Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Prologue
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Ten years had passed since I was dropped into this world. A world with magic straight out of comics or fantasy novels, other races, and even monsters.
I sat quietly on the roadside, bouncing a cheap iron sword—not even worthy of being called a proper blade—against my shoulder. If it were truly sharp, it would have cut me the moment it touched, but items like that were far beyond my reach.
A cheap swordsman. I'd thought I'd rolled around in this scene long enough, but I was still stuck at 3rd Rate. In a place where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer even more than on Earth, getting a house was like reaching for the stars.
For a 3rd Rate Swordsman like me, sleeping on the streets with the beggars was daily routine. Hell, I probably didn't have much room to call them beggars. That's how it was when I was watching people on the street trying to form parties. Murmurs started rising from all around.
"The Holy Sword..."
"The Holy Sword..."
A woman with black hair flowing as she walked. I'd heard she wasn't even 25 yet, but she was already hailed as one of the Continent's 10 Lords, praised by summoners across the continent. It was Ha Yu-ri, the Holy Sword.
The sword at her waist was dazzling. I'd heard she'd gotten it from an ancient holy order's 'dungeon,' and compared to the iron sword I carried, even thinking of comparing them felt like a sin.
Surrounded by the guards of the Holy Knights Order formed around her, she looked incredibly cool as she walked the street.
'Even here, the winners keep winning.'
I probably wasn't the only one thinking that. Sure enough, everyone gazed at Ha Yu-ri with envy. Like an idol responding to her fans' cheers, she slowly greeted the people around her as she headed to her guild house.
It was natural for me to shrink back, fearing the Holy Knights' guards might hassle me. That's when I saw Ha Yu-ri subtly approaching me.
'Why... is she coming this way...'
Her slipping past the guards toward me felt utterly unreal. She casually pulled a gold coin from her pocket and slipped it to me.
"Someday, you'll all make a world worth living in. Keep working hard."
A clichéd line, but her voice was like a nightingale's song. Her skin was snow-white, unfit for a combat class, looking like she'd never seen the sun. Her large eyes seemed even bigger than a deer's. What stood out most was her truly holy aura.
"Th-thank you."
"No, no. If you ever need help, come by the guild house anytime."
"Ah... yes..."
I'd seen Ha Yu-ri occasionally bestow favors on other summoners when leaving her guild house. But being the recipient was definitely a first. Looking around, everyone stared at me with jealous eyes.
"Ha Yu-ri, it's time to go."
"Ah... yes... well then..."
Watching her walk away in a daze, I could feel I'd really hit the jackpot today. Her words 'Keep working hard' echoed in my ears nonstop.
"Ha... ha..."
Thanks to that, I could finally leave the city after so long. Worried someone might see, I hurriedly bought jerky and bread with the gold coin, stuffing my cheap bag full, then gathered my half-decent acquaintances for a hunting trip. Of course, I shoved the leftover money deep into the bag.
Having lived here ten years, I knew a few people. The problem was they were all useless connections, but better than nothing. My first companion was Choi Seul-gi, the thief who hung around the alleyways. Theft was technically her side gig; her main income was selling her body. But she preferred being called a thief.
"Hey! Long time no see. What's up? Got money? Heard you got a gold coin from the Holy Sword. How was it?"
"Ugh... that's not why I'm here."
"Then what? Wanna grab food? Or... asking me on a date?"
"Neither..."
I never imagined it'd be this hard to suggest a joint expedition after so long. Scratching the back of my head, Choi Seul-gi finally got it and grinned.
"Ahh... wanna go hunting for old times' sake?"
"Yeah... got plenty of food. Thought we could hit a decent monster village nearby."
"Hmm... yeah, the Green Goblin Clan has been quiet lately. Good timing."
The Green Goblin Clan was a monster group made of goblins. Among clanned monsters, they were on the weaker side, but goblin groups were annoyingly fast and a headache for newbie adventurers.
"So, you in?"
"Pay?"
"Fifty-fifty, obviously."
"The wizard old man by the sewers and the warrior guy there are coming too."
"Healer?"
"Like we'd have one."
Choi Seul-gi nodded and spoke right up.
"Cool. Business has been shit lately... making some real cash sounds good. Who knows? Might hit the jackpot."
"Low odds, but it'd be nice."
I glanced away casually, and she smirked at me, amused.
"You into her?"
"Wh-what."
"The Holy Sword... you fell for her, huh?"
"As if."
"Of course not. Don't aim for trees you can't climb. She's way out of your league."
I wasn't really smitten, but she didn't need to hit the nail on the head like that. Everyone knew it anyway. I turned away awkwardly, and Choi Seul-gi spoke quietly again.
"Well... someone like you'd be lucky with me, at best."
"Yeah, probably."
I grinned and brushed it off. Her face flushed.
Like that, our ragtag group left the city.
Four members total: the wizard old man living by the sewers, a fool stuck as a beginner mage for decades. Still, a mage was valuable for a 3rd Rate party like ours.
He could make fire, which was handy, and his shield spell could block arrows—more reliable than the half-assed tank Shin Deok-ho next to him. Shin Deok-ho wasn't super close, but among 3rd Rates, he was usable, so I brought him.
After a full day of walking and chatting bit by bit, we realized we'd come pretty far from the city. We were entering what they called monster territory.
"Wow... kids these days hunt with gear like that?"
"Wonder what's in their bags."
Voices from all around.
"Shit..."
My party tensed up. The ones who appeared suddenly were probably Murderers. Scum who lived outside the city, backstabbing fellow summoners.
"Speak of the devil..."
Choi Seul-gi gripped her dagger tensely too. If they were that strong, they wouldn't bother ambushing here. They were 3rd Rates at best, unpromoted.
'No Unique Abilities either, obviously...'
Five of them. One more than us, but doable.
The thought barely crossed my mind when an arrow flew straight into the wizard old man's forehead.
"Shit... couldn't even chant a spell, old fart..."
I charged with my sword. 3rd Rate or not, I had experience. They hadn't expected us to push back so hard; panicked voices rose among them.
"Grab that bastard!!"
I'd pinpointed the archer since his shot hit the old man. Luckily, these idiots weren't flanking properly, so no warrior guarded the archer. I rushed and stabbed his heart.
A "Puk" sound, and as I yanked the sword free, blood sprayed my face and clothes. One each now. We had a decent warrior, and Choi Seul-gi had survived here long enough not to die stupidly.
Turning back, a scream hit: "Aaaack!!" Choi Seul-gi's voice. There, Shin Deok-ho—the guy I'd brought—was stabbing her gut.
'Betrayal.'
"Shit... shit... you fucking bastard!!!!"
"Sorry about this... friend."
"You piece of shit..."
He must've been their inside man. I thought of running, but seeing Choi Seul-gi bleeding on the ground, no way.
'Fuck...'
I bolted toward her. The four closed in, but my goal wasn't killing them—it was saving Choi Seul-gi. Swinging my sword roughly to advance, Shin Deok-ho backed off, threatened.
I hurled my bag at him.
It flew with all my stuff, but as they looked away, I scooped up Choi Seul-gi and ran. Curses erupted behind, but no stopping now. I even ditched the cheap iron sword I'd used for years, sprinting full tilt.
"Shit... shit... shit..... shit... sorry... I'm sorry."
"You idiot... fucker... knew something was off... when you acted cocky today... ha...ah.... ditch me, dumbass.... they'll catch us."
"Shut up... shut up, you bitch. Mmph!!!"
Agony from behind. A spear had pierced my chest. But no stopping. I wanted to collapse, but we'd both die. Gritting my teeth, I snapped off the spear in my chest. Pulling it out now meant bleeding out midway.
Luckily, I still had strength left. Thanks to my randomly awakened Unique Ability, 'Life Force Increase.' Who'd have thought that useless Unique Ability 'Life Force Increase' would help like this? My legs kept moving.
"Grab that fucker!!!"
"Dumb pig... bastards... so damn slow..."
"Puh.... heh... ha..."
At my words, Choi Seul-gi smiled weakly too. No matter how exhausted or near death, I ran to survive. The Murderer scum only cared about the bag, it seemed—or maybe heading to another city. They chased but soon vanished from sight.
"Shit.... Seul-gi... Seul-gi, you hear me?"
Still, I didn't stop—Choi Seul-gi in my arms. She was critical too, worse than me without my trait bonus.
"Hear... hearing you..."
"Just a bit more.... the castle..."
We'd held on long, but fatal wounds like this were too much. Wiping blood from my mouth, I ran faster. Running with a spear stuck in might make them think undead, so I yelled hoarsely.
"Gate! Open the gate!!!"
"State your identity."
"People dying! Hurry... hurry! 5th Grade Summoner Kim Tae-seong, and 5th Grade Summoner Choi Seul-gi!"
"Shit... what the hell at this hour... hey... check if Kim Tae-seong and Choi Seul-gi went out today?"
"Yes. Yep."
"Shit... open the gate."
Grumpy, but identity confirmed—they'd open. The gate creaked open, and I dashed in.
"Temple.... temple..... hang on a bit... you can live... just hold on."
But late night. Temple would be closed, and I had no money. Then, a voice echoed: Ha Yu-ri's from today.
'No, no. If you need help, come to the guild house anytime.'
No time to think—I bolted for the Holy Knights Order guild house. Lights still on; they were working late. I burst in, pounding the door. Guards rushed, trying to stop me—time was critical.
Choi Seul-gi's body in my arms was cooling.
"Crazy fuck!! This ain't a place to barge in!"
"Help... help! My... comrade got hit by Murderers... please help."
"Get out, you psycho. You wake the bosses, you taking responsibility?"
"Please, just... get a priest... the Ho-Holy Sword said... come here if I need help. Urk...."
Some back-and-forth, but mentioning Ha Yu-ri worked. Clutching my chest pain, I waited.
"You fuck... or you die by my hand. Hey, go check."
"Yes."
A guard went inside. But the reply was unexpected.
"They say they don't know you."
"N-No way. If they see, they'll know. Probably..."
"Scram, you beggar fuck. This shithead. You'll get me chewed out tomorrow. Boss said they've never met trash like you, first time seeing you. You dog."
"No way...."
Angry, but no time. I bit my lip and headed for the temple again. Blood poured from my mouth, but Choi Seul-gi was priority.
"Seul...gi!! Seul-gi.....!!"
".....Hey..... sh-shut up. Really.... feels like dying...."
"Shit.... shit.... say something if alive.... makes me anxious...."
"Talking... hurts..."
"Just endure a bit..."
I ran again. Should've gone straight to the temple—regret swirled. Amid running, Choi Seul-gi's voice came.
Weakly, she spoke her mind bit by bit.
"Hey.... us... after this.... live together...? Me too... quit this life... live like people."
Sudden proposal made me uneasy, especially seeing her eyes flutter shut. Had to answer vaguely.
"Yeah... live together... together... so don't die.... stay sharp... almost there.."
Then,
Her hand slipped weakly from me.
"Shit.... hey.... hey!"
"Choi Seul-gi! Choi Seul-gi!!"
I screamed, but no reply. My 'Life Force Increase' had held as long as it could; blood now sprayed from my mouth. Legs gave out. Limit reached.
"....You... fucking... bastards.."
Tears welled. Not for Choi Seul-gi's cold corpse. Rage at a life dragged to this hellhole blindly, lived like trash, dying like this.
'Someday, you'll all make a world worth living in. Keep working hard.'
'No, no. If you need help, come to the guild house anytime.'
'Fucking bitch.... fucking bitch....'
Fury choked words. Worse, I'd been dumb enough to believe her. Street saint cosplay had ruined my life.
'Fucking bitch... stupid fuck Kim Tae-seong...'
I clung to her cooling body. More than hate for backstabbing Shin Deok-ho or ignoring Ha Yu-ri, regret for Choi Seul-gi and self-loathing dominated.
"Get... up..... please.... get... up... now... fuck, let's live like people..."
"Have... kids... live like that... I'll... provide..."
Vision blurred more. They say life flashes before death like a lantern show. Ridiculously, even that god denied me.
Nothing in sight.
In the dark, empty city center, I died holding Choi Seul-gi.