Chapter 13

The marketplace at Red Tree Crossroad was still brightly lit despite the late hour.

Around twenty nomad groups were staying at the crossroad, with a population approaching 800 people.

They all came to the market to sell goods gathered during their nomadic journeys, while also purchasing supplies they needed.

For just 4 months of the year—the only time they could stay in this bustling crossroad—people sacrificed sleep to flock to the market, trading goods, sharing information, and reveling in food and drink, indulging themselves to the fullest.

The crossroad marketplace never dimmed, even as the night deepened.

A peaceful, lively scene.

Unlike Earth, this was a lawless zone without anything like police, but fights were actually uncommon.

People already lived on edge in the wilderness, so few nomads wanted to start trouble in crossroads—the only places where they could feel safe.

Despite this, occasional fights did break out, though they rarely turned deadly. Since every wilderness nomad was tough by nature, everyone understood that fighting to the death would only lead to mutual destruction.

So, the Lanches Nomad’s blatant provocations were truly outrageous behavior. Outrageous as it was, once someone started such trouble, it was difficult to stop.

This was especially true with groups like the Lanches Nomad, which combined exceptional combat ability with aggressive tendencies.

The Lanches Nomad targeted not just us but any nomad group they deemed vulnerable, treating them however they pleased. Other nomads disliked the Lanches Nomad but pretended not to notice and simply endured.

Given the nomadic lifestyle, they’d likely never cross paths again after parting ways.

It was better to swallow their pride once than risk lives in a fight.

So weaker nomads tolerated the unpleasantness, while stronger ones didn’t care since they weren’t being targeted.

That’s why everyone turned a blind eye when Yuria, Mukuru, and Kallin were beaten.

No other nomad groups had ties to ours, and with Teacher Sena severely injured, they saw no benefit in getting involved.

I discovered all this during the past two days while loitering around the market.

And this meant one thing…

If I killed members of the Lanches Nomad, other nomads wouldn’t interfere.

This wasn’t Earth with its society maintained by law and order.

I cautiously navigated the market streets.

The market had formed along the roots of the red tree. The enormous roots jutted up in winding patterns throughout the plaza, even more massive than the tree’s main body, and people had hung colorful cloths between them, creating vibrant market streets.

“I shouldn’t leave anytime soon. The calamities are rampaging too much out there.”

“Why is that happening?”

“I heard a teacher from a newly arrived School Nomad killed an orc?”

“An orc? A Mana User killed an orc?”

“They say she used to be a 1st Circle mage.”

“Wow… impressive.”

“Did the Lanches gang pick a fight with a nomad like that?”

“Well, she was injured from what I saw, and they probably won’t see each other again anyway.”

“That’s true… what garbage people… Ah! Who avoids dung out of fear! Let’s have a drink.”

“Hahaha, sure. The liquor tastes good tonight!”

The bustling, noisy market streets. The Lanches gang always drank in a corner here. They regularly sent underlings to buy large quantities of alcohol and food.

I circled the market, waiting for the moment when Lanches’ underlings would come out to buy alcohol and food.

After passing several tents, I spotted three members of the Lanches gang haggling at a shop ahead. Having already memorized all 32 of their faces, I didn’t hesitate.

I gripped the dagger hidden in my clothes as I approached them from behind.

“Come on, why are you charging 200 Lights for 30 kilos of sausage? This isn’t the city.”

“What are you talking about? Don’t you know our nomad’s sausages are premium products that even supply to cities? That’s why you specifically came here, right? If you don’t like it, leave.”

“Listen, we see each other around—why be so stingy? Mister, do you think your nomad will never need help from ours?”

“Please. A nomad that wanders wherever it pleases—how often will we really cross paths?”

“Come on, sir. Let’s be reasonable. How about 130 Lights to settle this?”

“What’s with these guys?”

The men posturing with subtle threats. The sausage vendor maintained a tough front but clearly felt pressured.

If these thugs started throwing punches, he would ultimately be the one getting hurt.

It was just like what happened to us. They’d get beaten up and released, but retaliation would be difficult.

Most nomads didn’t have Mana Users, but Lanches was a Mana User with quite a reputation for strength.

“Thirty kilos isn’t even that much. Just give us a good price and let’s finish this quickly. Why drag this out?”

The Lanches members now turning the tables, acting indignant.

“Come on, I know what you’re up to. You’re buying cheap to resell for profit, right? What kind of behavior is that?”

“Seriously. You’re being so selfish, old man. Did we ask for 100 kilos? We’re just asking to share a little so we can all live well. Is that so painful for you?”

The men’s aggressive approach left the sausage vendor quite troubled.

‘I’ve seen them do this to others, but I didn’t think they’d do it to me too. Damn… fighting over just 30 kilos feels petty.’

The sausage vendor reluctantly gave in. Smiles spread across the Lanches members’ faces.

I pulled out the dagger I’d been concealing.

While all three were distracted watching the vendor preparing the sausages, I plunged my dagger into the neck of the man in the middle.

Squish! Crack!

The blade sliced through flesh then severed the joints of the neck vertebrae with crystal clarity.

Ugh! The man collapsed without even making a sound. The other two turned with bewildered expressions to look at their fallen comrade. I yanked out my dagger while crouching down and simultaneously stabbed it through the right man’s instep, pinning his foot to the ground.

The dagger folded his instep like paper as it drove into the earth, fixing him in place.

This time a scream erupted.

“Aaaagh!”

The left man finally registered the danger and tried to draw his weapon.

But I was faster. I lunged into his chest and pulled another dagger from my waist, burying it in him.

Thunk!

The blade grazed his ribs and punctured his heart. When I withdrew the dagger, blood soaked his clothes.

“You! Bastard!”

The foot-pinned man finally managed to draw his sword and swing, but with no strength in his leg, his slash was clumsy.

I easily rolled away to dodge, then grabbed his wrist with my right hand, pushing it aside while my left hand sliced across his throat.

“Guh! Gurk!”

This time blood sprayed onto my face.

In an instant, three Lanches gang members became meat sprawled across the ground.

When food is critically scarce, adults say people sometimes eat human flesh… I wonder who will collect their bodies?

“Hah…”

I caught my breath, then clenched and unclenched my fist.

It finally sank in. I was different now. In both strength and speed, I now surpassed adults.

When I drew my bow against Lanches earlier, I felt the power flowing differently, and I suspected as much… but this confirmed it. I had grown stronger.

Transcending physical limits is the hallmark of a Mana User.

But I still haven’t awakened my Gift, so I’m not yet a Mana User. Yet my body has strengthened. This proves I’m right at the threshold.

A small catalyst—that’s all I need to become a Mana User. I could kill Lanches.

“What… what just happened…”

The sausage vendor stared at me with a dumbfounded expression. Blood had splattered onto his face too.

Everyone nearby looked at me with shocked expressions.

Three people had died so suddenly that they were all frozen, unsure how to react.

I calmly searched the three bodies and removed their money pouches. I opened them and scattered the coins in all directions.

10-Light coins scattered across the ground, at least 300 Lights worth—about 3 Shine in total.

“This is war between the Sena School Nomad and the Lanches Nomad. Please pretend you saw nothing.”

I lied.

This was my personal vendetta, but I presented it as though our entire School Nomad had taken action.

People looked around nervously, searching for other members of our nomad.

“But… but Lanches is a Mana User… and your teacher is injured…”

Someone who couldn’t find any other nomad members asked with an uneasy voice.

They worried that if our nomad lost, Lanches might target them for not speaking up.

Of course, I had anticipated this question.

My answer was prepared.

I was deliberately setting up the catalyst.

“I too am a Mana User.”

I finally said it.

“Hmm… so that explains it.”

“No wonder three men dropped so quickly…”

“A prodigy has been born…”

People murmured as they accepted my words.

But it wasn’t just people who reacted.

<Oh?>

<Hmm…>

When I made my bold claim, the magical powers watching me showed even deeper interest.

Whoooom-

The magical energy rushing toward me after killing three grown men increased dramatically.

Indeed… the amount was substantial.

The most abundant was red magical power that enjoyed combat.

The spicy sensation from the red magical power made my nose and mouth tingle.

My reason for lying about being a Mana User was simple.

The practice of magic is always like walking a tightrope. You don’t grow by only claiming what you can already do.

Sometimes, things come true precisely because you declare them first.

Saying something impressive, then shaping yourself to match those words.

Once accomplished, it’s no longer a lie.

I become exactly who I claimed to be.

Magical power grows faster this way, and I can become a Mana User more quickly.

Of course, what I lose if I fail becomes greater too… but isn’t this a desperate situation anyway? If I can’t succeed, that’s all I amount to.

Thump-

Was it my imagination? I felt something like a heart beating at my core.

But frustratingly, the moment I tried to focus on the sensation, it vanished without a trace.

‘Imagination? No. It’s proof I’m on the right path. I am a Mana User. I’ll prove it in this fight.’

I steeled my resolve.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

I bowed to the people around me.

They nodded, though still dazed. With this, any chance of Lanches learning about me from them disappeared.

Nobody likes the Lanches Nomad anyway. Combined with the scattered money and the impression we wouldn’t lose to them, they would remain silent and become a forest concealing my existence.

When the three I killed don’t return, Lanches will send more people to investigate, and I’ll kill them all.

Until Lanches himself steps forward, I’ll hide in the forest of people, picking them off one by one while fattening my magical power. I’ll cross the threshold.

After purchasing a bag nearby and concealing the three corpses, I roughly wiped away the bloodstains and blended back into the market crowd.

From a distance, I could clearly distinguish individual sounds—people’s chatter, footsteps—with remarkable clarity.

My concentration was deepening more and more.