The world of Servia was dominated by Hunters.
People who got special powers from the world trees near them. People who were [Chosen].
Those who were bestowed with these powers would become stronger and faster than an average human... But most importantly, they could use magic.
From time immemorial, these Hunters would protect the world from the monsters running amok in the wildlands, and they would also stop the dungeons dotted all around the world from becoming rampant.
Dungeons.
To say the truth, dungeons were the primary reason why Hunters existed. They were tasked with the protection of humanity from these creations of malevolence. These Hunters would go into the dungeons to clear up the monsters.
In return, they would get valuable gems, gears, materials and wealth.
Their expeditions would not only help the economy but would also keep the kingdoms and empires safe. These Hunters would also subjugate monsters in the open world and often would be regarded as heroes.
As such... Becoming a Hunter was every child's dream.
However, there was an exception. And that was becoming an E-rank Hunter.
Those who became E-rank Hunters would be shunned by their peers. They would become outcasts, hated by their own families.
After all, being an E-rank Hunter meant you brought bad luck with you wherever you went, with little to no increase in your abilities to offset the said luck.
As such, rephrasing the previous statement... Every child wanted to become a Hunter, but not an E-rank one.
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"Tsk! Don't come near me, you mutt!"
The fist hit me in the face, throwing my body on the floor.
Wincing in pain, I touched my nose... Only to find my fingers full of blood.
"If your filthy hands dare touch me again, I will cut them off!"
Bayek, one of the C-rank adventurers in town, was glaring at me for bumping against him.
"... Sorry."
Even though I wasn't at fault, I knew more than to argue. I bowed my head deeply and soon enough, the burly guy snorted and left.
Once I made sure that there wasn't anyone around me, I stood up and dusted my clothes. Looking around, I saw the guild continuing like normal, as if nothing had happened.
Of course, they would. No one in the world cared much about an E-rank. And I could understand where they were coming from.
After all, we, E-rankers, were a bundle of trouble. No matter where we went, bad luck hit.
Houses would get burned down, cities would get flooded. Crops would die, livestock would catch diseases... We were a blight upon humanity.
As such, I understood why I wasn't welcome here. But that didn't mean I liked the treatment they were showing me... I didn't choose to be an E-rank Hunter for god's sake.
"... This sucks."
A mutter left my mouth as I stood up. Grabbing my bag from the floor, I headed to the nearby counter to hand over my loot from today's dungeon diving.
As soon as I went near her counter, the receptionist lady took a few steps back in disgust. Then she pointed at the top of the counter and gestured me to step back. At this point, I understood well enough what she meant.
Leaving the bag of monster gems alongside my adventurer's card on the counter, I retreated several steps. Only then did the lady pick the bag up and examine the contents.
"Axel Martinz, E-rank. 20 horned mice, decent quality."
She announced the number of gems as well as the monster's name before judging the quality of the stones.
"Yes... That will be all."
"40 bronze coins."
The lady replied in a cold tone, to which I shook my head.
"Isn't the market price 4 bronze coins per stone? Why do I get only half?"
I asked in a tired tone as I held my broken nose.
I would have to show it to a healer... If any of those guys would treat me, that was.
Anyhow, horned mice were one of the weakest monsters that could be found in the dungeons. However, they still should fetch a somewhat decent price... It was clear to me that the lady was scamming me.
"40 bronze, as I said. Take it or leave it."
"But that's half the price! With just 40 bronze, I can't even get three meals a day!"
"How is that my issue?"
The lady's glare turned colder and colder. I wanted to argue against her reasoning.
However... I couldn't do anything but accept it in the end.
After all, I am an E-rank Hunter. If the guild refused to buy from me... I wouldn't be able to sell the stones ANYWHERE at all.
Not even in the black market.
"... Fine."
"Hmph. You just had to waste my time."
The lady pulled out several coins from under the desk and threw them at me.
The coins fell on the ground and jingled for some time before I picked them up.
"... Thank you."
Not wanting to get on the guild's bad side, I muttered some quick words of appreciation before leaving the building.
As soon as I stepped outside, the sunlight hit me hard. It was going to be a sweaty evening.
Sighing, I walked through the streets of Quin. There were several stalls selling skewers, but with my current budget I couldn't afford such luxury.
Instead, I decided to buy a hard bread with ten bronze from a bakery. The owner frowned at me when I approached the store but thankfully he still sold me some bread.
I stepped out of the store and took a quick bite.
"It's expired."
My face distorted as the weird taste spread in my mouth. No wonder the owner sold me this... Then again, I was used to this.
Sighing, I held the bread and walked towards the outskirts of the town where my camp was.
"Young man, do you wish for power?"
A sudden question forced me to stop.
Slowly, I turned to the alleyway to my left. In the darkness, I saw an old man sitting on the ground. His wrinkled face was turned towards me, his red eyes blazing.
"... Uh, you are asking me?"
"Yes... Yes, I am asking you."
"Not really."
I said with a sigh before starting to walk.
My current life was miserable... but I wasn't dumb enough to accept a shady person's "power".
"W-wait!"
The old man called out to me from behind but I just waved my hand. Then something grabbed my ankle from behind.
It was the old man from the alleyway. He looked miserable as he pleaded with me with teary eyes.
"P-please! Just listen, at the least!"
"No-"
I was about to reject him again when I noticed the people around me. All of them were looking at me with disgust...
"Tsk... Dammit. Fine."
I groaned and gestured at the alley. The old man immediately smiled and stood up before returning to the darkness.
I followed him while trying to ignore the stares that were stabbing into my back.
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"So, what do you want?"
I asked in a tired tone before sitting down on the ground. The place was dirty but I didn't care.
The old man sat down in front of me, his red robes fluttering with the dusty wind.
"Don't you want incomparable power? Don't you want to turn your life around?"
His voice was rough as he asked the same question as before.
"I do... But I don't trust you enough to accept it from you. In the first place, can you even give me that kind of power?"
I asked raising an eyebrow. The man before me looked like a typical beggar... I didn't think he had the capacity to offer something so precious.
"I can... For a price."
'Here comes the catch.'
I internally thought before standing up.
"Then I'm not interested. Find someone else."
"W-wait, the price isn't much! Just that bread! Yeah, just that bread!"
The man cried out as he grabbed my ankle again.
"Aren't you just a beggar at this point... Anyhow, the bread is expired. Do you really want that?"
I wasn't going to eat it anyway... I was starving but wasn't so ravished that I would eat anything and everything.
"Y-yes, that's fine."
"Hah... Here, take it. Don't bother giving me something in return. I don't need any powers from you."
I threw the bread at him before starting to walk away.
But for the third time, he pulled my ankle.
"Wait! You can't just give this to me and leave!"
"Why can't I?!"
I yelled, frustrated. This day really was shit.
"Take this book! Come on!"
"Huh?"
The man pulled out an old book from his tattered robes and held it in front of me.
"This book can make you a god. If you want power, just open it and follow the instructions."
"A god... ?"
"Y-yes. Not a pagan god, even... A full god that can ascend to the heavens."
"Tsk... You finally lost it, haven't you?"
This old man wasn't just a beggar. He was a delusional beggar.
"Just take it. If you don't want it, keep it with you for when you will need it."
"... Alright. You know what, fine. Give it to me."
It was just an old book. I could just put it in my bag and forget about it.
Maybe use it for fire or something, paper had its uses.
I took the leather-covered book and put it in my bag. The old man looked pleased as he leaned against the wall and took a bite out of the bread.
"Well, I'll be going then."
I didn't want to spend any more time with the guy, so I promptly turned around and left.
This time, the old beggar didn't call out to me, nor did he grab my ankle.
Soon, I walked out of the city and headed to the forest nearby where my camp was.
It was relatively close to the city walls so monsters didn't come near it. Though it was really uncomfortable.
I reached the camp location and put up my tent for the night. Lighting a small fire, I pulled out some cooked meat I had stored before and chewed on it.
In my free hand was the book. I was honestly curious about it.
"Let me see."
I flipped the cover open and looked at the first page.
"This ritual will grant you the power of the devil... The ingredients are virgin blood..."
I didn't finish reading it.
"This isn't even the right book, goddamnit!"
I threw the book into the fire and headed back to the camp.
I had wasted half a piece of bread today... I didn't feel good about that.