Twenty minutes had passed when Celestia's horse abruptly halted, its ears twitching in alarm. From the shadows of the trees ahead, twenty figures emerged, clad in tattered leather armor, their weapons drawn.
Celestia exhaled, a slow smirk tugging at her lips. "Finally."
With a graceful motion, she dismounted, her boots pressing into the dirt as she reached for the hilt of her rapier before unsheathing it. The soft whisper of metal sliding free sent a chill through the air.
"I've trained in swordsmanship since I was old enough to hold a blade," she murmured, more to herself than to them.
Then, she shifted into her stance, her body lowered slightly, and her knees bent just a bit. Her rapier extended forward, aimed at the enemies in front of her.
"Look at this bitch. She thinks she can fight us?" One of the bandits sneered, his voice dripping with mockery before breaking into a laugh. The others quickly joined in, their amusement echoing through the trees.
Their leader, standing at the front, raised a hand, silencing them with a sharp glare. Then, a wicked grin stretched across his face.
"Shut the fuck up and rob her already. After that, we can all have our fun with her—then sell her off at an auction for a fortune." His tone was laced with cruel anticipation.
With that, they rushed forward, weapons drawn, eyes gleaming with greed.
The first bandit lunged, drawing a dagger with a snarl, charging at her with reckless speed. Before he could even close the distance, Celestia moved like a flash—her rapier thrusting forward, the tip slicing into the side of his neck. The blade pierced the carotid artery, blood spraying in a bloodied arc.
Without hesitation, she slid her rapier sideways, the steel cutting through his flesh with a sickening ease. His body crumpled to the ground, a fountain of blood spilling from his neck.
Celestia barely flinched as she shook the blood from the tip of her blade, her eyes already scanning the remaining threats. She stepped aside with a fluid motion, ensuring the body was no longer in her way, her focus never wavering from the next target.
The remaining bandits rushed at her from all sides, but Celestia's movements were a blur of grace and deadly precision. With each strike, she targeted their weak points—neck, throat, joints—and with a single thrust or slash, their fates were sealed.
Before two bandits could close the distance from behind, her [Martial Arts] skill activated instinctively. Her empty hand shot behind her, fingers tightening around the neck of the first bandit. He dropped his weapon with a muffled grunt, struggling to break free, but Celestia's grip was ironclad.
Without missing a beat, she thrust her rapier forward, driving it deep into the neck of the bandit directly in front of her. The life drained from him instantly. But as the second bandit closed in from behind her, Celestia's body moved with fluidity, [Martial Arts] activating once again.
Her booted foot slammed into the second bandit's groin with a sickening crack, and before he could recover, she spun on her heel, her rapier extended. She pierced his carotid artery with perfect precision, the blood spraying outward as he crumpled to the ground.
The bandit in her grip fell unconscious, his body going limp as she released him. Her rapier flashed once more, and with a swift movement, she pierced the Subclavian Artery of the man, ending his life with a silent, precise strike.
She moved among the bodies with cold efficiency, ensuring each one received a fatal blow to a vital weak point—the neck, the heart, the arteries—and even the leader, who had fallen at her feet, was not spared.
Within three minutes, the field was littered with lifeless bodies, and Celestia stood in the middle of the dead bodies. Her rapier gleamed with crimson, but there was no sign of hesitation or remorse in what she did.
Shaking the blood from her blade, she climbed onto her horse, the animal reacting to her calm demeanor. Without a second glance at the carnage, she urged the horse forward and galloped off, heading north, as the distant echoes of battle faded behind her.
As Celestia's horse galloped away, the bloodied remains of the bandits lay scattered behind her. When a notification flashed before her.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Quest Completed
Title:First Steps into Darkness
Tasks: Kill a group of bandits blocking the road ahead.
Rewards:
Fear Rating:+3
EXP: 40
Her lips curled into a satisfied smirk as the rewards flashed before her eyes. She closed the system before reopening the system to check her level.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Name: Celestia Solara
Age: 18
Elements: Sealed
Level: 1
Skills: Manipulation – Level 4
Martial Arts – Level 2
Paralyzing Gaze - Level 4
She frowned slightly, her eyes scanning the screen.
"Hm... no EXP bar like in a typical game or novel," she muttered to herself, tapping the side of her head thoughtfully. "How am I supposed to know how much EXP I need then?"
She sighed, closing the system once more.
"And that skill... it activated on its own," she continued, her voice laced with frustration. "I knew it triggered, but I never commanded it. So, how does this system work? There's still so much I don't understand. And since it doesn't even show me that information's available, I'm guessing that first seal was my only shot at learning more about my skills as well. I didn't check the skill details earlier, so I guess I'll never really know what they mean."
She took a deep breath, leaning back slightly in the saddle.
"Maybe I'm just overthinking it... whatever. I'll figure it out eventually."
With a final sigh, she refocused on the road ahead, her thoughts still swirling, but now more determined than ever.
As Celestia continued, she caught sight of a small tavern nestled in a quiet corner, surrounded by a few horses and the soft clatter of farm animals in the back. The place seemed modest, but it would do for now.
"That's where I'll be staying." She murmured to herself, guiding the horse toward the tavern. The horse slowed to a stop, and she dismounted gracefully, her eyes scanning the area before stepping inside.
The tavern was bustling with life. Voices, clinking mugs, the low murmur of conversations, all blending together in a haze. No one seemed to notice her entrance—each patron absorbed in their own little world.
Celestia walked to the counter, where a man was polishing a glass with a rag. She leaned slightly forward, her gaze intense yet calm.
"How much for a room for 9 hours, and a space for my horse in the back?" She asked, her voice confident and firm.
Without warning, [Manipulation] activated.
The man looked up, his expression softening as he met her gaze.
"Hm... seems like you've had a long journey. The normal price is 20 silver, but for you, I'll lower it to 5. Only 9 hours though, no more." His tone was warm, but there was a hint of something unspoken in the way he spoke. He poured another drink, the glass filling with amber liquid as he set it down before her.
Celestia didn't hesitate. She opened her small bag, laying out five silver pieces on the counter. The man handed her a key with a nod, and she took it without a word, turning on her heel and heading outside.
The farm area behind the tavern was spacious, perfect for her horse. She walked over, guiding it to the enclosed pen before securing the gate. With that done, she walked back inside, making her way to the stairs in the corner. She ascended, finding her room without much trouble.
Once inside, she locked the door behind her and let out a quiet sigh.
"What the hell was that?" She muttered to herself, standing still for a moment. "I mean, it's amazing—whatever it is. Got this room for basically free... but it feels... off. I still need to figure out how everything works."
She walked over to the bed, her movements smooth, and lay down. Almost instantly, sleep claimed her, her mind racing with thoughts of her newfound power. But it was no use—fatigue overtook her, and she drifted into a deep, undisturbed slumber.
Eight hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep later, Celestia awoke. The room was quiet, the morning light filtering gently through the curtains. She stretched, feeling the satisfying pull of her muscles as her body came alive. After a moment, she stood and approached the mirror. She adjusted her posture.
With a quiet breath, she unlocked the door and stepped out, walking with the same grace she had perfected over years. She made her way down to the counter, her eyes locking with the man working there. She slid the key across the counter without a word, the weight of her presence heavy in the air. The man nodded, but she didn't wait for him to speak. Instead, she turned and walked out, her mind already on the road ahead.
When she reached the gate, a strange sensation prickled at her senses. Without any warning, a new quest appeared before her.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
New Quest Available
Title: Let the Horses Roam Free
Objective: Leave the gate open as you flee the area.
Rewards:
EXP: 20
[Accept/Decline]
A faint smirk tugged at her lips as her gaze flicked over the notification. "Well, this is an easy one..." She clicked [Accept], knowing this was just another opportunity to gain easy EXP.
The moment she accepted the quest, her horse came charging toward her, as if sensing the freedom in the air. Without a second thought, Celestia leapt gracefully onto its back, urging it forward with a swift kick. The horse surged into motion, its hooves pounding against the earth as they raced away.
She made sure to leave the gate open, as the horse carried her north, Celestia glanced over her shoulder. Several horses galloped out of the open gate, scattering in every direction as if they had no owner, no purpose. Her lips curled into a faint but satisfied smirk. Happy knowing she caused everyone an inconvenience.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Quest Completed
Title:Let the Horses Roam Free
Objective: Leave the gate open as you flee the area.
Rewards:
EXP: 20