"I stand amidst the deep abyss, laughing at those burdened with morality, ethics, and the masks that conceal their sins."
Looking out the door, Shun sees nothing but the bright morning sunlight, illuminating his newly discovered path of brightness and darkness.
Life never pardoned Shun, so Shun will never pardon anyone. This step transforms him from an innocent, naive boy into a heartless, shameless man.
From a distance, he spots a long, slim shadow walking on the opposite end of the road. His smirk is filled with humiliation and disgust. It's Jay, a schoolteacher who has always looked down on Shun since they first met. Jay's disparagement remains unchanged, but the person he disparages has.
"Well, if it isn't our homeless, worthless Shun. Why are you walking around under the sun, disgusting people? The bright streets are not a place for you."
Jay expects either ignorance or a comeback, but he doesn't anticipate what comes next.
Shun's fist lands directly on Jay's nose, sending him flying to the ground. Before Jay can comprehend the situation, he is met with a barrage of brutal kicks. And nobody intervenes.
Truth be told, nobody really likes Jay. His arrogant and selfish personality annoys most people in town. They can't out-argue him, nor can they physically overpower him, as Jay has a Blessed level ethereal arm. Engaging in a duel with him is not particularly pleasant.
But Shun doesn't care, does he?
Firstly, Shun lacks an ethereal arm, preventing him from establishing a duel. Moreover, children under 18 are banned from dueling adults.
Secondly, Shun is unafraid of losing reputation, not that he had any to begin with.
Most importantly, if Jay dares to fight back, he will end up in jail, while children are pardoned from serving prison sentences.
Shun doesn't fear getting killed either. He has had enough of this world. If he is to die, he will ensure his final moments are content.
After Shun finishes tormenting Jay, he spits on him and runs.
He just runs.
Leaving Jay sitting on the ground, confused, irritated, and in pain.
"Madman," Jay murmurs.
To Shun, nothing else in his life has felt better than this moment—not in the past, nor in the future.
With no money to buy food, Shun usually works for others to earn a meager income, but he isn't doing that today. Nor is he staying hungry.
Shun has a plan that's much better, much quicker, and much more exhilarating.
With a plan in mind and intelligence behind, Shun walks into the house of Arthur, the local butcher.
"What do you want, kid?" Arthur asks, surprised to see Shun. Most of the time, Shun doesn't have any food to eat, let alone meat.
But Shun doesn't answer. He simply walks toward Arthur and grabs the butcher knife lying on the table.
Holding it to his own throat, Shun speaks, "Two kilograms of beef, or there will be a corpse lying in your shop. Good luck explaining that to the militia."
Stunned, Arthur hands over two kilograms of beef instinctively, only realizing what has happened after Shun joyfully skips out the front door.
"Madman," Arthur murmurs.
Shun is a madman. Given his circumstances and misery, it's a miracle he's still sane.
But this time, Shun notices something more significant than his pleasure.
When he held Arthur's butcher knife, it felt as if the knife was talking to him, flattering him in some way.
Shun feels a distant connection between himself and the knife, as if it was his to begin with.
Then the realization of a certain thing causes an intracranial euphoria inside Shun's brain.
The butcher knife is Arthur's ethereal arm.