Chapter 5
SvOAn empty lot, deep in the back alleys of the city.2IXl
IKi1LJA boy was sweating profusely as he swung a wooden stick in that lot.Vmd
xP4bti“Huff!”cIqz
aL4It might have been a small and unsightly place, but this was the very first land that Vlad had acquired through his own strength.3MBTyME
tChcmNThe boy couldn’t hold anything in his hands from the moment he was born, but it was the first thing he had obtained through struggle.27c3S
pbyZAnd until a few years ago, it was also the place where Vlad, Zemina, and Harven had found shelter and warmth.ojkI
vTjTbx‘There’s no need to fix it.’yS6m
5G7f1A hut that used to be his home, but has now collapsed because of being abandoned.P9zg
f0bVlad gazed at it silently for a while and turned his attention back to the tip of the stick.rlcjs
4LwXdEverything that has a shape is destined to collapse.YWj
vnuNa0The hut might look pitiful, but it had served its purpose, and all that remained was to cherish the memories.CuGc
B1lkHBecause he won’t be going back there anymore.GxgZ
lbEBBoom-AKJq0L
oPm3GWHOnce again, Vlad began to focus his mind on the end of the stick, repeating the basics that Jorge had subtly taught him.sLI141
o8uIt was a cold winter, but the boy’s back was already covered in sweat.f0QPe
VL3WkRVlad was like a hedgehog armed with the thorns of pride, but he was also a child with an insatiable desire to learn.W3wJ
Q1DHsHarven had shown him the way.Pd85
JXglpHarven had taught himself to read and understand numbers through his sharp mind and is now using them to work under Captain Hoover.Sy1f
9VbCXHarven was handicapped, with severed fingers and the inability to walk properly.Ft65lmp
TjGTIf he had neglected his learning, he might have been begging on some street corner by now.Hc5J
gl6“Huff!”OOPZjy
TTxvThe experience of learning through effort and climbing higher through knowledge—a rare experience for those living in the alleys with little hope—Vlad had witnessed this firsthand.m5U
ubLYZaThat’s why Vlad was swinging a wooden stick after finishing his daily work.dt5VWE7
FCzvnHowever…ad4meL
Dx9jThe beads of sweat rolled down Vlad’s face as he repeated the basics, and his expression began to contort.Ahh
P3S4ahD[······.]jENY
Krvbr“······Damn. This bullshit whenever I swing something.”oMIphK
6teKLeIt was a silent vacant lot with no one around, but only Vlad could hear it clearly.6ZLKY5
1BAcZA voice echoing in his head.EzbQqjG
VBKvVlad shook his head vigorously to try and ignore it, but…xX3
beWn[You should narrow the angle of your elbow when you strike down, boy.]6Otmc
GAM4RWHowever, an unknown voice was persistently speaking to Vlad.Kk2CYGf
C01aHe heard this voice as long as he held something like a stick even if he blocked his ears or shouted for it to be kept quiet.3jjAlGr
oeRNKN“······I should buy holy water with the money I earned this time.”DHYPl6
Ya0NigVlad couldn’t tell whether the voice was trying to give him advice or interfering with training, but he felt confused when heard the voice.Ojt04k
we1jD“Why did lightning have to strike me back then?”8KCcknR
BkRVlad felt irritation and anger, and once again began to swing the wooden stick.WMm
dzkFor a boy who was burdened with thoughts of just surviving, the current situation was enough to make him want to vent his anger.NX4SQM
NL1ODq4The voices in Vlad’s head had started a month ago.OeAYq4
64gEOyA bolt of lightning suddenly struck him just as he was walking through the back alleys.RRPyTx
WU5zrvNo matter how cautious he was, it was impossible to stop lightning falling from the sky.H1Hi
P9FIt was literally lightning out of blue.uqz
UhHZGh0That alone was an inexplicable and bizarre natural phenomenon, but the problem was that the lightning that struck him was black.hm8
4pBcTo anyone who saw it, it was inexplicable and eerie, and the strange and ominous event of that day still followed Vlad in the form of rumors.KMK
CebdRumor has it that Vlad had been possessed by a devil.5PfQnjQ
oc4lAK“So, I went to the church with the little money I had and even made an offering.”BeaN
hcceBecause the ominous content that the rumors carried was somewhat true.cOpAiO6
EijVlad was aware of this and quickly went to the church, made an offering, and helped with the church’s work to prove his innocence and solve the problem.a8FQb
uN25AI“I just wasted my hard-earned money!”HUU
KSQnygDespite Vlad’s efforts, he still hears that voice.6fZef
8K1hiYkEverything he had done until now had been in vain, so he couldn’t contain his frustration any longer.79dtq
W6QUHowever, he couldn’t simply tell the church that there was someone speaking to him in his head; if he did, he might be taken away and subjected to punishment, even burned at stake because he was just an alley boy.2rm3Xg
kTANo, he couldn’t let that happen.a4Y5
bjNznrThe world was harsher to the weak.2SiO
D32x“Ha.”jtm35
rOJ4VLAfter venting his frustration for a while, Vlad felt that the being that had been talking to him had fallen silent.zGG
K6Oi881“Ignore it! I heard that the more you respond, the more it clings to you!”IXy9EB
sFsRemembering Zemina’s warning, Vlad tried to regain his composure.lu9Ac6d
zuc“Vlad! Jorge is calling you!”6Y925
Ubjc7“…”7RL
yBxtFVlad frowned when the girl he was thinking about just a moment ago suddenly popped out right next to him.l1Mag2
k0LIDV“I am done for today.”Yi6CIV
dr2Vlad couldn’t afford to just practice like the noble children. He was just a person from the back alleys who had to work every day to avoid going hungry for two days.BIA7ZC7
R5wJ“Okay.”PyE
llo“Now hurry! I deliberately gave you some extra time because I knew you were practicing.”7xiXso
Quo“…. I said I got it.”Al8RlM
UIgrUOBIt was time to wake up from his dreams and return to the grim reality.1eK
YgPh8cBefore answering Zemina’s call, Vlad decided to give one last swing.TpV
Dc4i“Sigh…”ZHuZ
SHyypQmAlways give your best in the last one.67m
Ww5EFocus all your mind and strength.ngr
byBYOhUAnd strike down.xU7sbSg
E3r5J1[Narrow it!]QtBf0GR
jLFr“…”mbeX
K8jAt that moment, a sharp voice echoed in his head.kE01
s1iVlad startled by the voice and unconsciously narrowed the angle of his elbow .JLZN8
3oIMBoom-!Kjs
5qZHe could feel the fierce wind and the powerful strike of the wooden stick unlike before.KwxSO
Ewf“Wow.”itxSW5
rSEQ11It had come down so neatly that it had even surprised Zemina, who had been observing him closely.r3zK1yw
YjN6vy“…..Damn it.”hY7p
YHfgtWNow Vlad had no choice but to admit that it was right to narrow the angle of his elbow.Hzt
yqjAnd the unknown being within his head knows how to wield a sword well.7vhBdu
pyuhEarlier Vlad was just swinging the stick around, but what he had just executed along with that voice was a genuine sword path.mLITv3
ZRL※※※※1xA0
Nm3cefkThough it was described as an alley, it was clearly a part of the city.nkQw
8OdYZPMThe Shoara city was enormous, and as a result, its back alley area was also extensive. This naturally led to the formation of a bustling downtown area within the back alleys.YxC593
Xn1RThe territories of five bosses who rule the back alleys were centered around the downtown, so members of each organization refrained from making a big fuss or acting out in this area.l5sEH
ky4VTherefore, it was always a place full of the voices of drinkers and merchants.2eaIb
6YA2uHowever, that wasn’t the case now.cmgZTu
oP5L“…”FRKODRn
47M85tq“…”VP7Z
nXfvjXVlad and Zemina were walking down a busy back alley.0Xd9o
UkgThey were usually bantering and chatting as they strolled together, but now, they had no choice but to walk in silence.kgOIgzp
vmb“It’s too quiet.”F9NL6
db8SRaM“Everyone knows.”nFCV
lWedVlad silently looked around at the shops in the downtown area, which was unusually hushed.73Z7U
DsAnfySome shops had completely closed, and even those that were still open had all their stalls inside, as if they were ready to close at any moment.99v3yxq
Hrr“It seems like everyone is expecting a big commotion this time.”v2qU
zMrb9U“…”y2hSqN
MAcRRThere had been minor clashes among gang members in the past, but it had been a long time since they had shown such ominous signs.YSw
NLnThe downtown merchants were likely anticipating a major storm.K2CM5U
CIbduMc“Aren’t you worried at all?”acSrd
T3boQZemina stared at Vlad and asked as he spoke casually.uvhabtO
OtXVlad may have to be at the forefront of the approaching storm.ykBKIy
yfDLZemina didn’t show it, but she was filled with anxiety that the boy she had been closely attached to for so long would not have much time left before he plunged into the merciless violence.1buPBC
vNLi8Vlad was not just her friend but also like a family member to her, and he was one of the few people she could rely on.6eJoyQ
Y4yGD“…Don’t go around alone for a while. Actually, it might be better if you don’t leave the shop.”krf
ZN1TAHowever, instead of answering Zemina’s question, Vlad was focused on the men at the far end of the downtown who were watching them intently.g5Iu
2OxtD3AThere, One-Armed Jack’s subordinate, whom he had defeated, was staring at them with his eyes wide open.R76D
KegAyH8“….Alright.”8gOhsWY
ND61sLrZemina replied while turning her back to Vlad, pretending not to notice the murderous exchange between him and someone else.I3qL
1vBLjxIt had always been like this. Vlad had never hesitated to fight someone to protect her.xm86Ji1
pjSkTUBZemina was always grateful for that, but she had never said it out loud.SXH
vQyF9MBut now she thought that perhaps she should convey the words she had kept in her heart before it was too late.pNBb6Ub
OaSpJVlad and Zemina walked through the downtown with their minds occupied by different thoughts, and eventually arrived at Rose’s Smiles.NaOz18
v7jlAs they opened the door and stepped inside, the gaze of the staff who were seated in the lobby briefly turned toward them before dispersing.1RBP
WI6W6“What’s going on? Is no one working?”0d7pp
GakMVlad spoke up, but no one answered his question.ixLdyAi
2Hk3OIt was the time for the final check before opening time at Rose’s Smiles. The staff were supposed to be busy arranging the furniture and the women were busy doing their make-up.Z6vE4A
AokjHowever, at this moment, they were gathered in groups of twos and threes and having quiet conversations.mU6Ev
4wI“It’s annoying.”dhyd3g
1swXugThe tension from the streets seemed to have seeped into the shop.UNY
kZP3a“Did a war break out or something?”54lqJvo
VpSDHVlad was appalled by the sight and muttering as he climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, where Jorge was.g8T2
UVsXa0OWhat will happen will happen anyway.Olc
V5cVlad’s gaze turned cold as he looked at the people huddled together like rabbits.F9RCdUl
Rq7FroHis nature was bold, so he found it difficult to understand the behavior of ordinary people in such situations.zGWSq
gNrF“You called. Jorge?”WslJLgD
8hmkGQp“Yeah, come in.”dWAy2k
co3Upon reaching the fourth floor, Vlad spotted Jorge laying out food as usual. Vlad felt reassured seeing this. Jorge was from the same category as him.IClyB
3BRdcU“You called me?”CcB2D
le9R6“Yeah. Don’t sell candles starting today.”nwZN
AArx72tVlad’s lips curled upwards upon hearing Jorge’s words.ygy
cv9rvWWSome people might have liked it, but Vlad believed that selling candles was not suited to his character.SSH8
kEcvVx“So, what should I do from now on? Collecting money from shops or patrolling the area?”yE2qb
w495w“Hmm…”9NsBAUk
sLZJorge smiled as looked at the shining eyes of Vlad.H3jFC
xpvOweHe smiled because the young boy before them possessed a strong heart that didn’t cower even in the face of leading the organization.M9vc9Ig
xfuQlIf he were still a knight, he wouldn’t have hesitated to make Vlad his squire.DzLyEJ
hs9gut“A tip came in that Outsider Jack is recruiting people from the outside. They are mercenaries with a knight’s background.”Z5H
vKh“Like you, Jorge?”UJE
SMU“….Yeah, like me.”ftV
9zVizL5Jorge drank the remaining beer with a bitter smile. The spilled beer flowed down his rough beard.cfzkh
jwV69M“That bastard seems to be genuinely serious this time.”j7E
ZtMBzv“…..”1lm20
IiXXXeVlad listened quietly and nodded his head in response to Jorge’s words.aOj5J
FYTOcMoney bug, one-armed Jack.Uz1Q
z7yU3phHe was a person who mainly worked in the private loan business, and through his abundant wealth, he was able to attract gang members and form the largest force in the back alleys.x0AV4XM
BXVcnxyHowever, one-armed Jack had always been wary of Jorge. This was because of Jorge’s capabilities as a knight.SgdA
Y0N3FCNo matter what their numbers are, a flock of sheep is no match for a wolf.vjsiaRI
V2axDMoreover, no matter how much money they had, truly talented people did not easily lend their swords to back alley bosses.NOP
JKwsdThat’s why former knight Jorge had become an insurmountable wall for Jack.Cm7tF
RTTypCSo, one-armed Jack relied on the number of his organization’s members, while Jorge relied on himself.9A8
4g1fK85They maintained an odd balance by not intruding upon each other.kIWI8i
huZYHowever, things would change if one-armed Jack succeeded in inviting a swordsman who could stand up to Jorge.Eafaj
uAlNEnh“If that happens, we are at a disadvantage. That’s why I need you.”PnHQ
ZJxdMe7“Me?”uZtv
onq6FVlad’s eyes widened in surprise as his name suddenly came up.ODfm
ay5ja“Yeah, you. This is something only you, the former child prodigy of our organization, can do.”lgDSS3e
JbtzE4LJorge was smiling.6zatI
d6G8AX8“As the boss of the organization, I’m giving you your first mission.”q9QD
ReGX6CYVlad did not show a speck of tension, or fear. He was waiting for these words eagerly.otUyO
8hsFor Jorge, watching young children with potential was always a pleasure.mesKiQ
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