โHey, Aldo. I heard something during a drinking sessionโฆ You know that vagrant-looking guy who punched you?โ
During a break at work, the foreman casually brought up the topic. Aldo didnโt remember being punched, so he had no recollection of who might have done it.
โYeah. I donโt remember much about it, though,โ Aldo replied.
โWell, hereโs the thingโฆ The guards who caught that vagrant let something slip. That guyโฆ he didnโt have a Mana Vessel in his soul.โ
โWhat?โ
In this world, souls are something that all its inhabitants inherently possess. Except for Aldo, who was an anomaly. A lack of a Mana Vessel in a soul typically meant it had been destroyed due to some external influenceโprecisely the kind of phenomenon Aldo had been searching for.
โIs that true?!โ
โHuh? Yeahโฆ whyโre you so worked up about it?โ
The foreman was puzzled by Aldoโs uncharacteristic enthusiasm. He had only intended it as light conversation.
โThat vagrantโฆ he was from the C District of the slums.โ
โC Districtโฆโ
The slums where Aldo lived were officially divided into three sections:
- The relatively safe A District, which barely qualified as a slum.
- The crime-ridden B District, which fit the description of a slum properly.
- The worst of all, the C District.
Aldo lived in the A District, but even there, it was too dangerous to let his daughter, Iris, play outside alone. C District was a far more perilous place.
โAnd apparently, that vagrant testified that he had purchased something from the D District.โ
โD District? Whatโs this something?!โ
D District was an unofficial term for the most dangerous part of C District. Often called the โDanger Zone,โ it was infamous for illicit dealings in illegal weapons and drugs.
โSomethingโฆ it was a weapon imbued with a malevolent spirit.โ
โA weapon imbued with a malevolent spirit!โ
Aldoโs interest was piqued. The very thing he had been seeking was closer than he had imaginedโin the D District of the slums.
โThank you for sharing this, foreman.โ
โUh, sureโฆ glad if it helps, Aldo.โ
The foreman hadnโt meant to assist Aldo, just fill some idle time with chatter. Yet, the information turned out to be invaluable to Aldo.
โIris, Iโm stepping out for a bit,โ Aldo said one day on his day off.
โTake me with you!โ
Normally, Aldo spent his days off with Iris. But this time, he couldnโt.
โNo. I might be going somewhere dangerous.โ
โDangerous? Are you going to be okay, Dad?โ
Iris tilted her head in concern. Aldo gently patted her shoulder and pulled her close.
โIโll be fine. I promise Iโll come back.โ
Aldoโs words, meant to reassure, instead unsettled Iris further. Ignoring her growing unease, Aldo made his way to the depths of the slumsโthe C District.
C District was filled with thugs who eyed Aldoโs relatively neat appearance with predatory grins. Their gazes, like those of hunters stalking prey, kept Aldo on edge as he advanced cautiously.
โOops, sorry!โ
A boy bumped into Aldo while passing by. Aldo immediately grabbed the boyโs shoulder.
โHold it. Who apologizes before bumping into someone? Now, return my wallet.โ
โTchโฆโ
The boy struggled free and fled with the wallet in hand. Aldo didnโt give chaseโit was empty.
In dangerous areas, Aldo always carried an empty wallet as bait. Muggers typically grabbed the wallet and fled without checking its contents. This trick bought him time to escape. Unfortunately, it hadnโt deterred pickpockets. Shaking his head at C Districtโs lawlessness, Aldo continued toward the D Districtโs market.
The market appeared ordinary at first glance, but uttering the right password to the shopkeepers granted access to illicit goods.
โLooking for something specific?โ a burly, tattooed shopkeeper asked, arms crossed.
โIโve come to buy tulip bulbs. Will that message reach the right ears?โ
โAhโฆ the bulbs are out, but Iโve got seeds instead,โ the shopkeeper replied, gesturing toward a passage behind him.
Aldo followed the passage, eventually entering a dimly lit room filled with various weapons.
โWelcome. This is the Malevolent Spirit Weapon Emporium.โ
While such weapons werenโt outright banned, some were illegally modified to amplify their destructive power, capable of shattering a Mana Vessel. Aldo inspected the displayed weapons, feeling their malice but finding them lacking.
โYouโve got a sharp eye, sir,โ the shopkeeper said as Aldo reached for another sword.
โNo, this still isnโt enough,โ Aldo muttered, reaching for a blade next to it.
โWait! You canโt touch that one! Itโs not for sale!โ
โNot for sale?โ
โYeah. That sword was crafted by an old man named Rudolf in C District. They say anyone who wields it has their personality destroyed.โ
โInteresting. Can I meet this Rudolf?โ
โSure, but itโll cost you for the introduction letter.โ
Aldo paid the fee, obtained the letter, and made his way to Rudolfโs home. When the elderly craftsman opened the door, his wrinkled face twisted with disdain.
โWhat do you want?โ
โIโve got this letter,โ Aldo said, handing it over.
โCome in,โ Rudolf replied after reading it.
In Rudolfโs workshop, the old man explained, โIโm a weaponsmith. If someone wants a sword, I make it. But my weaponsโฆ theyโre the most dangerous youโll ever find.โ
Aldo understood. Rudolf refused to diminish the destructive essence of Malevolent Spirit Weapons, instead enhancing their full potential.
โI need you to make me a sword. Hereโs the material.โ
Aldo handed over a bone he had found in a dungeon, heavily imbued with malevolent energy.
โInterestingโฆ Come back tomorrow. Iโll forge you the strongest, most wicked blade.โ
The next day, Aldo returned to a beaming Rudolf.
โItโs finished. Behold, the Blade of the Gale!โ
Aldo held the sword and immediately felt its overwhelming power coursing through him.
โThisโฆ itโs incredible.โ
โYouโre not affected?โ Rudolf asked, astonished.
โFor some reason, I donโt have a Mana Vessel,โ Aldo explained.
โFascinatingโฆ Youโre quite the anomaly. Well, my work is done. How you use it is up to you.โ
Aldo swallowed hard. He couldnโt wait to delve into the dungeon and unleash the swordโs power.