Prologue(2)

-Step

More than 30 minutes had passed running through the woods. Step by step, I pushed myself to continue running through the dense forest, feeling the weight of exhaustion bearing down on my body. Every thump of my heart reverberated in my ears, urging me to keep moving despite the pain and fatigue.

-Thump

-Step

-Thump

-Step

The pursuit behind me was relentless, a dozen or more men chasing me as if their lives depended on it. Their persistence both frustrated and fueled my determination to survive.

'Tch! Persistent bastards!'

Gritting my teeth I sped up, running with nothing but survival in my mind.

The cloth covering my severed right hand swayed around and I tightly gripped the short sword at my waist with my remaining hand. The weapon served as a reminder of my will to fight and endure, no matter the odds stacked against me.

'I will survive no matter what!'

Survival!

It was nothing special for me, I have been doing it all my life. Survival had become a way of life for me.

I was 18 when I lost my family.

The academy kicked me out, the royals stripped off my noble title.

Without anyone to support me, I ended up on the battlefield fighting for unknown reasons with an unknown cause.

But even the battlefield didn't like me it seems.

At 21, when others were seeking love and companionship, I lost my right hand, further plunging my life into despair. 

Life went from hard to hell. The challenges of daily living, even the simplest tasks, became monumental obstacles to overcome.

Even je*king off became difficult!

It may seem insignificant to others, but the hardship of living alone without a main hand, that too as a 'single' till the age of 35...it was unaccountable.

But I refused to be defeated. I persevered through countless setbacks, constantly adapting and learning new skills to compensate for my physical limitations

However, I was soon kicked out of the battlefield in the name of War injured retirement.

Life became even harder.

Mercenary, Guide, Treasure hunter, Alchemist, Chef, Medic...

Trying to survive with one arm, I spared no effort in learning new things. I delved into every avenue that could offer a glimmer of hope.

I never lost the will to live, no matter the situation. And it was the only thing that kept me going as life kicked me in the ass every time.

Even right now, running from those bandits, there was nothing but survival in my mind.

"Hey! STOP!"

-Bam

As the pursuit intensified, the bandits resorted to throwing weapons at me in frustration. Their shouts echoed through the forest, mingling with the sound of my own labored breaths. But I refused to let them catch me. 

Spotting the trees lining my path, I deftly retrieved my small daggers connected by an invisible wire. With precision and speed, I flung the daggers towards the trees, concealing my actions from the pursuing men.

"Stop! you bastard"

"I will get him!"

One among the men, undeterred by my tricks, employed mana to enhance his speed. Closing in on me, his hand reached out, ready to snatch me. 

"Got you!"

-Twang

He smiled in triumphant.

-Gush!

In a swift motion, I released the wire, and the man's triumph turned to horror as his head separated from his body, blood spurting forth.

"hehe...dumbass"

-bounce

As his severed head bounced to the ground in front of his comrades, fear gripped them, freezing them in their tracks. Their face paled like a piece of white paper.

"Heik!"

'Do we really have to catch that bastard?'

The bandits hesitated for a movement, which granted me the opportunity to widen the distance between us, their determination rekindling with renewed fervor.

"Damn it! Don't let him escape."

One among those thugs screamed, coming back to his senses and they once again started the game of chasing.

.

.

.

Hours passed, my body pushed to its limits as I continued to evade the bandits. 

'I don't have any more stamina.'

Running through the woods, I used every last drop of my stamina to survive those bastards who kept chasing me like wild beasts.

But it wasn't like I didn't do anything.

The tricks and traps I had set along the way had thinned their numbers, They simply couldn't avoid the traps I set while running. leaving only one man in pursuit. The forest had become my ally, aiding me in my desperate fight for survival..

Poisoned spikes, metal wire, smoke bombs, poison bombs, hidden daggers....I used every last trick I had to get rid of them.

Only the one poor soul in front of me was lucky enough to survive till now, but what for?

-Splutter

-Thud

The man in front of me collapsed while coughing up blood.

The poison bomb that contained the potent poison from my master's collection had long permeated his lungs, he was already a dead man the movement he inhaled the poisonous gas.

"huff...huff!"

'I used up all my tricks!'

Surviving till now was by no means easy as the bandits were very persistent in chasing me.

'Thank god, I took care of everyone.'

Gasping for breath, I lay on the forest floor, my eyes scanning the surroundings. Just beyond me, a deep cliff stood as a stark reminder of the perilous fate I had narrowly avoided. Gratitude washed over me, knowing that I had averted a potentially fatal fall.

-Sigh

'I would've had to jump off the cliff if they pursued me any further, thank god, it's over!'

The cliff was so deep that even if there is water running below, it would have been hard to survive the fall.

On that note, I am happy that I was able to take care of them before that happened.

"Let's see, I didn't see the bandit leader among those men, maybe he chased behind the others?"

When I hinted to everyone to run away, everyone just chose to run in a different direction so even I am not sure where everyone is currently.

It may be selfish of me but I think that it was a good thing that the leader chased after others, after all, I wouldn't be able to survive otherwise.

That is the world of a mercenary.

For us mercenaries, survival came above everything, even giving up our subordinate's life was nothing if it meant our survival could be guaranteed.

"I will make sure to carry on all your will"

That's the least I could do to the subordinate who have given up their lives for my escape.

"I don't think you have to do that.."

-swush!

I jumped on my feet and unsheathed the short sword immediately reacting to the unexpected voice coming from behind the tree.

"Roger...Is that you?"

I asked in caution.

Since Roger was always sick, his voice changed every now and then, I was aware that it probably isn't Roger, but my brain was tricking me to believe that.

I couldn't fight or run anymore, my stamina had hit rock bottom, so even my brain was aware that if it isn't Roger, then I was done for.....

"Roger? Oh! are you talking about him?"

Something rolled down and landing just before my legs. Blood soaked my feet as my eyes gazed upon it.

"No....!N...o way"

I wanted to deny the fact, but....but!

Right in front of my eyes, the thing that rolled towards my legs...It was Roger's head!

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