Cael stared at the one-eyed bandit leader, confused.
Is this guy sick? What do my blue eyes have to do with anything?
Before Cael could even ask, the one-eyed man spoke again, his voice filled with hatred.
"Those f*cking blue eyes are the reason I'm like this."
"Ten years ago… someone with the same blue eyes as you took my eye and my arm."
"From that day onward, I decided something."
"I will kill every blue-eyed person I find in this world."
Cael's expression twisted.
"Just how f*cking bad is my luck?!"
Then he remembered his Luck stat.
1.
Yeah… his life was truly cursed.
Cael sighed and tried one last thing.
"Listen," he said calmly. "I'm going to be an academy student soon. Unless you want to make an enemy out of the academy, you should leave me alone."
The bandit leader burst into laughter.
"Kid, I know the academy starts on January 21st."
"There's no way you're a student yet."
"So if I kill you before you become an academy student…"
"…those academy bastards won't even bat an eye."
Cael's jaw tightened.
So that was it.
No escape.
He drew the sword and took a stance, knowing one thing clearly—
If he didn't fight…
He would die.
Six enemies surrounded him.
One leader.Three close-combat bandits.One mage.And one archer.
Cael scanned them quickly.
Then, without wasting time—
He turned around and sprinted into the forest.
The bandit leader roared, "GO AFTER HIM!"
All five of them chased after Cael.
Cael ran hard.
But after a while, his chest burned and his breath grew heavy.
And worst of all…
They were still right behind him.
"F*ck…" Cael muttered.
Desperation hit him.
He needed speed.
He needed something—anything.
Cael forced himself to focus.
Wind… push my legs.
The moment he tried it, he felt a faint current of wind forming behind his feet.
A blue screen flickered.
-------------
[System]
Wind Affinity usage detected.
Error... Error...
Body does not possess innate wind ability.
Proficiency required to properly use higher skills.
Wind Affinity Proficiency: 3%
-------------
Cael's eyes widened.
Jackpot.
If this was true…
Then maybe because his soul was from another world, he could awaken new affinities as long as he trained them.
He didn't hesitate.
He used a spell he remembered from the game.
"Wind Gaze."
--------
[System]
Wind Gaze spell usage detected.
--------
His body shot forward as if someone had launched him.
He instantly left the bandits behind.
The bandit mage's eyes widened.
"He's a wind mage!" the mage shouted. "Everyone, get behind me! I'll catch up to him!"
The mage cast a body-enhancement spell and sped up, chasing Cael alone.
Cael glanced back and saw him closing the distance.
"F*ck… this mage won't let me live!"
Cael ran until he spotted a cave.
Without thinking, he rushed inside and disappeared into the darkness.
The mage reached the area moments later.
Cael was nowhere in sight.
The mage frowned, scanning the area… until his eyes fell on the cave entrance.
"Heh," he muttered. "Hiding in a cave is useless."
The mage walked toward it, preparing to burn it down.
Unaware…
That he was walking into death.
Cael stayed silent.
He watched the mage through the shadows, waiting patiently.
The moment the mage stepped near the tree beside the cave—
Cael moved.
He leaped down from above, sword raised high, aiming straight for the kill.
The mage sensed danger and turned quickly.
His eyes widened.
He tried to cast a defensive spell—
But he was too slow.
Cael's sword sliced cleanly.
The mage's head separated from his body.
His corpse fell to the ground, his face frozen in terror.
Cael stood still.
This was his first time killing someone.
Yet… he felt calm.
Too calm.
Why am I not shaking?
Why do I feel nothing?
Am I slowly becoming something other than human?
But he didn't have time to think.
A blue light flickered again.
-----------
[System]
First Kill detected.
Target: Bandit Mage
EXP Gained: 300
Bonus Rewards:
+10 MP
+5 Endurance
+5 Strength
-----------
Cael's body felt refreshed instantly—as if his mana had been replenished and his strength rebuilt.
Then another screen appeared.
----------------
[System]
Congratulations, User. You have leveled up.
----------------
Cael didn't even have time to check his stats.
A shout rang out.
"THERE HE IS!"
Cael turned sharply.
Two more bandits had found him.
Cael knew he couldn't kill them the same way he killed the mage.
They were already alert.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
Let's test it.
My mastery… and my new strength.
Cael dashed forward.
One of the bandits looked like a novice.
The man barely reacted in time—
And Cael sliced his arm cleanly.
"AHHH! MY ARM!!" the bandit screamed.
The second bandit rushed in from the side, slashing diagonally to kill Cael.
But Cael twisted his body, stepped in—
And cut him down in one smooth sweep.
The novice bandit fell to his knees, clutching his bleeding arm.
He looked up at Cael with trembling eyes.
"P-Please… let me live…"
Before the sentence even finished—
Cael sliced his head off.
A blue screen appeared again.
---------
[System]
MP: 0
Mana can no longer be used.
Rest advised.
---------
That was the cost.
Cael had used Wind Gaze repeatedly to increase his speed and kill fast.
Now he was completely drained.
Cael exhaled heavily.
Three were dead.
But there were still three bandits left.
And they would come for his blood.
Cael stared toward the cave again.
He didn't want to go inside…
But staying outside at night was even more dangerous.
Finally, he made his decision.
He stepped back into the cave.
Before entering fully, Cael glanced once at the three dead bodies outside…
Then disappeared into the darkness, hoping to find something that could help him survive.
Meanwhile… Far Away
The woman who had given Cael her sword was running, tears in her eyes.
She whispered to herself:
"Whoever you are… please don't die."
"I'll come back with help."
"Until then…"
"Please… survive."