Chapter 1 : A Weak Boy

The story begins with a baby, approximately one month old, cradled in the arms of a lady whose face remains blurred. Two more figures stand beside her, and a soft, indistinct female voice whispers, "Take care, my dear..."

As the young Kaizen, who is about to turn 15 in two months, wakes up from his slumber, he finds himself pondering the recurring dream. "Again, that unclear dream, and who was that person?" he wonders aloud. From downstairs, his mother named Komi calls out to him, urging him, "Come for breakfast, Kaizen!" The morning sun has already painted the sky, and as Kaizen glances outside the window of his middle-aged style home, he sees people bustling through the streets.

He joins his father, Jin, a renowned blacksmith, for breakfast. Both greet their mother warmly before sitting down to eat. Kaizen's face shows traces of drool, causing his mother to playfully scold him, "You'll need to wash up before you eat, young man." With a freshly washed face, he returns to the dining table. The breakfast spread includes freshly baked bread, sweet potatoes, soup, and an assortment of fruits.

After the meal, Kaizen and his sturdy father Jin bid farewell to their mother, and Jin tells Kaizen, "Let's head out to Open the Store " . Jin's reputation as a skilled blacksmith reaches far and wide in the Counts Territory, and his crafted swords have been favored by many knights. Although he has never forged a magic sword, his steel swords are known to surpass even a middle-rank magic ones. Kaizen, who has spent the past ten years assisting Jin in the smithy, has honed his skills to the point of surpassing his father's expertise.

Today, however, marks a special occasion. Kaizen has secretly acquired a magic core from a C-Rank monster through a merchant from the slums. He plans to forge a magic sword using it, keeping it a secret from his father. The magic core emits a purple shimmer with a sinister aura invisible to ordinary eyes. He heats up the magic core in the smithy, and after thousands of precise hammer strikes, it takes the form of a short dagger with a mesmerizing blend of red and purple hues. Yet, the sinister vibe surrounding the dagger remains.

Enthusiastic to learn more about the dagger's attributes and grade, Kaizen wraps it in a piece of cloth and conceals it under his shirt. He then heads to a stall in the market known for appraising items and equipment. The appraiser's eyes widen in astonishment as he examines the dagger's craftsmanship. It bears two remarkable enchantments: the Conceal skill ranked B, which grants five seconds of invisibility and intractability at a cost of 10 mana, and a cooldown of 10 seconds. Additionally, it possesses the Blood Absorption repair ability, automatically mending the dagger with each foe slain.

Kaizen's heart races with excitement and anticipation as he leaves the appraiser's stall, clutching the mysterious magic dagger tightly in his hands. Eager to share his achievement with his father and mother, he pays the appraisal fee and hurries home. The sun has already set, and darkness shrouds the streets. Unbeknownst to Kaizen, a shadowy figure has been stealthily trailing him.

As he passes through a dimly lit alley, his senses tingle with unease. Suddenly, his path is obstructed by an unexpected figure that appears before him, blocking his way. Startled and on high alert, Kaizen instinctively attempts to turn around and escape, only to find the rear exit also barred by an unknown presence.

Feeling the weight of the magic dagger in his hands, Kaizen's mind races with thoughts of using its Conceal ability. But the sinister aura emanating from the weapon makes him hesitate, uncertain of the consequences. With no choice but to confront the situation head-on, he steadies himself, his eyes narrowing to identify the enigmatic figure before him.

Kaizen's heart pounds in fear as he finds himself cornered by the three menacing men in the dark alley. Their ragged appearance and the smell of beer mixed with the scars on their faces signal trouble. He knows they must have overheard the details of the magic dagger from the appraiser's stall, and they have no intention of letting him escape with it.

As the tall man swings his sword at Kaizen, the young boy's survival instincts kick in, and he manages to evade the deadly strike with a desperate dash. However, his escape attempt is short-lived, as another assailant stationed at the end of the alley catches him, forcing him to the ground. The three men unleash their fury, striking Kaizen with brutal force, leaving him battered and bloodied.

In his moment of despair, Kaizen tries to activate the Conceal skill of the dagger, but it fails to respond, adding to his hopelessness. As he resigns himself to his fate, tears well in his eyes, and he longs for someone to save him – his strong father, anyone who could hear his silent cries for help.

As Kaizen's consciousness slips away, he witnesses a glimmer of hope in his final moments. Someone, clad in a resplendent suit of silver armor, leaps in to confront the villains. Heads roll, and the mysterious savior fights valiantly to rescue Kaizen. In his weakened state, Kaizen can't identify the person who has come to his aid before losing consciousness.

When he awakens, he finds himself back in the safety of his home. It is still the dead of night, and his parents converse with a figure donned in the familiar shining armor. As Kaizen descends the stairs, his legs trembling, he recognizes the armor – the same his father, Jin, crafted in large quantities.

His parents reveal that the knight in the silver armor is none other than the Vice-Captain of the 3rd Squad of the Counts Silver Lion Knights. The young man has golden hair and captivating blue eyes, exuding a unique charisma that enhances his presence even more. Grateful and overwhelmed, Kaizen approaches the knight to offer his thanks for saving his life.