NbkxVlad pushed the girl away and quickly picked his ears with his fingers.fcXy
4yOH9“Did you spit in my ear?”rHHy
EN9“I can’t believe it, really.”4KLc
6RfESDQThe girl raised her hand to her waist in disbelief as Vlad pushed her away as if he were dirtying himself .ME3
Wdoo“Everyone’s muttering behind your back, and here you are, standing around like you’ve lost your mind for no reason. What are you thinking, standing here like this? You might end up dragged to the church or something.”D9km4
R0x8o“…”DhbF8Dr
NxPU9gVlad didn’t respond this time.0awx
YvAXLThere wasn’t a single thing wrong with what the girl was saying.VnkuE
Bj2nPAnd he knew she was saying it out of concern for him.cwLZLg5
qMtKM“Still, I just look a little longer…”T1xb
k4dkNo“It’s really frustrating. Just buy it on credit! How expensive could it be?”bSeCwkR
srOAThe girl expressed her annoyance while Vlad still grumbled.yxSBj
0i2yl“It is something from the back-alley blacksmith. How much is it?”25oovI6
0Fnr“…That’s 5 gold.”Bpk9t
bh1PChQ“…Wow, look a little longer.”iimOIv
x06K0GThe red-haired girl unconsciously opened her mouth in surprise after hearing the amount that came out of the boy’s mouth.c9IxCR
LXIwbp“…With that, you can eat and enjoy yourself for a whole year without doing anything.”rD0KQ
dZPjiiShe might not have the great insight to recognize the value of the sword before her, but at least she knew the worth of 5 gold.Kta4
mSjqW0u5 gold.HFyA
4PshsIt is not like they couldn’t earn it by working all their life, but this dark alley wouldn’t allow anyone to accumulate that much money.NZb
BnJNo matter how hard you saved, someone would steal or take it from you.jDMatS
0xVThat was the way of life for those who survived here.po8
ZyVmmI7“With that money, you could…”pc4EZ
xW4bq3As the boy and girl were momentarily entranced by the light emitted by the sword.8E0
SZGAI“What are you idiots doing, blocking the front of someone else’s shop and causing a scene?”JgbRcV4
wrk1The owner of the blacksmith shop rushed out and shouted sharply.ENtS
AUTLoMw“These aren’t things for the likes of you back-alley rats to covet!”Ibuc
pM1wnRThe old blacksmith’s voice grated like metal and chased away the young onlookers.2Ube
rlNBHaving gazed into the flames for so long, his eyes always seemed to squint, even when he was calm.8Shz
b1hEtrh“What’s the point of doing business in the back alleys if you are not selling it to other back alley rats, old man?”4BVcTA
56h5BThe girl with her curly red hair shouted in an angry voice as if she was dumbfounded.RIPQGr
izWTztq“Even if the two of us combined haven’t been here as long as you! Calling ‘back alley rats’ suits you even better!”FYMo
FroPXvB“You… you little bitch, have you no manners!”haMbW
IvVAh0rThe old blacksmith recognized the girl who was talking back and spat on the ground.90C5xIR
ti6D“You go back to your shop and do the dishes! You immature little kid!”wPcBtzH
fX4iXhU“Immature little kid? You’re calling a grown lady that!”gosD7z
tBifWn8The girl, petite and brimming with self-esteem, directed her discontent not only at the boy but also at the old blacksmith.KbF
pp2v6“But I’m going to debut next year! If I charge my maiden’s price, that sword would only be worth a single glass of beer!”9RC3p
DWTc8The girl fondled her pride, her red hair, and smiled provocatively at the old blacksmith.UMA
w6RhCbIt wasn’t a real smile meant to seduce anyone, but rather an effort-filled smirk.jRGScA
jqLF15i“Maybe I should buy it and use it to cut sausages.”bGwd
ZmgcPFM“You… you crazy bitch.”A5k
YsCSfThe old blacksmith, who had put so much effort into crafting his sword, trembled at the thought of it being used to cut sausages.OZBoY5k
kW4mOz“This! I won’t sell it to back alley bastards!”iqlTRG
tiLks“Why hang it in the back alley if you won’t sell it to back alley folks! This old man lost his mind!”Ic0MpJ0
uXlt4“Seriously, why are you guys like this?”fDBx
BTSlThe boy’s expression contorted as the calmest time of day turned into chaos.e2GXlD
qOuV“That’s enough, let’s go, Zemina. The old man, we are leaving.”70yy06g
Zo4HONA“Take that immature kid with you and get out of here!”yPP2Ve
W8h“Why don’t you just make what you usually make instead of making swords for knights and causing this commotion? It’s almost time for you to die!”wpj1
Zh2Ltp“You… you!”UjZcn
BoXnB93Vlad realized they wouldn’t budge, so he quickly grabbed the back of the neck of grinning Zemina and pulled her to the end of the alley.l10WRN
tWY2GR“It’s because my time is almost over, you bitch!”NbHqX
DgUeTohThe old man was trembling because of rising blood pressure and his anger still hadn’t calmed even if the red-haired girl disappeared.uDYfTt
Xwjquze“You rotten bitch… she’s so full of venom perhaps she hasn’t starved to death yet…”ZzN3
65kWThe old man remembered the young street children who had wandered around with a single blanket on a cold winter day.XR99kLf
1mEThe three kids who shared the warmth of one blanket were able to survive because they ate the poison of the dirty back alley instead of receiving someone’s sympathy.RpT
cKG“How much food did I give you back then, you damn bitch…”0CaK
YHe7c9Even after the girl had disappeared from the alley, the old man spat again as if suddenly reminded.gFDjo
yfcGYIt was because he saw something pitiable.bm1
K8cHVIp“You idiot. Why don’t you just think about eating and surviving….”JBsJ
CcGnHe saw a footprint deeply imprinted in the mud.wGM3
j1hfA4This footprint showed that the boy had been standing here for a long time and was enough to awaken different emotions in the old blacksmith, aside from his anger towards the girl.V14b
giqAlthough he spoke that way, the old blacksmith, with a sigh meant for someone else, began carefully polishing what could be considered his final masterpiece.UBeq
rn5qhThe old blacksmith let out a sigh for someone else’s sake as he lowered his head and returned to his shop.pp0VRc
w8oe“Damn it… These youngsters bother an old man too much.”tAHFJ
X2AXMmWThe old blacksmith stretched out his trembling hands and began to lower the sword that had been hanging. Then, he applied some oil with the worn cloth.71qQ
QGyHNS“······You fool. It’s hard to have dreams in a place like this.”haVpxs
YDnEJDespite what he said, the old blacksmith began to meticulously polish the sword, which could be said to be his last great craftsmanship.G6Os
zmmED“I know it well.”ChM
ns7O6The wrinkles around the old blacksmith’s eyes twitched as he started to carefully polish his sword.rAUhHk3
yrafThe young blacksmith, who once had dreams, had been crushed by reality and trapped in this place.IjHNwTJ
k5vsZHis black hair had turned white. Those born in this back alley never escaped from here throughout their lives.HQbb
hS8UThe old blacksmith, the young boy standing here, and even his last masterpiece.BxdQ19I
T9WKmEgHowever, the old blacksmith still dreamed.4nQgoZ
pR6“I can’t let my final masterpiece rot away in a place like this.”gM5VZ
HLL8The old man picked up the sword, and a brilliant light shone from the tip.0X5
inv3s“That’s why I’ll only sell this to someone who can get out of this place.”0Q6xy
Dp3kESThe old blacksmith once again hung his sword high in the dark alley filled with filth and poison.Fexj
2mdbgV2He hung a single shining star in the dark back alley that looked like the night sky.g9WtvY
WW7QqPZThe sword polished by the old man’s unfulfilled dreams shone brilliantly.zIMl
e6H2Although his feet were still in the mud, the boy who gazed at the old man’s sword had eyes that resembled stars.Aig8
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