Under the scorching sun, Franz's father, a seasoned warrior with a general-ranked soul mark, stood tall, ready to train his son in the ways of combat. Franz, still maintaining his façade as a lazy and unmotivated individual, prepared himself for another day of pretending to be a salted fish. Little did his father know, behind that mask of indifference, Franz was secretly thrilled about the training that awaited him.
At the age of thirteen, it was time for the ceremonial training of the children in their town. It was believed that by this age, their bodies were strong enough to withstand the rigorous exercises and combat drills. For Franz, it was an opportunity to learn from his father, to hone his skills and defend himself if the need ever arose.
As his father began the training, Franz couldn't help but display an exaggerated pain every time he received a blow. The beatings, though not inflicting any real harm due to his robust physique, were necessary to maintain the illusion of his peaceful and unassuming nature. It was a necessary sacrifice to continue his low-key existence in this magical world of totems.
But amidst the acting and the pretend agony, Franz found solace in the teachings of his father. There was a certain elegance and precision in the way he wielded his sword. Each movement carried a purpose, a fluidity that spoke of years of discipline and practice. And Franz, with his past life experience as a physicist, recognized the beauty of the swordsmanship, even if swords were mere relics of the past in his previous world.
In the midst of their training sessions, an idea sparked within Franz's mind. With his scientific knowledge and the power of his soul, he realized he could recreate the weapons of his past life—guns and ammunition. It was a way to blend his past and present, to establish himself in this world while keeping his true abilities hidden. The notion of becoming a gun supplier and amassing wealth flashed across his mind, and an evil grin crept onto his face.
While Franz practiced his swordplay under the watchful eye of his father, he secretly started working on his side project—soul-powered guns and ammunition. Drawing from his past life's expertise, it was a task that came naturally to him. His scientific mind and understanding of energy manipulation made the process relatively straightforward.
With each passing day, Franz's excitement grew as he made progress on his project. The soul guns and ammunition became more refined and powerful. It was a means to establish himself as a successful entrepreneur in this world, all while keeping his true abilities hidden.
However, as Franz continued to learn the ways of the sword and delved deeper into his soul-powered weaponry project, his parents and siblings grew increasingly concerned. They observed his actions, the bruises he received from training, and the persistent façade of a lazy individual. Their worry for him intensified, and they silently vowed to protect him at all costs.
Unbeknownst to his family, Franz was driven not only by a desire to maintain his peaceful life but also by a burning curiosity to unlock the true potential of his cursed mark. The warrior's training and the soul-powered weaponry project were stepping stones towards his ultimate goal.
As the days turned into weeks, Franz's training and secret project continued, each activity fueling his determination to become a force to be reckoned with. He knew that in order to protect himself and those he cared about, he needed to harness the full power of his mark and unlock the hidden strength within.
Franz, the lazy and indifferent salted fish, moved closer to his objective while keeping up the act. He would endure the beatings, continue his studies of swords and soul-powered weaponry, all the while waiting for the opportune moment to reveal his true power to the world. And as he plotted and trained, Franz whispered to himself, "Soon, the world will witness the might of a salted fish turned warrior, armed with the power of the cosmos and the secrets of his past."