Taking his first steps down the mountain, Karion noticed and followed a rigid pathway, that soon deviated from the lush mountain cap he started with. He had not made it past a few feet before the verdant beauty was replaced with a grim landslide.
[I suppose if I only trained for a week, the mountain would hardly change, huh?]
Silently feeling guilty for what the mountain could have appeared as, he clutched onto the sword, hurriedly making his way down the mountain. As his descent reached the foot of the mountain, he noticed that the ground was more lively, with an open field of grass. Seeing a village in the vicinity, he recalled Veridas' words as he walked to the settlement.
[This must be the unnamed village! If I can ask about the world, it'll be a great help for me.]
As Veridas refused to properly inform Karion of his whereabouts, he was in desperate need of information. All he knew was a location named "Qrisley". If it was another village or a kingdom, if he needed identification to enter the city if wielding weapons openly was commonplace. With many questions with fewer answers, he believed it was within reason to ask about this world's morals and values.
Finally reaching the village, the houses were built with walls of planks, roofs of straws and leaves, farms guarded by low cobblestone walls, and each adult performing various tasks, while the children played with their peers across the village's center that was marked with a stone well. Though what he saw is something easily labeled as primitive compared to his previous life, he also saw a community that was meager in wealth, but rich in spirit. They were happy with what little they had, and it didn't bother them.
Appreciating this feeling, Karion smiled to himself. Catching the attention of an adult male in his 30s, he called out to the Karion. His clothes were well-kept, along with his sunhat that showed signs of age, but sewn together perfectly.
"You there! Are you lost?"
Karion looked surprised, "Ah, yes! If I could have a bit of your time, please."
[I can understand him! Was this something I was already given, or was this one of my requested abilities?]
Still unaware of the three abilities he was supposedly given, the only proof of their validity, were Veridas' claims, and the sword on his back.
The villager was kind, walking up to Karion with a smile.
"Certainly! We don't get too many visitors aside from merchants. That said, you don't look like you're holding much with you," the villager observed Karion closely, "Hold on, you haven't been mugged, have you?? Bandits have been a bit active in this area recently…"
"There are bandits here?"
"Unfortunately, yes…" The man held his hat to his chest, gazing over the playful children, "Every other village goes through something like this. A small settlement out near the middle of nowhere is great for agriculture, but also for thieves. I sometimes fear for the safety of the kids."
[So even in a different world, crime is still rampant. Though, I'm not surprised about this.]
Even in a different world, Karion believed that nobody is born with spite. Even in his world, many criminals became criminals from desperation.
"When was the last attack on this village?"
"Ah gee, I'm not sure. During my pop's time, I believe. I'm sure the village chief would know more about that," the man placed his hat back on his head, "Well, enough about that talk, eh? If you're no merchant, are you a wanderer? Even so, you're a bit light…"
"Yes, ahaha… My possessions were few to begin with, but after completing my training, I decided to embark on a journey with nothing to my name!"
[As if I could share the real story, he'd think I was crazy!] Karion had lied to protect his history.
He knew he would have to face it eventually because there wasn't escaping it. The reason he was brought to the world was something only the gods knew. Those words from Veridas lingered through his mind, but he was also given leeway to live his life as he pleased.
Even if he was granted a new life, would he have the right to make any grand achievements? As a foreign entity while favored by a god, many would kill for his privilege, but how many would accept it?
"Is that so? I admire your gusto, but nature's a cruel beauty…" The man pondered what to do before showing a smile, "I tell you what, help me around my farm for a bit, and I'll let you take some of the profit!"
"Would that be alright?"
"Of course! Truth be told, my back has been stabbing daggers for the past few days. A bit of help would do a lot."
Properly thanking the man, Karion was guided to the villager's house, where he was shown a simple five-by-five block of land, with each block home to 4 crops.
"What's here is enough to feed my family, pay the rent, and sell for a bit of profit," the man said, "If you can help me with this field, I'll give you a shiny coin!"
"..!!"
It was something so simple but had passed through his mind.
[Of course, a civilization would obviously mean there's an economy!]
"I'll gratefully accept your offer. By the way, what's the common currency used?"
The man looked at Karion with confusion, "It's been bryas, always has been. Are you from a different country, kiddo? You look so young too…"
"Hahaha, something like that…"
[So "bryas" is the form of currency here… My bigger problem is how much value a bryas carries. Should I assume one bryas is one dollar? One cent?]
The man slowly knelt to a bundle of lettuce heads. Pulling a knife from his waist, he gently lifts the lettuce to expose the bottom, "For these heads, lift them carefully. When you spot the root, cut a little higher."
With a quick cut that shows the difference in experience, the man holds the lettuce head with his hand, "See? Easy! I've got a few different plants here, but I'll walk you through it!"
"Ah, yes! Thank you for your guidance." Although his thoughts were filled with financial concerns, he didn't want to trample on the man's goodwill.
"If we keep up this pace, I'll be able to get a good cut of bryas!" The man boldly chuckled, "Let's finish up before the chief leaves."
Following the man's example, Karion helped with gardening while speaking, "What does the village chief leaving have to do with our farming?"
"It's the chief's responsibility to pay our village's taxes you see. We have a quota to fill with our harvests every month, and the chief delivers it straight to Qrisley. Any surplus is sold directly to the market, where the profits are divided based on who contributed the most."
"Sorry to bring up the conversation, but do the bandits ever target the village chief's deliveries?"
"Oh I'm sure some have, but it's precisely why we're a lesser-known bunch that Qrisley sends a few soldiers as escorts! If any bandit's willing to try it, they'd better be prepared!"
"Is that so? How reliable," Karion smiled, [It seems that the villagers are treated fairly… asking for the value of a bryas would be hard. I can't imagine someone asking me the value of a dollar…"]
Compared to the hellish training he had endured moments earlier, the man's gentle instructions and proper demonstrations of gardening were a pleasant change of pace. Once they finished the work, Karion found himself delighted in himself and the hard work he put into it.
"Thanks, kiddo! I wouldn't have been able to get this done without ya! Right after we get this to the chief, I'll wrap a hefty haul just for you!" The man violently patted Karion's back with a smile.
"Ahaha, thank you…"
Though their clothes were still relatively clean, the smudges of dirt were still visible. Making a mental note of it, he helped gather the harvest within sacs, following the man as he walked to the center of the village.
Setting the haul down, Karion breathed triumphantly.
"There's one more bag, right? I'll go fetch it," Karion said.
"Thanks, kid, I appreciate it! I'll stand watch for the chief. Plus, it might be a bit hard to spot which bag is ours if we left it alone, " the man nudged his head over to the group of villagers who arrived with various sacs filled with their harvests.
"You got it, give me a second."
Karion returned to the man's farm. Swinging the last sac over his shoulder, he trudged his way back to the center of the village. Before it reached his sight, a terrified shriek reached his ears. Alarmed at the sudden shout, Karion set down the sac, hurriedly making his way to the center. Hiding behind another house, he crouched, making himself in between the house and the cobblestone wall, he slowly peered his head.
With the sacs of produce from the villager's efforts being stolen and hoarded onto a beaten carriage, the villagers could do nothing but watch as their hard work was robbed under the threat of a gang of seven armed thieves.
[Bandits..!! Why?!] Karion clutched his chest, retreating slightly.
He easily understood the situation and the choice he was given. He heard the pleading shouts ignored by the raider's sadistic peals of laughter. He drew the sword from his back, hesitantly staring at the blade. It was just as Veridas had said, despite his training, Karion had once led a life of peace. Even if he did decide to fight, would he have the courage to kill?
[This- This isn't right… I… can't hurt someone…]
With a deep breath, Karion glanced over once more. He saw one of the bandits grabbing a young woman by her wrist,
"Hey, she'll fetch a pretty penny, would you say?" He grinned.
The woman was speechless in horror, unable to move with a blade to her throat. The entourage of raiders had unanimously agreed before beginning to eye the other residents, mainly focusing their gaze on the women and children.
Karion scowled. Though filled with rage, his fear was still persistent. He continuously doubted himself, just as he had before his new life.
[Just.. what could I even do…?]
[How could I do anything..?]
"….."
Karion began to tear up, "Tch, you damned coward… just one push. I don't even dare to do that…?"
The screams echoed through his mind, frozen in fear and guilt, he couldn't keep his eyes off but still cursed himself for being unable to move.
[What can I do…? What can I do…?? What can I do…?! What can I do?! What can I do?!?!]
[Think of something… what weapons could they be hiding…? How do I fight so many at once…? How.. How can I-]
{EX-Skill: Appraisal Activated}
"..Huh..?"
From the sudden voice ringing in his head, he immediately saw a panel of light beside the bandit's head. Despite his confusion, he noticed the panel had eligible writing.
{
Thief - Lv.3
Villager - Lv. 2
-Iron Short-Sword (Empty)
-Leather Vest
}
"Is… this my doing..? Appraisal..?"
[Was this one of the abilities I asked for?]
Karion focused his gaze on each other the raiders. Along with identical gear, their levels varied between two to four, but one raider had a different status.
{
Bandit - Lv. 7
Leader - Lv. 2
Farmer - Lv. 3
Jack - Lv. 1
Villager - Lv. 10
-Iron Sword (Blaze 1)
-Leather Vest (Reflect 1)
}
[What's the difference between a "thief" and a "bandit"? And those levels… the boss is the bandit, and he's the most skilled…]
Before he could place his thoughts together, he heard a shout of a man from a voice he recognized. The villager he was with tried to pry a child away from the bandits, "Leave my kid alone, please..!!!" He pleaded.
Karion hesitated. He looked down at his draw blade once more, [This… isn't right… but, this isn't my world either…!]
With a leap of courage, Karion boldly revealed himself, both fear and determination within his eyes. Easily spotted by the raiders, four thieves began to surround him.
"Oh looks like we got another!"
"Hey, check out that sword… looks like we can sell that too!"
They began to cackle, "C'mon, you wanna be a hero, right? Come at us!!" The thieves continued to mock and laugh at him.
"Kiddo…" The villager had a look of concern.
Holding his guard, he held his sword with both hands, holding a stance that allowed him to focus on his enemy. The thieves stared and laughed, "This kid's got no plan!!"
Annoyed at the raiders, Karion couldn't rebuke their claims. During his one-sided beating from Veridas, Karion had never learned how to approach the enemy; a result of being constantly on defense.
"Ah forget this," one of the thieves stepped forward, "That sword is mine..!"
With a simple swing that Karion easily dodged, he seized the moment, violently thrusting his sword beneath the thief's weapon, knocking it out of his hands.
"What-?!"
Using the momentum, he slashed his stomach, tearing through his equipment. The thief leaped back while holding his stomach. Though his composure remained, a trickle of blood seeped through his hands.
"Heh, so you've got a bit of fight in you…" A low voice from the other group of raiders said.
[The boss…]
The bandit slowly walked over to Karion, "You and me." He waved his hand, signaling his lackeys to retreat to the carriage.
He drew his iron sword, grinning at Karion.
[Is this a trick..? I don't see them being able to pull anything off…] Karion returned to his defensive stance, slightly bending his knees, [His sword has a trait too… Could "Blaze" mean fire? Does the number beside it mean it's the best? Or that it's the first level?]
"I'll let you in on a little something," the bandit brandished his sword, "I've got a ranked weapon here, with an affinity of fire."
"Hmph."
[I already knew that, but is that what weapons with traits are called?]
"You've got yourself a fine craft, is it a ranked weapon too?"
Karion looked to his sword, "…As if I'd tell you."
The bandit laughed, "Of course you wouldn't!" He boomed, "But no idiot would think such a fancy sword is a normal one."
"Anyway, " his face grew serious. He closed the distance swiftly, swinging his sword down.
[From above..!] Karion used both his hands to hold the man's strength back. With one hand on the hilt, the other on his blade, he saw the bandit have a grin.
In an instant, the iron sword was engulfed in flames.
"…!" At the sudden burst of fire, Karion flinched, allowing the man enough time to kick him back and into the dirt.
Karion dropped his sword, watching it be kicked away when he tried to reach for it.
"You're a greenhorn, ain't ya?" The bandit walked to him slowly.
"..!!"
[What else can I do?!]
He looked towards his blade, too far to reach. Glancing over to the other thieves they began laughing to themselves. Turning to the terrified villagers, many closed their eyes, in fear of what was to come next from their fight. From the corner of his eye, a panel blinked open, "..?!"
Karion's hand reached for an item behind him.
{
Iron Short-Sword (Empty x2)
}
[..!! From the thief I pushed back..!], Karion tightly gripped the blade, waiting for the bandit to grow closer.
"Well, you had a good run, kid," he raised his sword, still brimming with flames.
[Now..!] Karion thrust the sword into the bandit's leg.
"ARRHHH!!" He stumbled backward in pain, "You little…!"
Karion sprinted towards his sword, picking it up once more. When he faced back to the bandit, he was rushing towards him with rage. With a deep breath, Karion parried the bandit with his blade, using the same moment to slash his neck.
Blood spewed from his throat while he held his neck, choking before falling backward. With each cough he could muster, a puddle of blood jumped from his mouth. Karion couldn't bear to watch, averting his gaze before gagging. As the adrenaline wore off, he heard the bandit's final cough, then it was silent.
The remaining thieves looked at each other before slowly backing away in fear.
"T-The boss is down, book it..!!!"
They began to scatter in various directions.
"H-Hey…. Stop..!!!" Karion reached out but his nausea got the better of him. Before he could do anything, the red jewel of his sword began to glow.
"..?!"
Within seconds, each thief began screaming in pain before collapsing, fainting on the spot.
Karion looked down to his sword in shock, as the jewel's glow began to subside.