The people are stunned and trembled in anger and fear at the same time as they kept looking between me and Choi Kwan.

After some contemplation, the elder finally snorted coldly before walking away. "You imbeciles! You will regret this!" With that he and the rest of the people finally left as they walked with anger.

I was indifferent to them and crouched down as i placed my hand on top of the child's head, "Are you alright?"

The child lowered his head and nodded slowly. That's when I saw the newly added wounds on every part of his body. I frowned and took off some of the bandages to see that there are also old scars.

Seeing this Choi Kwan and I became even more furious. 'How cruel can they be?!'

I then smiled gently and reached out my hand. As the child saw my hand about to reach him, he immediately covered his face in a defensive posture and that's when I and Kwan widened our eyes.

The child still trembled, waiting for the expected pain but nothing happened. He then peeked and saw my with a stunned face. He was still trembling and I couldn't help but become more gentle. I still continued to reach out my hand cautiously and asked, "Would you like to come with us?"

Hearing my words it was the child's turn to be stunned and after some time, was in a dilemma, he knew there are no people who would be kind to him without anything in return. So raising his courage, he asked back, "W- What d- do you want in r-return sir?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Nothing. I don't want anything-" Suddenly I paused before saying "Actually, I do want something from you"

Choi Kwan became flabbergasted by my words only to hear an unexpected sentence coming from my mouth next.

"I want to you to become stronger and grew up healthy"

Both Choi Kwan and the child widened their eyes slowly.

I smiled at their reactions and looked back at the child's red eyes. "What do you say? Are you willing to follow us?"

The child fell into contemplation as he kept fidgeting his fingers, thinking deeply. I couldn't help comparing him to Choi Kwan.

After some time the child took a deep breath before speaking, "I want to!"

I nodded my head at his answer and said "Good, shall we go find a place to stay first?"

....

Choi Kwan ofcourse had money from this world but I do not want to stay in that village and so we decided to find an abandoned shelter. Fortunately, outside the village near the forest there is one.

After fixing the small shabby house a little bit, it came out pretty decent. Then as we rested I asked the child, "What's your name?"

The child looked up between me and Choi Kwan before he lowered his head and answered, "Asher..."

Hearing this I couldn't help but look at his stats trembling.

【Status】

【Name】: Asher

【Age】: 14

【Species】: 「Human」

【Occupation】: 「Cursed Child」

【Titles】: (None)

【Chronicles】: 1

Seeing this I was flabbergasted. Because, in the 「Kismet」, it told a story about a certain child who would grew up to become a tyrant, a villain who will subjugate the world 「Abyss」.

And the child's name, is Asher.

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I stared at Asher with shaking eyes and Asher became confused. I took a deep breath and thought to myself, 'No, he is not a villain yet, he is still a child' with that thought I calmed down a little and tried to check his skills but found that there is none yet.

'It seems he hasn't awakened yet'

I then wondered, 'He also has 【Chronicles】, so why don't I have one?'

I shook off that thought and smiled at Asher as I said "That's a beautiful name you got there"

Suddenly Asher turned gloomy and I narrowed my eyes slightly, "It's okay, you don't have to listen to what others said about you, what you should always remember is that you are a living person and that you must value your life"

"...But what if I don't deserve to live?" Asher suddenly spoke.

Crouching down i said, "Hey, look at me"

Asher followed and looked me in the eyes, I smiled and said "A villain is not born but created, you did not choose to be born, but you can choose whether you want to become bad or good. Ofcourse it is still based on the circumstances but, everyone, has a choice"

Asher slowly widened his eyes and looked at me with his lips parted slightly from being stunned. Then he lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "B- But, I- I'm a c-cursed child...I'm a bad omen..."

"Why do you think so?" I suddenly asked in a stern voice which startled Asher. His eyes then dodged and said "B- Because the g-goddess of light disappeared when I w-was b-born"

"And you think you're the reason for it?" Choi Kwan suddenly spoke and Asher turned to look at him.

Choi Kwan then said, "In my village we also believed in the goddess of light, but she disappeared even before you were born"

Asher widened his eyes and I said "You are not a curse, Asher. Actually, you're even stronger than me, more than you could ever know"

Tilting his head Asher looked confused and I chuckled, "You could bear such hate without any solace, but I probably wouldn't have survived if it was me"

Suddenly Asher felt a tug in his heart and he asked cautiously, "R- Really?"

"Mm" I hummed and nodded in response. "You're strong, Asher, and I'm serious about it"

Asher finally couldn’t bear it and tears dripped from his eyes as the corner of it turned red. I hugged him and patted his back as I coaxed him, "It's okay, it's okay"

Choi Kwan watched this scene from the sidelines and couldn't help thinking, 'Many people had lived a fearful and tragic life ever since the world's destruction'

He then looked at me and thought 'I hope you can truly give light, Constellation'

....

After some rest a day had already probably passed and Choi Kwan went back to the village reluctantly and bought some medicines. While he did so I carved out woods whilst Asher was asleep.

'Tac'

'Tac'

The sound of wood being hammered sounded and after some time I finally breathed a sigh of relief as I wiped away the sweat on my forehead. "Done"

--

"Here"

Asher flinched and catched the wooden sword I carved. "This is...?" He asked and I replied with a smile, "It's your training weapon"

"Training?" Choi Kwan asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Well, he'll need to get stronger physically and know some defence don't he?" I said and Choi Kwan wanted to say something but was unable to and could only reluctantly nod his head in agreement.

Asher thought about it before he puffed his chest and said "Who will train me then?"

I smirked and pointed at Choi Kwan with my chin. "Obviously it's him, he's a great swordsman and is very strong"

Asher then looked at between me and Kwan, in the end they both agreed and I showed a spot that they could do as the training area. It was an open field in the forest, a perfect place for sparring.

Then, the training begun.

....

"Huff...huff..."

The sound of heavy panting sounded but only Asher was panting as sweat keep dripping from his forehead and his shirt was wet. Choi Kwan on the other hand still has a straight posture, holding his sword domineeringly.

'Kwan is not going easy on Asher at all, and that's one of the best thing I could see in a teacher. They wouldn't go easy and belittle their student just because they are a child or a beginner'

I stared at Choi Kwan and thought, 'It's fortunate that he followed me'

....

About weeks had already passed since then and surprisingly, Asher was able to quickly adapt tp the situation and was finally able to spar with Choi Kwan with his sword raised straight.

'Tac!'

'Tac!'

A fierce battle unfolded before me and Asher was finally able to attack and not only defend which was good.

After a while we took a break and I gestured for Asher to come to me. Asher did and I said to Choi Kwan, "Kwan, can you give us a moment?"

Choi Kwan raised an eyebrow suspiciously before he turned and left. Sensing that there is only the two of us left, I picked up another wooden sword and pointed it at Asher. The latter was surprised and I curled my lips, "Let's spar"

"What?"

"I said, let's spar. I want to teach you something, although I'm not very good at swords I still have some knowledge about survival" I said which made Asher confused but instead of answering, I made a samurai position and held my sword as I closed my eyes.

"Hoo..." I exhaled a deep breath.

Asher knew I was serious and also took a fighting position.

Then as soon as I opened my eyes I dashed towards him at a fast speed. Asher prepared a defensive posture and blocked my sword but to his surprise I only used one hand to hold the sword and the other was aimed at his abdomen.

Before he had the time to dodge, it was too late as my hand pierce his abdomen and he coughed out saliva from the pain I embedded on it and fell to his knees.

"What...?" Asher couldn't help trembling from the pain and looked at my with bewilderment. I spoke coldly and said "That's a technique that is called by others dirty, but if you want to survive by using any means, then that is one of the techniques you can use to win and catch your opponent off guard"

"B- But, w- wouldn't you b- be hated if so?" He asked.

I scoffed and said "Do you still have dignity when it comes to survival? No, you need to be an egoist"

"Now, Asher" I said which made Asher raise his head.

"Choose, do you want to become a soldier that would do any means for survival, or a knight that would wield a sword not to kill but to save"

This question made Asher unable to speak.

Turning around I said "That's the end of my teaching, it's up to you whether what decision you'll choose"

After that I left and Choi Kwan got back. As they sparred again Asher kept falling off balance and Choi Kwan noticed his strangeness and stopped the sparring for today. He then tried to ask what I had done or said that made him lose focus but Asher just shook his head and said that's he's fine.

As they left Choi Kwan couldn't help being suspicious of our conversation and decided to go look for me.

As Asher got back home, Choi Kwan went back to the woods and found me sitting on top of a tree branch.

"Looking for me?" I asked. Choi Kwna nodded and I stretched my limbs before jumping down the tree. As we walked back home Choi Kwan finally asked, "What did you say to Asher?"

I shrugged my shoulders and said "I just gave him an option"

"An option?"

"Yes. I wany him to choose, whether he is wielding a sword for survival or, is he wielding a sword to protect someone?"

Hearing my words Choi Kwan widened his eyes and halted. I ignored it and continued walking. He stared at my fading back and couldn't help being lost in thought, 'Constellation, what life did you lived through exactly?'

....

More weeks passed and at this day, everything changed.

'Knock! Knock!'

The sound of loud banging coming from the door sounded and the three of us looked at each other with vigilance before I opened the door. Then, a bloody person was seen as they fell to the ground.

"Help...us..."

I crouched down and asked "What happened?" Then, I saw large scratches from their back and I frowned as Choi Kwan and I looked at each other.

Asher trembled when he saw it was the familiar person that also hunted him before. But now, instead of him being covered in blood and scars, it was that person instead who had it.

"W- What happened?" Asher asked stuttering and I had a solemn face as I spoke, "They were attacked"

"Attacked?" Asher asked.

I looked at him and said, "Attacked, by monsters"