Azrael's POV
Six years had passed since I defeated the shadow hound boss.
Since then, I've fought and defeated countless monsters in the Southern Maggie Forest. Every cave here has been explored and cleared. Yet, despite my efforts, it all feels meaningless. I don't know what to do anymore.
My hands clenched around the edge of the rock from what I was sitting on.
Sigh
No matter what I tried, my progress had stopped.
These past years… I can't level up past 50.
"Haaaa, why is this not going up?" I muttered aloud
//===
Status Window Information:
Class: Boundless Necromancer of Death
Current Level: 50 (Exp points: 43, 430/1200)
Name: Azrael D. Valen
Status: Good
Age: 12 years
Height: 154 cm
Weight: 98 lbs
Mana Points (MP): 10,000/10,000
**Attributes:**
Strength: 33
Agility: 37
Endurance: 37
Intelligence: 34
//===
My attributes increased only slightly, and not because I was killing monsters left to right, it's simply because of aging.
That's why some of my attributes increased. My body naturally grew stronger as the years went by, but my level refused to budge. No matter how many monsters I fought or how many caves I cleared.
It feels hopeless at this point. So I decides from two years ago, I talked to my parents. I told them about me giving a shot to enroll to Asheroth Academy.
Asheroth Academy is the most prestigious Academy that was established on the southern continent, it said that it won't discriminate any people applying there as long as you pass the entrance exam.
Even nobles and royalties from the 7 kingdoms in the southern continent is no exception they need to pass the exam for them to entry, that's how strict this school is. Because this school is not affiliated to any kingdom in the continent, they are sponsored by the center continent itself.
The only problem for us is that we are living on the 7th kingdom the farthest of the kingdom from the Asheroth Academy.
The Academy is located at the northernmost part of the southern continent. We, on the other hand, lived at the edge of the southernmost region.
The journey alone would take about a year or two just to get there.
So by the time I decided to talk to my parents they immediately decided to move kingdoms to left our village.
Preparations began immediately. My father bought a carriage and a pair of sturdy horses, and my family started packing everything we would need for the long road ahead, A week from now we are going to start our travels.
I leaned back against the rough bark of a tree behind the rock I was sitting. When someone walks towards me on my left side.
"Master, it's time to head home," came from a familiar voice.
I looked on my side to see Azy along with Sibat and his pack.
In response, I nodded silently, rising to my feet to get up and get ready to head home.
"Azrael, I wish to join you on your journey." Sibat said out of nowhere.
I stared at him, surprised. "Sibat… what about your pack? Will they be okay without their leader?"
"My pack is strong. They've been trained well and will thrive without me. I trust my second-in-command to lead them in my absence." Sibat replied
But before I could add a word the wolves in the pack interfered
"Master, safe journeys," one of them said.
"We wish you well," another added.
Their words were filled with genuine warmth and loyalty.
Turning back to Sibat, I asked again.
"You know I can't bring you to my parents looking like that, right? How will you follow me?"
"Don't worry. I'll stay far enough away so your parents won't notice me." Sibat replied
Seeing that they were fine with the arrangement, I decided not to argue. "Alright, but stay with Azy. So just incase you encounter monsters along the journey you'll have someone for backup."
"Understood," Azy said immediately.
"Thank you, Master," Sibat added.
With that settled, I left the forest and headed back home. By the time I arrived, it was noon, and my parents were outside. They smiled as soon as they saw me.
"Azrael, where have you been?" my mother asked.
"Just walking around the village," I replied, giving a small smile.
She studied me for a moment but didn't push further. My father then patted my shoulder then say "Come inside. There's still a lot to do."
So I followed him inside to help pack, while my mother stayed outside, organizing other items. As I put my things into my own bag, my father started a conversation.
"Azrael, don't feel pressured about us moving for the academy. Even if you don't get in, it's fine by us 'cause we're moving either way, atleast there'll be more opportunities for you and us that we can have to the other kingdom" my father said with a gentle tone.
"Thanks, Father, but I'll pass the test. I promise you" I said confidently.
"Good to hear. I just wanted to make sure you're not feeling too much pressure because of the suddenness of our move, we've been planning this long time ago and we already have the savings to move to another kingdom so we thought this is the right time for us to go" he said while keeping the gentle tone.
"I'm fine, Father, thank you for worrying." as I reassured him.
"By the way, we'll need to visit the guild's village later to process our denaturalization. So come with us later." he said.
Then I replied "ofcourse" while I nod.
Mom then came in and joined the conversation. "The village has been so peaceful for the past 6 years, hasn't it?"
"Yes," Father replied. "Years ago, monsters attacked the watchtowers constantly. Now, there's been nothing for a long time. Even the forest seems clear of them."
"That's good. At least the village is safe now," Mom said.
"Exactly. When I was younger, this place was always in danger. It's a relief to leave knowing it's now peaceful," Father added.
"At least we don't have to worry about its safety when we go," Mom said with a little smile.
After a moment, Once we finished packing our things, we headed to the guild. Inside, the place was buzzing with activity. Hunters were chatting, sharpening their weapons, and drinking beats and wine.
Mom approached the counter and spoke to the staff. "Good afternoon. We'd like to request three forms for denaturalization process."
The staff member nodded and checked her records. "Of course. Please wait a moment." as she grab a paper and hand it to us. "Hear you go, please fill this up with all of your personal Informations"
While waiting, I overheard a conversation from a nearby group.
"Have you heard about a kid in the forest who's been killing monsters?" one man asked.
"Yeah, but is it true?" another replied.
"Many hunters have seen him, but they can't get close. They say he uses some kind of unique magic," the first man said.
"What kind of magic?"
"They're not sure, but some say it's dark magic. He summons skeletons to fight for him. Apparently, he's the reason most of the monsters in the Maggie Forest are gone."
"That's impressive. He must be an S-rank hunter," the second man said.
"More likely A-rank, but with the potential for S-rank," the first man replied.
(They're talking about me,) I thought, keeping my face calm.
(I've been careful to not get identified for the past years.)
"Here's the form," the lady staff said, handing it to my mother. "There's a fee of two gold coins for the process."
Mom raised an eyebrow. "Is that for all three of us or each?"
"Each, I mean 2 gold coin per person.That's six gold coins total," the lady staff clarified.
Father handed over the money, and we started filling out the forms.
As I wrote, I continue to eavesdrop conversation.
"Did you hear about the Asheroth Academy exams in two years?"
"Yeah. Only two students graduated last year."
"Out of how many?"
"Over 1,200. The rest were expelled and can't reapply."
"That's harsh," the first man said.
"Apparently, they have to wait and gather applicants from across the continent every two years to keep it fair, to the people from the farthest kingdom like us" the second man added.
"I wonder if that kid we saw in the forest will apply to the academy," one of the men said. "I used to be a student there, you know."
"What happened?" the other man asked, taking a sip of his drink.
The first man laughed. "HAHA! I barely lasted a year. I'm a nobody though, so it is expected that I fail during my early year."
The other man smirked."Well, I never even got accepted when I applied there, so who am I to judge?" The man said while he raise his cup of beer then chugged it down till it's empty.
(So, the next entrance exam are in two years,) I thought, noting the timeline.
Once we finished the paperwork, we handed it over to the lady at the counter.
"That will be all. Here are your identification cards. These will serve as your temporary IDs for accessing other kingdoms, even though you're now denaturalized," the staff member said, handing each of us our personal cards.
"Thank you," my mother replied politely.
"You're welcome. Safe travels!" the staff member said with a warm smile.
We left the guild as the hunters continued their conversation, completely unaware of how close they were to the very person they were talking about.
For now, I preferred to keep it that way.
DAYS PASSED
We were finally ready to leave. Our neighbors stood by, bidding us farewell.
(I never really got the chance to make friends with kids my age in the village since I spent most of my time hunting monsters in the forest.)
My parents, however, had lived here their entire lives, and this was their first time leaving the village.
"We hope for your safe travels," a kind neighbor lady said as she hugged my mother.
"Let us know when you've arrived," another neighbor added, speaking to my father.
Not being close to any of them, I simply climbed into the carriage and waited. Once the goodbyes were finished, my mother joined me inside, while my father took the reins as the carriage master, steering the horses.
As we left the village, I sensed Azy and Sibat watching us from a distance, silently following.
The road was quiet as we traveled through the forest. My mother was asleep, and I looked around the peaceful scenery.
"The forest road has been so quiet lately," my father suddenly said.
"Ah, yes, it has," I replied, playing along.
"I never thought I'd see the day when I could walk or pass through the forest without encountering monsters," he said.
"I don't understand," I responded, feigning ignorance.
"Haha, you're not very good at lying, you know. Your mother and I are well aware that you weren't really going to the local library or strolling around the village," he said with a chuckle.
"Haha, is that so?" I replied nervously.
"I heard the rumors, and I knew it was you. At least you've managed to keep your identity hidden," he added.
"Thank you for understanding, Father," I said sincerely.
"That's why we want to enroll you to the academy, to polish your skills even more," my father said. "Though it's kinda sad that you will be going far away from us once you want to go but we also don't want to hinder your potential, so we decided to leave the home village with you." He added
I couldn't speak any words after hearing that. It made me realize how much my parents cared for my sake. They truly are very considerate and loving parents.
"But still, you don't have to worry if you don't pass the exam, okay? I decided this together with your mother, so you shouldn't feel any pressure," He added again, as I made a small smile.
_________________________________
When night fell, we stopped by the side of the road so my father could rest.
"Father, once we enter the capital, can you help me sell the items I collected from hunting monsters?" I asked.
"Of course. I'll go with you; it'd look odd if a kid showed up selling high-level monster drops at the guild," he said.
"Thank you," I said with a smile.
The next day, we continued our journey, and by evening, we finally reached the capital.
At the gates, knights stood guard, checking the identification of everyone entering.
"Halt, your identification, please," one knight asked.
We handed over our IDs, and after a quick verification, we were allowed entry.
The Maggie Kingdom was bustling with life. It was my first time here, and the sheer size and energy of the place overwhelmed me. Vendors sold everything from weapons and books to magic stones and food. Stalls lined the streets, offering a variety of goods.
I stepped out of the carriage to look around.
"We'll stay here for the night and leave tomorrow," my father said.
"Father, we should head to the guild now," I suggested.
"Alright," he agreed.
"I'll find a nearby inn for us to stay in," my mother said as she drove the carriage.
As we walked toward the guild, my father took in the sights.
"After 26 years, I've finally returned," he said.
"When was the first time you came here?" I asked.
"When I was around your age. I went on an adventure but ended up back in the village," he said, laughing at the memory.
Eventually, we asked a local for directions.
"Excuse me, sir, could you tell us where the Maggie Guild is?" my father inquired.
"Just keep walking straight ahead. You'll see a large wooden building with a big sign indicating the guild's name," the man explained.
"Thank you so much!" my father said gratefully.
We followed his directions and soon arrived at the guild. Inside, hunters filled the hall, chatting and exchanging stories.
At the counter, my father spoke to the staff.
"We'd like to sell some monster drops," he said.
"Of course. May I have your hunter card please?, or if you're not a hunter, then you can give me any form of ID" the staff member at the counter asked.
My father then handed over his ID card. The staff member took it and said, "Please place the items you want to sell on that table over there," pointing to an empty table nearby. "Once you're done, let me know so we can appraise them and determine the price."
"Alright," my father replied.
We moved to the table, and I opened my system inventory.
//===
System Inventory:
Soul Stocks:
13,456 Souls
Goblin Chief × 49
Shadow Hound Boss × 15
Colossal Dark Bat × 27
Colossal Scorpion × 19
Colossal Dark Spider × 21
Items:
Giant Bat's Red Gem × 4
Giant Bat's Purple Gem × 10
Giant Bat's Blue Gem × 13
Hound's Fang: Grade C × 2
Hound's Fang: Grade D × 4
Hound's Fang: Grade E × 9
Spider's Behind: Grade D × 6
Spider's Behind: Grade E × 15
Scorpion's Tail: Grade C × 3
Scorpion's Tail: Grade D × 6
Scorpion's Tail: Grade E × 10
Goblin's Ring × 49
===\\
Smaller monster drops couldn't be sold, so I only selected the larger items.
//===
System Notice:
Removed Hound's Fang: Grade D × 4
Removed Hound's Fang: Grade E × 9
Removed Scorpion's Tail: Grade D × 6
Removed Scorpion's Tail: Grade E × 10
Removed Goblin's Ring × 39
Removed Giant Bat's Purple Gem × 10
Removed Giant Bat's Blue Gem × 13
===\\
"Wow, that's a lot, son," my father said, clearly impressed. (hmm that's strange, the items are coming out of thin air, must be one of his skills, I shouldn't bother asking)
I wanted to sell everything, but I decided to keep some items just in case they'd come in handy later.
"Haha, actually, Father, there's something I'd like to discuss with you," I said, thinking about Azy and Sibat, who were still outside the kingdom. "But we'll talk later," I added.
"Alright, let's wait for them to appraise these items," my father said as he walked over to the counter to tell the staff we're done putting the items.
When the staff arrived, they looked completely shocked upon seeing the items for appraisal.
"Are these all yours, sir?" the staff asked in disbelief. (What the heck is this, this must be fake right? there's no way they have this items on hand, or maybe they stole this from someone? I should get the boss.)
"Ah, yes, these are ours," my father replied.
"Understood, I'll handle it right away," the staff responded.
Because of this, the attention of the hunters in the room shifted toward us. They seemed intrigued by what we were selling, and whispers quickly spread.
"Bro, look at their items," one hunter said.
"Is that for real?" his companion replied.
"Those items look like high-quality stuff, don't they?"
"Who are these people? Why are they selling such items? They're not even known around here."
"Maybe they're silent hunters."
"They're going to make a lot of money from that."
Their murmurs filled the room, making me feel self-conscious. My father, however, avoided making eye contact with the hunters as they continued talking about us.
Suddenly, a large man stepped out from a room behind the counter. He was bald, bearded, and exuded an intimidating aura that made the hunters fall silent as he walked toward us.
As he approached, he spoke in a firm voice, "I checked your records. So, this is your first time selling items to the guild, huh?" He continued, "Based on the ID you provided, it says you were denaturalized from Maggie Village. I also see that there's no record of you selling items there."
"Y-yes, sir," my father replied hesitantly.
"Anyway, I'm not here to pry into your business. The thing is, the items you're selling are very valuable. Processing them might take four to five days because the capital bank handles the transactions. That's why I came out here to ask if you're okay with waiting. We'll consider you VIP guests and provide you with a room in this building while the process is ongoing," the man explained.
"Is that so? Hmm, what do you think, son?" my father asked, turning to me.
"I don't mind staying here for the next four to five days," I replied.
"Alright, sir, we don't mind," my father told the man.
As the hunters continued to whisper among themselves, the man introduced himself. "Great. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I'm Grant, the Guildmaster here. I apologize for the delay, but I appreciate the trust you've placed in us. To show our sincerity, the guild will provide you with 100 gold coins as a downpayment for the items. A receipt will be issued once the appraisal and processing are approved by the capital bank."
"Can we see our room? We'd like to rest," my father asked.
"Of course," Grant replied, calling over a staff member. "Please escort them to their room," he instructed.
The staff approached us and said, "This way, please."
"I want to go out for a bit. I'll look for Mom," I told my father. (I just really want to get out because the hunters here are suspicious on us)
"Alright, son. Don't wander too far." my father replied.
Even as I left, I could still feel the eyes of the hunters on me their expressions are stern and serious.
I stepped out of the guild, still thinking about what happened inside. My father had gone ahead with the staff to check the room, but I had other plans. I needed to find my mother. She mentioned she'd look for an inn nearby, maybe I can catch a glimpse of our carriage if I continue walking, but after a while, there was no sign of her, I couldn't find the carriage.
The streets were busy, filled with merchants shouting about their goods and people moving in all directions. It felt normal at first, but then something started to feel… off.
As I continued looking, I noticed it—a presence. It was subtle at first, but it felt like someone was watching me. I decided to keep walking, acting like I hadn't noticed anything.
Turning corners here and there, I tried to lose whoever it was. But the feeling stayed. I caught the faint sound of footsteps behind me, matching my pace no matter how fast or slow I went.
*So, it's not my imagination,* I thought, keeping my expression neutral.
I walked a little faster, making my way toward a small alley between two large buildings. Trash was piled up against the walls, the air thick with the smell of something rotten. It was quiet here—too quiet—and that was exactly what I needed.
I stopped, letting them come to me.
Soon, a man appeared. He had a sly grin on his face, the kind that said he thought he'd already won.
"Lost, kid?" he said, stepping closer. "You shouldn't be wandering around alone." he added as I can hear the thud of his boots in this alleyway.
I didn't answer. I just stood there, watching him.
He's a 6 foot bearded man, slightly skinny, wearing a small vest armor on his chest.
Before long, two more figures joined him, both carrying the same smug look. I kept my hand at my side, calm and steady, even as their confidence grew. I looked at their left chest, noticing the badges. They were hunters.
I raised my arm slightly, palm out. Out of nowhere, my scythe appeared in my hand, its blade catching the faint light, giving a small warning.
Their smiles disappeared, replaced with surprised.
"Woah, woah, looks like we've got ourselves a fighter here," joked the man who followed me. They were clearly underestimating me, probably because I was just a kid.
"Listen, kid, I saw you at the guild earlier. You're the son of that man who sold those valuable items, right? I'm pretty sure your daddy's going to have a lot of money soon. We just want to kidnap you for ransom, you know? So, to avoid getting hurt, why don't you just surrender nicely?" the man boldly said, smirking.
I stayed silent, refusing to respond to their provocations, while they exchanged grins and chuckles, clearly enjoying themselves.
I gripped my scythe tightly, swaying it backwards. The blade sliced through the air with a sharp, menacing hum.
For a moment, no one moved. The silence was heavy, almost deafening.
"Ha! You've got guts for someone your age. Fine, have it your way," the man sneered, drawing his sword. His companions followed suit, unsheathing their weapons as well.
I let the first man charge at me.
"Maybe just a cut to your arm or leg will teach you a lesson," he said smugly as he rushed toward me, sword in hand.
But before he could get close, I vanished from his sight.
"What the—where did he go?" he exclaimed, confused.
He didn't notice his two companions behind him suddenly screaming in pain. When he turned to look, he froze. One of his companions had lost an arm, the other a leg.
The guy who's leg is severed collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony, while the other clutched his severed arm, tears streaming down his face.
"AHHHHH!" they both screamed, overwhelmed by the unbearable pain.
"What the hell happened to both of you?!" the man shouted, panic evident in his voice. He couldn't see me and was beginning to realize how outmatched they were.
Suddenly, he went silent and gulp nervously, as I appear behind his back. My scythe is now wrapped around his neck, its sharp blade pressing against his skin. One move, and his head would roll to the ground.
Shocked and terrified, he immediately dropped his sword and raised his hands in surrender.
"Please! Don't! I give up!" he pleaded, his voice trembling and hands shaking evidently.
"You should have chosen your words more wisely earlier," I said coldly, keeping the scythe in place. "Lucky for you, you didn't threaten to kill me outright."
He stood there paralyzed, unable to move, while his companions groaned in pain infront of him. The fear in his eyes said it all—he knew he had made a grave mistake.
SWOOOOOP
The faint sound of my soul traversal made as I returned to it. In a blink, I disappeared from the alley and left.
The terrified man, now with a shallow cut on his neck, stood frozen in fear. His companions, groaning in pain from decapitated arm and leg, were left behind in that alley.