Chapter 8: Prologue Part 2

There was a clear reason why the protagonist of the novel had never taken up Ascal-style swordsmanship.

Ascal-style swordsmanship did not use mana.

For the protagonist who had already formed a core in his heart, there was no need for a swordsmanship style that did not use mana.

Ascal-style swordsmanship was based on a unique form of training. Instead of using mana accumulated in the core, it involved piercing seven energy points within the body through rigorous practice and infusing them with the energy of a star called Stella. The revelation of the star that had opened the tomb. This was Stella.

Rather than an ordinary swordsmanship technique, it was closer to martial arts. It was something that remained fresh in Ed’s memories.

That was why Ed was so determined to learn this swordsmanship.

Ed’s body was already too developed to learn mana.

In noble families, children typically began learning magic as early as the age of seven.

However, when Ed had possessed this body, it was already fully grown.

This was why he had never even considered learning magic.

He could have learned magic later from the high elf who would eventually become the protagonist’s master, but she was likely wandering across the entire continent by now, so it was nearly impossible to find her.

And so, Ed made his choice.

Instead of pursuing mana, he chose the path of embracing the energy of the stars.

On a night when the moon hung in the sky, Ed sat alone in the backyard of the inn, crossing his legs in meditation.

He was practicing the Star Breathing technique described in the Ascal-style swordsmanship manual.

The Heavenly Swirl Star.

It was the energy point located in the lower abdomen and the first of the seven points that needed to be opened.

Only by opening the Heavenly Swirl Star could he begin to accumulate the energy of the stars within it. And only when that energy was fully gathered could he wield Ascal-style swordsmanship in its entirety.

However, simply breathing alone was not enough to open it.

Breathing was just a preparatory step to receiving the power of the stars. That was why Ed sat in the cold night, stripped of his upper garments.

Receiving the power of the stars and opening the energy points in his body was an extremely painful process.

Throughout the process, his entire body was tormented by a searing, burning pain. As if even his bones were being scorched from inside.

Ed clenched his lips tightly.

It felt as if he were tempering his own body. And in a way, that was not incorrect.

Opening the seven energy points did not just allow him to use Ascal-style swordsmanship; it also made his body extraordinarily resilient.

Once he successfully opened the Heavenly Swirl Star, his body would become as solid as stone.

Though he appeared to be sitting still, his entire body was drenched in sweat.

With a slight tremor, Ed maintained his breathing and slowly opened his eyes.

“Hoo…”

Hot breath dispersed into the night air.

Ed’s expression was far from pleasant.

“It’s been over a year, and I still haven’t broken through.”

It was true that a strong body was the foundation for holding the energy of the stars. However, no matter how lacking one’s talent was, anyone should have been able to open the Heavenly Swirl Star within a year.

For the past year, Ed had endured the pain every night as he continued his training.

He had withstood the scorching, burning pain that made it feel as if his entire body was being consumed by flames. The pain that tore through him down to his very bones.

And yet, he still hadn’t managed to open the Heavenly Swirl Star.

“Something’s not right…”

He wasn’t just trying to deny his own lack of talent. There was something beyond that. Something that couldn’t be explained so simply.

But for now, there was no way to find the answer. All he could do was keep going, without stopping, until he finally broke through.

Having finished his training for the night, Ed rose to his feet. Just then he heard the sound of someone approaching from behind the inn.

“Well, you’re out here again.”

He was a large man with orange hair that grew like a lion’s mane.

His name was Deron. A skilled adventurer, though well past his prime, now approaching middle age.

Since he often stayed at the same inn as Ed whenever he wasn’t on a quest, the two had naturally become familiar with each other.

Deron eyed Ed, whose upper body was drenched in sweat, with a peculiar expression.

“What kind of training makes you sweat like that on such a cold night?”

“You’re the one who told me it’s rude to spy on someone else’s training, Deron.”

“Yeah, because doing that is no different from admitting you’re not confident in your own strength. Those little things pile up and turn someone into a worthless warrior. But I was just asking out of curiosity.”

Whether it was because of his age or simply his nature, Deron had a stubborn streak. But Ed didn’t mind.

In fact, he found it rather convenient at times. Their beliefs aligned in certain ways, making conversations between them surprisingly smooth.

“Have you thought about what I mentioned last time?”

“You mean training the kids at the orphanage to build up their strength?”

Deron shook his head.

“I don’t know how it looks to you, but I still think I’m in my prime. I need to earn while I still can.”

Ed didn’t press the matter any further. He simply nodded his head and offered a light smile. He had no intention of hurting Deron’s pride.

It wasn’t as if he had made the suggestion out of disregard for him in the first place.

Recently, Deron had returned from the Labyrinth with serious injuries. He was wandering around the inn and wrapped in bandages when Ed casually made his suggestion.

Deron glanced at Ed and let out a small chuckle.

“How about a late-night snack together?”

“The innkeeper is probably asleep by now.”

“Her son is around, isn’t he? That kid’s got a surprisingly good touch in the kitchen. We can wake him up and have a snack together.”

Ed shook his head.

“I have to leave early tomorrow.”

“I heard the orphanage was finally completed a few days ago. You’re going to pick up the kids, aren’t you?”

“Sharp as always.”

“What good is that if I’ve just lost a friend to share a late-night meal with?”

Ed said goodbye to Deron after exchanging a few light farewells.

He walked quietly down the dimly lit hallway of the inn, making his way to his room.

When he stepped inside, the familiar scent of wood and faint traces of melted candle wax brushed past his nose.

Ed washed up first, then lit a candle before collapsing onto the bed. Reaching under his pillow, he pulled out a stack of worn parchment.

He untied the roughly bound pages and picked up a reed pen.

Dipping the pen into ink, he carefully wrote on the coarse leather surface.

It was his journal. A journal written in Korean.

Ed had started keeping a diary ever since arriving at this inn. More precisely, ever since he had saved Versilia.

It was an act born out of unease and the anxiety of having to move toward an uncertain future, one he could no longer predict.

No matter how much he had changed, overcoming past struggles, everyone carried fears they wished to keep hidden.

To ease that fear, he had begun recording his thoughts in the familiar language of his homeland.

Most of his writings were reflections on his training, how his breathing had been that day, how much progress he had made, and what areas still needed improvement.

Yet after more than a year of failing to break through to the Heavenly Swirl Star, the contents of his diary had hardly changed. It was the same thing, written over and over.

As always, he ended his entry by drawing seven stars on the parchment, connecting them with lines.

The seven lights that were meant to rise within him.

But even now, the first star had yet to appear.

Ed let out a deep sigh and put down his pen.

***

Early the next morning, Ed boarded a carriage bound for Vinen. He had visited the children every two weeks, but this time, it wasn’t just a visit; he was bringing them home.

A mix of anticipation and responsibility churned inside him, leaving him with a strange sense of restlessness.

Upon arriving in Vinen, Ed first sought out Bedrick.

Since Bedrick already knew why Ed had come, their conversation was both smooth and swift.

Ed then visited the orphanage, where he said hello to each of the fourteen children before leaving with Lina and Versilia.

Over the past year, Lina and Versilia had matured so much that they were hardly recognizable.

Versilia was a year older than Lina, and in just two years, she would have to leave the orphanage after her coming-of-age ceremony.

After a long three-day journey, they finally arrived at the Benevolence Street in Avgenil.

Ed stood before the newly completed orphanage.

At first, he had simply hoped to establish a small orphanage with a small yard.

But now, what stood before him was something far greater in scale.

The front yard was so spacious that it could easily be called a playground rather than a simple yard.

There was even a separate area designated for growing crops, and behind the building, a backyard as well.

The three-story stone building was not only larger but also sturdier than the orphanage built within the monastery in Vinen.

He approached the gate of the orphanage while holding Lina and Versilia’s hands.

There, three people were already waiting.

They stood hesitantly, unsure of what to do.

With a smile, Ed walked up to them. They were the staff he had personally hired over the past year. He had gradually built a connection with each of them.

Though their numbers were insufficient for the size of the orphanage, for now, there were only two children, so it wouldn’t be a major problem.

Meeting each of their gazes in turn, he exchanged greetings before speaking in a quiet voice.

“Let’s do our best to run this place well.”

***

Since the building had only been completed a few days ago, there was still much that was lacking.

Furniture, household necessities…. even the most basic items had yet to be fully supplied.

Together with the three hired staff members and the children, they steadily worked to fill in the missing pieces, little by little.

Several days passed in this way, and now it was time to establish a more stable daily routine.

On that day, someone knocked on the orphanage door.

With everyone else busy with their tasks, Ed went to greet the visitor himself.

As Ed passed through the fence surrounding the orphanage grounds and opened the simple wooden gate, he saw a man standing there. He was dressed in leather armor.

Ed immediately recognized the outfit as something adventurers commonly wore.

The man was tossing a dagger lightly into the air and catching it repeatedly. His demeanor didn’t give off a particularly friendly impression.

When he noticed Ed, he casually tucked the dagger into his belt and extended a hand.

“Jesse.”

His hand was covered with a leather glove.

After briefly observing him, Ed grasped his hand lightly in return.

“…Ed. What brings you here?”

Jesse remained silent. He took a few steps back and glanced around the orphanage inside the fence. Then, with a sly grin, he finally spoke.

“I saw this big building pop up out of nowhere and wondered what it was. Didn’t expect it to be an orphanage.”

“I was fortunate enough to settle down here.”

“As expected of an orphanage director, your words are so proper and refined. But I wonder why you’re not following the local rules.”

Jesse stepped closer before poking Ed’s chest with his finger.

Letting out a small sigh, Ed brushed the finger away with the back of his hand. He had a feeling he knew what this was about.

“Keep your hands to yourself.”

Seeing this, Jesse grinned as if he had been waiting for that reaction. Then, without further pretense, he got straight to the point.

“Ever heard of the Black Hand?”

As expected, he was a member of the dark guild that controlled Benevelonce Street.

When Ed showed no visible reaction, Jesse nodded knowingly.

“So, you do know. Then you should’ve either come to introduce yourself already or prepared your protection fee. Ah, unless you’ve already got it ready, and I’m just being rude?”

As Ed remained silent, Jesse clicked his tongue.

“That won’t do.”

His face briefly hardened with a threatening air, but then he suddenly stepped back with a smirk.

“Today, I’ll leave quietly, but next time I come, make sure you’ve prepared the protection fee properly and in good faith. Otherwise, you’ll end up seeing something you’d rather not.”

Without hesitation, he turned away and walked off, whistling as he went.

Ed watched his retreating figure and slowly stroked his chin.

If it were just a few petty thugs, he could handle them easily enough.

After all, he had spent the past year tempering his body through Star Breathing and had already surpassed the strength of an ordinary person.

But behind Jesse stood Black Hand, the dark guild that controlled a third of this city.

In reality, Ed had already been contemplating this issue for some time.

He had even asked around, speaking to several locals, including the coachman Hans.

He wanted to know just how large Black Hand was and how they operated within this district.

Though no one knew their exact numbers, the guild was estimated to have around thirty members, and their leader, along with a few officers, were sword users who had awakened mana.

A sword user couldn’t channel mana into their weapon, but their physical abilities were vastly enhanced. They took the first step toward becoming a true superhuman.

It was no wonder the people in this district lived in fear.

Originally, Ed had planned to handle the situation himself once his Heavenly Swirl Star was unsealed.

Once the first energy center opened, he would be able to take on multiple sword users at once.

However, the Heavenly Swirl Star wasn’t unlocking as easily as he had expected, and now, it was time to find another approach.

….

….

That night.

Having collected all the protection fees, Jesse pushed open the door to the tavern while feeling rather pleased with himself.

The tavern was filled with the thick scent of alcohol and the sound of boisterous laughter.

It was a hideout of sorts where members of Black Hand gathered to rest, and on the days they collected protection fees, it became the place for their celebratory feasts.

Jesse who was satisfied with the familiar scene grinned slyly and shouted,

“Revan, you ordered my beer, right?”

The tavern was bustling with comrades, each raising their glasses and chatting noisily. Yet, amidst the clamor, only one person heard his voice clearly. It was Revan, Jesse’s sole teammate.

Revan smirked and turned his head.

He was about to welcome his companion when his expression suddenly hardened.

Behind Jesse, who was stepping into the tavern with the light shining directly on him—

Something abruptly rose from his shadow.

It was a person.

A girl with long, flowing black hair.

At the eerie sight of a person emerging from the darkness itself, Revan lost his grip on his beer mug.

The heavy glass crashed to the floor with a loud noise, but he had no time to care about the shattered pieces.

The dim lanterns hanging from the ceiling flickered unsteadily.

“Wh-What the hell…”

Following Revan’s gaze, Jesse turned around. The moment he saw the girl standing unnervingly close, he jolted backward in shock.

“Shit, I thought you were a gho—”

Jesse never got to finish his sentence. He wasn’t given the time.

Shhhk—

A shadow on the floor shot up like a snake.

A black blade pierced through Jesse’s jaw before it emerged from the top of his skull.

When the shadow swiftly sank back into the floor, Jesse’s body collapsed and his eyes rolled back.

A surge of blood gushed out, staining the ground.

Only then did the once-boisterous tavern fall into complete silence. Every member of the dark guild turned their eyes toward the girl.

And then, someone screamed.

“A-A ghost! It’s a real ghost!”

“You idiot, we’re under attack!”

“No, you moron! Can’t you see? She’s a witch!”

“Shut up and draw your swords!”

Screams and shouts tangled together, throwing the tavern into chaos.

But those voices soon began to fade…..quickly and unmistakably.

Thud—

And then, the flickering tavern lights went out completely.

Darkness descended.