A Maggot [1]

Raymond eagerly awaited his 14th birthday, counting down the days with excitement. When it finally arrived, his family hosted a small celebration, inviting his friends and a few close neighbors. He was genuinely happy, savoring the joy of the occasion, as birthdays only come once a year.

He cherished his life, feeling as if all his past wishes had been granted. Surrounded by loving family and friends, he never felt a lack of affection. He was content, overflowing with love and support. However, there was something else that thrilled him about this year—his abilities would soon fully manifest.

Despite the happiness, a shadow loomed over his thoughts. His memories reminded him of the injustice his family suffered at the hands of a powerful figure in the village. Fear and anger simmered within him, but he had come prepared, determined to exact revenge—or rather, to orchestrate a reckoning.

To Raymond, revenge wouldn't be satisfying if the other party didn't recognize their wrongdoings. Instead, he saw it as a play, a fateful drama where his corrupt family's downfall was inevitable.

He didn't hate them; his anger stemmed from the memories. But even then, memories could be altered, and events could unfold differently. He wasn't bound by them.

His sister's dignity had been trampled, a wound too deep to be easily mended. Yet, Raymond was resolute, ready to confront the past and shape the future on his terms.

Rebecca had a stalker, a troubling presence that started haunting her when Raymond was just ten years old. Raymond only became aware of it through his memories when he turned fourteen. Now, with this foreknowledge, he found himself in a unique position to intervene before the situation escalated. However, he knew the importance of patience and decided to wait for the stalker to make a misstep.

***

Raymond sat alone in his room, meditating. He focused on feeling the mana around him, following his routine of embracing and absorbing it. Despite his talent still being underdeveloped, he understood that doing nothing would be the greatest regret.

Physical training was a crucial part of his regimen. Besides his MP-raising exercises, he diligently practiced his combat forms. His father often taught him techniques for dodging monster attacks. Over time, Raymond's progress allowed him to keep pace with hunters two years his senior.

"Wow... your son is really talented, Senior Rudy," one of his father's juniors remarked, watching Raymond train.

Rudy's face lit up with pride. "Of course, he's a genius who takes after me."

After their sessions at the special practice venue, they would move to the basic training grounds. Despite the increased risk, his mother approved, recognizing Raymond's reliability and determination.

Raymond's sense of responsibility had grown immensely. Ever since he started fetching water for the family, his mother noticed his increasing maturity. Trusting in his capability, she permitted him to train at the basic practice venue.

This venue housed real monsters, captured and kept within a part of the village for reproduction. These creatures were then used to train hunters. Though termed a "practice venue," the monsters here weren't overly dangerous, making it suitable for training.

"But may I ask, Senior Rudy, why did you let your son practice here? Isn't it dangerous?" one of Rudy's juniors inquired.

Rudy awkwardly scratched his head before responding, "Well, my son asked for it. He wanted to face real challenges to become stronger. I had my doubts at first, especially since he's still unawakened. But seeing how dependable he has been since he was little, I decided to let him."

While Rudy's reasoning might not have been convincing to everyone, Raymond's evident talent and determination had already won over the other hunters.

"Father, can I go to that part of the forest?" Raymond asked, pointing towards a specific area.

"Yeah, sure. Just use the emergency button if you encounter any dangerous monsters," Rudy advised.

Raymond nodded and left immediately, his sword in hand. He had chosen to specialize as a close-quarter fighter, a recommendation echoed by many. For the past year, the sword had become an extension of him.

"Grahhh..."

A monstrous cry reached Raymond's ears from a distance. He readied himself, eyes focused, muscles tense. The monster charged towards him, and Raymond prepared to meet it head-on.

The creature was a common one—a huge boar. While it was only a level one monster in the special practice venue, outside it was classified as level two due to its agility.

The boar could dodge swiftly, but Raymond had spent months studying its patterns. With a few precise slashes, he dispatched it efficiently.

Covered in the monster's blood, Raymond's clothes were soaked. After hours of hunting, his attire was stained a deep red.

"Raymond, what happened to you? It looks like you were bathing in a pool of blood," remarked one of the senior hunters.

Raymond chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I did. I killed three monsters, but they were too heavy to carry back. I marked the locations. Can you help me retrieve them?"

"Of course!"

As they prepared to head back to the marked spots, Raymond's father called out to him.

"What is it, Father?" Raymond asked, excusing himself from his senior.

"It's about your sister," his father began in a low tone. Just from his father's demeanor, Raymond had an inkling of what was coming, and his eyes flickered with anticipation.

"What about Rebecca, Father?" Raymond asked.

Rudy sighed and explained, "She had an argument with the son of the squad commander of the special unit. During the argument, she apparently slapped and kicked the senior's son... in the groin."

Raymond almost scoffed but managed to suppress it, maintaining a serious expression as he faced his father.

"Father, we should probably go now. It's best if you ask for leave. Even if it's just a practice venue, your job is still important."

"Yes, you're right. Head home first. I'll speak to the leader and request leave for the day."

"Alright, Father. I'll be going."

As Raymond walked away, his system chuckled in delight.

"What a stupid, moronic maggot he is," Raymond muttered, a grin spreading across his lips.