Chapter 5: 5. Attack

My memories were hazy, but according to the old man who took me in, I had been bedridden for four full days.

He said he ignored people telling him to throw me out immediately because I looked ominous.

My life’s benefactor.

That was the only way to describe him.

The old man had a rugged appearance, but I could always see pity in his eyes when he looked down at me.

“Don’t I make you uncomfortable?”

When I asked that, he simply shook his head without a word.

A debt of gratitude must be repaid.

When my health improved somewhat, I began helping at the old man’s antique shop.

To repay more than I received, I had to work hard.

Not just the light tasks the old man assigned, but I carefully dusted each antique that seemed neglected and covered in dust.

I also paid attention to cleaning other unsanitary areas.

Like the toilet, for instance.

The old man tried to stop me in horror, but I had to do everything I could.

About three months passed like this while helping at the antique shop.

Before I knew it, we’d become comfortable with each other.

“Grandfather, could you… tidy up a bit?”

“You had some cute points just a few months ago. Now all you do is nag…”

Wasn’t it too greedy to expect cuteness from a grown man?

I shamelessly stared back with hands on my hips, making the old man click his tongue lightly before starting to organize the displayed items.

I moved closer to help clean up, and the old man stared at me before reaching out to pat my head lightly – thump thump.

During three months of living together, I gained various knowledge.

For example, my “Gloomy Aura” only fully activates when someone makes direct eye contact.

The old man helped me discover this by trying to identify the source of my aura.

So when customers came, I kept my gaze lowered to prevent unnecessary trouble.

Doing this, customers might feel displeasure toward me but it wouldn’t escalate to disgust.

I also solved the most basic question – where exactly was I?

The city-state of Diran.

Residential area of the Outer City.

Outside the Outer City were slums, the Outer City had residential areas, and the Inner City housed nobles and the king.

“You said you used to work in the Inner City, right?”

“…That’s right.”

The old man was sparing with words.

The medals hanging on the shelves weren’t things the old man had bought.

They represented his past, showing he’d been awarded these medals for something in his previous life.

Among them, the medal engraved with a shield meant he’d participated in defensive battles and distinguished himself.

Through peripheral observation during my time with him, I’d learned enough to understand this much.

But for some reason, these didn’t seem like memories the old man wanted to recall, and I’d subtly noticed this too. Yet I had no choice but to bring up this topic now.

“Could you… train me?”

“…Out of nowhere?”

“However you describe this world… it’s not easy. I think I should at least be able to protect myself.”

This world was savage.

And I had no power to defend myself.

Moreover, this was ultimately a game.

Therefore, the world would inevitably fall into chaos someday.

Because if it didn’t get chaotic, the game couldn’t progress.

Before that time came, I wanted to gain power to protect myself.

“…I suppose.”

The old man nodded as if convinced and continued.

“Most people wouldn’t get ideas since you look so childlike, but your appearance is striking enough to attract perverts with unusual tastes.”

I awkwardly smiled while scratching my cheek.

Being complimented on my looks felt strange since this wasn’t my real appearance.

“You won’t stay here forever anyway, so helping you prepare for the future makes sense.”

“…Are you sure?”

“You asked for help but now ask if I’m sure? What kind of question is that?”

“Since you rarely talk about the past, I thought you might dislike bringing up those memories.”

“Honestly, they’re not pleasant memories.”

The old man spoke calmly while looking at the ceiling.

“No matter how justified, it’s still killing people. I think it was unavoidable, but not something worthy of receiving medals for.”

“Is that so…?”

“My words aren’t absolute truth. It’s just that I’m weak-willed.”

The old man recalled his past while touching his missing eye.

Through this gesture alone, I understood how he might have lost that eye.

“Thank you.”

“If you’re thankful, stop nagging.”

“But dirty things are still dirty.”

“…I didn’t pick you up intentionally.”

“If you pick something up, you should take responsibility till the end.”

When I shamelessly replied, the old man sighed and disappeared into the storage room briefly before returning with a sword.

“This is one I used. Just hold it – don’t draw it.”

“Okay.”

I took the sword and lifted it high with its scabbard.

It had considerable weight.

Carrying it around wouldn’t be too problematic, but swinging it seemed quite difficult.

“…About 4kg?”

“3.1kg excluding scabbard. Definitely might be heavy for you.”

The old man pondered before going back to storage and handing me a slightly shorter, thinner sword.

This one also felt heavy when I lifted it, but clearly lighter than the previous one – about 1kg.

“Swinging this might still be somewhat difficult, but not impossible like before.”

“The first was a two-hander, this is a one-hander – weight difference is natural. Given your size, you’ll need both hands for a one-handed sword anyway.”

The old man stroked his chin thoughtfully, seeming to have found a suitable sword for me.

“Alright.”

“Swordsmanship training now?”

“Swordsmanship training for someone as weak as you? Nothing’s more dangerous than giving a blade to someone with an untrained body.”

Though his words made sense, I couldn’t help feeling deflated.

Seeing my dissatisfied expression, the old man flicked my forehead as if exasperated.

“Since people find you unpleasant, we can’t train during busy hours. Wake up early at dawn.”

“Yes…”

From that day, I began physical training under the old man’s supervision at dawn.

After two months passed, I could finally hold a sword.

Then another month later.

I realized something.

“…How should I describe this talent?”

“Subtle, isn’t it?”

The old man nodded while applying medicine to my blistered palms.

I felt it too.

It was fascinating that such a thing could happen.

I could guess the reason.

Silent Step.

[Silent Step C]

As a filthy orphan from the slums, no one wants you to reveal your presence and walk proudly. Not wanting to be hated or hurt by such people’s gazes, you’ve learned to walk silently.

Under the old man’s guidance, when I took stances and practiced footwork, no sound came out.

Without sound, it was hard to sense my presence.

Even when right in front of someone.

But I couldn’t call this outstanding talent – I had no talent for swordsmanship.

Not just swordsmanship, but all weapon skills.

Not horrifically inept, but slow to learn.

“Subtle indeed.”

“It’ll improve with practice.”

“Right, anything improves with practice.”

The old man seemed to think I was just trying to comfort him, but my belief wasn’t baseless.

My status window proved it.

Traits: Autonomy B, Silent Step C, Gloomy Aura D

Skills: Military Swordsmanship F

[Military Swordsmanship F]

Your small physique and difficulty building muscle make you unsuitable for swordsmanship, with talent shallower than others, leaving you behind in all aspects.

The newly added Military Swordsmanship in skills.

A brutal assessment, but since this world was a game, there must be ways to raise the rank eventually.

So it was too early to despair over lack of talent.

Clenching my fist, I looked at the old man and smiled brightly.

“What would you like to eat today? I’ll cook.”

“Then try frying some chicken.”

“Okay, I’ll make it delicious.”

The old man’s cooking was decent but lacked variety, so I’d recently taken over cooking duties.

He seemed reasonably satisfied with my food, leaving meals to me.

It was quite peaceful.

That’s what I thought.

“By the way, Rie. After eating, I need you to run an errand. There’s a sword I left at the blacksmith for restoration – the work should’ve finished yesterday, so just pick it up.”

A simple request.

A simple task that shouldn’t cause problems if I kept my gaze lowered while moving.

But for some reason, my mouth wouldn’t open.

Time froze.

Choice options appeared.

1. Talk.

2. Accept.

3. Refuse.

4. Attack.

–

4. Attack. <

(T/N: Ah F this bitch)