The next day's training resumed.
"Hah... hah..." Shun panted, struggling to withstand his father's rapid attacks.
"Take this!!"
Shun focused all his strength into his legs and dashed forward at high speed.
Clank!
His strike clashed against his father's sword, which blocked it firmly.
"It seems you've finally started to get the hang of it."
Suddenly, his father's attacks grew heavier and stronger. With ease, he deflected Shun's strike, sending him flying backward.
Shun quickly tried to get back on his feet. Sweat poured down his body, but his father showed no signs of exhaustion. His breathing remained steady.
"How are you this strong, Father?!"
"That doesn't matter. Take this!!"
His father lunged at him with incredible speed. Shun could no longer block the attack, so he let the sword strike him without resistance.
However, just before the blade reached his head, his father suddenly stopped.
"You... what are you doing?"
"N-Nothing," Shun stammered. "I just... reacted too late." His face was uneasy, afraid that his father had noticed something.
His father raised his sword again, and Shun let out a relieved sigh.
But...
Wham!
His father's sword struck him hard.
"Gah... that hurts!"
His body was thrown against a pile of rocks, and he felt something crack. Blood spilled from his mouth.
"Ehek... akh... ekkh..." Shun tried to cover his mouth, but the blood kept flowing.
"We're done for today. Be ready tomorrow. I won't be coming back tonight."
Without sparing him a second glance, his father walked away.
What a terrible father.
Fighting his own son without mercy, never teaching him how to grow stronger—just relentlessly attacking without pause. Shun didn't even truly know what kind of person his father was.
After returning to camp, he immediately tended to his wounds. A sharp sting burned every time he applied medicine.
Luckily, there was a healing slave in this camp.
Thanks to healing magic, his broken bones were mended.
"Tonight, we'll just use the rabbit from yesterday."
Shun gazed across the ravine, looking at the lively city in the distance.
"The world over there… is so different from this place..."
He stood atop a ruined tower, staring at the city as if it were another world.
"If... if I could just go there..."
The thought crossed his mind.
"I could go. Just for a little while. No one will notice."
He quickly packed his bag, grabbed his cloak, and left.
As he made his way past the edge of the camp, he suddenly noticed a boy sitting in the distance.
"What is he doing? Hurry up and leave... I can't pass because of him."
The boy simply sat there, observing his surroundings. Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice Shun.
After a while, the boy picked up his sword and started training.
At first, he only performed simple movements. But something felt off.
There were particles surrounding him... similar to when someone used mana.
"But... isn't mana impossible to activate without a chant?"
"Or... maybe it actually is possible?"
Shun recalled his father. That old man had never explained the secret behind his overwhelming strength.
So... this is what he was hiding? Mana can be used without chanting?
Shun remained where he was, watching until the boy finished his training.
Soon, a voice called out from the distance.
"Frances, let's go."
"Yes, I'm coming!"
The boy left.
Shun resumed his journey and finally slipped out of the camp.
---
Bandit City Tornis
Tornis was the name of the bandit city where Shun lived. Not all of its inhabitants were bandits, but about 60% of the population consisted of criminals.
The city was divided into several areas:
1. The Black Market – The only one in the city, located at its center.
2. The Underground – A place where slaves and prisoners were kept.
3. The Outskirts – Filled with bandit camps belonging to different groups that didn't get along. Clashes between factions were common.
The leader of this city was whoever was the strongest. Five years ago, a noble exiled from a neighboring kingdom seized power. With his military influence, he brought 5,000 soldiers and conquered the city.
Of course, some groups tried to resist. But without support from black market merchants or slave traders, they were doomed to fail.
The scum in this city only cared about money. No one would help without a price.
---
After finally escaping the city, Shun was greeted by a different sight.
Vast, green fields stretched endlessly before him. It was so full of life—nothing like the dark forest or ruined city.
"Alright, let's do this."
After hours of exhausting travel, he reached the edge of a ravine connected by a fragile-looking wooden bridge.
He swallowed hard.
A little nervous, but he stepped forward anyway.
Turns out, it wasn't as bad as I imagined.
Shun walked slowly, carefully crossing the bridge.
Once he reached the other side, he continued his journey until he arrived at a village.
Unfortunately, it was already late in the afternoon. He wouldn't be able to reach his destination by nightfall.
"But at least... this was a valuable experience for me."
Shun wandered around the village for a bit before deciding to rest. Tomorrow morning, he would return.