NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3
Chapter 3. Winds of Fate (1)
Dorn and I talked a lot through the night.
‘This is the only way to calm him down.’
I subtly started with talking about foods Dorn might like.
He got excited and began with which restaurants served the best dishes, moved on to his thoughts about local specialties, and then rambled on about his favorite food.
His head seemed truly filled with nothing but food—he was so deep in the conversation he’d completely forgotten that he’d nearly died last night.
Before I knew it, Dorn was giggling, and I laughed along with him.
Seeing him smiling like this on the very first day left a bittersweet feeling.
A friend who’d been with me through every one of my hundred regressions. That meant, every time, our bond had to be formed anew in this same way.
There was a time I agonized over whether using Adol’s attack to bring Dorn to the brink of death and then helping him was a form of deceit. But it never went beyond that. In the end, in every life, I used Adol’s ambush as a means to bond with Dorn.
‘Because if I didn’t form the connection this way, our relationship wouldn’t hold properly.’
Instead, I made a vow. That I would always treat those I considered mine with sincerity.
To live without shame—both to myself and to those I claimed as my own.
A promise made to myself, so that once the regression finally ended, I could live a happy life with the people I loved.
As I was rebuilding my bond with this old friend, morning came. I woke the other mercenaries and explained what had happened during the night.
Kevin, an E-rank mercenary with a huge, solid build that belied his 60 years—he looked young enough to be in his 40s if not for his white hair—just nodded. Curling his large frame in on itself, he spoke bluntly.
“Understood. Then, since the two of you were up all night, let’s rest one more day here.”
Bob, the scrawny, hyperactive F-rank mercenary, was shocked when he heard I’d killed Adol.
“Wow, I knew that guy was shady. The way he talked and the greed in his eyes—it was obvious. But you killed him? Adol? You’re a lot more capable than you look!”
He, too, looked far too young for someone in his late twenties. His immature speech and mannerisms probably made him seem even younger.
Dorn crawled into his sleeping bag, fleeing Bob’s noisy voice, and fell asleep right away.
I told Kevin I wanted to take a look around the ruins.
“First exploration, right? Everything must seem new. There aren’t any traces of monsters, so it should be safe… just don’t go too deep.”
Kevin gave his consent without hesitation.
I hurried into the ruins and pulled out the manual Dorn had given me yesterday.
My heart pounded.
Clossi-style Sword Technique.
The foundational martial art of the Clossi family—one of the most renowned swordsmanship lineages on the continent. A technique where the sword is held in the right hand and a small buckler in the left, allowing for seamless transitions between offense and defense.
‘This is truly the beginning of a new life.’
Clutching my thudding chest, I turned to the first page of the manual.
[Would you like to learn Clossi-style Sword Technique?]
Words appeared before my eyes.
One of the three conditions to learn a skill.
Skillbook conversion of every technique manual.
No talent for comprehension?
No mana sensitivity due to lack of talent?
None of that mattered now.
So long as a manual existed, I could learn any martial art in the world.
Long live .
“Yes. Absolutely, yes.”
Immediately, the contents of the manual flooded into my mind as if being sucked in. From the history of Clossi-style swordsmanship, to its five foundational forms, twelve advanced patterns,
and four ultimate techniques.
Even the mana cultivation technique I had dreamed of my whole life entered my brain.
Every piece of knowledge about Clossi-style swordsmanship was now fully imprinted in my mind.
[To activate the skill, you must first form a Mana Heart. Would you like to begin Clossi-style Mana Heart Cultivation?]
“Of course.”
Mana Heart Formation. The wish I had carried through a hundred lives. There was no reason to hesitate. I closed my eyes.
[The world is composed of mana, and all changes are the processes of mana gathering and dispersing.]
The first sentence.
In past lives, this had seemed incomprehensible. Now, I understood it instantly.
The meaning behind the words surfaced vividly in my mind.
[However, paradoxically, mana is invisible. Therefore, in order to manipulate mana—the element that makes up the world and causes its phenomena—you must first acknowledge and perceive its existence.]
The second sentence. To acknowledge and perceive mana? Easier said than done. If I could’ve done that, I wouldn’t have failed to form a Mana Heart in a hundred lifetimes. At least, that’s how it used to be...
“…I can do it?”
To comprehend something I never could before, and so easily at that. Confidence bloomed.
The goddess’s gift was finally bearing meaningful fruit.
But I wasn’t done yet. Calming my mind, I focused on sensing myself within the world. One by one, I savored what I felt. The cold marble floor of the ruin. The faint, cool breeze brushing past. The distant chirping of some unknown insect. All of it—manifestations of mana.
“This is hard.”
Understanding didn’t mean I could do it right away. But perseverance was something I’d mastered.
How much time passed? A peculiar sensation crawled across my nerves.
Tingling.
Something like a breeze brushing the hairs on my forearm.
It slipped in and out of my body like a moody child.
‘Is this mana?’
It had to be mana. It wasn’t just wind. Suddenly, the world before my eyes brightened, and I cautiously opened them. The world sparkled. Tiny particles drifted through the air, glowing with light.
‘This is mana!’
It was awe-inspiring. A world I had never seen before. Too beautiful for words. Amidst the ecstasy, I held on to my focus. I drew the mana I saw before me into my body.
‘Damn, it won’t listen.’
Compared to the mana spread throughout the world, what I gathered was a mere speck.
But even that tiny bit filled me with joy.
I guided it carefully to the right side of my chest. And in that moment—Crack!
A foreign organ, meant to control mana, formed inside my flesh and blood body. No larger than a grain of millet, but it was what I had yearned for all my life.
The Mana Heart.
‘Now, I need to carve the circuit.’
I directed the mana resting in the Mana Heart toward my real heart.
Thump-thump.
A strange sound echoed inside me.
Ba-dum, ba-dum.
The odd sound met the thundering of my heart.
Following the arteries, the mana began to engrave a mana circuit throughout my body.
“Urgh…”
Maybe because it was the first time, it hurt. Completing one cycle, the mana returned to the Mana Heart. And then came the system message.
[Clossi-style Mana Heart (F)]
“Ugh… Should I say it’s like crapping my guts out?”
Impurities were expelled from my body, soaking my clothes in filthy sludge.
The stench was unbearable.
And yet, I couldn’t stop smiling.
The one who engraved the Mana Heart on the right side of his chest—Mana Beginner.
I had finally become someone who had begun to walk the path of mana.
Flop.
I collapsed on the spot.
The tall ceiling of the ruin came into view.
“Mana Heart.”
I repeated the name of the thing now resting in my chest.
“…Hah. I wasn’t going to cry.”
Why was I crying over something like this? Even as I grinned, tears flowed.
[Congratulations on acquiring your first martial skill.]
[Body rank and Mana Heart proficiency have been unlocked.]
[Body Rank]
Stamina (F): Proficiency 0.00
Strength (F): Proficiency 0.00
Agility (F): Proficiency 0.00
[Mana Heart]
Clossi-style Mana Heart (F): Proficiency 0.00
[Combat Technique]
Clossi-style Sword Technique (F): Proficiency 0.00
Words unfolded before me like the table of contents in a book.
A new sight I had never seen in all my hundred regressions, but I understood what it meant. A list showing the current state of me—basically a blank slate. But I didn’t despair. Because I was no longer the man who couldn’t grow no matter what.
There were 5 years left until the coming war became imminent.
In that time, I had to become strong enough to slit the neck of the Mad Dragon. Using this Trait—.
Time was short.
***
When I returned to the camp, Kevin immediately sensed my state.
“You formed your Mana Heart? Welcome to the world of mana.”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“That stench—those are the impurities expelled when forming a Mana Heart. Anyone who’s done it would recognize it. And…”
Kevin, still expressionless, continued.
“You’ll soon understand too, Savior. Try feeling the mana around you. Can’t you sense my Mana Heart in the right side of my chest?”
Following his words, I focused on his chest.
“Oh? You’re right. It’s bigger than mine.”
A clear mass of mana, larger than what I had.
“Of course. I’ve reached the level of Mana User—what we call Single Core. Detecting someone’s Mana Heart and gauging their level is basic among mercenaries.”
Single Core.
‘If the Mana Heart is the foundation of a building, then the Core is the framework.’
I remembered what the heroes who guided my growth in past lives said about the Core.
Kevin’s stage—Single Core—was one step beyond Mana Beginner.
Where the Mana Beginner gains a bit more strength through internal mana, the Mana User can actively channel mana to enhance specific body parts.
“Still, it’s incredible. Forming a Mana Heart without anyone teaching you?”
Kevin offered praise in his usual blunt tone.
“Thank you.”
“Truly amazing talent.”
I bowed politely. That was just the kind of man Kevin was. He seemed gruff, but he took great care of his party members. A surprising sensitivity, given his huge, rugged frame.
He especially helped Dorn and me a lot, since it was our first expedition.
“More importantly… could I trouble you for a meal? I’m starving.”
“Sure!”
I quickly washed up in a nearby stream and got to cooking.
“Oh man, what’s that smell? Did a miracle happen? The guy who used to make nothing but pig slop is cooking real food now?”
Bob the F-rank mercenary came over and jabbered annoyingly.
“Want me to show you a real miracle? A porter beating an F-rank mercenary to death with a ladle?”
I raised the giant ladle I’d been stirring the stew with.
Bob immediately backed off.
“Ah, my apologies! I forgot I was speaking with the mighty porter who slays F-rank mercenaries in one blow!”
“Yes, and that mighty porter is about to serve you food from heaven, so sit down and shut up.”
Bob was a fairly cheerful guy. He had the typical crudeness of a mercenary, but everyone knew it was his way of lifting the team's spirits. Even now, he was probably joking around to lighten the tense atmosphere after Adol’s death.
“Mmm? Smells good.”
Dorn woke up at the scent of my cooking.
Bob kept talking to keep Dorn from sinking into gloom or fear over last night.
Maybe it worked—Dorn was laughing nonstop.
Even the usually stoic Kevin smiled slightly at the cheerful chaos.
***
Even during the return trip to the city the next day, I trained whenever I could.
I continued to cultivate my Mana Heart and improved my physical stats while marching.
Just walking helped build stamina, and the food supplies I carried for Dorn did wonders for my strength.
And then, three days later—still en route to the city—some absurd messages appeared before my eyes.
[The Winds of Fate begin to blow.]
[‘Event – Adol’s Betrayal’ intensifies.]
[Adol’s corpse has rotted sufficiently over the past three days. The -granting Universal Governing Law seeks to challenge the Savior by using this corpse.]
[Greed for Adol’s possessions clings to the decaying body. That greed transcends death and raises the dead flesh. F-rank mercenary Adol rises as a ‘Returned from Death’ Flesh-Eating Undead—Ghoul—to pursue the expedition party.]
[Time remaining until the fate-ordained event, Ghoul Assault: 71:59:59]
[Winds of Fate will occur at the destined time, no matter what.]
The countdown was ticking in real-time.
‘What the hell is this now?’
The Winds of Fate, which were said to be the price for gaining the .
Something I had neglected until now, had finally come to strike.