After leaving the auction house with a triumphant grin, Ash decided to treat himself at the finest restaurant in the city.
Devouring a lavish meal, he felt satisfied and energized for what lay ahead. With his newly acquired spatial ring brimming with gold—he knew preparation was key.
He embarked on a shopping spree, buying food, clothing, water, a tent, and other essential supplies.
Then, he headed to the city’s best weapon shop, as his wooden sword wouldn’t cut it for the challenges ahead.
After purchasing all the necessary items, he was left with 48,000 gold coins. Spending 2,000 gold coins on quality supplies for future use was worth it.
Standing in front of the best weapon shop in the city, he marvelled at the sight before him. Despite being the top weapon shop, it had a simple and unassuming design.
He walked inside and headed straight to the katana section. He only wanted one weapon: a katana. Being an otaku, he was a lover of katanas, which was also why he chose the swordsman class in the game.
In the future, he planned to obtain a weapon that would grow with him, but for now, he needed a strong, sharp, and high-quality katana.
Looking through the katanas available in the shop, he narrowed down his choices to two. In his right hand was a katana with a black blade adorned with red lines and a pitch-black handle.
The blade looked as though it had emerged straight from the depths of hell—it was undeniably badass.
In his left hand was a katana with a shiny blade and a white handle, giving it an ethereal appearance as if it had descended from heaven.
"If I have a choice," he thought, "I’m going with the one from hell. It looks badass and isn’t eye-catching."
***
Shadow cutter
Item Type: Weapon (Katana)
Special Effect:
-A katana designed to strike with stealth and speed, cutting through the darkness without a trace.
-Increase Movement speed by 20%
Required Level: None
***
He took the 'Shadow Cutter' to the receptionist and asked for its price.
"It will be 45,000 gold coins, sir," the man at the reception replied with a smile.
"What the f*ck?" I accidentally blurted out. Realizing my mistake, I quickly corrected myself and asked again, "Why is the price so high?"
He replied, "Sir, this katana, Shadow Cutter, is the best katana in this price range. It won’t break easily unless you’re fighting someone above Rank C, and it doesn’t have a rank limit. That’s why it’s so expensive."
Even though my heart ached at the sheer price, I decided to buy it because it could be used for a long time, and the sword fit my hand perfectly. After paying him, I was left with only 3,000 gold coins.
After leaving the shop with my new weapon in tow, I made my way toward the train station. Even though this world is a mix of technology and magic, there’s not much difference from my previous world—just that the technology is more advanced.
It’s mostly the same, especially in the lands where humans reside. Apart from being more united against external races, everything else remains unchanged: the same competition, the same privileges for the rich over the poor, and the same reliance on connections to get ahead—blah, blah, blah.
Whatever. I don’t want to be someone who changes these things, but when I start my organization in the shadows, I’ll sweep away all those corrupted bastards and kill anyone involved in such things.
After boarding the train, I set off toward my next destination—the city where the Rune of Balance is located.
***
CITY OF IRONHOLD
This city is famous for its Iron Defence, with very tight security since it lies on the border where humans reside. On the other side of the iron walls, there is a forest, and as you may have guessed, The Elves live there.
The Rune is located within that forest, although hidden. It's not in the area where the elves live, but the region between the human kingdom and the elves' kingdom is occupied by beasts, so there's at least a 10 to 20 km distance between both borders.
It's not that we're wary of the elves or anything; it's just that there have been some conflicts between the two kingdoms.
However, these conflicts haven't escalated to the point of war. Also, once the Higher Rank demons (SSS-Rank) begin to emerge from the dungeons to raid this world, every race will form an alliance that will last for a very long time.
The Higher rank demons will start their attack when the main protagonist completes his academy training.
But there are still many demons below SSS rank who will try to kill Future Hunters of the Human Race and Other Races, that’s why they will target the Best Academy of the Human Race where the Protagonist is.
The academy lasts for four years, and based on what I've checked, my age and the protagonist’s age are almost the same.
This means that when I turn 17, the SSS Rank demons will start to invade, and the Demon King, who is above SSS level, will descend after three years.
I will just have to make sure that the Demon King dies at the hands of the protagonist. Even though I am stealing his runes, I will still ensure that the story doesn’t deviate too much due to my interference.
Even though I am stealing… let’s just say exchanging his runes, I have no intention of taking other relics and items that will make him strong.
I will be strong enough with the runes. However, I must prevent the runes from falling into the Demon King's hands.
Well, there are already many powerful demons hiding in the World. In the world of Akumia, there are many dungeons of various ranks, and not everyone can track each one of them.
So, it’s obvious that many demons are already present on this planet, hiding and gathering their strength, while also trying to infiltrate the hierarchy of various races.
Well, I’m not going to kill them right now; otherwise, the story will change. I’ll try my best to avoid altering the plot so that I can benefit from what’s to come in the future.
After reaching the city, I made my way to a good inn. Since I was about to disturb the peace of the city, I figured I should at least find a safe place to sleep in peace. After paying 100 gold coins for the best room in the inn, for a stay of two weeks, I made my way to my room. Upon opening the door, I was satisfied with what I had paid for.
The room was a perfect blend of magic and advanced technology. The bed, framed in dark wood and shimmering steel, adjusted its softness with a wave of the hand.
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Holographic lanterns glowed softly, casting a warm light over polished stone floors that shifted colors with your movements.
A smart mirror not only showed your reflection but also displayed glowing runes that adjusted the room’s temperature, lighting, and mood at a command.
The floating bathtub filled with magically infused water at the perfect temperature, while soft melodies played from crystalline speakers.
Outside, a wall-sized window displayed a changing view, from bustling city streets to tranquil forest landscapes, all controlled with a mere thought.
Comfort, magic, and technology combined in harmony, offering both luxury and convenience.
After resting for a moment, I left the inn. It was evening, the perfect time to start my plan. Even though I had seen it many times before, the scenery of this world melted my heart every time I saw it—it was truly breathtaking.
The Rune of Stability always helped me think clearly and calmed my mind, almost like I was always meditating. Combined with the beautiful scenery, it was the perfect balance. Once I became strong enough, I would find a peaceful place to settle down.
I made my way toward a dark alley. After walking for some time, I found what I was looking for: a dark door tucked away in the alley, next to a bar. Standing in front of the door, I knocked in a rhythm.
Knock-knock-knock.
I waited for a second, then knocked again.
Knock-knock.
The pattern in which I knocked on the door was a well-known signal — one used by those who have information to trade in exchange for money.
Many children work in this way, being paid by the black market if the information is accurate. That's why I decided to share the information like one of them, to avoid raising suspicion. And, well, I’m lucky that I’m still a child; otherwise, it would have been more difficult.
"The shadows are long tonight," the man asked, his voice coming from behind the door.
"But they are safer than the light," I replied.
"The coin has two faces," he said.
"But the true face remains hidden," I answered.
"Come in," he said.
I stepped inside, and the man closed the door behind me. Turning around, I noticed him watching me as I observed the surroundings. Both of us wore masks, so I wasn’t worried about my identity being exposed—everyone wore a mask here.
He asked, "What level of info do you have, kid?"
"4-star," I replied. A 4-star rating meant the information was rare. 5-star was the highest level, but 4-star was still valuable enough to make anyone jealous. If the information was true, the person providing it could earn a lot of money.
He was clearly shocked—his reaction was obvious. A strange silence lingered between us. After a while, I decided to break the silence.
"Cough, cough... can you take me to the head?" I was referring to the leader of this black-market branch. As the information was 4 stars, the head will listen the information.
"Follow me," he said.
I followed him, carefully observing the surroundings. We walked for what felt like a long time, taking turns and crossing various checkpoints.
The place we were in at the moment wasn’t the black market itself; it was where the higher-ups stayed. The black market should be underground, but we were still on the surface.
After walking for about 15 minutes, we finally arrived in front of a door guarded by two people. The man I was following told me to wait and entered the room. A few minutes later, he returned and motioned for me to go inside.
If this had been the old me, I would have been nervous. But now, after fusing the Rune of Stability with my soul, I felt no stress, even though there was little bit of fear but my mind was calm. My breathing was steady, and my heartbeat was calm. With a sense of inner peace, I made my way toward the door.
The door creaked open, revealing a room shrouded in shadows, illuminated only by the soft, steady glow of a single lantern. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and ink. Shelves lined the walls, stacked high with neatly arranged documents and ledgers—records of trades, deals, and secrets. At the far end of the room, behind a simple wooden desk, sat the department head, his figure imposing in the dim light.
He wore a dark mask that covered the lower half of his face, but his eyes—sharp and calculating—were fully visible, watching with unsettling intensity.
The mask, along with his perfectly still posture, gave him an air of quiet menace. A large weapon rested against the wall beside him, its presence a silent warning.
The room felt heavy with his strength, both physical and unspoken, as though every document could be turned into a weapon at his command.
He said nothing, but his gaze locked onto the newcomer—assessing, waiting, like a predator studying its prey. The silence was thick, pressing on the chest, as the weight of his presence filled the space.
Ash stepped into the room, the heavy door closing with a soft thud behind him. He stood tall despite his nerves, his voice faltering only slightly as he greeted the head of the department.
"Good evening, sir."
The department head didn’t acknowledge the greeting immediately. His sharp, calculating eyes were fixed on Ash the moment he entered, as though measuring every step, every movement.
A mask covered the lower half of his face, but his gaze was as piercing and sharp as any blade.
"Information," he said, his voice a low rumble that filled the room.
Ash knew that staying too calm would raise suspicion, so he swallowed, unfurling a small scroll from his belt. He glanced at the document briefly before meeting the head's eyes for a heartbeat, then quickly looked away.
His heart pounded in his chest as he spoke, his tone rushed yet steady, betraying the storm of emotions he was desperately trying to suppress.
He thought because he possessed the rune that sharpened his mind and allowed him to think with unwavering logic, it could not strip away the raw, primal emotions coursing through him.
Fear, like a cold blade, lingered at the edge of his thoughts, an instinctual response that no amount of reason could banish.
He had decided this was the best approach—calculated, precise, the only path that offered even a sliver of success. Yet, the presence of the predator in front of him, its piercing gaze unyielding and its aura suffocating, made his resolve falter for just a moment.
It wasn’t just fear of death; it was the weight of the stakes, the knowledge that one wrong word, one misstep, could seal his fate.
Still, he held his ground. The rune pulsed faintly against his skin, a reminder of his strength and the burden it carried. He couldn’t afford to falter—not now.
"I overheard something, sir. A conversation. A couple of adventurers were talking near the tavern. One of them mentioned something strange happening in the forest at the border between the elves and humans."
The head’s eyes flickered, but he made no move. He simply waited, giving Ash space to continue.
Ash pressed on. "There’ve been unusual energy readings coming from the forest in that area. He was with his friend, and they mentioned it was unlike anything they’d seen before—arcane magic, but ancient, even. They think it’s a hidden dungeon, sealed for centuries."
Ash paused, studying the head’s reaction. When he saw none, he pushed forward. "The thing is, this dungeon, it’s different. They say once it's conquered, it won't be usable like others. It will become part of the world itself."
The head’s eyes remained locked on Ash, but the tension in the room thickened. The weight of the information hung heavy in the air.
"Any details about the dungeon?" the head asked, his voice colder now, more intrigued.
Ash shook his head. "Not much. They don’t know the exact location, but they heard it could be hidden beneath the root systems of the oldest trees, deep in the forest. The adventurer said it’s unlike any treasure they’ve ever heard of—not just gold or gems... but something more."
The head remained silent for a long moment, motionless, as though absorbing every word, every possibility. Ash shifted nervously but kept his gaze lowered.
The department head’s fingers slowly tapped on the desk, his expression unreadable beneath the mask. He considered the implications of the information, weighing the danger, the value.
"Good," he finally said, his voice cold. "You’ve done well. Leave now. We’ll move on this. You will receive the money if the information is true"
Ash, eager to escape the room and the weight of the head's gaze, quickly bowed and turned for the door. As it closed behind him, the room fell silent once again, save for the faint rustling of papers.
The head of the department remained seated, his eyes now fixed on the dim glow of the lanterns, already calculating the next steps—how to harness this new, potentially dangerous information and turn it to his advantage.
Once outside, Ash took a few moments to make sure no one was following him. He moved quickly through the streets, blending into the crowds.
His heart raced as he entered a small store crowded with children and bustling patrons. Inside, he swiftly changed into a different set of clothes, storing the mask in the ring. His movements were cautious, still glancing over his shoulder to ensure no one had caught onto him.
After some time spent walking through the city's winding streets, Ash finally made his way back to the inn, heart still pounding as he approached the room. He let out a breath of relief as he entered, locking the door behind him. For the moment, he was safe.
After lying on the bed, Ash reflected on his plan. "Now that the black market knows about the hidden dungeon, once they send people into the forest, I'll inform the city head about it. I'll mention the potential treasure within the rune as well. The head must have already guessed that the dungeon likely contains a rune, since any dungeon with a rune inside becomes part of the real world once conquered. After that, no monsters will spawn. But that's exactly what I want. I want them to fight each other so that once they conquer the dungeon, I can swoop in and take the rune."
Ash paused for a moment, his mind working through the details.
"Not much is known about the runes in this world. Most people don’t even know their names. But I know, because I’ve read the novel. The thing is, unless you know the name of a rune and understand its purpose, you can’t use it”.
“And even if you know the name, fusing it with yourself requires a series of steps that only I, and the Demon King, know. The main protagonist only learns this procedure after defeating the Demon King and stealing his memories.”
“The Demon King targets this world because of its abundance of runes, and he's after them. I don’t know exactly how he got this information, as the novel isn't finished, but the protagonist also gains the ability to fuse with runes thanks to his advanced system. His system is far more developed than mine."
"That’s also why every powerful entity from different planets targets our protagonist—just to learn how to fuse with the rune, if only there were no runes His life would be peaceful"
If we think in that way You can say that I am helping the protagonist…. Well, I think I am.
He sighed, rolling over to settle into the bed. " Time to sleep."
***