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The bright, early morning sun shone through the opening, making the damp room just a bit warmer. It was right then..

"Hey! Wake up, time for the daily service!"

A man's voice reverberated throughout the surroundings. Grunting voices came from a few inmates' cells, letting people know that they've been woken up forcibly. It wasn't possible to not hear it of course, since the sound waves bounce around in the tight space allocated to us..

I couldn't ignore it either. So, I stood from the spot I have been sitting in for hours on end. I didn't get a wink of sleep so my head was slightly hurting from the noise, and my eyes were heavy and red. I didn't get sleepy last night but it doesn't change the fact that humans need sleep.

Stretching my limbs to keep them awake, I check my appearance, now that it was already daytime. The way I did this was by looking through a puddle of water near my space. Seemingly placed there by a recent leakage from the roof when it rained a few days ago.

I can't put my finger on it, but somehow, something's changed about me. My hair and irises had turned back to their natural black color, but my skin had not. It wasn't as pale as the moonlight, but it was still white. My face also seemed to have more defined features. I wonder what's going on..

But I couldn't keep looking at myself for long, since the guard especially came to my cell because I hadn't responded and come out for at least a few minutes. He seemed so angry. Isn't it unhealthy to be mad in the morning? Still, I couldn't say that to his face, or I'm up for a beating.

"Hey, newbie! It's your first day here so I'm gonna keep it brief. Along with the other new guy, you will help in building the new training grounds by carrying materials over for the whole day. Got that?"

So it's like manual labor, but with no pay. I really don't want to do it, considering my strength stat is below average, probably. But I can't back out of it, so let's just take it at my own pace.

After I nodded to show my reluctant affirmation, the warden went into the other cells and left my cell. Although, I'm not gonna miss this chance, now that his back was turned. The moment after I followed him outside the cell, we went in opposite directions. I went east, where the other inmates were lining up, while he went west to wake up the others and scream at them.

In the time frame wherein we were about to go our separate ways, I quickly used <<Instantaneous Movement>> which I applied to my arms, to snag the key to my cell which I never kept my eyes off of as soon as he placed it on the hook attached to his backside belt. Naturally, I coupled the useful <<Stealth>> so that no one would be suspicious of me.

I was afraid he would've noticed, but instead, he just scratched his back because there was a slight itch. Just when I had exhaled a sigh of relief, a finger tapped my shoulder, jolting me awake. Though, my <<Intuition>> Skill didn't activate so I thought it was fine. But I could not let my guard down in here, or else.

When I put on my facade once more, calmly turning around like a seasoned veteran. With a face that might have said, 'You're still wet behind the ears, brat..' I saw the man who I met yesterday. Well, not exactly met, but just exchanged names. After saying my name, he just went deeper inside his cell and didn't say anything more.

Dazel, was his name I think? He still had that same curly red hair, with emerald eyes that looked like a playful brat, but was actually trying to size up everyone around him. At least, that's my guess on his personality.

While I was thinking that, he suddenly got near my ear in a flash. When did he even get close? I couldn't sense any killing intent but if I can't even detect movement, I would've been done for. Just when I was panicking inwardly, but not showing any expression on my 'veteran warrior' facade, he grinned and proceeded to whisper words into my ear..

"Just as I thought, you're not an ordinary criminal, aren't you?"

Ah, thank god he had the wrong idea. Well, not all wrong, I didn't even do anything after all.

"I could say the same about you, Dazel-san, what are you trying to do exactly?"

Showing a calm expression, unperturbed by the widely grinning Dazel, but inwardly panicking on what to do next, I reply in a hushed tone, just like what the other party had done.

"Oh, are you mad? Sorry, sorry, I just saw an interesting thing is all. But really, you have such fast hands, I could barely see them move, right, Kyouya?"

This guy really wasn't an ordinary person. That's a level 5 movement skill coupled with a level 5 hiding skill you know?

"Well, it seems there's no need to be polite then. So, what's it to you, Dazel?"

"Finally, I don't like people spitting out fake words and putting on airs. It's nothing much actually, I got some interesting information that a treasure was safeguarded here, underground. So when I saw you, one I couldn't see through at first glance, doing those swift movements, I wanted your help."

I'm sorry, but even now, I'm just spitting out fake words, simultaneously covering for my weak self. What would he do if he found about that? Well, let's just try hard that it doesn't happen that way. Wait, he wanted to make me help him steal something? Did I hear that right?

When I look again towards Dazel, he was putting on a happy expression. This guy, he's blackmailing me isn't he. I know how to read between the lines a bit. Basically, he was telling me to help with his scheme, or else he's going to report to that jail warden, hastening my execution date. I really didn't want to get dragged into this troublesome thing because I still had to plan my escape, but..

"Ah, I get it, I get it. Even though it's troublesome, I'll help you with what I can do. But only if you do me a favor in return. I need information, specifically, the guard's patrol times, exchanges, and routes that were rarely taken. If you do that, I'll help you in whatever it is you're doing."

Since I was going to be dragged in anyway, I decided to take advantage of the offer instead. There was no time to be picky. I didn't even know if I was going to live till tomorrow morning. I had to gather information fast. The reason why I asked for these things was for my stealthy escape. Although I had the map skill, I wasn't confident that I could hide from more than dozens of guards whenever we meet.

"Hmm? Is that all? Well, it's fine. You've got yourself a deal. Although, we could just escape together after stealing the artifact. I also know a way out of the city. This is just between us, but a couple of the members of my 'Famiglia' is going to be waiting for me at the gate tomorrow night, so you could come with us. What do you say?"

Was this guy a mind reader!? No, I guess me asking about escape routes, and seeing me take the key would be pretty obvious if anyone thinks about it. In fact, that plan was better than going alone since I haven't even thought about what to do after I escape, much less leave the city. But..

"Let me think about it. I'll let you know after today. You let me know what I'm supposed to do later too."

Leaving those words, I swiftly use my skill again and move out of sight. The reason I hesitated was because of that keyword Dazel had said. I think about it while being ordered to shovel gravel into mounds and moving bricks, absentmindedly staring into the bright blue sky.

'Famiglia', huh..

♦♦♦♦♦♦

When I moved my attention towards the ring attached to my right hand, perfectly embedded on my middle finger, I use <<Appraisal>> on the strange item. The result was..

Nothing. I could not read it. Even with my <<Automatic Language Translation>> skill, it still appeared as garbled letters and numbers. I repeatedly used <<Appraisal>> again and again, but it was futile.

The only conclusion that I could garner was that this ring that was left behind by the self-proclaimed god of darkness, was an item that couldn't be seen with <<Appraisal>>, meaning that it must have been a higher tier than what it could detect. Which in turn, means that another skill is needed to read it. But, I didn't know which one it was.

Using my game knowledge, I searched for skills like <<Identify>>, <<Describe>>, and some others but they were all lower tier than what <<Appraisal>> was. But I couldn't level it up because it was already at its limit. I needed more knowledge about this world because my common sense did not apply here. I gave up trying to identify what the ring was for now, and started taking out the piece of paper that was never hurt nor dirtied even after all this time.

The words after where I left off were like this..

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Although the average level of the populace are small

Their inner strength is higher than those of your world

Very much so. I don't think you could even match them in a fight if you tried

Well, that's only considering your current state

What gives most people their powers and strength are the 'Seven Seraphim'

Their blessings spread out across the land of the humans

But only them

No other race is included in this

This is because of an old story

In the beginning, an old powerful being created 'Aragnor'

No one knew where this being came from, so he was just called, 'The Beginning'

This being had created many sons and daughters across the world

Along with many different races that he made out of the abundant 'Mana' around him

Soon enough, part of his enormous power was inherited by his descendants

These chosen children soon grew up to be peerless existences

No one could be their match, so they soon ascended into godhood

Various elements and laws of existence were taken by them and made it their own

After a million years, most of the gods grew tired of the world and the material plane

And soon, they created their own dimensions where only they, and their creations can reside

Some also went back into the outer dimensions to do whatever they want

While others just started sleeping for all eternity

Until one day, only a few remained in 'Aragnor'

One of these few, where the most powerful beings, the 'Twin Deus'

Composed of the older brother, Erebus, and the younger brother, Savanium

One controlled Darkness and the Night Sky

The other brought Light and brightened Day

Complete opposites in what they do

Their views never coincided, even in the past, when they were still little children

Savanium was fond of watching humans and how they live clustered together

While Erebus liked the fighting styles and techniques of the demi-human races

Like this, they spent more than thousands of years passing time and watching over the races

Until one day, Erebus went down to the human realm to kill time, literally

Chronos was wreaking havoc again and he had to go and drag him back

But before he did, he noticed that a certain woman was about to get attacked by armed men

The moment he saved her, was where it all began..​

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