Bleeding Curse (1 Star)
The Bleeding Curse (1 Star)
A trait that, when dealing a fatal blow causing bleeding to the enemy, has a 1% chance to reduce the opponent's physical abilities.
"Wow!"
Raon let out an exclamation upon reading the skill's description.
Although a 1% chance was a bit disappointing, the trait could still prove useful.
"Truly giving all stats and traits without reservation. Thanks."
All stats rose by 2, with additional increases to strength, agility, and vitality. Nearly every stat gained +3, plus a new trait.
The nickname "giving without reservation" no longer felt cheap at all.
-Not even a special trait. This is the lowest among what this King possesses.
"That's for the user to decide."
Raon smiled faintly. Wrath wielded cold, but he preferred the sword and excelled at ambushes.
Using the techniques and experience from his past life, he could maximize the effect of the Bleeding Curse.
"Perfect."
Raon stood up, turning his shoulder. He draped his outer clothes over his shoulders and opened the door to his quarters.
-What?
"Going to train."
-Again?
"To check changes in the body and adapt."
-You make this King unable to sleep!
"Later, sleep."
-You damn lava, I'll fry you!
With his mood good, Wrath's vulgarities and curses sounded like music. Singing a tune, he dashed toward the training ground.
***
Two months later, at dawn on the desolate training ground.
Raon was the first to arrive, practicing swordsmanship.
Not long after, Burren and Marta entered almost simultaneously.
"Tsk!"
"This guy really doesn't sleep..."
Burren clicked his tongue and immediately gripped his sword, while Marta frowned and loosened her body.
"Yawn."
The weak Runaan came out slowly and yawned like a young sparrow.
Her eyes were brighter than before, having perfectly escaped Sylvia's darkness. Still, she remained fierce.
The late-arriving trainees chatted lightly while preparing for training.
That was how the usual day began.
Bang!
The training ground door opened roughly, and Rimer entered.
"Coach. The door isn't closed, it's opened."
"It's fine. It's mine."
Rimer waved his hand at Burren, who was frowning, and lightly climbed onto the stage.
"Since training, keep your ears open."
He clapped his hands to gather attention and instructed everyone to continue training. It was impossible for the young trainees.
"How do we do that?"
"We're not experts!"
"Just say it quickly!"
The trainees waved their hands, urging him to speak first.
But Raon remained focused on his swordsmanship while properly listening to Rimer's voice.
"Then, don't say. A mission has been assigned to you."
"Hah!"
"Mission!"
"Mission?"
The trainees' eyes sparkled like stars at the word mission. The collateral branches were natural, and Burren and Marta opened their mouths in surprise.
Of course, Raon continued swinging his sword, and Runaan yawned blankly beside him.
"Yes. This is your first mission."
"Waaaaaaa!"
"Mission!"
"Finally real battle?"
"Huu, huu..."
The trainees' reactions varied. Some shouted in excitement, clenched their fists, or panted with excitement.
"Of course, you're not the only ones going. We can't send only kids to the river, so coaches will go with you."
The trainees nodded, as expected.
'First mission...'
Raon recalled his first mission from his past life upon hearing Rimer's words.
'Was it when I was 8?'
He had gone on a mission alone at a much younger age than now. It wasn't assassination, but a mission to gather information in enemy territory, so the danger was high, and he had almost died.
Coaches following on the first mission meant the Zieghart family was not as cold as thought.
"Wh-what is the mission?"
Dorian raised his hand, trembling. As the biggest coward in the 5th training ground, he was already scared.
"There is a mountain village named Seolho a little away from the Zieghart protection zone."
Calling a bandit den in the mountain a village. Since he hadn't heard of Seolho Village, it might not be large.
"Those who were slightly affiliated with the South-North Alliance, opening mountain paths and collecting tolls, but recently their misdeeds have worsened. They are said to have taken all merchants' goods or killed many."
"Then the mission is to exterminate the bandits!"
"Proper mission!"
"Bandits..."
"They're affiliated with one of the Five Demons, the South-North Alliance. It might be dangerous."
The South-North Alliance was one of the Five Demons opposing the Six Kings of Zieghart.
Bandits and river pirates from Terukan Mountain in the southwest and the Rable River in the northeast had united into a bandit force.
Bandits and river pirates affiliated with the South-North Alliance were mostly strong aura users, so ordinary ones would be beheaded instantly if they messed with them.
Especially the South-North Alliance leader was a super expert beyond bandit and river pirate, listed in the Continental Ten Heavens.
The trainees swallowed dry saliva, tense at the first mission and the name South-North Alliance.
"Wait, my words aren't over yet."
Rimer clapped again.
"According to your words, the mission is bandit extermination."
"...Was? Isn't that past tense?"
"Yes. It was extermination, but changed yesterday."
"What?"
"Why, why?"
"What does that mean? Why did the mission change?"
"The bandits attacked a village south of Seolho Mountain, killed all the people, set fire, and fled."
The trainees all closed their mouths at Rimer's unusually cold voice.
"Our mission is not bandit extermination, but pursuit and extermination of Seolho Mountain bandits."
The trainees swallowed dry saliva, looking at Rimer's lowered eyes.
"When do we depart?"
Burren raised his hand.
"Evening today."
"Evening? Isn't it too fast?"
"As said, since it's not attacking the village where they are, but pursuing the fleeing bandits, time is limited. And for family mission, no fast or slow. Just follow when told."
"...That makes sense. Sorry."
Burren admitted rarely and bowed his head.
"The one you're most familiar with is the training sword, but can't use it for the mission."
Rimer sent a look, and the coaches brought five swords each.
"This is the real sword given when fighting orcs. Weight, shape, and length of blade different from your training swords. From today, use these."
"Real sword..."
"Sh-shaking a bit."
"What? Of course, it must be passed."
The trainees received one each. Though different, all shook hands.
"Raon. This is yours."
"Thank you."
Raon received the real sword with both hands. Though said to be the same weight as the training sword, it felt heavier, perhaps due to his mood.
Rimer smiled faintly and climbed back to the stage.
"Although no Zieghart emblem, this sword is a real sword from the family. Even temporarily, it means recognizing you as a Zieghart swordsman."
"Zieghart swordsman..."
"Temporarily?"
The trainees swallowed at the real sword.
"Even temporarily, a Zieghart swordsman is a swordsman. Prepare firmly so you don't feel ashamed in any situation."
Rimer said after preparing for departure, gather before dinner.
"What should we prepare?"
Burren asked, following.
"Think for yourself. Not just the mission, but this moment of preparing for the mission is your growth and experience."
Rimer waved lightly.
"Hmm, indeed."
Burren nodded and left, while Rimer entered the rest area.
"Hmmm..."
Raon saw Rimer's expression and realized the words were not sincere.
'Annoying.'
Good words, but too lazy to answer, so he had made them up.
'Not related to me.'
Raon was the best assassin who had completed countless missions. No need to think of preparations for pursuit and extermination.
A bit shaking.
Perhaps because he had heard the word "mission" for a long time. His heart beat a little.
***
Raon returned to the annex to pack. Sylvia and Helen, who had been gardening, jumped up with smiles.
"What brings you at this time? Did you miss Mom?"
"Not that."
"Too firm."
Sylvia smiled faintly, approached, and stopped. Her eyes fell on the real sword at Raon's waist.
"That sword..."
"A mission was assigned."
"What? Mission?"
"Wh-what mission? Mission for a trainee..."
Sylvia widened her eyes, and Helen dropped the pruning shears she was holding.
"No need to worry. First mission with the coaches."
"Ah..."
When told it was a mission with the coaches, color returned to Sylvia and Helen's faces. They seemed to know something.
"Already time for the first mission, our son has grown up."
Raon avoided Sylvia, who was approaching to hug him by bending his waist.
"Avoiding Mom now?"
"Sorry, no time. Departure this evening."
Raon shook his head. It was embarrassing, but he actually needed time to prepare.
"Going right away? What mission?"
"Thief pursuit?"
"Which thief?"
"Thief."
To not worry Sylvia and Helen, he said thief instead of bandit.
"Even if a thief, don't be complacent. Cornered rats bite cats."
"Got it."
"If pursuit, might take time."
"Probably. Need to prepare food."
When he said thief, their tension eased a bit.
"Then pack dried meat first."
"Yes. Need to pack dried fruits and bread for nutrition."
Sylvia and Helen said to leave food to them and entered the annex.
Raon smiled seeing the busy kitchen. His mind eased here. Some excitement and tension over the mission calmed.
'Just pack what I need.'
Since Sylvia and Helen packed their own food, he didn't need to pack much.
'Then...'
Just pack clothes, shoes, and robe for the thief pursuit.
Raon entered his room, put the items needed for the mission into a light backpack, and placed it under the bed.
"Hmmm..."
He sat on the floor and used the Fire Ring to calm his mind.
'If not affiliated with the South-North Alliance, not that strong.'
Since it was his first mission, the bandits' power wouldn't be high.
'The gate is already blocked, so it will be like fighting bandits hiding in the mountain.'
The bandits' main stage was the mountain. No matter how strong this side was, finding and fighting them in the mountain was hard.
At first, the trainees might not find them, and after the coaches led, they would fight the bandits.
'Not necessary.'
Even if it was part of training, a mission was a mission. If he caught or killed the criminals alone, a reward would come. It was a clear opportunity to build his record.
"Huu..."
Raon spat out the purified mana from the Fire Ring and opened his eyes.
Let's try once.
***
That evening.
Due to Sylvia clinging and not letting go, Raon arrived at the training ground later than expected.
The trainees were already there, most frozen like wooden dolls from tension.
Burren clenched his fist and muttered to the sky. It seemed he wanted to shine in this mission, but his voice was cracked.
On the opposite chair, Marta sat. Legs crossed, eyes closed, glaring when a trainee passed. Rougher than usual, she also seemed tense.
On the other hand.
Runaan stood blankly, staring at the ice cream box in her hand. She was trying hard to resist the urge to eat.
"If not eating now, better put it in the backpack? Can't use hands."
"...Yeah."
Runaan stared at Raon for a long time, then nodded and put the ice cream box in the backpack.
Her eyes trembled a bit. She seemed to feel a small anxiety at having no ice cream in hand.
'Amazing.'
Even Burren and Marta were tense, but Runaan was normal. Her only concern seemed to be whether the ice cream would break or not.
An absurd sight, but she seemed to have clearly escaped Sylvia's brainwashing, which relieved him.
-When the girl takes out the ice cream later, call me.
'Hah.'
When Wrath grumbled wanting a new taste, Rimer kicked the door open. He wasn't wearing his usual rags, but proper leather armor.
He climbed onto the stage with the coaches.
"Line up!"
Raon stood before the stage and instructed, and the trainees lined up.
"43 trainees. No absences."
"Good."
Rimer smiled and nodded.
"Prepared all?"
"Yes!"
The trainees shouted to make the training ground leave so they could forget their tension.
"From now, real battle."
Rimer stood. The smile that always decorated his mouth was gone.
"We are chasing villains who stole dozens of lives and property, burned a village, and fled. Don't think they are same human. At meeting, cut neck immediately. I permit."
"Uhm..."
"U..."
The intense aura like a storm made the trainees swallow dry saliva.
"Outside is battlefield and hell. Don't be complacent, always firm your mind."
"Yes!"
The trainees raised their voices higher than before, tense.
"But don't be too tense. If tense, body stiff, can't move as usual. I said don't be complacent, not tense."
"Haaaa..."
Rimer laughed again. The trainees with rabbit-ear shoulders slowly sighed.
"So, the role of leader is important."
His gaze turned to Raon standing in the center. A soft smile. Eyes showing trust and belief.
"Raon Zieghart. You can do well?"
"Of course."
Raon slowly bowed his head. Calm eyes without tension or complacency, Rimer smiled with satisfaction.
'No need to be tense, no need to be complacent.'
'I will finish it all.'