Unique Connections
Luin couldn't accept reality and had no choice but to suspect other possibilities.
"Really? Did I do that?"
And rightly so—fine cracks spiderwebbed across what was presumed to be the dragon's horn.
It was the first time in nearly four years he'd succeeded in damaging the dragon's corpse.
His lips twitched upward at this progress, one step closer to his goal.
"Shall we splurge a bit for dinner tonight?"
He desperately craved a cold draft beer to soothe his parched throat, but scoring booze in the village at his age was no easy feat.
"A cola would be nice as a substitute."
Just hearing that familiar name made saliva flood his mouth.
It was truly pathetic that the absence of carbonation felt more pressing than the end of the world.
"Seriously, what the hell do people here live for?"
Luin scratched his head, grabbed his broken longsword, and trudged out of the cave.
Outside, a chill evening breeze swept through the darkening dusk.
Unlike the labyrinth dungeons scattered across the continent with their high mana concentrations, the forests near the village had low mana levels.
Encounters with roaming magical beasts were rare as a result, happening only when dungeon miasma thickened the mana density now and then.
In that sense, Luin finished sensing mana and shrugged indifferently.
"Hmm."
Conclusion: the odds of running into a beast today were near zero.
Yeah, that's gotta be it...
But then, a foul stench twisted his gut, assaulting his nose.
"Hold up—this smells like blood, doesn't it?"
Luin sniffed hard, whipping his head around urgently.
"It's close by."
He hurried toward the source. In this rural backwater, the reek of blood spreading meant something serious had gone down.
Soon, his steps halted at the cliff's edge. Below, on the mountain trail snaking down the slope, seven or so knights in plate armor surrounded an overturned carriage.
Luin clocked how they formed a defensive perimeter around the ornate carriage.
Noble robbery, plain as day.
And spotting the bandits laughing it up at a distance—the perps—he racked his brain.
This area was Shima's turf.
Those goons were probably his underlings.
"Shima's crew? Tricky to get involved."
Rakselv Village fell under Shima's domain too.
It was a forced pact, but undeniable reality: they were under his watch.
In exchange for village safety, the bandits collected tribute every month.
And Shima's "dangers" weren't just beasts.
Refuse the deal, and they'd find some way to hit the village—without showing their fangs outright. A veiled warning to behave.
As Luin's head throbbed, one escort knight bellowed.
"You filthy bandits! Do you even know whose house this carriage belongs to? If you have eyes, look—the crest of Duke Lloyd emblazoned on it!"
The bandits' gazes snapped to the crest. Luin peered too, eyes widening.
A duke's house all the way out here?
Owing a duke a favor for the future? Solid play.
No—once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Luin gripped his broken sword and stood.
Can't pass up rare connections.
Without hesitation, he leaped off the cliff.
The bandit leader clocked the intruder and snorted like an ox.
"What the? Some kid jumps in?"
"Wait—isn't that Luin?"
"Luin... you mean the brat Shima's got his eye on?"
Luin tilted his head at their reaction.
Shima eyeing him? Never crossed his mind.
Wittingly or not, Luin was infamous in Rakselv and bandit circles.
Most kids that age bawled at shadows or clung to parents.
Not Luin—he ignored the fear, focused on the job, even hunted beasts with a sword half his size.
Inevitable he'd ping Shima's radar.
"What do we do, boss Thomas? Shima likes the kid. We shouldn't touch him without orders, right?"
Thomas nodded, mustering killing intent.
A cocky brat was still just a weak kid. Rough him up, he'd fold.
"Kid, lost? Beat it quietly. Mess with grown folks' business, won't end fun."
But against expectations, Luin shrugged coolly.
"Fun? Doubt you'll provide any."
"Lost your damn mind? You know we're bandits, right?"
"Yeah. Shima's lackeys."
Thomas blinked, speechless, eyelids twitching.
"Lackeys...?"
"Why so shocked? You lot'd die for Shima's orders."
Shing. Thomas drew his greatsword.
Forgot the scare tactic—now mana surged, ready to cleave his neck.
"You're nuts. I warned you."
Luin eyed the mana blade extending from Thomas's greatsword, smirking.
No mercy on a kid, huh...
Not like the lion giving its all to a rabbit.
Thomas was just losing control—exactly as Luin planned.
Ways to handle mobs varied, but cleanest was decapitating the head.
A kid's body couldn't match Thomas head-on, though.
So bait the carelessness.
With a guttural roar, Thomas swung diagonally.
"Block this with your toy!"
Luin tracked the blade, twisting his torso to parry lightly.
Then mana surged into his broken sword, raising a bluish edge.
Unlike cloaking a full blade, this was a different realm.
Yet Luin swung casually, clashing with the greatsword.
Clang!
The greatsword shattered with a crisp ring against Luin's Mana Blade.
Thomas froze, eyes darting between his broken blade and Luin's towering mana blade, lips mumbling.
"Wha... huh?"
Denying the break, denying the skill's mastery.
His judgment cracked.
"What the hell's that technique?"
"Can't tell? Mana Blade."
Luin figured the shock made sense—a village kid pulling off a skill.
But Thomas freaked for a different reason.
Not the shattered sword—Luin's fully formed blade.
A shaped Mana Blade? Isn't that S-rank adventurer talent?
Shaped Mana Blades marked elite potential.
A ten-ish boy showing it? Shock rippled through the bandits.
"I'm not hallucinating, right...?"
"We're all seeing it, boss."
"So it's real...?."
"...No tricks, that's for sure."
The silence broke with a girl's young voice.
"Reinhardt-nim!"
A small, rabbit-like girl dashed toward Luin.
He instinctively stepped back, halting the girl with faint blush on her pale cheeks.
"R-Reinh... I'm not that guy."
"Ah, sorry! Reinhardt is the hero from my favorite story."
"Hero?"
Way off, then. I'm no hero.
Ignoring his thoughts, the girl clutched her parchment book to her chest, buzzing with excitement.
"You're just like the hero in my treasured tale!"
Did this naive girl grasp the situation?
Luin struggled with kids.
Especially peers—hard to match their level, even counting his past life.
Case in point: spouting nonsense right now.
He swallowed a sigh, forcing a gentlemanly smile.
"Sounds intriguing, but can we chat properly without interruptions?"
"O-Of course!... More than that, let me help!"
"No, it's dangerous. Stay back as far as..."
Luin trailed off.
Mana bloomed green in her hands—his jaw dropped.
Mana was usually sea-blue.
At 2 Realm, it gained attributes, unique colors.
Hers—this fresh green—was support-type: heals and buffs.
He shut his gaping mouth, scrutinizing her face.
At most my age?
Attribute skill at that age.
The moment her value hit unique grade, Luin couldn't hide his glee.
Unique's dropped!...