I got up, still slightly groggy, and headed to the kitchen to prepare something to eat before turning in for the night.
After making dinner, I wasted no time returning to my room and collapsing into bed.
---
THE NEXT BRIGHT
I woke to a strangely familiar sensation, one that felt both natural and foreign at the same time.
My body was drenched in sweat.
A steady rhythm carried my movements.
Muscles tightened and loosened with practiced precision.
For a moment, confusion clouded my thoughts.
Then I opened my eyes.
The room came into view, technically the upside down view.
THUD!
I crashed onto my back the moment realization struck.
"Ow..."
I had been exercising.
To Outis, this sensation was entirely new.
To Jin-hun?
This was nothing more than routine.
Despite possessing near-perfect form, Outis had never once trained his body. He firmly believed true strength lay solely in the mind. Physical training, to him, was unnecessary, a distraction from cultivating the mind.
It was probably why his influence overshadowed Jin-hun's.
Jin-hun had trained both body and mind with equal discipline.
Outis focused only on one.
"Sigh..."
"Well," I muttered as I sat upright, stretching my stiff shoulders, "exercise is good for both the body and mind."
I glanced at myself briefly.
"And I definitely don't want to lose this perfect physique."
A short pause.
"So... I guess I'm working out now."
Pushing myself off the floor, I repositioned myself for push-ups.
Then began.
Hours passed.
One exercise flowed naturally into the next, my body moving almost instinctively, guided by Jin-hun's deeply ingrained muscle memory.
Push-ups, squats, core exercises.
Movement after movement.
Until every muscle in my body burned pleasantly with exhaustion.
By the time I was done, I was utterly drenched in sweat.
Sticky, uncomfortable, and annoyingly itchy.
Without hesitation, I headed straight for the bathroom.
~~ ~~
A long sigh escaped my lips as I stepped out of the shower.
The lingering fatigue melted away beneath the warmth of the water.
"That was refreshing," I muttered, wiping my damp face with a towel.
After getting dressed, I made my way downstairs.
My gaze drifted toward the study room.
"Should I continue reading?"
The thought barely lingered before I immediately rejected it.
"Nah."
I shook my head.
"I've already tortured myself with enough books. If I touch another one, I might genuinely lose my mind."
So what now?
"..."
"..."
"...!"
My eyes widened.
"I've got it!"
A grin spread across my face.
"I should go into town and buy a weapon."
After all, Outis didn't own one.
And if I planned on venturing into the Abyss Zone, going unarmed sounded like a spectacularly stupid way to die.
"Then it's settled."
I snapped my fingers.
"I should change."
Excitement quickly replaced my earlier boredom as I hurried upstairs.
The plain medieval white shirt was the first thing to go.
Instead, I changed into something more fitting.
A dark crimson Victorian-style shirt.
Black trousers.
A long black coat.
Simple, yet elegant.
Standing before the mirror, I ran a comb through my hair.
It had changed noticeably by now, reaching the nape of my neck.
Once satisfied, I gave myself a brief nod of approval.
"Not bad".
After choosing a suitable pair of shoes, I grabbed enough money for a purchase, locked the house, and stepped outside.
A short while later, I climbed into my carriage and began making my way toward the only weapon shop in town.
Its owner was an old retired weapons craftsman.
A man famous for two things.
Exceptional craftsmanship.
And unbearable rudeness.
~~ ~~
"Damn... these roads are terrible," I muttered as I stepped out of the carriage, brushing invisible dust from my clothes.
The store stood before me.
And honestly
It looked far more luxurious than most establishments in town.
The building itself was painted in black and crimson, giving it an oddly noble atmosphere. Elegant weapons rested behind polished display windows, the entrance immaculate.
Above it all hung a large signboard.
"Mortis's Weapons"
But what truly caught my attention
Part of the structure was built with brick.
An expensive luxury far beyond what ordinary townsfolk could afford.
BLING!
'Huh, It even has a doorbell.'
"Welcome."
The greeting came from behind the counter.
An old man stood there.
His voice was low, flat, and monotonous.
Yet strangely authoritative.
That is absolutely a Russian accent.
"I'd like to purchase a weapon," I said evenly.
"..."
The old man remained silent.
Though his eyes were closed, I could feel his attention settle on me.
It wasn't a stare, not exactly.
But somehow
It felt like one.
After a few moments, he raised an arm and pointed toward the shelves.
The shop's arrangement surprised me.
Everything was meticulously organized, almost resembling a modern supermarket.
Weapons neatly categorized.
Orderly, and efficient.
The black-and-crimson interior tied everything together surprisingly well.
Haa~
I silently exhaled.
My expression slowly flattened.
The first aisle housed ranged weapons.
Spears.
Javelins.
Longbows.
Shortbows.
Throwing knives.
Their designs were undeniably impressive, but none of them interested me.
The next aisle contained heavy weapons.
Mauls.
Axes.
Maces.
Clubs.
Broadswords.
And a few others.
I admired the craftsmanship as I passed, though none called to me.
Then came armor and shields.
None concerned me.
The following aisle contained swords.
And unlike the others, variety was everywhere.
Weapons inspired by civilizations from Earth.
Katana.
Jian.
Dao.
Gladius.
Claymore.
Rapier.
Each subtly modified.
Each carrying its own unique aesthetic.
But swords weren't what I needed.
Not because I couldn't use them.
But because I required something I possessed complete mastery over.
Daggers.
And firearms.
Unfortunately, this world lacked guns.
Which left me with only one option.
Eventually, I found the section I had been searching for.
Close-range weapons.
~~
As I inspected the daggers, another issue surfaced.
Quality.
"I'm not buying some decorative trash that snaps mid-fight."
"...!"
The old man had somehow appeared beside me.
Hands clasped behind his back.
Posture straight.
Measured footsteps.
And surprisingly.
For someone his age, he looked absurdly well-built.
"You appear uncertain," he said flatly. "You do not seem to know what you are searching for."
'Yep, definitely Russian.'
"I know exactly what I'm looking for," I replied calmly. "A dagger that is elegant, yet durable. I see elegance."
I glanced toward the shelves.
"But no proof of strength."
"..."
A brief silence passed.
"Everything in this store is guaranteed to endure," he replied. "Only a fool doubts what leaves my shop."
"I see."
I turned back to the display.
Then
Something caught my eye.
One dagger.
Different from the others.
Its blade was forged from dark steel, sleek and menacing. The black handle complemented it perfectly, giving it an ominous yet strangely elegant appearance.
"It is called Black Fang," the old man said.
"A fitting name," I replied.
"It is also the only relic in this store not crafted by me."
"...!"
My expression shifted slightly.
'Relic.'
The moment the word left his mouth, fragments of memory resurfaced.
Knowledge, and Information.
Things Outis knew.
Things I hadn't payed attention.
"I'd like to purchase this one," I said, trying and failing to completely hide my excitement.
"Very well."
He removed the dagger from its place.
"Follow me."
I silently trailed behind him toward the counter while sorting through the information resurfacing in my mind.
A few moments later, we arrived.
"So," I asked, already mentally preparing myself. "How much?"
"Ten thousand Donn Bright Steel," Mortis replied casually.
"...!"
I nearly choked.
"That's... expensive."
"Even for a relic, isn't that too much?" I asked, my voice rising slightly.
"Then you do not understand the value of relics," he replied calmly. "Even the weakest among them sells for considerably more."
"..."
'Damn it, he had a point.'
'Still, that price hurt.'
"Fine," I said after a moment. "I'll take it."
I paused.
"But at a discount."
"Ten thousand is already the lowest I am willing to go."
I stared at him.
Then slowly counted out eight thousand Donn Bright Steel and placed it on the counter.
"This is everything I brought."
"..."
He remained silent.
Eyes still closed.
His attention settled on the money.
Eventually
"Nine thousand."
He paused.
"And we have a deal."
"..."
Now it was my turn to hesitate.
The silence stretched.
Then
"Fine."
I caved.
~~ ~~
Two hours later, I returned home feeling utterly dejected.
The sensation of suddenly becoming poor was downright depressing.
Even Jin-hun had only experienced fragments of such misery.
Dragging my feet up the stairs, I entered my room and carelessly tossed my coat onto the bed before collapsing beside it.
"Ugh…"
I let out a long groan.
"What a shitty day."
With a sigh, I unsheathed Black Fang and held it before me.
The blade gleamed darkly beneath the light.
Elegant, lethal, beautiful, and painfully expensive.
"You better be worth every coin," I muttered, lightly tracing a finger across the flat of the blade. "The information I remember about relics better not be exaggerated."
"...!"
Suddenly, an idea surfaced.
"You know what?"
I sat up.
"Why don't I test it out?"
After all, the best way to understand a weapon
Was through actual combat.
"But against who?"
I frowned.
"A warrior?"
Almost immediately, I dismissed the thought.
Absolutely not.
According to Outis's memories, provoking a trained warrior without proper preparation was little more than an elaborate form of suicide.
Criminal activity in town was rare too.
Which left
"...!"
"The Lost!."
The words slipped from my mouth.
Sure, they were monsters, terrifying creatures that lurked beyond the border.
But from what I remembered
They sat at the bottom of the food chain.
Driven by little more than instinct and endless hunger.
Dangerous, but manageable.
At least
That was the theory.
Determination settled inside me as I rose from the bed.
I'm hunting Losts.
Without wasting another moment, I moved toward the wardrobe and changed into something better suited for combat.
Dark clothing, flexible, and easy to move in.
Once ready, I slipped out through the back door.
There was a reason for that.
This town stood closest to the border, and my house sat near its outer edge.
Meaning
The Abyss Border wasn't far away.
Even from here, I could already see it.
And honestly
The sight felt unreal.
A colossal wall of energy stretched impossibly into the heavens, towering over the land like something pulled straight from mythology.
Otherworldly, unnatural, and beautiful.
Fifteen minutes passed climbing downhill.
Another fifteen walking.
Then
I stood before it up close
The sight was even more breathtaking.
Massive rune-like symbols spread across the ground beneath it, intricate patterns glowing faintly against the earth.
The wall itself looked nearly thirty feet thick, radiating an intense white brilliance.
It stretched endlessly upward.
No visible end.
Its mere presence felt oppressive.
Almost sacred.
A barrier so powerful that creatures instinctively fled from its radiance.
For several seconds, I simply stood there, taking in the spectacle.
Then
I steeled my resolve.
Taking several steps back, I inhaled deeply.
And sprinted forward.
Fast.
The moment I crossed
Agony.
It felt like diving into fire.
Not ordinary fire.
No
A furnace burning at impossible temperatures.
For those few seconds inside the barrier, hell itself seemed merciful in comparison.
My blood boiled.
My skin sizzled.
Every nerve in my body screamed.
Then
I stumbled out.
"W-What the fuck?!"
The words barely escaped my mouth.
My body trembled violently.
My skin burned bright red, stinging with lingering heat.
I collapsed onto the cold ground, breathing heavily.
Trying to understand what had just happened.
Then
The answer surfaced.
'The barrier wasn't merely meant to frighten creatures away.'
'No.'
'It was designed to destroy anything foolish enough to force its way through.
Burn them alive.
Reduce them to ash.'
The only explanation for why I survived
'Was because my body wasn't entirely shadow.'
And suddenly
One horrifying realization hit me.
"I'll have to cross that thing again later."
~~
I remained seated near the border for several minutes, silently regretting every life decision that had brought me here.
"This was incredibly stupid."
The cold soon began creeping into my body.
Sharp, and persistent.
Probably below ten degrees.
And judging from the way my fingers felt
Maybe even worse.
Unfortunately, I had dressed for combat, not freezing temperatures.
Letting out a slow breath, I forced myself back to my feet.
I was already here, might as well see this through.
The landscape ahead felt unnervingly lifeless.
Fog stretched endlessly around me, swallowing the distance whole.
Scattered throughout the land stood dried, withered trees.
Curious, I reached out toward one.
The moment my fingers brushed against it crumble.
The tree collapsed into fine dust.
"...Okay, that was unsettling.'
The deeper I walked, the thicker the fog became.
Visibility steadily worsened until I could barely see several meters ahead.
No wind.
No sound.
Just silence.
An oppressive silence.
"Come on," I muttered irritably. "I've walked all this way and still no Lost?"
I clicked my tongue.
"So I got roasted alive for nothing?"
"Seriously, what the hell..."
My words abruptly stopped.
Someone
No.
Something.
A figure crouched in the distance.
Pitch black.
Humanoid.
Dark smoke-like energy seeped endlessly from its body.
My breath caught.
"Lost."
Recognition surfaced instantly.
Slowly, I lowered my stance.
My hand drifted toward the dagger at my waist.
Then
Its head snapped toward me.
Violent, and instantly.
Though I stood at a safe distance.
Though I made no sound.
It had noticed me.
Slowly
The creature rose, never once looking away.
Then came the sound.
Crack.
Crunch.
Snap.
Bones twisted.
Shifted.
Rearranged.
I froze.
In less than twenty seconds
It transformed.
Its body doubled in size.
Towering far above me.
Its limbs stretched unnaturally long, its proportions warped grotesquely.
Its head enlarged.
Dark energy leaked endlessly from it like smoke escaping a dying fire.
Primal hunger radiated from its very existence.
It looked like a twisted nightmare, like grotesque mockery of something human.
Then
A mouth formed.
Slowly tearing across its face.
Wider, and wider.
Then
SCREEEEEECH!!!
The sound tore through the air.
Piercing, violent, and inhuman.
My entire body locked up.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs, my throat tightened, cold sweat slid down my back.
And in that moment
Every intelligent thought disappeared.
Only one remained.
'Run.'
So I ran.
Without hesitation, or dignity.
Just survival instinct.
I bolted through the fog at full speed.
Behind me
I heard it.
Chasing.
Fast, far too fast.
Adrenaline surged violently through my veins.
My legs pushed harder.
Faster, and faster.
I didn't dare look back.
Didn't dare slow down.
Thankfully, I hadn't taken any turns getting here.
Straight path to safety
Then
A thought surfaced.
'Pull out the dagger.'
Without hesitation, I obeyed.
In one swift motion, I unsheathed Black Fang.
"Oh my God…"
My breathing shook.
"This was such a terrible idea."
{A/N: Sorry for the delay in editing the chapters, i explained before that i write with my phone as my laptop is spoiled, and recently my phone got stolen, but i have something now, and I'm back to editing and soon to updating, apologies to those had to read such mess, and thank you for reading}